Curriculum

Create an Experimental Course (EXP)

The experimental course is a method by which colleges can pilot test a course. The experimental course is valid for two years or four full semesters from the beginning of the effective term stated on the form.

The processing of the experimental course differs from the standard curriculum proposal review/approval processes in that the course does not have to be placed on the District Curriculum Committee agenda for action. Experimental courses can be submitted by the college at any time.

1. Always consult with the department chair and instructional council representative(s) of your department (see the members on the IC web site) before proceeding, to see if they will support the course modification proposal. We can't stress enough how important this is! Communication with the IC beforehand helps to navigate through the curriculum process with greater success.

2. Write a draft of the course, preferably in Microsoft Word, including the following information:
   
   • Course Prefix and Number: A prefix appropriate to the course content is utilized, using one of the standard prefixes from the course bank. The courses are numbered either 059 (developmental) or 199 (college level course without prerequisites) or 299 (college level course with prerequisites). The MCCCD Curriculum Office is responsible for assigning a suffix to the experimental course number once the college has submitted the proposal.

     An example of an experimental course prefix/number is: ELT199GA Survey of Engineering and Technology Careers.

   • Effective Term: when do you want to start teaching this course? The experimental course is good for four full semesters.

   • Course Title

   • Number of Credit Hours

   • Number of Periods the class will meet

   • Activity Type: Lecture, Lab, or L+L

   • Need Statement: this explains why you are creating this experimental course, who might take the course, and how students might benefit from it

   • Course Description: course descriptions communicate the content of a course and should be brief and concise. Course descriptions are written in phrases, not complete sentences. In developing course descriptions:
     • Clearly identify critical or key content areas that will be covered in the course
     • Do not list objectives or activities of the course within the description
     • Information about teaching methods and procedures indirectly related to course content are not included in the description

   • Course Competencies: a numbered list of behavioral objectives that successful students will achieve while taking your class. The competencies should be matched to a course outline. For example, if you will be accomplishing competency #1 when you cover outline item I, please indicate (I) at the end of the competency. Example: 1. Define terminology commonly used in literary criticism. (I)

   • Course Outline: a formal outline that lists the major areas covered in the course with more specific subtopics listed as subheadings. The course outline should be matched to the course competencies.

Processing the Experimental Course Proposal

1. When completed, email an electronic version of the draft to Christine Moore and copy Yvonne McMillan. Christine will review the proposal to ensure it meets the District Curriculum Committee (DCC) format and standards. Christine may need to meet with you to review the proposal, as we depend on you as the content expert to advise us on any questions or concerns that may be raised. Brenda will input the proposal into the District Curriculum Office (DCO) form and return it to you for your review and approval.

2. Once you've approved the proposal, Yvonne will forward it to the Dean of Instruction for his/her review.

3. Once the Dean of Instruction has reviewed the proposal, Yvonne will forward copies of the proposed experimental course to the appropriate Instructional Council(s) for evaluation, and the original proposal to the District Curriculum Office (DCO).

4. The District Director of Curriculum submits the experimental course to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for approval.

5. The DCO personnel, before placing the experimental course on the MCCCD Governing Board agenda, will forward copies of the proposed experimental course to the District Curriculum Committee (DCC) for their information. The Instructional Dean is responsible for forwarding copies to the College Curriculum Committee for their information.

6. After ten (10) instructional working days and approval by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the proposed experimental course is eligible to be presented to the Maricopa Governing Board for approval.

7. After the MCCCD Governing Board approves the experimental course, the proposal is filed at the DCO. The approved course information is entered by the District IT department in the course catalog for release to the colleges.

Yvonne will send status updates to keep you informed of the proposal's progress throughout the curriculum process. Once the course is in the course catalog, your department will need to submit Change of Master Schedule requests to Add Sections to the class schedule.

Note: Experimental courses are not placed on the MCCCD Curriculum Office website.

Note: If after offering the experimental course the college decides to process the experimental course as a permanent course, the New course process must be followed.