Academic Programs Guide

Process Type: Initiate Pathway

Approval Requirement(s): CAP Undergrad Council approval

Associate Degree Pathways are defined sets of lower-division courses related to a specific curricular area (e.g., Anthropology pathway in the Associate of Arts degree, Business Administration pathway in the Associate of Science degree). Pathways include required or recommended core IMPACTS areas and the field of study area. Although pathways define particular avenues for attaining an associate degree, they do not constitute discrete academic programs and are not normally subject to review outside the scope of the annual core curriculum learning outcomes assessment process. Pathways that include a substantial number of courses that are not part of the core curriculum, however, are subject to additional assessment measures.

Related Bachelors Programs: As many associate degree pathways provide the foundation for pursuit of a related bachelors program (e.g., English AA pathway and English BA; Biology AS pathway and Biology BS), a proposal for a new pathway must also include review of any related bachelors programs. Although they are not required to be identical, the associate-level pathway must map onto the bachelors program in a manner that eliminates the need for students transitioning from Perimeter College to the Atlanta campus to take additional field of study courses or carry forward courses that do not count toward the bachelors program.

Proposal Format

Proposals should include the information below, as well as any items required by the originating department or college.

• Perimeter College contact names and email/phone numbers for associate pathway
• Department and college for each related bachelors program, with contact names and email/phone numbers
• Date of submission
• Implementation term
• Pathway overview and general rationale for establishment of pathway
• Complete curriculum (i.e., catalog copy) for both associate pathway and any related bachelors program. This should include for each any recommendations for core curriculum pathways required or recommended core impact areas or the field of study and any additional curricular or admissions requirements relating to the pathway or bachelors program.
• Evidence of the need for and interest in the pathway, including projected enrollments.
• Anticipated impact on other pathways/programs within the offering department, the college, or the university. What effect is expected on enrollment in related bachelors programs? What is the expected impact on student progress?
• Additional resource requirements, if any, and budget implications (e.g., personnel costs, library acquisitions, computing/equipment costs, facilities and other operating costs, graduate student support). Intended method of funding additional costs if any.
• Administration of the pathway. In particular, provide information about how faculty and administrators worked together across colleges on the development of the proposal and how they plan to work collaboratively to maintain and enhance of the pathway and related programs in the future.
• Advisement process and resources for students in the pathway, particularly as they relate to helping students transition successfully from the associate pathway to related bachelors programs.
• Offices, departments, committees, and individuals consulted during the development of the proposal.
• Approval path for the proposal, noting all formal department- or college-level votes.

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating academic department affiliated with the pathway. Additionally, if the new pathway has any related bachelors programs, then the proposal must also be approved by the academic unit(s) affiliated with the related program(s). Approval by departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the proposal.
2. Proposals for new pathways require the approval of the dean of Perimeter College and the dean of any related bachelors program. Each dean may elect to require that the proposal first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval by at this stage, including any formal votes, should be noted as specified in the proposal.
3. The dean or designee should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs, the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA), and the university curriculum proposal management system ([email protected]).  
4. The APAA may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, necessary (e.g., registrar, Associate Provost for International Affairs). These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the General Education Council (depending on the level of the program being considered).
5. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a final decision on the proposal.
6. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP, copying the dean of the colleges submitting the proposal. 
7. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the new pathway. If the provost’s recommendation is positive, the new pathway can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the associate catalog and other curricular systems). The APAA will notify the deans of the submitting colleges and the chair of CAP of these final results. 

Process Type: Annual review of related/shared curriculum

Approval Requirement(s): CAP Undergrad Council review

Related Associate-Bachelors Curriculum Review

Each year in late fall, the Undergraduate Council subcommittee of the Committee on Academic Programs undertakes a review of all substantive revisions to courses and catalog copy for related associates pathways and bachelors programs. The chair of CAP will prompt colleges in early fall to submit curriculum revision reports by the indicated deadline.

Curricular changes requiring this level of review are as follows:

• Changes to recommendations and/or requirements for core curriculum IMPACTS areas for either the associate pathway or any related bachelors program.
• Changes to requirements or electives of the field of study for either the associate pathway or any related bachelors program.
• New lower-division courses with the potential to be taught for both associate and bachelors students (“shared courses”).
• Changes to the title, prerequisites, description, or hours of shared lower-division courses.

Although not required to be identical, the associate-level pathway must map onto the bachelors program in a manner that eliminates the need for students transitioning from Perimeter College to the Atlanta campus to take additional field of study courses or carry forward courses that do not count toward the bachelors program.

Please note, the proposal of new associate pathways is a related, but separate process. Similarly, the proposal of new core curriculum courses includes additional review requirements.

Associate-Bachelors Curriculum Revision Report Format

Each college that shares courses with Perimeter College (PC) and has bachelors programs related to associates pathways should work collaboratively with the PC Dean’s Office to prepare and submit the curriculum revision report as needed for its disciplinary areas using the format below.

• Atlanta campus college contact(s) with name(s) and email/phone number(s)
• Perimeter College (PC) contact with name and email/phone numbers
• Date of submission
• Implementation term

For the prompts below, pathway/program and course updates should be grouped together by disciplinary area as best possible (e.g., revisions to Biology AS/BS grouped with revisions to BIOL courses).

Pathway/Program Updates:

• Pathway curriculum: full catalog copy with core IMPACTS areas recommendations/requirements and field of study requirements/electives.
• Bachelors program curriculum: full catalog copy for the related bachelors program (Core IMPACTS areas recommendations/requirements, field of study, major area, and beyond).

Course Updates:

• New courses: with title, prerequisites, description, hours, PC department teaching course, Atlanta departments teaching course
• Revised courses: Current and proposed title, prerequisites, description, hours; PC department teaching course, Atlanta departments teaching course. Courses to be dropped should be included in this section.

For each set of revisions based on disciplinary area, please address the following:

• Indicate the general process for consulting across departments and colleges on curricular updates, as well as specific efforts related to individual changes (e.g., data review, external consultation). Note any formal approval processes (i.e., department or college curriculum review).
• Anticipated impact of the curriculum updates on pathways/programs within the offering departments, colleges, or the university. Expected impact on student progress.
• Additional resource requirements, if any, and budget implications (e.g., personnel costs, library acquisitions, computing/equipment costs, facilities and other operating costs, graduate student support). Intended method of funding additional costs if any.

Review Process

The review process for associates-bachelors curriculum revision reports consists of the steps below.

1. Reports should document curricular revisions that have been reviewed and approved by PC and the college with related bachelors programs and/or shared courses in keeping with the existing curriculum review processes of each college.
2. Reports require the approval of the dean of Perimeter College and the dean of any related bachelors program/course.
3. The deans should send finalized reports to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs (CAP) by October 31 for implementations beginning the following fall. Within CAP, the report will be reviewed by the Undergraduate Council subcommittee in late fall. The subcommittee chair will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of the report to committee members. The APAA may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences.
4. The subcommittee is charged with ensuring that all appropriate consultation and collaboration has occurred as part of the curriculum revision process. The subcommittee may elect to invite the submitting colleges to attend a meeting at which the report is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a final decision on the report, and will provide the results of the review as an information item at the next full CAP meeting.
5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP, copying the dean of the colleges submitting the report. The colleges may implement approved changes for the indicated term following this notification.

Process Type: Initiate Program

Approval Requirement(s): University System Office (SO) notification (with CIP code) for all certificates

Certificate: University System of Georgia institutions offer a variety of certificate programs. Many of these certificates are not associated with degrees, but are a prescribed program of study at the post secondary educational level. (Academic Affairs Handbook 2.3.8)

Proposal Format

Proposals should include the information below, as well as any items required by the originating department or college.

• Department / College / Institution
• Contact name and email/phone
• Date of submission
• Implementation term
• Certificate program title
• CIP code
• Certificate acronym (i.e., CERO: undergraduate certificate of less than 30 hours; CER1: undergraduate certificate greater than 30 hours; CERG: post-bachelor’s/graduate certificate; CERM: post-master’s certificate; CERP: post-first professional certificate).
• Certificate Type (Please see USG guidelines):
  • Embedded (open only to students enrolled in degree program) or
  • Stand-Alone (application based certificate that exists outside of a degree program)
• Modality: ON CAMPUS – A program of study leading to a degree completed with 50% or more of courses offered consistently on-site in a classroom setting at a campus, center or instructional site. (This definition is consistent with SACSCOC requirements concerning notification of changes in delivery mode). 
• Hybrid: A program of study leading to a degree completed with more than 50% offered consistently online, but some courses in the program will require on-site attendance at a campus, center or instructional site.
• Online: A program of study which can be completed entirely at a distance. No campus visits are required for coursework. Students may be required to attend program orientations or to complete coursework in a specified instructional setting (clinical, internship, practicum)
  • ON CAMPUS OR HYBRID
  • ON CAMPUS OR ONLINE
  • HYBRID OR ONLINE
  • ON CAMPUS OR HYBRID OR ONLINE
• Program description and objectives
• Complete program curriculum (i.e., catalog copy)
• Number of credit hours of core curriculum courses (if applicable) and total credit hours for certificate completion.
• Evidence that the program was designed to meet local market needs; or, for online programs, that the program was designed to meet regional or national market needs. Include projected enrollments.
• Role played in the development of the proposed program by external advisory groups or prospective employers of program graduates.
• Anticipated impact on other programs within the offering department, the college, or the university.
• Additional resource requirements, if any, and budget implications (e.g., personnel costs, library acquisitions, computing/equipment costs, facilities and other operating costs, graduate student support). Intended method of funding additional costs if any.
• Administration of the program.
• Process for admitting students to the program.
• Advisement process and resources for students in the program.
• Measures that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the program, including:
  • Student learning outcomes and other program outcomes (e.g., job placements, examination pass rates, etc.)
  • Plans for assessing these outcomes
• Offices, departments, committees, and individuals consulted during the development of the proposal.
• Approval path for program proposal, noting all formal department- or college-level votes.

