New Degrees (2-Year Process)

Proposals for new programs can take up to 2 years to implement. (1) First a New Degree Statement of Intent (Pre-Proposal) must be approved by the Deans/Provost, and subsequently the CSU Board of Trustees to be included on the Academic Master Plan and (2) the full degree program proposals must be approved by the campus and the Chancellor's Office.

Deadlines

If you would like to propose a new degree effective Fall 2023, the Statement of Intent for the new degree must be submitted by the department chair no later than November 1, 2021, and the full degree proposal must receive campus approval no later than August 1, 2022 in order to have enough time to be considered for Chancellor's Office approval before the CalState Apply system opens for Fall 2022 applications on October 1, 2022. After Chancellor's Office approval, Admissions will need at least three to five business days lead time to enter the program into PeopleSoft and CalState Apply. Ideally, the new degree should be approved by the campus by the end of Spring 2022 term in order to be effective Fall 2023. 

Step-By-Step Process

• Step 1: Meet with Curriculum Office

  • As soon as you know your department is considering proposing a new degree, please email the Curriculum Office to discuss proposal process and timelines. This is important to determine if your proposal qualifies for a fast track or pilot process. It is also important to have ongoing conversations with appropriate administrators, such as the college dean and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education or Dean of Graduate Studies. 

• Step 2: New Degree Statement of Intent (or Pre-Proposal)

  • The statement of intent, or pre-proposal, for proposing new degree programs must be submitted by any department working on a new degree proposal for review and consideration by the deans and the Provost.

    Once approved, the proposed degree is submitted to the CSU Academic Master Plan for approval by Board of Trustees and to SJSU's accrediting bodyWSCUC for substantive change screening.

    Proposal Submission: Complete the Curriculog New Degree Statement of Intent form (instructions linked).

    Deadline: Complete this by November 1 or May 1 of Year 1.

• Step 3: Full Degree Program Proposal

  • Complete the Program Proposal Template after meeting with the Curriculum Analyst.

    Proposal Submission: Once your proposal is complete, upload the Full Degree Program Proposal to in New Program Proposal in Curriculog (instructions linked).
    

    Deadline: Complete this by October 1 of Year 2. Please note that fall term admissions opens October 1 of the year prior the program is effective. In order for your new degree to appear in CalState Apply, it must be approved by the Chancellor's Office BEFORE October 1 of the year prior the program is effective.

    Reference: 

    1. Budget Template required only if proposing a Special Session program - work with College of Professional and Global Education.
    2. CSU Degree Proposal and Approval Process Flowchart [pdf]
    3. Degree Proposal Review Criteria [pdf]
    4. Guidance for Proposing ITEP Programs [pdf]
    5. Trustee Policies on Academic Program Planning [pdf]
    6. Current CSU Academic Master Plan: Campus Academic Plans
    7. CSU Degrees Search
    8. What is a CIP or CSU Degree Code?
• Step 4: Approval of New Degree

  • The New Program Curriculog Form will be routed for recommendation for approval as follows: 

    1. Department Curriculum Committee (optional in Curriculog)
    2. Department Chair
    3. College Curriculum Committee/Associate Dean
    4. Undergraduate Studies (UGS) Committee or Graduate Studies and Research (GS&R) Committee
    5. Curriculum and Research Committee
    6. Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education or Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
    7. Provost
    8. Chancellor's Office

    Department Curriculum Committee review and recommendation of approval in Curriculog is an optional. If departments wish to have their department curriculum committees added to Curriculog, please contact the Curriculum Analyst.

    Curriculum approved by the campus, but pending Chancellor's Office final approval may be advertised with a statement that indicates "pending final approval from the CSU Chancellor's Office".

    When your new degree program has been approved, you will receive a notification from the appropriate administrator in the College of Graduate Studies or the Undergraduate Education Office. 

    The Curriculum Office will contact you to review and finalize your final catalog copy and any other necessary steps to implement the program. 

    When the program is approved, the Curriculum Office will create an Academic Plan in PeopleSoft and work with the appropriate campus Admissions offices to include the program in CalState Apply.

    Please do not hesitate to contact the Curriculum Office for any questions or updates on the process as the program is implemented.  

More CSU Resources for New Degree Programs