Liberal Education Course Proposal and Review Procedures

Courses approved for the Liberal Education Program:

• Will be taught by those familiar with the goals and methods of teaching liberal education courses;
• Will help students to understand the nature and value of a liberal education and to recognize how the course in question contributes to such an education;
• May be offered at the 1000-, 2000-, 3000-, or 4000-level;
• Will be offered regularly (at least every other year); and
• Will be suitable for a wide spectrum of students*.

* Key Topics courses offered at the 3000- and 4000-level within the major are not required to serve a wide spectrum of students.

A Liberal Education course may also be used to satisfy a requirement within the major or minor if approved through curriculum procedures.

A Liberal Education course may meet the criteria for a Knowledge Domain category as well as a Key Topics category. Course proposals for both categories must be completed to be considered for approval. Courses approved for two categories must conduct and report student learning assessment for both of the categories.

• Review the category descriptions, criteria, and learning outcome rubrics, and choose the category (or categories) with which the course aligns.
• Click below to download an editable copy of the appropriate course proposal form(s).
  • Part 1: Logic and Quantitative Reasoning form
  • Part 1: Oral Communication and Languages - Oral Communication form / Languages form
  • Part 1: Theorizing Race, Power, and Justice form
  • Part 2: Fine Arts form
  • Part 2: Humanities form
  • Part 2: Natural Sciences form
  • Part 2: Social Sciences form
  • Part 3: Global Perspectives form
  • Part 3: Cultural Diversity in the US form
  • Part 3: Sustainability form
• Submission instructions:
  • Please name your proposal file using the course designator, course number, and category (example: ABDC 1234 OCL).
  • If you are submitting one course for designation in both a Part 2 (Knowledge Domains) category and a Part 3 (Key Topics) category, then a separate course proposal form must be completed for each category.
  • Responses to the Category Criteria must be at least 100 words in length.
• Submit the appropriate course proposal form(s) by the posted due dates above.
  • Completed course proposals will follow the college's curriculum review procedure involving department and college approvals.
  • The college will forward the approved forms to the campus Curriculum Office for review by the Liberal Education Subcommittee.
  • Please remember that departmental and collegiate review deadlines are earlier than the deadline for submission to the campus Curriculum Office.
• After campus review is completed, the faculty, department head, and dean's office will receive email notification of approval or non-approval. Approved courses are also entered into all UMD record systems and added to the approved Liberal Education course list for the next catalog year (fall, spring, and summer).

Elected voting members:

Mark Zmudy (CEHSP Faculty) 2024-2027

Eric Torres (CEHSP Faculty) 2025-2028

Maureen Tobin Stanley; Ryan Bergstrom (Spring 2026) (CAHSS Faculty) 2025-2028

Hilary Kowino (CAHSS Faculty) 2025-2028

Joshua Ryoo (LSBE Faculty) 2025-2028

Xin Liang (LSBE Faculty) 2023-2026

Ted Pedersen (SCSE Faculty) 2024-2027

Carmen Latterell (SCSE Faculty) 2023-2026 

Jacob Hauer (Student) 2025-2026

Ex-officio non-voting members:

Kelsey Pederson (academic advisor from one of the four colleges) 

Jennifer Mencl (appointed AVC representative from Academic Affairs)

Staff support:

Lindsay Brown, Academic Affairs

For general Liberal Education inquires, please contact a member of the Curriculum Office:

• Jen Mencl ([email protected])
• Lindsay Brown ([email protected])

For guidance on Liberal Education course proposal forms, please contact your Liberal Education Subcommittee representative(s) shown above.