A degree program is a program of study in a discipline specialty that leads to a degree in that distinct specialty area at a particular level of instruction. The minimum number of required credit hours in any degree program is 120 and shall not exceed 128 credits. Any requirement beyond 128 hours must be approved by the Board Of Governors. Any program authorized by the BOG requiring 135 semester hours or more shall be designated as a five-year baccalaureate program.
All degree programs are categorized individually in the University's academic program inventory (API) at the six-digit CIP code level and referenced at UNC-GA API list. As a general rule, in order to be considered for degree program status, a course of study should require at least 27 semester hours in the proposed program area at the undergraduate level. Anything less than this within an existing degree program should be designated as a concentration.
Undergraduate Degrees may be established either as an on-campus program, a distance education program or both. In accordance with UNC-GA Policies for Academic Planning and NC State guidelines for new degree development, certain documentation and approval is required for establishing a new degree and/or a distance education (DE) degree.
Click the links below to view guidelines and instructions for establishing a degree:
A Distance Education program is a program whereby 50% or more of the credits earned toward the degree can be taken via distance education, Distance education will be understood to include off-campus instruction for credit (whether face-to-face, electronically mediated, or a combination of methodologies) per UNC-GA Policy No. 400.1.1.2 [G].
A proposed distance education degree program must first be an authorized degree program in the Academic Program Inventory (API) for NC State and must be identical to that degree program. If the proposed program is not currently authorized, we must follow the procedure outlined above for the establishment of a new degree, as well as applicable procedures outlined below for distance education programs via UNC-GA Policy No. 400.1.1.2 [G]. See UNC-GA Distance Education Program Inventory for UNC system DE programs.