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New Course Proposal Guidelines

Faculty are free to propose new Thayer courses. Use these guidelines and process to prepare and submit a proposal.

Guidelines for a Proposal

Before submitting a course proposal, contact the appropriate faculty members and consider the resources necessary for launching and sustaining the course.

Faculty Contacts

Reach out to the relevant Program Area Lead(s) to discuss your plans and how your new course fits into the Thayer curriculum.
If proposing an undergraduate course, contact the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education.
If proposing a graduate course, contact the Senior Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Programs.

Undergraduate Course Considerations

Decide if the course will include significant design content.
- This typically includes an open-ended design project that is integral to the course and spans a significant portion (>4 weeks) of the course.
Decide if the course should be listed as a laboratory (or TLA) course (or other type of distributive course).
- TLA courses require labs or experiences that are integral to the course and require an average of 3 additional hours of contact time or work time by the students each week beyond the typical lecture-based course.
- Examples include: Tools & Techniques (T&T) Sessions in the MShop; SolidWorks Tutorials; Field Experiences, or Laboratories.

Process for Course Approval

1. Consider the guidelines for a proposal

Consult the relevant faculty members and, if applicable, the undergraduate course guidelines above to create a robust course proposal.
2. Create a syllabus

Create a syllabus for the course; a Thayer Syllabus Template is provided for guidance.
3. Submit the course proposal form

Complete the Thayer New Course Proposal Request Form.
New courses are often first offered as Special Topics courses to test out the topic, gauge interest, and refine the course. A special topics course may be offered up to three times and then should be shifted to a regular course if it will continue to be offered.
4. Deadlines for faculty committee approval

New courses will then be routed through the required approval processes. The timeline for approvals is given in the table below.
Term you intend to offer the course Course election opens Deadline to submit course proposal
Summer Late April March 10
Fall Mid-May April 7
Winter Late October September 10
Spring Mid-February January 1
Note: Faculty committees do NOT meet over the summer, so fall term courses must be approved in the spring.
5. Course number assignment

The Thayer Registrar will assign actual course numbers once new courses are approved.

Term you intend to offer the course	Course election opens	Deadline to submit course proposal
Summer	Late April	March 10
Fall	Mid-May	April 7
Winter	Late October	September 10
Spring	Mid-February	January 1