Effective: April 21, 2025

Policy Review Date: YEAR

Policy Executive: Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs

Responsible Office/Unit: Faculty Senate

Policy Statement:

Applicability:

Content:

          Policy
          Appendix A – Rule for Degrees Procedure

(1) Exceptions to the credit limits for BAS, BA and BS degree programs as defined in CWU 501-02 may be granted by the faculty senate upon justification by the proposing department. Justification must include, but not be limited to, documentary evidence of the following:

A. Standards established by a national accrediting organization for the program. The accreditation process must accredit the program, not the student.

B. Programs of similar content and size offered at comparable institutions of higher education.

C. Contemporary employment practices in the involved profession.

(2) General Education Requirements.
The general education requirements must be completed by all bachelor's degree recipients. The general education requirements with the exception of the culminating experience must be completed by all associate of arts degree receipts.

(3) New degree types:
The description, specifications, and requirements of a new degree type and level are to be determined by the FSCC – See Appendix A.

(4) Graduate Degrees

A. Master of Arts (M.A.). The Master of Arts degree designation is appropriate for those graduate study programs in the arts, humanities and certain social science areas as determined by the graduate council.

B. Master of Science (M.S.). The Master of Science degree designation is appropriate for those graduate study programs in the sciences, mathematics, certain social sciences and other fields not covered by the Master of Arts or other professional degree designations.

C. Master of Education (M.Ed.) The Master of Education is used in a professional area with a distinct professional practice emphasis.

D. Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) The Master of Fine Arts is recognized as the terminal degree in the creative arts, such as fine arts/studio art, poetry, creative writing, play/screenwriting, film as well as theatrical acting, design and direction. The M.F.A. degree indicates a high level of professional competence in the discipline and the mastery of a particular medium and/or creative art form. The 90-credit degree program is comprised of concentrated study in a creative discipline, bolstered by advanced study of the discipline’s history and criticism, literature, other related electives, and most often culminating in a studio/thesis project.

E. Master of Music (M.M.). The Master of Music is a professional graduate degree in the musical arts. The course of study is divided into three components. The student must complete a minimum of one-third of study in a specific major in the discipline (ex. composition, performance, music education, conducting, etc.); one-third in supportive courses in music; and one-third of elective studies in supportive areas.

F. Master of Professional Accountancy (M.P.A.)

G. Master of Arts for Teachers (M.A.T.)

H. Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is a professional graduate degree in public health and population health sciences. The course of study is comprised of: (1) foundational and specialized content courses, and (2) applied experiences in public health research or practice.

I. Master of Applied Science (M.A.S.). The Master of Applied Science is a graduate degree designed for programs with curriculum focused on applied knowledge and research in a scientific, technical, or professional field.

J. Educational Specialist degree (Ed.S), The Educational Specialist degree is a terminal academic degree providing training above the master’s degree level, but below the doctoral level. Specialist programs generally involve two years of coursework and practica followed by an intensive internship. Specialist programs typically require in excess of 90-quarter hours of coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree, or approximately 45-quarter hours beyond a masters degree.

K. Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) The Master of Business Administration is a graduate degree focused on business and management principles, preparing students for leadership roles through a comprehensive understanding of key business functions like management, accounting, finance, marketing, analytics, supply chain, and strategy, and combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills to tackle complex business challenges.

(5) Undergraduate Degrees

A. Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). The Bachelor of Arts degree designation is reserved for those undergraduate programs which consist primarily of liberal arts study. They include approximately one-third study of general education, one-third study in a specialization, and one-third study in free electives. Majors may not exceed 75 quarter credits, unless approved by the faculty senate, and the minimum number of credits required for the degree is 180 including 60 credits of upper-division course work.

B. Bachelor of Science (B.S.). The Bachelor of Science degree designation is reserved for those undergraduate programs which emphasize the study of science, or a technical or professional field. They include the general education requirements, a specialization and free elective courses. Majors may not exceed 110 quarter credits unless approved by the faculty senate. Usually the recipient of the B.S. is ready for immediate entrance into a career in the field of specialization. The minimum number of credits required for the degree is 180 including 60 credits of upper-division course work.

