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May 25, 2025
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Special Topics Courses
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Policy Rationale
Special topics courses allow academic programs to introduce new and emerging subject matter without the lengthy process of creating permanent courses. This flexibility enables:
- Rapid response to evolving fields of study
- Adaptation to changing student interests and industry needs
- Programs to gauge student interest in potential new areas of study
- Students to explore niche subjects not covered in the regular curriculum.
Policy
Programs may choose to offer special topics courses to provide curricular enrichment opportunities for students. Courses may be offered under any existing prefix and be offered at the appropriate undergraduate academic level (1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000). The special topics course will be published on the semester course schedule and in the catalog.
A Special Topics course of the same subject matter may be offered for three semesters, at which point the Program will determine whether to make the course permanent via the curriculum approval process.
Procedures
- Any faculty member may propose a special topics course by the first draft of the course schedule.
- The Program Coordinator and Department Chair must review and approve/decline all Special Topics courses that are proposed.
Responsibilities
Program Coordinator:
- Prior to a course schedule being built, reach out to program faculty inquiring about potential special topics courses.
- Track the number of times a special topics course is offered and initiate permanent course status in a timely fashion if desired.
Date of Last Approved Revision: March 2025
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