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating academic department. Approval by the departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
2. Proposals require the approval of the dean of the college responsible for the administration of the new program. Individual colleges may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
3. The dean or designee should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs, the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA), and the university curriculum proposal management system ([email protected]).  
4. The APAA will disseminate the proposal among university administrators as necessary (e.g., registrar, Graduate School dean, Associate Provost for International Affairs). These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program being considered).  
5. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP.
6. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP. 
7. If any aspect of the proposed program constitutes a substantive change by BOR or SACSCOC standards, the university may be required to submit additional notifications or seek approval from either or both of these bodies. In such cases, the proposing units may be required to provide additional program information. 
8. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the new program. 
9. If the provost’s recommendation is positive, he or she will notify the University System of Georgia (USG) offices of the university’s decision and will forward the program proposal to the USG. Standalone certificates require USG office review and approval. Embedded certificates do not require USG approval or notification.
10. Normally, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after USG approval notification. (The APAA will send a copy of the official University System notification to the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP upon receipt.)

Program Policies & Resources

USG Certificate Guidelines

Gainful Employment Guidelines: Information about initial and ongoing requirements for certificate programs, particularly those in disciplines without existing university degree programs.

From BOR Academic Affairs Handbook: Standalone certificates require University System Office (USO) review and approval. Institutions must submit requests to create, modify, deactivate, or terminate standalone certificates via SharePoint.  The review and approval process typically takes up to one month. Once approval, standalone certificates will be added to the list of authorized programs an institution can offer in the DMA. Embedded certificates do not require approval or even notification to the USO; embedded certificates do not appear in the DMA. Changes in a certificate name should also be sent to the USO for approval. Additional information may be found at https://www.usg.edu/academic_programs/academic_affairs_approvals_and_notifications

Process Type: Initiate Program

Approval Requirement(s): University approval (unless substantive change)

Degree Program Concentration: Approved subset of courses within the major focused on a specialized curricular area.

Proposal Format

Proposals should include the information below, as well as any items required by the originating department or college.

• Department / College / Institution
• Contact name and email/phone
• Date of submission
• Implementation term
• Degree / major program
• Concentration title
• Program description and objectives
• Complete program curriculum (i.e., catalog copy)
• Evidence of the need for and interest in this program, including projected enrollments.
• Anticipated impact on other programs within the offering department, the college, or the university.
• Additional resource requirements, if any, and budget implications (e.g., personnel costs, library acquisitions, computing/equipment costs, facilities and other operating costs, graduate student support). Intended method of funding additional costs if any.
• Administration of the program.
• Process for admitting students to the program.
• Advisement process and resources for students in the program.
• Measures that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the program, including:
  • Student learning outcomes and other program outcomes (e.g., job placements, examination pass rates, etc.).
  • Plans for assessing these outcomes.
• Offices, departments, committees, and individuals consulted during the development of the proposal.
• Approval path for program proposal, noting all formal department- or college-level votes.

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating academic department. Approval by the departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
2. Proposals require the approval of the dean of the college responsible for the administration of the new program. Individual colleges may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
3. The dean or designee should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs, the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA), and the university curriculum proposal management system ([email protected]). The APAA will disseminate the proposal among university administrators as necessary (e.g., registrar, Graduate School dean, Associate Provost for International Affairs). These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program being considered).
4. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP.
5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
6. If any aspect of the proposed program constitutes a substantive change by BOR or SACSCOC standards, the university may be required to submit additional notifications or seek approval from either or both of these bodies. In such cases, the proposing units may be required to provide additional program information. 
7. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the proposal (USG approval is not required for this type of proposal except as noted in step 6 above). 
8. Normally, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after final university approval. (The APAA will notify the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP of final university approval.)

Process Type: Add, alter, or remove courses

Approval Requirement(s): Core Impact Areas: Regents Academic Advisory Committee (RAAC) and Council on General Education (CGE) approval; The field of study: RAAC approval

Core Curriculum: The USG core curriculum, Core IMPACTS, is designed to ensure that students acquire essential knowledge in foundational academic areas and develop career-ready competencies. The Core IMPACTS framework establishes common system-wide Learning Outcomes and Career- Ready Competencies for each area, ensuring that courses completed in an area at one institution or through eCore are fully transferable to the same area at any other USG institution.

Proposal Format

Proposals for adding, altering, or removing core courses should be developed using the University System of Georgia form linked below.

• Undergraduate Core Curriculum Proposal Form [NEW FORM 10/04/2023]

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. 1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating academic department(s). Approval by the departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the course proposal.
   2. Proposals require the approval of the dean(s) of the college responsible for the administration of the new course. Individual colleges may elect to require that courses first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the course proposal.
   3. In addition to the USG core curriculum proposal template, the college(s) should prepare the University Criteria for Core Curriculum Courses, linked below.  
   4. The dean or designee should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs, the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA), and the university curriculum proposal management system ([email protected]).
   5. The APAA will disseminate the proposal among university administrators as necessary. The university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by the General Education Council subcommittee. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP.
   6. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP. 
   7. If the provost’s recommendation is positive, the university will submit the proposal to the USG
   8. Core IMPACTS Area changes must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate BOR Academic Advisory Committee and then the Council on General Education.
   9. Normally, after return acknowledgment of approval from the USG, the core curriculum change can be implemented for the requested start term, or the earliest term following approval if the requested implementation term has passed. (The APAA will send a copy of the official University System acknowledgement to the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP upon receipt.)

Additional Resources:

A variety of Council on General Education resources can be found at  https://www.usg.edu/curriculum/core-impacts and https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section3/C338

To see descriptions of and links to all the USG core-related forms, see the Form for Submitting Proposals USG Program Proposal Application. Georgia State University Core curriculum policy: https://gsu.policystat.com/policy/14640683/latest 

Process Type: Add or alter course prefix

Approval Requirement(s): University-level approval

Course Prefix: The three- or four-letter abbreviation for a course subject.

Proposal Format

Proposals should include the information below, as well as any items required by the originating department or college.

• Department / College / Institution
• Contact name and email/phone
• Date of submission
• Implementation term
• Proposed new prefix (indicate current prefix being revised if applicable)
• Course subject
• CIP Code for academic discipline
• Rationale
• Impact on other units
• Offices, departments, committees, and individuals consulted during the development of the proposal.
• Approval path for program proposal, noting all formal department- or college-level votes.

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating academic department. Approval by the departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
2. Proposals require the approval of the dean of the college responsible for the administration of the new program. Individual colleges may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal submitted at [email protected] CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program being considered)
3. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP. At a meeting to which the proposing parties will be invited, CAP will deliberate and vote on the proposal. At both the subcommittee and full committee levels, requests may be made to the proposing parties for changes to be made to the proposal.
4. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
5. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the proposal (USG approval is not required for this type of proposal).
6. Normally, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after final university approval. (The APAA will notify the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP of final university approval.)

Process Type: Deactivate or terminate all program types or offerings

Approval Requirement(s): SO notification for deactivation. BOR approval for termination of degree/major programs.

Deactivation of a Program: A deactivated program will not admit any new students. The program will not be listed in the college bulletin. The program, although listed on the Degrees and Majors inventory, will be identified as deactivated.

Termination of a Program: After a program has been deactivated for a period up to two years, it can be formally terminated. Terminated programs may not be reactivated without going through the defined process for approving a new academic program. Although not required, programs that have had no enrollment for several years may be terminated without the interim step of deactivation.

The process and proposal format listed below are for deactivation/termination requests initiated by the offering unit. The Senate has approved a separate policy for deactivation that is not initiated by the department or unit offering the program.

The process and proposal format applies to both full degree programs as well as to other academic program types (i.e., concentrations, certificates, minors), although not all proposals will require USG approval (see guides for the specific academic program type for additional approval information).

Proposal Format

Proposals should include the information below, as well as any items required by the originating department or college.

• Type of proposal (deactivation or termination)
• Department / College / Institution
• Contact name and email/phone
• Date of submission
• Implementation term
• Program title
• CIP code
• Rationale for change
• Program curriculum (e.g., catalog copy) program to be deactivated/terminated and any resulting changes to related programs (e.g., revised full degree program after a concentration is excised).
•  Enrollment Trends over the last 5 years
• Teach-out Plan
• Anticipated impact on other programs within the offering department, the college, or the university.
• Offices, departments, committees, and individuals consulted during the development of the proposal.
• Approval path for program proposal, noting all formal department- or college-level votes.

