R4 12//02 REQUEST TO ADD A COURSE Initiating Department Department of Multimedia Design Date: __February 15, 2011 __________ Is course part of a Teacher Certification Program? Yes No If Yes, Date of Teacher Education Council Approval PROPOSED DATA FOR COURSE INVENTORY (4) a Course Prefix MM (5) Course Number b ___3991-3 ______ (6) HEGIS Code ___0601.00 ______ (7) CIP Code ___13.0501 ______ (8) Course Title _______Workshop_________________________________________________________________________ __ (9) Course Mode of Instruction ___00 ____ (10) Number of Contact Hours _________ (11) General Education ___4 _____ (12) Degree Program Required _________ (13) Degree Program Guided Elective _________ (14) Degree Program General Elective __420 ____ (16) Crosslisted _________ (17) Crosslisted Courses Relationship _________ (18) Liberal Arts and Sciences __0 ______ (23) Maximum Number of Contact Hours __6 _______ (24) Number of Repeats _________ (25) Reason for Variable Content __4 _______ Course Description: Multimedia workshops are designed to give intensive emphasis to a specific area of media design and development. They may be repeated with a different topic for additional credit up to a maximum of six hours. Laboratory 1 to 4 hours. State reasons for the request. Be sure to reference assessment data which indicate a need for the proposed course. Attach a Supplementary Information form and a Cost Estimate form. We currently use MM 4191-3 to designate workshops. However, the MM 4191-3 series is an Advanced Problems (AP) course. The series is described as designed for individual and
Transcript
R4 12//02REQUEST TO ADD A COURSE
Initiating Department Department of Multimedia Design Date: __February 15, 2011__________ Is course part of a Teacher Certification Program? Yes No If Yes, Date of Teacher Education Council Approval
PROPOSED DATA FOR COURSE INVENTORY
(4)a Course Prefix MM
(5) Course Numberb ___3991-3______
(6) HEGIS Code ___0601.00______
(7) CIP Code ___13.0501______
(8) Course Title _______Workshop___________________________________________________________________________
(9) Course Mode of Instruction ___00____
(10) Number of Contact Hours _________
(11) General Education ___4_____
(12) Degree Program Required _________
(13) Degree Program Guided Elective _________
(14) Degree Program General Elective __420____
(16) Crosslisted _________
(17) Crosslisted Courses Relationship _________
(18) Liberal Arts and Sciences __0______
(23) Maximum Number of Contact Hours __6_______
(24) Number of Repeats _________
(25) Reason for Variable Content __4_______
Course Description: Multimedia workshops are designed to give intensive emphasis to a specific area of media design and
development. They may be repeated with a different topic for additional credit up to a maximum of six hours. Laboratory 1 to 4
hours.
State reasons for the request. Be sure to reference assessment data which indicate a need for the proposed course. Attach a Supplementary Information form and a Cost Estimate form.We currently use MM 4191-3 to designate workshops. However, the MM 4191-3 series is an Advanced Problems (AP) course. The series is described as designed for individual and group projects in multimedia. In other words, it was designed for students to engage in research and in work-world projects such as instructional or web design for non-academic clients. Students are limited to 6 hours of 4191-3 series courses and every enrollee faculty and chair permission. On the other hand, workshops provide guided media design/development work within a classroom experience for multimedia and non-multimedia majors. Because of the 6-hour limit on these 4191-3 courses, students who take advantage of the workshops now are limited in their ability to take on research and work-world projects. The designation of a specific workshop course number would alleviate that and alleviate the need to approve each and every attempted enrollment.
Department Chair Date _________ Dean Date ___________
Graduate Council Recommendation: ___ Approval ___ Disapproval __________________________________ Graduate Council Chair
a Numbers in this column refer to numbers in Definitions and Coding Instructions, Form R4 8-18, which are to be used for completing this section.b Complete only one form for variable credit courses.
1. Effect of the recommended course on your departmental objectives.a. This course is essential for as:
Requirement for all majors Optional for majors Service course for students in ________________________________ √ General Studies option Other ___________________________________________________
b. This course is to be offered: √ Every Semester Once a Year Alternate Years Other ___________________________________________________
c. Number of courses your department offers at the same level as the proposed course: _Four 3000-level courses and four 4000
d. What current courses of the University most nearly relate to the proposed course and why are these courses insufficient for your needs?
