Degree Title Change Process

When planning to change a degree title, it's very important to keep in mind that this is often a multi-year process. There is a heavy dependence on reviews and approvals from internal É«ÖÐÉ« and external CSU/Accreditation sources. See the Curriculum Calendar page for details.

Chancellor's Office approval is required for changes to degree titles.

The process is outlined as follows:

Departments or programs will need to obtain department and college approval before submitting a proposal.

  • Originator drafts a request proposal, using the É«ÖÐÉ« Change Degree Title Template (DOCX).
  • Originator obtains approval for the proposal from their department/program and college. Concurrence can be shared through a memo from committee chairs, department chair/program director, and the college's Associate Dean overseeing curriculum.
  • Originator compiles Roadmaps (XSLX) for the revised degree (Undergraduate degrees should include a 2-year and 4-year roadmap; graduate degrees a full program roadmap). If there are no curricular changes planned with the title change, these may just be a copy of already existing roadmaps.

There is no prescribed format for the title-change rationale, but the proposal may address disciplinary convention, recruitment issues, employer concerns, or titles used at other CSU campuses or at public or private institutions across the country, for example. The Master Plan and longstanding Trustee policy discourage the proliferation of degree titles and degree terminology, so these proposals are evaluated carefully.
 

Digital copies of all proposal materials that were approved by the department and college are forwarded to the Vice Provost of Academic Programs and the Office of Academic Programs (catalog@csulb.edu). The proposal is reviewed by both offices and feedback is provided to the proposer. 

When details of the documents are finalized, the Academic Programs Office will move the proposal forward toward the É«ÖÐÉ« Academic Senate.

The proposal packet is shared with the É«ÖÐÉ« Academic Senate Chair. 

Upon their approval of the materials, the proposal will be shared with the Senate's Curriculum and Educational Policies Council (CEPC) and University Resource Council (URC) for review. Proposers will be invited to discuss their proposals with these councils, and potentially be asked to make updates to the content. 

Depending on any contention with the proposal, the final recommendation by these councils may be forwarded to the Academic Senate for further review, or receive approval from the Senate. 

Upon recommendation by the Academic Senate, the Vice Provost for Academic Programs seeks the President's approval.

With approval of the É«ÖÐÉ« President, the Academic Programs Office will compile the final version of the proposal packet and submit to the CSU Chancellor's Office Academic Programs team. 

Upon the Chancellor's Office approval, É«ÖÐÉ« will set an implementation date for the new degree title. A policy statement will be distributed to campus administration, and updated title will appear in the É«ÖÐÉ« Catalog during the appropriate year.

É«ÖÐÉ« Academic Program Codes

Each É«ÖÐÉ« degree receives a unique academic program code.

Examples from Dance Degrees:

  • BA in Dance (DANCBA01)
    • Dance Science (DANCBA02)
  • BFA in Dance (DANCBF01)
  • Minor in Dance (DANCUM01)
  • MA in Dance (DANCMA01)
  • MFA in Dance (DANCMF01)

If you are making significant changes to a program or a degree title, a new academic program code may be necessary for the degree.

Approved Official Systemwide Degree Titles and Reporting Codes

The  includes a link to the official list of  and their assigned CSU and CIP reporting codes.