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. 1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating academic department. Approval by the departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
   2. Proposals require the approval of the dean of the college responsible for the administration of the new program. Individual colleges may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
   3. The dean should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program being considered). The subcommittee chairs will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The Associate Provost for International Affairs should be included if the proposal involves collaboration with an international partner institution. The Graduate College dean should be included if the proposal involves graduate programs. These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review.
   4. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP. At a meeting to which the proposing parties will be invited, CAP will deliberate and vote on the proposal. At both the subcommittee and full committee levels, requests may be made to the proposing parties for changes to be made to the proposal.
   5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
   6. If any aspect of the proposed program constitutes a substantive change by BOR or SACSCOC standards, the university may be required to submit additional notifications or seek approval from either or both of these bodies. In such cases, the proposing units may be required to provide additional program information.
   7. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the new program.
   8. If the provost’s recommendation is positive, he or she will notify the University System of Georgia (USG) offices of the university’s decision and will forward the program proposal to the USG for reference.
   9. Normally, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after return acknowledgment of the university-level approval from the USG. (The APAA will send a copy of the official University System acknowledgement to the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP upon receipt.)

Process Type: Initiate face-to-face or distance education degree/major

Approval Requirement(s): Board of Regents (BOR) approval

Degree/Major Program: A degree program and major consists of a specified set of courses focused on a designated disciplinary or interdisciplinary area. Georgia State offers associates, bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees.

Proposal Format

The review of new degree/major program proposals at the university and system levels requires the development of two documents: 1) a preliminary proposal (optional) and 2) the full proposal.

• New Academic Program Proposal Form: Units use the New Academic Program Proposal Application, Proposal Budget Form, and Budget Instructions Forms to formally propose a new degree program.
• Two-step Proposal Option: Units that prefer to submit a new academic program proposal in two stages are required to answer questions #1 through #8 of the New Academic Program Proposal Form linked above. This half-step will be shared with all system institutions and an affiliated system academic committee similar to practices that occur with a full, one-step proposal. This path enables units to seek general college, university, and USG input with regard to potential degrees. A positive response to the preliminary review does not guarantee institutional or BOR approval of the full proposal.

Approval Process

The approval process for preliminary or full proposals consists of the steps below.

1. 1. Materials should be considered and approved by the originating academic department. Approval by the departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the documents.
   2. Preliminary and full program proposals require the approval of the dean of the college responsible for the administration of the new program. Individual colleges may elect to require that program documents first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program documents.
   3. The dean should send approved materials to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program being considered). The subcommittee chairs will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The Associate Provost for International Affairs should be included if the proposal involves collaboration with an international partner institution. The Graduate College dean should be included if the proposal involves graduate programs. These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review.
   4. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the preliminary/full proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP. At a meeting to which the proposing parties will be invited, CAP will deliberate and vote on the Concept Paper or proposal. At both the subcommittee and full committee levels, requests may be made to the proposing parties for changes to be made to the proposal.
   5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
   6. The Provost, on behalf of the President, will then make the decision on whether to forward the preliminary/full proposal for the new degree program or major to the Board or Regents. If the Provost’s recommendation is positive, the Vice Provost will submit to the USG office (Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Programs) via the designated online process.
   7. Preliminary proposals will be shared with all system institutions and an affiliated system academic committee similar to practices that occur with a full, one-step proposal (see 8 below). After the review has concluded, an institution will be sent notification indicating whether a formal proposal is invited. If this is the case, the college and unit will be notified that they may proceed with the development and submission of the full proposal.
   8. Upon receipt at the System Office, a new program proposal will be posted on the web for information and institutional feedback. The system office review is based on the criteria for evaluation. The Office of Academic Programs will also consult the appropriate Regents Advisory Committee (disciplinary committee) for additional review of the curriculum. The program review staff will make a recommendation regarding acceptance of the proposal to the University System Chief Academic Officer and Executive Vice Chancellor.
   9. As part of the process for reviewing proposals, the Office of Academic Programs will disseminate to all University System of Georgia institutions, on a regular basis, a list of program proposals under consideration, and will invite interested parties to request a copy of proposals for review and comment. Information received through this process will be considered in evaluating proposed programs.
   10. If accepted for consideration following system office and system-wide review, the proposal will be submitted to the Board of Regents for a formal vote. The university will receive written acknowledgement of the results of the board vote.
   11. Normally, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after return acknowledgment of BOR approval from the USG. (The APAA will send a copy of the official University System acknowledgement to the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP upon receipt.)
   12. Proposing parties should be aware that the USG/BOR may request additional information from the proposers during the review process and, at times, request that the proposers appear before the Board of Regents to answer questions. Proposing parties also should be aware that this entire approval process can take over a year.

Program Policies & Resources

Occupational Projections and Report Resources

Process Type: Offer 50% + of program via distance education means

Approval Requirement(s): SO notification

Distance Education: Distance education is defined as a formal educational process in which the majority of the instruction occurs when student and instructor are not in the same place and the instruction is delivered using technology. (Academic Programs handbook 2.3.7.b.)

Proposal Format

Proposals for the delivery of 50% or more of existing programs via distance education approaches should be developed using the University System of Georgia form linked below. (For institutions’ initial use of distance learning, the BOR requires a separate approval process, which Georgia State has already completed successfully.)

• External Degree Offering of Second and Subsequent Programs via Distance Learning

Please note, if alterations to the existing program constitute a substantive change by SACSCOC definitions, the proposal will require approval from the BOR Academic Affairs Committee.

See new Degree Program process page for the guide to proposing new degree/major programs delivered primarily through distance education.

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating academic department. Approval by the departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
2. Proposals require the approval of the dean of the college responsible for the administration of the new program. Individual colleges may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
3. The dean should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program being considered). The subcommittee chairs will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The Associate Provost for International Affairs should be included if the proposal involves collaboration with an international partner institution. The Graduate College dean should be included if the proposal involves graduate programs. These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review.
4. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP. At a meeting to which the proposing parties will be invited, CAP will deliberate and vote on the proposal. At both the subcommittee and full committee levels, requests may be made to the proposing parties for changes to be made to the proposal.
5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
6. If the provost’s recommendation is positive, he or she will notify the University System of Georgia (USG) offices of the university’s decision and will forward the program proposal to the USG for reference.
7. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the new program.
8. Normally, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after return acknowledgment of the university-level approval from the USG. (The APAA will send a copy of the official University System acknowledgement to the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP upon receipt.)

Program Policies & Resources

• BOR Academic Affairs Handbook: 2.3.7 External Degrees: Off-Campus & Online Instructional Delivery
• SACSCOC: Distance and Correspondence Education Guidelines
• SACSCOC: Review of Distance Learning during Reaffirmation

Process Type: Initiate program

Approval Requirement(s): SO notification two weeks prior to implementation; a copy of the documentation required by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is submitted to SO.

Dual Degree Program: Dual degree programs include separate, but affiliated degree programs that are linked through shared curricular offerings and collaborative administrative processes. Dual degrees may be awarded concurrently or one degree may be awarded prior to the second. A dual degree program should be differentiated from a joint degree.

Proposal Format

Proposals should include the BOR cover form and the dual degree program agreement between GSU and the other institution.

• BOR cover form for dual degree offered between GSU and another institution

The full extent of the collaboration between the partner units and institutions should be clearly articulated in a program agreement, which should include responses to the prompts below, as well and any information required by the originating institutions. The program agreement must also address SACSCOC accreditation compliance requirements detailed in the Collaborative Academic Agreements Policies and Procedures.

• Degree and major (and relevant concentrations if applicable) for both programs linked through the dual degree program
• Collaborating departments, colleges, and institutions (listed with their respective program). Include the location of the partner institution.
• Lead faculty member for each program, with department, email address, and phone number.
• Date of submission
• Implementation term
• Program description and objectives
• Complete program curriculum (i.e., catalog copy)
• Program timeline and sample program of study that might be followed by a representative student.
• Provisions in case a student is not able meet program milestones.
• Provisions in case a student wishes to end participation in the dual program and complete work on only one degree.
• Location(s) of program. Indicate percentage of credit hours that will be earned through instruction by GSU.
• Describe methods of assessing and monitoring courses and components completed through instruction by partner institutions, including the qualifications of the personnel with these responsibilities.
• Evidence of the need for and interest in this program, including projected enrollments.
• Anticipated impact on other programs within the offering department, the college, or the university.
• Additional resource requirements, if any, and budget implications (e.g., personnel costs, library acquisitions, computing/equipment costs, facilities and other operating costs, graduate student support). Intended method of funding additional costs if any.
• Administration of the program.
• Process for admitting students to the program.
• Process for formally identifying dual program students (i.e., assigning program attribute in Banner system).
• Process for enabling students to take graduate coursework (for undergrad/grad programs).
• Process for formally admitting students into the graduate program (for undergrad/grad programs).
• Advisement process and resources for students in the program.
• Strategies for ensuring adequate communication among the collaborating units.
• Methods that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the program, including:
  • Student learning outcomes and other program outcomes (e.g., job placements, examination pass rates, etc.).
  • Plans for assessing these outcomes.
• Offices, departments, committees, and individuals consulted during the development of the proposal.
• Approval path for program proposal, noting all formal department- or college-level votes.

