1. Slide 1 Jail, Prison, or Parole? Assigning Courses to Disciplines Kevin Parker, Michelle Pilati, Randy Lawson

2. Slide 2 Questions to Consider Who “owns” a course? Who “owns” a course? Who gets to teach what? Who gets to teach what? What is an interdisciplinary course? What is an interdisciplinary course? What is the process for modifying the existing disciplines list? What is the process for modifying the existing disciplines list? What process is used on your campus for assigning a course to a discipline? What process is used on your campus for assigning a course to a discipline?

3. Slide 3 Description continued.. This session will discuss why these questions are critical to curriculum committees, how ignoring these questions may cause problems down the road, and how committees can find answers to these questions. This session will discuss why these questions are critical to curriculum committees, how ignoring these questions may cause problems down the road, and how committees can find answers to these questions.

4. Slide 4 The Pieces.. Minimum Qualifications Placement of Courses in Disciplines Faculty Service Areas The Disciplines List

5. Slide 5 The Disciplines List Preparation & maintenance of “Disciplines List” assigned to Academic Senate (Ed. Code § 87357) Preparation & maintenance of “Disciplines List” assigned to Academic Senate (Ed. Code § 87357) –Works through local senates –Consults with statewide organizations –Makes recommendations to BoG

6. Slide 6 The Disciplines List Disciplines organized into two Lists Disciplines organized into two Lists –Disciplines requiring a Master’s Degree –Disciplines in which a Master’s Degree is not generally expected or available –Note: A separate list for non- credit also exists (Title 5 § 53412)

7. Slide 7 The Disciplines List Board of Governors Approves List Board of Governors Approves List –Must “rely primarily on the advice and judgment of the Academic Senate” Used for: Used for: –hiring faculty –placing courses in disciplines

8. Slide 8 Local Decisions Equivalency process Equivalency process Local requirements may be higher Local requirements may be higher –MQs reflect statewide minimums for persons to be considered “qualified” in a discipline –Districts may establish additional qualifications more rigorous than those listed on Disciplines List –Consider impact of raising MQs on candidate pools –Consider impact of not on who is qualified to teach your courses

9. Slide 9 What About Single-Course Equivalency? Ed Code and Title 5 refer to qualifications in terms of Disciplines not courses or subject areas within a Discipline (Ed Code § 87357; Title 5 § 53410 and § 53430) Ed Code and Title 5 refer to qualifications in terms of Disciplines not courses or subject areas within a Discipline (Ed Code § 87357; Title 5 § 53410 and § 53430) “Alternatives”? “Alternatives”?

10. Slide 10 So.. Courses are assigned to disciplines Courses are assigned to disciplines Faculty meet minimum qualifications for a discipline Faculty meet minimum qualifications for a discipline A course must be placed in a discipline or disciplines in order to determine who is qualified to teach it A course must be placed in a discipline or disciplines in order to determine who is qualified to teach it Usually, this is simple Usually, this is simple

11. Slide 11 Placement of Courses in Disciplines Local senates maintain responsibility for placing courses in disciplines – per Title 5 Local senates maintain responsibility for placing courses in disciplines – per Title 5 Academic and professional matters includes (as first area) “curriculum including establishing prerequisites and placement of courses within disciplines” (Title 5 § 53200 ) Academic and professional matters includes (as first area) “curriculum including establishing prerequisites and placement of courses within disciplines” (Title 5 § 53200 )

12. Slide 12 Placement of Courses in Disciplines Required for all courses (credit & non- credit) for which campus receives apportionment Required for all courses (credit & non- credit) for which campus receives apportionment Not required for community service courses Not required for community service courses Suggestion: Include discipline designations on all course outlines Suggestion: Include discipline designations on all course outlines What do you do now? What do you do now?

