Academic Programs Committee of Council
Course Challenge June 9, 2009
The following curricular changes are being circulated for approval through the University Course
Challenge:
College of Agricultures & Bioresources
Page 2
For approval: program changes to BSA core and to Environmental Sciences major, new courses
in Environmental Science and Animal Science; prerequisite changes
College of Graduate Studies & Research
Page 3
For approval: new courses and program changes in Economics, Food & Bioproduct Sciences;
Kinesiology, Pharmacy & Nutrition; Public Health
For information: Changes in administration for project-based Masters programs and for the 992
course
College of Law
For approval: new courses
Page 8
College of Medicine
For approval: course deletion and program change
Page 9
Schedule for approval:
Date of circulation: June 9, 2009
Date by which Challenge must be received: June 23, 2009
Date by which changes will automatically be considered approved in the absence of Challenge:
July 7, 2009
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College of Agriculture & Bioresources
1.
Revisions to the Environmental Science Major of the B.S.A.
1)
The requirement for CHEM 250.3 be changed to CHEM 115.3 (or CHEM 250.3).
2)
EVSC 110.3 “Renewable Resource and Environment” be accepted as a substitute
for BIOL 121.3.
3)
The Statistic requirement “PLSC 314/STATS 245” be moved from Year 3 of the
program to Year 2.
4)
RCM 300.3 be moved from Year 2 to Year 3.
5)
Add a requirement for “6cu from SLSC 232, 313, 322, and 343” to 3rd/4th year.
6)
The requirement for EVSC 371.3 in 3rd/4th year to “EVSC 371.3 or GEOG
222.3”.
7)
EVSC 492.3 and 494.6 are no longer requirements of the program and instead
become optional courses.
2.
Other Minor curriculum changes
Math 125.3 Mathematics for the Life Sciences be added as an acceptable Math course in
the BSA Core Curriculum (one of Math 110, 101 or 125.)
3.
Prerequisite Changes
1.
The prerequisite for BPBE 272, Intro to Agriculture Economics, be changed from
ECON 211 TO AGRC 113 or permission of the instructor.
2.
That the prerequisite for FAMS 212, Agrifood and Resources Microbiology, be
changed from BIOL 120.3 and 121.3 to six credits of biology or permission of the
instructor.
4.
New Courses
EVSC 421 Soil Toxicology and Risk Assessment
Prereq: EVSC 210.3 Environmental Physics or 3 cu from PHYS 100-199; One of STAT 245.3
or PLSC 314.3;
Pre or corequisite: One of TOX 321.3, GEOG 386.3 or ABE 481.3
This course will focus on how contaminants in soils can poison humans and ecosystems.
Students will learn the theory of soil environmental and ecological toxicology and how
toxicological information is used to estimate the risk to humans and ecosystems. Currently in
Canada there are two key drivers of how soil is cleaned up: the risk posed to humans and the
risk posed to ecological receptors. This course will introduce students to the field of soil
toxicology and provide them with the skill sets required to assess human and ecological risk
from contaminated soil.
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ANSC 250.3 Introduction to Equine Studies
Prereq: 6 credits BIOL or permission of instructor
An introduction to the horse, its current and historical roles in agriculture, agribusiness, and
society as well as basic horse care for the horse owner and those interested in horses. Equine
behaviour will be discussed in relation to the welfare, management and training of the horse.
Husbandry topics cover all aspects of keeping horses; pasture, stabling, nutrition, parasites,
infectious diseases, and farriery. Additional management aspects to be covered include first aid,
lameness, breeding and metabolic diseases.
ANSC 350.3 Advanced Equine Studies
Prereq: ANSC 250.3 (Introductory Equine Studies) and VBMS 324 and VBMS 325 or
permission of instructor
An advanced equine science course with emphasis on exercise, sport conditioning and care of the
equine athlete. The function and dysfunction of cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal systems
will be discussed in conjunction with conditioning programs to optimize performance. Advanced
equine nutrition for the performance horse including over the counter products, supplements and
nutraceuticals will be covered. Advanced reproduction includes endocrinology, reproductive
technologies aend genetic selection techniques. Additionally, specific system problems such as
skin diseases and ocular disorders will be examined.
College of Graduate Studies & Research
ECONOMICS
New Graduate Course:
ECON 850.3 – Game Theory: Strategic and Cooperative Choices
Prerequisite:
ECON 800 or equivalent or permission of the instructor
Calendar Description:
A systematic introduction to game theory and its application in economics. Provides concepts
and tools for understanding current research and performing your own research in the field.
