Executive Policy 5.205 Executive Policy 5.205

Academic Program Definitions and Guidelines

Executive Policy Chapter:  Chapter 5, Academic Affairs
Executive Policy:  EP 5.205, Academic Program Definitions and Guidelines
Effective Date:  July 2026
Prior Dates Amended:  March 1996, November 2014, January 2023
Responsible Office:  Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy
Governing Board of Regents Policy:  RP 5.201 Instructional Programs
Review Date:  July 2029

1. To establish definitions and broad guidelines for degrees, academic majors and minors, certificates, and concentrations.


2. To identify campus responsibilities in the development of policies and practices designed to ensure academic standards and consistent practice in the use of degrees, certificates, academic minors, and concentrations.

1. General Definitions
   
   1. Academic Program: A structured set of courses and requirements, formally approved by the university at either the system or campus level, which culminates in the awarding of a degree or credit-bearing certificate.
   
   
   2. Degree:  A formal academic credential approved by the Board of Regents or President and conferred upon successful completion of an approved, credit-bearing program of study at the associate, baccalaureate, master, or doctoral level, consistent with standards recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and appropriate accrediting bodies.
   
   
   3. Credential:  A general term that can be used to describe a degree, certificate, or other form of institutional-based acknowledgment.
   
   
   4. Concentration:  A focus or specific area of emphasis consisting of nine or more credits within a specific academic major of an associate, baccalaureate or graduate degree. Must fit within the structure of the associate, baccalaureate or graduate degree and may not exceed the required number of credits for the degree.
   
   
   5. Academic Major:  An area of inquiry that leads to a degree through coursework that represents cohesive and extensive study in a subject area in which a student develops depth of knowledge, competency, and understanding. Majors beyond sixty credits at the baccalaureate level or thirty credits at the associate’s level require approval by the chief academic officer or their designee. A student may have more than one major.
   
   
   6. Academic Minor:  Recognition of work completed in select credit courses at the baccalaureate level as a student’s secondary declared academic field of study. Minors generally contain fifteen to eighteen credits of coursework with at least nine credits of upper-division coursework within or among Board-approved programs.  An academic minor is part of a student’s program of study.
   
   
   7. Significant Resources: As defined in RP 5.201, this includes one or more of the following: new faculty or staff positions, new facilities including lab or office space, and/or new operating costs that must be requested through a new budget request to the Board and/or Legislature. This would not include situations in which resources can be internally reallocated from other units in the college, department, division, or school in the context of reprioritizing programs and services.
   
   
   
2. Definition of Degrees
   
   1. Associate Degree:  The associate degree generally consists of 60 semester credits and provides students with skills and competencies essential to transfer to a baccalaureate-level program or to pursue employment in a career and/or technical education area.
   
   
   1. Associate in Arts Degree (AA): A general liberal arts education degree, which typically consists of 60 baccalaureate level semester credits and provides students with skills and competencies essential for transfer and successful completion of a baccalaureate degree.
   
   
   2. Associate in Science Degree (AS): A degree designed to prepare students for transfer to a baccalaureate granting institution in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics or other articulated baccalaureate-level programs of study. The AS generally consists of 60 baccalaureate-level semester credits.
   
   
   3. Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS): A career and technical education degree that generally consists of 60 semester credits, which provides students with skills and competencies for employment in a career and/or technical education area. The AAS degree is not intended or designed for transfer directly to a baccalaureate program.
   
   
   
   2. Baccalaureate Degree:  The baccalaureate degree generally consists of 120 semester credits and includes the completion of University-wide core requirements, individual college or school requirements, and an academic specialization comprising a major.
      
      1. Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.): An undergraduate academic degree traditionally awarded after completion of a four-year program (120 credits) that combines broad general education in the liberal arts with focused study in a specific major field. A B.A. generally includes general education requirements, major coursework, and electives, and is often distinguished from the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) by its greater flexibility and reduced emphasis on technical or laboratory-intensive requirements.
      
      
      2. Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.): An undergraduate academic degree traditionally completed in approximately four years (120 credits minimum) that combines general education with a more structured and specialized concentration in a technical, scientific, quantitative, or professional field and often emphasizing laboratory or applied coursework. The B.S. is generally characterized by a more prescribed curriculum with fewer free electives and a stronger focus on technical depth within the major.
      