Approval Process

1. 1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating GSU department, as well as by the collaborating unit at the partner institution. Approval by the institutions at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
   2. Proposals require the approval of the dean of the GSU college that would be responsible for the administration of the new program, as well as of the appropriate official from the partner institution. The college may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval by at this stage, including any formal votes, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
   3. The dean should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program being considered). The subcommittee chairs will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The Associate Provost for International Affairs should be included if the proposal involves collaboration with an international partner institution. The Graduate College dean should be included if the proposal involves graduate programs. These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review.
   4. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP. At a meeting to which the proposing parties will be invited, CAP will deliberate and vote on the proposal. At both the subcommittee and full committee levels, requests may be made to the proposing parties for changes to be made to the proposal.
   5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
   6. If any aspect of the proposed program constitutes a substantive change by BOR or SACSCOC standards, the university may be required to submit additional notifications or seek approval from either or both of these bodies. In such cases, the proposing units may be required to provide additional program information.
   7. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the new program.
   8. If the provost’s recommendation is positive, he or she will notify the University System of Georgia (USG) offices of the university’s decision and will forward the program proposal to the USG for reference.
   9. Normally, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after final university approval. (The APAA will send a copy of the official University System acknowledgement to the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP upon receipt.)

Program Policies & Resources

Overview:

Dual degree programs provide a range of benefits to the institution and to participating students, including

• enhancing the educational and research opportunities within the university’s undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs;
• attracting high-achieving and highly motivated students to the university;
• providing students with complementary preparation for a variety of career opportunities;
• enabling accelerated completion of multiple degrees, saving students time and money; and
• facilitating programmatic interaction across departments and colleges.

Program Types:

Dual programs take two general forms:

• Dual undergraduate/graduate programs (commonly called 4+1, 3+2, or accelerated programs) enable admitted undergraduate students to begin taking specified graduate courses during their senior year and count the coursework toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree. Current examples include the BS Physics/MAT-Science Education and BA/JD.
• Dual graduate programs enable admitted students to use specified coursework from one graduate or professional degree program to also count toward another program. Current examples include the MBA/JD, MA-Political Science/MIB).

Students in dual programs are enrolled in each degree program either concurrently or in close succession. Dual degrees may, therefore, be awarded at the same time, or one degree may be awarded prior to the second.

Admissions Processes:

Admission processes for dual programs are developed by the collaborating units in keeping with the following university parameters:

• On admission to a dual program, students must be identified in the Banner system using a specific program attribute, which can only be applied by authorized college personnel.
• Undergraduate students in dual undergraduate/graduate programs must be granted access by authorized college personnel to register for graduate coursework at a specified program milestone; and
• Students in dual undergraduate/graduate programs must complete their undergraduate degree before being formally admitted to the affiliated graduate program.

Program Level Requirements & Student Financial Factors:

University rules regarding the student’s program level and the implications for tuition and fees vary based on the type of dual program. General parameters are as follows:

• Undergraduate students in dual undergraduate/graduate programs pay tuition at the undergraduate rate regardless of the course level. Undergraduate financial aid (e.g., HOPE, Pell, SEOG) can be used toward specified graduate-level courses under these circumstances.
• Graduate students in dual undergraduate/graduate programs pay tuition at the graduate or professional rate regardless of the course level. They are eligible for other sources of financial aid, including graduate assistantships and tuition waivers.
• Students in dual graduate programs may be enrolled concurrently in two graduate or professional programs. In such cases, if the rate of tuition and fees for one program exceeds that of the other, the rates for all coursework will be set at the higher amount.

Grade-Point Average:

The university calculates a variety of official grade-point averages, several of which are relevant to tracking the progress of dual degree students.

• Undergraduate Institutional GPA: includes all course work taken at Georgia State while an undergraduate, regardless of the course level. In other words, graduate-level course work taken as an undergraduate will be included in the Undergraduate Institutional GPA and not the Graduate Institutional GPA. Transferred courses are not included in this GPA calculation.
• Graduate Institutional GPA: includes all graduate-level course work taken at Georgia State while a graduate student. Therefore, graduate-level course work taken as an undergraduate would not be included in the Graduate Institutional GPA. Transferred courses are not included in this GPA calculation.
• Program GPA: includes all course work that fulfills the requirements of a specific degree program (as recorded in the university academic evaluation system), whether taken as an undergraduate or graduate student. In other words, the Program GPA would provide a measure of achievement in either of the two degree programs that make up a dual program. Repeated attempts and other coursework taken but not applicable to the degree program are not included in this GPA calculation. The Program GPA does not appear on the student’s transcript.

See Also:

Academic Affairs Handbook 2.3.9

Process Type: Initiate program

Approval Requirement(s): SO notification two weeks prior to implementation

Dual Degree Program: Dual degree programs include separate, but affiliated degree programs that are linked through shared curricular offerings and collaborative administrative processes. Dual degrees may be awarded concurrently or one degree may be awarded prior to the second. A dual degree program should be differentiated from a joint degree.

Proposal Format

Proposals should include the BOR cover form, along with responses to the prompts below, and any items required by the originating departments or colleges.

• BOR cover form for dual degree offered within GSU

The responses to the prompts below constitute the agreement between the collaborating departments and colleges for the administration of the dual program.

• Degree and major (and relevant concentrations if applicable) for both programs linked through the dual degree program
• Collaborating departments and colleges (listed with their respective program)
• Lead faculty member for each program, with email address and phone number
• Date of submission
• Implementation term
• Program description and objectives
• Complete program curriculum (i.e., catalog copy)
• Program timeline and sample program of study that might be followed by a representative student.
• Provisions in case a student is not able meet program milestones.
• Provisions in case a student wishes to end participation in the dual program and complete work on only one degree.
• Evidence of the need for and interest in this program, including projected enrollments.
• Anticipated impact on other programs within the offering department, the college, or the university.
• Additional resource requirements, if any, and budget implications (e.g., personnel costs, library acquisitions, computing/equipment costs, facilities and other operating costs, graduate student support). Intended method of funding additional costs if any.
• Administration of the program.
• Process for admitting students to the program.
• Process for formally identifying dual program students (i.e., assigning program attribute in Banner system).
• Process for enabling students to take graduate coursework (for undergrad/grad programs).
• Process for formally admitting students into the graduate program (for undergrad/grad programs).
• Advisement process and resources for students in the program.
• Strategies for ensuring adequate communication among the collaborating units.
• Methods that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the program, including:
  • Student learning outcomes and other program outcomes (e.g., job placements, examination pass rates, etc.).
  • Plans for assessing these outcomes.
• Offices, departments, committees, and individuals consulted during the development of the proposal.
• Approval path for program proposal, noting all formal department- or college-level votes.

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. 1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating academic department(s). Approval by the department(s) at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
   2. Proposals require the approval of the dean(s) of the college(s) that would be responsible for the administration of the new program. The college(s) may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval by at this stage, including any formal votes, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
   3. The dean(s) should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program(s) being considered). An ad hoc subcommittee with membership from both Graduate and Undergraduate councils will review proposals for dual degrees involving an undergraduate and a graduate degree program. The subcommittee chairs will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The Associate Provost for International Affairs should be included if the proposal involves collaboration with an international partner institution. The Graduate College dean should be included if the proposal involves graduate programs. These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review.
   4. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee then will make a recommendation to CAP. At a meeting to which the proposing parties will be invited, CAP will deliberate and vote on the proposal. At both the subcommittee and full committee levels, requests may be made to the proposing parties that changes be made in the proposal.
   5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
   6. If any aspect of the proposed program constitutes a substantive change by BOR or SACSCOC standards, the university may be required to submit additional notifications or seek approval from either or both of these bodies. In such cases, the proposing units may be required to provide additional program information.
   7. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the new program.
   8. If the provost’s recommendation is positive, he or she will notify the University System of Georgia (USG) offices of the university’s decision and will forward the program proposal to the USG for reference.
   9. Normally, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after return acknowledgment of the university-level approval from the USG. (The APAA will send a copy of the official University System acknowledgement to the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP upon receipt.)

Program Policies & Resources

Overview:

Dual degree programs provide a range of benefits to the institution and to participating students, including

• enhancing the educational and research opportunities within the university’s undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs;
• attracting high-achieving and highly motivated students to the university;
• providing students with complementary preparation for a variety of career opportunities;
• enabling accelerated completion of multiple degrees, saving students time and money; and
• facilitating programmatic interaction across departments and colleges.

Program Types:

Dual programs take two general forms:

• Dual undergraduate/graduate programs (commonly called 4+1, 3+2, or accelerated programs) enable admitted undergraduate students to begin taking specified graduate courses during their senior year and count the coursework toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree. Current examples include the BS Physics/MAT-Science Education and BA/JD.
• Dual graduate programs enable admitted students to use specified coursework from one graduate or professional degree program to also count toward another program. Current examples include the MBA/JD, MA-Political Science/MIB).

