The development of the curriculum and the academic programs of the department/school constitutes an important responsibility of the department chair/school dean. It is the responsibility of the chair/school dean to provide leadership in the review and development of the department/school's curriculum and academic programs.

1. Introduction of New Courses
   
   Requests for the introduction of new courses are initiated by the department/school and are submitted, in writing, to the college dean and the Academic Policy Committee (APC). The college dean insures that the request is in proper form and assists in an analysis of the resources necessary for the course addition.
   
   If the APC approves a course proposal, it shall submit the proposal to the faculty for approval.
   
   Requests for the approval of new courses must be submitted to the APC prior to the date established in the Administrative Calendar if the course is to be considered for introduction in the upcoming academic year.
   
   In order to facilitate examination of new course proposals, the following items should be included in the new course proposals:
   
   
   1. Specific recommendation concerning the course: example: "The _________ department/school recommends to the APC the approval of the course, (course number and title), as a regular course in the __________ department/school curriculum."
      
      
   2. Catalog information: description of the course including course number, title, units, prerequisites, whether the course carries general education credit, alternate year offering, and any other information which should accompany the catalog description.
      
      
   3. Expanded course description: this section should state course content and goals in narrative form, course outline, or syllabus. Normally the statement should make clear how the course fits into the objectives of the department/school and mission of the institution. If a general statement about teaching methods and teaching materials can be made regarding the proposed course, that should also be included in this section.
      
      
   4. Place in the curriculum.
      1. How does this course relate to other department/school offerings? Is it required or an option in a major, minor, or supplemental concentration?
      2. Is this course similar in content to a course or courses in another department/school? Does the course impact other majors? If so, what consultation occurred with that department/school?
      3. Does this course represent an expansion of the curriculum? Could another course be dropped in order to avoid increasing the number of courses? Can the course be offered on alternate years?
      4. Whom will this course serve? Which course enrollments will decrease if this course is introduced?
         
         
   5. Rationale for proposing the course for the curriculum and, if applicable, for the prerequisites and general education credit status.
      
      
   6. Resource allocation implications
      1. Does the university have staff qualified to teach the course?
      2. If it does, would shifts in teaching assignments to this course require any additions (adjunct or full-time) to the staff?
      3. If no part-time or full-time additions to the staff would be created directly or indirectly by introducing the course, what provisions are being made to accommodate the course (e.g., course to be dropped or offered less often)?
      4. What are the enrollment prospects?
      5. When and how often will the course be offered?
      6. What are the budget implications of introducing the course with respect to additional equipment, supplies, facilities, library resources, computer resources, materials, etc?
         
         
   7. Background information or additional notes (including the action taken at the department/school meetings).
      
      
2. Review of Department/School Curriculum
   
   Implicit in the introduction of new courses is the assumption that the course offerings of the department/school have been carefully reviewed, for no rationale for the introduction of new courses can be complete without an indication as to how they fit into the existing course offerings. Moreover, a formal review of the department/school's curriculum, including the general education component, must be included as a part of the department/school review which occurs at least once every five years.
   
   Each department/school should periodically consider whether or not certain courses should be deleted from the department/school's curriculum. Courses not offered at least once every two years will be dropped from the catalog by action of the APC.
   
   In summary, all course offerings, whether those proposed or those already in the curriculum, must be part of a carefully defined rationale for the department/school's curriculum.
   
   
3. Curricular Programs
   1. Department/School Majors
      Each department/school shall periodically examine the major or majors offered by the department/school noting the specific courses required, recommended or required sequence of courses, recommended and required cognate courses. All majors are recommended and approved through the APC and then to the faculty for approval. Any new majors or changes to existing majors will also be submitted to the college dean for review and recommendation.
   2. Department/School Minors
      Departments/schools have the option of sponsoring a thematic or department minor as specified in the PLNU Catalog and approved by the APC.
      
      
4. Summer Sessions Curriculum
   
   The summer sessions schedule is a part of the approved academic calendar. In accordance with the dates published in the Administrative Calendar, department chairs/school deans are requested to determine their department/school members' interest in teaching in the summer sessions. Faculty members in an active doctoral program should be discouraged from teaching summer sessions, and enrollments should be carefully projected so that summer offerings do not reduce fall and spring registrations below acceptable limits. The final schedule of classes and staffing is to be submitted to the college dean according to the published dates.