Covers both non-cooperative and cooperative game theories.
Rationale:
There is no graduate game theory course at U of S. We require a graduate course in game theory
to accommodate the needs of MA and Ph.D. students. Game theory is of central importance for
students interested in microeconomic theory and in applied fields such as environmental
agreements, industrial organization, international trade, public economics, and political studies.
Contact Person:
morris.altman@usask.ca
Approval: Joint Master’s/PhD Committee May 12, 2009
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FOOD AND BIOPRODUCT SCIENCES
New Graduate Course:
APMC 832.3 - Microbial Bioproducts in Agriculture
Prerequisite:
FAMS 212.3 Agrifood and Resources Microbiology or PLSC 222.3 Introduction to Field Crops
(or with permission of the instructor).
Calendar Description:
The world’s food, environmental and energy concerns require innovative bioproducts as natural
and environmentally friendly solutions to reduce the usage of chemical pesticides and fertilizers,
while enhancing agricultural crop yields and biomass production for biofuels. This course
provides an overview of recent advances and discoveries of microbial bioproducts, such as
inoculant biotechnology and formulation, genomics and proteomics, and their application to
sustainable and organic agricultural systems.
Rationale:
The current generation of students in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources is exposed to
increasing concerns on food quality and production, environmental pollution and energy
demands. As agriculture graduates, they will be key players in finding solutions to these
challenges. On the subject, microbial products offers central avenues of solution. Microbial
Bioproducts in Agriculture course will benefit all students interested in understanding or
participating in the contemporary research on discovering and implementing novel microbial
bioproducts, an integral part of Saskatchewan and Canada’s emerging bioeconomy. Students
who have taken this course will have a solid formation in basic and advanced principles of
microbial bioproducts diversity, function, formulation and applications. This course, along with
the new College/Department focus, would undoubtedly develop a highly trained workforce for
this economy. Lectures coupled to laboratory work will enable students to associate their class
knowledge to agricultural practices. Sufficient student interest will be strategically strengthened
through shared lectures with the proposed undergraduate version of this course (FABS 432.3
Microbial Bioproducts in Agriculture).
Contact Person:
graham.scoles@usask.ca
Approval: Joint Master’s/PhD Committee May 12, 2009
New Graduate Course:
FDSC 855.3 – Functional Genomics in Food and Bioproducts
Prerequisite:
BIOC 311 or with permission of the instructor.
Calendar Description:
The course provides a comprehensive overview of current tools and techniques used for
functional genomics (bioinformatics, RNA interference, gene knockout, TILLING, EST analysis,
DNA microarrays, proteomics and metabolomics) in the development of food and bioproducts.
Rationale:
The full sequencing of genomes of plants, microorganisms and animals, including humans, has a
profound impact on food and bioproduct research. It not only provides a platform for us to study
genomic-level interactions with diet, but also permits the functional analysis of genes in genomes
thereby improving production of foods and creation of novel industrial products. As functional
genomics becomes increasingly important in food and bioproduct sciences, a course covering the
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current state of the science is clearly necessary. The proposed course will benefit not only those
graduate students who are interested in the application of functional genomics tools to their
research, but also to those who simply wish to have a solid foundation in understanding of
concepts and principles of functional genomics and their application in food and bioproducts.
These individuals would be anticipated to be suitable for employment opportunities in academics
or research-intensive industries.
Contact Person:
graham.scoles@usask.ca
Approval: Joint Master’s/PhD Committee May 12, 2009
KINESIOLOGY
New Graduate Course:
KIN 831.3 – Social Psychology of Group Processes in Physical Activity
Prerequisite or Corequisite:
KIN 807.3 and KIN 830.3, or permission of the instructor.
Calendar Description:
The purpose of this course is to introduce graduate students to the application of theory in group
processes as they relate to physical actvity with a focus on how groups promote individual change,
selected topics in group processes, and exposure to select group interventions in the activity
setting.
Rationale:
We have run this course twice as a KIN 898 and we would now like to turn it into a permanment
course offering. As the College has expertise in the group processes area that is internationally
recognized (e.g., Brawley, Spink), it seemed prudent to offer this course as none of the current
graduate offerings cover this material. Further, the material in KIN 830, Psychosocial aspects of
health and physical actvity behaviour, provides a solid platform for the material to be covered in
this course. It also provides another course choice for graduate students in the behavioral area. At
the current time, course choices for behavioral students are very limited, so by offering an
additional course in this area, we should be enriching the student experience.
