Section Menu

Academic Programs

Contact Information

(209) 667-3082

Mary Stuart Rogers, MSR 380

Division of Academic Affairs

New degree program proposals require submission of a proposal to the Office of the Chancellor. 

Only the Pilot Degree Program Proposals are completed in Curriculog, a paperless curriculum management system.

Types of New Degree Program Proposals

Department chairs who plan to submit proposals for new degree major programs are asked to meet with the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs one-year prior to the planned date for submitting the proposal to the campus review processes (two years prior to the anticipated implementation date).

There are three versions of proposals to submit new degree programs to the Chancellor's Office:

For normal new degree program proposals, the following process applies: 

  1. One-page proposal requesting addition to the Academic Master Plan for the Board of Trustee Review.
    Due the 1st Friday in December each fall.
  2. Full proposal submission to the Office of the Chancellor after full campus approval.
    If no major issues raised during review, this is normally due at least six months before implementation.

A limited number of proposals that meet the fast track criteria may be implemented as 5-year "pilot programs" without prior review and comment by the Chancellor.

A notification to the Chancellor's Office of plans to establish the program, including a program description, list of curricular requirements, and confirmation that each of the six criteria apply, is required. 

While Chancellor’s Office approval is not required, a pilot program must be acknowledged by the Chancellor’s Office before the program is implemented.

The fast-track process shortens the time to implementation by allowing proposals to be submitted at the same time that the projection is proposed to the Trustees. Fast-track proposals still undergo system-level review, and the fast-track does not move the proposal through an expedited review process. 

Fast-track proposals that meet the criteria that are submitted to the Chancellor's Office, which raise no major issues can be acted on by the Board of Trustees if submitted on: 

  1. 1st Monday in January
  • Potential for full approval in July
  1. 2nd Monday in June
  • Potential for full approval in December

Notification of WASC

After campus and Chancellor's Office approvals of new degree program proposals, the Office of Academic Programs will submit the new degree program to Stanislaus State's accrediting body, WASC Senior College and University's (WSCUC) through their “screening form”.  Here is the link to the screening form. Their review will ensure that the program does not represent a significant departure from the institution’s offerings since the last reaffirmation of accreditation visit. If the program does this, a Substantive Change Review will be required.

Traditional Track

The traditional track involves a two-part program planning and implementation process.

  1. First, an updated academic plan is submitted from the campus to the Chancellor’s Office. This academic plan contains projections of new degree programs to be established in the next five years. New projections are reviewed by Chancellor’s Office staff and, when the campus and Chancellor’s Office staff agree, the updated plan is submitted to the Board of Trustees for its approval in March of each year. Trustee approval allows the campus to incorporate projected programs in its capital outlay planning.

    Submit a brief proposal to request the addition of a projected degree program to the Stanislaus State Academic Master Plan to the Office of Academic Programs no later than the first Friday in December. 

  2. Second, following the Trustee's approval of the plan, detailed proposals for the implementation of projected programs are then submitted to the Chancellor for approval. Programs that involve degrees in areas new to the CSU as well as most programs that would involve separate specialized accreditation benefit from this two-step traditional review process.

Fast Track Programs

In the traditional proposal process, a campus must submit for Trustee approval a proposed degree projection on the campus academic plan; and subsequent to Trustee approval of the projection, the campus may begin developing a degree proposal that will be submitted to the Chancellor’s Office for system-level review and approval. In the traditional process, proposals are to be submitted in the academic year preceding planned implementation.

As adopted by the Board in July 1997, the fast-track process shortens the time to implementation by allowing proposals to be submitted at the same time that the projection is proposed to the Trustees. Fast-track proposals still undergo system-level review, and the fast track does not move the proposal through an expedited review process.

To be proposed via fast-track, a degree program must meet all of the following six criteria:

  1. The proposed program could be offered at a high level of quality by the campus within the campus’s existing resource base, or there is a demonstrated capacity to fund the program on a self-support basis.
  2. The proposed program is not subject to specialized accreditation by an agency that is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors, or it is currently offered as an option or concentration that is already recognized and accredited by an appropriate specialized accrediting agency.
  3. The proposed program can be adequately housed without a major capital outlay project. Major capital outlay construction projects are those projects whose total cost is $610,000 or more (as adjusted pursuant to Cal. Pub. Cont. Code §§ 10705(a); 10105 and 10108).
  4. It is consistent with all existing state and federal law and Trustee policy.
  5. It is either a bachelor’s or master’s degree program.
  6. The proposed program has been subject to a thorough campus review and approval process.

Two deadlines:

  • The first Monday in January—for July approval
  • The second Monday in June—for December approval

IF the proposal raises no major issues, it can be acted on by the Board of Trustees.

When submitting an update to the campus academic plan, please note any fast-track degree proposals and include a very brief description of the program and a rationale for offering it through the fast-track process.

Pilot Track Programs

Pilot degree programs must meet all of the following six criteria:

  1. The proposed program could be offered at a high level of quality by the campus either within the campus’s existing resource base, or there is a demonstrated capacity and support to fund the program on a self-support basis.
  2. The proposed program is not subject to specialized accreditation by an agency that is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors, or it is currently offered as an option or concentration that is already recognized and accredited by an appropriate specialized accrediting agency.
  3. The proposed program can be adequately housed without a major capital outlay project. Major capital outlay construction projects are those projects whose total cost is $610,000 or more (as adjusted pursuant to Cal. Pub. Cont. Code § 10705(a); 10105 and 10108).
  4. It is consistent with all existing state and federal law and Trustee policy.
  5. It is either a bachelor’s or master’s degree program.
  6. The proposed program has been subject to a thorough campus review and approval process.
  7. If a self-support program, a budget must be included showing: 1) the per-unit cost to students, 2) the total cost to complete the program, and 3) a cost recovery budget. (See Pilot Program Proposal Template for required budget elements).

  1. Prior to implementation, the campus is obligated to (1) notify the Chancellor’s Office of plans to establish the program, (2) to provide a program description and list of curricular requirements, and (3) to confirm that each of the six pilot criteria apply to the pilot program. To facilitate this requirement, campuses may use the Pilot Program Proposal Template.
  2. While Chancellor’s Office approval is not required, a pilot-program must be acknowledged by the Chancellor’s Office before the program is implemented.
  3. A campus may implement a pilot program without first proposing the projection on the campus Academic Plan.  In such cases, the program will be identified as a pilot program in the next annual update of the campus Academic Plan.

    1. A pilot program is authorized to operate only for five years.
    2. If no further action is taken by the end of the five years, no new students can be admitted to the pilot program.
    3. If no further action is taken by the end of the five years, the campus is obliged to make appropriate arrangements for students already enrolled to complete the program.
    4. After five years, if a campus decides to convert the pilot program to regular program status, the campus is required to follow the procedure outlined in the Converting Pilot Programs to Regular Program Status policy.

    Useful Resources

    The following additional documents will assist faculty and administration in developing new degree programs:

    1. Policies and Procedures for New Degree Programs
    2. New Degree Program Proposal Supporting Documentation
    3. Accreditation of New Programs
    4. Degree Designation 
    5. Assessment Plan

    Updated: January 31, 2023