Undergraduate Education at Penn State Penn State University Penn State University Office of Undergraduate Education Printer friendly version of the Undergraduate Education at Penn State mark.
Topical Index: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

YOU ARE VIEWING A PRIOR VERSION OF THIS POLICY. THE CURRENT VERSION OF THIS POLICY IS AVAILABLE AT: https://undergrad.psu.edu/aappm/P-8-program-descriptions-catalog.html

P-8: PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE CATALOG

Policy:

All baccalaureate degree program presentations for inclusion in the Baccalaureate Degree Programs Catalog must reflect the following categories in an approved format. See FORM P-4 for sample formats.

I. Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

II. College Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements (where applicable)

III. Requirements for the College (where applicable)

IV. Requirements for the Major

Requirements for the Option (where applicable)

A. Prescribed Courses (specific courses which must be taken)

B. Additional Courses (lists of courses from which the student must choose a specified number.

C. Supporting Courses and Related Areas (courses and areas from which the student is required to develop supplemental knowledge or competencies but in which considerable choice is permitted.)

V. Electives (all baccalaureate degree programs must provide at least six credits which can be fulfilled by basic ROTC within the specified number of credits for the degree required for graduation in accordance with Senate legislation approved 4-6-65)

(Ref: Senate Record, 7-1-75, and Senate Committee on Curricular Affairs Guidelines for Semester Changes, 8-17-81)

Approved: Senate (7-1-75)
Revised: Senate (8-17-81)

Procedure:

The following guidelines have been established for writing program descriptions for the Baccalaureate Degree Programs Catalog and the Associate Degree Programs Catalog.

  1. A program description should be limited to about 200 words or approximately 15 lines in the catalog. If there are options or additional bona fide special features (e.g., dual degree programs, cooperative programs such as work study), descriptions of these should be limited to an additional 75 words each or 5 additional lines in the catalog.
  2. The content of program descriptions should be limited to
    1. a statement of program objectives.
    2. fields of study within the major emphasizing any unique aspects or facilities specially related to this program.
    3. requirements and any recommendations or limitations regarding competencies, skills, or abilities needed for admission, retention, transfer, and graduation.
    4. total credits necessary for graduation.
    5. if space remains, a general statement about subsequent academic or professional work possible in the field.
  3. The program description should contain only straightforward objective language, not generalized, colorful, or vague statements which might be ambiguous or misleading.
  4. The following revised disclaimer will be printed in the catalog:

    REGULATIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

    The educational process necessitates change. This bulletin must be considered as information and not binding on the University.

    Each step of the educational process, from admission through graduation, requires continuing review and appropriate approval by University officials. The University, therefore, reserves the right to change the requirements and regulations contained in this bulletin and to determine whether a student has satisfactorily met is requirements for admission or graduation, and to reject any applicant for admission for any reason the University determines to be material to the applicant's qualifications to pursue higher education. Nothing in this catalog should be considered a guarantee that completion of a University program and graduation from the University will result in employment.

  5. Although these guidelines are for the Baccalaureate/Associate Degree Programs Catalogs, all program descriptions in all catalogs should be reviewed with these guidelines in mind.
  6. The deadline for submitting revised program descriptions to the Senate Committee on Curricular Affairs for review and approval, and inclusion in the next edition of the catalog, will be the May BLUE SHEET of the preceding year.

(Ref: Senate Agenda, Appendix D, 3-4-80)

Approved: Senate (3-4-80)