Program Revision

College Approval Deadline: October 1 (annually for major revisions) and December 1 (annually for minor revisions). Effective term is for the subsequent academic year. For example, if you submit a proposal and receive college approval by October 1, 2024, your proposal will be effective for the 2025-2026 Academic Year.  

Proposal Process

Submit a proposal using the in Program Revision (Major or Minor) Curriculog Form (instructions linked). Program revisions require a different level of review depending on if the revisions are considered minor or major.

• Minor Program Revisions

  • Changes may include one or more of the following: adding or removing or rearranging courses from program requirements (without exceeding the degree's unit limit), or changes to major preparation. Name changes for specializations or tracks are considered minor program revisions. 

    Degree Roadmaps. All undergraduate minor program revisions must include a 2-year (if applicable per SB 1440) and 4-year degree roadmaps. Follow the links download your existing, approved roadmap.

    If revision has an impact on other disciplines. Review the Consultation webpage and include appropriate evidence of consultation.

• Major Program Revisions

  • A major program revision applies if any of the following criteria are met and must submit any noted additional documentation. All undergraduate major program revisions must include a 2-year (if applicable per SB 1440) and 4-year degree roadmaps. Follow the links download your existing, approved roadmap.

    1. Impact on other disciplines. Review the Consultation webpage and include appropriate evidence of consultation.
       
       
    2. Increase in resources. Detailed memo explaining resource need. Request for Exception to Baccalaureate Unit Limits
       
       
    3. Exceeding the degree's unit limit. To request an Exception to Baccalaureate Unit Limits, complete the linked template. If the program has concentrations, create a side-by-side comparison document that outlines requirements for the base degree and for each concentration, clearly indicating which courses are shared among all versions of the degree.  
       
       
    4. Changing a Program Name. Changing the name of an existing degree, concentration, certificate, or minor may be permitted so long as the new name conforms to the existing CSU-assigned HEGIS/CIP code [pdf] for the degree. You can find the current code used for your program in the catalog. (From the landing page, click "major start terms and CIP codes.") Some names (e.g., architecture) are restricted. 
       Template for Concentrations or Certificates or Minors [docx] | Template for Degree Programs [docx] 
       
       A proposal for changing a program name might trigger a number of other curricular revisions. It is recommended that these proposals, if applicable, are submitted concurrently. If a program name is changing,
       1. does this also affect a department or school name? For example, when the "Health Science, BS" became the "Public Health, BS", the department name was also updated from department of "Health Science and Recreation" to "Public Health and Recreation". Learn how to change a department or school name. 
          
       2. does this also affect a course subject code/prefix? For example, when the "Health Science, BS" became the "Public Health, BS", the course subject code/prefix was also updated from "HS - Health Science" to "PH - Public Health". Contact the Curriculum Analyst for an official list of all courses in order to submit Curriculog proposal to initiate this type of change. 
          
          

    5. Changing Degree Designation. To propose a degree designation change, you must submit a request that should include a memo addressing the rationale for the change. A rationale would typically be one or two paragraphs long and should refer explain why this degree designation is necessary. There is no prescribed format, but the Chancellor's Office guidance indicates that a rationale may address disciplinary convention, recruitment issues, employer concerns, or the degree designations used at other CSU campuses or at public or private institutions across the country, for example. Please submit this as a memo (From: Department Chair; To: Provost) in Curriculog (use the form called: *Memo Routing - Curricular). Be sure to check off Undergraduate Studies Committee (UGS) or Graduate Studies & Research Committee (GS&R) and Curriculum & Research Committee (C&R) for the field titled: Check ALL That Apply. University Committee Review Required*. 

• Approval Process

  • The Minor Program Revision Curriculog Form will be routed for recommendation of approval as follows: 

    1. Department Curriculum Committee (optional in Curriculog)
    2. Department Chair
    3. College Curriculum Committee/Associate Dean
    4. Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education or Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
       
       

    The Major Program Revision Curriculog Form will be routed for recommendation of 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 & 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 (name or degree designation changes)
       
       

    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.

• Annual Catalog Review

  • The Annual Catalog Review allows departments to make editorial revisions to the catalog, which may include adding existing courses as electives/options. This is usually sent annually to department chairs and directors for review in February to March.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do all program revisions require an updated roadmap?

  • Only if your updates affect the roadmap. It is always good practice to double check. Roadmaps are only required for undergraduate programs.

• What's the difference between a BA/BS or MA/MS?

  • See the WASC Degree Definitions Guide [pdf] [pdf]. For BA/BS degrees, please also see University Policy F88-9 [pdf] [pdf].

• How do I change my program name? 

  • Use the Major Program Revision process to update your program name and/or degree designation (BA/BS/MA/MS).

• What is the difference between a concentration and a specialization or track or emphases?

  • The CSU does not define concentrations, tracks, emphases, or specializations differently. 

    At SJSU, only concentrations are listed on the student's diploma and are allowed a stand-alone page in the Academic Catalog. A program may add a track, emphasis, or specialization to their program by simply submitting a minor program revision (unless a major program revision applies, e.g. if a new specialization will require new courses or otherwise increase the need for department resources) as long as the curriculum is in compliance with EO 1071.

• What is EO 1071 and how does this affect my proposals for concentrations or tracks/emphases/specializations?

  • In order to be in compliance with Executive Order (EO) 1071 and University Policy S14-9 [pdf] [pdf], a subprogram (e.g. concentration, specialization, track, emphasis) within degree program must constitute represent less than 50 percent of the major requirements within a degree program, which could include preparation for the major, core courses, and major requirements, including culminating experience units (project, portfolio, or 299).