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College of Graduate Studies

College of Graduate Studies

Graduate Curriculum Guidelines

MTSU uses the curriculum management system Curriculog for all proposals. Curriculog allows for the completion and submission of all curriculum proposals, the development of curriculum meeting agendas, and the review and approval of the curriculum committees and administrators. Classes on using Curriculog are offered periodically throughout the semester.

MTSU faculty and staff log in by using FSA user name with @mtsu.edu ([email protected]) and FSA password. For assistance with Curriculog or proposals, please contact Nita Brooks or Mitzi Brandon.

NOTE: Grading system, schedule type, instructional method, and prerequisite change requests are approved through the college curriculum process with a final email to vice provost for academic programs at [email protected]. 

Submission of Curriculum Changes

Curriculog proposals are routed to the Graduate Curriculum subcommittee for discussion prior to the regular meeting of the Graduate Council. The subcommittee makes recommendations to the Graduate Council, which then makes recommendations to the dean of the College of Graduate Studies. All Graduate Council actions are noted in the minutes.

It is normally not necessary to send a representative to the Graduate Council meeting; however, representatives are welcome. Most action pertaining to faculty and program review occurs in the Graduate Faculty/Program Review subcommittee meeting(s). Departmental representatives and/or individual faculty making application for graduate faculty membership may attend the subcommittee meetings to respond to questions or concerns of the subcommittee. In the event that the subcommittee does not recommend a curriculum request, the department chair is notified and the reasons are given. In the event a person is not recommended for graduate faculty membership, the individual is notified and the reasons are given.

Curriculum Changes Which DO Require Graduate Council Action

  • New Course Proposal
  • New Program Requests
    • New Program Requests include the establishment of new academic degree programs, new majors, new concentrations (concentrations appear on the student’s transcript), and new specializations (specializations do not appear on the student’s transcript).
  • Request to Change Course Number or Title
    • To avoid duplication of course numbers, check with the Director of Records before assigning a course number. Avoid duplication of course titles and infringement on courses existing in other departments. If a course title is changed, it is sometimes necessary to change the course number as well.
  • Request to Change Credit Hours.
    • The Graduate Council frequently receives requests to change existing 3 credit hour courses to 4 credit hours because accrediting agencies have recommended it. This in and of itself is not sufficient cause to add credit hours. SACSCOC recommends 750 minutes of class time per semester credit hour.
  • Request to Dually List Course with Already Existing Course
    • To dual-list a 4000/5000 level course, include the course outline which must include a section stating the specific additional requirements for graduate students. These requirements must be of sufficient rigor to justify graduate credit. Dual-listed (4000/5000) courses must be approved by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee before being acted on by the Graduate Council. The department is responsible for submitting the appropriate documentation to the Graduate Council.
    • To dual-list a 6000/7000 level course, include the course outline which must include a section stating the specific additional requirements to justify doctoral (7000 level) credit.
  • Request for Non-substantive Revisions in Curriculum of Existing Major, Minor, Concentration or Specialization
    • “Non-substantive revisions” refers to minor modifications in the existing program, e.g., changing the number of hours required in the core, adding or deleting one course from the core, adding or deleting elective courses, etc.
    • Concentration is used if the notation is to appear on the student’s transcript. 
    • Specialization is used if the specialty is not noted on the student’s transcript.
  • Request to Inactivate a Course
    • Courses which have not been offered in the past three to five years should be inactivated. No justification for inactivating a course is needed.
  • Request to Reactivate a Course
  • Request to Change the Grading System for a Course
    • As of Fall 1997, the +/- grading system was implemented for graduate classes using the conventional ABC grading system. S/U grading, when appropriate, may be requested for an internship, practicum, etc. (These changes are not submitted through Curriculog).
  • Request to Change Admission Requirements
    • Non-substantive changes in the admission requirements for graduate programs such as requiring or deleting letters of recommendation, may be recommended by the Graduate Council.

Curriculum Changes Which DO NOT Require Graduate Council Action

Minor changes in curriculum may be made at the departmental level and do not require action by the Graduate Council. Submit the following through Curriculog using the Registration Control and Other Miscellaneous Changes Form:

  • Prerequisites/restrictions for existing courses
  • Grading system
  • Schedule type
  • Instructional method

NOTE: Course descriptions that do not involve substantial changes in the course content do not require approval and should be sent to the coordinator, catalog/curriculum management.

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