Resources and Reports
5-50-060 Curriculum Rules for Implementation
(1) Cooperative Education
Cooperative education (X90) is an individualized contracted field experience where the student is actively engaged in hands-on learning with business, industry, government, or social service agencies. This contractual arrangement involves a student learning plan, cooperating employer supervision, and faculty coordination.
(2) Credit Hour Allocation to Courses
Credit Hour Allocation to Courses - Academic credit provides the basis for measuring the amount of engaged learning time expected of a typical student enrolled not only in traditional classroom settings but also laboratories, studios, internships and other experiential learning, distance, correspondence, and competency-based education.
(A) Traditional, Seat-Time-Based Courses - A minimum of one class work hour (approximately 50-60 minutes of instruction) and an additional two hours of out-of-class student work each week for one credit hour during a 10-week quarter. If the learning experience is offered in a different time frame (e.g., six-week summer session), the student time required to complete the course should reasonably approximate 30 hours of combined direct instruction and student work per credit. If direct instruction is not the principal mode of learning for an academic experience (e.g., laboratory courses, studio work, some on-line courses), the student time required to complete the course should reasonably approximate 30 hours of student work per credit.
(B) Hybrid or Online Courses - The credit hours awarded for a given course or academic experience must be reasonably equivalent to the standard of 3 hours of combined classroom instruction and student work per credit hour for a 10 week quarter. These hours may consist of course activities including, but not limited to:
1. Face-to-face course meetings
2. Virtual course meetings or student-instructor and student-student interactions
3. Time to read/view assigned texts or other assigned materials
4. Experiential learning activities consistent with the learning objectives of the course
5. Synthesis/processing/reflection time and activities (may be used for writing or production of creative work which may take many forms including but not limited to journals, formal papers, projects, blogs, art, music, etc.)
(C) Alternative Outcome-Based Courses - Credit may be awarded for an amount of learning equivalent to learning in a seat-time-based course as documented by student attainment of learning outcomes as verified by assessment of student achievement by the appropriate academic department. Students completing competency-based courses would be awarded the same credit equivalent to learning in the same seat-time-based course.
(3) Graduate Courses (initial digits 5XX, 6XX, 7XX)
(A) Graduate Enrollment - Graduate courses numbered 501 and above are generally restricted to students who have a bachelor's degree and who have formally been admitted to a graduate program of the university. Competitive admission may be required for some programs.
(B) Undergraduate Enrollment - Seniors may enroll in graduate courses with the permission of the instructor and the department chair. Credit earned by seniors may meet either undergraduate or graduate program requirements, but not both, with the exception of some dual degree programs. If the credit earned by a senior is to be applied to a graduate program, approval must be obtained from the graduate program director and the dean of graduate studies and research prior to enrollment.
(C) Curricular Criteria - Graduate curricula are usually more specialized than undergraduate curricula, focusing on a few academic or applied areas. Introductory courses and courses that can be approached by a student without extensive preparation are not appropriate to the graduate level.
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(4) Individual Study Courses
Individual study courses (X96) are those that include study of specific topics that are not offered as existing courses. The individual study course may be repeated for credit.
(5) International Study Courses
University-sponsored international courses and programs must meet the same academic criteria as would be required of similar programs on the home campus.
(6) Lower and Upper-Division Courses (initial digit 1XX, 2XX, 3XX, 4XX)
(A) Lower-division courses (1XX and 2XX) are general introductions to a field of study. They are normally open to all students, not just those majoring in the field.
(B) Upper-division courses (3XX and 4XX) are more specific than lower-division courses and may require prerequisites.
(7) Final Culminating Experience
Final culminating experience credits (6XX or 7XX) will have the following catalog description:
DEPT 6XX or 7XX: Final culminating experience title has to be specified as one or more of the following: Master’s Thesis, Project Study, Portfolio Review, Examination, Creative or Studio Project, or Internship.
Prerequisite: permission of chair of student’s graduate faculty supervisory committee. Designed to credit and record supervised study for the master’s thesis, non-thesis project, studio project, public recital, portfolio review, internship, and/or examination. Grade will be S/U. May be repeated for up to six credits for all Master’s degrees and may be repeated for up to 12 credits for terminal Master’s degrees.
(8) Office of Continuing Education - Credit Offerings
(A) At least one of the following conditions must be met in order for a credit course or program to be offered through the office of continuing education:
1. The course/program must be a test of new and emerging markets which may involve any or all of the following: A new academic course or program; A new location; A new audience of students; A new technology for delivery.
2. An offering which increases access and falls outside the limits of state supported university offerings for the main campus and university centers as determined each year by the provost/vice president for academic and student life.
