Curriculum Writers Handbook: Section 2 California State Requirements for Course Approval 

This section summarizes regulations for the course approval process; the program development and approval process is outlined in Section 5. 

2.1 Basic Criteria for Approval

All courses and programs must meet the five basic criteria for approval stated in Title 5, as summarized below in the PCAH 8th Edition, pages 24-28. Courses being approved for inclusion in a Transfer Model Curriculum (TMC) must meet additional criteria. (See Section 7)

A. Appropriateness to mission. 

Course must be directed at the appropriate level for community colleges; must address a valid transfer, occupational, basic skills, civic education, or lifelong learning purpose; and must provide distinct instructional content and specific instructional objectives. 

B. Need. Must provide evidence of need for the course in college service area. 

C. Quality (Curriculum Standards). 

Must fulfill the requirements of the local curriculum approval process, which includes a thorough review by the college’s curriculum committee; approval within the local district as well as on a regional level (career education); alignment with requirements of accrediting agencies. 

D. Feasibility (Adequate Resources). 

The college has the resources needed to offer the course at the level of quality described in the COR. 

E. Compliance. 

The design of the course or program is not in conflict with any law, including both state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations. 

2.2 Associate Degree Credit Course Standards

All credit courses must meet the following standards, as written in Title 5, §55002.

A. Grading Policy

The course provides for measurement of student performance in terms of the stated course objectives and culminates in a formal, permanently recorded grade based upon uniform standards in accordance with section 55023. The grade is based on demonstrated proficiency in subject matter and the ability to demonstrate that proficiency, at least in part, by means of essays, or, in courses where the curriculum committee deems them to be appropriate, by problem solving exercises or skills demonstrations by students.

B. Units

The course grants units of credit in a manner consistent with the provisions of section 55002.5. The course outline of record shall record the total number of hours in each instructional category specified in governing board policy, the total number of expected outside-of-class hours, and the total student learning hours used to calculate the award of credit.

C. Intensity

The course treats subject matter with a scope and intensity that requires students to study independently outside-of-class time.

D. Prerequisites and Corequisites

Except as provided in section 55522, when the college and/or district curriculum committee determines, based on a review of the course outline of record, that a student would be highly unlikely to receive a satisfactory grade unless the student has knowledge or skills not taught in the course, then the course shall require prerequisites or corequisites (credit or noncredit) that are established, reviewed, and applied in accordance with the requirements of this article.

E. Basic Skills Requirements

If success in the course is dependent upon communication or computation skills, then the course shall require, consistent with the provisions of this article, as prerequisites or corequisites eligibility for enrollment in associate degree credit courses in English and/or mathematics, respectively.

F. Difficulty

The course work calls for critical thinking and the understanding and application of concepts determined by the curriculum committee to be at college level.

G. Level

The course requires learning skills and vocabulary that the curriculum committee deems appropriate for a college course.

2.3 Non-Degree Credit Course Standards (Number 300-399)

All non-degree credit courses must meet specific standards like those for Associate Degree credit courses (see above and Title 5, §55002). The assignments will be sufficiently rigorous so that students completing each non-degree credit course successfully will have acquired the skills needed to successfully complete degree-applicable coursework upon the required sequence of such courses. The types of courses that are non-degree applicable credit courses include: 

  • Non-degree applicable basic skills courses;
  • Courses designed to enable students to succeed in degree-applicable credit courses that integrate basic skills instruction throughout and assign grades partly upon the demonstrated mastery of those skills;
  • Pre-collegiate career education preparation courses designed to provide foundation skills for students preparing for entry into degree-applicable credit career education courses or programs
2.4 Stamdards for Stand-Alone Courses

A stand-alone course is a credit course that is not part of a Chancellor’s Office approved program. For example, if a course is part of a Skills Certificate, and not part of another Chancellor’s Office approved program, despite being in a locally approved program, it is considered a stand-alone course. SRJC has various stand-alone courses because they meet the standards defined in 2.1-2.3 and fulfill purposes within the college’s mission. 

Only a small portion of SRJC’s courses stand alone; most courses are part of an SRJC program of study (See list below). These programs, except for Skills Certificates, require Chancellor’s Office approval. (See Section 5 for more on Programs)

  • Skills Certificates;
  • Certificates of Competency;
  • Certificates of Completion;
  • Certificates of Achievement;
  • Associate in Arts (AA) degrees;
  • Associate in Science (AS) degrees; and
  • Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) degrees.