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INITIATOR
The Initiator will develop & write a course syllabus that contains the following elements:
Course Number and Title
Course Description This should be the same as what is (or will be) included in the course catalogue.
Course Rationale and Overview • Section I A should indicate the rationale for introducing the course and articulate how it fits into the philosophy of the department and/or division. The course should be explicitly linked to CUW’s mission as defined in the Statement of Purpose. If applicable, the author should also state how the course meets the standards of outside accrediting bodies. • Section I B should describe how the course fits into the curriculum; whether it is required for majors, or can be taken as an elective, etc.; whether there are any prerequisites; and the number of credit hours. • Section I C should identify which of the core curriculum goals are addressed by the course, and should briefly explain how. A course should address at least one but no more than three of the university’s nine core curriculum goals. • Section I D should identify any special needs of the course.
Course Objectives The course objectives should reflect the course description, the course rationale, the curriculum goals, and the content descriptions of the units of the course.
Units of the Course The units of the course should include a brief description of each unit, and a list of the suggested learning activities. Both should be consistent with the stated course objectives, curriculum goals, and course level, and should reflect the evaluation procedures outlined in the syllabus.
Evaluation Procedures Specify the various types of evaluation methods that are appropriate for this course in terms of level and content, and that are assessable, particularly in terms of the stated course objectives and curriculum goals. The list should total 100%, which should be indicated on the syllabus.
Resource Materials The guiding principle for the resource list, though disciplines are different, is 12 resources for the students and 12 for the instructor. At least 2-3 of these should be recent, published within the last 3-5 years.
Style and Mechanics The syllabus should follow the approved template, should be free of typographical and grammatical errors, and should include a bibliography that follows a style consistently.
DEPARTMENT The Department is responsible for insuring for accuracy and perfection in the following:
Course Title & Number Is the course entitled properly? Is the course level appropriate, based upon the course’s place in the curriculum, its objectives, content and evaluation procedures? If the course is upper-level, does it have prerequisite(s)?
Course Description Does the course description match what is in the course catalogue? Is the number of credit hours specified at the end of the paragraph?
Course Rationale & Overview • Section I A should indicate the rationale for introducing the course and articulate how it fits into the philosophy of the department and/or division. The course should be explicitly linked to CUW’s mission as defined in the Statement of Purpose. If applicable, the author should also state how the course meets the standards of outside accrediting bodies • Section I B should describe how the course fits into the curriculum; whether it is required for majors, or can be taken as an elective, etc.; whether there are any prerequisites; and the number of credit hours. • Section I C should identify which of the core curriculum goals are addressed by the course, and should briefly explain how. A course should address at least one but no more than three of the university’s nine core curriculum goals. Does the justification offered for each of the curriculum goals accord with the definition of the goals as established by the faculty? • Section I D should identify any special needs of the course. If there are no special needs, that should be simply stated.
Course Objectives Do the course objectives reflect the course description, the course rationale, the curriculum goals, and the content descriptions of the units of the course? Are the objectives assessable? Are the objectives placed in the correct categories? (i.e., is an objective listed under “Concepts, principles, and understandings” really a conceptual objective or is it in fact a skill? etc.)
Units of the Course Are the units described accurately? Do the units address the claimed curriculum goals? Are the suggested learning activities appropriate? Are the materials (textbooks, readings, videos, etc.) suitable and up to date based upon the subject and nature of the course?
Evaluation Procedures Do the evaluation procedures adequately measure learning according to the stated course objectives? Are the evaluation procedures appropriate for the subject and level of the course?
Resource Materials Are the listed resources adequate and appropriate for the content, nature and level of the course? Are there 10-12 resources for the students and 10-12 resources for the instructor? Is there a proper blend of standard and up-to-date works in the field?
Style & Mechanics The syllabus should follow the approved template, should be free of typographical and grammatical errors, and should include a bibliography that follows a style consistently.
DIVISION / ADULT EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION The Division / Adult Education Administration should examine the syllabus, focusing on the following:
Program Coherence Does the course fit into the curriculum? Is it redundant within the program? Does it correlate with the philosophy of the division?
Course Title & Number Is the course entitled properly? Is the course level appropriate, based upon the course’s place in the curriculum, its objectives, content and evaluation procedures? If the course is upper-level, does it have prerequisite(s)?
Course Description Does the course description match what is in the course catalogue? Are the number of credit hours specified at the end?
Course Rationale & Overview Does the course address the curriculum goals? Does it further the mission of the university?
DEAN The Dean is responsible for insuring for accuracy and perfection in the following:
Program Coherence Does the course fit into the curriculum? Is it redundant within the program? Does it correlate with the philosophy of the division and school?
Course Title & Number Is the course entitled properly? Is the course level appropriate, based upon the course’s place in the curriculum, its objectives, content and evaluation procedures? If the course is upper-level, does it have prerequisite(s)?
Course Description Does the course description match what is in the course catalogue? Are the number of credit hours specified at the end?
Course Rationale & Overview • Section I A should indicate the rationale for the course. The course should be explicitly linked to CUW’s mission as defined in the Statement of Purpose. If applicable, the author should also state how the course meets the standards of outside accrediting bodies • Section I B should describe how the course fits into the curriculum. • Section I C should identify which of the core curriculum goals are addressed by the course, and should briefly explain how. • Section I D should identify any special needs of the course or indicate that there are none.
Course Objectives Do the course objectives reflect the course description, the course rationale, the curriculum goals, and the content descriptions of the units of the course?
Units of Study Do the units address the claimed curriculum goals?
Evaluation Procedures Do the evaluation procedures adequately measure learning according to the stated course objectives?
Resource Materials Are there 10-12 resources for the students and 10-12 resources for the instructor?
Style & Mechanics The syllabus should follow the approved template, should be free of typographical and grammatical errors, and should include a bibliography that follows a style consistently.
CURRICULUM COMMITTEE The Curriculum Committee should examine the syllabus as a whole, though focusing on coherence with the university’s mission and the curricular goals derived from CUW’s Statement of Purpose.
Course Title & Number Does the title reflect, and is the course level appropriate for, the content of the course? Are course prerequisites clearly stated?
Course Description Is the course description accurate and succinct, and is the number of credit hours specified?
Course Rationale & Overview • Is the course explicitly linked to CUW’s mission (usually by referencing or quoting from CUW’s Statement of Purpose) in Section I A? • Is the place of the course in the curriculum clearly identified in Section I B? Is the number of credit hours specified? • Does the course address at least one but no more than three of the university’s nine core curriculum goals (this should be in Section I C)? • Section I D should identify any special needs of the course, or simply indicate that there are no special needs..
Course Objectives Do the course objectives reflect the course description, the course rationale, the curriculum goals, and the content descriptions of the units of the course? Are the objectives assessable? Are the objectives placed in the correct categories?
Units of Study Do the unit descriptions match the stated course objectives? Do the units address the claimed curriculum goals?
Evaluation Procedures Do the evaluation procedures accord with the stated course objectives?
Resource Materials Does the resource list contain 10-12 resources for the students and 10-12 resources for the instructor?
Style & Mechanics The syllabus should follow the approved template, should be free of typographical and grammatical errors, and should include a bibliography that follows a style consistently.
PLENARY FACULTY The Plenary Faculty should examine the syllabus to determine whether the course advances the stated goals of the university, particularly in terms of CUW’s Christian perspective, and whether the course is appropriately rigorous for the university level.
