Any changes to a degree, emphasis, certificate, or minor must be proposed, reviewed and approved. The process of review and approval depends upon the type of change being proposed, and whether it is considered a minor change, a moderate change, or a substantial change. Please note: any change that involves modifying the title of the program, even a minor wording change (e.g., changing from “studies” to “science”), must be approved at all levels of campus and by MDHE. For more information on what constitutes the various levels of change, refer to the Provost Office page.
The process for making changes to degree program begins with the department curriculum committee and may require the approval of the division curriculum committee, the dean, the Graduate Faculty Senate, and the Dean of the Graduate School, prior to the approval by both the Provost and the Chancellor. Once approved by the Provost and the Chancellor, the proposed changes will be forwarded to the UM System Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs for approval and transmittal to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE).
The process of proposing a new academic program or requesting a change to an existing program will move online utilizing the Curriculum Inventory Management (CIM) academic proposal system. This online form will guide proposers through the collection of all required information. The automated workflow approval process collects all of the required sign-offs, and the system provides up-to-date information on the status of any proposal. All requests must be submitted using this CIM programs automated process.
To begin a program change proposal, log in the CIM Programs system.
The online form in CIM Programs will guide you through the information required to submit your proposal.
Dual Master’s Programs
Dual master’s programs are comprised of previously approved master’s degree programs. These programs allow students to share credit hours between academic programs, decreasing the number of credit hours that would be required to complete two separate master’s degree. Click here for dual master’s program guidelines.
Justification for the dual degree as well as the dual degree program requirements will be required In the CIM Programs system. Once in CIM, the proposal will be reviewed by the appropriate department chair and the college/school dean. Next, the proposal must be reviewed and approved by the Academic Affairs Committee and Graduate Faculty Senate. No approval is required beyond the Graduate Faculty Senate. The Dean of the Graduate School and the Office of the Provost will be notified of approvals.
Accelerated Graduate Programs
Accelerated programs are based upon existing graduate degree programs. Such programs are created for high-achieving students with the ability to complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree at an accelerated pace. Students in these programs will be admitted as provisional graduate students to the accelerated program and can take up to 15 hours of credit that will count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees (shared credits). Students may pursue only one accelerated master’s degree; enrollment in more than one accelerated program is not an option. The process for approving accelerated programs requires completing the Accelerated Graduate Program Proposal and submitting it as an attachment to a CIM Programs change proposal.
Once in CIM, the proposal will be reviewed by the appropriate department and division curriculum committees and dean. Next, the proposal must be reviewed and approved by the Graduate Faculty Senate, Dean of the Graduate School, and the Office of the Provost.
To learn more about Accelerated Programs and their approval process, click here.
Department Name Change Proposal
Contact the Office of the Provost for the process governing department name changes, as well as mergers, consolidations, and creation of new departments, schools, or colleges.