USC Curriculum Management System (CMS) – What You Need to Know
The Curriculum Management System (CMS) is an online interface that allows programs, minors and courses to be proposed,
created, assessed, revised, approved and implemented. Every time you log into CMS, you will be able to create, revise or
terminate programs, minors and courses; route them forward through the approval process; see the proposals that you are
working with in your folders; and track proposals from your school that are in progress anywhere in CMS.
Who uses CMS?
Everyone involved in curriculum at USC will use CMS. It simplifies the process of managing the thousands of programs,
minors and courses that USC offers. CMS is virtually paperless and facilitates communication between the Academic
Departments and the Curriculum Coordination Office.
Where do I access CMS?
The Curriculum Coordination Office (CCO) updates the Curriculum website with information about CMS and all other
curriculum procedures. Go to www.usc.edu/curriculum to access this information and to log into CMS.
How do I log into CMS?
Your UserID and password for CMS are the same as your username and password for all major USC systems (such as
MyUSC). Your username is the prefix for your e-mail. For example, if your e-mail address is tommytro@usc.edu, your
username would be tommytro. If you are having trouble with your UserID and/or password, call Information Technology
Services at (213) 740-5555 to have your password reset. (Note: You have to be set up on CMS to access CMS – if you aren’t
sure whether or not your access has been set up, contact the CCO.)
What do I need to remember when I’m using CMS?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Departmental Curriculum Coordinators (DCCs) (or Faculty Proposers) fill out the 201 (program), 401 (minor) or 301
(course) form on CMS to create, revise or terminate. That proposal must be approved by the Curriculum Chair,
reviewed by any Affected Deans and approved by your own School Dean for Curriculum. The proposal can then move
on to the Curriculum Coordination Office (CCO) for technical review, and then to subcommittee for content review.
(New programs must be approved by the Executive Vice Provost for Academic Affairs before being sent to the CCO.)
Before you begin a 201 (program), 401 (minor) or 301 (course) form, be sure to have information for all required fields
(asterisked) at hand – you will not be able to save or route the form until you have filled out the required fields. Also
have the catalogue copy (for a program or minor) or syllabus (for a course) ready to attach to CMS proposal.
You can save a 201 (program), 401 (minor) or 301 (course) form without routing it – Click the Save/Route button,
without selecting a routing option. If you want to route, just select a routing option before clicking the Save/Route
button.
If you are having trouble saving or routing a proposal, make sure that you have made a comment. CMS requires you to
comment before saving or routing.
Click on the HELP buttons within the 201 (program), 401 (minor) or 301 (course) forms for assistance in filling out the
various fields. Documentation is also available on the Curriculum website at www.usc.edu/curriculum-cms. Or contact
the Curriculum Coordination Office (CCO) at curriclm@usc.edu, or call 213-740-1162.
All of the proposals that you are working on (or are waiting for you to act on) can be found in your folders. You will
need to check them regularly. (Don’t be the one who stops a course proposal’s progress toward approval!)
If you hold multiple roles on CMS, you will have multiple folders – one (or more) for each role. Be sure to check all of
your folders regularly.
If you are looking for a proposal for your school that is not in your folder, you can use the Query function to tell you
exactly which folder it currently resides in and track its progress.
When I need help, who do I call?
If you need assistance, email curriclm@usc.edu or call (213) 740-1162. Training is provided on an as-needed basis
throughout the academic year. Visit the website (www.usc.edu/curriculum) to learn the most up-to-date curriculum and
CMS information, and to access documentation and the Curriculum Management System (CMS).
Updated September 2014
How a Proposal Becomes a Program, Minor or Course
Below is a visual representation of a proposal’s progress through CMS. (Note: Each position: Department Curriculum
Coordinator (DCC), Department Chair and Curriculum Dean must be set up for your department on CMS for a proposal
to be routed through to the CCO.)
Departmental Curriculum
Coordinator (DCC)
Faculty Proposer
(FP) (optional)
Department Chair
Dean
Affected Department Deans
Provost (New Programs Only)
Curriculum Coordination Office
(CCO)
Sub-Committee
Approved courses are sent to the Student
Information System (SIS), RNR.U.CATALOG.
UCOC
Approved programs are assigned POST codes.
Approved minors are assigned MINOR codes.
Requirements for both programs and minors are
coded into DARS (STARS) by Degree Progress.
CATALOGUE
and
Schedule of Classes
Program, minor and course information is entered into the University Catalogue based on the
University Committee on Curriculum (UCOC) minutes, CMS forms and other documents, such as
catalogue copy.
Academic Department Roles and Functions on CMS
Faculty Proposer – a faculty member who prepares proposals
Departmental Curriculum Coordinator (DCC) – a staff member who prepares proposals
Department Chair –Chair who approves curriculum proposals for a department
School Dean – Dean who approves curriculum proposals for your school
Affected Dean – Dean from another school, whose department may be affected by the curriculum proposal
Updated September 2014