Curriculum Committee Resources for non-LSA Units

NEW CROSS-LISTS

If a non-LSA unit wishes to cross-list with an LSA subject code, they should find the home of that subject code and reach out to them directly. Undergraduate or graduate student services professionals (depending on the level of the course) in LSA units are often the best place to start; they will assure the request is sent to the appropriate person in leadership. 

When submitting your request for a cross-list, please send the department a short write-up on why this course is pertinent to their students/area of study and basic information about its offering: what term(s) it is taught, the CV of the instructor (if already identified), the number of credits, whether reserved seating for specific student groups is used, any prerequisites, and other pertinent information. Please also include a recent syllabus for the course. 

If the cross-list is approved by the unit, they will supply you with the subject code and number to use. Fill out the Office of the Registrar CARF and have both your department leadership and the LSA department leadership sign it. If this is for a graduate level only course, the CARF can be sent directly to the Office of the Registrar (ro.curriculum@umich.edu) for processing. If it is for a graduate/undergraduate level or undergraduate level only course, then send the signed CARF and a recent syllabus for the course to the LSA Curriculum Program Specialist (lsacurrspecialist@umich.edu). All new cross-lists for undergraduate level courses have to be reviewed and approved by the LSA Curriculum Committee. Please note the Curriculum Committe's term effective deadlines here. If the cross-list is approved by the Curriculum Committee, the Curriculum Program Specialist will secure the signature of the Associate Dean. They will send the CARF back to the home unit so it can be submitted to the Registrar for processing. 

MODIFYING A COURSE WITH AN LSA CROSS-LIST

If the non-LSA course is already cross-listed with an LSA unit and it is undergoing modifications, reach out directly to that unit. Review the modifications with the unit and secure their approval. Fill out the Office of the Registrar CARF, noting which changes are being made, and have both your department leadership and the LSA department leadership sign it. If the modification is for a graduate level only course, the CARF can be sent directly to the Office of the Registrar (ro.curriculum@umich.edu) for processing. If the modification is for a graduate/undergraduate level or undergraduate level only course, then send the signed CARF to the LSA Curriculum Program Specialist (lsacurrspecialist@umich.edu). All modifications to undergraduate level courses must be reviewed by the LSA Curriculum Office. Once the modifications are reviewed and approved, the Curriculum Program Specialist will secure the signature of the Associate Dean. They will send the CARF back to the home unit so it can be submitted to the Registrar for processing. 

The LSA Curriculum Committee reviews all requests for a non-LSA course to be classified as meeting LSA credit. These requests are considered and approved primarily for courses that are cross-listed with an LSA unit and/or fulfill requirements for an LSA major. 

To submit a request for this designation, two items are needed: 1) a recent syllabus for the course; and 2) a memo (no more than 1-page in length) explaining the basis for the request and how this course meets the ideals of a liberal arts education. Send these items to the LSA Curriculum Program Specialist (lsacurrspecialist@umich.edu). The request will be placed on an upcoming Curriculum Committee agenda. If approved, the home unit will be copied on an email to the Office of the Registrar requesting that the course receive LSA credit designation. 

Note that this designation can only be attached on a course for future terms and for which registration has not begun. The Curriculum Program Specialist will note what term the designation is to begin in their email. 

Once approved, the course will populate in the LSA Course Guide every time it is offered. Please reach out to the LSA Curriculum Program Coordinator (lsacurrcoordinator@umich.edu) to update the course description, intended audience, or course notes, as needed. 

LSA courses from the 100- to 300-level are permitted to fulfill distribution requirements needed by undergraduate students for graduation. More information on LSA Distribution Requirements can be found here. 

After Winter 2020, no non-LSA course may meet LSA Distribution Requirements other than Creative Expression (CE) or in cases where the course is cross-listed with an LSA unit. 

If applying for a non-LSA course to meet an LSA Distribution Requirement, two items are required: 1) a recent syllabus for the course; and 2) a memo (no more than 1-page in length) detailing how the course meets the spirit of the requirement and offering examples from the course. Send these to the LSA Curriculum Program Specialist (lsacurrspecialist@umich.edu). The request will be added to an upcoming Curriculum Committee agenda. Once reviewed and approved, the home unit will be copied on an email to the Office of the Registrar requesting that the Distribution Requirement be applied. Distribution Requirements can be applied for current and future terms. Students wishing to receive retroactive approval should speak with their advisor at the Newnan Advising Center about filing a petition. 

In order for LSA students to declare a non-LSA minor, the minor must first be approved by the LSA Curriculum Committee and meet the following criteria: 1) require no fewer than 15 credit hours in addition to prerequisites; 2) provide structure and coherence, not simply a total number of credits elected at random; and 3) contain some upper-division (300-level or higher) courses. Before proposing a non-LSA minor for LSA students, acquaint yourself with LSA's requirements for minors here. 

When proposing a non-LSA minor for LSA students, note that the following information is required in the proposal: 

• Brief statement of the academic goals of the minor; 
• Intended audience for the minor;
• Summation of prerequisites and requirements for the minor; 
• Description of how each requirement would contribute to the educational goals, structure, and coherence of the minor; 
• List of majors and minors whose students should be prohibited from electing this minor, due either to significant overlap of requirements or proximity to the subject matter; 
• Information about how the unit advises on this minor, how students make appointments, and who oversees advising for the unit; 
• A brief statement (one to two paragraphs) about whether the unit will restrict the amount of LSA declarations and/or how the unit is equipped to handle additional students in the program; 
• Brief supporting statement (one to two paragraphs) explaining the rationale for creating this minor. 

Please use the Non-LSA Minor Proposal Form as the coversheet to your proposal. The coversheet requires the signature of a person in leadership (dean, chair, associate chair, or director) for the minor's administrative home. Be sure to note that by signing the coversheet, the administrative home confirms that the required coursework will be available regularly so that students may complete the minor and that the unit is prepared to accommodate additional students into the minor. 

Send the completed and signed proposal to the LSA Curriculum Program Specialist (lsacurrspecialist@umich.edu). The proposal will be placed on an upcoming LSA Curriculum Committee agenda. Note the Curriculum Committee submission deadlines for effective terms here. If approved by the Curriculum Committee, the proposal will then be sent to the LSA Executive Committee for final College approval. 

MODIFICATIONS TO NON-LSA MINORS APPROVED FOR LSA STUDENTS

If approved for LSA students, all future requirement modifications to the non-LSA minor must by approved by the LSA Curriculum Committee before being implemented. When deciding to modify the non-LSA minor, submit a memo (no more than 2-pages in length) detailing the change, context for how this decision came about, how the modification will impact students in the program, and the anticipated effective term for the modification. Send the memo to the LSA Curriculum Program Specialist (lsacurrspecialist@umich.edu). The memo will be placed on an upcoming LSA Curriculum Committee agenda. Note the Curriculum Committee submission deadlines here. If approved by the LSA Curriculum Committee, the memo will then be sent to the LSA Executive Committee for final College approval.