Proposing Credit Courses (Non-Distance Learning)
Instructors may propose credit courses by completing either an on-campus or off-campus course form. Instructors who wish to offer an on campus course must receive pre-approval from the Dean of DCS before submitting a course form. All instructors must be approved as adjunct faculty before teaching credit courses; for requirements, see the Adjunct Faculty Qualifications/Applications section.
DCS requires a minimum of three weeks processing time for all new courses. Every succeeding time a course is offered, either an on-campus or off-campus course form must be completed and sent to DCS at least two weeks prior to the course beginning date. The earlier a course form is submitted, however, the sooner confirmation of course approval and registration materials will be received.
A course must meet for 10 instructional contact hours for each quarter credit, and can meet for a maximum of eight contact hours per day. (For further information please see the Practicum section.) It is SPU policy not to accredit contact hours which occur on Sunday. To assess understanding of course content, out-of-class assignments appropriate to the number of credits are required.
In addition, all credit courses must adhere to the following parameters regarding number of credits and day ratios.
Basic Standards:
- Maximum of 3 credits in a 7 day week
- Maximum 8 contact hours per day
Approved Minimum Standard:
- 1 credit 2 days
- 2 credits 3 days
- 3 credits 5 days (consecutive)
- 3 credits 4 days (not consecutive)
- 4 credits 5 days (not consecutive and not within 7 day week)
- 5 credits 7 days (not consecutive and not within 7 day week)
Consecutive Day Courses and Maximum Credit Allotment:
- 2 days 1 credit
- 3 days 2 credits
- 4 days 2 credits
- 5 days 3 credits
- 6 days 3 credits
Minimum Non-Consecutive Day Courses and Maximum Credit Allotment:
- 2 days 1 credit
- 3 days 2 credits
- 4 days 3 credits
- 5 days 4 credits (not within 7 day week)
- 7 days 5 credits
- 8 days 6 credits
When considering the above parameters, keep in mind that 5 minutes of break time are included in each instructional hour. Break time may be taken hourly or accrued up to 4 hours and taken all at once, but it is not to be included as lunch time. Federal laws require 30 minutes be provided for lunch within an 8 hour day, and that lunch time must be provided in addition to instructional time. Lunch time should be scheduled separately from break time.
Submit all course forms, Adjunct Faculty Applications, and official transcripts to: Division of Continuing Studies, Seattle Pacific University, 3307 3rd Avenue W, Seattle, WA 98119.
Practicum is experiential learning that accompanies instruction. It establishes a controlled environment for participants to practice what has been discussed. Practicum hours are weighted differently than contact hours, i.e., 20 hours of practicum for one credit rather than 10 hours of instruction for one credit. Practicum should be followed by a time of academic reflection, evaluation and potentially more instruction. Courses should be designed accordingly. Practicum hours should not make up the majority of the course time; rather they should be supplemental. Direct instruction and practicum hours can be combined. For example, there can be 8 hours of direct instruction and 4 hours (2 to 1 ratio) of practicum to total 10 hours for 1 credit (or 10 clock hours). The documentation and logging of practicum hours and outcomes must be part of the assessment and grading criteria listed on the syllabus.
Proposing Distance Learning Courses
Instructors who are interested in developing a distance learning course should first contact the director of distance learning. If, after discussion about the proposed course’s content and format, the director of distance learning and instructor decide to move ahead with the project, the instructor will be asked to develop a draft of the proposed course. This draft may serve as a preliminary course syllabus and would precede completion of a Distance Learning course form.
A copy of the guidelines for structuring and offering distance learning courses can be obtained from the director of distance learning. The "independent study" nature of these courses requires modified academic standards from those given here for traditionally-taught courses.
Credit Course Approval
When DCS receives a course form, it is reviewed for completeness and compliance with DCS and accreditation policies. (Depending upon the course discipline, the course form may then be forwarded to a Seattle Pacific academic school for content review and approval.) Following course approval, DCS assigns a course number according to the numbering system listed under the Course Numbering System section. A confirmation card is sent to the instructor or course proposer indicating approval and course numbering information.
For off-campus courses, a registration packet will be assembled and sent to the instructor or designated individual three weeks before the beginning date of the course, or the day after it is approved, whichever comes first. Registration is conducted on-site by the instructor; all registration forms and a tuition payment for each student must be sent to SAS within three days of the second class session.
The first time a course is proposed a syllabus must accompany the course form. It should include all assignments, student assessment criteria, contact hours and other course information. Every subsequent year a course is offered a current syllabus must be attached to the course form.
The syllabus should be sent with the course form at least three weeks before the course beginning date and distributed to each student at the start of the first class session. (Syllabi for distance learning courses will be distributed by University personnel to students at the time they register). The purpose of the syllabus is to provide clear communication about the goals and direction of the course and to formalize communication between the instructor and students in regard to academic and logistical expectations. Information regarding grading criteria, attendance requirements, course objectives, or assignments must be carefully outlined in the syllabus to minimize the possibility of confusion or dispute. This essential component to the academic experience, if clearly and carefully written, will enable the University to support the adjunct faculty if a concern or dispute arises from the participants.
