Update for new degree proposals
Due to increasing interest in developing new degree programs, the Graduate Division is implementing the following procedure to help us review proposals in a fair and transparent manner.
- When departments are certain that they are ready to proceed with proposal development and review, they are asked to complete this Intent to Propose a New Degree Survey. We are currently receiving multiple requests, and we need to prioritize them. It is therefore of paramount importance that proposers fill out this survey carefully.
- For SSGPDP proposals only: Assistant Dean Jeret Lemontt will then follow up with proposers to assess readiness to prepare a 1-2 page summary for your Dean to present to the Council of Deans (COD). Graduate Division will work with proposers on their summary to COD.
- Graduate Division will then make every attempt to conduct timely and comprehensive reviews of proposals before they are forwarded to the Graduate Council for consideration. This is a labor-intensive process that typically takes several rounds, and a timely and successful review is strongly dependent on proposers. The omission of required information or careless presentation could result in delayed review of a proposal. Given the increased workload of Graduate Division and Graduate Council at this time, proposers should be both diligent and patient, and have a back-up timeline in place for launching the program.
Please contact Assistant Dean Lemontt ([email protected]) if you have any questions, including questions about degree proposal requirements and/or the process. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
How to Propose a New State-Supported Higher Degree
- Master’s only (MA, MS, Professional Master’s)
- Master’s/PhD or Professional Doctorate
- PhD only
Approval process (following preliminary review by Graduate Division):
Campus (completed before transmission for Systemwide review):
- Graduate Council (in consultation with Committee on Academic Planning & Resource Allocation)
- Committee on Budget and Interdepartmental Relations
- Divisional Council
- Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Planning
Systemwide:
- Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs
- Academic Council
- UCOP
In addition, the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) requires that a new academic program must complete a brief WSCUC program screening form (opens in a new tab) before it is launched. The WSCUC will review the form to determine if the program represents a change significant enough to warrant a lengthier “substantive change review”. Please contact the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education ([email protected] (opens in a new tab)) for assistance with the form.