New Degree Program Proposals

Undergraduate and postgraduate new degree program proposals are subject to an internal review and require the approval of the UNBC Senate and Board of Governors. New degree program proposals must also be submitted to the provincial Degree Quality Assessment Board (DQAB) and requires approval from the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills (PSFS). Significant degree program changes are also required to go through this process.

If you are considering to develop a new degree program as defined below, or unsure if your proposed changes to an existing degree qualify to go through the DQAB and PSFS approvals process please contact John McNeill in the Office of the Vice-President Academic and Provost at degree.qa@unbc.ca for assistance and support as early as possible. 

New Degree Programs

Under the University Act, BC public universities must not establish a new degree program without the approval of the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills (PSFS). A new degree program is defined as:

  • any degree that has not been previously granted or conferred by the post‐ secondary institution in BC; or
  • any degree granted or conferred by the post‐secondary institution in BC containing one or more of the following elements:
    • a new undergraduate major; 
      • NOTE: a new honours or minor program in a field in which a major or graduate degree in the subject/field is currently offered and which has experience offering undergraduate courses in the subject/field will not normally be considered a new degree program.
    • a new undergraduate joint major if one or more of the fields in the joint major does not have approval;
    • a new graduate field of study; or
    • a change in degree designation or credential that may be precedent-setting for the institution or the BC post‐secondary system.

Revising an existing degree

Existing degree programs need to make periodic changes to ensure they remain relevant to the needs of contemporary society and maintain high quality. Sometimes program changes can be so substantive that they constitute what is essentially a new degree program, and with that they require the Minister's approval.

New Degree Program Approval Process

It is the proponent’s responsibility to ensure movement through the approval process, and to ensure the new program is not implemented until approval by the Minister has been received by UNBC. Please consider the timing of your submission for the admission and recruitment cycles as well as the release of the Academic Calendar.

I. Internal Approval Process

The internal approval process takes a minimum 90 days after the new degree program has been developed. 

  1. Develop new degree program and complete the following documents. They form the Internal New Degree Program Proposal Package:
  2. Submit the internal new degree program proposal package to the Senate Committee on Curriculum and Calendars (SCCC) to review the material.
  3. Submit the internal new degree program proposal package to Faculty Council for approval.
  4. Submit the internal new degree program proposal package to the Senate Committees for approval.
  5. Submit the internal new degree program proposal package to Senate for approval.
  6. Submit the internal new degree program proposal and budget/funding information to the Board of Governors.

II. DQAB and PSFS (Ministerial) Approval Process

Full details about the external approval process for new degree programs can be viewed in the BC Public Institution Quality Assurance Handbook, effective September 1, 2024.

Contact with DQAB and submission of all materials for approval must go through the Office of the Vice-President Academic and Provost.

Exempt status degrees

UNBC has exempt status for both Bachelor and Masters’ Degrees, which provides an expedited review process (as detailed below).

The DQAB and Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills approval process takes approximately 6 months for exempt status degrees.

  1. Once UNBC's Senate and Board of Governors have approved the new degree program, the DQAB New Degree Program Proposal Package should be uploaded to the Ministry's Post-secondary Institution Proposal System (PSIPS) through the Office of the Vice-President Academic and Provost. The DQAB New Degree Program Proposal Package should include, but is not limited to, the following:
    • A completed Stage 1 Document (for BC Public Institutions): See templates.
    • An executive summary document: A template will be provided, contact degree.qa@unbc.ca. 
    • Material approved by Senate and the Board of Governors
    • Proposed tuition
    • Letters of support from employers, professional bodies (where applicable), BC post-secondary institutions, and other relevant interest-holders
  2. Ministry and DQAB Secretariat review the proposal. UNBC incorporates the feedback and resubmits the proposal through PSIPS.
  3. The proposal is posted on the Ministry’s website for a 30 day peer review and public comments.
  4. UNBC follows up on any questions, comments or feedback from the public or other institutions on PSIPS.
  5. The proposal is reviewed by DQAB at their next meeting, and they prepare a recommendation to the Minister.
  6. The Minister gives UNBC consent to offer the new program if there are no concerns about the quality of the degree. 

Non-exempt status degrees

If the proposed new degree program does not meet exempt status e.g., a new PhD program, please contact John McNeill in the Office of the Vice-President Academic and Provost at degree.qa@unbc.ca as a Full Program Proposal (Stage 2) is required. The approval process for a Full Program Proposal may take at least 12 months, and may involve a site visit from external reviewers.

Approved and in-review new program proposals in BC.

New Degree Program Applications Under Review

New Degree Program Applications Approved (since November 7, 2003)

New Degree Program Applications Approved (from 1996 - 2003)

Contact

All general questions can be sent to degree.qa@unbc.ca.