Curriculum Development

Proposing a new course: Requests for new courses are submitted through the university’s Curriculum Portal after recommendation by the disciplinary area, then vote and approval by the Department’s Undergraduate Studies Committee and Graduate Studies Committee (5000+ level). 

Required components, new course proposals: 

1. New course number designation
2. Course syllabus
3. One-page “Couse information cover page" for committee review
4. TFMA course submission checklist

1. New course number designation: Speak to curriculum staff to identify available course number possibilities for new course. 

2. Course syllabus: Syllabus template: https://asccas.osu.edu/submission/development/submission-materials/syllabus-elements

• Include complete Course Objectives and/or Expected Student Learning Outcomes: Course objectives should explain what the course seeks to achieve in terms of knowledge and cognitive skills which emphasize recall, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and critical judgment; and/or acquisition of attitudes, values, and aesthetics judgments.
• Complete outline of course content delivery, topics to be covered, and class period meetings with schedule (proposed).
• Faculty are responsible for ensuring that required syllabus statements (updated) are included. Proposals will be returned from the College if statements are incomplete or missing. https://asccas.osu.edu/submission/development/submission-materials/syllabus-elements
• Describe the methods to be used to evaluate student performance. Indicate the percent of the final grade each method constitutes. State the grading option (e.g., A-E, S/U, P).

Note on Credit Hours / Total Workload

• Faculty Rule 3335-8-24 outlines the relationship between credit hours and expected workload for a 14-week course. Generally, “one credit hour shall be assigned for each three hours per week of the average student’s time, including class hours, required to earn the average grade of ‘C’ in the course”.
• A typical 3-credit-hour course offered in the Autumn or Spring semesters will require approximately 3 hours of class meeting time or direct instruction per week and 6 hours of out-of-class work per week to earn a grade of “C”.
• For classes offered in the Summer terms or a 7-week Session, the total workload for a 14-week offering should be re-distributed across the assigned term. For example, a 3-credit-hour course offered during a 6-week summer term should require approximately 7 hours of direct instruction per week and 14 hours of out-of-class work per week.

Include information if specific/non-standard departmental scheduling requests will be needed:

• Theatre and Film building space will be required as part of the regular course offering (e.g.: “Faculty request for course to be scheduled in TFM 350 rehearsal room as available”).
• Duration if course is a production or studio course not part of regular approved weekly schedule (e.g.: “Course will meet for 2 hours twice per week as a high-impact studio course,” etc.
• Classes with meeting times that are different from those outlined in the Registrar's Approved Weekly Schedule should keep the expectations for total workload in mind when assigning work outside of class, as expected by university and Ohio Department of Higher Education regulations on student workload per credit hour.

3. One-page “Couse information cover page" for committee review: 

• Course information required for input into curriculum portal:
  • Course title, description, faculty (proposer or identified faculty member intended to teach regularly)
  • Credit hours, repeatability, length of course: ex: 14 weeks (regular semester)
  • Campus: Columbus (+ regional campuses, if applicable)
  • Grading basis: letter grade or S/U
  • Course components: lecture, lab, recitation, etc.
  • Mode: In-person, Hybrid, Distance Learning, Distance Enhanced (for any version not in-person, a separate ASC template DL/HY syllabus must be completed.)
  • Pre-reqs: outline all pre-reqs or student populations “and/or permission of instructor”
• Very brief rationale (1-2 lines): State the need and purpose of the course and how course relates to primary goals of academic unit.
• Curriculum fit: Include where course will fit in any degree programs (majors, minors, graduate degree programs): Ex: After approval, the course will be considered for addition to the “XYZ-BA as an elective.”

4. TFMA Course submission checklist: Include course submission checklist: 

To begin submission and review process in TFMA: Check that all requirements above are complete, and share with curriculum staff member. Review proposal in area and indicate date of sign-off by area (faculty group) for recommendation to advance to department committees.  After review and area recommendation is formalized, please submit final proposal and documents to Staff curriculum coordinator to include at next Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Committees for vote to advance. Files will be uploaded to department archive and used for submission to College. Faculty will be updated on proposal progress as it moves through the curricular pipeline for approvals. 

