Undergraduate Programs
Protocol for Submitting Changes to Major/Minor Requirements
This applies to all changes, including
- Addition/Deletion of a required course (as opposed to an elective course)
- Number of credits required for major/minor
- Study Abroad/Internship requirements
- Course sequencing/pre (co)-requisite change
- Other structural changes to the major/minor
When Can Program or Degree Changes Occur?
- Additions, deletions, changes to number of or specific requirements may be made once a year. All documentation is due to the provost’s office by March 15. Requests made after March 15 will not be approved for the next academic year.
- A department may request course additions to a major, minor, or program list of “elective” requirements twice a year, by October 15 (effective spring semester) and March 15 (effective fall semester).
Checklist for Submitting Proposals to Change Majors/Minors
Please attach as first page of the proposal at each stage
Step 1. Proposed change originates in department/program
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Faculty discusses, votes and approves
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Chair/coordinator forwards a memo to the dean's office:
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Cover memo drafted and signed by chair/coordinator that must include:
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Proposed change to the major/minor
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Rationale for the proposed change
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Portrayal of former major vs. major after requested change
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Description of how the faculty voted and the vote count
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Timeline (when effective)
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Statement noting that currently matriculated students will be allowed to follow catalog of the year they matriculated OR follow the proposed changes
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Step 2. Dean's office forwards the request to the college governance structure where indicated. If approved, the governance committee forwards to the dean for approval or back to the department with comments.
Step 3. If approved by the dean, the dean sends the department/program materials and his/her own approval letter to the senior vice provost for academic affairs addressing the following items:
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Statement of change
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Rationale for change
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Department/program vote and chair/coordinator approval
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Dean statement of approval
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Timeline (when effective)
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Dean's letter cc's: Chair/Coordinator, Registrar (Melina-Sarah Elwy), Catalog Copy (responsible person in College), Admissions, Associate Director of UACC (Nate Talbot), UNH-M: Admissions and Director of Counseling
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Step 4. Provost reviews letter from dean and packet of materials from chair/coordinator. If approved, provost signs and dates letter from dean indicating approval.
Step 5. Provost's office sends (via email) the dean's letter, with provost's approval signature, to dean and all cc's on dean's letter.
Program Changes and Information Items
Degree Program/Major: Addition Requires University-level Approval
The addition of an academic degree program/major requires a two-step approval process. Step 1 requires approval of the intent-to-submit proposal by the institution’s provost. Step 2 requires approval of the institution’s formal program proposal by the institution’s president. Program additions must be reported annually to the USNH Administrative Board, the USNH Programs and Services Committee, and the full USNH Board of Trustees.
Step 1: Review of Intent-to-Submit (see proposal requirements)
The intent-to-submit proposal is approved internally by the appropriate unit, departmental, college, and, where appropriate, graduate school governance procedures.
The provost may either support the institution’s intent to develop a full proposal, with or without recommendations for improvement, or withhold support pending further development of the program concept.
If the intent is approved, the provost will inform the other institutions in the system.
Step 2: Formal Program Proposal (see proposal requirements)
The proposed addition of an academic degree program/major must be approved by the appropriate unit, departmental, college, and, where appropriate, graduate school governance procedures, and by the provost.
The institution’s president has the final approval over the addition of academic programs.
The president may either approve the program, or return the proposal to the appropriate units for further development
If approved, the provost will inform the University System office.
Deletion of a degree program/major requires university-level approval
The proposed deletion of an academic degree program/major must be approved by the appropriate unit, departmental, college, and, where appropriate, graduate school governance procedures, and by the provost.
The institution’s president has the final approval over the deletion of academic programs.
The president may either:
- approve the deletion or
- return the proposal to the appropriate units for further discussion
Program deletions must be reported annually to the USNH Administrative Board, the USNH Programs and Services Committee, and the full USNH Board of Trustees.
The name change of an academic degree program/major requires approval from the institution’s president.
The proposed name change of an academic degree program/major must be approved by the appropriate unit, departmental, college, and, where appropriate, graduate school governance procedures, and by the provost.
The institution’s president has the final approval over the name change.
The president may either:
- approve the change or
- return the proposal to the appropriate units for further discussion
Program name changes must be reported annually to the USNH Administrative Board, the USNH Programs and Services Committee, and the full USNH Board of Trustees.
Information Items: President has Final Authority
The president has sole purview over additions, deletions, or changes related to academic program minors, options, departments, and certificates.
Information items must be approved by the appropriate unit, departmental, college, and, where appropriate, graduate school governance procedures, and by the provost. The institution’s president has the final approval over information items.
The president may either:
- approve the change or
- return the proposal to the appropriate units for further discussion.
Information items must be reported annually to the USNH Administrative Board, the USNH Programs and Services Committee, and the full USNH Board of Trustees.
What are Options, Minors, Concentrations & Cognates?
Option: “Within majors of four-year programs, students often have choice among two or more ‘options.’ An option is generally a set of 15-24 required credit hours of related courses within a particular major. The term ‘option’ is reserved for baccalaureate degrees.”
Minor: “A minor is a coherent set of courses in a discipline or interdisciplinary grouping other than the major of choice. It generally consists of 20 or more credit hours.”
Concentration: “Associate degree may have concentrations, which are curricula generally consisting of 24-30 credit hours of related/sequential course work. Students may choose two or more if such course groupings for a specialized focus. The term ‘concentration’ is reserved for associate degree programs.”
Cognate: “A cognate is a coherent set of courses in a discipline or interdisciplinary grouping aimed at enhancing career-oriented skills in high demand in the employment market. A cognate will typically consist of 12 or more credits with C or better and a 2.00 grade-point average in courses in the cognate.”
Prior to preparing an academic program proposal, a representative of the proposing unit should contact the Office of Academic Affairs.
