A course subject listing is a structure for organizing groups of courses in a related subject area or topic that represents a coherent area of study. Academic units (departments) own and are responsible for subjects and subjects own all the courses listed under that subject (even if cross-listed). Any proposal to create a new subject, change, or discontinuation an existing subject must be completed through Lumen Structures (requires authentication). Governance includes the department, academic division (school/college), the University Curriculum Committee, and the University Academic Planning Council. All approved proposals related to subject listings take effect in summer term.
Historically, subjects were not approved through governance like they are today. Subjects provided a way to organize courses in the paper timetable, where students searched for courses by subject. As such, a “subject” means a variety of things (department, interdisciplinary areas, programs, etc.).
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Governance
A course subject listing is owned by an academic unit (department). That department serves as the caretaker of all courses within that subject. A proposal to create, change or discontinue a course subject listing requires the review and approval of the department, academic division (school/college), and the University Curriculum Committee (UCC). After approval by the UCC, the University Academic Planning Council reviews the proposal as a consent agenda item.
Policy
Proposal Help
Proposals to create a new course subject listing, change, or discontinuation an existing subject listing must be completed through Lumen Structures (requires authentication). All approved proposals related to subject listings take effect in summer term. Due the relationship of subject listings with the Schedule of Classes and institutional reporting, revisions to existing subject listings may not be implemented for one to two years in the future.
Allowable changes:
- Subject Long Description (e.g. Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies)
- Departmental ownership
Changes not allowed:
- Subject Short Description (e.g. LACIS)
Subject short descriptions can not be changed, a proposal to create a new course subject listing would be required. Once the new subject listing is approved and active individual course proposals would be used to change the subject for any existing courses that would use the new subject listing. Once the old subject has no active courses, the department may propose to discontinue the subject listing.
Help documents
Contacts
School or College Academic Planners
Each school or college has a contact for academic planning.
Data, Academic Planning and Institutional Research
Melissa Schultz
Institutional Academic Planner
170 Bascom Hall
melissa.r.schultz@wisc.edu
Michelle Young
Institutional Academic Planner
170 Bascom Hall
michelle.young@wisc.edu