_The original intent of the MM 4191-3 (Advanced Problems in Multimedia Design) series was to designate multimedia research and development projects not workshops. The prosed MM 3991-3 provides an accurate “Workshop” designation and allows the 4191 series to be reserved for legitimate advanced problems courses; i.e., undergraduate research courses as well as individual and group projects in multimedia design and development._______________________________________
2. Effect of recommended course on objectives of other departments or programs.
a. What other departments or programs will be affected by the recommended course? Explain how.
No other department is affected academically. However, we will no longer have to approve all student enrollments into ordinary workshops as we do currently. That will result in immediate, no-wait enrollments into workshop classes. We will continue to require chair permission to enroll in the MM 4191-3 series of classes.___________________________________
b. In the departments to be affected, with whom have you discussed this course? _____N/A____________________________
3. Effect of recommended course on the budget. Explain how the addition of the recommended course will affect the salaryand maintenance budget needs of your department. ____This will have no effect on the budget. It is, essentially, a name
change. _We will continue to offer ths same number of courses per semester._______________________________________________
Graduate Council: ____ Approval _____ Disapproval Graduate Council Chair
a Numbers in this column refer to numbers in Definitions and Coding Instructions, Form R4 8-18, which are to be used for completing this section. b Complete only one form for variable credit courses.
R4 5REQUEST TO MODIFY COURSE
Initiating Department Date ________________________________
Change Level Credit Prefix Title x Prerequisites x Description x Content Number Cross-listing Mechanical (Editing) ( Drop Add General Education Credit) ( Drop Add Liberal Arts and Sciences Credit)
Is course part of a Teacher Certification Program? Yes x No If Yes, Date of Teacher Education Council Approval
CURRENT DATA IN COURSE INVENTORY
(4)a Course Prefix __________
(5) Course Numberb __________
(6) HEGIS Code __________
(7) CIP Code __________
(8) Course Title __________
_________________________________________________
(9) Course Mode of Instruction ______
(10) Number of Contact Hours ______
(11) General Education ______
(12) Degree Program Required ______
(13) Degree Program Guided Elective ______
(14) Degree Program General Elective ______
(16) Crosslisted ______
(17) Crosslisted Courses Relationship ______
(18) Liberal Arts and Sciences ______
(24) Number of Repeats ______
(25) Reason for Variable Content ______
Course Description: Incorporation of various media types into
interactive technology based educational applications. This
course will incorporate a second authoring tool. Prerequisites:
MM1154; concurrent enrollment: RTV 2104
REQUESTED MODIFICATION
(26)a Degree of Modification __1___
(27) Requested Course Prefix
(28) Requested Course Number ______
(29) Requested HEGIS Code ______
(30) Requested CIP Code ______
(31) Requested Course Title:
Requested Course Description:
State reasons for the request.
Department Chair Date __________ Dean Date ___________
Graduate Council: Approval Disapproval ______________________________________________ Graduate Council Chair
a Numbers in this column refer to numbers in Definitions and Coding Instructions, Form R4 8-18, which are to be used for completing this section. b Complete only one form for variable credit courses.
R4 6
OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATIONState Capitol Complex, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
COURSE REQUESTS
INTRODUCTION. Attached are course request forms to be used when requesting a new course. To request course deletions and modifications, institutions may use their course inventory in preparing the course request forms by downloading from the course inventory. Also, the institution's course inventory may be used for course inventory updates. The course inventory and course request forms were developed to be as similar as possible so that the course inventory could be easily updated from the course requests, as well as preparing deletions, modifications, and updates from the inventory. This is, shared data elements have the same names, the same definitions, the same coding instructions, the same field lengths, and are in the same order on both tables.
The two tables, are not, however, identical. To indicate the differences, those data elements on the course request that are not identical to those on the course inventory have been shaded on the course request form.
Please note that data element three (column 5) - Action - is shaded. On the course inventory this field (column 5 also) is blank. It is acknowledged that Record 2 does not have the action code or blank field. Please contact Martha Nagle (405) 524-9140, if this specific lack of similarity is significantly troublesome. Also data elements 26 through 32 are shaded. These elements are used when requesting a course modification.
In order to take advantage of the already existing course inventory, please follow these instructions when requesting course deletions and modifications.
