In developing new courses or revising an established course, the initiating department should consult as widely as possible with other departments whenever the proposed curricular changes may affect students in other programs. Units must consult with other units when course proposals result in any of the following:
- modifying or dropping courses which serve as a prerequisite for courses or satisfy degree requirement in another program;
- selecting courses from another program to serve as a prerequisite or satisfy degree requirements within their own program;
- modifying or proposing new courses that may be of interest to other units;
- possible subject matter or content duplication.
Content Duplication
University policy states that “Students may not receive credit for any course assessed as having substantially similar content as a course for which they have already received credit.” (See General Limitations point 9 of Bachelor Degree Requirements.) "Substantially similar content” is generally defined in terms of course descriptions and learning outcomes. Courses that are largely covering the same topics with largely the same outcomes would be deemed as having “substantially similar content”. This section acknowledges that courses addressing similar topics through unique disciplinary, methodological, or linguistic lenses have different learning outcomes, thus, should not be deemed as having “substantially similar content.”
The course proposal includes a section for proposal authors to explain and justify the unique disciplinary, methodological, or linguistic lens in comparison to other courses that are offered. Proposal authors can refer to the communication received from the Unit Head, Chair of Curriculum Committee, or similar curricular-approving individual of other departments to explain how the proposed course content significantly differs from that of other departments with similar course(s). These contacts are often useful to the UOCC and also help with understanding the complementary, and non-duplicative, nature of classes offered in different programs and departments.
The submitting department is required to share an example syllabus with any academic units likely to be affected by the proposed curricular changes and request feedback about content duplication. The initiating department should include a date by which the other departments are asked to respond. Responses received should be included in the course proposal. The proposal could also indicate that discussions of course content duplication were initiated with other departments when no response was received; in this case, the interpretation may be that the other department supports the proposal unless there is indication to the contrary.
The dean’s office or curriculum committee of the governing college is expected to review proposals and consider possible content duplication prior to submitting the proposals to the UOCC, which will evaluate these assessments of content duplication and may request more information or contact additional departments. Courses that significantly duplicate other classes cannot be approved unless special arrangements are made such as excluding students from receiving credit for both classes (see General Limitations point 11 of Bachelor Degree Requirements). Where there is possible duplication, the proposer cannot self-exempt from contacting other departments even if the proposer believes that there is no duplication.
Approved By: University Senate Date: 05/24/2023
Motion Number: US22/23-20
Revision History:
Original US22/23-20 Date 05/24/2023