Academic Certificates and Degrees
A degree is a program which is made up of a course of study or curriculum. There are several distinct degrees depending upon time and orientation of the course work.
- Certificate — a credential awarded for completion of requirements entailing at least one year but generally less than two years of full-time academic effort. [Certificates may be postgraduate or of a professional nature when an individual has met predetermined qualifications specified by an agency or association.] [SBOE policy requires 7 credits.]
- Associate (Associate of Arts, Associate of Science) — lower division undergraduate academic program, normally about two (2) years of college study (i.e., at least 60 semester credits) or its equivalent in depth and learning experience.
- Baccalaureate (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, BBA, BFA, BM, etc.) — an undergraduate program representing about four (4) years of college study (i.e., at least 120 semester credits) or its equivalent in depth and quality of learning experience.
- Major Concentration for a bachelor’s degree – the specific area of coursework (core) that prepares a student to achieve a knowledge base for a program that is discipline-specific. Normally the major concentration accounts for 30-50% of a total degree minus general education (university foundation) requirements (25 to 42 credits). Exceptions may include: interdisciplinary, stackable programs (e.g., DID BA – Digital Innovation and Design) or non-discipline specific programs such as BAS – Bachelor of Applied Science, IPS – Interdisciplinary Professional Studies, or IDS – Interdisciplinary Studies, etc.). [Revised and approved as guidelines by UCC 4/18/2024]
- Master — academic or professional
- Academic Master (Master of Arts, Master of Science) — first graduate degree, normally at least one (1) year (i.e., 30 semester credits) of post-baccalaureate study or the equivalent.
- Professional Master (MBA, MPA, MSW, MPT, etc.) — professional program requiring about one (1) to two (2) years of post-baccalaureate study or equivalent. This degree requires extensive undergraduate preparation.
- Doctorate — academic or professional
Academic Program Components
- Major — specific area of course work that prepares a student to achieve a knowledge base for the program. Normally the major concentration accounts for 30 to 50 percent of the total degree requirements (e.g., for a 120 semester credit BS major, credits would vary between 36 – 60).
- Minor — refers to a secondary area of course work in a discipline which supports, or is adjunct to the major. Normally the minor accounts for 14 to 25 percent of the total degree requirements (e.g., for a 120 semester credit bachelor’s degree, the minor component would vary between 17 – 30 credits).
- Emphasis — alternative within a major that is secondary, and supports or is adjunct to the major course work. Normally accounts for 50 percent of the major requirements (e.g., if the major consists of 40 semester credits, excluding general education requirements, the emphasis would be 20 semester credits). An emphasis is displayed on a student’s diploma and transcript as part of the major. [Revised and approved as guidelines by UCC 4/18/2024]
- Option — alternative within a major, that is secondary and supports or is adjunct to the major. Normally accounts for 20 to 49 percent of the major requirements (e.g., if the major consists of 40 semester credits, excluding general education semester credits, the option would vary between 8 to 19 semester credits). An option is displayed on a student’s diploma and transcript as part of the major. [Revised and approved as guidelines by UCC 4/18/2024]