What is a new program?
“A ‘new program’ is brand-new … [it] has substantially different program requirements and substantially different learning outcomes from those of any existing approved programs offered by the institution” – University of Waterloo IQAP
New programs include both new academic programs (i.e., a defined set of requirements - honours or general, regular or co-operative - common to a particular degree) and new academic plans (i.e., a defined set of requirements that leads to a particular credential). For example, a new degree program (e.g., Bachelor of Commerce) or a new major in an existing degree program (e.g., Bachelor of Science in Zoology) would both be considered new programs.
A proposal for a new undergraduate minor, option, etc. is not considered a new program according to the IQAP, but rather is considered a major modification.
Examples of new programs
- A university has a major program in Spanish that focuses on language and wishes to create a program in Spanish Studies that focuses on cultural studies. The Spanish Studies program would be viewed as a new program.
- A university has a minor program in X and wishes to create a major. The new major would be viewed as a new program.
- A university offers a BA in Linguistics. It now wishes to offer a BSc in order to draw on its growing research strength in Neurolinguistics. The BSc would be viewed as a new program.
How to propose a new program
Proposals for new programs go through four phases: preparation, proposal development, approval, and implementation and follow-up.
Anyone considering proposing a new program, as defined above, should contact the Academic Quality Enhancement Office (AQuE) as early as possible in the conceptual stages. The AQuE team hosts an information session, on an as-needed basis, about the process.
Note: The new program proposal is added to the Kuali Curriculum Management system during the approval phase.