New Major Specialization/Minor or Certificate

New Specialization or Minor Form

Program, Specialization, Minor or Certificate Deletion Form

Minor – A minor is a coherent program of study in a particular discipline that provides an area that complements or supplements the student’s major.

A minor will consist of a minimum of 20 credits and a maximum of 44 credits.

Specialization – A specialization is a coherent, focused subfield within a degree program. A specialization can be distinguished from a new degree in that the full designation of the degree title – including level, type and major – does not change when a new specialization is added.

Specializations in an undergraduate major must share a core, defined as a group of courses shared by all specializations within a major, which consists of no fewer than 25 credits for an undergraduate program or 15 credits for a graduate program. The courses constituting the specialization must consist of no fewer than 20 credits for an undergraduate program or 15 credits for a graduate program. Programs may offer options in satisfying core course requirements as long as they provide evidence that the options have equivalent student learner outcomes.

Certificate – Certificate programs are courses of study that normally require less than 25% of the credits required for a degree program at the same level.

Certificate programs may not exceed 44 credits.

Certificate programs are specialized career programs, often geared for admission to licensing or career entrance tests, and result in a certificate. Certificate programs may also be noncredit. There are three types of certificates:

Type A. College Sponsored Certificate Programs: These programs are developed, taught, and offered by academic departments housed in colleges.

Primary Target Audience: Matriculating students.

Courses: A prescribed set of regular credit-bearing courses. Administrative Sponsor: A college within CWU is responsible for all functions associated with scheduling courses, hiring faculty, delivering instruction, and confirming completion of the certificate program. CWU’s registrar office will enroll students, issue certificates on the recommendation of the college, and maintain records as part of the matriculating students’ academic record.

EXAMPLE: Supply Chain Management Certificate

Type B. Collaborative Certificate Programs: These programs are developed, taught, and offered by academic departments housed in colleges in cooperation with the office of continuing education.

Primary Target Audience: Matriculating and non-matriculating students. Courses: A prescribed set of credit-bearing courses and/or instructional experiences designed to build competency in an applied field of study. Certificate requirements may include (a) regular courses that have been developed, reviewed, and approved through CWU’s curriculum development process; and/or (b) special courses or instructional experiences designed specifically in support of the certificate program through continuing education in consultation with the appropriate college dean and academic department. Administrative Sponsor: Academic departments, consulting with college deans and faculty as appropriate, are responsible for developing curriculum, choosing appropriate faculty, and ensuring academic and instructional integrity. The office of continuing education assists as needed in these functions and in addition is responsible for marketing, registration, confirming completion of the certificate program, issuing certificates, and maintaining ongoing records.

Revenue Sharing: Revenue generated by courses in collaborative certificate programs offered through continuing education will be shared with the cosponsoring departments following the prevailing revenue sharing formula.

EXAMPLE: Wine Trade Professional Certificate

Type C. Continuing Education Certificate Programs: These programs are developed, delivered, and administered by the office of continuing education in consultation with faculty, academic departments, and/or college dean, as appropriate. Primary Target Audience: Non-matriculating students; however, matriculating students are not precluded from participating. Courses: A prescribed set of noncredit courses designed to build competency in an applied field of study. Administrative Sponsor: The office of continuing education is responsible for all phases of design and delivery.

EXAMPLE: Paramedic Operations Overview Program