13. Slide 13 Placement of Courses in Disciplines For most courses, this is simple. For most courses, this is simple. Psychology 101 is placed in psychology, Sociology 101 in sociology, etc.. Psychology 101 is placed in psychology, Sociology 101 in sociology, etc.. When does it get murky? When does it get murky? Biological Psychology Biological Psychology Social Psychology Social Psychology

14. Slide 14 Cross-listing Courses Reason: Reason: –Course fits more than one discipline Advantage: Advantage: –Individual with MQs in either discipline would be qualified to teach the course

15. Slide 15 Cross-listing Courses Examples: Examples: –Economic History of the U.S. May be cross-listed with Economics & History and taught by faculty member with MQs for Economics or HistoryMay be cross-listed with Economics & History and taught by faculty member with MQs for Economics or History –Speech Communication 140 & Journalism 140 Course may be taught by faculty member with MQs for Journalism or Speech/CommunicationCourse may be taught by faculty member with MQs for Journalism or Speech/Communication Potential Concerns: Potential Concerns: –May impact articulation agreements –May affect “bumping rights”

16. Slide 16 Interdisciplinary Courses When to be considered? When to be considered? Course clearly does not fall within a single discipline Course clearly does not fall within a single discipline It combines two or more disciplines to such a degree that some preparation in each constituent discipline is required It combines two or more disciplines to such a degree that some preparation in each constituent discipline is required

17. Slide 17 Interdisciplinary Courses More specialized preparation required than with cross-listed courses More specialized preparation required than with cross-listed courses Interdisciplinary Studies: Master’s in the interdisciplinary area OR Master’s in one of the disciplines included in the interdisciplinary area and upper division or graduate course work in at least one other constituent discipline. Interdisciplinary Studies: Master’s in the interdisciplinary area OR Master’s in one of the disciplines included in the interdisciplinary area and upper division or graduate course work in at least one other constituent discipline.

18. Slide 18 Interdisciplinary Courses More specialized preparation required than with cross-listed courses More specialized preparation required than with cross-listed courses If “Western Civilization” listed as Interdisciplinary If “Western Civilization” listed as Interdisciplinary Components may be art, philosophy, literature – therefore Instructor qualifications require some preparation in each areaComponents may be art, philosophy, literature – therefore Instructor qualifications require some preparation in each area Qualifications must be based on course description of recordQualifications must be based on course description of record

19. Slide 19 Principles on Placement of Courses The guiding principle is course content, not personnel issues or FTEs The guiding principle is course content, not personnel issues or FTEs Base decision to place a course in a discipline on the body of knowledge necessary to teach the course Base decision to place a course in a discipline on the body of knowledge necessary to teach the course A decision of the Curriculum Committee A decision of the Curriculum Committee

20. Slide 20 Principles on Placement of Courses A decision of the Curriculum Committee - a decision of the faculty A decision of the Curriculum Committee - a decision of the faculty Process varies depending on local academic senate policies and curricular issues Process varies depending on local academic senate policies and curricular issues

21. Slide 21 Principles on Placement of Courses Regardless of the local situation, discipline faculty need to be involved in assignment of courses to disciplines. Regardless of the local situation, discipline faculty need to be involved in assignment of courses to disciplines. Remember: Not all programs or department titles are disciplines – Use the approved Disciplines List Remember: Not all programs or department titles are disciplines – Use the approved Disciplines List

22. Slide 22 Principles on Placement of Courses A process for placement is needed, as well as a means of mediating disputes A process for placement is needed, as well as a means of mediating disputes College Vs District College Vs District If each college has its own curriculum, the placement of courses may vary If each college has its own curriculum, the placement of courses may vary Local control Local control

23. Slide 23 Principles on Placement of Courses When making a decision, the course content should be the driving force – who is qualified to teach it? When making a decision, the course content should be the driving force – who is qualified to teach it? If Biological Psychology is assigned to Psychology, all those with Psychology minimum qualifications should be able to teach it If Biological Psychology is assigned to Psychology, all those with Psychology minimum qualifications should be able to teach it

24. Slide 24 Principles on Placement of Courses If there is no process for placing courses in disciplines, one is needed If there is no process for placing courses in disciplines, one is needed Local control/Faculty control Local control/Faculty control Keep in mind ramifications – if you determine that a course is interdisciplinary, will anyone be able to teach it? Keep in mind ramifications – if you determine that a course is interdisciplinary, will anyone be able to teach it?

25. Slide 25 Questions – on anything and anything.. Questions – on anything and anything..