Liberal Education Course Proposal and Review Procedures

Liberal Education Course Proposal Forms 

The Liberal Education Subcommittee will accept Liberal Education course proposals starting fall term through February 1 to review for inclusion in the next year's course catalog. 

The catalog year includes fall, spring, and summer.

Details about the categories and proposals are provided in the sections below the forms.

Liberal Education PartsCategory Course Proposal Forms
Part 1: Language, Reasoning Skills, and Theorizing Power
Logic and Quantitative Reasoning Proposal Form
Part 1: Language, Reasoning Skills, and Theorizing Power
Oral Communication and Language Proposal Form
Part 1: Language, Reasoning Skills, and Theorizing Power
Theorizing Race, Power, and Justice Proposal Form
Part 2: Knowledge Domains
Fine Arts Proposal Form
Part 2: Knowledge Domains
Humanities Proposal Form
Part 2: Knowledge Domains
Natural Sciences Proposal Form
Part 2: Knowledge Domains
Social Sciences Proposal Form
Part 3: Key Topics
Cultural Diversity in the U.S. Proposal Form
Part 3: Key Topics
Global Perspectives Proposal Form
Part 3: Key Topics
Sustainability Proposal Form

 

Liberal Education Course Requirements & Proposal Details

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Liberal Education Course Requirements & Proposal Details

Liberal Education Course Requirements

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.

Liberal Education Course Proposal Instructions

  • Review the categories and descriptions and choose the category (or categories) with which the course aligns. 
  • Download and complete the appropriate course proposal form(s).
    • Please name the file using the course designator, course number, and category (example: ABDC 1234 OCL). 
    • If you are submitting the same course for designation in a Knowledge Domain category and a 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 (see Course Proposal Deadline section below).
    • Completed course proposals will follow the college's curriculum review procedure involving department and college approvals.
    • The college will forward the approved forms to Academic Affairs for review by the Liberal Education Subcommittee.
    • Please remember that departmental and collegiate review deadlines are earlier than the deadline for submission to Academic Affairs.
  • 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).

Liberal Education Subcommittee

10 elected voting members:

Ian Zimmerman (spring 2024, serving in place of Rick LaCaille)(CEHSP Faculty) 2021-2024

June Lee (spring 2024, serving in place of Marzell Gray) (CEHSP Faculty) 2022-2025

Kristen Hylenski (CAHSS Faculty) 2022-2025 - Co-Chair 2023-24

Jennifer Moore (CAHSS Faculty) 2022-2025 - Co-Chair 2023-24

Marat Bakpayev (LSBE Faculty) 2022-2025

Yufei Ren (LSBE Faculty) 2023-2026

Karen Gran (SCSE Faculty) 2021-2024

Carmen Lattrell (SCSE Faculty) 2020-2023

Kim Pittman (Staff) 2022-2025 

(Student) 2023

2 ex-officio non-voting members:

Trent Nelson (academic advisor from one of the four colleges) 2021-2024

Jennifer Mencl (appointed AVC representative from EVCAA)

Staff support:

Lindsay Brown, VCAA office

Questions?

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


For guidance on Liberal Education course proposal forms, please contact your Liberal Education Subcommittee representative(s) shown above or the Liberal Education Faculty Fellow Jenna Soleo-Shanks ([email protected]).