3. A professional development (500) course as defined in CWUP 5-50-020.
a. The course/program must be taught by a member of the university faculty or a person approved by the appropriate department following the provisions of the faculty code for the appointment of faculty.
b. Students should have available the appropriate library materials, laboratories, special equipment and other facilities the course may require.
(B) The provost/vice president for academic and student life or designee has authority to approve credit courses, programs or certificates offered through the office of continuing education. New courses for credit, new degree programs and new credit bearing certificate programs need to follow established internal and external approval process.
(9) Office of Continuing Education - Noncredit Offerings
(A) As part of the continuing education of the general public, the university offers opportunities for learning which do not carry academic credit. Conferences, workshops, institutes, seminars, symposia, short courses and similar learning activities are offered to individuals for professional development, learning new skills or general information.
(B) The subject matter (content) of noncredit offerings must be consistent with the university mission and should reflect the general nature of the institution. They must not duplicate or compete for enrollment with credit bearing courses. The office of continuing education will collaborate with appropriate colleges, departments and university staff units as needed where potential duplication or competition is identified. Non-credit courses and non-credit certificates offered through the office of continuing education may be provided in-state, out-of-state or out-of-country with approval of the provost or designee.
(C) Prior to scheduling a noncredit offering, an appropriate academic department or faculty member must be consulted for input on appropriateness of the offering, credentials of instructor (if not CWU faculty), suggestions on evaluation and other recommendations to insure overall quality.
(10) Prerequisites, co-requisites, other qualifications
(A) Prerequisites are courses or other requirements that are verifiable in PeopleSoft and required prior to enrollment in a course (such as major status, grade requirement).
(B) Co-requisite courses are those that must be taken at the same time.
(C) Other qualifications may include but are not limited to:
1. Permission of the instructor or department (using permission will override other pre/co-requisites).
2. Fingerprint clearance.
3. Specific age requirements.
(11) Equivalent courses typically carry the same credit load, but may differ in title, catalog number, and/or prefix. The following statement must be added to the course description: MKT 3XXand MKT 3xx are equivalent courses; a student may not receive credit for both. Equivalent courses do not have to be offered the same term.
(12) Professional Development Courses
(A) Professional Development courses will have the following catalog description:
DEPT 500: Professional Development (1-5). Development topics and issues for in-service and continuing education of professionals. Not applicable to degrees nor institutional requirements for endorsements or teaching certificates offered through the university. Usually graded S/U.
(B) The course may be offered for a period of five years. There is no limit on the number of times such a course may be offered during the five year period. After the five year period, the course must be resubmitted. The office of continuing education will notify the appropriate department annually of expiring professional development courses.
(13) Reserve Courses and Programs
(A) Courses are put on reserve when they are not regularly scheduled course offerings or have not been taught for five years. Reasons for placing courses on reserve could include temporary staffing changes, anticipated accreditation changes, etc.
(B) Programs are put on reserve when the curriculum becomes obsolete; student admission to the program has dropped, lack of teaching faculty/staff, or is no longer feasible to teach.
1. Programs will stay on reserve for five years before being permanently deleted.
2. A department may request that a program be taken off reserve within the first three years by submitting a program reactivate form reserve proposal. Changes to the reactivated program should be submitted using the program and/or narrative change proposal in Curriculog.
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(14) Course Accessibility
To be in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodative Policy, learning outcomes must be explicitly stated and must specify “essential elements” for ADA purposes and specific measures for assessment.
Such elements may be attendance, participation, quizzes, papers, presentations, and projects. The student learning outcomes specify a body of knowledge that the department wants taught each time a course is offered regardless of who the teacher may be. The educational processes that will be used in evaluating students, which may vary with different instructors, need to be separate from the essential elements.
(15) Workshops, Special Topics, Seminars
(A) Workshops (X91) are non-lecture courses which require students to research, develop, present, and discuss projects and ideas. No more than eight credits can be applied to a master's program. Usually graded S/U.
(B) Special Topics (X98) are courses offered on a trial basis and must meet standards applied to regular courses. Exceptions for expedited Special Topics (X98) courses may be approved by the FSCC as specified in CWUR 2-50-060.
(C) Seminars (X99) are courses in which students carry the major responsibility for course preparation, research, and presentation of topics.
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[Responsibility: Faculty Senate; Authority: Provost/VP for Academic & Student Life; Reviewed/Endorsed by Provost’s Council 08/09/2016; 06/05/2018; Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 10/21/2016; 06/13/2018; 2/20/2019; 02/03/2021; 11/09/2022; Approved by: A. James Wohlpart, Presiden
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