An academic program is a combination of courses and related activities organized for the achievement of specific learning outcomes, as defined by the university. This includes programming at both the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels and consists of degrees, majors, minors, concentrations, specializations and certificates.

• Degree Program:  An academic program of study leading to a bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D. or professional degree. All degree programs require a minimum number of semester credit hours, as referenced in the official bulletins of the university that are produced each academic year.
• Major:  A comprehensive course of study in a given discipline, earned in conjunction with a bachelor's degree. A minimum of 30 semester credit hours must be earned in the major.
• Minor:  A course of study in a discipline or interdisciplinary cluster, earned in conjunction with a bachelor's degree and at least one major, that is other than the student’s major area of study. A minimum of 18 semester credit hours must be earned in the minor.
• Concentration:  A sub-set of a discipline organized in clusters of focused courses, taken within an undergraduate major and earned in conjunction with a bachelor's degree. A minimum of 9 semester credit hours must be earned in the concentration.
• Specialization:  An integrated, coherent set of courses that define a limited topic or field of study at the graduate level that is taken within the degree program. A minimum of 12 semester credit hours must be earned in the specialization.
• Certificate:  A post-baccalaureate or post-master program of study offered at the graduate or professional level, in which a specific skill set is demonstrated at the end of the program, usually culminating in a capstone course. To earn a certificate, the program of study must be offered apart from a degree; however, the courses in a certificate program may be applied toward a graduate or professional degree program. A minimum of 12 semester credit hours must be earned in a certificate program.
  • A student may concurrently enroll in more than one certificate, and, in some cases, courses may be used to satisfy the requirements of more than one certificate, as outlined in the university bulletins for each certificate; however, in all cases, only if the student is admitted to the certificate at the time the courses are taken.
  • Certificates must be approved individually via the curriculum approval process as Title IV aid eligible, meeting Gainful Employment guidelines, for students in any of these programs to receive federal financial aid. There is no retroactive awarding of certificates or using courses that were taken prior to the admission to a certificate program to satisfy the requirements of a certificate. Credit may not be transferred in to satisfy the requirements of a certificate.

• Accelerated Degree Program: Designed to provide a more efficient means to obtain a graduate degree or certificate. Allows students to begin accumulating credits toward completion of a graduate degree or certificate while still enrolled as an undergraduate.

• Dual Degree:  A formal agreement where two degrees are conferred simultaneously by two institutions (or colleges/schools with one institution), some courses/credits taken at both institutions/colleges/schools apply to both degrees and two diplomas are produced, one for each degree.

• Joint Degree:  A formal agreement where one degree is conferred by two institutions (or colleges/schools within one institution), some courses/credits taken at both institutions/colleges/schools apply to the degree and both institutions/colleges/schools are listed on a single diploma.