Proposing a new General Education course: Requests for new General Education courses are submitted through the university’s Curriculum Portal after recommendation by the disciplinary area, then vote and approval by the Department’s Undergraduate Studies Committee and Graduate Studies Committee (5000+ level). 

Planning your GE course: teaching.resources.osu.edu/teaching-topics/planning-your-course-general

Required components, new GE course proposals: 

1. New course number designation
2. GE Course syllabus
3. One-page “Couse information cover page" for committee review
4. GE worksheets and submission checklists required by College
5. TFMA course submission checklist

1. New GE course number designation: Speak to curriculum staff to identify available course number possibilities for new course. 

2. GE Course syllabus: Syllabus template: https://asccas.osu.edu/submission/development/submission-materials/syllabus-elements

• Include ASC required GE Course Objectives and Expected Student Learning Outcomes: https://asccas.osu.edu/new-general-education-gen-goals-and-elos
• Complete outline of course content delivery, topics to be covered, and class period meetings with schedule (proposed).
• Faculty are responsible for ensuring that required syllabus statements (updated) are included. Proposals will be returned from the College if statements are incomplete or missing. https://asccas.osu.edu/submission/development/submission-materials/syllabus-elements
• Describe the methods to be used to evaluate student performance. Indicate the percent of the final grade each method constitutes. State the grading option (e.g., A-E, S/U, P).

Note on Credit Hours / Total Workload

• Faculty Rule 3335-8-24 outlines the relationship between credit hours and expected workload for a 14-week course. Generally, “one credit hour shall be assigned for each three hours per week of the average student’s time, including class hours, required to earn the average grade of ‘C’ in the course”.
• A typical 3-credit-hour course offered in the Autumn or Spring semesters will require approximately 3 hours of class meeting time or direct instruction per week and 6 hours of out-of-class work per week to earn a grade of “C”.
• For classes offered in the Summer terms or a 7-week Session, the total workload for a 14-week offering should be re-distributed across the assigned term. For example, a 3-credit-hour course offered during a 6-week summer term should require approximately 7 hours of direct instruction per week and 14 hours of out-of-class work per week.

Include information if specific/non-standard departmental scheduling requests will be needed:

• Theatre and Film building space will be required as part of the regular course offering (e.g.: “Faculty request for course to be scheduled in TFM 350 rehearsal room as available”).
• Duration if course is a production or studio course not part of regular approved weekly schedule (e.g.: “Course will meet for 2 hours twice per week as a high-impact studio course,” etc.
• Classes with meeting times that are different from those outlined in the Registrar's Approved Weekly Schedule should keep the expectations for total workload in mind when assigning work outside of class, as expected by university and Ohio Department of Higher Education regulations on student workload per credit hour.

3. One-page “Couse information cover page" for committee review:

• Course information required for input into curriculum portal:
  • Course title, description, faculty (proposer or identified faculty member intended to teach regularly)
  • Credit hours, repeatability, length of course: ex: 14 weeks (regular semester)
  • Campus: Columbus (+ regional campuses, if applicable)
  • Grading basis: letter grade or S/U
  • Course components: lecture, lab, recitation, etc.
  • Mode: In-person, Hybrid, Distance Learning, Distance Enhanced (for any version not in-person, a separate ASC template DL/HY syllabus must be completed.)
  • Pre-reqs: outline all pre-reqs or student populations “and/or permission of instructor”
• Very brief rationale (1-2 lines): State the need and purpose of the course and how course relates to primary goals of academic unit.
• Curriculum fit: Include where course will fit in any degree programs (majors, minors, graduate degree programs): Ex: After approval, the course will be considered for addition to the “XYZ-BA as an elective.”

