Minor Modifications
Minor modifications are changes to courses and program curriculum. There are four types of commonly proposed minor modifications made by graduate units:
- changes to an existing course
- changes to an existing program
- creating a new course
- participation in, or withdrawal from, a collaborative specialization

Please contact the Graduate Affairs Officer in the Office of the Vice Dean, Research and Health Science Education (RHSE) before pursing any of these academic changes.
Additional Information on the Steps and Governance Process for Minor Modifications
Changes to an Existing Course
Examples of Changes to an Existing Course
Changes to an existing course may include, but are not limited to:
- renaming an existing course
- renumbering an existing course
- converting a didactic course to an online course
- making revisions that change the learning objectives for a course
Required Templates and Instructions for Changing an Existing Course
To access the required templates and instructions for making changes to an existing course, please visit the Office of the Vice-Provost, Academic Programs website.
Please note: Changing the content of an existing course falls into the category of creating a new course. Please follow the instructions from the Office of the Vice-Provost, Academic Programs, for implementing a new course.
Governance Pathway for Changes to an Existing Course
Changes to an existing program and new courses follow a two step governance process.
1. Obtain Approval from your Graduate Unit
The first step in the governance process is to obtain the approval from the graduate unit. When submitting the proposal to your graduate unit, be sure to include the completed template and supporting documentation (e.g., course syllabus).
Typically, the committee responsible for graduate education in your unit is responsible for granting graduate unit approval. Please contact your Graduate Coordinator for information about meeting dates and departmental protocol.
2. Obtain Approval from the RHSE Graduate Curriculum Committee (GCC).
Please submit the proposal package to the Graduate Affairs Officer at RHSE at least 2 weeks before the next scheduled meeting. Please review the RHSE GCC meeting dates.
At the next scheduled meeting, a faculty member from the graduate unit (e.g., Graduate Coordinator) presents the proposal to the GCC.
Changes to an Existing Program
Examples of Changes to an Existing Program
Some commone examples of changes to an existing program include, but are not limited to:
- changing admission requirements
- renaming the field, concentration and/or emphasis
- changing the program requirements or length
- renaming a program
- changing the timing of program requirements
- creating a new emphasis
- adding or removing an option (i.e., part-time, flex-time)
- changes to programs affecting a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
Required Templates and Instructions for Changes to an Existing Program
To access the required templates and instructions for making changes to an existing program, please visit the Office of the Vice-Provost, Academic Programs website.
Governance Pathway for Changes to an Existing Program
Changes to an existing program follows a three step governance process.
- Obtain Approval from your Graduate Unit
The first step in the governance process is to obtain the approval from the graduate unit. When submitting the proposal to your graduate unit, be sure to include the completed template and supporting documentation (e.g., course syllabus).
Typically, the committee responsible for graduate education in your unit is responsible for granting graduate unit approval. Please contact your Graduate Coordinator for information about meeting dates and departmental protocol. - Obtain Approval from the RHSE Graduate Curriculum Committee (GCC).
Please submit the proposal package to the Graduate Affairs Officer at RHSE at least 2 weeks before the next scheduled meeting. Please review the RHSE GCC meeting dates.
At the next scheduled meeting, a faculty member from the graduate unit (e.g., Graduate Coordinator) presents the proposal to the GCC. - Obtain Approval from The Temerty Faculty of Medicine's Education Committee
This is a standing committee of of Temerty Medicine's Faculty Council. At this meeting, a graduate unit member (ideally the same person who presented the proposal at the RHSE GCC meeting), presents the proposal to the group. Please review the Education Committee meeting dates.
Creating a New Course
Examples of Creating a New Course
Examples of creating a new course include, but are not limited to:
- creating new graduate course* in a degree
- crating new graduate course* in a collaborative specialization
- reactivating a closed/deactivated course
- ask Rachel if she wants to add changing the content of an existing course to this list
Required Templates and Instructions for Creating a New Course
To access the required templates and instructions for creating a new course, please visit the Office of the Vice-Provost, Academic Programs website.
Governance Pathway for Creating a New Course
Creating a new course follows a three step governance process.
- Obtain Approval from your Graduate Unit
The first step in the governance process is to obtain the approval from the graduate unit. When submitting the proposal to your graduate unit, be sure to include the completed template and supporting documentation (e.g., course syllabus).
Typically, the committee responsible for graduate education in your unit is responsible for granting graduate unit approval. Please contact your Graduate Coordinator for information about meeting dates and departmental protocol. - Obtain Approval from the RHSE Graduate Curriculum Committee (GCC).
Please submit the proposal package to the Graduate Affairs Officer at RHSE at least 2 weeks before the next scheduled meeting. Please review the RHSE GCC meeting dates.
At the next scheduled meeting, a faculty member from the graduate unit (e.g., Graduate Coordinator) presents the proposal to the GCC. - Obtain Approval from The Temerty Faculty of Medicine's Education Committee
This is a standing committee of of Temerty Medicine's Faculty Council. At this meeting, a graduate unit member (ideally the same person who presented the proposal at the RHSE GCC meeting), presents the proposal to the group. Please review the Education Committee meeting dates.
Participation in, or Withdrawal from, a Collaborative Specialization
Examples of Participation in, or Withdrawal from, a Collaborative Specialization
This is when a degree program (Masters or PhD) wishes to join or withdraw its participation from an existing Collaborative Specialization.
Governance Path for Changes to Existing Courses (no change to Course Content) and Participation in/Withdrawal from a Collaborative Specialization
Changes to an existing program and new courses follow a two step governance process.
1. Obtain Approval from your Graduate Unit
The first step in the governance process is to obtain the approval from the graduate unit. When submitting the proposal to your graduate unit, be sure to include the completed template and supporting documentation (e.g., course syllabus).
Typically, the committee responsible for graduate education in your unit is responsible for granting graduate unit approval. Please contact your Graduate Coordinator for information about meeting dates and departmental protocol.
2. Obtain Approval from the Office of the Vice Dean, Research and Health Science Education Graduate Curriculum Committee (GCC).
Please submit the proposal package to the Graduate Affairs Officer at RHSE at least 2 weeks before the next scheduled meeting. Please review the RHSE GCC meeting dates.
At the next scheduled meeting, a faculty member from the graduate unit (e.g., Graduate Coordinator) presents the proposal to the GCC.
Minor Modification FAQs & Next Steps
See below for answers to some of the most common questions regarding minor modifications.
How long does it take to obtain all the necessary approvals (i.e., complete the divisional governance process)?
Once the governance template is submitted to RHSE, the process can take up to 2 – 3 months.
What happens once all of the approvals are obtained?
GLSE informs the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) and the Vice-Provost, Academic Change of the approved changes. This triggers SGS to make the appropriate changes on ROSI.
Graduate units (Graduate Coordinators and Administrators), as well as any designated faculty (as noted on the Governance Template/Proposal) will be informed by email once all the necessary divisional governance approvals are obtained. Graduate units and Collaborative Specialization will continue to be responsible for updating their SGS calendar entry every year by the deadline, as communicated by SGS.
How soon can an academic change be implemented?
All approved changes are communicated immediately to SGS once the final approval is granted. However, these changes may not be reflected as quickly in the annual SGS Calendar.
Graduate units and Collaborative Specialization normally submit their calendar edits by March 31st. Approvals of academic changes that impact the core curriculum/program requirements must be obtained well in advances of the SGS Calendar deadline. This is imperative for program requirements and optional for electives.