Overview of the Approval Process Faculty proposers first secure endorsements for a designated emphasis in a certain interdisciplinary program of study from a minimum of two chairs of doctoral programs who wish to participate. Proposers then should consult with the Graduate Division Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs (Linda Song, [email protected], 643-7412), who will provide assistance regarding the proposal process and answer questions concerning the proposal format guidelines provided below. The faculty proposers next prepare a draft proposal, accompanied by letters of support from the chairs of the participating doctoral programs. The letters of endorsement should state the proposed DE is of great merit, why it is relevant to the doctoral program, and that the program wishes to affiliate with the proposed designated emphasis. The draft proposal is forwarded to Assistant Dean Linda Song for review who will assist the proposing faculty with any necessary additions or revisions before presentation to the Graduate Council. The proposal should include the following: A. Description of the Designated Emphasis A description of the academic rationale for the designated emphasis, including recent developments in the field, the D.E.’s potential importance to graduate student recruitment and maintaining academic edge at Berkeley, as well as the unique strengths in this field on campus. A list of the affiliated doctoral programs, which agree to promote the D.E. option for their majors and whose chairs endorse the D.E. (at least two programs are required, three are preferred). B. Academic Structure of the Designated Emphasis Requirements for admission to the D.E. Please note how the program will manage admissions to ensure that demand does not exceed capacity. Normative Time impact on affiliated doctoral programs, if any (note: if a student enrolls in a designated emphasis, no adjustments will be made to the normative time of the student’s major). The structure for student advising and appointment of faculty to the qualifying examination and dissertation committees Curricula. If the DE will require or accept undergraduate courses, then please add a brief rationale for doing so. core courses (specify the number required, from which programs of study, and when the course was last offered) elective courses (specify the number required, from which programs of study, and when the course was last offered) examination requirements (refer to D.E. Policy and By-Law template) dissertation requirements (refer to D.E. Policy and By-Law template) designated emphasis conferral process (refer to D.E. Policy and By-Law template) C. Graduate Group Administration Roster of participating faculty (provide name and academic unit; faculty must be Academic Senate members eligible to serve on higher degree committees) Description of sufficient resources (faculty, administrative support, courses and research facilities) to administer the proposed Designated Emphasis, including support for administrative staff support and the duties assigned to the staff members. D. Appendices By-Laws of DE. Letters of endorsement from the chair of each doctoral program that wishes to affiliate with the Designated Emphasis. (Letters would explain why the D.E. adds academic value to the affiliating unit’s doctoral programs and has potential value for its students and may be useful in the program’s recruitment efforts.) To ensure interdisciplinarity of the DE, a minimum of three doctoral program endorsements is preferred; two are required.