Syllabi should include:
- Instructor name, address, phone and, if applicable, names of other presenters.
- Title of course
- Dates
- Prerequisites (if any)
- Number of credits or CEUs (clock hours)
- Course description
- Course objectives
- Expectations of Students
- Special features (optional)
- Level of application (i.e. information, awareness, application, etc.)
- Instructor description (20-30 words) to include:
- academic degrees, title of position and experience related to course being taught; may include address and phone number.
- Methods of instruction (i.e. lecture, hands-on, field trips, internet, etc.)
- Content/topic and outline for each session
- Grading criteria, system and evaluation activities
- Due dates of major assignments, projects, and examinations
- Text and/or required reading list
- Bibliography to include author, title, publisher and copyright date
- Plans for transferring skills into the work setting (include all that apply)
- Action research
- Discussion/problem-solving groups
- Peer observation/coaching
- Practice skills in workshops
- Readings
- Videotaped lessons critiqued
- Videotaped lessons turned in
- Other (list)
Please note that a course syllabus is usually 2-4 pages in length but can be quite detailed and longer if necessary. The method of evaluating student outcomes should be detailed and specific; please avoid generalizations.
Additional information/items may be required for Distance Learning syllabi.
Course Closing Date
Instructors may assign a project due several days or weeks after a course ends. This extended assignment due date becomes the official course closing date. Instructors should specify closing dates on the course form when proposing a course.
Course closing dates determine the official Student Academic Services (SAS) quarter assignments, which may or may not match the quarter the course is publicized in bulletins. For example, a course listed in the Spring SPIRAL Bulletin with a summer closing date will appear as a summer quarter course on transcripts and grade records. Quarter assignments affect the time that updated transcripts and grade records are available to students. All grades are due in SAS within five days after a closing date.
The following is a summary of the course numbering system used at SPU. DCS assigns course numbers for 5000-level courses and 0000 level CEUs/Clock hours.
0001-0999: Non-credit courses/continuing education units or credit courses not applicable toward a degree.
1000-2999: Lower division courses primarily for freshmen and sophomores.
3000-3999: Upper division courses primarily for juniors.
4000-4999: Upper division courses primarily for seniors, but may also be suitable for continuing certification and other post-baccalaureate students.
5000-5999: Graduate professional development courses. Credits may be used in a SPU graduate degree program only with the advance approval of the program advisor. The School of Education will accept a maximum of six credits at the 5000 level toward a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Additional program restrictions on uses of 5000 and 6000 level courses may apply.
6000-6999: Graduate master’s degree courses.
7000-7999: Graduate or doctoral degree courses.
Canceling or Changing a Course
DCS requires notification any time a course is canceled. A course may be canceled either by calling the SPIRAL Program Coordinator at (206)281-2028, or by writing "CANCELED" across the registration packet and returning it to DCS.
If there are any changes to a course that has already been received by DCS, we require notification as soon as possible. Date, time, and/or class location changes may be called in to the SPIRAL Program Coordinator. Changes of course content or instructor require pre-approval. Changes to course content must be accompanied by an updated syllabus and will be reviewed as necessary. For changes of instructor please verify that the new instructor is an approved adjunct with DCS and has the qualifications to teach the course. If the new instructor is not a previously approved adjunct with DCS an Adjunct Faculty Application will need to be submitted. Please allow 2 weeks processing time for the application.
For credit and non-credit continuing education unit courses, adjunct faculty may act, or be asked to act, as an instructor of record. All requests for instructor of record will be reviewed and included in the course approval process.
The instructor of record carries the legal responsibility for the course offering. Except for teaching, which may be shared with a co-instructor, or performed by another qualified individual, the instructor of record is responsible to make sure all guidelines outlined in this handbook are followed, and to serve as the sole contact for any course-related questions from SPU. The instructor of record is expected to monitor registrations and classroom instruction, evaluate student progress and assign student grades. If you have questions about your responsibilities in this section, contact the Division of Continuing Studies at (206)281-2121 and ask for the director of operations.
OSPI Endorsement Requirements
Some courses offered through DCS may meet part of the Washington state requirements for a given teaching endorsement. DCS works with the Seattle Pacific University School of Education in reviewing courses to determine whether they can be submitted to the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction as potentially meeting an endorsement.
If adjunct faculty have
questions about whether or not a course meets
endorsement requirements, call DCS and we will
facilitate the review of the course if
appropriate. This review process may take up to
one week. We encourage students with questions
about using a course to meet an endorsement
requirement to work directly with DCS to answer
their questions. Adjunct faculty should not
disseminate information about whether or not a
given course meets an endorsement requirement
unless they have first checked with DCS.