S85-4 CRITERIA FOR UPPER DIVISION COURSES

Legislative History:

Document dated March 20, 1985

At its meeting of March 4, 1985, the Academic Senate approved the following Policy Recommendation presented by Ruth Yaffe for the Curriculum Committee.

ACTION BY THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT:

"Approved and accepted as University Policy. Effective immediately." Signed: Gail Fullerton, March 20, 1985.

CRITERIA FOR UPPER DIVISION COURSES

S 85-4

WHEREAS, Within the State of California, there is legal distinction between lower division and upper division courses, and

WHEREAS, Community Colleges are permitted to offer courses only at the lower division level, and

WHEREAS, San Jose State University has an obligation to its colleagues in the Community Colleges to explain why a given course is placed in the upper division, and

WHEREAS, San Jose State University has an obligation to its students to apprise them of the preparation and academic sophistication expected in a given course; be it therefore

RESOLVED, That all upper division courses shall have prerequisites, and be it further

RESOLVED, That one or more of the following prerequisites shall be used, in order of priority, in official course descriptions:

1. Specific course prerequisites in the same or closely related subject matter areas.

2. Course prerequisites in supportive subject matter areas.

3. Prerequisites in General Education, such as composition, quantitative reasoning, or critical thinking, or prerequisites in American Institutions.

4. Upper division standing.

And be it further

RESOLVED, That the right of "consent of instructor" is not affected by this policy; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That these criteria for upper division courses shall be stated in the general catalogue.