Course Approval Requests

Guidelines

Faculty who wish to submit a course for approval to fulfill a University Studies requirement should use the online Submission Form.

To complete the application, the following items need to be included:

1. Master Syllabus. Under the Supporting Materials section, there is a template to be used for the Master Syllabus.  In addition, the Annotated Template provide extenstive instructions on how to complete each section of the Master Syllabus.
2. University Studies Course Rationale statement.  This statement, no longer than 500 words, should describe the general content and goals of the course, the pedagogical approaches and types of assignments and the ways in which the course will attempt to help students meet the University Studies learning outcomes for that Cluster requirement.  This statement is an opportunity for the sponsoring faculty to speak directly about how the course will fit into the Cluster requirement's scope and goals.
3. Faculty and Chair Sponsor Sheet.  This is the only item that will not be submitted electronically, because it requires the signature of the sponsoring faculty and the department chair.  This Sheet describes a set of responsibilities the faculty and chair agree to uphold as part of having an approved University Studies course.
4. Course Catalog Description.  For existing courses, this is the official course description contained in the undergraduate course catalog.  For newly proposed courses, the proposed description can be used.  Faculty are encouraged to update the official catalog description prior to submitting the course here, such that the description is an accurate depiction of the current scope and content of the course.

When approval requests are submitted, they will receive a preliminary review by the Director of General Education.  Faculty may be contacted by the Director to make changes or provide additional information.  Once cleared by the Director, approval requests will be considered for final approval by the General Education Committee.

Please note that new courses or those undergoing a revision requiring regular curriculum approval (changed description, title, number, etc.) need to be submitted into the regular curriculum review process, which is initiated in the department curriculum committee.  The appropriate forms are located in the Faculty Handbook section at the Provost's website.  The University Studies review process is not a substitute for regular curriculum review and approval.

Any questions about the approval process should be sent to the Director of General Education, Doug Roscoe.

Supporting Materials

Master Syllabus Annotated Template Revised

Master Syllabus Template   

Faculty and Chair Sponsor Sheet 

Request Initiatives 2013 - 2014

During the 2013-2014 Academic Year, the General Education Committee will continue to review, at any time, submissions for all Clusters.

In addition, the Committee seeks to focus on several requirements at specific points in the year. 

First, there will be a focused round of approvals for the Cluster 5A, Capstone Study, requirement starting in mid-November, 2013.  Departments are asked to put forward a request approval before November 1.

Also, the Committee plans to focus on proposals for Cluster 5B, Learning Through Engagement, beginning early in the Fall semester and continuing through the year.  Departments are encouraged to consider how their majors will earn 5B credit and to decide whether a course approval request needs to be initiated.

Submission Form

CLICK HERE TO SUMBIT AN APPROVAL REQUEST