Curriculum design at Aalto University

The university launches the work of curriculum design by setting the joint goals for the design. The goals are grounded in the university’s strategy and include the development goals identified on the basis of educational assessments. The University Academic Affairs Committee and Learning Steering Group (LESG) play a central role in setting the university’s joint goals.

Learning Services (LES) prepares the curriculum design guidelines.

As an end result, the process produces the Joint Goals for Curriculum Design and the current guidelines.

In the spring of odd-numbered years, programmes begin the curriculum design process for the next curriculum period. They do so by making assessments and by identifying and synchronising their own development targets with the broad development targets of the university.

A programme that makes major changes to the intended learning outcomes of its curriculum should produce a description of the programme’s purpose and intended learning outcomes already during the spring. This stage must ensure that updates to intended learning outcomes are included in the descriptions of the study options, which are produced by the programme for student recruitment as well as for other recruitment materials.

Also any teaching collaboration, such as the possibility of including another department's courses in the programme curriculum, should be agreed upon during the spring. Any school-level instructions and names of contact persons have been published in the school's timetable.

• Documentation of the programme’s development targets
• Description of the purpose of the programme, a draft of the intended learning outcomes and an updated description of the study option 

• Curriculum design goals for 2024–2026
• Assessment of the programme and its curriculum  
• Identifying and setting the development goals
• Developing curriculum alignment

In autumn of odd-numbered years, the programmes and majors plan their respective intended learning outcomes and degree requirements, that is, a description of what courses compose the student’s degree. Those in charge of the minors also plan their intended learning outcomes and degree requirements This preliminary curriculum information is refined in the next stage before it is confirmed.

In this stage, the programmes and departments also produce information on what study modules and courses will be offered, i.e. what study modules and courses will be taught in the next curriculum period. In addition, any significant planned changes in the selection are reported.

At this stage, the units also determine their Open University course offerings and any other quota-related information collected by the school.  

Learning Services informs all the schools and programmes about significant changes in the selection of study modules and courses.

Course offering of departments and other units, significant changes in courses and summary of offered majors and minors as well as significant changes in them are published internally latest 15 December, 2023.

• Draft intended learning outcomes and degree requirements of the programme and the minor
• The departments’ or other units’ selection of courses and significant changes in the courses
• A summary of the selection of major and minor subjects and significant changes in them

• Developing the curriculum alignment
• Curriculum information about programmes and study modules
• Curriculum information about courses
• Additions, deletions and significant changes in study modules and courses

Course descriptions are also a part of the curriculum. The teacher responsible (i.e. ‘teacher-in-charge’, or ‘responsible teacher’ in Sisu) is in charge of its description. To ensure the alignment of the curriculum, the course planning should be done in cooperation with the programme’s teaching staff. At this stage, the responsible teacher gives preferences for the implementation of teaching (i.e. making course time and location reservations) as well as preferences regarding other needs. The course descriptions are updated and the time and location preferences are entered in the Curriculum Planner system.

At this stage, it is important to make sure the intended learning outcomes of the programme and courses are mutually aligned, and also to ensure that the timing of the courses is workable from a student’s viewpoint of making smooth progress in studies.

This is the stage where the intended learning outcomes and degree requirements of the programmes are put into their final form. The course and study module selection composed in the previous stage and the listing of significant changes help to ensure that the changes made by other units are noted in the programmes and that the curricula also comply with the criteria set for them. Learning Services together with the director of degree programme are responsible for putting on the finishing touches.

• The final intended learning outcomes of the programmes and minors, and the degree requirements
• Course descriptions 
• The time and location preferences for teaching as well as other needs for planning the timetable

• Curriculum information about courses
• How to update course information in Curriculum Planner

In this stage, the course descriptions are put into final form and inspected to see that they fulfil the criteria set in the curriculum. The finishing work is supported and carried out by Learning Services together with the responsible teacher.

The final version of the curriculum is submitted to the school’s academic committee for approval in accordance with the school’s process and schedule.

Curriculum infomation about programmes, study modules and courses are confirmed in Acadmeic committees latest 28 March, 2024.

Learning Services publishes the curricula of the programmes and minors on aalto.fi and the course descriptions on Sisu after they have been approved by the school academic committee.

From March through May, Learning Services plans the timetables for the next academic year.

