All proposed new academic programs move through a process of review and approval at UW-Madison. This includes new degree/majors (i.e., academic plans), named options (i.e., academic subplans), certificate programs (i.e., undergraduate, graduate/professional, and capstone), and minors. The process to propose each of these different types of programs varies slightly.

This document provides high-level guidance on proposing new academic programs. For complete details, refer to the New Academic Program Development website. 

New Degree/Major 

A new degree/major program (i.e., academic plan) represents significant commitments by faculty and deans. The approval process to authorize their implementation is structured to assure wide communication and sufficient planning to make sure that the program is ready for students at the time of implementation. After approval by the school/college, the Graduate Faculty Executive Committee (GFEC) (as applicable, for graduate-level programs), and the University Academic Planning Council (UAPC) is complete, the Board of Regents formally authorizes the new degree/major program. The approval process is dictated by UW System Administration and Board of Regents policy. Proposing a new degree/major program is a three-step process:

1. Preliminary Conversations
2. Notice of Intent
3. Full Request for Authorization Proposal

New Named Option

A named option is a formally documented submajor within an academic degree/major, also called a subplan. While named options/subplans are part of UW-Madison’s academic structure, they are unique to the university and thus do not require UW System review or approval. As such, a proposal for a new named option moves through a streamlined review and approval process, as follows:

1. Preparation of the Lumen Program proposal,
2. Review and approval by the offering department/unit,
3. Review and approval by the school/college academic planning council (or equivalent),
4. Evaluation by Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research planning staff and the Graduate School (as applicable),
5. Review and approval by the Graduate Faculty Executive Committee (GFEC; for graduate-level programs),
6. Review and approval by the University Academic Planning Council (UAPC)
7. Implementation

New Certificate Program

A certificate program is a designated set of for-credit courses focused upon a specific topic or theme. Certificates give students the opportunity to pursue a subject of interest in a formalized way and to have completion of the course of study recognized by the awarding of the certificate. There are a variety of certificate types at UW-Madison, namely undergraduate certificates, graduate/professional certificates, and capstone certificates. While credit-bearing certificates are part of UW-Madison’s academic structure, they do not require formal UW System review or approval. Upon approval by UW-Madison, new certificates are reported to both UW System and the Higher Learning Commission. A proposal for a new certificate program moves through the following review and approval process:

1. Preparation of the Lumen Program proposal,
2. Review and approval by the offering department/unit,
3. Review and approval by the school/college academic planning council (or equivalent),
4. Evaluation by Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research planning staff and the Graduate School (as applicable),
5. Review and approval by the Graduate Faculty Executive Committee (GFEC; for graduate-level programs),
6. Review and approval by the University Academic Planning Council (UAPC)
7. Implementation

New Doctoral Minor

Breadth is a required component of doctoral training at UW–Madison. Given there are multiple paths to breadth, the Graduate School leaves the choice of whether students achieve breadth through a doctoral minor, graduate/professional certificate, or other means up to the specific graduate program. Doctoral minors require a minimum of 9 credits and can be proposed via the following process:

1. Preparation of the Lumen Program proposal,
2. Review and approval by the offering department/unit,
3. Review and approval by the school/college academic planning council (or equivalent),
4. Evaluation by Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research planning staff and the Graduate School,
5. Review and approval by the Graduate Faculty Executive Committee (GFEC),
6. Review and approval by the University Academic Planning Council (UAPC)
7. Implementation