The Course Outline of Record: A Curriculum Reference Guide

Spring
2008
Topic
Curriculum
Committee
Curriculum Committee

Curriculum is at the core of any educational endeavor, and the course outline of record plays a central role both internal and external to the California Community College System. This update to the original Academic Senate paper Components of a Model Course Outline of Record also incorporates material from the previously published Academic Senate papers Stylistic Considerations in Writing Course Outlines of Record and Good Practices for Course Approvals.

In spite of the fact that internal and external standards for courses regularly evolve, this paper offers the curriculum developer a clear framework for the writing of a course outline of record. The paper begins with a broad overview of the development process and then moves to an element by element explanation of the course outline of record itself. For each element, stylistic and practical considerations are provided along with the appropriate citations where such inclusion helps to clarify the regulatory intent to ensure quality. The paper also includes discussion of related topics such as discipline assignment and the potential effects of compressed calendars. The paper concludes with curricular considerations beyond the course outline of record, a detailed glossary of terms, and a list of useful references.