4. TFMA Course submission checklist: Include course submission checklist: 

5. GE worksheets and submission checklists required by College.

The GE goals and expected learning outcomes can be found at the following locations:  

• GE-N Goals/ELOs: https://asccas.osu.edu/new-general-education-gen-goals-and-elos
• GE-L Goals/ELOs: https://asccas.osu.edu/legacy-general-education-gel-goals-and-elos

GE-N Submission Checklist, ASC units: 

• https://asccas.osu.edu/sites/default/files/2023-08/asc_unit_ge_submission_checklist.pdf

GE-N Submission resources: 

• GEN REGD and Themes Examples: https://asccas.osu.edu/new-ge-sample-proposal
• High Impact Practices Resource Guide: High Impact Practices Resources

To begin submission and review process in TFMA: Check that all requirements above are complete, and share with curriculum staff member. Review proposal in area and indicate date of sign-off by area (faculty group) for recommendation to advance to department committees.  After review and area recommendation is formalized, please submit final proposal and documents to Staff curriculum coordinator to include at next Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Committees for vote to advance. Files will be uploaded to department archive and used for submission to College. Faculty will be updated on proposal progress as it moves through the curricular pipeline for approvals. 

Revising an existing course: Requests for course revisions are submitted through the university’s Curriculum Portal after recommendation by the disciplinary area, then vote and approval by the Department’s Undergraduate Studies Committee and Graduate Studies Committee (5000+ level). 

Required components, course revision proposals: 

1. Couse change information outline and justification of changes
2. Revised course syllabus
3. TFMA course submission checklist

1. Couse change information outline and justification of changes

• List all changes to course title, description, faculty, credit hours, repeatability, course length, grading basis, course component, mode.
• Review pre-requisites and update.
• Review course objectives, expected learning outcomes, course content topics, etc. and update.
• Rationale: State the need and purpose of the course changes.

2. Revised course syllabus

• Request most recent syllabus versions from curriculum staff.
• Complete course Objectives and/or Expected Student Learning Outcomes: Course objectives should explain what the course seeks to achieve in terms of knowledge and cognitive skills which emphasize recall, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and critical judgment; and/or acquisition of attitudes, values, and aesthetics judgments.
• Complete outline of course content delivery, topics to be covered, and class period meetings with schedule (proposed).
• Faculty are responsible for ensuring that required syllabus statements (updated) are included. Proposals will be returned from the College if statements are incomplete or missing. https://asccas.osu.edu/submission/development/submission-materials/syllabus-elements

Questions for consideration: 

• Does this change impact the program structure or degree requirements? If yes: please complete a complete curriculum/program change proposal in addition to the course change.
• Would this change impact regional campuses where the course is also taught? If yes, regional faculty should be notified appropriately and offer feedback if the requested changes would negatively impact their course offering patterns or ability to teach the curriculum as designed.
• Even if not part of revision, please review existing course descriptions, Expected Learning Outcomes, Course Topics, to make all adjustments at one time.
• Contact program coordinator if course information and current goals/ELOs, and catalog/description are needed for reference. 

Include information if specific/non-standard departmental scheduling requests will be needed as part of revision:

• Theatre and Film building space will be required as part of the regular course offering (e.g.: “Faculty request for course to be scheduled in TFM 350 rehearsal room as available”).
• Duration if course is a production or studio course not part of regular approved weekly schedule (e.g.: “Course will meet for 2 hours twice per week as a high-impact studio course,” etc.
• Classes with meeting times that are different from those outlined in the Registrar's Approved Weekly Schedule should keep the expectations for total workload in mind when assigning work outside of class, as expected by university and Ohio Department of Higher Education regulations on student workload per credit hour.

3. TFMA Course submission checklist: Include course submission checklist: 

Note: Not all updates to a course necessitate a formal curricular revision. 

The following types of changes typically fall within the scope of instructional flexibility and do not require submission through the curriculum approval process:

• Updating readings or materials: Replacing or supplementing textbooks, articles, films, or other instructional materials to reflect current scholarship or teaching preferences.
• Adjusting weekly topics or schedule: Modifying the order or emphasis of topics covered during the semester without altering the overall course objectives or learning outcomes.
• Teaching methods: Incorporating new pedagogical approaches that do not change the course’s credit hours, delivery mode, or core structure.
• Assignments and grading methods/criteria: Revising assignments, exams, or grading criteria as long as the overall assessment strategy remains consistent in approved syllabus.
• Instructor-specific style or emphasis: Individual instructors may bring their own expertise and focus to a course, provided the course still meets the approved learning outcomes and catalog/course description.
• Routine updates for relevance: Including current events, recent research, or emerging trends to keep course content timely and engaging.

