2.3.5 Exceptions to Program Length Requirements

(Last Modified January 28, 2025)   Report a broken link

SOURCE: BoR POLICY MANUAL 3.8.1, DEGREES, GENERAL

When institutions propose new or modified programs that are outside the limits of required semester hours as outlined in the Academic and Student Affairs Handbook Section 2.3.1, a rationale for a waiver of program length requirements must be submitted as part of the request. The following guided questions should be used to aid institutions in determining whether a waiver is warranted and in preparing the rationale for the request.

Curricular/Pedagogical Considerations

• How is the overall structure of the curriculum, including program learning outcomes, general education courses (for undergraduate programs), prerequisites, and course credits, consistent with state and/or national trends?
• What programs/institutions were used for benchmarking?
• Do the associated credit hours meet the federal requirement for the definition of a credit hour? (that is, 1 credit = minimum 3 hours student work per week over normal 15-week semester)
• The New Program Review webpage has a course credit hour workbook under “Curricular Resources” that breaks down this definition in different scenarios, such as experiential courses.
• How is the alignment between course assessments, course learning outcomes, and program learning outcomes? Does every program requirement satisfy a program outcome?
• Does the breadth/depth match what the typical student needs post-graduation for this degree?
• How do students’ progress through the program courses?
• Can students easily progress? Does it stand up to “pressure-testing” (that is, can the typical student complete the program of study in the ideal time frame)?
• What is the purpose for prerequisite courses, hidden or otherwise: ensuring students content knowledge, maturity, or recruitment?
• If recruitment, can those courses be elective or perhaps broadened to include a general education perspective and potentially added to Core IMPACTS?
• Are there pedagogical best practices being employed that increase the credit hour requirement in order to enhance student success?
• Is there a way to employ these practices with fewer credit hours?
• If this is considered a terminal degree (e.g., MFA), how does that impact curricular needs?

Student Considerations

• What is the impact on students? (e.g., financial aid, career preparation)
• What is the impact on student time to degree?
• Does the program have flexibility for students with prior credits?
• Are the requirements different for students with prior learning (e.g., a bachelor’s degree in the field if the program in question is a master’s)? If not, can/should they be?

External Considerations

• Are there workforce/industry/licensure/credentialling needs that require a minimum for years of experience or credit hours?
• Could these be accomplished through alternative means without adverse consequences to students, such as add-on minors, certificates or microcredentials?
• Do the program learning outcomes align with an appropriate array of occupations that match typical career paths for graduates?

Accreditation Considerations (if program is specially accredited)

• Provide an alignment between the courses/credit hours with the accreditation standards/requirements.
• Are any courses/credit hours in excess of accreditation requirements? If so, what is their purpose?

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