Program Proposals

Guidance for proposing new programs and revising existing programs at San José State University.

Type of Proposal Proposal:

New Academic Programs
- **New Degree Program
- **New Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE)/ 4+1 program
- *Elevating Options or Concentrations to a Full Degree Program
- *New Pilot Degree Program
- **New Concentration under an existing degree program
- *New Certificate/Credential/Honors/Minor
- *Adding a Counterpart to Existing Program: Self-Support of State / State of Self-Support

Program Revisions
- ***Program/Subprogram Modify (2027-2028): to make minor or major revisions to an existing program.
- *Converting Pilot Programs to Regular Program Status
- *Converting Existing Program: Self-Support to State / State to Self-Support

Other Processes

- *Program Discontinuation/Suspension
- *Graduate International Program Partnership
- *Special Session - New Specialization for Existing Program

Program Proposals FAQs

Q. Where can I find degree definitions?

A. View the WSCUC Degree Definition Guide [pdf] for degree type definitions.

Q. How do I determine the CSU Major Code/CIP Code?

A. Using a master list of degree programs and reporting CSU Major/ CIP codes, campuses report data to the Chancellor’s Office on applications, enrollments, and degrees granted.

The program's official name does not have to be an exact duplicate of its Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code name.

Q. Is there a checklist to draft new academic roadmaps/degree pathways?

A. Yes! Here is the checklist.

Q. How are new Academic Plan Codes created?

A. When new degrees, concentrations, minors, certificates are approved , they are entered into PeopleSoft with a new academic plan code. View this guidance document for more information.

Q. Where do I Review the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) STEM Designated Degree Program List?

A. Find a complete list of fields of study that DHS considers to be science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields of stud: https://www.ice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/stem-list.pdf

Q. Where can I find the current CSU degrees?

A. Search Degrees at CSU: https://www.calstate.edu/attend/degrees-certificates-credentials/Pages/search-degrees.aspx.

Q. How do I find a community college that has an AA-T or AS-T for a program?

A. Associate Degree for Transfer
Major & Campus Search: https://www.calstate.edu/apply/transfer/pages/associate-degree-for-transfer-major-and-campus-search.aspx

Q. What is the WSCUC 2023 Handbook of Accreditation?

A. The WSCUC 2023 Handbook of Accreditation is a comprehensive guide establishing the foundational values, standards, and procedures for accreditation by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Q. State-Supported Programs (Regular CSU Programs) v.s. Self-Support Programs (Extended Education / Special Sessions / Professional Programs)?

A. State-Supported Programs (Regular CSU Programs) are the traditional degree programs (undergraduate and graduate) funded through the CSU Operating Fund, which comes mainly from the state of California and general tuition revenues.These programs are the core missions of CSU campuses — standard bachelor’s, master’s, and some doctoral programs.

Self-Support Programs (Extended Education / Special Sessions / Professional Programs) are educational offerings funded entirely by the revenue they generate — no CSU state funds are used to operate them. They may be credit or non-credit programs, certificates, specialized degrees, or professional education tailored to workforce or adult learners. These programs must cover all costs (instruction, administration, overhead, etc.) from tuition and fees collected. The campus does not subsidize them with state money.