What do you want to do?
1. Create a new course
Your college may have its own form for new course and program proposals. If not, here is a Word version of a New Course Proposal Form.
New courses developed by University of Saskatchewan faculty and/or departments must be approved at the department and College level. For examples of college-level approval procedures, see Arts & Science and Graduate Studies & Research
The course would then be submitted by your College to the Office of the University Secretary for university-level approval through the University Course Challenge procedure. If the course is not challenged within a month, it is deemed to have university approval. Course deletions, prerequisite changes and minor program changes are also approved through the Challenge procedure.
Larger curricular changes, such as new programs (including the courses developed for new programs) and program deletions, need to be approved by the Academic Programs Committee or by University Council. Consult the Office of the University Secretary for more information about this approval process. See the forms listed above.
Special Topics Courses are given final approval at the college level.
When a course proposal has been approved, the Student and Enrolment Services division (SESD) also asks department to submit a Course creation Form when the course is to be listed for registration.
2. Introduce a new program, major program revision, program option, or minor in a new field of specialization
Colleges intending to develop a new program should first submit a Notice of Intent to the Planning and Priorities Committee.
The Academic Programs Committee now deals with proposals for new programs, major revisions, new program options, program replacements, and minors in new fields of specialization. These must be approved either by the Academic Programs Committee or by Council following Academic Programs Committee recommendation.
Please print out the forms listed in the Program Handbook (Word) (pdf): proposal form, consultation forms, college statement and related documentation. This booklet also includes the Quick Check chart, information about course challenge and program termination, and a description of how APC reviews program proposals. The "Consultation with the Registrar" form is required for all proposals. The other forms are discretionary, depending on the requirements of each program proposal.
Some Certificates also follow these Program Approval Procedures - see the Certificate and Diploma approval procedures
Please send these forms by email to
academicprograms.committee@usask.ca or to
cathie.fornssler@usask.ca or mail to:
Cathie Fornssler, Office of the University Secretary,
room 218 College Building
3. Delete a program
Deletions of programs are approved by Council on the recommendation of the Academic Programs Committee. See the Program Termination Procedure (Word) (pdf). Also see the section in the Program Handbook (Word) (pdf) about program termination procedure and forms
Please send these forms by email to
academicprograms.committee@usask.ca or to
cathie.fornssler@usask.ca or mail to:
Cathie Fornssler, Office of the University Secretary,
room 218 College Building
4. Make minor program changes, get approval for a new course, a course deletion, prerequisite changes
Minor program changes, new courses, course deletions* and prerequisite changes are approved by University Course Challenge. See the section in the Program Handbook (Word) (pdf) about course challenge information
Please send course challenge material by email to
academicprograms.committee@usask.ca or to
cathie.fornssler@usask.ca or mail to:
Cathie Fornssler, Office of the University Secretary,
room 218 College Building
Please note that new courses which are part of a new program or program option are not approved by Challenge, but rather are submitted with the program for approval by or through Academic Programs Committee.
*unless deleted by Moribund Course Archive policy
5. Most other curricular changes are approved by your college
Any of the following types of curricular changes may be approved at the College level:
- course label (in consultation with the Office of the Registrar)
- course number (in consultation with the Office of the Registrar)
- course title
- course level (ie 200-level to 300-level)
- course term
- Calendar description
- change in course content
- changes in course hours (for lectures, laboratory, etc)
- splitting or combining courses (ie splitting a 6-credit-unit course into two 3-credit-unit courses)
- changes to methods of evaluation
Significant changes in courses which are listed in the program requirements for students in other colleges may also require university-level approval through the Challenge procedure. Consult the Office of the University Secretary for more information.
Where any of these changes require the use of a new course number (such as changing credit units or splitting a course), please contact the Office of the Registrar at Student and Enrolment Services to determine which course numbers are available for use. Course numbers cannot be reused for 10 years.
When these types of changes will affect the Calendar Listings for other departments or colleges, they should be listed for information in the Course Challenge. Please send by email to
academicprograms.committee@usask.ca or to
cathie.fornssler@usask.ca or mail to:
Cathie Fornssler, Office of the University Secretary,
room 218 College Building
6. Make another type of administrative changes, such as name changes
The Office of the University Secretary now has a form for name changes of all kinds: Name Change Form
Administrative changes such as new college or department names are approved by Council on recommendation of the Planning and Priorities Committee. Please contact Sandra Calver, Office of the University Secretary.
New program names are approved by the Academic Programs Committee. Please send by email to
academicprograms.committee@usask.ca or to
cathie.fornssler@usask.ca or mail to:
Cathie Fornssler, Office of the University Secretary,
room 218 College Building
7. Post a new course for student registration.
Please note that departments must now complete the Course Creation Information Form from SESD in order to have courses posted for registration.
Course creation form: PDF version Word version
Background documents, additional procedures and guidelines
Policy for Cross-College Minors (May, 2007)
Policy for Special Topics Courses (1999)
Certificate and Diploma approval procedures
Course and Program Termination procedures (pdf) (Word document)
Academic Program Changes Tutorial: Download PowerPoint file
Revised Policy and Procedures for Approval of Curricular Changes (approved by Council April 18, 2002)
Program Termination Procedure (approved by Council April 19, 2001) (Revised May 2008)
University Course Challenge Procedures and Moribund Course Procedures
Two keys to approval: be thorough & consult with your colleagues
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