New Graduate Minor
A graduate minor involves one program outside a student’s major graduate program. A graduate minor requires a minimum of 10 hours of graduate-level course work in at least three courses. Twenty hours of graduate level courses is the maximum allowance for graduate minors. The student must receive a grade of “B” or better or “S” in each course comprising the graduate minor. The completed graduate minor will appear on the student’s transcript after the student has completed the transcript designation form available through GRADFORMS.
In addition to the general proposal template, curricular proposals for new graduate minors should include the following in the relevant sections:
New Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization
A Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization (GIS) involves two or more graduate programs outside the student’s major graduate program. A GIS requires a minimum of 10 hours of graduate-level course work in at least three courses. Twenty hours of graduate-level courses is the maximum allowance for a GIS. Nine hours taken for the GIS must be completed outside of the student’s home program in at least three courses. The student must receive a grade of “B” or better or “S” in each course comprising the GIS. The completed GIS will appear on the student’s transcript after the student has completed the transcript designation form available through GRADFORMS.
In addition to the general proposal template, curricular proposals for new graduate specializations should include the following in the relevant sections:
Introductory material
- A narrative rationale for the new specialization, including anticipated benefits for participants.
- Provide information about specialization courses or other requirements
- If the proposal is for a new specialization, explain in the narrative and in a table how requirements for the proposed specialization relate to the existing degree program. Distinguish between core course or other requirements for the degree program vs. courses or other requirements for the specialization.
- Provide all course numbers, listed with the precise prefixes and numbers as used by the Registrar’s Office.
- It is recommended these are presented as tables with corresponding titles and headers.
New Graduate Certificate
Certificate programs provide students an opportunity to demonstrate competence in a coherent curriculum or area of specialization. Certificates often supplement previous advanced degrees or further professional preparation. Certificates may also serve as an entry point to additional advanced graduate study. Graduate certificates can be free-standing programs (3a); students are directly admitted into these certificate programs. Students may also be simultaneously enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program (3b). A certificate must be at least 12 credit hours and should be at least four courses.
In addition to the general proposal template, curricular proposals for new graduate certificates should include the following in the relevant sections:
Introductory material
- The narrative rationale for the Graduate Certificate should include:
- State whether the certificate will be offered in person, or if it will be offered 50% or more as a distance program (online or blended).
- Explain whether students will begin and matriculate through the certificate as a cohort or self-paced.
- Indicate whether the program will limit enrollment to a given number of students and whether it will be possible for domestic and international students to enroll in the program.
Curricular information
- Specification of the type of certificate (e.g. 3a or 3b).
- If the program is developed in conjunction with another degree or certificate program, provide detail on how the programs will relate to one another (e.g., curriculum overlap with another program, advising arrangements)