Please review the following guidance, which itemizes the questions you will be asked to answer when initiating a request for a new degree program. If you are familiar with this form already you can proceed to the application by clicking on the button.
PLEASE NOTE: You will not be able to “save” and “return” to the form before you submit a request. As such, we suggest you use the following guidance to have the information needed to complete the request in hand before you start the process. If you need an accessible application please contact Felicia Wilson in IRA.
Go to New Degree form
NAME OF PROPOSED DEGREE:
Enter the full name of the proposed degree program. For example, Bachelor of Arts in English, Master of Science in Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology.
SPONSORING SCHOOL:
From the dropdown menu provided, select the school(s) that will host the proposed degree.
HOME DEPARTMENT:
Specify the department responsible for overseeing the curriculum and related program assessment of the proposed degree.
PROPOSAL CONTACT FULL NAME:
Indicate the name of the primary contact at the sponsoring school with whom IRA staff will work to manage the steps required to approve the proposed degree. If there are additional contacts closely involved in this proposal who you would like IRA staff to include on related correspondence, please provide their names and email addresses in the Description of New Degree attachment (see below).
PROPOSAL CONTACT EMAIL:
Enter the official UVA email address of the proposal contact (primary computing ID address, no alias or non-UVA email addresses, please).
DATE OF SUBMISSION:
Select the date you are submitting this initiation request.
REQUESTED EFFECTIVE TERM OF PROPOSED PROGRAM:
Enter the term in which the school aims to enroll students for the first time consistent with the degree program’s credit hour requirements. Degree programs typically begin in a fall term, although based on the program structure, may begin a different term (e.g., summer). Note: advertisement of a proposed degree cannot commence until the program has been approved by SCHEV.
REQUESTED DEGREE DESIGNATION:
From the dropdown menu provided, select the abbreviated degree designation of the proposed program. For a new degree designation that UVA does not currently offer, please select other and provide the abbreviation.
PROPOSED TOTAL NUMBER OF CREDITS FOR DEGREE:
Enter the total number of credits a student would need to earn to complete the degree program’s requirements. For a bachelor’s degree, indicate the full credits required for the degree, and not only the credits required for the major (e.g., 120 credit hours).
PROPOSED CIP CODE FOR THE DEGREE:
Indicate the proposed 6-digit CIP Code for the new degree (see box below) that the program faculty would suggest aligns most closely with the curriculum of the degree.
CIP Codes are the US Department of Education’s national taxonomic system for reporting of institutional data. All degree programs are assigned a CIP Code, and consistent with SCHEV requirements, an institution may only have one degree program per 6-digit CIP Code at each level (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral). A list of assigned CIP codes to UVA degree programs is available on SCHEV’s degree inventory page.
DESCRIPTION OF NEW DEGREE:
Upload a one to two-page Word document or PDF setting forth the purpose of the degree and the demand for graduates from this program. A brief history of the field of study and a description of the needs the program is addressing, including if the program is in an emerging or cutting -edge area should be provided. Reference any other UVA program(s) that are active in this space/discipline, and consultation undertaken with those programs in the preparation of the proposed degree. Note: if there are additional contacts beyond the primary contact who will be engaged in this proposal, please provide their names and contact information at the end of this document.
PROPOSED ENROLLMENT:
UVA has undergraduate and graduate enrollment targets based on returning and new student enrollment assumptions that inform planning and budgeting, which are approved by the Board of Visitors and submitted to SCHEV. Enrollment targets for each school vary. Please consult with the appropriate official in your school to answer the following question regarding from where you expect to draw students for the new degree:
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If you expect to draw students from approved enrollment targets within your school, then select ‘Approved enrollment targets in my school.’
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If you expect to draw students from the approved enrollment targets of another UVA school(s), then select ‘Internal transfers from another school.’
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If you propose to draw students beyond approved enrollment targets (i.e., the school is requesting to grow institutional enrollment beyond what has already been approved), then select “Enrollment increases beyond those presently approved.”
PRODUCTIVITY STANDARDS:
SCHEV has enrollment and graduate standards for degree programs which vary by discipline and level. The specific quantitative standards for four-year public institutions are listed on page 5 of the Virginia Public Higher Education Policy on Program Productivity. Please review these standards to indicate if you expect to meet the FTE level of the proposed program by year five of implementation.
