A&S Introduction to the Curriculum Guide
Purposes of This Guide
This guide provides information about curricular processes and policies in the College of Arts & Sciences; summarizes how college curriculum processes dovetail with those at the university level, including due dates for course and program proposals to be reviewed by A&S and university curriculum committees; and provides web links to forms, guides, and other college and university curricular resources.
The College of Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee (CASCC)
The Mission of CASCC is to:
- Support and facilitate disciplinary and interdisciplinary curricular development and innovation;
- Coordinate additions, deletions, and changes to individual course offerings and academic programs within the college;
- Promote curricular coherence, collaboration and cooperation within the college and across A&S and other colleges;
- Develop improved college-level curricular policies and processes as needs are identified;
- Advocate for improved university-level curricular policies and processes as needs are identified.
CASCC Composition and Meetings
CASCC is chaired by the Associate Dean for Students, Instruction, and Curriculum and co-chaired by the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs in the College of Arts & Sciences. Tenure-Track and Instructional faculty in Arts & Sciences are eligible to serve on the committee. The committee includes faculty representatives from the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, and a faculty representative from the regional campuses. See the current roster of CASCC members.
CASCC typically meets every other Friday during the academic year (for the Fridays when there are university holidays or no classes are held, the committee will skip that Friday and will then typically meet two other Fridays in a row). Proposals to be reviewed by the committee must come in 1 week prior to the committee meeting to allow time for the agenda to be created and for the committee members to review the proposals. This meeting schedule helps to ensure that the college committee reviews and acts upon course and program proposals in a timely way throughout the academic year.
Course and program proposals that are approved by CASCC are then reviewed by university-level curriculum committees, described in the following section.
University-Level Committees, Processes and Guidelines
University Curriculum Council
The University Curriculum Council (UCC) "is the final recommending voice in curricular matters. Its recommendations go through the Provost to the President for final approval."
Committees within the UCC include the following.
The Individual Course Committee (ICC) "is concerned with coordination at the university level of addition, deletion, and changes in all individual course offerings"
Forms and guidelines posted on the ICC webpage include:
- Guidelines for New Courses and Course Changes
- Top Reasons for Course Returns from the ICC
- Cross-Listed Course Guidelines
- Junior Composition Course Guidelines
- Tier 1 Junior Composition (JE) Course Guidelines
- Experimental Course Form
- Temporary Course Form
- Learning Objectives and Outcomes for General Education Courses
The Programs Committee (PC) "is concerned with addition, and first follow-up of new programs, as well as deletion, relocation, and changes in existing academic programs, degrees, master curriculum file prefixes, and major codes."
Forms and guidelines posted on the PC webpage include:
- Program Relocation Process
- Process for offering approved undergraduate programs at other Ohio campuses
- Undergraduate Semester Program Guidelines
- Minor and Certificate Guidelines
- Graduate Semester Program Guidelines
- Cross Departmental Guidelines
- RACGS Guidelines for Graduate Program Approvals
- New RACGS Graduate Program Degree Change Request Forms
- Changes in Program Form
The Program Review Committee (PRC) "is concerned with cyclic review and evaluation of existing programs."
The General Education Committee "is charged with the implementation, maintenance and oversight of the general education program."
Note: This College of Arts & Sciences Curriculum Guide focuses primarily on course and program review and timelines.
Ohio Curriculum Enhancement and Approval Network (OCEAN)
Proposals for new courses and programs as well as changes in existing courses and programs are entered in OCEAN.
To create a new program or to make changes to existing undergraduate or graduate programs, first see the instructions on the PC webpage.
The OCEAN approval process is as follows (in order); see the UCC website.
OCEAN Review Levels (in order)
- DSCC: Department/School Curriculum Committee (optional)
- DCSD: Department Chair/School Director
- CCC: College Curriculum Committee
- CDEAN: College Dean
- ICC: Individual Course Committee (courses only)
- PC: Programs Committee (Programs only)
- UCC: University Curriculum Committee
To request OCEAN access for A&S faculty who are involved in curricular submission and approval processes in their department or program, the department chair or program director should contact cas@ohio.edu.