AAC: New Major Approval Guidelines

Guidelines for proposals of new majors

According to the faculty handbook, the Academic Affairs Committee “approves and disapproves new courses and new minor programs, as well as reviewing and making recommendations to the faculty on new majors or other alterations in the curriculum.” Upon reviewing a new major proposal, the Committee will provide feedback to the department and/or program submitting the new major and make a recommendation to Faculty Council whether or not to approve the new major. The submitting department and/or program should then meet with Faculty Council to decide whether to bring the proposal to the full faculty for discussion and a vote; if the proposal is brought to the whole faculty, the Academic Affairs Committee will present its recommendation whether or not to approve the new major.

Proposals for new majors should include:

• Name(s) of the department(s), program(s), and/or faculty proposing the major.
• Title of the proposed major.
• An explanation of the intellectual content of the new major.
• A list of learning goals for the major, including a discussion of how these learning goals meet university learning goals.
• A rationale for why a new major should exist, including an explanation of why a double major or minor would not suffice and discussions of similar programs at peer institutions. Where relevant, this rationale should also explain the relationship of the proposed major to developments in the field.
• A demonstration of the recent student interest, or demand, for a major in this area, including information about how many students have completed minors (where applicable) and/or multi-field majors in the area(s) in the past few years and about whether the new major is likely to attract new applicants.
• A plan for the assessment of student learning (the state requires this); the plan should be reviewed by the assessment committee.
• A plan for defining and evaluating the success of this major.
• A list of potential paths for students post-graduation, including a discussion of what the proposing department(s), program(s), and/or faculty envision students doing after graduation and how the major will contribute to later success.
• A list of course requirements for the proposed major and a justification for inclusion of these courses that addresses how each course contributes substantively to the major, distinguishes between core requirements and electives, and explains whether an SYE is required or optional. Please list all possible courses and faculty who teach them.
• At least one sample four-year plan for a student entering with an intention to undertake this major. The proposal should also address how a student could enter the major by starting in the second year.  An ideal plan would include one semester of study off-campus.
• An explanation of how the major would affect staffing in the home department(s) and/or program(s). Because AAC assumes that all majors have effects on staffing, please explain how course enrollments will change, who will develop and teach required new courses, whether courses included in the proposed major can be taught by existing faculty or will require new hires, and how faculty leaves might affect course offerings, especially in the core courses required for the major.
• A list of other resources needed to support the proposed major (e.g. office or lab space, academic support staff, capital items, library resources, etc.).

A list of the offices, committees, and/or campus groups that were consulted during the preparation of the proposal (e.g. ISAC, Advising, Admissions, AAC, Faculty Council, departments with recently-passed new majors, etc.).