Procedures for the Approval of New Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs
in the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies

New Academic Program Proposals

Generally, new interdisciplinary graduate degree programs will follow the same approval process that is applied to new degree programs developed within an academic department. However, the very nature of an interdisciplinary graduate program require a different approval pathway. Because interdisciplinary programs are housed in the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies, a college without faculty lines, and altered approval process is needed. For these programs, the following steps will occur:

1. The program proposal will follow the format outlined by the North Dakota University System (see, NDUS New Academic Program Request)
   
2. The request will include the appropriate cover page
   
3. Approval for the proposal is require at the following levels:
   
   
   • a.) The graduate program. the program administrator's (e.g., director, acting director) signature indicating the approval of the faculty of the program is required. The program director and the dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies will secure letters of t support from the deans of the colleges which have faculty members participating in the proposed program. Program proposals should specify a curriculum, but approval of all program courses is not required at the time the program proposal is considered.
     
     
   • b.) The dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies. The Graduate Council will serve as the college curriculum committee. Approval will be required by a majority vote of the Graduate Council and will be indicated by the signature of the dean. The dean's signature will indicate the approval of both the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies and the Graduate School.
     
     
   • c.) The NDSU Academic Affairs Committee
     
     
   • d.) The University Senate
     
     
   • e.) The State Board of Higher Education

New Courses

As a general rule, interdisciplinary graduate programs should strive to include courses that already exist within an academic department in their curriculum. This will allow the students in the interdisciplinary programs the opportunity to work and communicate with individuals from a variety of disciplines, a valued goal for interdisciplinary education. However, there will be some circumstances where it will be necessary to develop specialized courses to form the core curriculum of an interdisciplinary program. In these cases, the interdisciplinary program should have its own prefix and may develop its own courses. The following steps should be taken:

1. New course proposals should follow the guidelines developed by the NDSU Academic Affairs Committee. The proposal will utilize the existing course proposal form.
2. The course will be approved by the designated program committee of the interdisciplinary graduate program and signed by the program director.
   
   
3. The Graduate Council will serve as the College Academic Affairs Committee. The dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies will provide the college approval.
   
   
4. The proposal will be approved by the NDSU Academic Affairs Committee and the University Senate.