Guide to Curricular Procedures

April 2004

INTRODUCTION:

Principles
Outline of the Curriculum Process

1. Majors, Options, and Minors
   1. New Majors
   2. New Options
   3. New Minors
   4. Changes in Majors, Options, and Minors
   5. Dropping of Majors, Options, and Minors

2. Senate Policies Concerning Majors, Options, and Minors
   1. Certificates
   2. Consultation with Adviser Statement
   3. 400-Level Credits Required in a Major
   4. Retention and Transfer Requirements
   5. ROTC Credits
   6. Total Credits Required for Graduation

3. Courses
   1. Course Adds
   2. Course Changes
   3. Course Drops

4. Senate Policies and Procedures Concerning Courses
   1. Course Credits
   2. Course Numbers
   3. Crosslisted Courses
   4. Teaching of Existing Courses in Colleges in Which They Have Not Been Taught
   5. Definition of a 400-Level Course
   6. Five-Year Automatic Drop Rule
   7. Full-and Half-Semester Courses
   8. Honors (H) Courses
   9. R Grades
   10. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (SA/UN) Grading

5. First-Year Seminars
   1. Modes of Delivery for the First-Year Seminar Courses
   2. Course Numbers and Proposals
   3. Criteria for First-Year Seminars

6. General Education Component
   1. Structure of General Education
   2. Criteria for General Education Courses
   3. Procedures for Submitting General Education Course Proposals

7. Intercultural and International Competence Requirement
   1. Criteria for Intercultural and International Competence (GI) Courses
   2. Procedures for Submitting Permanent Intercultural and International Competence (GI) Course Proposals
   3. Procedures for Submitting One-Semester Intercultural and International Competence (GI) Course Proposals

8. Writing Across the Curriculum
   1. Supporting Documentation for Writing-Intensive Course Proposals
   2. Procedures for Submitting Writing-Intensive Course Proposals

SECTION TWO:  ASSOCIATE DEGREE CURRICULUM

1. Intercultural and International Competence Requirement
2. General Education
3. Writing Across the Curriculum

SECTION THREE:  THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

1. Program, Option, or Minor Proposals
2. Post-Baccalaureate Credit Certificate Programs
3. Course Proposals
4. Common Course Numbers
   
5. Definition of a 500-Level Course
6. Pass/Fail Grading System
7. Simultaneous Offering of Undergraduate and Graduate Courses
8. Courses with Fixed Credits

SECTION FOUR:  THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

1. Medical Education Course Proposals
2. Graduate Course Proposals

SECTION FIVE:  THE DICKINSON SCHOOL OF LAW

1. Law Course Proposals
2. Graduate Course Proposals

APPENDIX:

Glossary
Program/Major, Option, or Minor Proposal Form (undergraduate)
Program, Option, or Minor Proposal Form (graduate)
Course Proposal Form ADD, CHANGE, or DROP (used for both undergraduate and graduate courses)
Schreyer Honors College Course Schedule Book Information Form
Schreyer Honors College Temporary H-Course Approval Form
Schreyer Honors College Permanent H-Course Approval Form
One-Semester Titles Request Form
Proposal Form for Additional Entrance and Retention Requirements
Technology Needs for Course Proposals Form
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements (course listing)

OTHER IMPORTANT WEB SITES:

Curricular Deadlines
http://www.psu.edu/ufs/blue.html

Senate Curriculum Reports (Blue Sheets)
http://www.psu.edu/ufs/bluesheet/bluex.html

Proposed General Education Courses (status of courses as they are reviewed for the new General Education guidelines)
http://www.psu.edu/ufs/ca/ge/index.html

General Education in the Curriculum
http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/gened/

Undergraduate Degree Programs Bulletin
http://www.psu.edu/academic/bluebook/

Graduate Degree Programs Bulletin
http://www.psu.edu/academic/whitebook/

The University Faculty Senate Policies for Students
http://www.psu.edu/ufs/policies/

The University Faculty Senate Home Page
http://www.psu.edu/ufs

Guidelines for Review of the Establishment, Reorganization, or Discontinuation of Academic Organizational Units
http://www.psu.edu/ufs/guide/reviewacadunits.html

P-1: New or Changes in Programs/Majors, Options, and Minors
http://www.psu.edu/dept/oue/aappm/P-1.html

P-3: Moving/Discontinuing Degree Programs Among Colleges/Locations of the University
http://www.psu.edu/dept/oue/aappm/P-3.html

P-4: Administrative Enrollment Controls for Undergraduate Majors
http://www.psu.edu/dept/oue/aappm/P-4.html

P-6: Academic Program Phase-Out
http://www.psu.edu/dept/oue/aappm/P-6.html