New Course Proposals
Instructions for proposing new courses and course revisions
Proposals for new courses and course revisions are considered by the
WCAS Curricular Review Committee. Proposals come from department chairs
or program directors after having gone through appropriate departmental
or program review. The Committee meets at least once a quarter, more
frequently as business warrants. All proposals should be sent to Mary
Finn, Office of Undergraduate Studies, 1922 Sheridan Road
(491-7560), mfinn@northwestern.edu. Materials should be sent electronically.
Please provide the following information.
1. Department or program proposing the course or revision.
2. When the course will be offered for the first time.
3. How frequently the course will be offered.
4. Likely instructor(s).
5 Anticipated enrollment.
6. Catalog entry. New one-quarter courses should be described in no more than 30 words (exclusive of prerequisite information). An example:
ECON 213-0 Economics of Gender
Analysis of gender differences in employment and earning. Family, labor market, discrimination, segregation, historical and international conditions, and anti-discrimination legislation.
7. Prerequisites for the course (if included, please indicate by course equivalent, for example, rather than "some background in French," specify "FRENCH 102-3 or equivalent.").
8. The reason for offering the course: its place in the major, service to non-majors, etc.
9. Reasons for 100, 200, or 300 level.
10. If this is a 300-level course, will it be presented to the Graduate School for approval for graduate credit? (WCAS approval does not constitute approval for graduate credit)
11. Whether 100-, 200-, or 300-level, should it count for distribution requirement credit? If yes, in what area(s)? (See http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/advising/curriculum/distribution_overview.pdf for descriptions of distribution areas and http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/advising/curriculum/distribution_course_guidelines.pdf for some guidelines to consider.)
12. How does it differ from related courses in this and other departments and schools?
13. Does this course replace an existing course or courses? Does this course, or a course or courses it
replaces, affect programs in other departments? Have other departments been consulted? Include
documentation.
14. Format and contact hours: e.g., seminar, lecture, lab, etc., 3 one-hour meeting per week.
15. Required reading, number and length of papers required, field trips, exams. How will students be
evaluated?
16. Sample CTEC course description and sample syllabus. This is a very important component. Even
though the course has not yet been taught, an appropriate potential instructor will need to work out a
fairly detailed syllabus, including a calendar of assignments and a reading list.
Note: WCAS does not approve courses for graduate credit. To carry graduate credit, 300-level courses must be presented separately to the Graduate School for approval. All new or revised 400- and 500-level courses must be submitted to the Graduate School, not to WCAS.
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