Curriculum Definitions

Key terms and definitions used in USF's course and curriculum proposal process. Source: ODS-Academic Planning, Updated 6/2022.

Degree Program

  • An organized curriculum leading to a degree in an area of study recognized as an academic discipline by the higher education community, as demonstrated by assignment of a unique Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code and name by the National Center for Educational Statistics.
  • Each degree program shall have designated faculty effort and instructional resources and shall include at least one program major but may have multiple majors.
  • Each degree program is approved at only one degree level.
  • Five degree levels are used in the Florida State University System: Bachelor (B), Master (M), Specialist (S), Research Doctoral (R), and Professional Doctoral (P).
Example
CIP Code: 26.0406 1. B.S. Cell & Molecular Biology 2. Ph.D. Cell & Molecular Biology

Major

  • An organized curriculum offered within a degree program.
  • A major shall be reasonably associated with the academic discipline within the degree program under which it is offered and shall share common core courses with any other majors within the same degree program.
  • The major is the student's primary field of study.
  • Although in some cases, the major and the degree program names are synonymous, only the degree program shall be assigned a CIP code and shall be included in the State University System's Academic Degree Program Inventory.
  • The number of credit hours for a major for each degree level shall be established by the University in accordance with State regulations and accrediting minimum requirements.
  • The degree program majors are coded within the Student Information System.
Example
CIP Code 45.0201: 1. B.A. Anthropology 2. B.S. Biomedical Anthropology CIP Code 11.0401: 1. M.S. Cybersecurity Intelligence & Information Security 2. M.S. Intelligence Studies

Degree

  • Specific credential associated with a degree program and associated major(s), coded within the Student Information System and recorded on both the transcript and the diploma.
  • Examples at each level:
    • Bachelor Level: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Information Technology (B.S.I.T.), Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.), etc.
    • Master Level: Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.S.), Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.), Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.), etc.
    • Specialist Level: Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)
    • Research Doctoral Level: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.), etc.
    • Professional Doctoral Level: Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), etc.

Concentration

  • Any organized set of courses that is offered as part of a major and enhances or complements the major to be awarded in a manner that leads to specific educational or occupational goals, and/or from different disciplines that provide an interdisciplinary focus.
  • The University defines concentrations with the credit-hour length set in accordance with University policy, except that the number of credit hours shall not equal or exceed the number of credit hours established for a major at the same degree level.
  • Each concentration is coded within the Student Information System and recorded on the transcript but not recorded on the diploma.
Example
CIP 13.0501: M.S. Learning and Design Technology with concentrations: • Cybersecurity Education • Big Data and Learning Analytics • E-Learning Design and Development • Game-Based Learning and Analytics

Track / Specialization

  • Specialized areas of study within a major or concentration that are less formal and not tracked in the Student Information System or recorded on a transcript or diploma.
Example
M.A. Applied Anthropology offers four tracks

Minor (Undergraduate Only)

  • An optional complement to a bachelor's degree in a particular field, leading to specific educational goals.
  • It requires approximately one-half the upper-level credits required for a major in that field.
  • The same major admission or retention standards may be required for the minor.
  • Minors are coded within the Student Information System and recorded on the transcript but not the diploma.
Example
Applied Behavioral Analysis

Certificate

  • An organized set of courses offered as a distinct area of study that leads to specific educational or occupational goals.
  • Certificates may consist of courses that are part of a major or courses that are created outside of a major.
  • The number of credit hours is set by the University.
  • Certificates are coded within the Student Information System and are recorded on the transcript.
  • A certificate of completion is awarded, not a diploma.
Example
Applied Biostatistics
Sources