The Course Outline (MS Word) is the official document describing the objectives and content of a course.  Faculty complete the course outline when proposing a new course and updating a current course.  Course outlines must be updated at least every six years or when a discipline undergoes program review.  If your course has a prerequisite, corequisite, or advisory, you will also need to complete the prerequisite forms.  The state Academic Senate has written course outline guidelines and a Trade Tech model is also available (this model uses the old form; a new model will be available soon). 

The form is designed to be submitted electronically.  Several fields will be left blank for Academic Affairs and the District Office to complete later.
New courses:  complete all sections.
Updated outlines:  complete all sections, except Section VII. 

NOTE:  The header information will be entered automatically when you save your file.

Instructions for completing the form:

SECTION I
Basic Course Information

1. College
   Trade Tech
   
2. Subject name
   The official discipline name, not abbreviated, as listed on the spreadsheet: MS Excel.  
   
3. Course number
   If the course is new to the district, contact the district office at 213-891-2259 for an available course number.
   
4. Course Title
   The title should succinctly describe the content.  If you are adding (adopting) an existing district course, the title must be the same as in the district database.  See the district Directory of Programs and Services.
   
5. Units
   Title 5, section 55002 (2)(B) requires that each unit of credit require three hours of work, including both class time and homework.  Again, for an existing district course, the units must match the the district database.
   
6. Catalog course description
   Provide a description (not to exceed 40 words) of the course as it will appear in the catalog and course outline.  This description should accurately reflect the content and objectives described in Section II.
   
7. Class schedule course description
   Provide a short description of the course as it will appear in the Schedule of Classes.
   
8. College approval date
   Leave blank.
   
9. Updates
   If this is a new course, leave blank.  If this is an update, the Content and Objectives boxes must be checked, and today's date entered in the Last Update field.
    
10. Class Hours
    Using an 18 week semester, indicate the number of lecture hours per week, the number of lab hours per week, and the totals.  The Carnegie Unit Rule and Title 5, section 55002, set forth minimum standards which require 1 hour of lecture plus 2 hours of homework; 2 hours of lab plus one hour of homework; or 3 hours of lab with no homework for each unit of credit.  Each of these combinations is worth one unit.  Indicate the total hours for lecture and labs in the course.  This is calculated using the 18 week model, even if the course is compressed into 16-, 9-, or 5-week sessions.
     
11. Prerequisite
    Indicate the prerequisite, corequisite, and/or advisory.  All prerequisite, corequisites and recommended courses (advisories) must be validated (see the page on Prerequisites, Corequisites, and Advisories for detailed definition and validation requirements).
    
12. Other limitation on enrollment
    Indicate if this course requires an audition, try-out, or other limitation.
    

SECTION II
Course Content and Objectives

1. Course Content and Objectives
   Left Column:  Describe IN DETAIL the lecture topics, if the course has a lecture component.
   Middle Column:  Indicate the the number of hours spent on each topic.  
   Right Column:  Describe the course objectives IN DETAIL using Bloom's Taxonomy.  The link to Bloom's is more extensive than the one printed on the form.
   Total the lecture hours, which must match the total in Section I, number 10.
   
   Left Column:  Describe IN DETAIL the lab activities, if the course has a laboratory component.
   Middle Column:  Indicate the the number of hours spent on each activity.  
   Right Column:  Describe the course objectives IN DETAIL using Bloom's Taxonomy.  Again, you'll find more verbs in this link than the form.
   Total the lab hours, which must match the total in Section I, number 10.
   
2. Required Texts
   List all books that would be representative of the assigned materials for this course.  Under "date", list the year of the book -- do NOT write "latest".  Occupational courses which will not transfer can use instructor handouts; indicate this here.
   
3. Supplementary readings
   Books and reading assignments that may be given in addition to the assigned textbook.
   
4. Writing assignments
   Describe examples of assignments.  Give detail!
   
5. Representative outside assignments
   All courses with homework (as outlined in Section I, #10 above) must have outside assignments.  Give detail!
   
