Substantial Modification of Major Requirements

The chair of an Interdisciplinary Unit Executive Committee prepares a proposal to modify existing degree requirements and completes the Edit Program form in CourseLeaf . (The Associate of Arts and Sciences Executive Committee acts as the Unit Executive Committee for purposes of developing AAS degrees.) The faculty committee may consult the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL), Graduate Studies, and/or other institutional offices for advice on program development.

Note: Less than 30% of the degree requirements may be changed. In addition, the program’s CIP code must remain unchanged. Changing more than 30% of the degree’s requirements or changing the CIP code constitutes redirecting the degree.

Changing more than 50% of a degree’s requirements requires the creation of a new degree program.

If the proposed modification(s) involves courses or other degree requirements that are outside the jurisdiction of the initiating Executive Committee, the draft proposal must be reviewed by the Interdisciplinary Units(s) that will be impacted by the changes.

The proposal may be revised based on the comments received. When a final proposal is approved by the initiating Interdisciplinary Unit Executive Committee, the proposal and all supporting documentation is forwarded to the dean or associate provost for review and approval. In the case of bachelors or master’s degrees, the proposal is reviewed by the appropriate dean(s). In the case of AAS degrees, the proposal should be reviewed by the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.

After review and recommendation or non-recommendation by the Registrar and the Library, the Dean has the option of approving the proposal, not approving the proposal, or requesting changes to the proposal. Approved proposals and supporting documentation are then routed to the appropriate governance committees. The Academic Affairs Council or the Graduate Academic Affairs Council should be the last governance committee to review the proposal.

• General Education Council
  • If the degree is an Associate degree, the GEC may approve the proposal.
  • If the degree is a Bachelor’s degree and involves changes to the institution’s general education requirements, the GEC makes a recommendation on the proposal.
• Academic Affairs Council – if the proposal involves a bachelor’s degree, the AAC may approve the proposal.
• Graduate Academic Affairs Council – if the proposal involves a master’s degree, the GAAC may approve the proposal.

Following the AAC or GAAC review, an approved proposal is forwarded to the Provost. If not approved by the AAC or GAAC, the proposal is returned to dean.

The proposed degree modification with supporting documentation is reviewed by the Provost. If approved by the Provost, the chair of the initiating Executive Committee, Dean, Registrar, and SOFAS are notified that the degree program requirements have been modified and the effective date of the change. If not approved by the Provost, the proposal is returned to the dean.

The Provost (or designee) notifies the UW Associate Vice President for Academic Programs and Educational Innovation (APEI) via the Online Program Planning Form that modification of requirements to an existing degree program have been made and the effective date of the change.