Deletions Step 1: download Course Inventory Records 1 and 2 (and 3-9 if they exist) for the course
you wish to delete. Step 2: enter "2" in Action, data element 3, Column 5.
Modifications
Step 1: download Course Inventory Records 1 and 2 (and 3-9 if they exist) for the course you wish to modify.
Step 2: enter "3" in Action, data element 3, Column 5
# if modifying any of the data elements 4 through 8 (Course Prefix, Course Number, Course HEGIS Code, Course CIP Code, Course Title), code elements 27 through 31, according to attached instructions.
# if modifying course description, download Record 2 also and enter the revised description. Also code Degree of Modification, data element 26, Column 119. Indicate in the reserved section that course description has been changed.
R4 7
# if modifying element 9 or 10 (Course Mode of Instruction, Number of Contact Hours), change the value to the one requested. Indicate in the reserved section the data element change.
# if modifying course prerequisite please place explanation in reserved sections. Many institutions list prerequisites in the course description, and in these cases code the modification as a course description modification.
The modification of any other element is not regarded as a "course request" but as an update to the course inventory. Please follow these steps to update the course inventory.
Step 1: download Course Inventory Records 1 & 2 (and 3-9 if they exist) for the course you wish to update.
Step 2: enter "4" in Action, data element 3, Column 5 Step 3: change the data element (5) to reflect the update. List data elements changed in
reserved section.
DEFINITIONS AND CODING INSTRUCTIONS R4 8
ElementElement Columns Title Description
1 1 - 3 Institution Code This element consists of a three-digit code used by the institution to identify itself as the reporting institution. Institutions and their codes are listed below.THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
University of OklahomaOklahoma State UniversityUniversity of Central OklahomaEast Central UniversityNortheastern State UniversityNorthwestern Oklahoma State UniversitySoutheastern Oklahoma State UniversitySouthwestern Oklahoma State UniversityCameron UniversityLangston UniversityUniversity of Science and Arts of OklahomaOklahoma Panhandle State UniversityConnors State CollegeEastern Oklahoma State CollegeMurray State CollegeNortheastern Oklahoma A&M CollegeNorthern Oklahoma CollegeRogers State CollegeTulsa Junior CollegeOSU Technical Branch - Oklahoma CityOSU Technical Branch - OkmulgeeOU Health Science CenterOklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and SurgeryOU Law CenterOSU School of Veterinary MedicineWestern Oklahoma State CollegeRedlands Community CollegeCarl Albert State CollegeSWOSU - Sayre CampusSeminole Junior CollegeRose State CollegeOklahoma City Community College
R4 9 Element Columns Title Description
2 4 Record The first record for Course Requests should be coded "1".THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
3 5 Action Code the requested action as follows: Addition……………………………………………………1 Deletion……………………………………………………
4 6-12 Course Enter the course prefix. Left justified. Use upper case letters.Prefix THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
5 13-16 Course Enter the number by which the course is identified in theNumber institutional course inventory (course catalog). Note: The Field
of Study (HEGIS Code) and Course Number must uniquely identify each course. Check courses using such HEGIS Codes as 0899 to ensure that two different courses with the same number do not exist. The course number of any course offered for a variable credit should end in "0". The course number of all remedial/ developmental courses should begin with "0". (Remedial/ developmental is defined as English courses below English Composition and mathematic courses that do not require Intermediate Algebra as a prerequisite.)THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
6 17-20 HEGIS Code Enter the HEGIS Code which most accurately designates the Field of Study that encompasses the content of the course. The HEGIS Code does NOT have to be the same HEGIS Code of the degree program the course supports. Enter complete HEGIS Code including leading zeros. The HEGIS Code must match the HEGIS Code reported on UDS.THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
R4 10
Element Column(s) Title Description
7 21-26 CIP Code Enter the CIP Code which most accurately designates the Field of Study that encompasses the content of the course. Please observe the principle that subject matter takes precedence over department of instruction. Use "01" as the last two digits of a six-digit code to designate general treatments of the subject matter in fields of study where distinctions between the general introductory course and upper level courses are made. In those fields where these distinctions are not made, do not use "01". Use "99" as the last two digits of a six-digit code ONLY temporarily when the subject matter is not clearly enough delineated to be coded accurately in one of the available codes or none of the available codes describes the subject matter. Within a year, courses coded "99" will be recoded. Enter complete CIP Code including leading zeros. Use the College Course Map: Taxonomy and Transcript Data. For copies of the Classification for Instructional Programs, 1990, call (202) 219-1651.THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
8 27-76 Course Title Enter the first 50 characters of the title of the course. This title should correspond to that listed in the catalog or class schedule. Read Appendix A. Left justify.THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
