SECTION THREE

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

Bylaws Article VII, Section 2, of the 1998-99 Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules of the University Faculty Senate provides the authorization for the Graduate School to approve new and revised graduate programs and courses. It reads as follows:

Section 2
The faculty of the Graduate School, as represented by the Graduate Council, is delegated authority for the interests of the Graduate School except in those matters that have University-wide implications; it shall administer its own affairs subject to review by the Senate.

  1. The review process shall include a report of actions of the Graduate Council to the Senate through the Senate Council. On special motion of the Senate Council, any of those actions may be placed on the agenda of the Senate for appropriate action.
  2. The Senate Council will provide for liaison with the Graduate Council.
  3. The Dean of the Graduate School shall present an annual report to the University Faculty Senate. (Pending approval by the University Faculty Senate in the Fall of 1998.)

This delegation is interpreted by the Graduate School to include actions governing the introduction of new programs and courses, and changes in existing programs and courses.

 

A. Program, Option, or Minor Proposals

The Graduate Council Program, Option, or Minor Proposal Form must be completed when proposing program/option/minor additions, changes, or drops. Proposals for new graduate programs, extended access of graduate programs, integrated undergraduate/graduate programs, changes in graduate degree requirements, graduate program name changes, and discontinuing graduate programs all must be submitted for review through the Graduate Council. Guidelines for extended access of graduate degree programs, integrated undergraduate/graduate degree programs and dual-title degree programs are available upon request through the Dean of the Graduate School, 114 Kern Graduate Building.

All proposals must include a justification statement for action being taken. Submit 1 copy of the proposal form and 20 copies of the supporting documents to the University Curriculum Coordinator at the University Faculty Senate Office. It is important that the proposal include a copy of the program in a format suitable for inclusion in the Graduate Degree Programs Bulletin. Prepare documentation in the outline format as shown below. The proposer is reminded that the Subcommittee and Committee reviewing the proposed program may not have knowledge of the field and is encouraged to provide as much documentation as possible for the reviewers. All proposals, whether a new program or a program change, must be consecutively paginated or the proposal will be returned to the proposing unit. In addition, a table of contents needs to be included in the proposal.

  1. New programs, options*, and minors**

    1. The objectives of the program: an explanation of how the proposal meets the new educational objectives and/or strengthens existing programs of the college(s) and the University; what students may expect to accomplish through the new program; and a statement of how the new offering does not duplicate other degree programs within the department/college/University.
    2. A list of new courses to be established as a part of the new offering.
    3. A complete program statement. This should be an arrangement of courses in accordance with degree requirements and with identification of the pattern of scheduling. A list of the required courses, typical electives, etc. that will logically be taken by a student enrolling in the new program should be included. Courses that are new courses should be distinguished from existing courses. Any statement must be submitted in a format for bulletin copy with additional material if necessary (provide both a hard copy and on diskette).
    4. A statement of admission requirements should be included, i.e., required test scores, minimum junior/senior GPA, as deemed appropriate by the proposer.
    5. A justification for the program. The proposal should include a statement regarding the necessity for the program, i.e., why the program should be offered; and information on the ability of the department to offer a quality program. Included in the section should be the projected size of the program and its impact on current course offerings and faculty load as well as additional faculty advising duties.
    6. Accreditation: The proposal should include information regarding any accrediting body for the proposed program area, i.e., is there an accrediting body or board (if so, please identify); or, if appropriate to the field, will the program prepare students for licensure in the field? Programs for which accreditation exists must pursue and achieve full accreditation.
    7. Include written response from departments affected.

  2. Information and Guidelines for Establishing Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate Degree Programs

    Integrated undergraduate-graduate study provides several advantages for qualifying students: (1) It permits coherent planning of studies through the graduate degree, with advising informed by not only the requirements of the baccalaureate program, but also the longer-range goals of the graduate degree. (2) For most students, the total time required to reach completion of the higher degree will be shortened. (3) The student will have earlier contact with the rigors of graduate study and with graduate faculty. (4) The resources of the Graduate School are accessible to these students. (5) While still undergraduates, students with IUG status benefit from their association with graduate students whose level of work and whose intensity of interest and commitment parallel their own.

    APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES

    In framing these guidelines, the Graduate Council and its Committee on Programs and Courses wish to emphasize that participation in newly established and continued IUG programs is appropriate for some, but not all, students who formally meet the minimum standards for admission to such a program. In particular, minimal performance in the graduate degree portion of an IUG program serves no particular purpose, and marginally prepared students undertake such a program at great risk of failure.

    IUG programs should therefore address very clearly, in their program-specific guidelines, the issues of admission and appropriateness of the program to individual students. The selectivity of IUG programs is reflected in the small proportion of students who enroll in an IUG program in a given year. In year 1995-96, for example, only 2.7 percent of those students enrolled in baccalaureate degrees in the University Scholars Program, which is already a highly selected pool of students, were pursuing an IUG.

    IUG programs should also be specific about the mechanisms for evaluating students for admission and for monitoring and mentoring their progress in the program. Although there are many advantages to IUG programs, care must be taken to properly develop and coordinate the plans of students to ensure proper admissions procedures, an adequate level of rigor, efficient sequencing of courses, and expedient completion of the program of study. Proposals for IUG degree programs should include a draft version of a student handbook that will provide guidance for prospective students.

    Each point below should be addressed in the proposal and in the program handbook. Any other points relevant to a specific IUG program should also be addressed.

    (Approved by the Graduate Council - May 8, 1996)

  3. Changes in programs, options*, and minors** (including program name changes)

    1. A revised version of the affected area showing both the old program requirements and the new program requirements (so that the reviewers can determine what specifically is being changed). The proposal should include a side-by-side comparison of entry requirements, number of credits required, specific courses to be taken, etc. A copy of the revision to the Graduate Bulletin copy must be included, and the proposer is requested to use underlining, bolding, or italics to indicate changes.
    2. A justification for changes made, such as updating instruction, together with an indication of expected enrollments and any effects on existing programs.
    3. Include written response from departments affected by the changes.

  4. Dropping of programs, options,* and minors**

    1. A justification for the requested drop.
    2. Include written response from departments affected by the change.

__________

*An option is "a specialization within a major that involves at least one-third of the course work credits required for the major, but need not be more than 18 credits." All options within a major must have in common at least one-fourth of the required course work credits in the major. A student can only be enrolled in an option within his/her major. All programs are encouraged to use option in lieu of emphasis or track when preparing program changes or proposing new program specializations.

**A minor must be in one of the approved graduate degree programs offered at Penn State or a formal graduate minor program that has been approved by the Graduate Council and should provide valuable intellectual and/or professional breadth and depth to a student’s program. A minor must consist of a minimum of 15 credits for doctoral programs and 6 credits for master’s programs.

Prepared by the Committee on Programs and Courses 1996
Revised by the Committee on Programs and Courses 2003

The program proposal form is available at http://www.senate.psu.edu/curriculum_resources/guide/grad_proposal_form.html.
The course proposal form is available at http://www.senate.psu.edu/curriculum_resources/guide/course_proposal_form.html.

 

B. Post-Baccalaureate Credit Certificate Programs

Guidelines for Development of Post-Baccalaureate Credit Certificate Programs

  1. Post-baccalaureate credit certificate programs are designed to meet the requirements of stakeholders or needs as identified by faculty.

  2. All post-baccalaureate credit certificates should be referred to as a Penn State College/School of "X" Post-Baccalaureate Credit Certificate in (Program Area).

  3. Students in a post-baccalaureate credit certificate program must have completed a baccalaureate degree prior to enrolling in the courses in the program.

  4. Courses in post-baccalaureate credit certificate programs will adhere to existing University policies and procedures for course approval as outlined by the academic unit and the appropriate Senate and/or Graduate Committees.

  5. The individuals involved in development of the academic content of the post-baccalaureate certificate will include faculty designated by the responsible academic unit.

  6. Academic units will determine the minimum and maximum number of courses or credits to meet the requirements of certificates. Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 599; 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements. Courses below 400 level may not. To be considered graduate-level, at least half of the credits required in a post-baccalaureate certificate should be at the 500- or 800- level. Exceptions to this requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis by appeal to the Graduate Council Committee on Programs and Courses.

  7. Because the maximum number of credits taken in nondegree status that can be transferred to a graduate program is 15, it is strongly recommended that post-baccalaureate certificate programs not exceed this limit. It is recommended that there be a minimum of nine credits, with a typical certificate in the twelve- to fifteen-credit range.

  8. Whether the course in a post-baccalaureate credit certificate program will be accepted as graduate level applicable toward a Penn State degree will depend on the criteria for the graduate program as defined by the graduate degree program and the Graduate School. The academic unit proposing the post-baccalaureate certificate program must clearly specify the relationship between the coursework in the post-baccalaureate credit certificate program and any relevant graduate degree program, including in all marketing materials. The latter must be explicit in conveying that up to 15 credits of coursework taken in nondegree status can count towards a graduate degree, however, admission into a graduate program, and credit towards a graduate degree for specific courses taken in nondegree status, is up to the graduate program.

  9. All instructors teaching courses in the certificate program will be approved by the academic unit. Instructors for 500-level courses must be members of the Graduate Faculty or, if not, must be approved by the Graduate School.

    • The quality of a post-baccalaureate credit certificate program resides with the college or school, which appoints the instructors, select the courses, and supervise the program.

    • Colleges/Schools can offer post-baccalaureate programs through any appropriate Penn State delivery system.

    • Monitoring and assessing the financial viability of the post-baccalaureate credit certificate program will be a joint responsibility of the delivery system and the academic unit.

    • Each College/School in the University will have a systematic proposal development review and approval process for post-baccalaureate credit certificate programs. This process should include consultation regarding the proposed certificate offering with other relevant units1.

    • Post-baccalaureate certificate programs should include a 5-year sunset clause, with removal of the certificate offering taking effect automatically upon the preplanned termination date, unless a request for a renewal is submitted through the college/school's regular approval process. Requests for renewals must include a copy of the original proposal, and a justification for the renewal, which can be for up to 5 years. There is no limit to the number of successive renewals that can be requested per certificate program.

    • Records of all PBCCPs will be maintained by the University Faculty Senate, and a master listing of all approved, active programs posted online in the Graduate Degree Programs Bulletin, in a special section. Submission cover forms will be posted in the University Faculty Senate Guide to Curricular Procedures. Submitted post-baccalaureate credit certificate programs will be listed in the Curriculum Report (Blue Sheets). Conflicts regarding possible duplication of or other issues related to a certificate offering will be referred to the Graduate Council Subcommittee on New and Revised Programs and Courses for review and resolution.

    • Post-baccalaureate credit certificate program descriptions must adhere to the following standard format for inclusion in the Bulletin, and be submitted as MS Word files (diskette or e-mail attachment):

      Name of the PBCCP and number of credits.
      Unit and college/school offering the certificate.
      Person in charge of the PBCCP and contact information (mailing address, telephone and fax #s, e-mail address).
      Brief description of the certificate program including purpose and objectives (maximum of 1000 characters, including spaces).
      List of courses included in the certificate program, including course designation (abbreviation and number), title, and number of credits. Courses will be linked to the online master course listing for a complete description of each course in the online Bulletin.
      Effective date, and expiration date (sunset clause) of the PBCCP.
      Specific requirements (must include completion of an appropriate baccalaureate degree) for admission into the PBCCP, as applicable.

  10. The University Faculty Senate delegates authority to the Graduate Council on all graduate curricular matters, such as approval of new and revised programs and courses. Post-baccalaureate credit certificates fall within that delegated authority.

Guidelines for Seeking Academic and Administrative Approval for Post-Baccalaureate Credit Certificate Programs

  1. Each academic unit seeking approval for a post-baccalaureate credit certificate program should develop and implement its own internal procedures for reviewing such proposals.

