Graduate Course Proposals
This guidance describes the steps required to launch an Undergraduate Minor proposal originating from Purdue West Lafayette for University approvals. Please see Purdue Fort Wayne or Purdue Northwest guidance for proposals originating from these campuses, or reach out to campus contacts.
A Graduate Course proposal may be used for 50000- or 60000-level courses. A 50000-level course is a graduate course for which undergraduate students (juniors and seniors only) may be eligible to register. Undergraduate students are not permitted to take 60000-level courses. Professional courses (80000-level) should also use the Graduate Course proposal.
Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis once they enter the workflow. Time to complete indicates the typical completion timeframe from proposal launch to completion in workflow. Some proposals may complete faster, while others may need more time based on when they are launched. Please see Key Planning Considerations below.
New Graduate Course
Time to complete: 90 days
New courses include a full review by the Graduate Council. Preview requirements in Curriculog or use this printable checklist.
- Create a syllabus. Templates and resources are available:
- Complete any relevant college steps and have approval to advance your proposal by your Department Head.
- Complete a New Graduate Course proposal in Curriculog.
Key Planning Considerations
- 50000-level courses may require review by home college undergraduate curriculum committees. Please consult with your home college.
- The Graduate Council generally meets seven times per year (September – November and January – April). Plan on a minimum of two meeting months to complete the Graduate Council steps.
- Graduate Council policy requires that courses at the 50000-level in the Purdue system should be taught at the graduate level and meet four criteria:
- a) the use of primary literature in conjunction with advanced secondary sources (i.e. advanced textbooks);
- b) assessments that demonstrate synthesis of concepts and ideas by students;
- c) demonstrates that topics are current; and
- d) components that emphasize research approaches/methods or discovery efforts in the course content area (reading the research, critiquing articles, proposing research)
- Such courses should be taught so that undergraduate students are expected to rise to the level of graduate work and be assessed in the same manner as graduate students
Tips
- Course learning outcomes are publicly available. Invest extra time here and consider the Center of Instructional Excellence for help.
- Graduate Area Committee reports learning outcomes as the most common reason a proposal is held up. Utilize learning outcome resources in the development.
- Course numbers may not be reused.
- Course numbers cannot be reserved.
- Variable title courses cannot be cross-listed.
- To add equivalency between two courses, everything must match between the courses (title, course description, credits, learning outcomes, etc.)
- Prerequisites on 60000-level courses are currently not enforced in Banner.
Existing Graduate Course
Time to complete: 30 days
Changes to existing courses include revisions or expirations. The Graduate School conducts the review.
- Complete home college steps and have approval to advance your proposal from your Department Head.
- Prior to expiring a course, due diligence must be conducted. Use the Contacts for help. In Curriculog you will be asked which of the following you have completed:
- Reviewed Course Impact Report
- Contacted impacted departments, including those outside of the college
- Reviewed Prerequisite Report
- Complete the Change Existing Course OR Course Expiration proposal in Curriculog.
Key Planning Considerations
- Revisions to 50000-level courses may require review by home college undergraduate curriculum committees. Please consult with your home college.
Tips
- Course suspension is not an option. If your department no longer plans to offer a course, then a Course Expiration proposal should be submitted.
- Prior to course revisions, it is advised to run a Course Impact Report to determine impact to undergraduate plan of study.
- If changes to the course exceed 25%, a new course proposal is recommended (e.g. learning outcomes, course description, credit hours).
- See the Curriculog page for Course Import Instructions.
- Course Proposals
- Undergraduate Course
- Graduate Course