Students in dual programs are enrolled in each degree program either concurrently or in close succession. Dual degrees may, therefore, be awarded at the same time, or one degree may be awarded prior to the second.

Admissions Processes:

Admission processes for dual programs are developed by the collaborating units in keeping with the following university parameters:

• On admission to a dual program, students must be identified in the Banner system using a specific program attribute, which can only be applied by authorized college personnel.
• Undergraduate students in dual undergraduate/graduate programs must be granted access by authorized college personnel to register for graduate coursework at a specified program milestone; and
• Students in dual undergraduate/graduate programs must complete their undergraduate degree before being formally admitted to the affiliated graduate program.

Program Level Requirements & Student Financial Factors:

University rules regarding the student’s program level and the implications for tuition and fees vary based on the type of dual program. General parameters are as follows:

• Undergraduate students in dual undergraduate/graduate programs pay tuition at the undergraduate rate regardless of the course level. Undergraduate financial aid (e.g., HOPE, Pell, SEOG) can be used toward specified graduate-level courses under these circumstances.
• Graduate students in dual undergraduate/graduate programs pay tuition at the graduate or professional rate regardless of the course level. They are eligible for other sources of financial aid, including graduate assistantships and tuition waivers.
• Students in dual graduate programs may be enrolled concurrently in two graduate or professional programs. In such cases, if the rate of tuition and fees for one program exceeds that of the other, the rates for all coursework will be set at the higher amount.

Grade-Point Average:

The university calculates a variety of official grade-point averages, several of which are relevant to tracking the progress of dual degree students.

• Undergraduate Institutional GPA: includes all course work taken at Georgia State while an undergraduate, regardless of the course level. In other words, graduate-level course work taken as an undergraduate will be included in the Undergraduate Institutional GPA and not the Graduate Institutional GPA. Transferred courses are not included in this GPA calculation.
• Graduate Institutional GPA: includes all graduate-level course work taken at Georgia State while a graduate student. Therefore, graduate-level course work taken as an undergraduate would not be included in the Graduate Institutional GPA. Transferred courses are not included in this GPA calculation.
• Program GPA: includes all course work that fulfills the requirements of a specific degree program (as recorded in the university academic evaluation system), whether taken as an undergraduate or graduate student. In other words, the Program GPA would provide a measure of achievement in either of the two degree programs that make up a dual program. Repeated attempts and other coursework taken but not applicable to the degree program are not included in this GPA calculation. The Program GPA does not appear on the student’s transcript.

See Also:

Academic Affairs Handbook 2.3.9

Process Type: Offer 50% + of program at external campus or contracted site

Approval Requirement(s): SO administrative approval

External Instruction: Traditional face-to-face classroom instruction that occurs at a location away from the home premises of the institution. (Academic Affairs Handbook 2.3.7)

Proposal Format

Proposals for the delivery of 50% or more of existing programs at an external campus, center, consortia, or contracted site should be developed using the appropriate University System of Georgia form linked below. (The site for external instruction must also be approved through a (separate process.)

• External Degree Offering of an Approved Program at an Existing Instructional Site
• External Degree Offering of an Approved Program at a Contractual/Time-Limited Location

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating academic department. Approval by the departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
2. Proposals require the approval of the dean of the college responsible for the administration of the new program. Individual colleges may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
3. The dean should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program being considered). The subcommittee chairs will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The Associate Provost for International Affairs should be included if the proposal involves collaboration with an international partner institution. The Graduate College dean should be included if the proposal involves graduate programs. These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review.
4. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP. At a meeting to which the proposing parties will be invited, CAP will deliberate and vote on the proposal. At both the subcommittee and full committee levels, requests may be made to the proposing parties for changes to be made to the proposal.
5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
6. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the new program.
7. If the provost’s recommendation is positive, he or she will notify the University System of Georgia (USG) offices of the university’s decision and will forward the program proposal to the USG for reference.
8. Normally, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after return acknowledgment of the university-level approval from the USG. (The APAA will send a copy of the official University System acknowledgement to the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP upon receipt.)
9. Normally, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after return acknowledgment of the university-level approval from the USG. (A copy of the official University System acknowledgement will be forwarded to the originating college(s) upon receipt by the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success.)

Program Policies & Resources

• BOR Academic Affairs Handbook: 2.3.7 External Degrees: Off-Campus & Online Instructional Delivery

Process Type: Add external site

Approval Requirement(s): University System Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) approval

External Instructional Site: Location away from the home premises of the institution designated for traditional face-to-face classroom instruction. Examples include branch campuses, contracted sites, campuses of partner institutions.

Proposal Format

Proposals for new external instructional sites should be developed using the appropriate University System of Georgia form linked below. (External instructional offerings are approved through a separate process.)

• Form for Branch Campus, Center or Consortium

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating academic department. Approval by the departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
2. Proposals require the approval of the dean of the college responsible for the administration of the new program. Individual colleges may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
3. The dean should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program being considered). The subcommittee chairs will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The Associate Provost for International Affairs should be included if the proposal involves collaboration with an international partner institution. The Graduate College dean should be included if the proposal involves graduate programs. These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review.
4. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP. At a meeting to which the proposing parties will be invited, CAP will deliberate and vote on the proposal. At both the subcommittee and full committee levels, requests may be made to the proposing parties for changes to be made to the proposal.
5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
6. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the new program.
7. If the provost’s recommendation is positive, he or she will notify the University System of Georgia (USG) offices of the university’s decision and will forward the program proposal to the USG for reference.
8. The proposal will be reviewed by the BOR Academic Affairs Committee.
9. If approved by the AAC, the university may use the external site for approved instructional programs. (The APAA will send a copy of the official University System acknowledgement to the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP upon receipt.)

Program Policies & Resources

• BOR Academic Affairs Handbook: 2.3.7 External Degrees: Off-Campus & Online Instructional Delivery

Process Type: Approve courses

Approval Requirement(s): CAP Undergrad Council approval

Global or City Scholar Courses: Students who earn a grade of B or better in five 3000-4000 Global Scholar or City Scholar courses and who have an institutional grade-point average of 3.0 or higher at the time of graduation will be recognized as either Global Scholars or City Scholars, respectively. Courses with the Global Scholars or City Scholars designation are noted in the catalog course description. See sections 1352.30 or 1352.40 or the bachelor-level catalog for additional information.
Normally, colleges would submit Scholars course proposals to CAP in mid- to late fall to ensure that the courses were approved in time to be effective for the following academic year. The chair of CAP will prompt colleges to submit proposals in early fall.

Proposal Format

Proposals should include the information below, as well as any items required by the originating department or college.

• Department / College / Institution
• Contact name and email/phone
• Date of submission
• Implementation term
• Impact on other units
• Offices, departments, committees, and individuals consulted during the development of the proposal.
• Approval path for program proposal, noting all formal department- or college-level votes.
• Attached listing of proposed Global or City Scholars courses, including prefix, number, full title, and catalog description.

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. Each proposed Scholars course should be considered and approved by the originating academic department. Approval by the departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
2. Proposals require the approval of the dean of the college responsible for the administration of the courses. Individual colleges may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the proposal.
3. The dean should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs (CAP) by October 31 for implementation by the following fall. Within CAP, the proposal will be deliberated on by the Undergraduate Council subcommittee. The subcommittee chair will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The APAA may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences.
4. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a final decision on the proposal, and will report the results of the review as an information item at the next full CAP meeting.
5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP, copying the dean of the college submitting the proposal. The college may implement approved changes for the indicated term following this notification.

Process Type: Initiate program

Approval Requirement(s): University approval (unless substantive change)

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) degree concentration provides educational opportunities not available through existing, traditional degree programs. The purpose of the BIS concentration is to offer students an avenue by which they may be prepared academically in instructional areas that reflect cross-collegiate and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The university-level Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program provides concentrations that require curriculum typically offered across multiple colleges while college-level Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies concentrations offer curriculum typically offered across multiple departments/institutes within their college.

Proposal Format

Proposals for university-level BIS concentrations should include the following information:

Cover Page Information:

• Interdisciplinary studies program concentration title
• Sponsoring colleges(s)/department(s)/institute(s)/center(s)/unit(s)
• Collaborating department(s)/institute(s)/center(s)/unit(s)
• Contact name, email and telephone number of primary faculty member responsible for all communication about the BIS concentration
• Contact name, email and telephone number of liaison faculty responsible for BIS concentration proposal in each sponsoring department.
• Date of proposal submission
• Proposed implementation term

Concentration Overview:

• Interdisciplinary Program Concentration Description and Objectives
  • Mission statement
  • Program Goals

Methods that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the program:

• Student learning outcomes and other program outcomes (e.g., job placements, examination pass rates, etc.).
• Plans for assessing these outcomes.

