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Keep the structure simple

A clear and simple structure can

• simplify students’ study planning
• help students to get off to a smooth start with their studies, as they will have a straightforward study path and order in which to take their studies
• help students to complete their degrees within the target time
• streamline the planning of timetables and help to avoid schedule conflicts
• make the task of advising and guiding students easier
• free up time for the school staff so they can advise students and support teachers 

The degree requirements of programmes are entered into Sisu based on the approved curricula. Students use the degree requirements template in Sisu as a basis when drawing up their personal study plans. A set of rules defined in Sisu based on the programme structure ensures that in most cases, a student's personal study plans will automatically comply with the degree requirements.

When the degree structure is planned so that automated rules may be used, it is easier for students to plan their studies and get a good overview of their degree at the start of their studies without their study choices requiring formal approval by the university’s administrative staff.

Recommendations on degree requirements

The following recommendations apply to all study modules (basic studies, major studies, minors, etc.)

Prefer study modules and study module components that do not depend on other modules 

Sisu does not allow designing degree requirements that contain choices which directly affect the choices to be made within another study module. This applies also to selection rules within study modules. If the degree requirements of the programme have such structures, each student must apply for approval for such study choices. Therefore, compulsory and optional studies should be kept separate from each other without mutual dependencies, except for the number of credits in a degree or study module, which Sisu can take into account without any problems.

If there are structural dependencies in the degree structure, each student may have to apply for approval for their choices separately. This may cause difficulty for the student in getting an overview of their personal study plan before Learning Services or academic staff have processed their applications.

Example 1: 

• Describe requirements like this: "Choose courses towards your major and minor so that the total scope of your degree is at least 180 credits."
• Avoid this: "You can either choose a 40-credit major and a minor, or you can choose a 60-credit major and no minor."

Example 2: 

• Describe requirements like this: "Choose courses that allow you to earn 10 credits towards the elective studies of your major." (If needed, the course selection here may include some of the same courses as the other elements of the major, so that there are no interdependencies between the different elements of the major).
• Avoid this: "Choose courses that allow you to earn 0–10 credits towards the elective studies of your major so that the total scope of your major is 60 credits."

Always use the number of credits as a criterion when formulating selection rules for compulsory courses 

If the student needs to select courses among the compulsory courses of a study module, formulate the rule so that the selection rule in Sisu can be for the number of credits, not the number of courses. If the selection rule is for the number of courses, Sisu will allow the student to transfer a course to another study module where the same course is already included as an option (e.g. from the major's compulsory studies to a minor). 

Example: 

• Describe requirements like this: "Choose one of the two courses." + a selection rule in the programme structure in Sisu: "Choose X credits, where X is the scope in credits of the courses that may be selected.
• Avoid this: "Choose one of the two courses." + a selection rule in the programme structure in Sisu: "Complete 1 course."

Ensure that the study module scope (in credits) is consistent with the module content

A study module may contain both compulsory and elective courses. If students can choose studies within a module, make sure the choices allow the student to get the required number of credits. 

Example:

• Describe requirements like this: "Choose a total of 10–12 credits among the following courses."
• Avoid this: "Choose courses so that their total scope is 10 credits." + the course list includes both 5 and 6-credit courses (although the student should be able to choose any combination of two courses).

List in the Sisu structure all of the courses that belong to the study module

If the degree requirements allow students to either add or suggest the addition of courses that are not part of the study module, each student with such study modules must obtain separate approval for the modules. To avoid this, the degree requirements should list all the courses among which the student may choose, instead of using expressions like "other relevant courses". The student can always request to complete courses outside of the study module structure, but they should not be included in the degree requirements.

Another option is to create in the study module a subheading for "other applicable courses", which needs separate approval and can be activated only when necessary. In this case, not every student needs to have the selections made in the study module approved, but only those students who have chosen studies that are not included in the module course list.

Example:

1. Describe the requirements as follows: "Choose a total of 10 credits from these courses" and list all the courses that can be included in this study module.
2. Avoid this: "Choose a total of 10 credits from the other studies in the programme x"; no list given of exactly which courses are included in the studies of programme X.

The effect of timeline templates on the structure

When planning the structure of your studies, also consider the timing of studies. See instructions for model timetables on the page Curriculum information about programmes and study modules. Think about how the courses are arranged in periods and years of study. You can also think about the order in which you present the courses in lists (prerequisites first; alphabetical order; other ordering type).

Compulsory studies in the minor elsewhere in the degree

If the minor includes courses that are known to be included in other study modules (e.g. compulsory studies in a major subject at another school), it is a good idea to mention this in the curriculum, for example, as follows: "If the compulsory courses of the minor or their equivalent courses are already included elsewhere in your degree, select studies from the list of alternative courses so that the scope of the minor is sufficient." 

If the minor has dependencies like those described above, the person creating the structure of the minor in Sisu should contact Sisu support to create the right kind of structure.