    The following items must be addressed in the proposal:

    1. The requirements of the certificate program, including admission requirements, must be listed. Specific comments must be made regarding aspects of the program that may require special considerations.

      The responsible academic unit will certify that a marketing report and/or feasibility study has been done to establish a need for the program.

      For appropriate program delivery, the means for providing the facilities such as laboratories, library, and computing facilities, as well as supervision for the program must be indicated.

      If there is a research component, there must be appropriate research facilities (i.e., clinical or field settings, laboratories, etc.)

    2. To ensure the quality of the program, the following items must be documented:

      1. Identify the academic unit responsible for the program.

        Ensure that all 500- and 800- level courses will be delivered by faculty/instructors who are approved by the responsible academic unit and the Graduate School.

        Assurances also must be made that all 400-level courses are taught by appropriately qualified faculty/instructors who are approved by the academic unit.

        Specify the program content, location(s), and delivery mechanisms. This should include program objectives, syllabi and the mode of instruction (i.e., lecture, in-person classes plus TV, telecommunication linked courses, etc.).

        Specify how student support services (e.g., academic advising and counseling, learning support services, etc.) will be made available.

      2. The academic unit must clearly specify the relationship between the coursework in the post-baccalaureate credit certificate program and the coursework in the graduate degree program.

        • A statement identifying the organizational unit(s) which will assume the fiscal responsibility for the program must be included.

          A 5-year sunset clause should be included in the proposal, with removal of the certificate offering taking effect automatically upon the preplanned termination date, unless a request for a renewal is submitted through the regular approval process.

          The unit proposing a new post-baccalaureate certificate program should consult with all relevant units that may have a related certificate, courses or a current or future interest in the certificate program1.

        • A draft of the actual certificate that is proposed to be awarded to students must be included. Post-baccalaureate credit certificate program certificates must be designed so that they don't imply that they are graduate degree certificates.

    Upon approval of a proposed post-baccalaureate credit certificate program by the College/School Dean (or his/her designee), two copies of the following materials must all be forwarded to the University Faculty Senate Office: a) submission cover sheets with approval signature by the College/School Dean (or his/her designee); b) proposal; c) copy of the actual certificate; d) letters of cognate review as appropriate; and e) PBCCP description in Bulletin format (MS Word file). One copy of these materials will be forwarded to the Graduate School for review and approval of the Bulletin description and, if necessary, referral of conflicts to the Graduate Council Subcommittee on New and Revised Programs and Courses.

__________

1 Consultation with Appropriate Units/Programs (Cognate Review) - The unit/program originating the proposal should consult with all units/programs with a known interest in the subject field, not simply those in the same college. The purpose of cognate review goes beyond assuring that other units or programs that may be impacted by a proposal are notified and given the opportunity to evaluate the proposal, delineate potential problems and/or inform of possible duplication of effort. There are many potential benefits to alerting units where appropriate faculty expertise may provide useful, constructive feedback on content, identify areas for collaboration, and even broaden the scope of prospective students who would enroll in the program. In addition to letters of consultation/ cognate review that proposers provide at the time of submission of a proposal, the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School, as well as members of the Graduate Council Subcommittee on New and Revised Programs and Courses may request additional letters at their discretion and judgment. Post-Baccalaureate Credit Certificate Program Submission Form (PDF)

C. Course Proposals

The Senate Course Proposal Form (Course Add, Course Change, or Course Drop) must be completed when proposing new courses, changes in existing courses, or drops of existing courses. All course proposals must follow the guidelines as outlined. Proposals for course changes and drops only will be reviewed in the Office of the Dean, The Graduate School, in consultation with the Chair of the Subcommittee on New and Revised Programs and Courses and/or the Chair of the Committee on Programs and Courses. For course changes and drops, submit 1 copy of the proposal form and 5 copies of the supporting documents to the University Curriculum Coordinator at the University Faculty Senate Office. For all new course proposals, submit 1 copy of the proposal form (with department and college approvals) and 20 copies of the supporting documents to the University Curriculum Coordinator at the University Faculty Senate Office. Proposals for new courses will be reviewed by the full Subcommittee.

