Academic Year 2023-2024

1 Introduction

The Committee on Curricula acts with power on proposals to create, revise, or cancel undergraduate subjects, on proposals to create, revise, or terminate undergraduate curricula, on student applications for double majors, and on student petitions for exceptions to the General Institute Requirements (REST and Institute Laboratory subjects). In addition, the Committee serves as the Faculty advisory body to the Registrar. These guidelines cover each of these functions of CoC in turn.

From Rules and Regulations of the Faculty 1.73.3

The Committee on Curricula shall consist of six elected Faculty members, four undergraduate student members, and the following ex officiis, nonvoting members: the Vice Chancellor (or designee), the Registrar, and one member designated by the Vice Chancellor, and the Chair of the Committee on the Undergraduate Program.

  1. The Committee shall interpret and implement undergraduate educational policy as approved by the Faculty.

  2. The Committee shall act with power on proposals for subjects which may be used to satisfy the Restricted Electives in Science and Technology Requirement and Laboratory Requirement within the General Institute Requirements and shall report such actions to the Faculty. Only subjects with prerequisites such that the subjects can be taken by first- or second-year undergraduates are eligible for this purpose; except that the Committee is authorized to specify other subjects which may be used to satisfy the Laboratory Requirement. Approved Laboratory subjects shall emphasize as much as possible work of project type or laboratory techniques which follows approaches used by professionals in the field.

  3. The Committee shall act with power for the Faculty on requests from individual students for exceptions to the General Institute Requirements. 

  4. The Committee shall act with power on proposals for changes in undergraduate subjects of instruction and shall report all approved changes to the Faculty. 

  5. The Committee shall act with power on proposals for new curricula, changes in existing curricula, and discontinuation of existing curricula, when such proposals do not involve substantial changes in policies relating to undergraduate educational matters. All approvals shall be reported to the Faculty. Each department shall indicate whether the proposed curriculum shall lead to the degree Bachelor of Science in a specified field or to the degree Bachelor of Science without designation of field. In the latter case the graduate's record and transcript shall indicate the department recommending the degree. Upon request of a department, the Committee may approve in the case of an individual student a program leading to the degree Bachelor of Science without designation of field. 

  6. In considering proposals to terminate existing curricula, the Committee shall determine that adequate provisions are made to: (1) enable students currently enrolled in the curriculum to complete their academic requirements; (2) give reasonable notice to all departments whose curricula may be affected by the termination; and (3) advise other relevant Faculty committees of changes affecting Institute Requirements. 

  7. The Committee shall serve as the standing Faculty advisory body to the Registrar.