Major Changes to Courses
Definition
A major change involves any of the following changes to a program, where ‘program’ is defined as a course, stream, major, or specialisation:
- changing the name of a program
- changing the length (points) of a program
- changing the level of subjects required to complete the program
- changing the entry requirements for a program
- introduction of a new stream, major or specialisation within a course
- changing the structural requirements for completion of a program in terms of the number of compulsory points to be taken at any year level or in terms of the progression requirements from year to year
- changing more than 25% of the compulsory subjects in any year of any course, stream, major or specialisation
- changing the mode of delivery of the entire program
- introduction of a Work Experience in Industry (WEI) subject
- amendment to an award descriptor information for AHEGS.
All other changes, including a change of up to 25% of compulsory subjects required in any year of the program may be done under delegated authority.
If the proposed change does not fall into the categories above, please consult the Academic Secretary or the Secretary, Academic Programs Committee.
Entry Requirements
A change to an entry requirement is always considered a major change and requires Academic Board approval. To change an entry requirement, submit a major change form and include the current entry requirement and the proposed entry requirement, drafted in accordance with the Guidelines on the Drafting of Entry Resolutions and the Guidelines on Interpreting Entry Resolutions..
All current entry requirements are published as an attachment to Regulation 11.1A2 and are resolutions of the Academic Board.Approval Process
Major changes involving the following require Concept Proposal approval before the change is submitted for academic approval:
- introduction of a new stream, major or specialisation within a course
- cross-faculty or cross-graduate school delivery
- potential overlap with other programs
- major resource implications, inlcuding load shifts, increased costs of delivery or different space or technology requirements.
For further information on the Concept Proposal approval process, please contact Melbourne Students & Learning.
The academic approval process is outlined below.
- Submit the major change proposal to the Academic Secretary (for major changes to coursework programs) or the Secretary, Research Higher Degrees Committee (for major changes to research higher degrees).
- The committee secretary checks the proposal for completeness and then forwards the proposal to an academic shepherd (a member of the Academic Programs Committee (APC) or Research Higher Degrees Committee (RHDC) with responsibility for one or more faculties).
- The shepherd considers the proposal and makes a recommendation to the APC or RHDC, as appropriate. (The shepherd may consult with the faculty/graduate school before making a recommendation.)
- The APC/RHDC considers the proposal and makes a recommendation to the Academic Board.
- The Academic Board is responsible for approving all major changes to programs.
- Once the proposal has been approved, the faculty/graduate school proposing the change is notified and the approved forms are forwarded to the Student System for implementation.
Timeline for Approval
Major changes for implementation in the following year must be endorsed at the June meetings of the Academic Programs Committee in order to enable implementation in the Student System for publication in the Handbook by the end of October. Changes submitted after the submission deadline as stated in the timelines may not be able to be implemented in time to be offered the following year.
Forms
Major changes necessarily require a major change form. In addition, it may require some or all of the forms listed below.
ACADEMIC APPROVAL
- Major Change Form
- Subject Proposal Form
- Subject Change Form
- Volunteer Subject Form
- Internship Subject Form
- Subject Quota Form
CONCEPT PROPOSAL APPROVAL