Course Proposals

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Academic Subject Codes (Prefixes)

Academic subject codes, also known as prefixes, are four-letter abbreviations that appear before course numbers to identify the department offering the course (e.g., JRNL 5001 is offered by the Department of Journalism).

ÌýÌýCourse Prefix GuidelinesÌý

  1. Log in to CourseLeaf to accessÌý.
  2. Click the Propose New Miscellaneous button.
  3. In the pop-up window, open the Request Type drop-down menu, then select New Academic Subject Code/Prefix.
  4. When you're finished, select:
    • Cancel: Discard your changes and return to the previous window.
    • Save Draft: This saves your changes but does not submit your proposal for review. You can return at a later time to complete your request.
    • Submit for Approval: Begin theÌýworkflow.
  5. To log out, close your browser window.
  1. Log in to CourseLeaf to accessÌý.
  2. Click the Propose New Miscellaneous button.
  3. In the pop-up window, open the Request Type drop-down menu and selectÌýChange to Existing Academic Subject Code/Prefix.
  4. When you're finished, select:
    • Cancel: Discard your changes and return to the previous window.
    • Save Draft: This saves your changes but does not submit your proposal for review. You can return at a later time to complete your request.
    • Submit for Approval: Begin theÌýworkflow.
  5. To log out, close your browser window.

​Note: All associated courses with this prefix will be updated with the same effective term.

Before a prefix can be inactivated, all associated courses must first be inactivated. Once that'sÌýdone:

  1. Log in to CourseLeaf to accessÌý.
  2. Click the Propose New Miscellaneous button.
  3. In the pop-up window, open the Request Type drop-down menu and selectÌýInactivation of Existing Academic Subject Code/Prefix.
  4. When you're finished, select:
    • Cancel: Discard your changes and return to the previous window.
    • Save Draft: This saves your changes but does not submit your proposal for review. You can return at a later time to complete your request.
    • Submit for Approval: Begin theÌýworkflow.
  5. To log out, close your browser window.

Courses

Dates & Deadlines

Each semester'sÌýcurriculum update calendarÌýapplies to curriculum changesÌýintended to go into effect that semester. (The deadlines below refer to courses reaching the Peoplesoft step in the workflow, not when they were submitted.)

Fall Deadlines
  • Priority deadline: Nov. 11 (preceding calendar year)
  • Final deadline: Jan. 15 (same calendar year)
Spring Deadlines
  • Priority deadline: JulyÌý1 (preceding calendar year)
  • Final deadline: Oct. 1 (preceding calendar year)
Summer Deadlines
  • Priority deadline: Sept. 1 (preceding calendar year)
  • Final deadline: Dec. 1 (preceding calendar year)

Proposals & Revisions

All course proposals and revisions are managed through our curriculum inventory management system (CIM).ÌýOnce a proposalÌýor revision is fully approved in CIM:

  • The CU Boulder catalog is updatedÌýweekly or monthly, depending on itsÌýstage inÌýthe publication cycle.
  • Degree audit updates must be submitted separatelyÌý(see instructions below).

Follow the step-by-step instructions to begin.

ÌýÌýStep-by-Step InstructionsÌý

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Follow the step-by-step instructions to begin.

ÌýÌýStep-by-Step InstructionsÌý

If you are part of the approval workflow for a department, you will be notified whenÌýa course request is ready for your review. You will receive an automated email from the Office of the Registrar that includes:

  • The name of your role (select this in your approval queue)​
  • Which page is ready for reviewÌý​
  • A direct link to your approval queue​
  • Links to training resources​

Click on the link in the automated email to openÌýthe approval page. If your queue looks empty, make sure your role is selected in the drop-down menu (upper right).

For information about how to edit and approve catalog pages and instructions on how to access the approval page without going through the automated email, see our step-by-step instructions below.

ÌýÌýStep-by-Step InstructionsÌý

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To check the progress of your course proposal or revision:​

  1. Log in toÌý.​
  2. Use theÌýsearch box to find your course, then clickÌýon the course title.​ The course form will display below the course table.
  3. ToÌýtheÌýright of the form, you'll see two blocks:
    • The "In Workflow"Ìýblock lists each step in the approval workflow for your proposal or revision. Completed steps are green, in-progress steps are orange, and incomplete steps are gray.ÌýIf you hover over a step, the approvers'Ìýemail addressesÌýwill appear in the lower left of your browser window.
    • The "Approval Path"Ìýblock lists the date and time that approval step was completedÌýand the name of each approver.

After your new course or course change has been approved through the appropriate workflows, email degreeaudit@colorado.edu with the below information:

  • The academic plan code
  • The first term the change will be in affect (please note, we will not make changes to previous catalog years)
  • The course prefix and number
  • Where it needs to appear in the audit
Need Assistance with a Degree Audit Issue?

Submit a help ticket to the degree audit team.

Submit a Degree Audit Help TicketÌý

Course Types (Components) & Contact Hours

Follow the link below for:

  • An overview of federal and state credit and contact-hour guidelines.
  • General definitions of each classÌýtypeÌýand instructional modalityÌýemployed by CU Boulder.
  • Guidance on how credit hours translateÌýto each classÌýtypeÌýand instructional modality.
  • Guidelines for classes offered within special sessions and for fractional-credit courses.
  • Step-by-step instructions to calculate awarded credit hours for a class.
  • Definitions of "base contact hour," "credit hour" and "distance education."

ÌýÌýCredit & Contact-Hour Guidelines

Contact Us

Resources

Curriculum Calendar

See past & future deadlines...