|
Course Action and Special Topics Requests Style Guide
CARs for Addition
Course Prefix and Number: All requests for new courses must use the course prefix and the course level with "XXX" such as PSY 5XXX, PSY 6XXX, or PSY 7XXX. The course prefix is not "owned" by a department or college. It corresponds to the discipline and can be used by different departments/colleges. A list of course prefixes is included in the Graduate Catalog. Note: Course numbers are assigned by Tallahassee. Even if a course had a number in use by another SUS institution or had a number at one time at UCF, it should not be used on the course action request form.
Course Title: The title should be clear and correspond closely to the course content and description. If words like "Introduction" or "Advanced" are used, be sure that these modifiers correspond to the course level and content as well as to current courses that are offered. There are times that the course numbers assigned to the courses in a sequence such as "Psychological Research Methods I," "Psychological Research Methods II," and "Psychological Research Methods III," will not be assigned sequential numbers.
Credit Hours: Most courses are three credit hours and are designated 3(3,0) on the CAR. Be sure to indicate hours of credit, and contact hours, which include hours of class and hours of laboratory or field work if that is applicable. Example: ECI 5215C 3(2,3) carries 3 hours of credit but requires 5 contact hours which consist of 2 hours in class and 3 hours laboratory or field work.
17-Character Abbreviation: This abbreviation should correspond to the course title and cannot exceed 17 characters including spaces. Remember: this abbreviation (printed in all capital letters) will identify the course in the course schedule, in student records listings, and on the student's transcript. It should clearly represent and describe the course in question.
Course Description: There is a 25-word limit to the course description so aim for clarity and concision. Avoid beginning the description with unnecessary words like, "This course examines research issues," "This course is designed to provide" "This course is a." Instead eliminate redundancy by writing: "An examination of research issues..." "A critical analysis of educational research designs."
Indicate Yes or No for: (1) Will lab fees be charged? (2) May the course be repeated for credit? (3) Will the course be graded S/U? (4) If program decides to change this decision a CAR for revision must be submitted for approval.
Course prerequisites (PR) and/or corequisites (CR): Include any prerequisite and/or corequisite course(s) that are required for enrollment in the course. Be clear and use "and" and/or "or" rather than separating courses with commas, which can be misinterpreted. Even if there are no specific PR or CR courses, graduate level courses at the 5000-6000 level should have a PR of "graduate standing" and/or "C.I." and/or "admission to X graduate program." Courses at the 7000-level are for Doctoral students only, and may include "Admission to the X Doctoral program" or "Doctoral standing." Flexibility can be indicated by the addition of "C.I." ("consent of instructor" to the PR/CR); "C.I." can also be used to indicate that consent of instructor is required for registration.
Discussions with other programs/colleges regarding possible course duplication or conflict: Programs/colleges are required to contact programs/colleges that have courses and program offerings in similar content areas. It is best for program representatives to discuss concerns about course conflict and overlap directly and as early in the course development approval process as possible. Programs/colleges with such concerns may request that a course request be tabled. The Office of Graduate Studies will help to facilitate such meetings when necessary, and course requests may be tabled to give parties a reasonable amount of time to resolve differences.
Approval signatures and dates: Request forms must have all necessary program and college approval signatures before they are submitted (with attached syllabus) to the Office of Graduate Studies.
Course syllabus: A complete course syllabus must be attached to the CAR.
Course database: College staff member should input course information, including college approvals and dates, into the course database. The Office of Graduate Studies will record the action taken at the university level. Course database is useful in tracking progress of a course request and checking if a number has been assigned by Tallahassee.
CARs for Revision
Note: All revisions must be underlined (the course database will make changes that are entered automatically).
Course Prefix and Number: Current: Use course prefix and number assigned to the course listed in the catalog. Proposed revision: Indicate new prefix (if needed) and/or new course level (5XXX, 6XXX) if a level change is requested.
Course Title: Underline portions of course title that are being revised. Consult catalog or course database for current wording.
Credit Hours: Current: credit hours currently listed. Proposed revision: credit hours requested.
Course Description: Underline portions of course description that are being revised. Consult catalog or course database for current wording.
Indicate Yes or No for: (1) Will lab fees be charged? (2) May the course be repeated for credit? (3) Will the course be graded S/U? (4) If program decides to change one of these decisions a CAR for revision must be submitted for approval.