6. Representative assignments that demonstrate critical thinking
   Describe assignments in which students will be required to analyze, problem-solve, or otherwise use critical thinking skills.  Give detail!
   
7. Methods of Evaluation
   Indicate the methods of evaluation (must be more than one), such as tests, essays, skills demonstrations, homework completion, etc.
   
8. Methods of Instruction
   Indicate the methods of instruction.
   
9. Supplies
   List the supplies that you expect the students to purchase, that will be required to complete the course.  Indicate an approximate price.
   
10. Computer competency
    Describe how computer competency is included in the course, if applicable.
    
11. Information competency
    Describe if and how information competency is included, such as library or internet reseARSCh methods.
    

12. Diversity
    Accreditation Standard 2C, states that the educational program should provide opportunities for all students to develop an appreciation of cultural diversity. Please indicate how the course includes cultural diversity in its approach or content.

13. SCANS competencies
    Check off all that apply.  This is required for vocational courses and optional for the others.
    

SECTION III
Relationship to College Programs

1. Approved requirement
   Each college is approved for specific programs. The Directory of Approved Programs and Courses has a list of approved programs for each campus in the District. Please indicate the appropriate program, and if the course is required or an elective. State regulations do not allow a college to offer more than 11 units in an un-approved program.

   NOTE: All degree-applicable occupational courses should fit into a program, at least under the "recommended elective" list in the catalog.  All degree-applicable non-occupational (academic) courses will be fit into the Liberal Arts major.   Courses which are not listed here, must be submitted to the state with the Stand Alone form (exceptions:  99's and Coop Ed).

2. General Education
   Indicate the proposed general education category requirement for the associate degree, and a second category, if appropriate.  Leave the approval date blank.  

SECTION IV
Articulation Information

Request for transferability and inclusion in general education transfer patterns must be done in consultation with the college articulation officer. Please note that, with the exception of CSU transferability, all items in this Section are REQUESTS and that they cannot be finalized until appropriate segmental (i.e., CSU and UC) approval is received by the college.

1. Transfer Status
   Check off if the course should be considered for UC and CSU transferability.  Please note that UC transferability is a REQUEST; CSU transferability can be determined by our college.  Leave dates blank.  Courses can be transferable to the California State University (CSU) system only, or transferable to both the CSU and the University of California (UC) system. Under CSU Executive Order 167, community colleges can determine the transferability of their course without prior approval of the CSU system. The transferability of courses to the UC system requires approval of the Office of the President of the University of California and is determined annually.

2. General Education for Transfer
   Request for inclusion in general education transfer patterns must be done in consultation with the college articulation officer.  Community colleges can request that a course be approved for meeting general education requirements under one or both of two plans: CSU Certification of General Education, or the Intersegmental General Education Core (IGETC). CSU Certification meets lower division general education requirements at all 23 campus of the California State University, while IGETC certification meets lower division general education requirements all CSU campuses and all University of California campuses. Approval for the inclusion of courses in either of these plans is done annually by the respective approving bodies. To be approved the course must meet the general education parameters established by for each of the general education areas in CSU GE and IGETC certification.

3. Major Requirement for Transfer
   Indicate if this course will meet the lower division major requirement at the university.  In addition to having a course transferable to the CSU and UC systems, and having the course count for CSU GE or IGETC certification, it may be desirable to have the course articulated as being equivalent to a course offered at UC or CSU campuses. This must be done through the articulation process with the individual campuses.
   Leave the CAN information blank.

SECTION V
Supplemental Course Information

1. Department
   The campus department to which the course belongs.
   
2. Department code
   The 2-digit code for your department.
   
3. Subject code
   Select the appropriate 3-digit subject code (MS Excel).
   
4. Subject abbreviation
   7-character discipline abbreviation (example: ETNTLGY), NOT title of the course.  Select from the list of abbreviations (MS Excel).
   
5. SPC code
   Leave blank.
   
6. Title abbreviation for transcripts
   Leave blank.
   
7. Degree credit
   All courses are degree applicable, except basic skills and developmental courses.
   
8. Credit/No Credit grading
   Indicate if the course is graded on a CR/NCR basis only, if it's an option with instructor approval, or not an option at all.
   