Curriculum infomation about programmes, study modules and courses are published latest 1 April, 2024

The timetables are published in Sisu on 1 June 2024. After this, the responsible teacher must inspect the information pertaining to teaching in order that any corrections may be made over summer well before the next academic year begins.

Timetables for course implementations are published according to a separate schedule.

ARTS LES Teacher services [email protected]
- Dept. of Architecture [email protected]
- Dept. of Design [email protected]
- Dept. of Art and Media [email protected]
- Dept. of Film [email protected]

Pedagogical specialists Linda Mäkinen& Antti Huittinen (Digi peda)

Using the courses of BIZ in programmes in the fields of technology and art and design:

• new initiatives are agreed with the head of deaprtment and the teacher in charge of the course in question
• removing courses from the curriculum are announced to the teacher in charge of the course

Significant changes in courses in the fields of technology and art and design, that are agreed to be included in the programmes of BIZ:

• Changes are announced as soon as possible to the programme director / head of major

Pedagogical expert: Maura Ratia ([email protected])

Coordination of the curriculum process: Riikka Leikola ([email protected])

Please find the contact information of the planning officer of the programme: https://www.aalto.fi/en/programmes#/?school=School%20of%20Business

Aug 31^st, 2023

Preliminary learning goals for the BSc programmes and preliminary learning objectives for the MSc programmes ready. Preliminary Learning goals for doctoral programme ready.

Nov 24^th, 2023 

Preliminary degree requirements ready

• Not necessary to have all course codes & names in final form
• https://www.aalto.fi/en/programme-directors-handbook/formulating-degree-requirements-clearly-in-sisu

Course portfolio ready

• Courses offered (icl. new and discontinued courses)
• Significant changes in courses (teaching language, teaching period, target groups, prerequisites, core content)

Study module offering ready 

• Majors and minors offered (incl. new and discontinued)
• Significant changes in majors and minors (language, target groups, scope and level) 

Jan 31^st, 2024 

Course information and schedule proposals ready in Curriculum planner 

• new courses: teacher writes the description
• continuing courses: teacher updates the description
• scheduling: teachers can give proposals for scheduling and request for specific equipment in lecture halls
• https://www.aalto.fi/en/programme-directors-handbook/how-to-update-course-information-in-the-curriculum-planner

March 4^th, 2024

Degree requirements ready

• Intended learning outcomes of the programme, each major / specialization and each minor
• Structure and content of each programme, major / specialization and minor
• https://www.aalto.fi/en/programme-directors-handbook/curriculum-information-about-programmes-and-study-modules

Summary of development work ready

Programme director offers the academic committee a summary of the planning process and development 

Teaching collaboration across schools and departments is agreed upon as much in advance as possible.

Using CHEM courses in programmes at other schools

• new initiatives are agreed with the head of department and the teacher in charge of the course in question
• removing courses from the curriculum are communicated to the teacher in charge of the course

Significant changes to courses at other schools which have been agreed to be included in CHEM programmes

• Changes are communicated as soon as possible to the programme director / head of major

Pedagogical Specialist Jukka Välimäki ([email protected])

Coordination of portfolio work and curriculum preparation Pauliina Ketola ([email protected])

Contact information for each programme planning officer can be found inthe school contact information

25.9.2023

Drafts of intended learning outcomes (ILO's) ready for bachelor, master and doctoral level programmes and majors.

Drafts of study module offering ready 

• Majors and minors offered (including new and discontinued study modules)
• Significant changes to study modules (language, target groups, scope and level)

Drafts of structure and content of programmes, majors and minors

• All courses included in programmes, majors and minors and their changes (bachelor, master and doctoral level)
• Course names and codes do not need to be final
• Formulating degree requirements clearly in Sisu

Draft of course portfolio ready

• Courses offered (including new and discontinued courses)
• Significant changes in courses (teaching language, teaching period, target groups, prerequisites, core content)

10.10. / 24.10.2023

The Degree Programme Committee and Academic Committee for Chemical Engineering discuss the structures, contents and courses of programmes, majors and minors to be founded.

18.8.2023-10.1.2024

Rules and regulations on the transition period, including how students can switch to new programmes from current programmes as well as course substitutions are prepared.