Course prerequisites (PR) and/or corequisites (CR): Underline PR and/or CR that are being revised, added to, or deleted. Consult catalog or course database for current PR and CR.
Discussions with other programs/colleges regarding possible course duplication or conflict: Revisions to course title, description, and course content should be discussed with programs/colleges that have courses and program offerings in similar content areas. It is best for program representatives to discuss concerns about course conflict and overlap directly and as early in the course development approval process as possible. Programs/colleges with such concerns may request that a course request be tabled. The Office of Graduate Studies will help to facilitate such meetings when necessary, and course requests may be tabled to give parties a reasonable amount of time to resolve differences.
Approval signatures and dates: Request forms must have all necessary program and college approval signatures before they are submitted (with attached syllabus) to the Office of Graduate Studies.
Course syllabus: A complete course syllabus must be attached to the CAR.
CARs for Deletion
Course Prefix and Number: Course prefix and number assigned to the course listed in the catalog/course database.
Course Title: Course title as listed in catalog/course database.
Credit Hours: Credit hours as listed in catalog/course database.
Course Description: As listed in the catalog/course database.
Course prerequisites (PR) and/or corequisites (CR): Not applicable.
Discussions with other programs/colleges regarding possible course duplication or conflict: Not applicable.
Approval signatures and dates: Request forms must have all necessary program and college approval signatures before they are submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies.
Justification for Course Deletion: Complete this section and be sure to indicate whether departments/programs whose students need this course as a prerequisite or required course have been notified in writing.
Syllabus: No syllabus needed. Note: The only time that a course syllabus does not need to be attached to the CAR form is for a course deletion.
Course Prefix and Number: After the course prefix, Special Topics requests must use the generic number for the appropriate course level. Example: PSY 5937, PSY 6938, PSY 7939.
Course Title: Begin the title for Special Topics courses with "ST:" The title should be clear and correspond closely to the course content and description. If words like "Introduction" or "Advanced" are used, be sure that these modifiers correspond to the course level and content as well as to current courses that are offered.
Credit Hours: Most courses are three credit hours and are designated: 3(3,0) on the CAR. Be sure to indicate hours of credit, and contact hours, which include hours of class and hours of laboratory or field work if that is applicable. Example: ECI 5215C 3(2,3) carries 3 hours of credit but requires 5 contact hours which consist of 2 hours in the class and 3 hours laboratory or field work.
Term offered: Indicate the semester/year that course is to be offered/open for registration.
17-Character Abbreviation: All special topics course title abbreviations begin with "ST:" so you only have 14 characters to work with. This abbreviation should correspond to the course title and cannot exceed 17 characters including spaces (including ST). Note: this abbreviation (printed in all capital letters) will identify the course in the course schedule, in student records listings, and on the student's transcript. It should clearly represent and describe the course in question.
Course Description: There is a 25-word limit to the course description so aim for clarity and concision. Avoid beginning the description with unnecessary words like, "This course examines research issues," "This course is designed to provide" "This course is a." Instead eliminate redundancy by writing: "An examination of research issues..." "Designed to provide students with ..." "Provides students with ..." "A critical analysis of educational research designs."
Course prerequisites (PR) and/or corequisites (CR): Include any prerequisite and/or corequisite course(s) that are required for enrollment in the course. Be clear and use "and" and/or "or" rather then separating courses with commas, which can be misinterpreted. Even if there are no specific PR or CR courses, graduate level courses at the 5000-6000 level should have a PR of "graduate standing" and/or "C.I." and/or "admission to X graduate program." Courses at the 7000-level are for Doctoral students only, and may include "Admission to the X Doctoral program" or "Doctoral standing." Flexibility can be indicated by the addition of "C.I." ("consent of instructor" to the PR/CR); "C.I." can also be used to indicate that consent of instructor is required for registration.
Discussion with other programs/colleges regarding possible course duplication or conflict: Programs/colleges are required to contact programs/colleges that have courses and program offerings in similar content areas. It is best for program representatives to discuss concerns about course conflict and overlap directly and as early in the course development approval process as possible. Programs/colleges with such concerns may request that a course request be tabled. The Office of Graduate Studies will help to facilitate such meetings when necessary, and course requests may be tabled to give parties a reasonable amount of time to resolve differences.
Approval signatures and dates: Request forms must have all necessary program and college approval signatures before they are submitted (with attached syllabus) to the Office of Graduate Studies.
Course syllabus: A complete course syllabus must be attached to the ST.
|
