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 that aligns with your course content, e.g., Literary Inquiry (ELTI).
- Design a syllabus* that aligns with all student learning outcomes for the selected attribute. Be sure the syllabus:
- Lists the attribute’s student learning outcomes.
- Contains a statement communicating that the course satisfies the Core requirement for that attribute (include attribute name and code).
- Indicates multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their ability to meet the student learning outcomes and shows relevant assessments (i.e., assignments, exams, etc.).
- Consult with the appropriate Core Area Representative (after the final draft is completed).
Integration Proposals
- For First-Year Integration (CINL) proposals, refer to the steps above.
- Include a First-Year Integration Project as part of your course design.
- For Advanced Integration (CINT) 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.
*Proposal authors are strongly encouraged to review 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 → CourseDog Catalog Program/Course Submissions link.
Integration Proposals
- 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 Google Form (do not submit via CourseDog).
- Team-taught courses – Follow the instructions on this Google Form (do not submit via CourseDog).
- Community engagement courses – Email the Core Director at core@sandiego.edu for guidance.
Step3
Await
The approval process is not complete until approximately four to six weeks after the CCC meeting.
- The relevant undergraduate curriculum committee reviews/approves the new course, e.g., CAS Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC).
- 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 from you is needed.
- If your course proposal is recommended for conditional approval, a Core Area Representative (CAR) will email you with information regarding the necessary 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 the College (Academic Assembly), Knauss School of Business and SMSE vote on the Core Report.
- After the faculties approve the Core Report, approved course proposals are routed to the Provost's office.
Add a Core Attribute to an Existing Course
Step1
Redesign
Competencies, Explorations, and Foundations Proposals
- Select an attribute that aligns with your course content, e.g., Literary Inquiry (ELTI).
- Redesign an existing syllabus* to ensure the attribute’s student learning outcomes are aligned with the new intended attribute. Be sure the syllabus:
- Lists the attribute’s student learning outcomes.
- Contains a statement communicating that the course satisfies the Core requirement for that attribute (include attribute code).
- Indicates multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their ability to meet the student learning outcomes and shows relevant assessments (i.e., assignments, exams, etc.).
- If the course has an existing CINL attribute, the syllabus needs to be the CINL version of the syllabus.
- Consult with the Appropriate Core Area Representative (after the final draft is completed).
Integration Proposals
- For First-Year Integration (CINL) proposals, refer to the steps above.
- Include a First-Year Integration Project as part of your course design.
- For Advanced Integration (CINT) 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.
*Proposal authors are strongly encouraged to review 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 → CourseDog 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 Google Form (do not submit via CourseDog).
- Team-taught courses – Follow the instructions on this Google Form (do not submit via CourseDog).
- Community engagement courses – Email the Core Director at core@sandiego.edu.
Step3
Await
The approval process is not complete until approximately four to six weeks after the CCC meeting.
- 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 from you is needed.
- If your course proposal is recommended for conditional approval, a Core Area Representative (CAR) will email you with information regarding the necessary 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 the College (Academic Assembly), Knauss School of Business and SMSE vote on the Core Report.
- After the faculties approve the Core Report, approved course proposals are routed to the Provost's office.
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 that aligns with your course content, e.g., Literary Inquiry (ELTI). 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. Be sure the syllabus:
- Lists the attribute’s student learning outcomes.
- Contains a statement communicating that the course satisfies the Core requirement for that attribute (include attribute name and code).
- Indicates multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their ability to meet the student learning outcomes and shows relevant assessments (i.e., assignments, exams, etc.).
- For Advanced Integration (CINT) 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.
- Consult with the Appropriate Core Area Representative (after the final draft is completed).
*Proposal authors are strongly encouraged to review 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 Google Form(do not submit via CourseDog).
Step3
Await
The approval process is not complete until approximately four to six weeks after the CCC meeting.
- 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 from you is needed.
- If your course proposal is recommended for conditional approval, a Core Area Representative (CAR) will email you with information regarding the necessary 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 the College (Academic Assembly), Knauss School of Business and SMSE vote on the Core Report.
- After the faculties approve the Core Report, the approved course proposals are routed to the Provost's office.