UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ UNIVERSITY SERVICES 5 FEB 2016 In accordance with the Rector s Delegation Decision of 20 December 2013, I confirm the curriculum concepts defined in Appendix 1 based on the work of the Education Council. Kari Pitkänen Director of Strategic Planning and Development
Appendix 1. Concepts of curriculum work. Education Degree studies Bachelor s degree programme Master s degree programme Licentiate degree programme (NOTE! Exception) Doctoral programme Degree programme Subject Specialisation Foreign-language-medium degree programme Broad-based bachelor s degree programme Education refers to an entity which is offered by the University and to which it is possible to apply for. Education may comprise degree education or other instruction (e.g. open university studies, continuing education). Degree education may consist of one or more degree programmes (e.g. only a bachelor s or master s degree programme, a bachelor s + master s degree programme or a bachelor s programme after which it is possible to choose from a variety of master s degree programmes). Degree studies are organised as degree programmes, which have defined learning outcomes. The studies for a degree are defined in a curriculum. A degree programme leading to a bachelor s degree. A degree programme leading to a master s degree. A degree programme leading to a licentiate degree. A licentiate degree may be completed as part of a degree programme leading to a doctoral degree or, in exceptional cases, as a separate programme. A degree programme leading to a doctoral degree. In accordance with Section 3 of the Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004), education leading to lower and higher university degrees may be based on subjects or in the form of degree programmes. The OKSA Vocabulary of Education states that the term refers to the way to organise studies leading to a degree and that the programme-based organisation of studies is an alternative to the subject-based organisation of studies. In accordance with Section 3 of the Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004), education leading to lower and higher university degrees may be based on subjects or in the form of degree programmes. The use of the concept of subject will be discussed more in connection with curriculum work. Student s opportunity to direct studies within a degree programme in accordance with the degree structure approved in the curriculum. A degree programme that has a language of examination other than Finnish and an international application round. A bachelor s degree programme can be broad-based in various ways: - The programme has common studies of at least 25 ECTS credits for all students in the bachelor s programme - The programme includes studies from various subjects - The programme includes optional studies the student may select from the University s study offering - The discipline is broad-based by its nature - Study contents and methods are realised in a broadbased manner
- The programme provides students with broad-based competence and a variety of skills Study option A line of education a student selects from the educational offering and for which the student applies for a study right. There may be one or more study options for one education (e.g. a joint application, the Open University, a transfer student application process). Major subject The Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004) defines the bachelor s and master s degree studies and their minimum extent. A major subject may be an individual subject or an entity comparable to a major subject, for which the student must complete at least the minimum extent defined in the Government Decree. An entity comparable to a major subject may be shared by several departments. The concept of major subject will be discussed more in connection with curriculum work. Minor subject (studies) Minor subject is a subject or study entity that is part of the degree but not the student s major subject. Minor subject studies may be basic studies, intermediate/subject studies or advanced studies, or entities formed otherwise (e.g. studies completed at a foreign university). In accordance with the Rector s decision (27 June 2013), it is possible to separately indicate any studies exceeding 20 ECTS credits in a degree certificate, even if the studies are not completed as an entity. The concept of minor subject will be discussed more in connection with curriculum work. Curriculum Curriculum refers to a description of the structure, learning outcomes, learning contents, competence assessment criteria and modes of study of a degree programme, professional specialisation studies or other education. In compliance with the Degree Regulations of the University of Jyväskylä, a curriculum is prepared for each degree programme or professional specialisation programme. Curricula are evaluated and developed regularly. The curriculum of a degree programme must specify the following: 1) The purpose of the programme 2) The scientific outcomes and targeted transferable skills of the programme 3) The language(s) of instruction for the programme (in case of more than one language, the curriculum must define the primary language of instruction, which is also the language of examination in the programme) 4) Degree structure and included courses, the names and extents of the courses 5) The learning outcomes of courses, study modules and degrees 6) Course descriptions 7) A plan for the organisation of student guidance and personal study plan counselling 8) Regulations for the studies and degrees of the faculty
9) The completion modes and assessment criteria of courses as well as information on minimum required attendance. Teaching schedule Structure of studies Degree structure Study module Multidisciplinary entity Course Course code Learning outcome Completion mode Target of assessment Implementation of instruction Assessment criteria In addition, curricula indicate course codes and course literature. A plan for the organisation of teaching and offered instruction during an academic year. A teaching schedule is based on a curriculum and implements the curriculum. The structure of studies is always related to a study programme. The structure of studies within a degree programme is described as a degree structure, which is part of the curriculum and defines the study modules and courses of the degree programme. The content (study modules and courses), extent and hierarchy of studies in a degree. Each degree programme has a study structure defined in the curriculum. A study module is an entity that is formed of courses or other study units and that has designated learning outcomes. An entity formed of studies from various fields. A course is the smallest study unit described in a curriculum. The course s name, identification code, extent, learning outcomes, description, modes of study, assessment criteria and possible literature are defined in the curriculum. Each course has a unique identification code in the curriculum. A course can have only one code, and a code can be connected only to one course with a unique name. A description of competence a student must have after completing a degree, study module or course. Learning outcomes are related to knowledge and skills. They comprise subject-specific skills and generic skills (e.g. workplace skills and entrepreneurship skills). A completion mode is a description of the modes available for completing a course. The completion modes are defined in each programme s curriculum. A target of assessment is the smallest part of studies to be implemented or completed at a time. A course s modes of study determine the targets of assessment (or their combinations) for completing the course. A completed course may require the completion of one or more targets of assessment. The realisation of a target of assessment, as decided in the teaching schedule: e.g. the realisation of a study unit (= a course) or the realisation of an examination. Students register for implementations of instruction. Assessment criteria consist of an assessment scale used for a course and a description of completion requirements for the course (e.g. how many lessons the student must be present for to receive a passing grade).
Generic skills and general studies ECTS credit Personal study plan Generic skills refer to the general skills students need regardless of their field. Generic skills include social, communication and language skills as well as critical thinking skills. ECTS credits are used as a basis for measuring studies. Courses are assigned ECTS credits according to their workload. The workload of 1,600 hours required for completing the studies of an academic year corresponds to 60 ECTS credits. On average, the completion of an ECTS credit is calculated to require a workload of 27 hours. A personal study plan is a plan for studying and learning. It is created by the student in cooperation with a tutor. The central part of a personal study plan is a documented plan for completing studies (what studies the student will complete, how, when and in which order).