1. A regular permanent course is proposed by an authorized academic unit of the University.

2. It is published in the University Bulletin or in the applicable Extended Learning catalog.

3. It is expected typically to serve as:

a. a required course in a degree, credential, minor, or certificate program;

b. a general education course;

c. a service course for practicing individuals in the field;

d. a selected elective course for majors and/or non-majors;

e. a generic course under which variable topic courses will be offered.

f. a specialized course for a special audience (e.g., Extended Learning).

1. It is proposed and offered on a short-life basis by an authorized academic unit of the University.

2. It may be established to meet any number of professional purposes including:

a. meeting a current/special topical need in the discipline;

b. accommodation of the expertise of a visiting or temporary faculty member;

c. experimentation with a body of knowledge to determine whether or not a regular permanent course should be established.

3. It is identified by a unique title that clearly identifies the nature of the course content. The title, unit value, and course description are published in a special section of the Class Schedule or in the applicable Extended Learning catalog.

4. It is assigned a course number in accordance with the following guidelines:

a. The Topic course number is assigned according to the generic number previously approved. A generic course is established by filing a regular permanent course form and stating the primary objectives and intended goals; no course outline is required. Each Topic course proposed under the generic course requires the submission of all required supporting documentation including a course outline.

b. The Temporary or Experimental course number is assigned by level as follows:

5. It is approved for offering in a specified term only; however, it may be repeated in the immediate following term provided that:

a. the Curriculum Coordinator is notified by means of the Course Action Request Form (CARF) or in the form of a memorandum in accordance with established dates; and,

b. there are no changes in the course from the first semester offered. If significant changes are desired, it must be resubmitted for review and approval.

6. At the end of the third semester in which the course is offered an Experimental or Temporary course is automatically dropped. To offer such a course again, it must be resubmitted as an Experimental, a Temporary, or a regular permanent course.

7. In order to offer a course in a given semester, it is required that a fully completed Course Action Request Form (or memorandum) be submitted. This will permit all Experimental and Topic course descriptions to be printed in the Class Schedule for the semester of offering.

In addition to regularly approved Bulletin courses offered through CEL, two other types of credit bearing courses may be proposed and offered through CEL. Both types must go through the full course review and approval process before they can be publicized and offered. The two types are:

1. Special Sessions courses which are developed by campus faculty, by CEL certificate faculty/program directors or by community-based faculty working closely with campus departments/programs and which are publicized in the CEL catalog as earning resident credit (Academic Senate policy S86-141);

2. Contract courses, that are developed by an organization or association outside the University (e.g., school districts, government agencies, professional associations) to meet professional development needs of their employees or members. These courses earn extension credit, which is designated on students’ transcripts with an "e" symbol, indicating that resident credit is not awarded. A maximum of 24 units of extension credit can be applied to an undergraduate degree at SFSU; no more than 6 units of extension credit may be applied to a graduate degree.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are nationally recognized units for measuring participation in professional development programs that do not award academic credit. CEU courses may be appropriate when employers, relicensing agencies and other authorities require a specific number of hours of instruction and where noncredit study is acceptable. CEUs may neither be applied to nor substituted for graduation requirements. One CEU is earned for 10 hours of instruction. CEUs earned appear on the student’s official SFSU transcript.

Courses proposed for CEUs go through the following procedures:

1. The CEL Associate Dean sends a copy of the course outline and resume of the proposed instructor to the chair of the academic department/program most closely affiliated with the subject matter. A copy is also sent to the Associate Dean of the College in which the department/program resides.

2. The department/program chair may consult with faculty or others as appropriate.

3. If the department/program chair approves the course for CEUs, he/she signs the cover memo indicating approval and returns it to the CEL Associate Dean.

4. Each time the course is proposed for offering at a future date, the approval process is repeated.