As a USD faculty member, you are invited to propose a new class in any of the four areas of the Core Curriculum: Competencies, Explorations, Foundations and Integration. Learn the necessary steps to design and submit a new Core course, add a Core attribute to an existing course or create a Special Topics course.
HOW TO PROPOSE A CORE COURSE
Propose a New Core Course
Step1
Design
Competencies, Explorations and Foundations Proposals
- Select an attribute within a Core area (e.g., Explorations Literary Inquiry) that aligns with your proposal's discipline(s).
- Design a syllabus that aligns with all student learning outcomes for the selected attribute.
- Indicate multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their ability to meet them and relevant assessments (i.e., assignments, exams, etc.).
- Consult with the respective Core Area Representative (after the final draft is completed).
Integration Proposals
- For First-Year Integration proposals, refer to the steps above.
- Include a First-Year Integration Project as part of your course design.
- For Advanced Integration proposals, refer to the steps above and select a teaching format (single-instructor, linked, clusters, team-taught, or community engagement).
- Include an Integrative Core Project as part of your course design.
For additional advice, please consult the Course Submission to the Core Curriculum Committee Checklist.
Step2
Submit
Competencies, Explorations and Foundations Proposals
- Submit your Core course proposal to your department for approval (record the vote results).
- Upload your proposal into CourseDog: MySanDiego portal → Teach tab → Faculty Tools section → Online Catalog Course Submission link.
- For First-Year Integration proposals, refer to the steps above.
- Advanced Integration proposals:
- Single-instructor course – Refer to the steps above.
- Linked and Cluster courses – Follow the instructions on this cover sheet (do not submit via CourseDog).
- Team-taught courses – Follow the instructions on this cover sheet (do not submit via CourseDog).
- Community engagement courses – Email the core director at core@sandiego.edu.
Step3
Await
- After the Core Curriculum Committee (CCC) assesses your course proposal, it will recommend either approval, conditional approval or revise and resubmit. The Core Director records the CCC's recommendation in the Core Report.
- If your course proposal is recommended for approval, no further action is needed on your end.
- If your course proposal is recommended for conditional approval, a Core Area Representative (CAR) will email you with information regarding minor changes.
- If the CCC recommends revising and resubmitting your course proposal, a CAR will email you with additional information, along with the next submission deadline.
- The faculties of CAS (College Assembly), KSB and SMSE vote on the Core Report two to four weeks after the CCC meets.
After the faculties approve the Core Report, the process is complete.
Add a Core Attribute to an Existing Course
Step1
Redesign
Competencies, Explorations and Foundations Proposals
- Select an attribute within a Core area (e.g., Explorations Literary Inquiry) that aligns with your proposal's discipline(s).
- Redesign an existing syllabus to ensure the attribute's student learning outcomes are aligned with the new intended attribute.
- Indicate multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their ability to meet them and relevant assessments (i.e., assignments, exams, etc.).
- Consult with the respective Core Area Representative (after the final draft is completed).
Integration Proposals
- For First-Year Integration proposals, refer to the steps above.
- Include a First-Year Integration Project as part of your course design.
- For Advanced Integration proposals, refer to the steps above and select a teaching format (single-instructor, linked, clusters, team-taught, or community engagement).
- Include an Integrative Core Project as part of your course design.
For additional advice, please consult the Course Submission to the Core Curriculum Committee Checklist.
Step2
Submit
Competencies, Explorations and Foundations Proposals
- Submit your redesigned course proposal to your department for approval (record the vote results).
- Upload your proposal into CourseDog: MySanDiego portal → Teach tab → Faculty Tools section → Online Catalog Course Submission link.
- For First-Year Integration proposals, refer to the steps above.
- Advanced Integration proposals:
- Single-instructor course – Refer to the steps above.
- Linked and Cluster courses – Follow the instructions on this cover sheet (do not submit via CourseDog).
- Team-taught courses – Follow the instructions on this cover sheet (do not submit via CourseDog).
- Community engagement courses – Email the core director at core@sandiego.edu.
Step3
Await
- After the Core Curriculum Committee (CCC) assesses your course proposal, it will recommend either approval, conditional approval or revise and resubmit. The Core Director records the CCC's recommendation in the Core Report.
- If your course proposal is recommended for approval, no further action is needed on your end.
- If your course proposal is recommended for conditional approval, a Core Area Representative (CAR) will email you with information regarding minor changes.
- If the CCC recommends revising and resubmitting your course proposal, a CAR will email you with additional information, along with the next submission deadline.
- The faculties of CAS (College Assembly), KSB and SMSE vote on the Core Report two to four weeks after the CCC meets.
After the faculties approve the Core Report, the process is complete.
Create a Special Topics Course
Special Topics courses (x94) are intended to provide a platform for faculty to teach a class that might address a timely issue (e.g., a current election) or try out new course ideas before submitting the course for approval and publication in the Undergraduate Catalog under its own course number. These courses may be taught twice. Afterward, they need to be submitted as a new Core course.
Step1
Design
Competencies, Explorations, Foundations, and Advanced Integration Proposals
- Consult with your department chair regarding the possibility of teaching a Special Topics course.
- Select an attribute within a Core area (e.g., Explorations Literary Inquiry) that aligns with your proposal's discipline(s). For Advanced Integration proposals, select a teaching format (single-instructor, linked, clusters, team-taught or community engagement).
- Design a syllabus that aligns with all student learning outcomes for the selected attribute.
- Indicate multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their ability to meet them and relevant assessments (i.e., assignments, exams, etc.).
- Consult with the respective Core Area Representative (after the final draft is completed).
For additional advice, please consult the Course Submission to the Core Curriculum Committee Checklist.
Step2
Submit
Competencies, Explorations, Foundations, and Advanced Integration Proposals
- Submit your Core course proposal to your department for approval (record the vote results).
- Follow the instructions on this cover sheet (do not submit via CourseDog).
Step3
Await
- Special Topics courses approved by the Core Curriculum Committee (CCC) in a given semester will be eligible to carry that core attribute in the following academic term (semester, intersession, or summer session).
- After the CCC assesses your course proposal, it will recommend either approval, conditional approval or revise and resubmit. The Core Director records the CCC's recommendation in the Core Report.
- If your course proposal is recommended for approval, no further action is needed on your end.
- If your course proposal is recommended for conditional approval, a Core Area Representative (CAR) will email you with information regarding minor changes.
- If the CCC recommends revising and resubmitting your course proposal, a CAR will email you with additional information, along with the next submission deadline.
- The faculties of CAS (College Assembly), KSB and SMSE vote on the Core Report two to four weeks after the CCC meets.
After the faculties approve the Core Report, the process is complete.