The Graduate College Executive Committee should review and approve proposals for all major revisions of graduate degree programs. Minor revisions to programs may not require approval beyond the Graduate College. Substantial revisions will require approval beyond the Graduate College. To determine the degree of changes that are proposed and the approvals that will be needed, review the guidelines below, and consult the Levels of Governance, maintained by the Office of the Provost. The Review and Approval Process is explained below. At the request of the department, Graduate College staff can give advice on such matters. The following may serve as guidelines:
A. Major Revisions
- A change in the credit required for a degree is the one absolute criterion that marks a revision as substantial and requires approval by the Graduate College and report to the Board of Trustees.
- The department has considerable discretion in establishing the curriculum in a particular discipline. The content of graduate courses and graduate programs naturally evolves in response to new directions or emphases in a discipline. A major change in course requirements that substantially changes the content of the degree should be interpreted as a revised program or a new option under an existing degree and requires approval by the Graduate College and subsequent levels of governance. A proposal for a substantially revised program should compare the proposed requirements with those of similar programs at peer institutions.
B. Minor Revisions
- Offering an existing program online or at an off-campus location (at least 50% or more of the degree).
- Credit changed by adding or deleting a requirement for research hours and adding or deleting a requirement for an equal number of hours of course work.
- The department has discretion to revise the course requirements, the sequencing of courses, the requirements and format for master’s and doctoral examinations, and the requirements for master’s and doctoral theses. Changes in such requirements are generally regarded as minor; however, if the changes are deemed substantial, the unit will be notified that a proposal for revision of a program is required.
- Editorial revisions to the Academic Catalog description of a program.
- Addition or deletion of a comprehensive examination or a qualifying examination.