Frequently Asked Questions:

Who approves new and revised courses?

All new courses and substantial revisions of existing courses are first reviewed and approved by the Curriculum Implementation Committee (CIC). Then they are approved by the Curriculum and Educational Policy Committee (CEP) and by faculty vote at a faculty meeting.

When will my proposal be reviewed and approved?

The CIC attempts to review at each meeting all proposals submitted (and for which approvals have been received from the relevant department chairs) by the Friday before the meeting. (An unusually high number of submitted proposals may require multiple meetings before all proposals are reviewed.) Instructors or department/program chairs may be contacted for supplemental information or clarification. Once the CIC has approved a course proposal, it is added to the next CEP meeting agenda. After the CEP has approved a proposal, it is voted on at a faculty meeting.

What constitutes a new course?

A new course is one that has never previously been taught at Bowdoin. As long as a course was previously taught at Bowdoin and was not approved for a limited duration, it may be reintroduced into the curriculum without another approval.

What types of course revisions require approval?

Revisions requiring approval include (a) a significant change in the content of a course; (b) a change to allow a course to be repeated for credit; (c) a change in prerequisite that makes it more, rather than less, restrictive; (d) changes in registration restrictions (majors only, seniors only, etc.) that are more, rather than less, restrictive; (e) a change in numbering that reflects a change in level; (f) a change in credit value; (g) a change in grading option; and (h) a change in distribution designations.

Who submits courses for approval?

A course proposal is submitted by a faculty member or a department chair after a department/program committee has discussed how the course will contribute to the department/program's offerings. The approval of the chair or director is required on all proposals; when a proposal is not initially submitted by a chair, approval of the chair is subsequently solicited through email.

If you have any questions about this process, please contact The Office of the Registrar.