Program Proposals

Proposals for revisions to any Sonoma State degree, minor, concentration or emphasis program must be submitted in Curriculog and will be reviewed by the Educational Policies Committee (EPC). The Committee will refer to program review documents, which provide evidence for the need for curricular changes.

Departments that have not completed a program review in more than five years may not be able to present adequate rationale or evidence for revisions to existing programs. Departments looking to make curriculum changes to Sonoma State majors should reference CSU’s Guidelines when creating and finalizing their proposal. Curriculum changes to the number of units required for a degree program must be reported to the Chancellor's Office. Departments looking to make curriculum changes to a program by 25% may require WASC approval.

Types of Revisions

Revisions can include:

• Changing a Degree Title or Suggesting a New Code (PDF)
• Degree Designation Change (PDF)
• WSCUC Distance Education Determination: Changing modality for Existing Programs Updated 9/20/22
• Converting Pilots to Regular Program Status (PDF)
• Guidance for Proposing ITEP Programs (PDF)
• Program Discontinuation (PDF)
• Adding Options, Concentrations, Emphases, and Minors (PDF) Updated 9/26/22
• Guidance for Certificates and Certificate Programs (PDF)
• Adding a Self-Support Version of a State-Support Offering (PDF)
• Converting from Self Support to State Support (PDF)
• EPC Policy on Off-Site Programs
• Substantive Changes to Existing Programs (PDF)

Concentrations, Options, Specializations, or Electives

All programs must be in compliance with Executive Order 1071 and Senate Policy 14-9:

Concentrations, options, specializations or electives within degree program must constitute less than half of the units required in the program, which could include preparation for the major, core courses, and major requirements, including culminating experience units (project, portfolio, or 299). Concentrations must also abide by the following requirement:

• For Undergraduate Programs: At least 10% of the units for the degree must have a unique set of requirements for that concentration.
• For Graduate Programs: At least 30% of the units for the degree must be a unique set of requirements for that concentration.

Major Changes to Existing Programs

Program revisions seeking to request any of the following are considered major when:

• Proposals with impact on other disciplines, including all program name changes.
• Proposals requiring an increase in resources.
• Proposals seeking to increase program total units, for undergraduate programs include a 2-year and 4-year degree roadmap. 
• Changing a Degree Name
  • Complete a memo requesting the name change:
  • Changing the name of an existing degree or concentration may be permitted so long as the new name conforms to the existing CSU-assigned HEGIS/CIP code for the degree. Some names (e.g., architecture) are restricted. Please see CIP Resources for more information.
• Changing Degree Designation
  • Changing a BA to BS, or a similar change in degree category, is considered a new degree for the campus and must follow procedures for new degrees, including prior Chancellor's Office approval before the new designation can be publicized. Condensation of a BA into an existing BS or vice-versa requires official discontinuation of one degree but is otherwise an “Academic Major/Minor Curriculum Change”, please use the New Degree Proposal form in Curriculog to submit this request.

Delivering Your Revision

• Proposals for changes to degree, minor, concentration or emphasis program will be reviewed by Academic Programs, General Education SubCommittee (if applicable), School Curriculum Committee, the School Dean, the Graduate Studies Subcommittee (if applicable) , EPC, the Senate, the President, Chancellor's Office (for Name or Degree Designation Changes only).
• Enter your Program Revision proposal in Curriculog.

Any subprogram that is seeking to elevate their program to a full degree must prepare a proposal as if it was a new degree, in that it must reflect the needs of the students and the state, be broadly based, and demonstrate depth, relevance and applicability to the real world of work.

View the CSU Office of the Chancellor guidance document Elevating Options and Concentrations to Full Degree Major Programs

View the Elevating Options or Concentrations to a Full Degree Program Template.doc

Launch an Elevation to Full Degree Form in Curriculog. 