Evidence of Need and Interest in Interdisciplinary Concentration:

• Statement of need and interest in interdisciplinary concentration. Please provide information regarding the number of projected students and basis for projection. Please explain why the interdisciplinary nature of the program is essential to the degree and why the academic preparation for this degree cannot be accomplished within an established academic unit/program

Concentration Administration:

• Program admission requirements
• Complete program curriculum (i.e., catalog copy)
• Please be sure to document all pre-requisites and course sequences required for any course in the curriculum. Also, please provide course availability information for each course in the program curriculum (i.e, for established course – how often has the course been offered and how many sections (and seats) during the past academic year; for new courses not currently offered – which department will be responsible for its development, please project availability during next academic year, how many sections (and seats). Please provide draft syllabus for any new courses required for the concentration.
• Specify how CTW program requirements will be fulfilled
• Please indicate potential student progression issues related to the availability of courses in this program. Please provide a sample 4 year schedule of courses that would allow students to graduate in 4 years from this BIS program, including all core and pre-requisite courses.
• Strategies for ensuring adequate communication among collaborating units
• Proposed administration of the program. Please identify primary academic leader(s) for concentration (faculty member(s) primarily responsible for academic support)
• Proposed advisement process for students in this program
• Additional resource requirements, if any, and budget implications (personnel costs, library acquisitions, computing/equipment costs) and information regarding where resources will be obtained.
• Offices, departments, committees, and individuals consulted during the development of the proposal
• Anticipated impact on other programs, departments or colleges
• Sign off of proposal by sponsoring dean’s/department chairs/directors committing necessary resources, faculty, and course availability to ensure success of interdisciplinary concentration.

Approval Process:

The approval process for university-level BIS concentration proposals consists of the steps below:

1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the sponsoring academic colleges/department(s)/units. Approval by departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
2. Proposals require the approval of the sponsoring dean(s) of the college(s) involved in the inter-disciplinary program offering. Individual colleges may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
3. The dean should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by the Undergraduate Council. The subcommittee chairs will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The Associate Provost for International Affairs should be included if the proposal involves collaboration with an international partner institution. These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review.
4. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP. At a meeting to which the proposing parties will be invited, CAP will deliberate and vote on the proposal. At both the subcommittee and full committee levels, requests may be made to the proposing parties for changes to be made to the proposal.
5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
6. If any aspect of the proposed program constitutes a substantive change by BOR or SACSCOC standards, the university may be required to submit additional notifications or seek approval from either or both of these bodies. In such cases, the proposing units may be required to provide additional program information.
7. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the proposal (USG approval is not required for this type of proposal except as noted in step 6 above).
8. Normally, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after final university approval. (The APAA will notify the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP of final university approval.)

Process Type: Initiate program

Approval Requirement(s): University approval (unless substantive change).

A concentration in the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies (MIS) Program at Georgia State University should contribute to the university goal of providing distinctive graduate education. The specific purpose of the MIS program is to address emerging, interdisciplinary areas of study by offering a limited number of new MIS concentrations at the graduate level, with an emphasis on responding to the evolving workforce needs of the city, state and region. The MIS will not be offered as a generic degree or individualized for individual students. Instead, Georgia State will offer a limited number of specific concentrations within the MIS degree, with each concentration emerging from regional and global industry needs or from one of the university’s major strategic undertakings. In particular, MIS concentrations should target workforce demand by producing job-ready graduates with advanced comprehensive understandings, multidimensional views, and practical skills.

On a practical level, the MIS program will enhance flexibility in graduate programming, test new curricula, and explore new pedagogical models at Georgia State. To meet the interdisciplinary goals of this master’s program, each concentration must be a collaborative effort by more than one department or unit at the university, and the collaborative teams should not already offer an interdisciplinary program together at the graduate level. In most cases, collaborative teams should identify a sponsoring (lead) unit for program administration, along with collaborative unit(s). Each participating entity should be acknowledged by the university for credit hours and administrative efforts contributing to the concentration, e.g. by multiple-counting of credit hours and degrees conferred to each student in an interdisciplinary concentration.

Generally, each concentration should consist of 30-45 credit hours, including an initial proseminar or similar course that helps to unify the disciplines of the program, as well as a capstone project that provides professional readiness or transition into a subsequent program via an internship, practicum, or course-based experience. Ultimately, MIS concentrations deemed successful based on benchmarks proposed by the collaborative teams may lead to establishment of independent programs.

Proposal Format

Proposals for MIS concentrations should include the information requested below.

Cover Page

1. Concentration Title
2. Sponsoring colleges(s)/department(s)/institute(s)/center(s)/unit(s)
3. Collaborating department(s)/institute(s)/center(s)/unit(s)
4. Contact name, email and telephone number of primary faculty member responsible for communication about the MIS concentration
5. Contact name, email and telephone number of each liaison faculty member responsible for communication about the MIS concentration in each collaborating unit
6. Date of proposal submission
7. Proposed implementation term

Concentration Overview

1. Please provide an overview of this concentration proposal, e.g. including brief description of the concentration content, curriculum, target students, roles of contributing units, and modes of delivery.
2. Mission Statement
3. Methods that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the program, including:
   • Student learning outcomes and other program outcomes (e.g., job placements, examination pass rates, etc.).
   • Plans for assessing these outcomes.
4. Benchmarks of success of the concentration

Evidence of Need and Interest in the MIS Concentration

1. Please justify the need for the concentration, based on need in the professional field for this novel combination of departments or units, as well as need on our campus for this program of study. Describe the workforce needs in Georgia or beyond that can be met by graduates with this MIS concentration, and/or the advanced degree programs for which these graduates will be highly competitive. Include information on why the academic preparation for this degree cannot be accomplished within an established academic unit or program at this university or other institutions in the University System of Georgia, and how the new combination of departments or units will better facilitate learning in this new area of interest.
2. Provide evidence of student interest in the concentration curriculum among GSU students or similar populations at other institutions or in relevant professional positions.
3. Project the number of students who will apply and target numbers for admissions, along with a basis for the projections.

Plans for Concentration Administration

1. Summarize program admission requirements.
2. Outline the complete program curriculum (including catalog copy) with an emphasis on feasibility with respect to course availability and courses meeting expected enrollment (i.e., courses making).
   • All pre-requisites and course sequences required for any course in the curriculum.
   • Predicted course availability information for each course in the program curriculum.
     • for each established course – how often the course has been offered and how many sections (and seats) during the past academic year.
     • for each new course – which department will be responsible for course development and approval; projected availability during the next academic year, with number of sections (and seats); draft syllabus and catalog description.
   • Sample schedule of courses that would allow students to graduate in 30-45 credit hours, including any anticipated pre-requisite courses.
   • Use a table to map the learning outcomes onto the curriculum requirements, i.e. align learning outcomes with the courses that best enable students to demonstrate each outcome.
3. Specify how the recommended proseminar or other introductory course will unify the disciplines involved in the concentration. If students in the proposed concentration will join in a proseminar with other MIS concentrations, provide documentation of approval and/or logistics of collaboration (e.g. letter of support from existing proseminar instructor and department/unit leader).
4. Specify how the recommended capstone project will prepare students effectively to join the workforce or proceed to other degree programs. If capitalizing on an existing internship, practicum, capstone, or similar course or project, provide specific evidence that the existing offering will use appropriate interdisciplinary content and approach. For all capstone options, detail the final products and how they will be reviewed by a faculty member (e.g. sample grading rubrics). If the program requires internships or similar experiences, explain the process for identifying opportunities, securing approval from Legal Affairs and Risk Management, and for placing specific students.
5. Prepare an administrative leadership plan.
   • Proposed administration of the program, including primary academic leader(s) for concentration, i.e. faculty member(s) primarily responsible for academic support.
   • Strategies for ensuring adequate communication among collaborating units, especially if leadership is to be shared equally among sponsoring and collaborative units.
   • Proposed advisement process for students, e.g. which units will provide faculty advisors and which units will manage formal student complaints, etc.
   • Additional resource requirements (if any), budget implications (personnel costs, library acquisitions, computing/equipment costs), and information regarding sources.
   • Any offices, departments, committees, and individuals consulted during the development of the concentration proposal.
6. Summarize anticipated impact on other programs, departments or colleges.
7. Provide a signature page, including sign off on proposal by sponsoring and collaborating directors, department chairs, and deans committing necessary resources, faculty, and courses to ensure success of the interdisciplinary concentration.

Approval Process for the MIS Concentration Proposal

1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the sponsoring academic colleges/department(s)/units. Units should pay particular attention to feasibility of course offerings (availability/sequencing & adequate enrollment).
2. Proposals require the approval of the sponsoring dean(s) of the college(s) involved in the interdisciplinary program offering. (See signature page above.)
3. The dean should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by the Graduate Council. The subcommittee chairs will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) and the Graduate College dean in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The Associate Provost for International Affairs should be included if the proposal involves collaboration with an international partner institution. These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review.
4. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP. At a meeting to which the proposing parties will be invited, CAP will deliberate and vote on the proposal. At both the subcommittee and full committee levels, requests may be made to the proposing parties for changes to be made to the proposal.
5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
6. If any aspect of the proposed program constitutes a substantive change by BOR or SACSCOC standards, the university may be required to submit additional notifications or seek approval from either or both of these bodies. In such cases, the proposing units may be required to provide additional program information.
7. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the proposal (USG approval is not required for this type of proposal except as noted in step 6 above).
8. Normally, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after final university approval. (The APAA will notify the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP of final university approval.)

