{"id":1067,"date":"2025-10-20T08:39:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T13:39:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/academicaffairs\/?page_id=1067"},"modified":"2026-04-06T13:13:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T18:13:16","slug":"creating-new-degree-programs-or-majors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/academicaffairs\/resources\/academic-program-resources\/creating-new-degree-programs-or-majors\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating New Degree Programs or Majors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Creation of a new degree program is a multi-step process. The following generally outlines the steps in the process. Departments and schools\/colleges may have their own processes in place that should be followed appropriately. The transmittal from the Dean must certify that the necessary school\/college governance approvals have been obtained. This document is written as if a single department is involved in developing the new degree program. Where multiple departments\/schools\/colleges are involved, necessary approvals must be obtained from each of those involved entities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a good idea to contact Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Dave Clark<\/a> before starting the process to get clarifications on the process, which can save time and effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steps 1 \u2013 14 of the process<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The time it takes to get a new program approved for implementation depends on the time spent in each step. 51ÁÔÆæ has had some recent new programs go through all of these steps in a period of seven months. However, it is safe to allocate one year for the entire process to be completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: the process for creating a new Associate degree is different. Contact Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Dave Clark<\/a> for details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. A group of faculty gets together to conceptualize a degree program.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The idea is vetted with the appropriate academic department\/non-departmentalized school faculty and Dean.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. A Notice of Intent (NOI) (DOCX)<\/a> (or Request for Authorization to Plan) for the degree is created by the faculty.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. After obtaining approvals from the department faculty and the appropriate school\/college faculty committees (as determined by the policies in the school\/college), the Dean, if he\/she approves the proposed degree, forwards the document to the Provost\u2019s office. Send electronic version(s) in Word format to Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Dave Clark<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. The NOI should also be uploaded to CIM to facilitate review by campus entities. The Provost\u2019s office will circulate the NOI per\u00a0Academic Approval Matrix<\/a>\u00a0for comments and opportunities for collaboration from other academic units on campus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. After editing the document appropriately based on feedback, the NOI is circulated by the Provost\u2019s office to all UW institutions for comments, objections, and opportunities for collaboration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. The UW System Office of Academic Programs and Faculty Advancement (APFA) communicates to the Provost\u2019s office the decision to approve or deny the request to plan the new degree program.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. If the NOI is approved, the program faculty review the Authorization Guidance and Checklist<\/a> and prepare the following documents:\n