Programs

Proposals for new courses and programs, as well as proposals for changes to existing courses and programs, are made through the online curriculum management system Curriculog. Please note and respect the deadlines for curriculum proposals of all kinds found in the Provost's Curricular Change Calendar.

Visit the myUSF Curriculog page for more information.

For an overview of how programs are reviewed and approved, and by whom, see the Curriculum Review Process page.

Changes made to your program will appear in the following academic year's catalog. Changes to your program's marketing website on www.usfca.edu can be made with the assistance of Web Services. 

Propose a new academic program

The steps in the review and approval process, and the materials you need to prepare for submission, can be seen within Curriculog, where all program proposals are submitted and housed.

In summary, a new program is first submitted via Curriculog as an Intent to Propose, along with a Budget Proposal; this is reviewed by the Dean’s Office and then the Provost’s Office. In addition, at this stage programs work with Office of Assessment and Accreditation Support staff to submit a screening form to WSCUC in order to determine whether a WSCUC "Substantive Change" review is needed. Once the Intent to Propose has been approved by the Provost to move to the next stage of consideration, a more comprehensive New Program proposal is submitted via Curriculog; this is reviewed by the Dean’s Office and the College Curriculum Committee and then moves to the Sr. Vice Provost for Academic Affairs for final review. After approval, all new graduate programs also need to get approved for F-1 study in order for international students to apply for study in the program; this is done through an F-1 request form. Program directors should also contact the Director of Graduate Admission to coordinate marketing and admissions efforts.

Propose changes to an existing academic program

The steps in the review and approval process, and the materials you need to prepare for submission, can be seen within Curriculog, where all program proposals are submitted and housed.

In summary, a program change proposal is submitted via Curriculog and reviewed by the Dean’s Office. If the program change does not involve changes to the program’s degree requirements, the Dean’s Office approval completes the process. If the proposal involves any changes to the program’s degree requirements, it is then reviewed by the College Curriculum Committee before it moves to the Sr. Vice Provost for Academic Affairs for final review. If the proposal involves major program changes (including change in name, type of degree, and time to completion), programs also work with Office of Assessment and Accreditation Support staff to submit a screening form to WSCUC in order to determine whether a WSCUC "Substantive Change" review is needed.

Major program changes should be proposed at least three semesters before the changes are meant to go into effect. Program directors should also contact the Director of Graduate Admission if the proposal involves changes that affect the length of the program and/or the number of units required per year.

Implement a changed curriculum

Once changes to your program's degree requirements have been approved and changed in the catalog and in DegreeWorks (tasks that are handled by the University Registrar's Office), students entering the program after the date the new requirements go into effect will be under the new curriculum. Students who are already in the program will remain under the degree requirements that were in place when they entered the program. However, some may  want to switch to the new program. To do that, they need to secure the department's approval, complete a Change of Academic Program (CoAP) form to drop the program and then re-enroll in the program. It's a good idea to check such students' records first before deciding if switching into the new program requirements is the best path; students who are closer to completion of their current program my be better advised easier to stay on the old program (with course substitutions as needed, if the curriculum change including the removal and addition of courses).