Course design, spring 2026
Apply hereAdmission and how to apply
Additional Requirements
UPED854 Course design
Course description for academic year 2025/2026
- Credits: 5
- Semester of instruction: Spring
- Language of instruction: English
- Semester of assessment: Spring
- Ordinary exam
Assignment
Submission deadline
19.12.2025 at 14:00
You will find more details in Studentweb, including re-sit exams
Part of studyprograms:
Contents and structure
In this course, you will develop a conscious approach to how to design a course so that there is alignmentbetween goal, assessment, learning activities, students' and teachers' prerequisites and framework conditions. To achieve this, you will develop or revise a course plan through the course.
The course plan will be based on theory of course design adapted to HVL's context and will be developed in collaboration with colleagues and students. In this way, the course is intended to contribute to further developing the professional community in various academic environments - primarily at the course level, but later also at the program level. Through such processes, the course facilitates increased motivation and joy in teaching for educators, which in turn supports more learning, meaningfulness and completion for students and for the organization.
The course is, to the extent possible, adapted to the deadlines for approval of study and course plan revisions at HVL to ensure authentic learning and optimal application of the shared knowledge, skills and competence that the participants have developed through the module.
Learning Outcome
After completing the course, participants should be able to:
Knowledge
The student can
- Showcase advanced knowledge of principles for designing learning outcome descriptions and how these support holistic learning.
- Demonstrate in-depth insight into the HVL model for learning design and communicate its importance for alignment in course design.
- Identify relevant regulations and guidelines that regulate course design in higher education.
Skills
The student can
- Critically evaluate and formulate learning outcome descriptions based on recommended literature.
- Develop or revise courses that meet the requirements of the HVL model for learning design and relevant regulations, in collaboration with academic communities and students, and with a focus on quality and alignment.
General competence
The student can
- Exhibit a reflective and professional approach to course design and revision, with particular emphasis on quality assurance and continuous improvement.
- Actively contribute to strengthening the professional community in the academic environment through sharing knowledge and collaboration on course design.
- Promote co-creation with students and external stakeholders to ensure relevance and quality in the course offerings.
Entry requirements
None
Recommended previous knowledge
Completed UPED851, Introductory Course in University Pedagogy
Teaching methods
- Three physical seminars.
- Presentations at each seminar.
- Pre-work, intermediate work, and post-work.
Mandatory learning activities
The following two mandatory learning activities must be approved in order for the student to be able to sit for the exam:
- Plan and conduct two course design/revision sessions in your own professional environment and with students.
- Prepare and give three presentations, one at each session.
The mandatory learning activities must be approved in order to sit for the exam.
Assessment
Written individual assignment.
The assignment must contain:
- A specific course plan
- A reflection text of a maximum of 3000 words, in which the candidate describes the process of designingtheir own course design in light of the context and relevant professional literature. The text should also include a short metatext (self-assessment) in which the candidate reflects on whether their own learning outcomes and reflective text meet the assessment criteria for the course
Grade scale: pass/fail.
If the assignment is not passed, it is possible to submit an improved version in the following semester.
Examination support material
All
Admission to HVL
Course description for academic year 2025/2026
- Credits: 5
- Semester of instruction: Spring
- Language of instruction: English
- Semester of assessment: Spring
- Ordinary exam
Assignment
Submission deadline
19.12.2025 at 14:00
You will find more details in Studentweb, including re-sit exams
Part of studyprograms:
Contents and structure
In this course, you will develop a conscious approach to how to design a course so that there is alignmentbetween goal, assessment, learning activities, students' and teachers' prerequisites and framework conditions. To achieve this, you will develop or revise a course plan through the course.
The course plan will be based on theory of course design adapted to HVL's context and will be developed in collaboration with colleagues and students. In this way, the course is intended to contribute to further developing the professional community in various academic environments - primarily at the course level, but later also at the program level. Through such processes, the course facilitates increased motivation and joy in teaching for educators, which in turn supports more learning, meaningfulness and completion for students and for the organization.
The course is, to the extent possible, adapted to the deadlines for approval of study and course plan revisions at HVL to ensure authentic learning and optimal application of the shared knowledge, skills and competence that the participants have developed through the module.
Learning Outcome
After completing the course, participants should be able to:
Knowledge
The student can
- Showcase advanced knowledge of principles for designing learning outcome descriptions and how these support holistic learning.
- Demonstrate in-depth insight into the HVL model for learning design and communicate its importance for alignment in course design.
- Identify relevant regulations and guidelines that regulate course design in higher education.
Skills
The student can
- Critically evaluate and formulate learning outcome descriptions based on recommended literature.
- Develop or revise courses that meet the requirements of the HVL model for learning design and relevant regulations, in collaboration with academic communities and students, and with a focus on quality and alignment.
General competence
The student can
- Exhibit a reflective and professional approach to course design and revision, with particular emphasis on quality assurance and continuous improvement.
- Actively contribute to strengthening the professional community in the academic environment through sharing knowledge and collaboration on course design.
- Promote co-creation with students and external stakeholders to ensure relevance and quality in the course offerings.
Dates for the sessions, spring 2026:
First session: Thursday 22. 01.2026
Second session: Thursday 12.03.2026
Third session: Thursday 30.04.2026
Entry requirements
None
Recommended previous knowledge
Completed UPED851, Introductory Course in University Pedagogy
Teaching methods
- Three physical seminars.
- Presentations at each seminar.
- Pre-work, intermediate work, and post-work.
Mandatory learning activities
The following two mandatory learning activities must be approved in order for the student to be able to sit for the exam:
- Plan and conduct two course design/revision sessions in your own professional environment and with students.
- Prepare and give three presentations, one at each session.
The mandatory learning activities must be approved in order to sit for the exam.
Assessment
Written individual assignment.
The assignment must contain:
- A specific course plan
- A reflection text of a maximum of 3000 words, in which the candidate describes the process of designingtheir own course design in light of the context and relevant professional literature. The text should also include a short metatext (self-assessment) in which the candidate reflects on whether their own learning outcomes and reflective text meet the assessment criteria for the course
Grade scale: pass/fail.
If the assignment is not passed, it is possible to submit an improved version in the following semester.
Examination support material
All