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College Curriculum Committee
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Can we use abbreviations or acronyms in the course outline? |
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For abbreviations, the answer is no. Abbreviations are inappropriate because course outlines serve many purposes including articulation agreements. They are not just a blue print for faculty. For acronyms, the full title must be spelled out the first time it appears in the course outline with the standard acronym attached parenthetically. Subsequent use of the title can be indicated by the standard acronym. For example, the College Curriculum Committee (CCC) meets regularly. |
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How do I determine the appropriate lecture/lab hours? |
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You must look at what you are designing. If it is a course that has equivalencies at other colleges, especially transfer institutions, you should be cognizant of what their requirements are. You should avoid developing a course that is similar in content but vastly different in structure. If you are designing a unique course, then you have to decide what you want to cover and the amount of class time necessary. Then you must work with your dean to determine the appropriate lecture/lab hours. Refer to the CREDIT HOUR in the Curriculum Handbook for specific information. |
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What do you mean I have to conduct content review when I want to include a prerequisite? |
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Content review is a formal procedure, as outlined in the CCC Handbook, required by State regulations. It means that ECC faculty members in your discipline have completed the procedure and determined that the prerequisite is necessary and appropriate. The content review process is spelled out on pages 148-150 in the handbook. The procedures may seem overwhelming, they are not especially if you seek out help from any CCC member. |
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How Long Does It Take to Get a Course Approved? |
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It takes approximately two to three months from the time the Curriculum Office receives the proposal to the time the Board of Trustees approves it. The timeline is expanded for stand-alone courses because they must be forwarded to the Chancellor’s Office for approval. The timeline varies because some division curriculum committees do not meet as frequently as others. A course can not be forwarded to the CCC until it has full DCC approval. |
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How soon can I teach an approved course? |
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Keep in mind that, in most instances curriculum approved in one academic year becomes effective the following academic year. This ensures that the integrity of the college catalog and the schedule of classes is maintained as well as the validity of articulation agreements. |
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How do I write course objectives? |
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Objectives are to be stated as student outcomes. This means that objectives indicate what students will be able to do upon successful completion of the course. A common error that is observed by the CCC is that objectives are often written as assignments. |
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How do I determine if my course is associate degree credit or non-degree credit? |
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Title 5 is explicit on this matter. Please see Section 55805.5 for criteria governing associate degree credit courses. A non-degree credit course has to fall under one of the categories in Section 55002 (b). |
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How do I determine the class size? |
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Class size is to be determined through your division load committee. |
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How do I develop an honors course? |
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The college does not develop honors courses. A section of a Board of Trustees approved course is designated in the course schedule as an honors course. Designations are obtained through negotiations with the Honors Transfer Program (HTP). If you wish to offer a section as an honors course you should consult with the HTP before making significant changes to your course outline. |
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To what extent may a course be revised before it is no longer the same course? |
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If the revisions alter the course so that it is not the same basic course taken by a student under the “old” course outline then the course must be submitted as a new course, not as a revision. |
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Where can I get an example of a course outline of record? |
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Course outlines of record are on file in the library and in the articulation office. The official course outlines of record are housed in the curriculum office. |
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Is there a character limit for the descriptive title? |
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No. However, keep in mind that there are only 30 characters available in the database for the name of the course on a student’s transcript. The longer the descriptive title the more challenging it is to develop a meaningful abbreviation. |
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What is the purpose of Section VI — Planned Instructional Activities? |
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Title 5 requires that we include this information. The planned activities that you list are to be common to each section of the course. However, there is nothing to prevent other approaches. |
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What is the difference between inactivating and deleting a course or program? |
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Inactivation of a course or a program should occur when the current needs of the student population are no longer met. Occasionally inactivation will occur when non-compliance with regulations is discovered. However, inactivated courses/programs can be reactivated if a need becomes evident and if compliance is met or regulations change.
Deletions are extremely rare. If you are considering this question then you will most likely need to follow the inactivation procedures. If you believe that you need to delete a course or program you should consult with the curriculum office. | | | |