9 77-78 Course Code the course's mode of instruction as follows:Mode of Lecture with lab....................................................................... 00Instruction Lecture or lecture with formally scheduled discussion,
activity, demonstration, clinic.................................................. 01Seminar.................................................................................... 02Laboratory................................................................................ 03Internship, Field Experience, Clinical Practice........................ 04Physical Education Activity, Recreation Activity................... 05Speech, Fine Arts, and Journalism Activity............................. 06Independent Study, Directed Readings.................................... 07Research: Masters Thesis, Doctoral Dissertation................... 08Individual Instruction............................................................... 09Other (explain in reserved section).......................................... 10
Refer to the State Regents policy, Chapter 2, Section 5, "Standards Relating to the Academic Calendar", p. II-2 33, on calculating semester-hour credit when filling out this item. Note that contact for a lecture with a lab is greater than those for the other categories.THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
R4 11
Element Column(s) Title Description
10 79-81 Number of FOR NON-VARIABLE CREDIT COURSES ONLY.Contact Enter the total number of contact hours. A contact hour is
Hours a unit of measure that represents an hour (50 minutes) of scheduled instruction given to students. The total number of hours spent by a student is scheduled instructional activities during a specified period of time can be determined by multiplying the number of hours the class meets during the week times the number of weeks the class meets. Round to the nearest whole number. Required for course additions and course modifications if it is the element being modified. Right justify with leading zeros.Blank fill if variable course. (Use blank character.)
11 82 General Enter the appropriate code for the relationship of this course Education to General Education requirements.
CoursesThis course is required for fulfillment of the GeneralEducation requirement.............................................................. 1This course will support the General Educationrequirement as a Guided Elective (See Appendix B fordefinition).................................................................................. 2This course will support the General Educationrequirement as a General Elective (See Appendix B fordefinition)................................................................................... ....................................................................................................3 This course will not satisfy the General Educationrequirement............................................................................... 4THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
12 83-85 Degree List the instructional program code of degree program thatProgram will require this course. If course is not required by a degreeRequired program, blank fill. Required for course additions. Enter
complete instructional program code including leading zeros. If course is required by more than one program, choose one.
13 86-88 Degree List the instructional program code of degree program forProgram which this course is a guided elective. See Appendix B forGuided definition. If course does not support a degree program,Elective blank fill. Required for course additions. Enter complete
instructional program code including leading zeros. If course is guided elective for more than one program, choose one.
R4 12
Element Column(s) Title Description
14 89-91 Degree List the instructional program code of degree programs forProgram which this course is a general elective. See Appendix B forGeneral definition. If course does not support degree program, blankElective fill. Required for course additions. Enter complete instructional
program code including leading zeros. This element is optional. If course is a general elective for more than one program, choose one.
15 92-96 Generic Blank fill.Course Code
16 97-101 Crosslisted FOR CROSSLISTED COURSES ONLY. See instructions in Appendix C.
17 102 Crosslisted FOR CROSSLISTED COURSES ONLY. See instructionsCourse in Appendix C. This element is optional. Relationship
18 103 Liberal Arts Using State Regents' policy on the definition of liberal arts andand Sciences science courses (quoted below), code the course as follows:
Non-liberal arts and sciences.................................................... 0 Liberal arts and sciences.......................................................... 1
"The liberal arts and sciences are defined as those traditional fields of study in the humanities; social and behavioral sciences; communications; natural and life sciences; mathematics; and the history, literature, and theory of fine arts (music, art, drama, dance). Courses whose primary purpose is directed toward specific occupational or professional objectives, or courses in the arts which rely substantially on studio or performance work are not considered to be liberal arts and sciences for the purpose of this policy. Courses required for the General Education Program are not necessarily synonymous or mutually exclusive with the Liberal Arts and Sciences." State Regents' Policy and Procedures. Chapter 2, Section 5, "Degree Requirements", Part I, (2). p. II-2-80.
THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
R4 13
Element Column(s) Title Description
19 104 Variable Code as follows:Content/Credit Content/credit does not vary from section to section
or from semester to semester..................................................... 0Content/credit does vary from section to sectionor from semester to semester..................................................... 1If course is coded 1 on this element, the last digit of the course number must be "0". It is understood that when this course is reported on UDS Record 0, Element 7, that the last digit may be a number other than "0".THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
20 105-106 Minimum FOR VARIABLE CREDIT COURSES ONLY.Number of Enter the minimum number of credit hours. Right justifyCredit Hours with leading zeros. Blank fill if non-variable course.
21 107-108 Maximum FOR VARIABLE CREDIT COURSES ONLY.Number of Enter the maximum number of credit hours. Right justifyCredit Hours with leading zeros. Blank fill if non-variable course.
22 109-111 Minimum FOR VARIABLE CREDIT COURSES ONLY.Number of Enter the minimum number of contact hours. Right justifyContact Hours with leading zeros. Blank fill if non-variable course.
23 112-114 Maximum FOR VARIABLE CREDIT COURSES ONLY.Number of Enter the maximum number of contact hours. Right justifyContact Hours with leading zeros. Blank fill if non-variable course.
24 115-116 Number of Enter the number of times the course may be repeated forRepeats credit toward degree. For example, if a course may be taken
only once, enter a zero. Right justify with leading zeros.THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
R4 14
Element Column(s) Title Description
25 117-118 Reason for FOR VARIABLE CONTENT COURSES ONLY.VariableContent New course experimentation....................................................... 1
Graduate research and specialized need..................................... 2Internship, Field Experience....................................................... 3Response to undergraduate specialized needs............................ 4Other (explain in reserved section)............................................ 5Undergraduate research............................................................. 6
26 119 Degree of Enter the value that best describes the course change:Modification
"Substantive" in this context refers to a significant change in the course content or a change in course level.Non-substantive.......................................................................... 1Substantive.................................................................................. 2
27 120-126 Requested Enter requested course prefix. Required for courseCourse modification only if it is the element being modified.Prefix
28 127-130 Requested Enter requested course number. Required for courseCourse modification only if it is the element being modified.Number
29 131-134 Requested Enter requested HEGIS Code change. Required for courseHEGIS Code modification only if it is the element being modified.
30 135-140 Requested Enter requested CIP Code change. Required for courseCIP Code modification only if it is the element being modified.
31 141-190 Requested Enter requested course title as it will appear in the catalog. Course Title Required for course modification only if it is the element being
modified.
R4 15
Element Column(s) Title Description
32 191-254 Reserved Use for comments or explanations. Please reference the element that comments/explanations are regarding.
33 255-255 Recend Enter an exclamation point - "!". The Course Request record requires an exclamation point in column 255 to preserve the fixed-length record characteristic of the file through various file-transfer procedures across different computers. If this character is omitted, the result will be a variable-length record file which will not load into the Course Request table.THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
DEFINITIONS AND CODING INSTRUCTIONS R4 16
ElementElement Column(s) Title Description
1 1 - 3 Institution Code This element consists of a three-digit code used by the institution to identify itself
as the reporting institution. Institutions and their codes are listed below.THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
INSTITUTIONS
University of OklahomaOklahoma State UniversityUniversity of Central OklahomaEast Central UniversityNortheastern State UniversityNorthwestern Oklahoma State UniversitySoutheastern Oklahoma State UniversitySouthwestern Oklahoma State UniversityCameron UniversityLangston UniversityUniversity of Science and Arts of OklahomaOklahoma Panhandle State UniversityConnors State CollegeEastern Oklahoma State CollegeMurray State CollegeNortheastern Oklahoma A&M CollegeNorthern Oklahoma CollegeRogers State CollegeTulsa Junior CollegeOSU Technical Branch - Oklahoma CityOSU Technical Branch - OkmulgeeOU Health Science CenterOklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and SurgeryOU Law CenterOSU School of Veterinary MedicineWestern Oklahoma State CollegeRedlands Community CollegeCarl Albert State CollegeSWOSU - Sayre CampusSeminole Junior CollegeRose State CollegeOklahoma City Community College
R4 17
Element Column(s) Title Description
2 4 Record The second record for Course Requests should be codedNumber "2".
THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
3 5 - 11 Course Enter the Course Prefix. Use upper case letters.Prefix THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
4 12 - 15 Course Enter the number by which the course is identified in theNumber institutional course inventory (course catalog). Note: the Field
of Study (HEGIS Code) and Course Number must uniquely identify each course. Check courses using such HEGIS Codes as 0899 to ensure that two different courses with the same number do not exist. The course number of any course offered for variable credit should end in "0". The course number of all remedial/developmental courses should begin with "0". (Remedial/developmental is defined as English courses below English Composition and mathematic courses that do not require Intermediate Algebra as a prerequisite.)THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
5 16 - 19 HEGIS Code Enter the HEGIS Code which most accurately designates the Field of Study that encompasses the content of the course. Enter complete HEGIS Code including leading zeros. This HEGIS Code must match the HEGIS code reported on UDS.THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
R4 18
Element Column(s) Title Description
6 20 - 254 Course Enter the course description as it appears in the catalog. If the Description description exceeds the length of this record, additional records
may be created. These records, as many as are required to report the course description, should have the identical format as Record 2 with the exception that data element "2" should be coded to reflect the record number. For example, if the course description requires 4 records to report, data element "2" should be coded "2", "3", and "4" respectively.
For additions and for modifications when it is the element being modified.
7 255-255 Recend Enter an exclamation point - "!".THIS ELEMENT IS REQUIRED ON ALL RECORDS.
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education R4 19
State Capitol, Oklahoma City
Management Information Systems DivisionData Characteristics Form
COURSE REQUESTSCOURSE INVENTORY UPDATE
Please return the completed form to this office along with the data requested. We will accept either tape or disk.
Tapes must be unlabeled internally. Tape density must be 1600 BPI. Multiple record types within one file are acceptable.
If disk, must be formatted under MSDOS 4.1 or compatible. Disk may be either 3 1/2 inch or 5 1/4 inch.
Please state file name on external label. Please examine printout carefully for coding problems before sending tape or disk. Include a sample printout of the data.
Number of Disks either 3 1/2 or 5 1/4: _______ Tapes:
Type of Data: Original Replacement Correction
Tape Characteristics:
Character Format: ASCII EDCDIC ______
Record Length: 255 Bytes
Blocksize: 255 Number of Records
Tape Parity: Odd
Track Size: 9 Track
Tape Density: 1600 BPI
Number of Records: _________________
This data submitted by: (Institution)
Contact Person: __________________________________________________ Phone Number: __________________________________________________ Date Sent: Date Received: _________________
R4 20
APPENDIX A
A FEW THOUGHTS ON COURSE TITLESFrom
"A College Course Map: Taxonomy and Transcript Data"
The most important of these is that transcripts are records left by individuals, and should be fair to those individuals. Too often, they are not. Students present transcripts to graduate schools and employers, and, in many cases, what a graduate dean or corporate personnel officer reads is unintelligible. There were six major types of unintelligibility in course titles on the NLS/PETS transcripts:
! Gibberish. "UC/IDIS," "BANA," "FORST/NISNE MARK," and "SO JO X" are typical of such entries. There were over 1,100 cases of unclassifiable gibberish in the NLS/PETS. Try "KNOW A TOM-ID-CRIME-GOD" for size!
! Word Games. "ZOOSEMIOTICS," "ZOONOSIS," "DOTS TO DINOSAURS," and "TIME AFTER TIME" are among my favorites. The first of these is probably an animal behavior course, but it could also be graphic design. The others are impossible. Such titles, often products of professional marketing, challenge the reader to engage in interpretive games. Most readers of transcripts, such as graduate deans or prospective employers, do not have the time or patience for these games. The person who suffers as a result is the student.
! Fog/Snow. The first title in #1 above might have also been presented as "University Course/Interdisciplinary Independent Study," a title that conveys very little information to the reader. Another variety of fog is the extremely generalized title, e.g., "IDEAS AND PROBLEMS," "APPLIED EXPERIENCES," "CONTENT," "SIMULATION" and (yes) "GOOD BOOKS." Orwell once observed that generalized diction falls like snow, blurring all distinctiveness. Presumably, students wish to present their efforts with distinct outlines. They deserve better than fog or snow.
