Definitions

1. Academic Program
   An academic program is a program leading to an Associate's, a Bachelor's, a Master's, or a Doctor's degree in a particular subject area, or to an undergraduate or graduate certificate, including a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, as defined in The Procedures for University Approval of New Academic Degree Programs, Program Changes, and Program Termination. 
2. Degree Program
   A degree program is a program of study culminating upon successful completion in the award of an Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree. 
3. Major
   A major is that portion of a Bachelor's degree program consisting of courses in a particular substantive area. A Bachelor's degree is earned by completing General Education requirements, major requirements, and sufficient elective courses to meet the 120 credit total required for award of a Bachelor's degree. For purposes of program approval, revision, or termination, each major is considered to be a distinct Bachelor's degree. 
4. Concentration
   A concentration (sometimes called a track or an option) is a set of courses and associated requirements within a graduate degree program or an undergraduate major or minor providing an alternate way of fulfilling the requirements of that academic program that focuses on a distinct area of knowledge within the realm covered by the overall program. Concentrations within a program may be entirely separate from one another, or may contain a common set of courses. Concentrations can be delineated in a proposal for a graduate degree or a new undergraduate major or minor, or may be added to an existing degree, major or minor. Proposals to create new concentrations within an existing degree program, major, or minor are considered under the procedure for revising an academic program.
5. Minor
   A Minor consists of at least 15 credits in a coherent set of courses in a particular discipline, department or program. A Minor in a department, discipline, or program which also offers a Major will normally be constituted by a set of courses selected from among those required for the Major. Minors may be structured to require common courses and while accommodating some degree of choice among elective courses. Creation of a new minor is considered under the procedure for revising an academic program. [note the restriction on student eligibility] 
   
   Restriction: Students may not receive a Minor in the same discipline or program which is also their Major. 
6. Certificate
   A certificate is a coherent set of courses representing a defined body of knowledge and skills. Certificates may represent a subset of the requirements for existing degree programs; may reflect a multidisciplinary perspective drawing coursework from more than one existing program; or may constitute a relatively free-standing area of focus with little formal connection to existing academic programs.
   
   An Undergraduate Certificate  certificate must have a minimum number of 15 credit hours and a minimum number of four courses. Credits completed by the student must be residence credits unless substituted by the department or sponsoring Certificate program. The Certificate may include a maximum of 6 credit hours of experimental courses, special topics or seminars. A minimum of 12 credits in a certificate program shall consist of courses not classified as independent study, internship, practicum, or honors thesis credit. Unless otherwise specified, these certificates are open to all students, undergraduate and graduate, matriculating or non-matriculating, subject to availability of courses.
   
   A Graduate Certificate consists of at least 9 credits of graduate level coursework taught by members of the graduate faculty that offers a clear educational objective. Unless otherwise specified, these certificates are open to all graduate students, matriculating or non-matriculating, subject to the availability of courses.
    
7. Letter of Specialization
   A Letter of Specialization recognizes study in a specialized field related to or part of a student's major.

Sources: T92-012, Sen. Doc. No. 09-059, Academic Regulations