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New Programs

The new undergraduate program form is available on the Provost’s Forms Page.

For new graduate programs, contact the Graduate School for further information about the approval procedures.

All new academic programs (majors, minors and concentrations) at Montclair State University are reviewed as part of a process that involves scrutiny by a number of participating groups. The process begins with the preparation of a Program Approval (PA) document, which originates with a department or group of departments, and is considered by the respective College/School Curriculum Committee and College/School Dean. In the instance of developing a proposed new major (not a minor or concentration), the Dean generally arranges for an external consultant to review the proposal and to comment upon the integrity of the curriculum, the adequacy of resources and the potential audience for the program. The proposal is then reviewed by the University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UUCC) and the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, except in the case of graduate initiatives which are reviewed by the Graduate Council instead of the University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.

Subsequent stages of the approval process for new degree programs (not required for new minors or concentrations) are carried out by the Associate Provost for Academic Programs and Assessment. These actions include review by the President, the Academic Program Planning (APP) committee of the Board of Trustees, and the full Board of Trustees who pass a resolution approving the program. (New minors or concentrations are presented to the APP only as information items with no Board action taken.) The AVPAA forwards new degree programs for review and comment throughout the state’s higher education community. After a 30-day review period, the program is submitted to the Academic Issues Committee (AIC) of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council.

The New Jersey Presidents’ Council communicates its approval of new degree programs via written minutes of the meeting at which the program was considered. If the Council determines that the program is unduly expensive, duplicates existing programs elsewhere in the state or is beyond the mission of the institution, it is referred to the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education for the final administrative decision.

New teacher certification programs are forwarded to the New Jersey State Department of Education for review and approval.