Online and hybrid courses (in which 50% or more of instruction is distance-based) must undergo a course approval process developed by the UCLA Academic Senate. This is a departmental responsibility and cannot be completed by an instructional designer at the TLC, although they can likely advise on some questions. Review the UCLA Undergraduate Distance Education Policy or UCLA Graduate Distance Education Policy for more information. A detailed list of requirements for course approval proposals is listed in the Undergraduate or Graduate course information sheet.
Instructors must determine a timeline with their Chair and the staff member responsible for course approvals. Start early; this process can take several months, and the course cannot be listed on the Schedule of Classes until it is approved. It is recommended that instructors begin this process at least two full quarters before the course will be offered. The TLC additionally requires at least three weeks to adequately assess courses and prepare the attestation form or letter of support that must be submitted with the course approval proposal.
Summer courses have an expedited temporary approval process that may be completed in one quarter. The department will request approval through Summer Sessions. Instructors will need to complete the course approval process outlined below only for asynchronous courses.
Course Quality Review and Attestation (Updated Process)
As of June 2026, the Undergraduate and Graduate Councils have approved a revised process for the TLC’s review of online and hybrid courses. Instead of receiving a narrative support letter, instructors will now receive a Course Quality Review and Attestation form completed by the TLC instructional design team. This form serves as official documentation of the instructional design review and must be included with course proposals. For graduate courses, both the attestation form and a letter of support are acceptable.
TLC Process for Course Approval Support
Request a Course Quality Review and Attestation form at least seven months prior to course launch.
- Complete the Undergraduate course information sheet or Graduate course information sheet.
- Draft your course syllabus.
- Request a consultation with the TLC’s instructional design team and submit your materials.
Engage in an assessment of your course
- An instructional designer reaches 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 on 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 as needed.
Prepare the Course Quality Review and Attestation form
- The TLC’s instructional design team will review the course materials and complete the attestation form. Both the instructional designer and instructor will sign the form.
The TLC requires at least three weeks to adequately assess a course and prepare the attestation form or letter of support.
Additional Resources
- 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)