Academic Programs
Instructions for CAFNR Course Proposals and Course Changes
A department or program wishing to propose a new course or to change an existing course should
submit the appropriate documentation to the Associate Dean of Academic Programs by the required
deadline. The Associate Dean will then forward the request to the CAFNR Courses and Curricula
Committee.
ALL course actions must be submitted to the CAFNR Courses and Curricula Committee for approval
before forwarding to the campus committees for final approval. The CAFNR Committee requires
signature of Division Director as well as Department Chair. Submit both a signed original document and
a signed pdf file.
Submission Deadlines
Term CAFNR Deadline Campus Deadline
Spring Semester May 15 June 15
Fall & Summer Semester November 10 December 10
The CAFNR Committee will review course proposals and changes received throughout the year on a
monthly basis but the above deadlines must be met to assure that the course actions are in place for the
desired semester of offering.
After the CAFNR Committee approval, the Associate Dean will forward the request to the campus
Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (Courses 1-4999) or the Graduate Faculty Senate (7000-9999).
Forms Hyperlink: http://registrar.missouri.edu/faculty-staff/curriculum-changes.php
http://gradschool.missouri.edu/policies/faculty-senate/curriculum/.
The CAFNR Courses and Curricula Committee has developed a set of minimum standards that should
assure a “clean” proposal that will receive approval at the campus level.
Course Change Proposal
A campus form is required plus the CAFNR Committee requires a brief justification for the
requested change. No syllabus is required with course changes.
New Course Proposal
A campus form is required along with a syllabus containing, as a minimum, the following
documentation:
Title, Instructor contact information, meeting times, office hours, etc.
Course description
Course (Student Learning) Objectives (what will students know and be able to do
after completing course)
Required text & materials
Prerequisite or co-requisite course(s)
Policies on:
Absences
Late work (with time limit)
Make up work (include a time limit)
Course topics (week by week or class section)
Grade components – assignments, exams, quizzes, paper, etc.
Grading scale
Statements (ADA, Academic Dishonesty, Intellectual Pluralism)
Additional requirement to receive graduate credit (cross level only)
Plus/Minus Scale (Required by campus for undergraduate level courses and MU
Faculty Council is considering adding +/-grading to graduate level courses.)
Course proposals that are cross-listed must have proposals developed in both
departments
Common Problems Creating Delays in Curriculum Review and Approval
General
• Missing signatures from all involved parties, especially for cross-listed courses.
• Graduate Faculty membership is needed.
All graduate-level courses must be taught by a Graduate Faculty member.
• Syllabus Issues
Missing required academic policy statements – ADA and academic integrity.
Grading scale – no plus-minus grading or “D” letter grades in graduate-level courses
• Cross-leveled courses, 4000/7000
All cross-leveled courses must include additional expectations for graduate-level learning in
order to warrant graduate credit for the course.
• Cross-listed courses
Be certain that all proposed cross-listed courses actually exist
• Evidence of shared interest
Documentation must be provided that departments with vested interest,
irrespective of cross listing, support or do not challenge the offering.
If an offering is challenged by another academic unit, the Undergraduate Curriculum
Committee/Academic Affairs Committee of the Graduate Faculty Senate will adjudicate the
matter. When you identify departments likely to share an interest in the subject and when
you establish that you have discussed the course with those departments, your proposal can be
reviewed for the request deadline. It is required that you send a copy of the course syllabus to
the Chair of each potentially interested department requesting a brief endorsement. An
attached note from the interested Chair establishes the fact of contact and that the proposed
course does not duplicate offerings in the related department.
• Failure to assign correct curriculum designator (see list below)
• Failure to submit both copies – original form and electronic copy
Curriculum Designator Abbreviation
Designator Subject Area Academic Unit
AG EC Agricultural Economics A,F&NR
AG ED Agricultural Education A,F&NR
AG JRN Agricultural Journalism A,F&NR
AG S M Agricultural Systems Management A,F&NR
AGRIC Agriculture A,F&NR
AN SCI Animal Science A,F&NR
ATM SC (Atmospheric Science) Soil, Environmental
And Atmospheric Sciences NAT R
BIOCHM Biochemistry A,F&NR
ENV SC (Environmental Science) Soil,
Environmental and Atmospheric Science NAT R
FW Fisheries and Wildlife NAT R
FS Food Science A,F&NR
FOREST Forestry NAT R
HRM Hotel and Restaurant Management A,F&NR
NAT R Natural Resources NAT R
NUTRIT (Nutrition) Interdepartmental A,F&NR
P R TR Parks, Recreation and Tourism NAT R
PLNT S Plant Science A,F&NR
RU SOC Rural Sociology A,F&NR
SOIL (Soil Science) Soil, Environment and
Atmospheric Sciences NAT R
Topics forms
Topics courses are intended for one-time special offerings, or as opportunities to experiment with a new
course prior to seeking approval for it as a regular course. Topics titles may be offered only for two
semesters.
Undergraduate topics form (PDF) (Courses numbered 1–4999)
Graduate and Professonal topics form (PDF) (Courses numbered 5000–9999) (PDF)