Modifying Existing Courses

Submit the ***Course - Modify approval process. View Submit a Proposal in Curriculum for help in initiating the proposal. Attach syllabi using an Accessible Syllabus Template or Concourse Template. 

Unless a change in course description and title is so removed from the current description and title that it is truly a new course. 

  • Modifying existing course information: Course Title/ Transcript Title, Catalog Description, Prerequisite(s), Corequisite(s), Enrollment Requisite Screening/PS Prereqs, Repeatability, Units, Course Classification– C/S Numbers, Component(s), Course Subject/ Prefix, Cross-listing, Session Offered, Term Typically Offered, Course Number. 

  • Certifying as General Education:

(Visit General Education wepage for more information. Also, view the GE Guidelines Fall 2025 [pdf] document). 

  • Adding Sub-Topics: EO 1037 has eliminated repeatability from courses unless the student's grade is C- or below (undergraduate). To address the need for repeating some courses, departments should set up courses to be topic-based. Topic-based courses usually have titles such as “Special Topics in…” or “Topics in…”. When a department proposes topic-based courses, they submit a series of topics to be used in scheduling; the scheduled topic then appears on the student’s transcript.

  • Tagging as High Impact Practice (HIPs): This tag is at the Peoplesoft course catalog level (instead of course schedule section level), which means all sections must require/include this practice/activity. SJSU High Impact Practice definitions follow the definitions outlined by AACU. HIP tags allow the university to track these types of practice/activities for grants and other reporting opportunities.The following HIP tags are available:

      • In Class Activity Only: Collaborative Assignments and Projects, Intellectual Experiences, Capstone Courses and Projects, e-Portfolios, First-Year Seminars and Experiences, Learning Communities, Undergraduate Research, Diversity/Global Learning, Writing Intensive.

      • Off-Campus Activity: Internships and Service Learning.

  • Tagging as Sustainability: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) further defines sustainability as 17 attainable objectives. The options in the drown down to identify the Primary Justification for Inclusion are the guidelines used to qualify our programs and courses as sustainable. For links with more detailed descriptions, visit sjsu.edu/sustainability/academics.The following tags are available:

      • Sustainability Focused course title or description must indicate a primary and explicit focus on sustainability. This includes courses with a primary and explicit focus on sustainability, the application of sustainability within a field, or a major sustainability challenge.

      • Sustainability Related course description or syllabus must indicate that the course incorporates a unit/module on sustainability or a sustainability challenge, includes one or more sustainability-focused activities, or integrates sustainability challenges, issues, and concepts throughout the course.

  • Add or remove a cross-listing for an existing course: A single course is offered for registration under two or more departments. 

If you are modifying courses in bulk, e.g. changing all course prefixes, prerequisites, etc., contact the Curriculum Analyst to submit a Memo/MOU Proposal instead of submitting a separate proposal for each course.