C. Bachelor of Arts in Education (B.A.Ed.). The Bachelor of Arts in Education degree designation is reserved for undergraduate programs which are intended to prepare teachers. They include the general education requirements, major/minor, professional education study, and free elective courses. The minimum number of credits required for the degree is 180 including 60 credits of upper-division course work.

D. Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.). The Bachelor of Music degree designation is reserved for those undergraduate programs which are intended to prepare students for professional careers in music. They include the general education requirements, a specialization, and free elective courses. Majors shall be limited according to the policy governing professional degrees. The minimum number of credits required for the degree is 180 including 60 credits of upper-division course work.

E. Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.). The Bachelor of Fine Arts is the initial professional degree in art and design. It is designed to prepare students for significant roles in society as professional practitioners, educators and designers of visual art and associated media. The B.F.A. also prepares art students for graduate study in visual art and its allied fields of study. The degree is comprised of a general education component, a specialization in graphic design or studio art, and free electives. Students are required to complete 180 credits of course work including 60 credits of upper-division course work.

F. Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.). The Bachelor of Applied Science degree designation is reserved for those undergraduate programs that emphasize an applied technical or professional field. They include upper division general education requirements, a specialization in a major, and electives. Majors may not exceed 110 quarter credits unless approved by the faculty senate. Usually the recipient of the B.A.S. has an applied technical degree from a community college. The minimum number of credits required for the degree is 180 including 60 credits of upper-division course work.

(6) Associate of Arts Degree (A.A)

A. The Associate of Arts degree offers a foundation of general education supplemented with elective or introductory major courses.

1. Students are required to complete 90 credits of course work.
2. Credits from courses taken at the 400-level may not be applied towards completion of the AA degree.

B. The degree is composed of a general education component (with the exception of the culminating experience credits), and free elective courses.

C. No discipline- or interdisciplinary-specific associate of arts programs will be offered.

(7) Listing Program Requirements

A. All courses required for a major, minor, certificate, or graduate course of study, including prerequisites and specific general education courses, must be listed as requirements in the course of study and the credits must be included in the degree program total. Completion of academic writing I, quantitative reasoning, or any knowledge area within the general education program is exempt from this requirement.

B. All pre-admission course requirements, including specific general education course, are to be listed as requirements in the course of study and the credits must be included in the degree program total. Completion of academic writing I, quantitative reasoning, or any knowledge area within the general education program is exempt from this requirement.

C. All majors that require a specific minor or certificate are required to list the number of credits for that minor or certificate in their course of study for the major degree program and include them in the credit total.

D. Majors that require minors or additional credits that are not specified must include catalog information that informs students of the additional requirements and the possible credit impact on their degrees.

E. All teaching majors are required to list the Professional Education Program, or approved alternative program, credits in the course of study for the major degree program and include them in the credit total.

History: 

07/2009; Responsibility: Faculty Senate; Authority: Provost/Executive VP for Academic Affairs; Reviewed/Endorsed by Provost’s Council 04/29/2014; 06/03/18; 04/06/2019; 06/20/2023 12/12/2023, 03/26/24; Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 06/04/2014; 06/13/18; 2/20/2019; 06/12/2019; 06/14/2023; 08/02/2023; 02/14/2024; 05/29/2024; 4/21/2025; Approved by: A. James L. Wohlpart, President
Reformatted and Assigned new Policy Number - Previous Policy CWUP 5-50-070, June 2025
Procedure CWUR 2-50-070 attached as Appendix A, June 2025

Appendix A - Rules for Degrees

(1) New Degree Types

A. Originator needs to submit:

1. Degree type (B.A., B.S., M.A., etc.)
2. Degree type description

B. Once approved by the BOT, the degree type description will be added to CWU 501-07 and follow policy and procedure approval process.

1. Justification for the new degree type

C. Consultation and Approval Process

1. New undergraduate degree types must be submitted to the FSCC. A representative of the originator should be present to answer questions during the meeting in which the FSCC reviews the proposed new degree type.
2. New graduate degree types should be submitted to the Graduate Council. Once approved by the Graduate Council, the FSCC will review the new degree type. A representative should be present to answer questions during both the Graduate Council and FSCC review meetings.
3. Degree types must be approved by Faculty Senate.
4. Degree types then are forwarded to the Provost Council and then the Executive Leadership Team.
5. Degree types must be approved by the Board of Trustees (BOT).
6. Degree types must be submitted to NWCCU.