How to propose a new course in CBS

Steps for proposing a new course in CBS

  1. Consult with your department head and a Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUGS) for the major you think the course most closely fits with (or with the DUGS in your department if unsure).
  2. Fill out the CBS Course Proposal form (which asks for all of the information needed for submission to the Electronic Course Authorization System, ECAS) and develop a syllabus (iteratively with the DUGS). See UMN Syllabus Requirements for guidance on syllabus policies. See the UMN Liberal Education (LE) Requirements and Writing Intensive (WI) Requirements information when considering whether the course could fulfill any of the LE or WI requirements.
  3. The course proposal is informally reviewed by all of the CBS DUGS and the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education (Laurie Parker, llparker@umn.edu). You have the opportunity to attend an informal meeting with the DUGS group to discuss the course to get feedback. Otherwise, your contact DUGS will share feedback with you directly. If changes are recommended, you can make revisions. 
  4. The course proposal is formally reviewed by the Educational Policy Committee (EPC), which consists of the CBS DUGS, CBS Student Board representatives, and others in CBS from Student Services and instructional support. The EPC voting members (the DUGS and Student Board reps) vote on whether to approve the recommendation of the course to the Dean for university-level submission.
  5. If approved by the CBS EPC and the Dean: 
    1. The Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education consults with other colleges to make sure the new course isn't redundant with existing courses.
    2. Work with your Departmental Scheduler to have the details from your CBS Course Proposal form entered into ECAS. 
  6. If consultation results in no conflicts identified, then it is submitted in ECAS and goes to the Campus Curriculum Committee (CCC) for review. LE and WI will involve additional layers of review as part of the process, and may take extra time.
  7. Once approved by the CCC (and for LE and/or WI), the course is moved forward for entry into the catalog and PeopleSoft systems and becomes visible to students in the catalog.
  8. Work with your Department Scheduler to set up the course’s day, time, instructor(s), enrollment cap, and location in the Course Scheduling System (CCS). 

Incorporating an approved course into the course lists for the majors or minors 

  1. Once a course is fully approved, it can be added to the degree program curricula in the PCAS system. A course is not automatically approved for all CBS programs–the DUGS and curriculum oversight groups (where relevant) for each program will consider whether the course fits into their program’s curriculum, and in which component (e.g. electives, core courses, lab courses. etc.). 
  2. If approved for a given major, the course will be included in the major’s regular PCAS update process for the upcoming academic year, which is carried out by staff in CBS Student Services. Questions about progress on the additions to programs can be directed to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education (llparker@umn.edu).