The following definitions were developed to ensure consistency in both the structure and the standards associated with the academic credentials that students receive from Canisius:

Program

• A program is any course of studies that leads to a stand-alone credential shown on a transcript.
• Programs include majors, minors, graduate programs, associate degrees, certificates, and the all-college-honors program.
• Please note that concentrations, tracks, and disciplinary areas are not programs. 

Graduate Programs

• A graduate program refers to both the degree (e.g., M.B.A., M.S., M.S.Ed.) and the field of study for a graduate student.  Every graduate student must be enrolled in a specific graduate program. 
• Graduate programs at the master’s level require a minimum of 30 credit hours in the area of study, although disciplinary norms may result in substantially higher numbers of credits. 
• Graduate program fields show on the student’s transcript.
• Graduate programs must be approved by both the Academic Program Board and the State of New York Department of Education.

Certificates/Advanced Certificate

• A certificate or advanced certificate is a specified group of courses that allows a student to be awarded a credential other than a degree.  New York State Education Department recognizes Certificates if coursework is at the undergraduate level and Advanced Certificates if the coursework is at the graduate level.  Canisius currently has approval to offer post-baccalaureate certificates or advanced certificates and post-master’s advanced certificates.  Other levels would require approval by the New York State Department of Education and a substantive change request to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
• Certificates or advanced certificates appear on the student’s transcript.
• Certificates or advanced certificates must be approved by both the Academic Program Board and the State of New York Department of Education.

Major

• A major is an area of study at the undergraduate level.  Every undergraduate student must have at least one major.  Majors require a minimum of 30 credit hours in the area of study.  Although courses (and associated credit hours) may come from different disciplines, they must create a cohesive program of study for the students.  Majors may also include non-course requirements such as study abroad, internships, etc.
• It must be feasible for a student to complete the degree requirements including both the major and core curriculum (or honors curriculum) requirements in 120 credit hours.  Exceptions that exceed the 120-credit-hour rule must be approved by the APB with a rationale for the additional credits needed.  The APB may periodically review programs requiring more than 120 credit hours.
• Majors appear on a student’s transcript.
• Majors must be approved by both the Academic Program Board and the State of New York Department of Education.

Double (Multiple) Majors

• Students may choose to pursue more than one major.  When pursuing double (or more) majors, the student must complete at least 15 distinct credit hours for each additional major. 
• Both (all) majors appear on a student’s transcript.
• Double majors that meet the above criteria do not need to be approved by the Academic Program Board.
• Please note that a second major does not yield a second degree.  If the student is pursuing majors that are normally associated with different degrees (e.g., BA in English and BS in Biology), the student may choose the degree awarded, as long as they meet the liberal arts and sciences requirements of that degree.

Minor

• A minor is a secondary field of study at the undergraduate level.  A minor requires a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 21 credit hours (excluding prerequisites).  To receive a minor, the student must complete at least 9 credit hours of coursework distinct from their other credentials (i.e., majors, other minors).  Please note that “ancillary/supporting” courses required for a major may still count as distinct courses (as long as the remaining coursework still meets the 30 credit-hours required for a major). For example, a biology major must complete 10 biology courses, 4 chemistry, and 2 physics classes. The chemistry and physics classes could count toward distinct coursework from the biology major, like a chemistry or physics minor. 
• Minors appear on a student’s transcript. 
• Minors must be approved by the Academic Program Board.

Track

• Tracks are a focused group of courses within a major.  A track may provide a disciplinary or skills focus, but do not rise to the level of a concentration.
• Tracks do not show on the student’s transcript.
• If students are required to complete a track, the tracks must be approved by the Academic Program Board.  If tracks are optional, they must be approved by the Dean.

Concentration

• A concentration is a declared group of related courses within a major, graduate program, or certificate that provides a specific focus of the program (major, graduate program or certificate).  A concentration requires a minimum of nine credit hours. 
• Concentrations appear on the student’s transcript.
• Concentrations must be approved by both the Academic Program Board and the State of New York Department of Education.

Pathway

• Pathways provide an unofficial group of courses within a major or program for advisement purposes (e.g., graduate school pathway, pre-medicine pathway, industry pathway). 
• Pathways do not show on the student’s transcript.

Disciplinary Area

• Some programs may group courses together for students to facilitate advisement and movement through a major.  These may be used to ensure breadth in a major or depth in one or more areas.  Any groupings of courses that are within a program, but which do not rise to the level of a concentration or a track, should be designated as disciplinary areas.  There may be modifiers before the “disciplinary area” term (e.g., neuroscience disciplinary area, conservation disciplinary area).
• Disciplinary areas do not need to be approved by the Academic Program Board.

Extension

• Extensions are groups of courses that provide the option for additional teaching certification.  These meet New York State Department of Education guidelines to allow students to “extend” their teaching credentials to additional age, grade, and/or skills areas.  These are only available to students in the School of Education and Human Services.
• Extensions do not show on the student’s transcript.
• Extensions need to be approved by the Dean.