Process Type: Initiate new program or partnership

Approval Requirement(s): New program: BOR approval; Existing program with new partnership: SO notification

Joint Degree Program: Single degree program with collaborating units sharing responsibility for curricular offerings and program administration. Approval processes for new joint degree programs are the same as for all new degree programs. Joint programs are distinct from dual degree programs.

New Degree Program Offered Jointly

Proposals for new degree/major programs offered jointly through a partnership of GSU academic units and those of another institution follows the process for new degree programs.

Note: The full extent of the collaboration between the partner units and institutions should be clearly articulated in a program agreement. The program agreement should include the body of the new degree proposal, as well and any information required by the originating institutions. The program agreement must also address SACSCOC accreditation compliance requirements detailed in the Collaborative Academic Agreements Policies and Procedures.

Existing Degree Program Offered Jointly

Proposals for existing degree/major programs offered jointly through a new partnership of GSU academic units and those of another institution should follow the process below.

Note: The full extent of the collaboration between the partner units and institutions should be clearly articulated in a program agreement. The program agreement should include responses to the prompts below, as well and any information required by the originating institutions. The program agreement must also address SACSCOC accreditation compliance requirements detailed in the Collaborative Academic Agreements Policies and Procedures.

Proposal Format

Proposals should include the information below, as well as any items required by the originating department or college.

• Program title
• Collaborating departments, colleges, institutions. Include location of partner institution.
• Lead faculty member for each collaborating academic unit, with department, email address, and phone number
• Date of submission
• Implementation term
• Program description and objectives
• Complete program curriculum (i.e., catalog copy)
• Location(s) of program. Indicate percentage of credit hours that will be earned through instruction by GSU.
• Describe methods of assessing and monitoring courses and components completed through instruction by partner institutions, including the qualifications of the personnel with these responsibilities.
• Evidence of the need for and interest in this program, including projected enrollments.
• Anticipated impact on other programs within the offering department, the college, or the university.
• Additional resource requirements, if any, and budget implications (e.g., personnel costs, library acquisitions, computing/equipment costs, facilities and other operating costs, graduate student support). Intended method of funding additional costs if any.
• Administration of the program.
• Process for admitting students to the program.
• Advisement process and resources for students in the program.
• Strategies for ensuring adequate communication among the collaborating units.
• Measures that will be taken to assess the effectiveness of the program.
• Offices, departments, committees, and individuals consulted during the development of the proposal.
• Approval path for program proposal, noting all formal department- or college-level votes.

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating GSU department, as well as by the collaborating unit at the partner institution. Approval by the institutions at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
2. Proposals require the approval of the dean of the GSU college that would be responsible for the administration of the new program, as well as of the appropriate official from the partner institution. The college may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval by at this stage, including any formal votes, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
3. The dean should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program being considered). The subcommittee chairs will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The Associate Provost for International Affairs should be included if the proposal involves collaboration with an international partner institution. The Graduate College dean should be included if the proposal involves graduate programs. These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review.
4. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP. At a meeting to which the proposing parties will be invited, CAP will deliberate and vote on the proposal. At both the subcommittee and full committee levels, requests may be made to the proposing parties for changes to be made to the proposal.
5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
6. The chair of CAP will notify the Vice Provost and the Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
7. If any aspect of the proposed program constitutes a substantive change by BOR or SACSCOC standards, the university may be required to submit additional notifications or seek approval from either or both of these bodies. In such cases, the proposing units may be required to provide additional program information.
8. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the new program.
9. If the provost’s recommendation is positive, he or she will notify the University System of Georgia (USG) offices of the university’s decision and will forward the program proposal to the USG for reference.
10. Normally, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after final university approval. (The APAA will send a copy of the official University System acknowledgement to the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP upon receipt.)

Program Policies & Resources

See Also:

Academic Affairs Handbook 2.3.10

Process Type: Initiate new program or partnership

Approval Requirement(s): New program: BOR approval; Existing program with new partnership: SO notification

Joint Degree Program: Single degree program with collaborating units sharing responsibility for curricular offerings and program administration. Approval processes for new joint degree programs are the same as for all new degree programs. Joint programs are distinct from dual degree programs.

New Degree Program Offered Jointly

Proposals for new degree/major programs offered jointly through a partnership of GSU academic units follows the process for new degree programs. The full extent of the collaboration between or among the partner units should be clearly articulated in the new degree proposal.

Existing Degree Program Offered Jointly

If a new partnership of academic units is established to offer an existing degree program, additional approval may be required. Please consult with the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in such cases.

Program Policies & Resources

See Also: Academic Affairs Handbook 2.3.10

Process Type: Initiate Program

Approval Requirement(s): SO notification two weeks prior to implementation

Minor: A minor consists of specified set of courses in a subject area taken in addition to the major program requirements. According to University System requirements, a minor must contain 15 to 18 semester hours of coursework with at least 9 hours of upper-division coursework. Courses taken to satisfy Core Impact Areas may not be counted as coursework in the minor. Field of Study may be counted as coursework in the minor.

Proposal Format

Proposals should include the information below, as well as any items required by the originating department or college.

• Department / College / Institution
• Contact name and email/phone
• Date of submission
• Implementation term
• Minor program title
• Affiliated degree program and major (indicate if there is no affiliated degree/major)
• Program description and objectives
• Complete program curriculum (i.e., catalog copy)
• Evidence of the need for and interest in this program, including projected enrollments.
• Anticipated impact on other programs within the offering department, the college, or the university.
• Additional resource requirements, if any, and budget implications (e.g., personnel costs, library acquisitions, computing/equipment costs, facilities and other operating costs, graduate student support). Intended method of funding additional costs if any.
• Administration of the program.
• Process for admitting students to the program.
• Advisement process and resources for students in the program.
• Offices, departments, committees, and individuals consulted during the development of the proposal.
• Approval path for program proposal, noting all formal department- or college-level votes.

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating academic department. Approval by the departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
2. Proposals require the approval of the dean of the college responsible for the administration of the new program. Individual colleges may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
3. The dean should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program being considered). The subcommittee chairs will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The Associate Provost for International Affairs should be included if the proposal involves collaboration with an international partner institution. These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review.
4. The subcommittee then will make a recommendation to CAP. At a meeting to which the proposing parties will be invited, CAP will deliberate and vote on the proposal. At both the subcommittee and full committee levels, requests may be made to the proposing parties that changes be made in the proposal.
5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
6. If any aspect of the proposed program constitutes a substantive change by BOR or SACSCOC standards, the university may be required to submit additional notifications or seek approval from either or both of these bodies. In such cases, the proposing units may be required to provide additional program information.
7. If the provost’s recommendation is positive, he or she will notify the University System of Georgia (USG) offices of the university’s decision and will forward the program proposal to the USG for reference.
8. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the new program.
9. Normally, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after return acknowledgment of the university-level approval from the USG. (The APAA will send a copy of the official University System acknowledgement to the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP upon receipt.)

Program Policies & Resources

• Guidelines for Minors
• List of USG Minors (notifications submitted beginning October 25, 2010)

Process Type: Rename title of degree/major, concentration, minor, or certificate

Approval Requirement(s): SO approval for degree/major; SO notification for concentration, minor, certificate

The proposal format and process should be followed for the renaming of any academic program (i.e., full degree programs, concentrations, minors, certificates). USG approval or notification is required for renaming of degree programs, minors, and certificates, but not for concentrations. If the renaming of a program is accompanied by notable changes to the curriculum, then units may be directed by CAP and/or the APAA to formally deactivate/terminate an existing program and propose a new one.

Proposal Format

Proposals should include the information below, as well as any items required by the originating department or college.

• Department / College / Institution
• Contact name and email/phone
• Date of submission
• Implementation term
• Current and proposed title of program
• Current CIP code for program and proposed CIP code if different
• Rationale for change
• Program details (i.e., catalog copy)
• Anticipated impact on other programs within the offering department, the college, or the university.
• Additional resource requirements, if any, and budget implications (e.g., personnel costs, library acquisitions, computing/equipment costs, facilities and other operating costs, graduate student support). Intended method of funding additional costs if any.
• Offices, departments, committees, and individuals consulted during the development of the proposal.
• Approval path for program proposal, noting all formal department- or college-level votes.

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating academic department. Approval by the departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
2. Proposals require the approval of the dean of the college responsible for the administration of the new program. Individual colleges may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
3. The dean should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program being considered). The subcommittee chairs will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The Associate Provost for International Affairs should be included if the proposal involves collaboration with an international partner institution. The Graduate College dean should be included if the proposal involves graduate programs. These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review.
4. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP. At a meeting to which the proposing parties will be invited, CAP will deliberate and vote on the proposal. At both the subcommittee and full committee levels, requests may be made to the proposing parties for changes to be made to the proposal.
5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
6. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the new program.
7. If the provost’s recommendation is positive, he or she will notify the University System of Georgia (USG) offices of the university’s decision and will forward the program proposal to the USG for reference.
8. The University System office must consider and approve proposals to rename degree/major programs. For concentrations, certificates, and minors, the USG offices require notification of university approval only.
9. Normally, the renamed program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after official approval or return acknowledgment of university-level approval from the USG. (The APAA will send a copy of the official University System acknowledgement to the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP upon receipt.)

