McMASTER UNIVERSITY
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM PROPOSAL BRIEF
FOR THE PROGRAM
(Program Name)
Date:
CONTENTS
1. PROGRAM ............................................................................................................................... 1
1.1
Consistency of program with University’s mission and academic plan ................ 1
1.2
Clarity and appropriateness of program requirements and learning outcomes in
meeting University’s Degree Level Expectations .................................................. 1
1.3
Appropriateness of degree nomenclature ............................................................... 1
2. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................. 1
2.1
Appropriateness of program’s admission requirements for the learning outcomes
established for completion of program .................................................................. 1
2.2
Alternative requirements for admission into the program ..................................... 1
3. STRUCTURE ............................................................................................................................. 1
3.1
Administrative, governance and communication processes ................................... 1
3.2
Appropriateness of program’s structure and regulations to meet specified
program learning outcomes and Degree Level Expectations ................................. 1
4. PROGRAM CONTENT............................................................................................................. 1
4.1
How curriculum addresses the current state of the discipline or area of study ...... 1
4.2
Unique curriculum or program innovations or creative components ..................... 1
5. MODE OF DELIVERY ............................................................................................................. 1
5.1
Appropriateness of proposed mode(s) of delivery to meet program learning
outcomes and Degree Level Expectations and availability of necessary physical
resources ................................................................................................................. 1
6. ASSESSMENT OF TEACHING AND LEARNING ................................................................ 2
6.1
Appropriateness of proposed methods for instruction and assessment of student
achievement for intended Program Learning Outcomes ........................................ 2
6.2
Plans for documenting and demonstrating the level of performance of students ... 2
7. RESOURCES FOR ALL PROGRAMS .................................................................................... 2
7.1
Administrative unit’s planned utilization of existing human, physical and
financial resources and any institutional commitment to supplement
the resources ........................................................................................................... 2
7.2
Participation of a sufficient number and quality of faculty who are competent to
teach and/or supervise in the program .................................................................... 2
7.3
Evidence of adequate resources to sustain the quality of scholarship produced .... 2
8. RESOURCES FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS......................................................... 2
8.1
Plans for adequate numbers of faculty and staff to achieve program’s goals ........ 2
8.2
Plans to provide the necessary resources in step with the program’s
implementation ....................................................................................................... 2
8.3
Planned/anticipated class size ................................................................................ 2
8.4
Provision and supervision of experiential learning opportunities .......................... 2
8.5
Role of adjunct and sessional faculty ..................................................................... 2
9. QUALITY AND OTHER INDICATORS ................................................................................... 2
9.1
Definition and use of indicators that provide evidence of quality of the faculty ... 2
Program Proposal Brief for [program]
ii
[date]
9.2
Evidence of a program structure and faculty research that will ensure the
intellectual quality of the student experience ......................................................... 2
10. CONSULTATION PROCESS ................................................................................................... 3
10.1
Description of the consultation process undertaken during the development of the
proposal .................................................................................................................. 3
Program Proposal Brief for [program]
iii
[date]
PROGRAM PROPOSAL BRIEF GUIDE
When proposing a new program, the Chair is responsible for the preparation of a Program
Proposal Brief that addresses the following criteria as listed below. Please use the following
template to complete the Program Proposal Brief.
1. PROGRAM
1.1
Discuss the consistency of the program with the University’s mission and academic plans.
1.2
Discuss the clarity and appropriateness of the program’s requirements and associated
learning outcomes in meeting the University’s Undergraduate Degree Level Expectations
(UDLEs),as outlined in Appendix A.
1.3
Discuss the appropriateness of degree nomenclature.
2. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
2.1
Discuss the appropriateness of the program’s admission requirements for the learning
outcomes established for completion of the program.
2.2
Describe alternative requirements, if any, for admission into the program, such as
minimum grade point average, additional languages or portfolios, along with how the
program recognizes prior work or learning experience.
3. STRUCTURE
3.1
Discuss appropriateness of the administrative, governance, and communication processes
proposed in support of the program.
3.2
Discuss appropriateness of the program's structure and regulations to meet specified
program learning outcomes and Degree Level Expectations.
4. PROGRAM CONTENT
4.1
Outline ways in which the curriculum addresses the current state of the discipline or area
of study.
4.2
Identify any unique curriculum or program innovations or creative components.
5. MODE OF DELIVERY
5.1
Discuss appropriateness of the proposed mode(s) of delivery to meet the intended Program
Learning Outcomes and Degree Level Expectations and availability of the necessary
physical resources.
Program Proposal Brief for [program]
1
[date]
6. ASSESSMENT OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
6.1
Discuss appropriateness of the proposed methods for the instruction and assessment of
student achievement of the intended Program Learning Outcomes. The Program Learning
Outcomes must meet the University’s Degree Level Expectations.
6.2
Describe the completeness of plans for documenting and demonstrating the level of
performance of students, consistent with the University’s statement of its Degree Level
Expectations.
7. RESOURCES FOR ALL PROGRAMS
7.1
Discuss the adequacy of the administrative unit’s planned utilization of existing human,
physical and financial resources, and any institutional commitment to supplement those
resources, to support the program.
7.2
Outline the participation of a sufficient number and quality of faculty who are competent
to teach and/or supervise in the program.
7.3
Provide evidence that there are adequate resources to sustain the quality of scholarship
produced by undergraduate students as well as graduate students’ scholarship and research
activities, including library support, information technology support, and laboratory
access.
9. RESOURCES FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
9.1
Provide evidence of plans for adequate numbers of faculty and staff to achieve the goals
of the program.
9.2
Provide evidence of plans to provide the necessary resources in step with the
implementation of the program.
9.3
Outline the planned/anticipated class sizes.
9.4
Discuss the provision of supervision of experiential learning opportunities (if required)
9.5
Describe the role of adjunct and sessional faculty.
10. QUALITY AND OTHER INDICATORS
10.1
Discuss the definition and use of indicators that provide evidence of quality of the faculty
(e.g., qualifications, research, innovation and scholarly record; appropriateness of
collective faculty expertise to contribute substantively to the proposed program).
10.2
Provide evidence of a program structure and faculty research that will ensure the
intellectual quality of the student experience.
Program Proposal Brief for [program]
2
[date]
11. CONSULTATION PROCESS
11.1 Please provide a description of the consultation process undertaken during the
development of the proposal.
Program Proposal Brief for [program]
3
[date]