Courses: Field Studies Courses
See the Administrative Regulations website at the following url for a definition of Field Studies Courses: http://www.dist.maricopa.edu/gvpolicy/adminregs/instruction/3_1.htm
Curriculum Development/Approval Processes
The development of field studies courses is subject to all the regular processes and procedures for curriculum development for new courses in the district. Each field studies course must be recommended through the regular curriculum process for a new course before offering the course.
Once a field studies course has been approved by the MCCCD Governing Board and entered into the course bank, it may be offered in subsequent semester and summer sessions as long as the offering is substantially consistent in goals and objectives with the original approved courses
Course credit for a field studies course shall reflect both (a) course objectives, and (b) duration of the experience. The minimum time per credit shall be no less than five (5) days of instruction per credit hour for out-of-state and out-of-county courses.
Instructor Pay
For in-state, two-day field courses, ½ credit hour may be awarded. A day shall consist of at least eight hours of any given day. For example:
2 – 4 days = .5 credit
5 – 9 days = 1.0 credit
10 – 14 days = 2.0 credits
15 – 19 days = 3.0 creditsCredit hours are designated when curriculum materials for a new course are submitted.
An instructor load hour shall be equivalent to a course credit hour.
A field studies course may be offered as a part of the instructor’s regular teaching load, for visiting staff, overload pay or summer pay. No field studies course may be scheduled so as to overlap with other assignments of the instructor(s).
Remuneration to cover travel and per diem expenses incurred must be in accordance with District Travel Administrative Regulations and procedures. Any conflict of interest or appearance thereof shall not be permitted except as allowed by district policy.
Business/Travel Processes
Requirements in the Purchasing Procedures Manual are applicable to field studies programs after approval by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. To allow for sufficient time for participant sign-up and to meet deposit deadlines, programs that require a formal bid process (based on estimated dollar value) require a 6-12 month lead-time to complete the purchasing process.
Students shall pay all field studies course fees prior to departure through the college cashier’s office. Students are responsible for any medical expenses incurred resulting from the field studies course. Students must sign an assumption of risk and release of liability form prior to departure of the field studies program. (Form available at: http://www.maricopa.edu/legal/rmi/index.htm)
The Maricopa Community Colleges District will refund all deposits as specified in the refund policy in the literature announcing the course.
Approval should be secured prior to being submitted to purchasing.
Any District equipment (e.g., computing equipment, lab equipment, office equipment, cameras, musical instruments, audio/visual equipment, etc.) to be used for field study purposes must be authorized and documented consistent with administrative regulations related to check out or loan of equipment.
The Curriculum Procedures Handbook is a product of the Maricopa County Community Colleges District. Any and all changes to the Handbook are monitored and coordinated through the District Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation. Please give credit to the Maricopa County Community College District if the Handbook or sections of the Handbook are duplicated.
