Proposed
Revisions to 301.11 - Undergraduate Degree Requirements
Board
Policy:
1. Requirements for
baccalaureate degrees offered by units of the Montana University System are
limited to a maximum of 120 semester hours of credit. Exceptions to this policy must be recommended by the units,
reviewed by the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, and approved by
the Board of Regents. Exceptions will be limited in number and approved only on
the basis of the criteria listed below.
2. The campuses of
the Montana University System are encouraged to develop outcomes-based programs
as alternatives to the awarding of undergraduate degrees based upon the earning
of credit hours. Degree requirements
for these programs will be based upon what the student must know and be able to
do to earn a baccalaureate degree in a specific major. The campus will award the degree to a
student who demonstrates the appropriate knowledge and abilities without regard
for the earning of credit hours or the amount of time spent working toward the
degree.
Procedure:
1. Revisions in
degree requirements to reduce existing baccalaureate programs to the maximum of
120 semester hours should be submitted as soon as possible to the Office of the
Commissioner of Higher Education for approval.
The revised program requirements
will take effect no later than the beginning of the Fall semester
1997. Programs are encouraged to
implement the new degree requirements as soon as possible. Each academic officer will ensure that
special procedures are in place to advise students of the impact of the changes
on their plans for graduation and students may elect to graduate following
either the old or new requirements.
2. Units Campuses
seeking exceptions to the 120 hour maximum must submit formal requests to the
Regents for approval at their meeting
in September of 1996 following the established deadline for submission. The cover sheet of the request should
include signatures indicating the approval and support of the: academic
administrator of the unit organizational entity
in which the program is housed; dean of the school or college (if applicable);
chief academic officer of the campus; chief executive officer of the campus;
university provost; and, university President.
The body of the request should be no more than four pages in length (not
including appendices or supporting materials) and should document the existence
of one or more of the criteria listed below.
3. Criteria
a.
Accreditation standards of the appropriate specialized accrediting
agency mandate a baccalaureate program of over 120 credit hours.
b.
Licensing standards of the profession involved require a baccalaureate
program of over 120 credit hours.
c.
Employment and initial success in the profession requires a
baccalaureate program of over 120 credit hours.
4. The burden of
proof will be on campuses requesting exceptions to document that any or all of
the above conditions are present with regard to their particular
situation. Programs approved for over
120 credit hours will report to the Board of Regents by March of
1997 the results of a thorough curricular review. The Regents anticipate that the review will result in a reduction
of credit hours required for the degree.
Failure to achieve that goal will have to be justified to and approved
by the Regents at the March 1997 meeting of the Board.
5. The Board of
Regents understands that additional hours beyond the minimum required for the
baccalaureate degree would be desirable for many students to broaden their
general education, deepen their knowledge and preparation in a specific
discipline, and to improve their chances for employment. Students will have the additional hours up
to the 144 limit for subsidized tuition to
achieve these goals with the support of Montana taxpayers. The Board anticipates that the advising process
will make these opportunities known to students. However, the desirability of additional education to achieve
these or other goals is not sufficient rationale for an exception to the 120
hour requirement, which is intended for students who wish to enter the job
market or pursue graduate/professional education as soon as possible.
6. Campuses wishing
to award outcomes-based undergraduate degrees will submit proposals for
approval by the Regents in the normal process for approval of degrees.
History:
Item
89-002-R1195, Undergraduate Degree Requirements; Montana University System,
approved by the Board of Regents on March 29, 1996.
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