Curriculum Approval

Designing a Program What are the goals of the program? How should the program be structured to achieve these goals? What are the appropriate courses at each stage? Does the program meet the Degree Learning Expectations?

UTQAP Approval process for new and greatly modified programs laid out in University of Toronto Quality Assurance Process (UTQAP) Based on COU Quality Assurance Framework Revised process approved by Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance (September 2012) UTQAP also spells out program review process

New Programs When is a program “new”? When it has substantially different learning outcomes (goals) and program requirements from existing programs Applies to Specialist, Major programs, not to Minors

Examples Major in Environmental Studies – No comparable program Specialist in Management and International Business – Study abroad, work abroad components

Criteria for Approval Are goals (learning outcomes) appropriate? Will structure of program achieve goals? How do goals fit with Degree Level Expectations? How will the program meet these? Are available resources adequate?

Approval Process for New Programs Program must be appraised externally Sign-off from Dean’s Office, Provost’s Office Divisional Approval Central U of T Approval Approval by Quality Council of Ontario Time required: 2 years

Major Modifications UTSC has undergraduate programs in almost every area. Most proposals commonly represent initiatives that build upon our extensive existing programming, and consequently constitute major modifications, rather than truly new programs.

Examples Health Informatics: new stream in Computer Science Specialist Major in Media Studies: substantial revision of curriculum and consequent learning outcomes. New freestanding Minor: Creative Writing

Definition of Major Modification Addition of new Specialist or Major where there is an existing Specialist or Major – e.g. new Major in Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution where a Specialist already exists. Changes to program content that affect learning outcomes, but do not meet threshold for a “new program”. Creation of a new freestanding Minor. Addition of a new stream. Addition of, or substantial changes to, admission requirements of a program.

Example of a Major Modification Addition of admission requirements to Psychology and Mental Health programs

Approval Process for Major Modifications Approval by Department - most important step Sign-off by Dean’s Office Approval by Academic (Affairs) Committee Report to Provost’s Office Report to AP&P Report to Quality Council Criteria for approval same as for new programs