New Degrees (2-Year Process)
As soon as you know your department is considering proposing a new degree, please notify the Curriculum Office, as well as the college Dean and the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education or the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Proposals for new programs can take up to 2 years to implement.
(1) Projection Proposal Submission:
- Submit the *New Degree Program. View Submit a Proposal in Curriculum for help in initiating the proposal.
- Attach a completed Projected Degree Proposal.
- Once approved by the Deans/Provost, the proposed degree is submitted to the CSU Academic Master Plan for approval by the Board of Trustees and to SJSU's accrediting body (WSCUC) for substantive change screening.
(2) Detailed Proposal Submission:
- Once the projection is approved, the submitted *New Program Proposal will be routed back to you for submission of the detailed proposal.
- Attach a completed Degree Program Proposal. Use the CSU New Degree Proposal Template_Faculty Checklist for guidance.
- Attach other required documents
- Department Curriculum Committee Vote/Decision
- Advising Roadmap: Include a undergraduate 2-year (if applicable per SB 1440) and undergraduate 4-year degree roadmaps. Graduate programs should also submit sample roadmaps.
- Comprehensive Assessment Plan
- Curriculum Matrix
- Special Session/Self Support proposals also require a budget: CSU CO’s Budget Template.
- While most programs are department-based, some are housed within a college. In these
cases, it’s important to ensure:
- A clear plan for staffing and scheduling any courses not housed in a department, typically managed by an Associate Dean.
- Agreement from department chairs to allow program students to enroll in their courses, with confirmation of course availability.
- Support from the college Dean, ensuring resources for program administration.
- (E.g.,Interdisciplinary Studies (BA/BS), Business Minor, Medical Product Development Management MS)
References
Approval Steps
- Department Curriculum Committee (optional in Curriculum)
- Department Chair
- College Curriculum Committee/Associate Dean
- UGS Committee/ GS&R Committee
- Curriculum and Research Committee
- Dean for Undergraduate Education/ Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
- Provost
- Chancellor's Office
Approval Steps for College-Housed Programs
- College Curriculum Committee/Associate Dean
- Undergraduate Studies (UGS) or Graduate Studies & Research (GS&R) Committee
- Curriculum & Research Committee
- Dean for Undergraduate Education or Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
- Provost
- Chancellor's Office
Next Steps
- New program is incorporated into the draft academic catalog for next AY.
- New Academic Plan Code(s) is created effective fall 2026.
- CSU Degrees Database and CSU TMC databases are updated as needed.
- An implementation memo is sent out to stakeholders.
- Notification to campus community via Curriculum Updates Google Group.
- The new program is available to continuing students to declare effective fall 2026.
- The new program is open to NEW students through Cal State Apply:
- for summer 2026 IF Academic Plan Codes are created by October 1, 2025.
- for fall 2026 IF Academic Plan Codes are created by September 1, 2025.
- for spring 2027 IF Academic Plan Codes are created by July 1, 2026.
- MyProgress and MyPlanner for undergraduate programs are built as soon as possible.