9. Repetitions
   Title 5, section 58161, states that in order for a course to be repeatable, it must be "one in which the course content differs each time it is offered, and that the student who repeats it is gaining an expanded educational experience for one of the two following reasons: Skill or proficiencies are enhanced by supervised repetition and practice within class periods; or active participatory experience in individual study or group assignments is the basic means by which learning objectives are obtained." If a course does not meet these criteria, it cannot be repeatable.
   
10. Prior to transferable level
    If the course in English, Math, or ESL, indicate the number of levels below transferable.  For example, English 28 is one level below, and Math 115 is two levels below.  If the course is transferable, use "not applicable". 
    

11. Basic Skills
    Basic skills courses cannot be degree applicable.

12. Cross Reference
    Indicate if the course is listed (or is requested to be listed) as equivalent in content to existing college/District courses in another discipline. If multiple course indexing is requested, documentation of cross-discipline agreement must be provided.
    
13. Course specifically designed for students with disabilities
    This is a designation for a "special class" for students with disabilities required by the Management Information System (MIS Data Element CB13) of the Chancellors Office for the California Community Colleges.
    
14. Cooperative education status
    Indicate if this course is part of the college's Cooperative Education program.
    

15. Course Classification
    Indicate which one of the MIS CB11 Categories applies to this course:

    · Liberal Arts and Sciences (AA applicable, e.g., English, Art, Psych, Biology, etc.)
    · Developmental Preparatory (graded, non-degree applicable)
    · Courses for Substantially Handicapped (Learning Skills for DSPS students)
    · Occupational Education (AA applicable, e.g., Fashion, Auto, Culinary, etc.)
    · Basic Skills (CR/NCR only, non-degree applicable -- English, Math, reading, and ESL only)

16. TOP Code  
    Select the appropriate code from the Taxonomy of Programs (5th Edition, February 1995) (MS Excel).
    

17. SAM Code  
    Check one of the appropriate MIS CB09 codes:

    · Apprenticeship (approved for apprentices only)
    · Advanced Occupational (but not limited to apprentices) (3rd and 4th semester of the major)
    · Clearly occupational (but not advanced) (2nd semester of the major)
    · Possibly occupational (1st semester of the major)
    · Non-occupational

SECTION VI
Approval Status

1. Approval status
   Check off if the course is new (to the district), an add, a change, or an update.  Leave the approval dates blank.  Indicate which semester this course will be added to our curriculum (for new courses and adds).
   

SECTION VII
Approval Information for New or Added Courses

1. Indicate How the College Plans to Meet Expense of This Course
   Indicate how the expense of this additional course will be met.   If you will not be receiving additional funds, you will probably rotate different sections of classes; indicate which courses will be rotated out and the number of sections to be rotated each year. 

2. Impact
   Indicate whether the action taken to support the course will impact other programs on campus.  We traditionally only mention negative impacts, not positive ones.

3. Method of Support

· Additional staff:  if this course will be taught as part of an existing full-time faculty member's load, indicate "none", otherwise indicate either "hire one part-time instructor" or "hire one full-time instructor".
· Classroom:  Indicate if you will need a lecture classroom, lab, or other required facility.
· Equipment:  Indicate if new equipment must be purchased to support this course, the price, and the anticipated funding source.
· Supplies: Indicate if new supplies must be purchased to support this course, the price, and the anticipated funding source.
· Library/Learning Resources:  List any books, periodicals or resources that must be purchased to support this course. 

Certification and Recommendation

1. Title 5
   Check off if this course is degree applicable or not.
   
2. Signatures
   Instructor, department head, and dean must all sign and date a hard-copy of the form before it is submitted to the Agenda Review Subcommittee.
   

Courses which will be submitted for articulation must have sufficient detail in the outline.  The most common rejection comment from the universities is, "Not enough detail."

The Agenda Review Subcommittee meets weekly and will critique your paperwork and offer suggestions (and kudos!).  Feel free to ask for assistance.  The Agenda Review Subcommittee will then place the course on the agenda of the next appropriate Curriculum Committee meeting.

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