GUIDELINES FOR PROPOSALS FOR NEW AND REVISED GRADUATE COURSES
The
proposal for a new or revised graduate course must follow the outline given below. A proposal for a new course
is not a syllabus, although a syllabus might be derived from the course proposal.
I.
Identification
A.School
B.Department (official full designation of unit.)
C.Suggested Course Number (Include official three letter department code. Indicate that course number has
been cleared by the department—Be sure that the course number being assigned to a new course has not
been used by the department within the last ten years )
D.course has not been used by the department within the last ten years )
E.Course Title (Short and as descriptive of content as possible.)
F.Catalog Description (Should not exceed 35 words. Be certain that the description agrees with the
rationale and course outline)
G.Prerequisites (List specific prerequisites by course numbers and names and make sure they are identical
to prerequisites listed on the cover sheet.)
H.Special Conditions (e.g., “matriculated students only”, “department permission”, “elective credit only”,
“Yale Library use required”, etc.)
I.Probable Text(s) (List the texts students will be required to obtain.)
J.Who prepared this proposal?
K.Who will be presenting this proposal?(This is optional. If you wish to be present at the curriculum
committee meeting, please contact the committee chair).
II.
Rationale
A. Why are you proposing this course? Are other courses affected in any way by this course? Are other
programs affected? What is the justification for the credits proposed (both student and faculty)?
B. If you propose that this course be cross-listed, provide the rationale. State how the departments will
coordinate management of the course and who will be responsible for teaching assignments.
C. Which students are likely to take this course (specify if students taking this course will be from your
program and/or other programs)? List any factors that might influence demand.
III.
Course Description
A. Student Learning Outcomes– This section should indicate what students will know and/or be able to
do as a result of successfully completing the course requirements. Objectives should be written in
terms of measurable student learning outcomes rather than in terms of what the course covers. Methods
for measuring the completion of these student learning outcomes should be stated in terms of what the
student will demonstrate to show evidence of learning outcome and should relate to the course
evaluation procedure.
B. Course Outline – Attach a detailed course outline (not a syllabus) which clearly reflects the title,
description, and rationale given previously. Length of each segment should reflect time and effort
expended (percentage of total course) on that portion of the course. In compliance with the USDE
GEN-11-06 (10/29/10) the outline must show evidence that there is a minimum of two hours of out
of class student work each week for each credit hour received for the course; thus for a 15 week
semester a total of at least 90 hours of out of class time for a 3 credit hour course. Below are
sample charts that may be adapted to fit the course and would be attached to the course outline
section of the proposal to demonstrate compliance.
Sample Chart for 15-Week Course for 37.5 Contact Hours
Expected Student
Learning Activity
In-Class Lecture Time
(Contact Hours)
Outside of Class Work
1 Text Reading &
Study Questions
2 Project
Assignment(s)
3 Web Assignment
Total Hours
Weekly Hours Spent
Towards Course
Total Hours Spent
Towards Course Per
15 Week Semester
Semester Credits
Earned
2.5
37.5
-------------------------------------------
2
30
----------------------
2
30
----------------------
2
8.5
30
127.5
---------------------3
Sample Chart for 15-Week Course for 45 Contact Hours
Expected Student
Learning Activity
In-Class Lecture Time
(Contact Hours)
Outside of Class Work
1 Text Reading &
Study Questions
2 Project
Assignment(s)
3 Web Assignment
Total Hours
Weekly Hours Spent
Towards Course
Total Hours Spent
Towards Course Per
15 Week Semester
Semester Credits
Earned
3
45
-------------------------------------------
2
30
----------------------
2
30
----------------------
2
9
30
135
---------------------3
C. Modes of Instruction – Describe what the instructor and students will be doing in order to achieve the
course objectives (e.g. listening to lectures, participating in discussions, analyzing cases, doing
research, reading assignments, laboratory work, group products).
D. Evaluation – Describe the kind, number, and frequency of evaluation tools and the relative weight of
each that will be used to determine student grades. The evaluation must be directly related to the
student learning outcomes.
E. Selected Bibliography – Attach a bibliography and other reference materials in the appropriate format
for the discipline.
Distribution: The original signed coversheet and 13 copies of the proposal must be delivered to the Graduate
Office by the 15th of the month preceding the Curriculum Committee meeting.
An electronic version of the proposal must be e-mailed to *Graduate School/Council Designee for a secure
posting on MySCSU for graduate councilors to review. (*Please see Graduate Council Website for
Designee)
Notification: The GCCC chair will notify the proposer and department chair of the review decision made
by the committee. If the proposal is approved with minor revisions, all requisite revisions must be
submitted to the GCCC within two months after having been approved with minor revisions by the
Graduate Council. Proposals not complying with this timeline will have to be resubmitted to the GCCC
for new review.
Implementation:
• Course syllabi must be consistent with the approved course proposal and must reflect compliance
with USDE GEN-11-06 (10/29/10) that students spend 2 hours per week in outside of class.
• The department is responsible for monitoring adherence to the catalogue description, content,
and learner outcomes of the course, as approved by the Graduate Council.
• Any changes to the catalogue description, content, or learner outcomes of the course must be
submitted to the Graduate Council Curriculum Committee as a course revision.
• Changes relative to modes of instruction and evaluation procedures do not require a course
revision. However, evaluation procedures must be consistent with the learner outcomes.