You should identify what you and your department will need to address prior to course development. This outline should give you a basic idea of the process and what to expect.

Departments coordinate processes to facilitate the administration and management of a new course. Procedures for offering a new course vary according to your curriculum choice and format. The following is useful information regarding offering a new course:

Course approval

A new course or a permanent course change needs approval from the University Committee on Curriculum. New courses may receive interim approval from their department for two years. The curriculum approval process varies by department. Check with your department to determine their procedure.

Special topics course number

Creating a new course and obtaining a course number for it can be a lengthy process. In the past,  departments have used special topics course numbers to test out new courses. If it proves to be successful, extended paperwork for a new permanent course number can be initiated and approved.

Prerequisites

Some courses have prerequisites that may include one or more courses. If your course requires the completion of prerequisite courses, include the course requirements in the catalog of course description.

Credit and non-credit courses

Courses are offered as credit or non-credit courses. Make sure you are aware of the differences in the enrollment policies and grading procedures before offering your course as credit or non-credit.

Fully-online, blended or an enhanced course

There are some distinctions between fully-online, blended, and enhanced courses, primarily in the planning phase. Some departments phase in the development process, beginning with enhanced or blended and moving to fully-online over time. Be sure you know which format your department expects you to implement.

To find out more information about MSU’s curricular process visit http://www.reg.msu.edu/UCC/UCC.asp