Instructions on Proposals for New Programs of Study

Departments, Majors, Co-majors, Concentrations, Tracks

 

Passed November 18, 1999

Revised November 14, 2000

Edited for style January 24, 2002

 

Faculty members interested in introducing a new program of study into the Creighton College of Arts and Sciences’ curriculum should follow the procedure outlined below.

 

[NOTE:  A “new program of study” is defined as any sequence of courses—whether those courses themselves are new or have been previously approved—that will be offered to students as a previously unavailable way in which to structure their undergraduate education at Creighton. This includes, but is not limited to, proposals for new academic departments, interdisciplinary programs, majors, co-majors, concentrations or tracks. Any faculty member uncertain whether her or his proposal falls under this definition should consult the Dean of the College before proceeding.]  

 

Procedure

 

  1. Meet with the Dean of the College to discuss the nature of the initiative. If this is an interdisciplinary program, provide the Dean with a list of faculty from the College who could serve on a committee to examine the initiative (see [2] below).

 

  1. The Dean of the College will appoint an investigating committee. In the case of majors and co-majors this committee will be drawn primarily from the sponsoring department. In the case of interdisciplinary initiatives, it will be drawn primarily from the contributing disciplines. This committee will also include a student representative designated by the President of Arts and Sciences Senate.

 

  1. The investigating committee will be charged with:

 

    1. undertaking a preliminary investigation to see if there is sufficient need to proceed with said curricular initiative;
    2. outlining the relative advantages/disadvantages of said curricular initiative; and
    3. communicating to the Dean the results of its investigation and a recommendation as to whether or not the College should proceed with said initiative and the rationale for its recommendation.

 

  1. If the Dean determines there is sufficient merit to proceed, the Dean will appoint a new initiative committee (whose membership may include members of the relevant investigating committee) to prepare a formal proposal following the attached guidelines.

 

  1. The new initiative committee will submit three copies of its proposal to the Dean of the College.

 

  1. The Dean will send the new initiative committee’s proposal to the Curriculum Committee of the College’s Executive Council for review.

 

  1. The Curriculum Committee will forward its recommendation to the Dean. If the Curriculum Committee suggests only conditional acceptance, it will communicate the conditions for final acceptance to the chair of the new initiative committee via the Senior Associate Dean of the College.

 

  1. The Dean may consult with the Executive Council about the proposed initiative. 

 

  1. The Dean will render a decision regarding the new initiative.

 

  1. If the new program is approved, then the Senior Associate Dean will initiate the College’s approval process for any new courses included in the proposal.

 

  1. The appropriate program director or department chair will work with the Senior Associate Dean to facilitate promulgation of the program in the next Bulletin and Schedule of courses.

 

Proposal

 

The proposal submitted to the Dean of the College by the new initiative committee should include the following:

 

1.      The title of the curricular initiative, e.g. Women’s Studies Program; Co-Major in Health Administration Policy.

 

2.      Introduction:  Describe any history or circumstances that led to the development of the curricular initiative.

 

3.      Rationale:  Discuss the purpose or value of the initiative; the market for it among our current and/or prospective students; the reason it can not be accomplished through existing curricular programs.

 

4.      Objectives:  Define curricular objectives to be met by the initiative.

 

5.      Program Structure:  Describe the program itself, including pre-requisite courses, required courses, and, if applicable, support courses. Clearly specify different fields, tracks, or specializations within the program and their rationale.

 

NOTE:  If the program involves a major or co-major, please bear in mind the following requirements established by the College and recorded in the Undergraduate Bulletin (on approximately page 92 and page 101):

 

Major:  A minimum of 18 semester hours; in addition a support area of a minimum of 12 hours in one or more fields allied to the major

 

Co-major: A minimum of 24 semester hours; no more than 6 hours counted toward the major may be applied to the requirements of the co-major

 

6.      Administration:  List and describe key roles in the administration of the initiative, e.g. director, program faculty, advisory board.

 

7.      Additional Personnel:  Discuss whether and how existing faculty and/or staff will be utilized to met the curricular demands. Include projected needs for additional faculty.

 

8.      Resources:  Include a projected budget that outlines any resources, over and above faculty and/or staff, which the program will need.

 

9.      References or bibliography (if appropriate).

 

10.  Addendum:  Attach any additional information addressing the need for the curricular initiative proposed.