UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ
UNIVERSITY SERVICES
5 FEB 2016
In accordance with the Rector’s Delegation Decision of 20 December 2013, I confirm the
curriculum concepts defined in Appendix 1 based on the work of the Education Council.
Kari Pitkänen
Director of Strategic Planning and Development
Appendix 1. Concepts of curriculum work.
Education
Degree studies
Bachelor’s degree
programme
Master’s degree
programme
Licentiate degree
programme (NOTE!
Exception)
Doctoral programme
Degree programme
Subject
Specialisation
Foreign-language-medium
degree programme
Broad-based bachelor’s
degree programme
Education refers to an entity which is offered by the
University and to which it is possible to apply for. Education
may comprise degree education or other instruction (e.g.
open university studies, continuing education). Degree
education may consist of one or more degree programmes
(e.g. only a bachelor’s or master’s degree programme, a
bachelor’s + master’s degree programme or a bachelor’s
programme after which it is possible to choose from a
variety of master’s degree programmes).
Degree studies are organised as degree programmes, which
have defined learning outcomes. The studies for a degree
are defined in a curriculum.
A degree programme leading to a bachelor’s degree.
A degree programme leading to a master’s degree.
A degree programme leading to a licentiate degree. A
licentiate degree may be completed as part of a degree
programme leading to a doctoral degree or, in exceptional
cases, as a separate programme.
A degree programme leading to a doctoral degree.
In accordance with Section 3 of the Government Decree on
University Degrees (794/2004), ”education leading to lower
and higher university degrees may be based on subjects or
in the form of degree programmes.” The OKSA Vocabulary
of Education states that the term refers to the way to
organise studies leading to a degree and that the
programme-based organisation of studies is an alternative
to the subject-based organisation of studies.
In accordance with Section 3 of the Government Decree on
University Degrees (794/2004), ”education leading to lower
and higher university degrees may be based on subjects or
in the form of degree programmes.” The use of the concept
of subject will be discussed more in connection with
curriculum work.
Student’s opportunity to direct studies within a degree
programme in accordance with the degree structure
approved in the curriculum.
A degree programme that has a language of examination
other than Finnish and an international application round.
A bachelor’s degree programme can be broad-based in
various ways:
- The programme has common studies of at least 25 ECTS
credits for all students in the bachelor’s programme
- The programme includes studies from various subjects
- The programme includes optional studies the student
may select from the University’s study offering
- The discipline is broad-based by its nature
- Study contents and methods are realised in a broadbased manner
The programme provides students with broad-based
competence and a variety of skills
A line of education a student selects from the educational
offering and for which the student applies for a study right.
There may be one or more study options for one education
(e.g. a joint application, the Open University, a transfer
student application process).
The Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004)
defines the bachelor’s and master’s degree studies and
their minimum extent. A major subject may be an individual
subject or an entity comparable to a major subject, for
which the student must complete at least the minimum
extent defined in the Government Decree. An entity
comparable to a major subject may be shared by several
departments. The concept of major subject will be
discussed more in connection with curriculum work.
Minor subject is a subject or study entity that is part of the
degree but not the student’s major subject. Minor subject
studies may be basic studies, intermediate/subject studies
or advanced studies, or entities formed otherwise (e.g.
studies completed at a foreign university). In accordance
with the Rector’s decision (27 June 2013), it is possible to
separately indicate any studies exceeding 20 ECTS credits in
a degree certificate, even if the studies are not completed
as an entity. The concept of minor subject will be discussed
more in connection with curriculum work.
Curriculum refers to a description of the structure, learning
outcomes, learning contents, competence assessment
criteria and modes of study of a degree programme,
professional specialisation studies or other education.
-
Study option
Major subject
Minor subject (studies)
Curriculum
In compliance with the Degree Regulations of the University
of Jyväskylä, a curriculum is prepared for each degree
programme or professional specialisation programme.
Curricula are evaluated and developed regularly.
The curriculum of a degree programme must specify the
following:
1) The purpose of the programme
2) The scientific outcomes and targeted transferable skills
of the programme
3) The language(s) of instruction for the programme (in
case of more than one language, the curriculum must
define the primary language of instruction, which is also
the language of examination in the programme)
4) Degree structure and included courses, the names and
extents of the courses
5) The learning outcomes of courses, study modules and
degrees
6) Course descriptions
7) A plan for the organisation of student guidance and
personal study plan counselling
8) Regulations for the studies and degrees of the faculty
9) The completion modes and assessment criteria of
courses as well as information on minimum required
attendance.
Teaching schedule
Structure of studies
Degree structure
Study module
Multidisciplinary entity
Course
Course code
Learning outcome
Completion mode
Target of assessment
Implementation of
instruction
Assessment criteria
In addition, curricula indicate course codes and course
literature.
A plan for the organisation of teaching and offered
instruction during an academic year. A teaching schedule is
based on a curriculum and implements the curriculum.
The structure of studies is always related to a study
programme. The structure of studies within a degree
programme is described as a degree structure, which is part
of the curriculum and defines the study modules and
courses of the degree programme.
The content (study modules and courses), extent and
hierarchy of studies in a degree. Each degree programme
has a study structure defined in the curriculum.
A study module is an entity that is formed of courses or
other study units and that has designated learning
outcomes.
An entity formed of studies from various fields.
A course is the smallest study unit described in a
curriculum. The course’s name, identification code, extent,
learning outcomes, description, modes of study, assessment
criteria and possible literature are defined in the
curriculum.
Each course has a unique identification code in the
curriculum. A course can have only one code, and a code
can be connected only to one course with a unique name.
A description of competence a student must have after
completing a degree, study module or course. Learning
outcomes are related to knowledge and skills. They
comprise subject-specific skills and generic skills (e.g.
workplace skills and entrepreneurship skills).
A completion mode is a description of the modes available
for completing a course. The completion modes are defined
in each programme’s curriculum.
A target of assessment is the smallest part of studies to be
implemented or completed at a time. A course’s modes of
study determine the targets of assessment (or their
combinations) for completing the course. A completed
course may require the completion of one or more targets
of assessment.
The realisation of a target of assessment, as decided in the
teaching schedule: e.g. the realisation of a study unit (= a
course) or the realisation of an examination. Students
register for implementations of instruction.
Assessment criteria consist of an assessment scale used for
a course and a description of completion requirements for
the course (e.g. how many lessons the student must be
present for to receive a passing grade).
Generic skills and general
studies
ECTS credit
Personal study plan
Generic skills refer to the general skills students need
regardless of their field. Generic skills include social,
communication and language skills as well as critical
thinking skills.
ECTS credits are used as a basis for measuring studies.
Courses are assigned ECTS credits according to their
workload. The workload of 1,600 hours required for
completing the studies of an academic year corresponds to
60 ECTS credits. On average, the completion of an ECTS
credit is calculated to require a workload of 27 hours.
A personal study plan is a plan for studying and learning. It
is created by the student in cooperation with a tutor. The
central part of a personal study plan is a documented plan
for completing studies (what studies the student will
complete, how, when and in which order).