Revisions that DO require a formal curricular revision to an existing course: 

• Course title change: Any modification to the official course title must be reviewed and approved to ensure clarity and consistency across the catalog and transcripts.
• Course description change: Updates to the catalog description that alter the scope, focus, or learning outcomes of the course require approval.
• Credit hour change, repeatability: Increasing or decreasing the number of credit hours affects workload and degree requirements, and must be formally reviewed. Altering whether a course can be repeated for credit or changing the grading basis (e.g., from letter grade to pass/fail).
• Prerequisite or enrollment restriction changes: Adding, removing, or modifying prerequisites or restrictions (e.g., major-only enrollment or adding or removing a specific course pre-req) that may impact student access and time-to-degree progression.
• Delivery Mode Change: Shifting a course from in-person to online, hybrid, or distance learning formats requires curricular review to ensure instructional quality and compliance.
• Level Change (e.g., 3000 to 4000): Changing the course level/number affects its placement within the curriculum and may impact degree requirements.
• General Education (GE) Status: Adding or removing GE designations involves a separate review process through the GE committee and must follow specific guidelines/templates.
• Substantial Change in Learning Outcomes or Course Objectives: If the core goals or outcomes of the course are significantly revised, a formal proposal is needed to reflect the new direction.

To begin submission and review process in TFMA: Check that all requirements above are complete, and share with curriculum staff member. Review proposal in area and indicate date of sign-off by area (faculty group) for recommendation to advance to department committees.  After review and area recommendation is formalized, please submit final proposal and documents to Staff curriculum coordinator to include at next Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Committees for vote to advance. Files will be uploaded to department archive and used for submission to College. Faculty will be updated on proposal progress as it moves through the curricular pipeline for approvals. 

Revising an existing degree program: Revising a degree program is a comprehensive process that requires thoughtful planning and alignment with departmental, college, and university priorities. Faculty should begin by consulting with the department chair to ensure proposed changes support strategic goals and address curricular needs. Revisions may involve updating program learning outcomes, modifying required or elective courses, adjusting credit hour totals, or responding to changes in accreditation standards or student demand. Considerations include the impact on current students, advising structures, resource availability, and potential implications for other programs. All program revisions must be submitted through the formal curricular review process and approved at multiple levels, including the department, College, and University committees.

Required components, revising an existing degree program

1. Complete proposal (template)
2. Proposal appendices: required supporting documentation (advising guides, current and revised; concurrence statements; curricular map)
3. Course syllabi for any new or revised courses (see course proposal process)

1. Complete proposal: Revision to degree program template

Proposal template includes required information including: 

• Overview/description of degree program revision
• Implementation and advising plan for changes to degree program
• Justification and impact of proposed changes
• Material, program, assessment, advising considerations

Failure to include details may result in committee stoppage/returns that may significantly impact time to approval. 

2. Proposal appendices: required supporting documentation 

• Advising guides, current and revised (contact program staff for assistance in creating revision)
• Curricular map (contact program staff for assistance in creating revision)
• Concurrence statements (faculty area head should contact chairs of any impacted units for statement of concurrence [form or email]; copy program staff on emails)

3. Course syllabi for any new or revised courses  

• Syllabi for impacted courses (new additions or changed courses as part of request; see course proposals for more information). 

Important note on degree revisions: Degree revisions are NOT automatically retroactive for students already enrolled in the current program without OPT-IN. All students who were admitted to the university prior to this point MUST be permitted to complete the degree plan as it was set when they were admitted. Students are typically “grandfathered” into the curriculum that was in place when they were admitted, unless they specifically opt-in to new guidelines. 

