Course Design & Approval Process

Looking to design a new course or update an existing one? Follow the steps below, and reference the ‘Resources‘ section for any additional related information.

All instructors are encouraged to use the following process periodically to review and rethink their courses and keep them up to date.

1. Determine the Change

Consider student feedback, course evaluations, instructional challenges, and gaps in learning outcome achievement. Browse the resource section below for additional ideas.

2. Determine the Scope of the Change: Is It Major or Minor?

Some changes don’t require program/faculty approval, such as updating course material, activities, sequence of content, etc. Some do, such as changes to course numbers, credit value, course title, course calendar description, or learning outcomes.

Assess the nature of the change using these guidelines for Major vs. Minor course changes.

3. Consult with Colleagues

As changes are introduced within individual courses, it is important to still maintain the curriculum’s overall coordination, coherence, and comprehensiveness. Changes to courses need to be assessed for impact as they could affect program level outcomes, multi-section courses, core courses, or pre/co requisites. All major changes need the approval of the area coordinator and relevant program director(s). This assures that there has been a review of the change in the context of other offerings in the discipline and the program.

4. Prepare the Proposal Package for Submission

Fill out the course change proposal form and prepare the supporting documentation. Send the package to the area coordinator and program directors(s) to obtain their formal signatures of support.

The proposal package should include the following:

5. Submit the Proposal to the Applicable Program Committee

Send the complete package to the relevant program committee secretary. A full list of program committees, secretaries, and meeting dates are available here.

Once approved by the program committee, the proposal will be submitted to Executive Committee for review and addition to the next Faculty Council agenda. This will be done by the program committee secretary. Faculty Council is the forum where faculty colleagues will review and approve the proposal. Faculty are encouraged to attend the meeting to address any questions. Once approved, the governance process is complete and the change(s) will be communicated to the scheduling team in the ADA Office for incorporation during the next scheduling period.

Note: Changes to courses or new course proposals that impact programs will be reported to Senate. This step will be handled by the Schulich Faculty Council Secretary.

Have questions? Contact the program committee secretary or email Schulich Faculty Council.

Have an idea for a new course? Follow the process below to prepare the proposal and obtain the necessary approvals.

1. Identify the Purpose of the New Course

Does it fill a gap in current offerings? Consult with the area coordinator and program director(s) early on to ensure there is support and that your course will complement existing offerings.

2. Build the Course Outline

Download the course outline template.

Start by determining the overall course goals, target audience, and learning outcomes. Use the learning outcomes to select your course materials, activities, and assessments.

Refer to the six principles of course design above, the resources section below, and the innovative courses and instructors featured on this site for ideas.

3. Consult with Colleagues

Building a course should a collaborative process. Faculty are encouraged to think about their course in the context of the larger curriculum and to understand where and how it will complement other courses in a program. Feedback and endorsement from your tenure stream faculty colleagues is key to the approval process and ensures the curriculum’s overall coordination, coherence, and comprehensiveness.

4. Prepare the Proposal Package for Submission

Fill out the new course proposal form (Undergraduate & Graduate) and prepare the supporting documentation. Be sure to consult the Guidance on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization and Indigenization Questions for Course Proposals to respond fully to prompts 23a and b in the new course proposal. Send the package to the area coordinator, program director(s), and faculty colleagues across areas to obtain their formal signatures of support. A minimum of six faculty colleague signatures are required.

The proposal package should include the following:

5. Submit the Proposal to the Applicable Program Committee

Send the complete package to the relevant program committee secretary. A full list of program committees, secretaries, and meeting dates are available here.

Once approved by the program committee, the proposal will be submitted to Executive Committee for review and addition to the next Faculty Council agenda. This will be done by the program committee secretary. Faculty Council is the forum where faculty colleagues will review and approve the proposal. Faculty are encouraged to attend the meeting to address any questions. Once approved, the faculty governance process is complete and the change(s) will be communicated to the scheduling team in the ADA Office for incorporation during the next scheduling period.

Note: Changes to courses or new course proposals that impact programs will be reported to Senate. This step will be handled by the Schulich Faculty Council Secretary.

Have questions? Contact the program committee secretary or email Schulich Faculty Council.