All program and course proposals must be submitted to the Senate Office to be recorded. They are immediately forwarded to the Graduate School for review by the appropriate committees. Following approval by the Graduate School, the proposals are returned to the Senate Office for inclusion on the Senate Curriculum Report.

D. Common Course Numbers

Specific titles may be added to common course numbers (594, 894, 595, 895, 596, 896, 597, 897, 598, 898, 599, 899) by using alpha suffixes following the same procedure that is used for undergraduate courses outlined in section I.D.2. The following alpha letters have been reserved for this purpose: A-G, I, and K.The following is a list of common course numbers used throughout the University (the dates the course numbers were established are listed for information only):

590, 890 Colloquium (1-3) (Agenda Appendix B, 6/8/71)
594, 894 Research Topics (1-18) (Agenda Appendix F, 2/1/83)
595, 895 Internship (1-18) (Agenda Appendix F, 2/1/83)
596, 896 Individual Studies (1-9) (Agenda Appendix B, 6/8/71)
597, 897 Special Topics (1-9) (Agenda Appendix B, 6/8/71)
598, 898 Special Topics (1-9) (1/11/93 Senate Blue Sheets)
599, 899 Foreign Study (1-12, max. 24) (1/11/93 Senate Blue Sheets)
600, 610 Thesis Research
601, 611 Thesis Preparation
602 Supervised Experience in College Teaching
603 Foreign Academic Experience (1-12)

 

E. Definition of a 500-Level Course

A 500-level graduate course builds on advanced undergraduate and/or graduate courses, dealing with the frontiers of knowledge in the field. It is grounded in theories, hypotheses, and methodologies as expounded in current and/or primary literature sources. Synthesis of knowledge and independent analytical work by the student must be demonstrated. Significant interaction among students and with the instructor(s) is expected.

 

F. Definition of an 800-Level Course

An 800-level graduate course pertains to the most recently established knowledge and methodologies in a field of study, as applied to practice. It emphasizes analytical thinking and application of knowledge by the student in the context of providing pragmatic solutions for professionals. Significant interaction among students and with the instructor(s) is expected.

G. Pass/Fail Grading System

A grade of P (Pass) or F (Fail) may be reported for students in certain courses that have been designated by the program faculty for P/F grading and that have been approved by the Graduate Dean using the guidelines established by the Graduate Council. A "P" will not be used in calculating the student's GPA; an "F" grade will be used in calculating the GPA.
To be eligible for pass/fail grading, the course should meet one or more of the following conditions:

  1. Require cooperation among students to the extent that individual performance cannot be graded apart from the ensemble or that quality grading will promote undesirable competition for grades of high quality (which may result in less learning for some students).
    Involve application of knowledge or skill in such a manner that a reliable differentiation of grades is quite difficult beyond noting effective participation.
  2. Other circumstances that cause the program faculty to find that P/F grading is the preferred system for academic quality reasons.

H. Simultaneous Offering of Undergraduate and Graduate Courses

The Graduate Council prohibits the simultaneous offering of the same course at the undergraduate (400 level and below) and graduate (500 and 800 levels) in the same classroom. Special exceptions may be considered by the Dean of the Graduate School.

I. Courses with Fixed Credits

The following resolution was passed in November of 1988 by the Graduate Council regarding adherence to the designated number of credits in fixed-credit courses at the 500 and 800 level:

The resolution creates policy that differs from that governing courses at the 400 level and below, as described in the Baccalaureate Degree Programs Bulletin. The 500 and 800 level policy states that a fixed-credit course at the 500 and 800 levels may not be offered for less than the indicated credits, either on an individual or a section basis. The only exceptions to this policy are certain 500-level courses that have regularly been made available in the past for fewer credits than the fixed-credit designation, such as certain summer offerings in Acoustics.

The policy does not pertain to 500- and 800- level courses created and designed to be variable credit offerings.