Process Type: Alter program significantly in manner not covered by other processes

Approval Requirement(s): AAC approval

Substantive Change: Curricular changes involving the substantive redirection of an academic program which has been precipitated by national norms, disciplinary norms, accreditation requirements for continued good standing, and other factors attributable to strengthening degrees and majors. Follow this link for SACSCOC substantive change guidance.

Proposal Format

Proposals for program alterations that constitute a substantive change, measured according to the standards of the BOR and SACSCOC, should be developed using the University System of Georgia form linked below.

• Substantive Change Form: Individual Program Curriculum Revision

Departments or colleges may be required to provide additional information if necessary based on the nature of the program alternation.

Approval Process

The approval process for proposals consists of the steps below.

1. Proposals should be considered and approved by the originating academic department. Approval by the departments at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
2. Proposals require the approval of the dean of the college responsible for the administration of the new program. Individual colleges may elect to require that proposals first be reviewed or formally considered by college faculty, a college undergraduate or graduate committee, or some other college-level body. Approval at this stage, including any formal vote, should be noted as specified in the program proposal.
3. The dean should send approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs. Within CAP, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program being considered). The subcommittee chairs will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The Associate Provost for International Affairs should be included if the proposal involves collaboration with an international partner institution. The Graduate College dean should be included if the proposal involves graduate programs. These university administrators may request that notable issues be addressed before subcommittee review commences, or they may provide feedback on the proposal as part of the subcommittee review process to be addressed before the final proposal goes to the full committee for further review.
4. The subcommittee may elect to invite the proposing parties to attend a meeting at which the proposal is discussed. The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to CAP. At a meeting to which the proposing parties will be invited, CAP will deliberate and vote on the proposal. At both the subcommittee and full committee levels, requests may be made to the proposing parties for changes to be made to the proposal.
5. The chair of CAP will notify the APAA in writing of the recommendation of CAP.
6. The provost, on behalf of the university president, will make the final decision on implementation of the new program.
7. If the provost’s recommendation is positive, he or she will notify the University System of Georgia (USG) offices of the university’s decision and will forward the program proposal to the USG for reference.
8. The proposal will be reviewed by the BOR Academic Affairs Committee.
9. If approved by the AAC, the program can be officially added to the university curriculum (i.e., added to the record of official programs in the Banner system) after acknowledgment of the AAC approval from the USG. (The APAA will send a copy of the official University System acknowledgement to the originating college(s) and the chair of CAP upon receipt.)

Program Policies & Resources

See Also:

• SACSCOC Substantive Change Resources
• SACSCOC Substantive Change Outline for Georgia State University

When the college dean sends approved proposals to the chair of the University Senate Committee on Academic Programs, the proposal initially will be deliberated on by a subcommittee, most typically the Undergraduate Council or Graduate Council (depending on the level of the program being considered). The subcommittee chairs will include the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) in the dissemination of proposals to committee members. The APAA will review the proposal to determine if it constitutes a substantive change according to BOR or SACSCOC definitions (which differ in minor ways). Additional questions about reporting substantive changes can be addressed to the APAA, Michael Galchinsky ([email protected], 404-413-2578).

The specific review and approval process differs by college; however, in general, proposals are first approved at the department level, reviewed by the college dean’s office, formally or informally considered by a college committee and/or full faculty, and then submitted for university-level approval by the college dean. Additional information on specific college processes is accessible (where available) through the Policies & Resources section of this site.

No. All contacts with SACSCOC must go through the Office of the President and are coordinated by the Accreditation Liaison (at GSU, this is the APAA). If you believe that SACSCOC notification is required in relation to your academic program proposal, please contact the APAA, Mary Mclaughlin ([email protected]), 404-413-2578).

If you have additional questions about developing an academic program, please send a message to the Academic Programs Guide site coordinator.

Certificate: University System of Georgia institutions offer a variety of certificate programs. Many of these certificates are not associated with degrees, but are a prescribed program of study at the post-secondary educational level. (Academic Affairs Handbook 2.3.8)

Concentration of a Degree Program: Approved subset of courses within the major focused on a specialized curricular area.

Core Curriculum: The USG core curriculum was developed with the goals of assuring institutional accountability for learning, incorporating learning requirements in global perspectives and critical thinking, allowing institutions some flexibility in tailoring courses to their institutional mission, while ensuring that core curriculum courses completed at one USG institution are fully transferable to another USG institution.

Course Prefix: The three- or four-letter abbreviation for a course subject.

Deactivation of a Program: A deactivated program will not admit any new students. The program will not be listed in the college bulletin. The program, although listed on the Degrees and Majors inventory, will be identified as deactivated.

Degree/Major Program: A degree program and major consists of a specified set of courses focused on a designated disciplinary or interdisciplinary area. Georgia State offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees.

Dual Degree Program: Dual degree programs include separate, but affiliated degree programs that are linked through shared curricular offerings and collaborative administrative processes. Dual degrees may be awarded concurrently or one degree may be awarded prior to the second. A dual degree program should be differentiated from a joint degree.

External Instruction: Traditional face-to-face classroom instruction that occurs at a location away from the home premises of the institution. (Academic Affairs Handbook 2.3.7)

Certificate: University System of Georgia institutions offer a variety of certificate programs. Many of these certificates are not associated with degrees, but are a prescribed program of study at the post-secondary educational level. (Academic Affairs Handbook 2.3.8)

Concentration of a Degree Program: Approved subset of courses within the major focused on a specialized curricular area.

Course Prefix: The three- or four-letter abbreviation for a course subject.

Core Curriculum: The USG core curriculum was developed with the goals of assuring institutional accountability for learning, incorporating learning requirements in global perspectives and critical thinking, allowing institutions some flexibility in tailoring courses to their institutional mission, while ensuring that core curriculum courses completed at one USG institution are fully transferable to another USG institution.

Deactivation of a Program: A deactivated program will not admit any new students. The program will not be listed in the college bulletin. The program, although listed on the Degrees and Majors inventory, will be identified as deactivated.

Degree/Major Program: A degree program and major consists of a specified set of courses focused on a designated disciplinary or interdisciplinary area. Georgia State offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees.

Distance Education: Distance education is defined as a formal educational process in which the majority of the instruction occurs when student and instructor are not in the same place and the instruction is delivered using technology. (Academic Programs handbook 2.3.7.b.)

Dual Degree Program: Dual degree programs include separate, but affiliated degree programs that are linked through shared curricular offerings and collaborative administrative processes. Dual degrees may be awarded concurrently or one degree may be awarded prior to the second. A dual degree program should be differentiated from a joint degree.

External Instruction: Traditional face-to-face classroom instruction that occurs at a location away from the home premises of the institution. (Academic Affairs Handbook 2.3.7)

Interdisciplinary Concentrations (BIS/MIS): The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Masters of Interdisciplinary Studies programs provide concentrations that require curriculum typically offered across multiple departments/institutes within a college or across colleges.

Joint Degree Program: Single degree program with collaborating units sharing responsibility for curricular offerings and program administration. Approval processes for new joint degree programs are the same as for all new degree programs. Joint programs are distinct from dual degree programs.

Minor: A minor consists of specified set of courses in a subject area taken in addition to the major program requirements. According to University System requirements, a minor must contain 15 to 18 semester hours of coursework with at least 9 hours of upper-division coursework. Courses taken to satisfy Core Impact Areas may not be counted as coursework in the minor. Field of Study courses may be counted as coursework in the minor.

Substantive Change: Curricular changes involving the substantive redirection of an academic program which has been precipitated by national norms, disciplinary norms, accreditation requirements for continued good standing, and other factors attributable to strengthening degrees and majors. Note: the BOR and SACS definitions of substantive change differ moderately.

Termination of a Program: After a program has been deactivated for a period up to three years, it can be formally terminated. Terminated programs may not be reactivated without going through the defined process for approving a new academic program. Although not required, programs that have had no enrollment for several years may be terminated without the interim step of deactivation.

Interdisciplinary Concentrations (BIS/MIS): The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Masters of Interdisciplinary Studies programs provide concentrations that require curriculum typically offered across multiple departments/institutes within a college or across colleges.

Joint Degree Program: Single degree program with collaborating units sharing responsibility for curricular offerings and program administration. Approval processes for new joint degree programs are the same as for all new degree programs. Joint programs are distinct from dual degree programs.

Minor: A minor consists of specified set of courses in a subject area taken in addition to the major program requirements. According to University System requirements, a minor must contain 15 to 18 semester hours of coursework with at least 9 hours of upper-division coursework. Courses taken to satisfy Core Impact areas may not be counted as coursework in the minor. Field of study courses may be counted as coursework in the minor.

Substantive Change: Curricular changes involving the substantive redirection of an academic program which has been precipitated by national norms, disciplinary norms, accreditation requirements for continued good standing, and other factors attributable to strengthening degrees and majors. Note: the BOR and SACS definitions of substantive change differ moderately.

Termination of a Program: After a program has been deactivated for a period up to three years, it can be formally terminated. Terminated programs may not be reactivated without going through the defined process for approving a new academic program. Although not required, programs that have had no enrollment for several years may be terminated without the interim step of deactivation.