Curriculum Committee
Who Are the Members of the Curriculum Committee?
The committee is comprised of representatives from each of our six academic departments. These representatives are selected by each department chair. A student representative is also selected to serve as a committee member for each academic year. In addition, members of our School leadership hold ex-officio seats on the Committee. The current members of the Curriculum Committee are:
- Helen de Pinho, Committee Chair, Asssistant Professor at CUMC of Population & Family Health
- Samantha Garbers, Associate Professor at CUMC of Population & Family Health
- Christian Gloria, Associate Professor at CUMC of Sociomedical Sciences
- Yuna Lee, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management
- Stephen Morse, Professor at CUMC of Epidemiology
- Matthew Perzanowski, Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences
- Shuang Wang, Professor of Biostatistics, Biostatistics
- Sasha Berns, Student Representative
- Leah Hooper, Assistant Dean for Teaching and Learning, ex officio
- Carlos Correa, Director for Student Enrollment Services, ex officio
- Elizabeth Schroeder, Office of Educational Initiatives, project manager for the Curriculum Committee
What Does the School-wide Curriculum Committee do?
The committee reviews proposed syllabi, certificate and degree proposals. It assesses the intellectual demand and academic rigor of the proposed content, as well as the fit within the overall curriculum, alignment (or possible duplication) with existing curricula, proposed credits and workload.
Faculty members are invited to attend the session of the Committee at which their submission is being reviewed, so that Committee members and faculty may engage in a real-time discussion about the proposed course or program.
The Committee may approve a course or program; may approve contingent on revisions; or request resubmission. Faculty members are notified via email of the Committee's decision regarding their submission within a few days following the review of materials.
Where Can I go for Support as I develop and Teach My course?
The Office of Educational Initiatives provides multiple resources in all stages of teaching, from planning to implementation to evaluation. Faculty and departments are invited to consult with Leah Hooper, Assistant Dean for Teaching and Learning, when developing course and class learning objectives, course descriptions, course assessments, as well as program development. Leah can provide guidance in best practice, research-based techniques for addressing instructional challenges, and more. Contact Leah at lch2124@columbia.edu.
When Should I Submit Materials to the Curriculum Committee?
The following events trigger a submission to the MSPH Curriculum Committee. Please review the below events:
- Creation of a new course
- Request for a change in course credit
- Request for a change in course title
- A course was previously offered as a tutorial
- Reactivation of a course that has been inactive for three or more years
Why Does the Curriculum Committee Review Course and Curricular Materials?
By reviewing course materials, the Committee helps to ensure that all MSPH courses and programs meet New York State Department of Education requirements and faculty-designed standards for course quality and rigor. The review process also helps prevent unnecessary duplication in courses, while promoting integration and interdisciplinary study, where appropriate. The Committee also seeks to connect faculty with support throughout the course development process and to suggest possible instructional designs for faculty's consideration.
What Is the Process for Submitting a Course?
Course submission materials are accessible here: MSPH Curriculum Committee Forms
Each department will have a different process leading up to the submission of the Course Proposal Form and course syllabus. Prior to the offical submission, the instructor should consult with their departmental representiative on the Committee to ensure that the syllabus and proposal form meet Mailman's standards. We also encourage instructors to contact Leah Hooper, Assistant Dean for Teaching and Learning, prior to the formal submission. Once the materials have been submitted to the committee, the instructor will be invited to the next Committee meeting to discuss their course. Within a few days of the course being reviewed, the instructor will be notified of the Committee's decision with any required or recommended changes as well as the next steps.
To submit materials for Curriculum Committee review, please email Elizabeth Schroeder at ecs2207@cumc.columbia.edu.
How Frequently Does the Curriculum Committee Meet?
The Curriculum Committee meets once per month from September to June.