1.12.2023 - 10.1.2024 

Teachers enter course descriptions and schedule proposals in Curriculum Planner

• new courses: teacher prepares the description
• continuing courses: teacher updates the description
• scheduling: teachers can give proposals for scheduling and request for specific equipment in lecture halls
• How to update course information in Curriculum Planner

10.1.2024

Degree requirements ready (bachelor, masters and doctoral level)

• Intended learning outcomes of each programme, major and minor
• Structure and content of each programme, major and minor
• Curriculum information about programmes and study modules
• Programme model schedules

23.1. / 6.2.2024

The Degree Programme Committee and Academic Committee for Chemical Engineering discuss the programme, major and minor structures as well as the rules on the transition period.

• After the academic committee meeting, LES will verify the curriculum information and prepare the decision documents.

March 2024

Decisions made on curricula

• The Degree Programme Committee will discuss the curriculum on 12.3.2024 in preparation for the academic committee
• The Academic Committee for Chemical Engineering will confirm the curricula on 26.3.2024

Using the courses of ELEC in programmes of the other schools:

• new initiatives are agreed with the head of deaprtment and the teacher in charge of the course in question
• removing courses from the curriculum are announced to the teacher in charge of the course

Significant changes in courses of the other schools, that are agreed to be included in the programmes of ELEC:

• Changes are announced as soon as possible to the programme director / head of major

Pedagogical experts: Kirsti Keltikangas ([email protected]) and Anna Vilhunen ([email protected])

Coordination of the curriculum process: Tuula Noponen ([email protected])

Please find the contact information of the planning officer of the programme:  https://www.aalto.fi/en/programmes-hub#/?degree=bachelor,master&school=School%20of%20Electrical%20Engineering

Sep 25th, 2023

Preliminary learning objectives for the programmes ready

Nov 27th, 2023

Study module offering ready

• Majors and minors offered (icl. new and discontinued)
• Significant changes in majors and minors (language, target groups, scope and level)
   

Preliminary degree requirements ready

• https://www.aalto.fi/en/programme-directors-handbook/formulating-degree-requirements-clearly-in-sisu

Course portfolio ready

• Courses offered (inc. new and discontinued courses)
• Significant changes in courses (teaching language, teaching period, target groups, prerequisites, core content)

Jan 31st, 2024

Course information and schedule proposals ready in Curriculum planner

• new courses: teacher writes the description
• continuing courses: teacher updates the description
• scheduling: teachers can give proposals for scheduling and request for specific equipment in lecture halls
• https://www.aalto.fi/en/programme-directors-handbook/how-to-update-course-information-in-the-curriculum-planner

Feb 26th, 2024

Degree requirements ready

• Intended learning outcomes of the programme, each major / specialization and each minor
• Structure and content of each programme, major / specialization and minor
• https://www.aalto.fi/en/programme-directors-handbook/curriculum-information-about-programmes-and-study-modules

During spring and autumn 2023, programmes discuss significant changes for curriculum period 2024–2026.

Using the courses of ENG in programmes of the other schools are agreed with the department head and the responsible teacher of the course in question. 
Removing courses from the curriculum are announced to the responsible teacher of the course.

Significant changes in courses of the other schools, that are agreed to be included in the programmes of ENG are announced as soon as possible to the programme director / head of the major /minor.

Pedagogical support: Heidy Tiits-Tikkanen  

Digital learning environments support: Karoliina Pakkanen

Planning officer and coordinator of  the programme coordinate the curriculum work.  

Responsible persons of  programmes and majors.

September – November 2023:

Preparation of preliminary learning outcomes for programmes and majors.

By 27 November 2023:

Preliminary study module offering is ready: 

• Major and minor subject offerings (including new and discontinued study modules)
• Significant changes in study modules (language, target groups, scope and level)
   

Preliminary degree requirements are ready.

Instruction can be found here: https://www.aalto.fi/en/programme-directors-handbook/formulating-degree-requirements-clearly-in-sisu  

Preliminary course portfolio is ready (new courses, course removals and changes) in Curriculum Planner

• New courses (established in Curriculum Planner)
• Discontinued courses (removed from Curriculum Planner)
• Significant changes in courses (teaching language, teaching period, target groups, prerequisites, core content) 

By 31 January 2024:

Course descriptions and schedule proposals in Curriculum Planner

• New courses with course descriptions ready for decision 
• Continuing courses with course descriptions ready for decision
• Teaching for academic year 2024-2025: teachers can give proposals for course scheduling, lecture halls and request for specific equipment
• Instructions for Curriculum Planner: https://www.aalto.fi/en/programme-directors-handbook/how-to-update-course-information-in-the-curriculum-planner

