The most comprehensive process involves a request for a new Bachelors, Masters, Education Specialist, or Doctoral degree. The first phase is a pre-proposal reviewed and approved at the department/college level and the campus level. Once the pre-proposal is approved, the second phase is a full proposal that provides more comprehensive information about the proposed program, including a full financial analysis. To access a list of the components of the full program proposal, click here. The full proposal is reviewed and approved by the Dean, Provost and Chancellor, before moving to the UM System, Board of Curators, and MDHE for approval. More information about this process, including, templates and example proposals, can be found at the following links:

• UM System information on new degree proposals, including templates and example proposals click here

An emphasis area is an official, defined focus of study that exists within a degree program. Emphasis areas are included on a student’s transcript and approved by MDHE. A proposal for a new emphasis area is a single phase process where the proposal is reviewed and approved at the department/college level and the campus level before moving to the UM System and MDHE for approval. More information can be found at the following links:

• Graduate Faculty Senate information on emphasis areas click here
• Guidelines for Undergraduate Emphasis Areas click here

A graduate or undergraduate certificate provides a student with proficiency in a defined discipline(s).  Certificates typically require between 12 and 18 hours for completion. A proposal for a new certificate program typically goes through a single approval process. In rare circumstances, certificates may require an extended approval process if it requires significant curriculum additions. More information can be found at the following links:

• Graduate Faculty Senate information on certificates click here
• Guidelines for Undergraduate Certificates click here
• UM System information on new certificates click here

A minor is affiliated with an academic department(s)/college(s) and is designed to provide a limited, coherent course of study that is less intense than a full degree. A proposal for a new minor is a single-phase process where the proposal is reviewed and approved at the department/college level and the campus level. More information can be found at the following links:

• Graduate Faculty Senate information on minors click here
• Guidelines for Undergraduate Minors click here

Minimal changes are defined as changes that are only a slight adjustment to the program with little impact on students.  A proposal for a minimal change is a single phase process where the proposal is reviewed and approved at the department/college level.  Below are changes that would fall into this category:

• Minimal changes to total credits to graduate (e.g., Change bachelor’s total from 123 to 120 credits)
• Minimal changes to program requirements (e.g., Adding an additional option to a list of courses; swapping one required course for another; adjusting the recommended sequence of courses)
• Changes to program admission requirements (e,g., Program changing minimum standardized test scores; program removing an interview requirement)

Moderate changes are defined as changes that have a more significant impact on the program than a minimal change. A proposal for a moderate change is a single phase process where the proposal is reviewed and approved at the department/college level and the campus level, with notification forwarded to UM System.  Below are changes that would fall into this category:

• Adding an accelerated program to an existing degree program. Template for accelerated programs click here
• Changes to the owning department/college (e.g., Moving a program from the College of Engineering to the College of Arts & Science)
• Changes to the interdisciplinary departments/colleges offering the program (e.g., One college is being removed from a list of four colleges originally offering a program)
• Change to the title of a minor

Substantive changes are defined as changes that have a significant impact on students. A proposal for a substantive change is a single phase process where the proposal is reviewed and approved at the department/college level and the campus level, before moving to the UM System and MDHE (sometimes as a notification and sometimes for approval).

Below are two categories of “substantive changes”, one which applies to curriculum and one that doesn’t.

Substantive Curricular Changes (requires approval from UM and MDHE):

• Changes that require significant investment of university resources
• Changes to the overall direction of the program from it’s original intent (including a change of 25% or more to total credits to graduate)
• The creation of four or more new courses for a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree
• Changes that impact the program’s accreditation

Other Substantive Changes (requires approval from UM and MDHE):

• Change to title of the degree program, certificate, or emphasis areas
• Change to type of degree (e.g., Changing a BA to a BS)
• Change to CIP Code of existing degree program
• Combine closely allied programs
• Delete existing degree program or an emphasis of an existing degree program

Notification to UM and MDHE:

• Any change to modality
• Changing the parent degree to which an emphasis or certificate is linked (e.g., Moving the Emphasis in Data Analytics from the BS in Mathematics to the BS in Statistics)
• Placing an existing program on inactive status
• Reactivate a program placed on inactive status (must occur within five years of inactivation)
• Change to accreditation (e.g., Program changing from being accredited by Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education to Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing)
• Add or remove an institution from the list of collaborators on a program (e.g., MSU no longer wishes to collaborate with MU and SLU on a joint program in Nursing)
• Add or remove a delivery site from the approved list, or changing a site’s address (e.g., Adding a classroom site in Springfield, MO)