      
      3. Bachelor of Applied Science Degree (B.A.S.): Consists of a minimum of 120 semester credits and emphasizes applied, practice-oriented, and workforce-aligned learning within a specialized field. In addition to University-wide core requirements and a major, the B.A.S. integrates theoretical knowledge with applied competencies, professional skills, and experiential learning.
      
      
      4. Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (B.F.A.): Is a professional undergraduate degree focused on intensive study and practice in the visual, performing, or creative arts, typically completed in about four years (120 credits). The B.F.A. devotes a significantly higher proportion of credits—often two-thirds or more—to studio, performance, or creative coursework within the major. The B.F.A. is designed to prepare students for professional artistic careers or advanced study in fine arts disciplines.
      
      
      5. The Bachelor of Professional Studies Degree (B.P.S.): is a distinct undergraduate degree designed specifically for practical, real-world application. Unlike traditional academic degrees that prioritize deep theoretical study, a B.P.S. focuses on workplace readiness, applied learning, and adaptability across industries. B.P.S. degree programs are typically offered in reduced-credit formats (of 90 credits or more).
      
      
      
   3. Graduate Degree:  An advanced academic degree in a specialized field of study pursued after one has obtained a baccalaureate degree. This includes various master’s and doctoral degrees.  There are cases in which a student may pursue a master’s degree prior to completion of the baccalaureate; this is only possible in established bachelor’s-to-master’s degree pathways (e.g., BAM).
   
   
   
3. Definition of Certificates
   
   1. Certificate:  A structured set of courses approved through institutional curriculum processes that provides focused study in a defined field or skill area. Certificates may be offered at the undergraduate or graduate level and may be credit bearing or non-credit, as determined by the offering unit and institutional policy.  Community College policy (UHCC 5.203) defines the types of certificates awarded by community colleges.
   
   
   2. Graduate Certificate:  Recognition of work completed in select credit-bearing courses and requires graduate admission.
   
   
   3. Undergraduate Certificate:  Recognition of work completed in select credit-bearing courses taken within or among existing Board-authorized undergraduate degree programs.
   
   
   4. Standalone Certificate:  Recognition of work completed in select credit-bearing courses including at least one course that is not part of a Board-authorized degree program.  Necessitates Board approval if it requires significant resources.
   
   
   5. Post-Baccalaureate Certificate:  Recognition of work completed in select credit courses totaling at least fifteen (15) credits, with at least nine (9) credits at the 500-level or higher. Admission requires a previously earned bachelor’s degree.

1. Authority to create new degrees defined in this policy is described in EP 5.201.


2. Authority to confer degrees as defined in this policy is described in EP 5.101.


3. Degrees that exceed the generally accepted number of credits defined in this policy must be approved by the chief academic officer of that campus or their designee.


4. Reporting Requirements
   
   1. Campuses will maintain policies related to academic degrees, majors, minors, concentrations, and certificates.
   
   
   2. Campuses will notify the Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy of the approval of all new certificates, concentrations, and minors including documentation of approval by the appropriate approving authority (e.g. Chancellor or Vice President for Community Colleges).
   
   
   3. Campuses will provide an annually updated list of certificates, including effective date, to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy.
   
   
   4. Campuses will maintain an internal record of baccalaureate programs offering minors, including effective date.
   
   
   5. The Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy is responsible for maintaining an annually updated list of all University curricula including Board- and unit/conferred credentials.
   
   
5. Banner Codes for Degrees
   
   1. IRAPO and ITS Banner will develop procedures to create the necessary program, major, and subject codes in Banner.
   
   
   2. Campuses will provide the necessary documents to facilitate this process.
   
   
   3. The Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy will work with campuses to ensure that new certificates are created in accordance with this policy.
   
   
6. Campuses with degree and certificate types listed in Section II.B. that do not meet the respective definition will be asked to transition to be in compliance with this policy, according to a reasonable timeline that does not negatively impact students.

Chief academic officers are delegated authority to approve requests for degrees and majors to exceed accepted credit levels.

Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy
Telephone: (808) 956-6897
Email: ovpas@hawaii.edu

RP 5.201 Academic Programs
EP 5.201 Approval of New Academic Programs and Termination of Academic Programs

No Exhibits and Appendices found

    SignedPresident