The purpose of this Web page is to provide complete and authoritative information on the development of graduate curriculum proposals and graduate course proposals. There are different types of both curriculum and course proposals. Therefore, this page will provide different sections related to each of the types of proposals.
Proposal for a New Masters or Doctoral Degree
Proposal for a New Graduate Certificate
Renewal of a Graduate Certificate
New Graduate Course or Extensive Changes to an Existing Graduate Course or Program
Minor Changes to an Existing Graduate Course or Program
Proposal for Establishment or Renewal of an Academy
Proposal for New Masters or Doctoral Degree
The development of new graduate programs is primarily the responsibility of the faculty. Any academic department or departments that are interested in establishing a new graduate degree or program concentration, should discuss their ideas with the appropriate College Dean or Deans. If discussion with the Dean(s) indicates that the idea warrants further consideration, the academic department will need to prepare a feasibility study. The feasibility study must follow the guidelines and processes presented in “The University of North Carolina at Charlotte Graduate Program Feasibility Planning” document. (A PDF version of the document may be obtained by clicking on the document’s title in the previous sentence.) The University of North Carolina at Charlotte Graduate Program Feasibility Planning document also provides a detailed discussion of the procedural steps that must be completed in proposing a new masters or doctoral degree and the deadline dates for the receipt of such proposals.
If the new degree receives the required on-campus approvals, the proposing department or departments will need to complete either a "Notification of Intent to Plan a New Master's Degree (PDF File) (Microsoft Word File)"or a "Request for Authorization to Plan a New Doctoral or First Professional
Degree Program (PDF File) (Microsoft Word File)."
If the intent to plan a master's or doctoral degree program receives approval from the UNC General Administration, the department or departments will be required to complete a "Request for Authorization to Establish a New Degree Program (PDF File) (Microsoft Word File)."
(Note: The guidelines for developing new degree proposals presented in this section are based on the UNC Policy Manual Chapter 400.1.1 Academic Program Development Procedures .) (Top of Page)
Proposal for a New Graduate Certificate
A graduate certificate normally consists of a coherent 12-15 hour program proposed by
an academic unit and approved by the Graduate Council. To initiate a new graduate
certificate, the academic unit or units making the proposal should discuss the idea with
the appropriate College Dean or Deans. If the proposal is endorsed by the College, the
unit should follow the procedure for certificate program approval that has been
established by the Graduate Council. Both the "Graduate Certificate Proposal Format" and the "Procedure for Certificate Program Approval" are described in the document entitled "The Graduate Certificate." (Top of Page)
Renewal of Graduate Certificates
Graduate Certificates are approved for a five year period. At the end of the five years, the Certificate may be renewed. The renewal process is outlined in the document entitled "Graduate Certificate Renewal." (Top of Page)
New Graduate Course or Extensive Changes to an Existing Graduate Course or Program
New graduate courses, major changes to an existing graduate course or major changes to an existing graduate program require completion of the long curriculum form. The "Format for Long Form Course and Curriculum Proposal" document provides a detailed listing of the elements that must be included in a long form proposal. [Note: If the curriculum proposal is for a new graduate course, the UNC Charlotte Graduate Council requires that the course syllabus included with the new course proposal meet certain prescribed guidelines. These guidelines are presented in the "Boiler Plate for Syllabi for New/Revised Graduate Courses" document. All new course proposals must also include a "Library Consultation" form.]
Once the long form proposal is written, it is reviewed at a number of different levels within the University. The "Routing Procedures for Long Form Course and Curriculum Proposals" and the "Long Signature Sheet" provide information on the routing process and necessary signatures needed for approval. (Top of Page)
Minor Changes to an Existing Graduate Course or Program
Minor course changes (change in course number, change in pre-requisites, editorial changes to course description, etc.) and/or minor program changes (change in course numbers of required or elective courses in the program, the addition of approved courses to the list of electives in the program, editorial changes in the catalog copy of the program, etc.) may be submitted via a memo (short) curriculum form. The "Memo Form Course and Curriculum Proposal" document provides an example of the format that should be used for this type of curriculum change.
Once the memo describing the minor course or program change is written, it is reviewed at different levels within the University. The "Routing Procedures for Short Form Course and Curriculum Proposals" and the "Short Signature Sheet" provide information on the routing process and necessary signatures needed for approval. (Top of Page)
Proposal for Establishment or Renewal of an Academy
The Academy was conceived as an “overlay” organization, one that would not fit into the academic structure of departments and colleges; rather, it would combine people in different colleges and departments, inside and outside Academic Affairs, along with individuals from off-campus, who are working for common goals not capable of fulfillment within existing units. The department remains a permanent home base for promotion and tenure, while the Academy is more transitory, responding to shorter-term needs. Although Academies have a definite structure during their existence, they are covered by a “sunset rule.” This means that they are created for fixed terms, and go out of existence when the term ends unless a decision is made to continue them. Thus, new academies are periodically created and others have disappeared. The document entitled "Academies at UNC Charlotte" describes the procedures for establishing and renewing an Academy. (Top of Page) |
