Welcome to the LA&PS Curriculum Toolkit. This page provides information resources for faculty proposing graduate and undergraduate curriculum in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
Proposals must be submitted online:
- Submit minor modifications (graduate and undergraduate)
- Submit major modifications and new programs (graduate and undergraduate)
- Submit Markham proposals
Deadlines
Undergraduate
Deadline for complete UNDERGRADUATE proposals packages: June 18
CCPS welcomes proposal submission throughout the year. We prioritize review according to submission date.
Proponents are welcome to submit proposals at any time of year; however, proposals submitted after the June 18 deadline may not be guaranteed review in time for offering in the next academic session. Minor modifications (including proposals for new courses, change to existing course, and minor changes to existing programs) received by June 18 will be reviewed by the Committee on Curriculum, Curricular Policy and Standards (CCPS) only when they are complete. Packages must contain all relevant documentation, including evidence of unit-level approval, consultation with affected programs, and a library statement (for new course proposals). Proposals are reviewed in the order submitted.
The ideal time to submit a major modification or new program proposal is between March and May so that once the proposal receives full approval by Senate and/or the Quality Council, the approved proposal can meet the Academic Calendar deadline (February) and the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre deadline (March) for publishing updates to available programs.
Graduate
Graduate program calendars are published in the fall every year by the Faculty of Graduate Studies; for additions and changes to be included in the calendar, proposals must be fully approved by the end of the previous academic session.
Minor Modifications
Minor modifications are curriculum proposals dealing with courses or less substantive changes to existing degree programs or certificates. New Course Proposals, Course Expiries, and Change to Existing Course proposals are reviewed according to the processes listed below. If you are unsure whether a change you want to propose is a major or minor modification, please consult the LA&PS curriculum office for additional clarification. The York University Quality Assurance Protocol stipulates that, in ambiguous cases, the Office of the Vice-Provost Academic decides which proposal type and process proponents should follow.
*Please note that Change to Existing Program proposals may require a curriculum map, as outlined by the York University Quality Assurance Procedures. In such cases, the curriculum team will follow up with proponents to request the map and offer support for its creation, as needed.
Approvals
Undergraduate Process for Changes to Existing Degree and Certificate Programs Minor
Graduate Process for Changes to Existing Degree
- FGS acknowledges minor modification.
- Department-level committee
- Graduate Committee
- Faculty Council
- Academic Standards, Curriculum, and Pedagogy Committee (ASCP)
- Academic Policy, Planning and Research Committee (APPRC)
Undergraduate Governance Process for New Course Proposals, Changes to Existing Courses & Retired Courses
- Department-level committee
- Committee on Curriculum, Curricular Policy and Standards (CCPS)
- Faculty Council
Graduate Governance Process for New Course Proposals, Changes to Existing Courses & Retired Courses
- Department-level committee
- FGS (for information, not formal approval)
- Graduate Committee
- Faculty Council
Undergraduate Minor Modification Forms
Graduate Minor Modification Forms
General Education Courses
The LA&PS General Education Sub-committee was reconvened in 2021 and is actively accepting curricular proposals for general education. New proposals will be vetted for completeness and accuracy; once complete, proposals will be scheduled for review by the committee according to the order of submission.
Major Modifications & New Programs
Major modifications involve substantial changes to existing programs due to curricular renewal, program restructuring, program mergers and proposals for new programs. New Course Proposals, Course Expiries, and Change to Existing Course proposals are reviewed based on the processes below. If you are unsure whether a change you want to propose is a major or minor modification, please consult the LA&PS curriculum office for additional clarification.
New Degree Program Approval
The development of new programs follows the protocol for new program approvals as outlined in the York University Quality Assurance Process and also complies with the Quality Council’s Quality Assurance Framework.
Please visit the New Degree Program Approvals page for further details.
Please note that before proponents develop a full proposal for either a new program or new program with expedited approval, the Dean must first approve the proponent’s Notice of Intent (NOI) to develop a proposal.
Undergraduate Governance Process for New Programs and Closures
- Dean and VPA sign Notice of Intent
- Unit-level approval of full proposal
- Committee on Curriculum, Curricular Policy and Standards (CCPS)
- Academic Policy & Planning Committee (APPC in LAPS)
- Faculty Council
- Academic Standards, Curriculum & Pedagogy Committee (ASCP)
- Academic Policy, Planning & Research Committee (APPRC)
- Senate
- Quality Council (PDF)
For assistance initiating a program proposal or developing a program brief, please consult the LA&PS curriculum office.
Graduate Governance Process for New Programs and Closures
- Dean and VPA sign Notice of Intention (new programs)
- Unit-level approval of full proposal
- FGS acknowledges full proposal
- Graduate Committee
- Academic Policy & Planning Committee (APPC in LAPS)
- Faculty Council
- Academic Standards, Curriculum & Pedagogy Committee (ASCP)
- Academic Policy, Planning & Research Committee (APPRC)
- Senate
- Quality Council (PDF) (new programs)
Undergraduate New Degrees with Expedited Approvals
In some cases, new program proposals can be expedited when the Quality Council does not require an external review of the proposed program. Ultimately, the Office of the Vice-Provost, Academic- in consultation with the Quality Council- determines which process a program brief will follow.
Please visit the New Programs with Expedited Approvals page for further details.
Graduate New Degree Proposal Forms
Program Closure
The protocol for a program closure includes the closure of degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Examples of reasons for program closures include:
- low enrolment
- changes in academic programs
- poor program quality whether articulated in cyclical reviews or determined solely by the institution.
Please visit the Program Closure page for further details.
Major Modification for Change to Existing Program
Major modifications to existing programs typically involve at least one of the following:
- Significant changes to program requirements
- Addition of a new major or specialization where a similar one exists at the undergraduate level.
- Merger of two or more programs.
- Significant changes to the learning outcomes of an existing program
- Significant changes to the faculty complement delivering an existing program
- Change to the essential resources of a program that impair its delivery.
Please visit the Major Modification: Templates and Guidelines page for further details.
Undergraduate Governance Process for Change to Existing Programs
Graduate Governance Process for Change to Existing Programs
- Dean and VPA sign Notice of Intent
- Unit-level approval of full proposal
- Graduate Committee
- Academic Policy & Planning Committee (APPC)
- Faculty Council
- Academic Standards, Curriculum & Pedagogy Committee (ASPC)
- Academic Policy, Planning & Research Committee (APPRC)
- Senate
Questions?
Learn more about degree expectations, program learning outcomes and further resources.
Contact
UNDERGRADUATE
Maggie Quirt, Associate Dean, Programs
adprog@yorku.ca
Tanzina Tahereen, Associate Director, Faculty Curriculum
416-736-2100 ext. 44544
tahereen@yorku.ca
Janna Finkel-Freyger, Curriculum Developer
416-736-2100 ext. 66687
jafinkel@yorku.ca
Luciana Costa, Curriculum Developer
416-736-2100 ext. 22672
costa10@yorku.ca
Evan McDonough, Curriculum Assistant
evmcd@yorku.ca
GRADUATE
Ravi de Costa, Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies
adres@yorku.ca
Lindsay Gonder, Manager, Graduate Studies
416-312-4594
lgonder@yorku.ca
Evan McDonough, Curriculum Assistant
evmcd@yorku.ca