Course Revalidation

Every four years, each course within the Essential Studies (ES) program must be revalidated in order to ensure it remains appropriate as an ES course.  See current revalidation schedule.

Process

  1. Receive revalidation information from Essential Studies in the spring semester of the year prior to the year when revalidation must occur.
  2. Complete the revalidation form in the early fall of the year when revalidation must occur. 

    1. The request form allows you to check which type of course you are validating (e.g., Breadth of Knowledge, Special Emphasis, Capstone) as well as what learning goals the course is intended to meet and what dimensions of the learning goal rubrics will be met.

    2. You will be asked to attach a syllabus for the course.

    3. You will also be asked to attach a document that describes how the course meets the learning goals (and rubric dimensions), as well as the criteria for breadth of knowledge, capstone, and/or special emphasis.  *Please complete the document ahead of time and submit in word or pdf.
      1. See example here
    4. Submit revalidation form 

Receive word of the Essential Studies Committee's decision during the spring semester after revalidation materials have been submitted.

Timeline

The deadline for submission of requests for revalidation of ES courses is October 1 each year. The ES Committee's review period for such requests will be from the point of submission until the end of January. If approved by the ES Committee any changes to the revalidated courses will appear in the course catalog, which is posted in March of the same academic year, in time for advisement for the spring registration period.

Requirements

To be part of the ES program, a course will focus on a student learning in at least one of the six ES learning goals:

  1.  Critical Inquiry and Analysis
  2.  Quantitative Reasoning
  3.  Written Communication
  4.  Oral Communication
  5.  Intercultural Knowledge & Skills
  6.  Information Literacy.

It must also fit into one of the following:

  • Breadth of Knowledge
    • Communication
    • Social Science
    • Fine Arts
    • Humanities
    • Math, Science, & Technology
  • Special Emphasis
    • Advanced Communication
    • Quantitative Reasoning
    • Diversity of Human Experience
    • Analyzing Worldviews
  • Capstone