Placement of Courses in Disciplines Dan Crump, American River College Michelle Grimes-Hillman, Mt San Antonio College ASCCC Curriculum Institute, July 2008

Overview  Assigning courses to a discipline  Disciplines List process  Minimum Qualifications  Cross-Listing  Interdisciplinary

The Pieces of the Puzzle Disciplines List Placement of Courses in Disciplines Faculty Service Areas Minimum Qualifications

Why Must Courses Be Placed in Disciplines?  To indicate the academic preparation and occupational experience (if a non-Masters discipline) needed to teach the course.  Required for all courses (credit and noncredit) for which the college receives apportionment.  Not required for community service courses.

Who determines the placement?  Local senates maintain responsibility for placing courses in disciplines. Academic and professional matters includes (as first area) “curriculum including establishing prerequisites and placement of courses within disciplines” (Title 5 § 53200) Academic and professional matters includes (as first area) “curriculum including establishing prerequisites and placement of courses within disciplines” (Title 5 § 53200) The curriculum committee---usually an academic senate committee---is where the process occurs.

Who can teach the course?  Only those with the Minimum Qualifications for that discipline may teach the course. the course.

What are Minimum Qualifications ? The state, through the Board of Governors, establishes “minimum qualifications” for teaching any credit or noncredit course, or as a counselor or librarian. In establishing and maintaining these MQs for faculty, the BOG shall “consult with, and rely primarily on the advice and judgment of, the statewide Academic Senate.” (Ed Code 87357) The state, through the Board of Governors, establishes “minimum qualifications” for teaching any credit or noncredit course, or as a counselor or librarian. In establishing and maintaining these MQs for faculty, the BOG shall “consult with, and rely primarily on the advice and judgment of, the statewide Academic Senate.” (Ed Code 87357)

Local Minimum Qualifications  A district may establish additional qualifications which are more rigorous than the state-established MQs.  However, such local MQs cannot be less rigorous than the state-establish MQs.

The Disciplines List

Disciplines organized into two Lists Disciplines organized into two Lists 1. Disciplines requiring a Master’s Degree 2. Disciplines in which a Master’s Degree is not generally expected or available Note: a new category will soon be Note: a new category will soon be recommended to the BOG for adoption recommended to the BOG for adoption (Resolution 10.01, Spring 2008) (Resolution 10.01, Spring 2008) Note: A separate list for non-credit also exists (Title 5 § 53412) Note: A separate list for non-credit also exists (Title 5 § 53412)

The Disciplines List  Preparation & maintenance of “Disciplines List” assigned to Academic Senate (Ed. Code § 87357) Reviewed and revised every two years Reviewed and revised every two years Works through local senates Works through local senates Consults with statewide organizations Consults with statewide organizations Vote on discipline changes at Session (next vote will be Vote on discipline changes at Session (next vote will be Makes recommendations to BOG Makes recommendations to BOG

The Disciplines List The official title of the document is “Minimum Standards for Faculty and Administrators in California Community Colleges.” The official title of the document is “Minimum Standards for Faculty and Administrators in California Community Colleges.” The current edition is dated February 2008 and available at: The current edition is dated February 2008 and available at:

Equivalencies A district may hire a person who “possesses qualifications that are at least equivalent to the [state] minimum qualifications.” The process, as well as criteria and standards…shall be developed and agreed upon jointly by …the [local] governing board and the [local] academic senate.” (Title 5, section 53430) A district may hire a person who “possesses qualifications that are at least equivalent to the [state] minimum qualifications.” The process, as well as criteria and standards…shall be developed and agreed upon jointly by …the [local] governing board and the [local] academic senate.” (Title 5, section 53430)

What About Single-Course Equivalency?  Ed Code and Title 5 refer to qualifications in terms of Disciplines not courses or subject areas within a Discipline (Ed Code § 87357; Title 5 § and § 53430)  Legal Opinion from Ralph Black, System Office Legal Counsel

So….  Faculty meet minimum qualifications in a discipline  A course must be placed in a discipline (or more than one discipline) in order to determine who is qualified to teach it  Only those faculty who meet minimum qualifications for a discipline can teach courses assigned to that discipline

Principles on Placement  The guiding principle is course content, not personnel issues or FTEs  Base the decision to place a course in a discipline on the body of knowledge necessary to teach the course  A decision of the local curriculum committee---a decision of the faculty

Principles on Placement  Regardless of the local situation, discipline faculty need to be involved in assignment of courses to disciplines.  Remember: Not all programs or department titles are disciplines – Use the approved Disciplines List Not all programs or department titles are disciplines – Use the approved Disciplines List

Principles on Placement  A process for placement is needed, as well as a means of mediating disputes  College vs. District  If each college has its own curriculum, the placement of courses may vary  Local control

Principles on Placement  When making a decision, the course content should be the driving force – who is qualified to teach it?  If Biological Psychology is assigned to Psychology, all those with Psychology minimum qualifications should be able to teach it

Principles on Placement  If there is no process for placing courses in disciplines, one is needed  Local control/Faculty control  Keep in mind ramifications – if you determine that a course is interdisciplinary, will anyone be able to teach it?

Placement of Courses in Disciplines  For most courses, this is simple.  Psychology 101 is placed in psychology, Sociology 101 in sociology, etc..  When does it get murky? Biological Psychology Biological Psychology Social Psychology Social Psychology

Cross-listing Courses  Reason: Course fits more than one discipline Course fits more than one discipline  Advantage: Individual with MQs in either discipline would be qualified to teach the course Individual with MQs in either discipline would be qualified to teach the course

Cross-listing Courses  Examples: Economic History of the U.S. Economic History of the U.S. May be cross-listed with Economics and History disciplines and taught by faculty member with MQs for Economics or HistoryMay be cross-listed with Economics and History disciplines and taught by faculty member with MQs for Economics or History Speech Communication 140 & Journalism 140 Speech Communication 140 & Journalism 140 Course may be taught by faculty member with MQs for Journalism or Speech/CommunicationCourse may be taught by faculty member with MQs for Journalism or Speech/Communication

Cross-listing Courses Potential Concerns: May impact articulation agreements May affect “bumping rights”

Interdisciplinary Courses When to be considered?  Course clearly does not fall within a single discipline  It combines two or more disciplines to such a degree that some preparation in each constituent discipline is required

Interdisciplinary Courses  More specialized preparation required than with cross-listed courses  Interdisciplinary Studies: Master’s in the interdisciplinary area OR Master’s in one of the disciplines included in the interdisciplinary area and upper division or graduate course work in at least one other constituent discipline.

Interdisciplinary Courses  More specialized preparation required than with cross-listed courses  If “Western Civilization” listed as Interdisciplinary Components may be art, philosophy, literature – therefore Instructor qualifications require some preparation in each areaComponents may be art, philosophy, literature – therefore Instructor qualifications require some preparation in each area Qualifications must be based on course description of recordQualifications must be based on course description of record

Resources  Equivalence to the Minimum Qualifications. ASCCC  Qualifications for Faculty Service in the California Community Colleges: minimum qualifications, placement of courses within disciplines, and faculty service areas. ASCCC  Minimum Qualifications for Faculty and Administrators in California Community Colleges. Chancellor’s Office

??????????  Questions – on anything and everything…