• The Ohio State University, Academic Organization, Curriculum, and Assessment Handbook, Section: Proposals for Revisions to Existing Programs [2025 Page Number: 38]. Outlines how revisions to existing programs are handled, including the expectation that current students are not automatically required to follow new curriculum requirements. Instead, they may continue under the curriculum in place at the time of their matriculation unless they opt into the revised version.
• Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3339-11-01, which governs curriculum changes and emphasizes approval processes but does not require current students to follow revised curricula. [codes.ohio.gov].
• Accrediting agencies like NAST, which require institutions to ensure students can complete their education with minimal disruption. Programs that fail to do so risk losing accreditation.
• Legal precedent, such as Mississippi Medical Center v. Hughes (2000), establishes that students have an implied right to a continuous contract of enrollment, meaning programs cannot arbitrarily change degree requirements for currently enrolled students.

Faculty will need to outline how the new revision and opt-in will be explained to students and methods of faculty and advising support.  There may period of several years when the previous and new program requirements will overlap for student populations, and must be run simultaneously. All courses for both plans' requirements must be offered during this period and should be considered when discussing scheduling and faculty teaching assignments for the degree overlap years. 

To begin submission and review process in TFMA: Check that all requirements above are complete, and share with curriculum staff member. Review proposal in area and indicate date of sign-off by area (faculty group) for recommendation to advance to department committees.  After review and area recommendation is formalized, please submit final proposal and documents to Staff curriculum coordinator to include at next Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Committees for vote to advance. Files will be uploaded to department archive and used for submission to College. Faculty will be updated on proposal progress as it moves through the curricular pipeline for approvals. 

Proposing a new degree program: The Council on Academic Affairs provides the following suggested guidelines to individuals and units interested in submitting proposals for consideration. These guidelines were developed by members of the Council on Academic Affairs with experience in reviewing a wide range of proposals. The guidelines are meant to facilitate the review of proposals and minimize the need for revision. The Council on Academic Affairs strongly urges those developing proposals to review the appropriate sections of the Academic Organization and Curriculum Handbook manual prior to submission.

Required components, revising an existing degree program

1. Cover letter
2. Proposal  
3. Course syllabi for any new or revised courses (see course proposal process)

1. Cover letter: The letter or memo should be addressed to: 

Vice Provost W. Randy Smith, Council on Academic Affairs 
Office of Academic Affairs, University Square South
15 E. 15th Ave. Columbus, OH 43201

• The letter should indicate the academic unit originating the proposal and contain a few paragraphs briefly describing any action requested of the Council on Academic Affairs.
• Attachments should be listed and identified.
• Interested parties from the originating unit should be copied.

2. Proposal (must contain the following): 

• An executive summary or introductory paragraph describing the action to be initiated.
• A section with background information detailing the rationale and describing the events, history, and/or relevant actions that initiated the proposal and the steps taken in its development.
• Comparative data from other institutions with similar programs if available.
• Specific actions and any corollary issues (positive and negative) that will arise from implementation:  issues frequently addressed include but are not limited to the following:
  • How will the proposal affect specific groups/constituencies (faculty, graduate/undergraduate students, staff, alumni, accrediting organizations, etc)?
  • What programmatic changes will take place internally?
  • How will the proposal affect students, faculty, and staff outside the proposing unit?
  • Does the content of the proposal overlap in scope or substance with the interests other degrees within the unit? What is impact on existing program(s)?
  • Admissions considerations, how will students be recruited to the new program? Include scope of interest/demand for degree program.
  • Does the content of the proposal overlap in scope or substance with the interests of other units?  If so, the concurrence of those units must be sought.
• An overview of which committees at the department, college, and university level have reviewed and approved the proposal.
  • NOTE:  If this proposal is for distance delivery (with 50% or more of program activities occurring online) please contact the Office of Distance Education and eLearning at osuonline@osu.edu for assistance completing your proposal.
• A description of the forms and outcomes of interactions with faculty, students, accrediting agencies, alumni, professional organizations, and other interested parties including minutes from meetings, faculty vote results, survey results, letters of support, etc. which offer valuable insight into the nature of the consultative process.
• Some indication of the adequacy and availability of resources including but not limited to:
  • Fiscal impact statements, commitments of funding from any sources, and memoranda of understanding between collaborating units.
  • Include material resources, space, funding requests, equipment needed, faculty lines, etc. to be considered as part of request.
• Supporting documents referred to in the proposal, including but not limited to:
  • meeting minutes, memos, data/research), forms required for processing the proposal (course forms, concurrence forms, etc).