By 26 February 2024:

Curriculum for academic years 2024-2026 is ready for decision making: 

• Degree requirements and learning outcomes of the programmes, majors and minors 
• Structure and content of the programmes, majors and minors   

Instructions can be found here: https://www.aalto.fi/en/programme-directors-handbook/curriculum-information-about-programmes-and-study-modules 

Using courses organized by Aalto SCI in programmes

• Using a SCI course in the curriculum: agree on using the course with the head of department responsible for education and with the teacher in charge of the course in question. Inform them about the status in your programme of the planned course (mandatory/optional, status in model schedule). 
• Removing a SCI course from the curriculum: inform the teacher in charge about the removal.
• Using service teaching courses in programmes: agree on using service teaching courses (mathematics, physics, computer science, industrial engineering and management) with the head of department responsible for education.  
  • Confirm courses continuing in the curriculum as well. NB! Confirm using service teaching courses also if no changes are planned.
  • Inform the head of department responsible for education also about planned changes in model schedule and significant changes in number of participants.

Teaching collaboration across schools and units is agreed on as soon as possible. 

Significant changes in courses in the fields of technology and art and design that are included in the programmes of SCI:

• The programme director / head of major is informed as soon as possible about these changes.
   

Bachelor’s programme in Science and Technology: 

• Information Networks: Susanna Reunanen
• Engineering Physics and Mathematics: Emma Perilä
• Engineering Psychology: Susanna Reunanen
• Computer Science: Paavo Nisula

Industrial Engineering and Management: Tarja Timonen
Aalto Bachelor’s Programme in Science and Technology

• Data Science: Paavo Nisula
• Quantum Technology: Paavo Nisula

Master's programmes

• Master’s Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences: Paavo Nisula
• Master’s Programme in Engineering Physics: Emma Perilä
• Master’s Programme in ICT Innovation: Minna Parviainen
• Master’s Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management: Tarja Timonen
• Master’s Programme in Information Networks: Tarja Timonen
• Master’s Programme in Life Science Technologies: Päivi Koivunen
• Master’s Programme in Mathematics and Operations Research: Emma Perilä
• Master’s Programme in Security and Cloud Computing: Emma Tuomola

Curriculum Planner support for departments:
CS courses: Maiju Kokkoniemi
NBE courses: Päivi Koivunen
MS and PHYS courses: Emma Perilä
TU courses: Tarja Timonen

Pedagogical support: Miia Forsten ([email protected])

Before summer holidays

Preliminary learning outcomes for the programmes and majors ready

• Discussed by degree programme committee meetings in August/September.
• Learning outcomes will be specified as the curriculum work continues in autumn. 

30 November 2023 
Preliminary degree requirements ready

• Planning the programmes’ degree requirements includes planning the model schedules. 
• https://www.aalto.fi/en/programme-directors-handbook/formulating-degree-requirements-clearly-in-sisu

Minors ready

• Minors offered (including new and discontinued).
• Significant changes in minors (language, target groups, scope and level).
   

Course portfolio ready

• Courses offered (including new and discontinued courses). All new courses are established by 30 November.
• Significant changes in courses (teaching language, teaching period, target groups, prerequisites, core content)
• Course portfolio includes planning quotas for open university students. 
• Departments’ offerings for life wide learning (e.g. Fitech courses), which will be established in Sisu, are confirmed by the Academic Committee for Science according to the schedule below. 
   

31 January 2024 
Course information ready in Curriculum Planner 

• New courses: teacher writes a description.
• Continuing courses: teacher updates the description.
• https://www.aalto.fi/en/programme-directors-handbook/how-to-update-course-information-in-the-curriculum-planner

Timetables: Instructions for suggestions for timetables will be given separately. 

Degree requirements ready

• Intended learning outcomes of the programme, each major and each minor.
• Structure and content of each programme, major and minor.
• https://www.aalto.fi/en/programme-directors-handbook/curriculum-information-about-programmes-and-study-modules
• Model schedules of the programmes.
• After the deadline, SCI LES checks curriculum information and prepares documents for decision making.

March 2024
Decisions on curricula

• Degree programme committees decide curricula in the beginning of March.
• Academic Committee for Science (PAK) confirms the curricula in the end of March.