Contact Person:
Adam Baxter-Jones (baxter-jones@usask.ca )
Approval: Joint Master’s/PhD Committee May 12, 2009
PHARMACY AND NUTRITION
Memo to University Course Challenge
On behalf of the College of Pharmacy & Nutrition, the purpose of this memo is to request a
program change (expanding the previous graduate course NUTR 810.3 course into two courses,
NUTR 810.3 and NUTR 811.3 and providing them in each alternate year).
The change we request is the following:
The approved program requires Nutrition graduate students in the College of Pharmacy
and Nutrition to take to take NUTR 810.3 “Advances in Nutritional Sciences” or the new
graduate course NUTR 811.3 “Advances in Public Health Nutrition” based on relevance to their
research project.
Rational
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Nutrition graduate students are developing their knowledge and expertise in two distinct streams,
i) Nutritional Science mainly laboratory based research ii) Public health Nutrition which deals
with nutritional status at community/ population level. Previously, a graduate course titled
Advances in Human Nutrition Research (NUTR 810.3) was covering the above mentioned
topics. An in depth discussion on both was not possible due to the limited time and variety of
subjects in each stream. Moreover, 50% of course materials were not directly relevant for
further use in research and practice for students in either of two streams. In addition to this, the
growing interest in the field of public health nutrition in researchers and graduate students in the
new School of Public Health, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, and College
of Kinesiology encouraged the college to split the previous NUTR 810.3 course into two
courses: NUTR 810.3 will cover the topics in Nutritional Science domain and NUTR 811.3
dedicated to Public Health Nutrition. Hence, the proposed graduate course provides more indepth information on variety of topics in the field of Public Health Nutrition to interested
graduated students across the university.
The Division of Nutrition and Dietetics, and College of Pharmacy & Nutrition have approved
this program change in May, 2009. We submitted the signed GSR 400.1, course outlines and
letters of support from the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology and School of
Public Health in May 2009.
Graduate Course Modification:
NUTR 810.3
Old Title:
Advances in Human Nutrition Research
New Title:
Advances in Human Nutritional Sciences Research
Prerequisite:
No change
Old Calendar Description:
Recent human nutrition research is described and discussed, with emphasis on micronutrient
nutrition. Students read the current literature and participate in classroom lectures and seminars.
New Calendar Description:
Recent advances in nutritional sciences with emphasis on findings that advance our knowledge
of human nutrition. Students read the current literature and participate in classroom lectures and
seminars
Contact Person:
aj.remillard@usask.ca
Approval: Joint Master’s/PhD Committee December 9, 2008
New Graduate Course:
NUTR 811.3 – Advances in Public Health Nutrition Research
Prerequisite:
None
Calendar Description:
Recent advances in Public Health Nutrition are discussed with emphasis on evaluating nutritional
status at population level using quantitative and qualitative approaches, and community-based
nutrition interventions. Students discuss current literature and participate in classroom lectures
and practical approaches in evaluating nutritional status, and nutrition program and policy
planning and evaluation.
Rationale:
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Nutrition graduate students are developing their knowledge and expertise in two distinct streams,
i) Nutritional Science mainly laboratory based research ii) Public Health Nutrition which
deals with nutritional status at community/population level. Previously, a graduate course titled
Advances in Human Nutrition Research (NUTR 810.3) was covering the above mentioned
topics. An in depth discussion on both topics was not possible due to the limited time and
variety of subjects in each stream. Moreover, 50 % of course materials were not directly relevant
for further research and practice for students in either of the two streams. In addition to this, the
growing interest in the field of public health nutrition in researchers and graduate students in the
new School of Public Health, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, and College
of Kinesiology encouraged the division to split the previous NUTR 810.3 into two new courses,
NUTR 810.3 will cover the topics in Nutritional Science domain and NUTR 811.3 dedicated to
Public Health Nutrition to interested graduate students across the university.
Contact Person:
aj.remillard@usask.ca
Approval: Joint Master’s/PhD Committee May 12, 2009
PUBLIC HEALTH
New Graduate Course:
PUBH 808.3 – Introduction to Health Care Management
Prerequisite:
Registration in the College of Graduate Studies and the permission of the MPH Program.
Calendar Description:
Survey of health management. Includes management principles applied to health care systems;
and skills of critical reading; computational competence; presentation and discussion skills at a
graduate level.
Rationale:
One of five areas of Public Health required by the accreditation body in health care policy and
management. This will be the foundation course for that sub-discipline.
