Online and hybrid courses must undergo a course approval process developed by the Academic Senate. This is a departmental responsibility and cannot be completed by an instructional designer, although our team can likely advise on some questions. You can learn more by reviewing the UCLA Undergraduate Distance Education Policy or UCLA Graduate Distance Education Policy. A detailed list of requirements for course approval proposals is listed in the Undergraduate or Graduate course information sheet.
The instructor must determine a timeline with their Chair and the staff member responsible for course approvals. Start early; this process can take several months, and you cannot list the course on the Schedule of Classes until the approval is in place. We recommend you begin this process two full quarters before the course will be offered.
Acquiring a Letter of Support
Part of the course approval process involves acquiring a formal assessment or letter of support from the TLC or a similar instructional design unit. We require at least three weeks to adequately assess your course and prepare the letter of support.
TLC Process for Course Approval Support
Request a letter of support, at least seven months prior to course launch
- Draft the Undergraduate or Graduate course information sheet.
- Draft your course syllabus.
- Request a consultation with our team.
Engage in an assessment of your course
- An instructional designer reach out to schedule a follow-up.
- Allow at least one week for an instructional designer to review your materials and provide feedback on the pedagogical content, particularly how you leverage the online/hybrid format of the course to engage students.
- Meet with the instructional designer to discuss your course and proposal
- Revise materials and review again, as needed.
Prepare the letter of support
- The TLC team will draft the letter and conduct an internal review before signing and providing it to the instructor.
Additional Resources
- Course approval slide presentation from live workshop
- College FEC meeting schedule (if you are in a different School, contact your local FEC)
- Undergraduate Council meeting schedule
- Graduate Council Committee on Degrees (no meeting schedule posted)
- UCLA Schedule of Classes publication schedule (in order to know when the process needs to be completed)