Course Subject Listings

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Policy Number:
UW-1027
Responsible Office:
Academic Planning and Institutional Research

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

This policy defines “Course Subject Listing,” as well as the parameters by which Course Subject Listings can be established, renamed, reorganized, and/or discontinued. It also includes information about cross-listed courses. The purpose of this policy is to ensure disciplinary and curricular consistency across the university’s Course Subject Listings.

Definitions:
Course Subject Listing
Structure for organizing groups of courses in a related subject area or topic that represent a coherent program of study.
Cross-Listed Course
A for-credit course offered jointly by two or more subject listings that has the same unique identifier (i.e., course id) and catalog information, including title, course number, description, credit hours, requisites, attributes, grading basis, schedule, instructor(s), learning outcomes, and content.
Department Home
Designation given to the academic department or department-like unit that is responsible for and oversees the academic and administrative activity within a Course Subject Listing.
Scope:

This policy governs all Course Subject Listings and for-credit courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in all schools and colleges, at all levels.

Policy:

A Course Subject Listing is a structure for organizing groups of courses in a related subject area or topic that represent a coherent program of study.

Course Subject Listings are allowed for any formally constituted academic department or department-like unit as described in the university’s Faculty Policies and Procedures (FPP Ch 5.01).

Each Course Subject Listing has an explicitly established department home that is responsible for the subject listing.

Proposals to establish, rename, restructure, and/or discontinue Course Subject Listings are considered/approved by the University Curriculum Committee (UCC) and subsequently presented to the University Academic Planning Council (UAPC) for consent.

Establishing a Course Subject Listing

Proposals for new Course Subject Listings are submitted via Lumen Structures. The proposal must identify the department home for the Course Subject Listing and the following points must be addressed/included in the proposal:

  1. How/why the proposed Course Subject Listing is necessary to support course enrollment by students.
  2. A list of the courses anticipated to be included in the new Course Subject Listing.
    1. It is important to note that at least some of the courses should be uniquely offered under the new Course Subject Listing.
    2. While some cross-listed courses can be included in the new Course Subject Listing, most courses should be uniquely offered under the new listing.
  3. How the courses proposed to be included in the Course Subject Listing represent a distinct group of courses that does not duplicate an existing Course Subject Listing.
  4. Evidence that the department home is stable and has a long-term academic and resource foundation.
  5. Evidence of faculty and staff expertise, continuity, and availability to attend to all the academic and administrative responsibilities associated with maintaining a Course Subject Listing.
    1. This includes identification of a Curricular Representative who is trained and responsible for maintaining the Course Subject Listing and specifically details such as:
      1. Managing course details (e.g., requisites) and building the schedule of classes,
      2. Providing course information for the Course Search and Enroll app,
      3. Facilitating communications to students and advisors,
      4. Managing course enrollment, and/or
      5. Managing classroom scheduling.
  6. Evidence that department faculty will be involved in the course instruction.

In addition, if the proposed Course Subject Listing has overlapping interests with other established Course Subject Listings on campus, the proposal must receive comment, support, or concurrence from the school/college and department associated with the existing listing(s). Units that are viewed to have substantial overlap with the proposed Course Subject Listing might include those with:

  • A related field of study or similar curricular content,
  • A similar name,
  • Scholarly interest in the subject,
  • Likely appeal to students in the program, and/or
  • Course offerings that will be included in the listing.

Documentation of comment, support, or concurrence from units with overlapping interests must be included in the Lumen Structures proposal for the new Course Subject Listing.

Per the Lumen Structures proposal system, the proposal must receive approval from the proposed department home and the associated school/college (usually via the school/college Academic Planning Council or Curriculum Committee). The proposal will then route forward for university governance approval, with the UCC ultimately approving the proposal and the UAPC providing consent.

Renaming, Reorganizing, or Discontinuing a Course Subject Listing

Action to rename, reorganize, or discontinue a Course Subject Listing is also proposed via a Lumen Structures proposal and considered by the UCC. The following points should be addressed/included in the proposal:

  • An explicit statement of the reason/rationale for the action, including the impact on students.
  • A timeline for the action, including which summer term it will be effective.
  • Details on any fiscal considerations and/or impacts on faculty and staff resources.
  • Evidence of consultation with units with overlapping interests (see above).
  • Necessary approvals from the department home and the associated school/college.

Cross-Listed Courses

A for-credit course offered jointly by two or more subjects that has the same unique identifier (i.e., course id) and catalog information, including title, course number, description, credit hours, requisites, attributes, grading basis, schedule, instructor(s), learning outcomes, and content.

The cross-listing of courses is related to considerations around Course Subject Listings as a cross-listed course is shared by multiple Course Subject Listings. There is no requirement that a course be cross-listed, even when it meets the criteria for cross-listing. Cross-listing is reserved for courses that are taught with inter-or multi-disciplinary frameworks and that appropriately belong in multiple Course Subject Listings. There may be occasions when cross-listing courses serve the broader goals of departments/programs, and since the responsibility for managing their Course Subject listings rests on these units, they bear responsibility for determining the proper use of cross-listing.

The following conditions are expected to be met for cross-listed courses:

  1. All course information related to the cross-listed courses must be identical, including title, course number, description, credit hours, requisites, attributes, grading basis, schedule, instructor(s), availability, learning outcomes, and content.
  2. Cross-listed courses are owned equally by each cross-listed subject. One subject is not a “primary” owner.
  3. Faculty associated with a department owning the Course Subject Listing in the cross-listing teach the course.
  4. Any of the departments participating in the cross-listing has the potential to offer the course independently.
  5. A substantial proportion of the course subject matter is appropriate and relevant to all of the fields represented by participating departments.

In short, tangential or insubstantial connections between programs and interests should not be sufficient for cross-listing courses across Subject listings. The cross-listing of courses increases the complexity of scheduling classes and will add to staff workload. This should be taken into consideration when proposals for cross-listing are presented and considered.

Related UW-Madison Policies:
Related UW–Madison Documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources:

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Policy Manager:
Interim Director and Associate Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Institutional Research
Contact:
Associate Director -- Michelle Young, michelle.young@wisc.edu, (608) 262-2143
Effective Date:
10-20-2005
Date Issued:
10-20-2005
Revised Dates:

04-21-2011; 12-10-2021

Retrieved:
03-26-2023 17:10:19