Office of the Provost

Undergraduate Major Proposals

This guidance describes the steps required to launch an Undergraduate Minor proposal originating from Purdue West Lafayette for University approvals. Please see Purdue Fort Wayne or Purdue Northwest guidance for proposals originating from these campuses, or reach out to campus contacts.

An Undergraduate Major proposal may be hosted under an undergraduate degree program. Typically, majors share the identical Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) as their host degree program. Lists of existing majors can be found on the Office of the Registrar Active Curriculum Reports website.

Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis once they enter the workflow. Time to complete indicates the typical completion timeframe from proposal launch to completion in workflow. Some proposals may complete faster, while others may need more time based on when they are launched. Please see Key Planning Considerations below.

New Undergraduate Major

Time to Complete: 90-120 days (15-30 days of this are estimated to complete external review and approval steps)

New majors require a full review by the Undergraduate Educational Affairs Council (UEAC), and often require approval by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE) depending on their alignment with the existing host degree program. Greater variance from the host degree generally means more review. Preview requirements in Curriculog or use this printable checklist.

  • Complete home college steps and have approval to advance your proposal from your Department Head
  • Complete the New Major proposal in Curriculog
  • The default for new majors is to align with the host degree (e.g., modality, CIP, credit hours). If this is not the case, Custom Consultation is recommended before proceeding as external approvals may be required. The following require external approval by ICHE and/or Higher Learning Commission (HLC):
    • Adding a modality (e.g., adding online) not currently part of the host degree program
    • Selecting a new CIP
    • Different credits hours to complete the major than current degree

Key Planning Considerations

  • The UEAC meets monthly, except in July.
  • Proposals need to be on the UEAC step by or before February for inclusion in the next academic year catalog.
  • The Academic Affairs & Quality Committee of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education meets monthly, except in December.
  • Following state approvals, new programs are screened by the HLC to determine if any additional approvals may be required (uncommon).

Tips

  • A distinct CIP from the host degree undergoes strict scrutiny. A strong curricular rationale is required. If an alternative CIP is sought, here are resources:
  • International recruitment requires re-certification of the institutional I-17 to include new degrees and new majors.
Existing Undergraduate Major

Time to Complete: 45 days

Actions to existing certificates include revisions, suspension, or expiration. Suspend and expire guidance (PDF) is available; these actions undergo UEAC review.

Curricula revisions are only available during the annual Plan of Study update. Plan of Study updates are available once per year – submitted by or before April 1 for inclusion in the next academic year catalog.

  • Complete home college steps and have approval to advance your proposal from your Department Head
  • Complete the Change Existing Curricula proposal in Curriculog

The following require external approval by Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE) and/or the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to the host degree program:

  • Changes to modality
  • Change to CIP
  • Change in credit hours
  • Name change
  • Curricular changes of 25% or more to the existing program
  • Suspension
  • Expiration

Key Planning Considerations

  • The UEAC meets monthly, except in July.
  • The Academic Affairs & Quality Committee of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education meets monthly, except December.
  • Following state approvals, changes to existing programs may be screened by the HLC to determine if any additional approvals are required (uncommon).

Tips

  • Suspension is designed to “turn off the valve” for admissions so that a college can begin the teach out process. Suspended programs may be reinstated.
  • Expiration should be used only once all students eligible for teach out have completed the program. Expired programs cannot be reinstated.

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