Major modifications

Major modifications are approved initially at the Department/School level and Faculty level (which includes the relevant Faculty Undergraduate or Graduate Committee and Faculty Council).

Subsequently, the major modification is submitted to Senate Undergraduate Council or Senate Graduate and Research Council which reviews the modification and makes a recommendation to Senate, and then it is finally approved by Senate. Graduate major modifications must be submitted using the required forms from Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. 

It can also be challenging to tell whether a modification is a "new program", “major modification” or “minor modification.” The Quality Council has provided examples to help define what constitutes a “new program” versus a “major modification.” If there is uncertainty as to whether a change is major or minor, the program should contact the AQuE Office. The AVPA or AVPGSPA will be the final arbiter for decisions with regards to major modifications for undergraduate and graduate programs.

Major modifications are not subject to Quality Council (QC) approval; however, all major modifications are submitted annually and subject to review by the QC.

Does a particular major modification require student consultation?

Requires current student consultation before implementation. Does not require current student consultation before implementation but may require other data to support rationale.
  • Changes to the name of a program, minor, diploma, certificate, option, field, or specialization (with or without changing learning outcomes), where the name is significantly different and/or may affect students' career choices,

Example: "Environmental Science" to "Environmental Studies."
  • Changes to the name of a program, minor, diploma, certificate, option, field, or specialization, where the name change expands on the degree and therefore bears little effect on students' career choices or has a slightly positive effect.

Example: "Environmental Science" to "Environmental Science and Technology."

*Adding or removing an 's' is considered a minor modification, e.g., "Environmental Science" to "Environmental Sciences."
  • Changes to, or closure of programs, minors, diplomas, certificates, options, pathways, fields or specializations.
  • Merger of two or more programs.
  • Significant changes to modes of delivery.
  • Changes to enrolment options.
  • Changes to the language of delivery.
  • Changes to the program learning outcomes that do not meet the threshold of a new program.
  • Changes to roughly 30% or more of the required courses.
  • Addition of new options, minors, undergraduate diplomas, pathways, fields, specializations.
  • Addition of new modes of delivery.
  • Addition of enrolment options.
  • Significant changes to faculty or resources.
  • Significant changes to admission requirements where it affects learning outcomes.
  • Joining an existing graduate collaborative program.
  • Creation of a new graduate collaborative program (although not considered a new program, Proposal Volume I will be required).
  • Creation of a new for-credit undergraduate diploma. (May be subject to Ministry of Colleges and Universities approval - contact IAP).
  • Creation of a new Type 1 GDip. Type 2 and 3 GDips are considered new programs and go through an expedited approval process.

*All name changes must be communicated to current students with an option to opt-in or out of the name change.

Is the change we are considering a major modification?

This is not an exhaustive list, and other curricular changes could also be considered major modifications. If you are unsure about whether your proposed change is considered a major modification, please consult the AQuE Office. See key contacts below. 

Undergraduate major modifications

The following are examples of major modifications to existing undergraduate programs:

a) Requirements that differ significantly from those existing at the time of the previous cyclical program review

  • Changing the program name
  • The merger of two or more programs
  • The introduction or deletion of a work experience, co-op option, internship or practicum, or portfolio
    • note: the addition of co-op to an existing program requires a Co-op Feasibility Study to be completed by Co-operative and Experiential Education; contact your Faculty Relations Manager
  • The creation, deletion or re-naming of a minor, option, specialization, diploma, or certificate (see the Registrar's Office's curriculum development guidelines)
  • Major changes to courses comprising a significant proportion of the program, where significant is defined as more than one-third of the courses
  • Closure of a program

b)  Significant changes to the learning outcomes

  • Significant changes to admissions requirements where it affects learning outcomes
  • Changes to program content, other than those listed in “a” above, that affect the learning outcomes, but do not meet the threshold for a “new program”

c) Significant changes to the faculty engaged in delivering the program and/or to the essential resources

  • Changes to the faculty delivering the program; for example, a large proportion of the faculty retires; new hires alter the areas of research and teaching interests
  • A change in the language of program delivery
  • Addition of a new pathway for college students
  • The establishment of an existing degree program at another institution or location (e.g., 2+2 and 3+2 partners)
  • The offering of an existing program substantially online where it had previously been offered in face-to-face mode, or vice versa
  • Change to full or part-time program options, or vice versa
  • Changes to the essential resources, where these changes impair the delivery of the approved program

This is not an exhaustive list, and other curricular changes could also be considered major modifications. If you are unsure about whether your proposed change is considered a major modification, please consult the AQuE Office. 

Graduate major modifications

The following are examples of major modifications to existing graduate programs:

a) Requirements that differ significantly from those existing at the time of the previous cyclical program review

  • Changing the program name
  • The merger of two or more programs
  • The introduction or deletion of a research project, research essay or thesis, course-only, co-op, internship or practicum option
    • note: the addition of co-op to an existing program requires a Co-op Feasibility Study to be completed by Co-operative and Experiential Education; contact your Faculty Relations Manager
  • The creation, deletion or re-naming of a field
  • The creation, deletion or re-naming of a graduate specialization
  • Major changes to courses comprising a significant proportion of the program, where significant is defined as more than one-third of the courses
  • Closure of a program

b)  Significant changes to the learning outcomes

  • Changes to program content, other than those listed in “a” above, that affect the learning outcomes, but do not meet the threshold for a “new program”

c) Significant changes to the faculty engaged in delivering the program and/or to the essential resources, for example, when there have been changes to the existing mode(s) of delivery (such as different campus, online delivery and inter-institutional collaboration)

  • Changes to the faculty delivering the program; for example, a large proportion of the faculty retires; new hires alter the areas of research and teaching interests; adding a new unit to a collaborative program
  • A change in the language of program delivery
  • The establishment of an existing degree program at another institution or location
  • The offering of an existing program substantially online where it had previously been offered in face-to-face mode, or vice versa
  • Addition or removal of full- or part-time program options
  • Changes to the essential resources, where these changes impair the delivery of the approved program

d) The creation of a graduate collaborative program or joining an existing one. Although not a new program, a Volume I proposal brief is required for creating new graduate collaborative programs.

This is not an exhaustive list, and other curricular changes could also be considered major modifications. If you are unsure about whether your proposed change is considered a major modification, please consult the AQuE Office. 

Major modifications checklist

  • Contact Institutional Analysis and Planning (IAP) to review the impact of the changes (e.g., enrolment, tuition, grant).
  • Contact Cooperative Education to conduct a Feasibility Study, if you are considering adding co-op or a work-integrated-learning experience.
  • Consult current students and recent graduates of the program.
  • Assess the impact the proposed modification will have on the program’s students.
  • Ensure the proposed modification is in alignment with the relevant program-level learning outcomes.
  • Provide a written rationale for the change that includes feedback from current students and recent graduates and addresses the impact on the program’s students.
  • Submit the rationale to Department/School for approval.
  • Submit the rationale to Faculty Undergraduate and/or Graduate Council for approval.
  • Submit the rationale to Faculty Council for approval.
  • Submit the rationale to SUC or SGRC for approval.
  • Secretariat submits the rationale to Senate for approval.

Key contacts

For assistance with the submission of undergraduate major modifications and all major modifications inquiries:

Maysah Eid, Quality Enhancement Coordinator – New Programs and Research, AQuE Office

For assistance with the submission of graduate major modifications:

Trevor Clews, Academic Officer, Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs