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GE & BD Designation Application

Designation Application

New Designation Applications Temporarily Closed

We are currently not accepting applications for new GE or BD designations as our office transitions to the Coursedog platform and integrates updated Requirement Area Learning Outcomes.

We anticipate the new application process in Coursedog will be available mid-summer. In the meantime, you can use the PDFs below to begin preparing your application materials. These resources are designed to help you easily transfer your content into the Coursdog application once it launches.

To align with broader curricular review practices and a commitment to a catalog year, we are moving to a once-per-year application cycle for all new GE and BD course designations beginning Fall 2025.

  • Applications for inclusion in the 2026-27 Catalog are due September 15, 2025.
  • The next submission opportunity will be September 15, 2026, for inclusion in the 2027-28 Catalog.

Please check back for updates, or reach out to Lindsay Massman (Lindsay.massman@utah.edu) or Robyn Moreno (robyn.moreno@utah.edu) if you have any questions.

GE Curriculum Alignment BD Designation Application

 

Application Overview

  1. Course Standards
    Ensure the course meets the course standards necessary to carry the designation(s).
  2. Designation Justification & Curriculum Integration
    Describe the curricular need for the designation of the course and how it fits into department and college curriculum to support students.
  3. Requirement Area Learning Outcomes
    Explain and provide evidence of how the course meets the Requirement Area Learning Outcomes.
  4. GE Program Learning Outcomes & Assignments
    For GE designated courses select the GE Program Learning Outcome (GELO) that applies to the course and identify/design an assignment(s) that can be used for program assessment.
  5. Submit
    Submit a complete application along with a copy of the course syllabus and assignment(s) (identified in the GELO section) in Coursedog.

 

Learn More

General Education Outcomes

Course Designation Content Criteria

Designation Combinations (PDF)

 

Tips for a Successful Application & Helpful Links

Our goal is to work with you to create a General Education and Baccalaureate Degree curriculum that truly serves students. Please reach out to the Office of General Education at any point before, after or during the application process.

  • Be sure to meet the deadlines given by the Office of General Education. Applications go through a number of review steps and committee members before designations can be approved. The timeline is tight in order to meet course schedule and catalog deadlines.
  • Answer the application questions in complete paragraphs. While you don’t need to write a novel, generally a few sentences do not provide enough depth and detail for the committees.
  • Avoid being overly general in your responses. The committee likes to see as much detail as possible in the answers. For example, rather than saying the course is “highly interactive”, describe the specific assignments and activities that facilitate interaction.
  • Keep in mind that your application will be reviewed by committee members who are outside your discipline. This means they will not be familiar with discipline-specific jargon and practices. It is always best to describe aspects of your course as if you are explaining them to someone with no familiarity of your field, this is especially true when responding to the Content Criteria of the application.
  • Clearly reference the course syllabus in your answers—but do not cut and paste your syllabus. The committee member’s task is to understand how your course will be experienced by students and they will review the syllabus and other course materials carefully. Members often notice if the syllabus and question responses do not align.
  • For GE designation applications select assignments for learning outcome assessment intentionally. When selecting specific assignments that can be used to assess learning outcomes, please understand that at some point we will ask you for examples of that student work.
  • Your department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies or General Education Curriculum Committee Representative are great resources from which to receive feedback on your application.
Last Updated: 5/12/25