Contact Person:
a.backman@usask.ca
Approval: Joint Master’s/PhD Committee May 12, 2009
For information:
Changes in administration for project-based Masters programs and for the 992 course
Changes to the administration of project-based Master's programs are being proposed. These
changes are intended to bring the project-based Master's programs more in line with other
research-based Master's and PhD programs, to make them easier to administer, and to address
some anomalies in the way the programs have been administered in the past. The changes will
make the program administration consistent with the way in which they were originally approved
by the Board of Governors.
As of September 2009, all students in project-based Master's programs will be considered fulltime, as are all other research-based (thesis and dissertation) graduate programs. Full-time
project-based students are assessed $1030 tuition and full-time student fees per term of
registration. Students will also now benefit from a higher level of tax credits as reflected on their
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T2202A tax forms and from health and dental coverage provided by the Graduate Students
Association (which can be opted out of if the student has other coverage).
Whereas the project-based programs were previously described as requiring 30 credit units
including six credit units of 992, they will now be described as requiring 24 credit units plus
992. The 992 course itself will change from a course that had six academic credit units
associated with it to a course that will have zero academic credit units associated with it (though
students will be deemed to have earned the equivalent of six credit units for the course toward
their program). In other words, the student is still considered to have earned six credit units
when they successfully complete their 992 course. This is similar to the way 994 and 996
courses function (they also have zero academic credit units, but are deemed to be the equivalent
of 15 credit units). Academic Services, SESD, will make the necessary changes to the 992
courses.
In exceptional cases, a student in a project-based program may be designated part time if s/he is
unable to work at least 10 hours per week on all of their coursework. In the event that a student
is eligible for part-time status, s/he will be placed in a permission-only 992, designated for parttime students. The SESD will also build this course for the department. The University
reserves the right to reinstate a student to full-time status if appropriate.
As is the case in other research-based programs, all students in project-based Master's programs
are required to maintain continuous registration in their 992 project class as of September, 2009;
students in course-based Master's programs are required to maintain continuous registration.
Students in project-based programs will be expected to be undertaking work in preparation for
writing their project from the time of first registration.
College of Law
New Course
Rationale
Contact Person
Consultation
Approval Date
New Course
Rationale
LAW 458.3 Advanced Health Law
Prerequisite: Law 314.3, Health Law
In this seminar students will develop and apply their knowledge of health
law to specific topics in the areas of health care and medical research.
To add to and complement the existing array of course offerings.
Professor Barbara von Tigerstrom
Consultation within the College
March 4, 2009
LAW 445.3 Public Health Law
Prerequisite: None. Law 314.3, Health Law is suggested but not
required as a prerequisite.
This seminar explores legal issues in the context of public health,
examining the legal framework and roles of law relevant to the protection
and promotion of health.
To add to and complement the existing array of course offerings.
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Contact Person
Consultation
Approval Date
Professor Barbara von Tigerstrom
Consultation within the College
March 4, 2009
New Course
LAW 332.3 Recent Developments in Public Law Remedies
Prerequisite: None.
This course will consider a number of issues in public law remedies,
including constitutional/Charter remedies and prerogative remedies. In
doing so, it will draw upon theoretical, historical, and comparative
materials (notably from the United States and the United Kingdom).
Some of the issues to be considered may include: the relationship between
remedies and substantive rights; writs of habeas corpus; structural
injunctions; remedies for extraterritorial state action; constitutional
exemptions; reading in and reading down; declarations (and suspended
declarations of invalidity; stays of proceedings; the exclusion of evidence
in criminal proceedings; and Charter damages.
To add to and complement the existing array of course offerings.
Professor Michael Plaxton
Consultation within the College
April 28, 2009
Rationale
Contact Person
Consultation
Approval Date
College of Medicine – see next page
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From:
To:
cc:
Subject:
Date:
Qualtiere, Lou
Fornssler, Cathie;
D"Eon, Marcel;
Course deletion in Undergraduate Medical education program
Thursday, May 28, 2009 2:58:58 PM
Cathie Fornssler
Committee Coordinator
Office of the University Secretary
218 College Building
Notification of course deletion for course challenge process:
On May the 20th the curriculum committee of the college of medicine
undergraduate program agreed to remove the course Med 107.5 Medical
Biochemistry and Nutrition from the undergraduate program. Much of the
content of this course is to be distributed throughout the existing courses
in the curriculum and there will be a new course proposed this Fall in
Medical Nutrition. Thanks for your attention to this program change.
Louis Qualtiere Ph.D
Professor, Department of Pathology
Assistant Dean Undergraduate Medical Education
Health Sciences Blg Room A217
Ph 306-966-4342 or 6135