ADVANCED DEGREE LEVEL INITIATION:
Indicate whether the new degree is at a higher level than the degrees currently offered at your school, e.g. would this be your school’s first graduate or doctoral level degree?
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE FROM EXISTING PROGRAMS:
Is the proposed degree in a new field or discipline in which your school does not currently offer any degree programs? For example, a veterinary science degree would be considered a significant departure for any UVA school. Similarly, if the proposed degree will require the hiring of several new faculty to provide subject matter expertise, it may represent a significant departure.
PERCENT OF NEW COURSES:
This question pertains only to the core required courses that all students in the proposed degree will take (see box below). For example, for a 120-credit bachelor’s degree, you would count only the 18+ credits of core coursework (and omit the rest of the General Education courses, restricted electives, courses taken towards a minor or second major, open electives, etc. that a student would take to complete the rest of the 120-credit degree).
Common Core Requirements
Under SCHEV Policy, every degree program must have a common core of courses that ALL students complete. The minimum size of the core depends on program level:
- Bachelor’s degree: 25% of the total credit hours required for the degree, excluding credit hours of General Education requirements
- Master’s degree: 50%* of total credit hours required for the degree (Consideration will be given to degree programs that adequately justify a core curriculum of less than 50%).
- Doctoral degree: 25% of total credit hours required for the degree (excludes dissertation).
REQUIRES NEW FACULTY (FACULTY RESOURCES):
Indicate whether the home department plans to hire new faculty to teach the core required courses during the first three years of the proposed degree. In addition, indicate the location(s) of existing faculty that you anticipate teach the core required courses during the first three years of the proposed degree. For example, will all existing faculty teaching the core courses come from the home department? Will some faculty teaching the core required courses come from other departments within the sponsoring school?
REQUIRES NEW RESOURCES:
Indicate whether the new degree will require new library acquisitions/ subscriptions; and/or any other new learning resources, such as instructional/research software. (select all that apply)
REQUIRES NEW EQUIPMENT OR SPACE:
Indicate whether the new degree will require new equipment or physical space beyond the department’s current resources.
DELIVERY METHOD:
Indicate the delivery format(s) in which students will be able to complete the proposed degree (select all that apply):
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If a student will be able to complete the entire program (i.e. the total credit hours required for the degree) in a traditional, Face to Face format with no online coursework, select ‘100% Face to Face.’
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If a student will be able to complete the entire program online, with no face-to-face coursework, select ‘100% Online.’
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If a student will be required or able to complete the program via a combination of Face to Face and Online courses, indicate ‘Hybrid.’
PROPOSED PROGRAM LOCATION:
Indicate where the proposed program is going to be held (select all that apply):
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If the program will be offered at the main campus in Charlottesville, select that entry.
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If the program will be offered at an approved UVA off-grounds location, select ‘Approved UVA Off Campus site.’
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If you intend to offer the program at an off-grounds location that is not currently an approved site, select ‘New UVA Off-Campus Site (To Be Approved).’ Note: off-campus instructional sites must be approved by SACSCOC and SCHEV.
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If the program will be offered 100% online, i.e. students will be able to complete the entire program remotely, select ‘100% online.’
CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT OR CONSORTIUM:
Indicate whether the new degree or any of its constituent courses will be delivered through a contractual agreement with another University or other party.
INTERNSHIP OR PRACTICUM REQUIREMENT:
Indicate whether the proposed degree will require all students to complete a for-credit internship, practicum, or clinical experience.
LEADS TO PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE:
Indicate whether the proposed degree will formally or potentially lead to professional licensure or certification (i.e. the core courses may or definitely will meet the coursework and/or practicum requirements for a professional license/certification in Virginia or other US states).
DATE OF SCHOOL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE APPROVAL:
Indicate the date on which the proposed degree was or will be reviewed and approved by the internal curriculum committee of the proposing school. If the committee meeting schedule is not yet known at the time of submission, indicate 09/01/YY if you anticipate review in the coming Fall semester, and 02/01/YY if you anticipate review in the coming Spring.
DATE OF DEAN APPROVAL:
Indicate the actual or anticipated date on which the proposed degree was or will be reviewed and approved by the dean of the proposing school.
Go to New Degree form