! Inaccessible Codes. "CHEMISTRY 126" is typical. Are graduate deans and prospective employers expected to carry around a full library of college catalogues to interpret such entries?
! Inaccessible Abbreviations. Any faculty member who has worked registration lines or any academic administrator in a large institution knows what "SPED" or "HPER" or "OB" or "A&P," etc., mean. But to be fair to students, the presentation of courses on transcript should assume less experienced readers.
! Blanks. A blank is just that. There are credits, a grade, but no course title. A prominent variation is the appearance of the department's name, e.g., "Mathematics." This variation is like the "fog" category, i.e. we have no idea what kind of math is at issue. It could be anything from arithmetic to linear algebra.
R4 21
How extensive is the unintelligibility resulting from such presentations? Excluding "Inaccessible abbreviations" (a large category), I estimate one out of every eight course entries for the NLS/PETS. Half of these were in the "word game" genre, and were resolved at great expense of time. The rest wound up in the various bins marked "Indeterminable," "missing," and "other." All represent information lost, information about what an individual did with his/her time in postsecondary education.
Second, while I would not advocate standardization of course titles, there is simply too much diversity out there. For example, there were nearly 50 distinctly different presentations for the introductory course in Communications. Since course numbering systems differ from one institution to another, we had to figure out from the title what was an introductory course in Communications. There is no reason anyone should have to develop decision rules and hire faculty teams to do that. Graduate deans won't do it and employers won't do it. It's the fairness issue once again, and students deserve better.
__________________
Clifford AdelmanSenior Associate, Office of ResearchU.S. Department of Education
For copies of "A College Course Map: Taxonomy and Transcript Data," call: 202-219-2243.
R4 22
APPENDIX B
GLOSSARY
Required Courses. Courses that are specifically required. In these instances, the catalog lists the course explicitly as a requirement.
Guided Elective Courses. Courses that if taken will meet the degree program requirement. Usually, the catalog lists five or six courses and states that a certain number (less than the total listed) of these courses must be taken to fulfill degree program requirements. For example, a catalog may list ten guided elective courses under the degree of Associates in Applied Science in Aviation. In order to earn this degree, a student must take seven out of the ten courses, but he or she may choose which seven to take.
General Elective Courses. Courses in areas that will support the degree program requirement or the general education requirement. In most instances, the course catalog defines a field of study or a group of discipline areas from which the student may select courses. Courses are not specifically listed. The catalog, however, states that a certain number of credit hours earned in these areas will count toward the degree.
R4 23
APPENDIX CCOURSE REQUESTS
Rule 1. When requesting the addition of a course that will be crosslisted in the institution's catalog, complete a data elements request form for each variation of the course.
Rule 2. Assign a unique number to each group of crosslisting variations.
Rule 3. Enter this number in Element 16 of the data request form for each variation of the course. For requests that are not crosslisted, leave Element 16 blank.
Note: These variations will be approved as the addition of one course.
Rule 1a. When an institution wishes to crosslist an existing course, please complete the data elements request form. Enter the unique crosslist number of the course variation(s). The Course Inventory will be updated from this information.
Rule 4. When requesting the deletion of a course that is crosslisted on the institution's course inventory, complete a data elements request form for each variation of the course that is to be deleted.
Rule 5. If all variations of the course are deleted, the requests will be approved as the deletion of one course.
Rule 6. If all variations of the course are not deleted, the institution will be prompted to verify that at least one variation of the course remains on the inventory. When this situation is verified, the course inventory will be updated by removing the variations from the course inventory.
Note: The course inventory is not a historical record. Only currently approved and active courses will be listed. No historical record of deleted courses will be maintained.
Rule 7. When requesting a modification that does not affect the crosslisting status of the variation(s), please handle like any other modification.
Rule 8. When requesting a modification that does affect the crosslisting status of a variation not covered above, please fill Element 16 with "x"s and explain the situation in the reserved section.
Element 17: Crosslisted Course Relationship:
This element is optional. Some Institutions will report to UDS only the crosslisted course variation that accurately reflects the cost center incurring the expense of teaching the course. When the course inventory table is used in analyses, these institutions wish to designate which variation represents the crosslisted group. If you wish to designate such a course, please code this element "m" (for master) and the crosslisted variation as "s" (for subordinate). If this issue is of no consequence to your institution, please blank fill.