All documents must be submitted electronically as a single proposal file in PDF format. 

For more precise information on preparing the proposal, visit the Academic Organization and Curriculum Handbook.

3. Course syllabi for any new or revised courses (include in PDF packet, as single proposal file)

• Syllabi for impacted courses (new additions or existing courses as part of request; see course proposals for more information). 

Procedure and Timeline (as outlined by Council on Academic Affairs): 

From the drafting of a proposal to its final approval often takes a substantial amount of time.  This is determined to some extent by how quickly a proposal moves through the appropriate department and college channels.  Once a proposal reaches the Council on Academic Affairs, it has had a significant amount of college and department level review but minimal university level review.  It is the charge of the Council on Academic Affairs to review and approve or deny all proposals.

Timelines at the university level are determined by a number of factors, including the nature of a proposal’s content, whether or not the proposal includes all necessary sections and documentation, and work load of each of the university-wide committees and offices that it must pass through. The Council on Academic Affairs meets and reviews proposals during the autumn and spring semesters and occasionally during the summer months.  The Council is composed of faculty and graduate, professional, and undergraduate students, all of whom serve in addition to their regular responsibilities. Faculty Rule 3335-5-481 Council on Academic Affairs (pdf).

Once a proposal reaches the Council on Academic Affairs, it is reviewed by the Vice Provost and the Chair of the Council.  It is then assigned to a subcommittee of the Council for a more detailed review. There are four subcommittees that review proposals.  Each subcommittee is composed of a chair and at least three voting members of the Council.  A proposer is asked to appear at a subcommittee meeting to discuss their proposal.  The subcommittee is a partner in the approval process and can facilitate the movement of a proposal through the system by anticipating questions and problems that may result in proposal denial.  Therefore, it often provides the proposer the opportunity to address any issues that may arise during the subcommittee’s discussion. After review, the subcommittee reviewing the proposal will make its recommendations to the Council as a whole.  The proposal will be added to a Council of Academic Affairs agenda and the proposer will be asked to appear to present the proposal.

To begin submission and review process in TFMA: Discuss all program development proposals with Chair prior to submitting to curricular committees. Check that all requirements above are complete, and share with curriculum staff member. Review proposal in area and indicate date of sign-off by area (faculty group) for recommendation to advance to department committees.  After review and area recommendation is formalized, please submit final proposal and documents to Staff curriculum coordinator to include at next Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Committees for vote to advance. Files will be uploaded to department archive and used for submission to College. Faculty will be updated on proposal progress as it moves through the curricular pipeline for approvals. 

Proposing a new graduate degree program: 

See above for information about degree proposals. Additional requirements exist for program proposals at Graduate Level.

Graduate program proposals include review and coordination beyond those required for undergraduate programs. Proposals must meet Graduate School standards and policies, which may include requirements related to faculty qualifications, program assessment plans, and resource commitments. In some cases, coordination with other units or interdisciplinary programs or faculty may also be necessary. Graduate-level proposals are reviewed not only by the College curriculum committee but also by the Graduate School and University-level bodies, making early planning and thorough documentation essential. 

Resource: https://gradsch.osu.edu/graduate-school-curricular-guidelines-cg

New Degree Program: If you are proposing a new Master’s or PhD degree program, please be sure to review the Ohio Department of Higher Education considerations section of these guidelines as there are additional requirements. 

Important Note as of AU 2025:  ODHE is revising requirements for New Degree Programs. If proposing a New Degree program, please reach out to the Graduate School directly at: grad-schoolcurriculum@osu.edu to receive the most up-to-date requirements for New Degree Programs.

https://gradsch.osu.edu/graduate-school-curricular-guidelines-cg/proposing-new-graduate-programs-cg

Proposing a Graduate Minor, GIS, or Certificate

https://gradsch.osu.edu/graduate-school-curricular-guidelines-cg/proposing-new-graduate-programs-cg/proposing-graduate