Intellectual Foundations Program (IFP) Approval Procedures

The Core Curriculum Committee (CCC), a subcommittee of UPC, oversees the development, implementation, and assessment of the Intellectual Foundations Program which was implemented in fall 2009. The CCC includes three representatives from the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, two representatives from the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, and one representative from each of the other colleges offering undergraduate degrees. The Dean of Undergraduate Studies chairs and is a non-voting member of the CCC.

The CCC reviews courses for inclusion in the Intellectual Foundations Program. We describe below the submission procedures.

        1. Submission of IFP Course Approval Form

Your course should meet the learning objectives of one category of the new curriculum. There is a form for each category, as well as a form for stand-alone (one credit) labs in the Foundations of Science and the Natural World.

Foundations of Written Communication (6 credit hours)

Foundations of Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 credit hours)

Foundations of Science and the Natural World (6 credit hours; two courses, one with a lab, from two different departments)

Foundations of Science and the Natural World (stand-alone labs)

Foundations of Society and Human Behavior (6 credit hours; two courses from two different departments)

Foundations in Global Citizenship (6 credit hours; two courses from two different departments)

Foundations of Creative Expression (6 credit hours; two courses from two different departments)

Sample Course Submission

We ask that you be as thorough as possible in addressing the learning objectives associated with the category and the learning objectives of the IFP as a whole. (Please do not respond “refer to syllabus” to any of the questions.) During our next SACS review, we will be asked to demonstrate where, how, and to what extent FAU is meeting the objectives of its IFP, so we must have a clear idea of what our courses are doing.

If a course has multiple sections, we ask that departments maintain consistency of content and objectives, such as through a common syllabus. Assessment of learning objectives for that course would prove impossible otherwise.

After clicking the “Submit” button, you will receive a return email containing the information that you submitted. Print a copy for submission to your department chair and college’s undergraduate program committee.

2.  Copy of Syllabus

After clicking the “Submit” button for the IFP Course Approval Form, send a copy of your syllabus using the attach function to Diane Aragon at daragon@fau.edu.

3. Submission of Course Change Request or New Course Proposal

Approval of courses for inclusion in the IFP is contingent on receiving the approvals of your department, college undergraduate program committee, and college dean. If an existing course, please complete the Course Change Request and submit with a copy of the IFP Course Approval Form to your department chair. If a new course, please complete the New Course Proposal and submit with a copy of the IFP Course Approval Form to your department chair. Approved requests will then go to your college’s undergraduate program committee, then to CCC, before moving on to the UPC and UFS.

If you have any questions about the process, or if you would like to discuss any aspect of the Intellectual Foundations Program, please contact Ed Pratt, Dean of Undergraduate Studies, at epratt2@fau.edu or at x71171.