In addition departments must upload the following to their proposal in Curriculog: 

1. A program overview, a description of the program’s fit with the institutional mission or institutional learning outcomes, and a rationale for elevating the option or concentration at this time;
2. The proposed catalog copy including the program description, degree requirements and admission requirements, (including course catalog numbers, titles, course units), and admission requirements. For master’s degrees, please also include catalog copy describing the culminating experience requirement(s);
3. A side-by-side comparison showing the course requirements of the existing degree major and concentration on one side and the proposed new major on the other;
4. A comprehensive assessment plan addressing all assessment elements and a curriculum map matrix showing where student learning outcomes are introduced (I), developed (D), and mastered (M);
5. Enrollment numbers in the option for the past three to five years;
6. Teach-out policy language to accommodate those students who will complete the original program with the option or concentration;
7. Evidence the current option will be discontinued once all existing students exit the program;
8. Documentation of the campus approval process with written evidence of continued administrative support to sustain the stand-alone program.

Overview of Certificate Programs

A certificate program teaches a coherent set of skills that does not lead specifically to a degree, but may be practically oriented towards professional occupations.

Certificate programs may include international programs. Certificate programs may offer academic credit or CEUs (Continuing Education Units). Award of the certificate will be noted on the student's transcripts. The program coordinator shall verify completion of requirements. 

Certificates offered through self-support, require students to apply for certification through the School of Extended and International Education (SEIE). 

Types of Credit Certificates

Within the certificate program, there are two types of certificate tracks students can pursue:

Academic Credit Certificate

Certificate programs which award academic credits that may be applicable towards an undergraduate or graduate degree.

• The curriculum must consist of a carefully defined set of courses, including an appropriate mechanism for practical application of theoretical knowledge such as an internship.
• When appropriate, the certificate will be offered in conjunction with a professional organization and will adhere to guidelines and standards specified by such organizations.
• A minimum of two-thirds of the required units must be graded on an A-F basis.
• All course work used to satisfy the requirements of a certificate must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for undergraduate and 3.0 for post-baccalaureate certificates.
• The Faculty Coordinator or Student Services Professional Advisor will be responsible for the review process employed and recommendation as to the appropriateness of a student's academic background for admission to the program.
• Undergraduate certificate programs: In order to be admitted to an undergraduate certificate program, a candidate must have completed 60 units of undergraduate courses with a 2.0 GPA with exceptions permitted upon presentation of special justification.
• Graduate certificate programs: In order to be admitted to a graduate certificate program, a candidate must have attained post baccalaureate standing in accordance with standard admission requirements and procedures.

If the academic credit certificate is not self-supporting, the routing for approval of academic credit certificates is department approval associated with the certificate, Academic Programs, EPC, the Academic Senate, the provost and president. If the academic credit is self-supporting or partially self-supported, the School of Extended and International Education is included in the approval process.

View the current offering of academic credit certificates

Non-Academic Credit Certificate

With almost 7,000 students enrolled each year and a dedication to providing quality attention to students, the School of Extended and International Education at Sonoma State University is always looking for new instructors who have a passion for sharing their knowledge with others. The SEIE instructors are working professionals, noted specialists and experts in the fields they are teaching. To learn more about pursuing non-academic credits or professional development certificates, visit SEIE.

Process for Initiating New Courses and Programs

Individual faculty members, staff, departments, programs or schools of the University, or community members, may initiate proposals for new programs and courses. Self-support proposals will be submitted to the School of Extended and International Education Curriculum Committee, which will determine format and required information. Proposals that do not meet the criteria for creation will be returned to the originator for revision with suggestions from the SEIE Curriculum Committee. Once the Academic Senate has approved a proposal, substantial changes to the information in the original proposal must be submitted for further review.

All proposals will be reviewed for appropriate content, quality and instructor qualifications. The purpose of the proposal review process is to:

• assess duplication of existing courses/programs in the stateside offerings;
• ensure curricular review and offerings in academic unit;
• assess resources available to sustain program; and
• assess merit and alignment to the academic mission of SSU.