PA State System of Higher Education
Board of Governors

Effective: March 19, 1985

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POLICY 1985-01-A: REQUIREMENTS FOR INITIATION OR CHANGE OF
CREDIT-BASED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
See Also:

A.

Adopted: March 19, 1985
Amended: October 9, 2003, January 19, 2012

Purpose
To provide the chancellor and the Board of Governors, and the president and
council of trustees of each University, the general criteria and policies governing
Board of Governors’ requirements prior to initiation or change of a credit-based
academic program within a University or consortium of Universities.

B.

Definitions
Certificate:A formal credit-based credential designated on the academic
record and awarded by an educational institution to indicate completion of a
program of study that does not culminate in a degree. Certificates are not the
same as certifications or licenses, which are typically awarded by third party,
standard-setting bodies (not academic institutions), based on an assessment
process that recognizes competencies in a particular occupational specialty as
measured against a set of standards.
Certificate (sub-baccalaureate): Requires completion of an organized
program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate
degree) in at least one but less than two full-time equivalent academic
years, or designed for completion in at least 30 but less than 60 credit hours,
or in at least 900 but less than 1,800 contact hours.
Post-baccalaureate (graduate) certificate:An award that requires
completion of an organized program of study equivalent to a minimum of 18
semester credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, but does not meet the
requirements of a master’s degree.
Post-master’s (graduate) certificate:An award that requires completion of an
organized program of study equivalent to a minimum of 24 semester credit
hours beyond the master’s degree, but does not meet the requirements of
academic degrees at the doctoral level.

Letter of Completion:A statement of recognition designated on the academic
record to indicate completion of an organized set of courses or short program of
study, not culminating in a certificate.
Sub-Baccalaureate Letter of Completion: An award that requires completion
of a minimum of 12 credits but less than 30 credits at the postsecondary level
(below the sub baccalaureate certificate) in less than one academic year
(2 semesters or 3 quarters) or in at least 360 contact hours but less than 900
contact hours.
Post-Baccalaureate Letter of Completion: An award that requires completion
of a minimum of nine graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s.
Post-Master’s Letter of Completion:An award that requires completion of a
minimum of nine graduate credits beyond the master’s.
Academic Program:An instructional program leading toward an associate’s,
bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree or resulting in credits that can be
applied to one of these degrees.
Degree Designation:Specific degree type, including but not limited to bachelor
of arts, bachelor of science, master of arts, master of science, master of
education, and doctor of education.
Academic Major:Main field of study in an academic program. For
baccalaureate degrees, the academic major (comprised of core and cognate
courses) and general education are the two principal components of the
degree. For master’s degrees, the academic major (common core),
concentration or specialization, and capstone experience(s) are the principal
components of the degree. Academic major can be a sequence of courses,
activities, and/or experiences constituting a major field of study, culminating in a
credit-based degree or certificate.
Academic Minor when a Major Exists:An organized program of study that
comprises the fundamental requirements of the academic major (core and
cognate courses) equivalent to a minimum of 18 semester credit hours. As a
secondary field of study, the academic minor when a major exists comprises no
more than six credits from the major field of study.
Academic Minor when no Major Exists:An organized program of study that
comprises the fundamental knowledge and skills of a field of study (core and
cognate courses) in which the university does not offer an academic major,
equivalent to a minimum of 18 semester credit hours.
Concentration, Track, Specialization, or Emphasis:A program of study in a
focused area within an academic program (i.e., degree program, not a minor),
consisting of a minimum of 12 semester credit hours for baccalaureate degrees
and a minimum of nine semester credit hours for master’s degrees.
Requirements for the concentration, track, specialization, or emphasis are
included within the program of study for the academic major.
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Program Change:A change in the academic program (i.e., degree designation,
academic major, academic minor, concentration, track, specialization,
emphasis); academic minor (i.e., when no major exists); or certificate (i.e., name
of program of study).
C.

Procedure
The Office of the Chancellor shall, in consultation with State System Universities,
establish and review criteria for the initiation or change of credit-based
academic programs.
1.

Academic program proposals shall be subject to action by, or notice to,
the Board of Governors or chancellor, as follows:
a.

Board of Governors’ Action
New academic program (i.e., bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral
degree – Full proposal covering criteria in Section B of the
administrative procedure required.

b.

Office of the Chancellor Action
New academic minor when no academic major (bachelor’s
degree) exists–Full proposal covering criteria in Section B of the
administrative procedure required.
New letter of completion and sub-baccalaureate certificate when
no academic major exists–Full proposal covering criteria in Section
C of the administrative procedure required.
New graduate (post-baccalaureate) certificate when no master’s
degree program exists–Full proposal covering criteria in Section C
of the administrative procedure required.
New post-master’s certificate when no doctoral program exists–Full
proposal covering criteria outlined in Section C of the
administrative procedure required.
New degree designation – Letter containing rationale and
supporting materials required.

c.

Office of the Chancellor Notification
New concentration, track, specialization, or emphasis; new
academic minor when academic major (bachelor’s degree) exists;
new sub-baccalaureate certificate when academic (bachelor’s)
major exists; new graduate (post-baccalaureate) certificate when
master’s degree exists; new post-master’s certificate when doctoral
program exists–Letter required.
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Other program changes in the academic program inventory,
including changes in the academic program (i.e., degree
designation; academic major; academic minor; concentration,
track, specialization, emphasis, CIP code); or program status (i.e.,
moratorium, reorganization, discontinued) –Letter required.
2.

No academic program (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral degree) minor, or
certificate requiring approval shall be advertised or offered until the
University president receives written notice from the chancellor verifying
approval by the Board of Governors or chancellor.
No program change shall be announced or implemented without the
appropriate action.

3.

All new academic programs (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral degrees)
submitted for approval after January 18, 2012, must comply with the
above definitions, and all previously approved programs must be in
compliance by conclusion of the next program review cycle after July 1,
2012, defined as program review reports to be conducted during the
2012-2013 academic year. All programs must be in compliance as of
August 1, 2015.

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