Request for Approval of Revision of a Concentration or Minor
Concentrations v.s. Minors
Concentrations
A concentration is a prescribed pathway through a major which allows for emphasis on a particular segment of the discipline (for example, the Accounting Concentration in the Business Administration Major and the Dance Concentration in the Theatre Arts Major). Not all majors have formal concentrations. Some majors with formal concentrations require students to select a concentration (e.g., Business Administration) whereas others do not (e.g., Chemistry). In some majors, different concentrations have different unit requirements. If a student declares a concentration when or prior to filing for graduation and meets the requirements, the concentration will appear on the student’s diploma. For those students who wish to complete more than one concentration and have the additional concentration(s) recorded, each must differ by at least three courses and nine units from any other completed concentration. Note: Students using past-year and archived Cal State East Bay catalogs for their catalog of record, will still see the term “option” being used in those catalogs. The definition for “option” and “concentration”, for catalog purposes, are the same.
Minors
A minor is a coherent program in some field or group of related fields other than your major. Minors range in size from 15-30 semester units, at least 9 of which must be upper division. No student is required to have a minor, so it will not appear on your record or diploma unless you request it. The minimum grade point average for a minor is 2.00, so you must take at least one course on the A-F grading pattern. At least 9 units must be taken at Cal State East Bay if you want the minor recognized on your diploma and/or permanent record. Courses in a minor may be double-counted in G.E. However, at least 9 semester units of a minor must not be double-counted in the discipline of the major for Cal State East Bay to recognize the minor. You cannot get a minor in the same department as your major unless the disciplines are distinct as explicitly stated in the catalog description of the minor program (e.g., French and Spanish, Art History and Studio Art). A minor is recognized only when a baccalaureate degree is awarded. To declare a minor, students must fill out a “Change of Major, Minor, Option” form available online at the Student Records Forms website. For additional information see the Academic Programs chapter of the catalog.
Process for Revising a Concentration
To make changes to an existing Concentration in your department, you will first need to discuss your plans with your Department Chair. If your they are in agreement, you will create a proposal by:
- Log into Curriculog
- Select the New Proposal Icon,
- Select the "Programs" Tab
- Select "Program - Concentration - Revision" if you are revising an existing Concentration
- Select the "Start Proposal" icon
to begin your proposal
Once a Faculty Member and/or Department Chair originates proposal in Curriculog, the proposal then moves through the approval process as follows:
- Department Chair (if not the originator)
- Consultation (Newly approved curriculum reviewed by all Department Chairs and Associate Deans. Colleges/Departments have five working days to review proposals and submit any comments within Curriculog.) If no consultation is requested, proposal proceeds as follows:
- Dean and/or Associate Dean
- College Curriculum Committee (proposal may require additional Dean/Associate Dean review if significant changes are made at this step)
- Academic Programs and Services (Technical and Articulation Officer Review and Director, Associate Dean or Dean approval depending on proposal). If a revision is objected to or if a concentration revision is *substantial the proposal proceeds as follows:
- Committee on Academic Planning and Resources (CAPR), only if additional resources involved
- Committee on Instruction and Curriculum (CIC), if revision is deemed substantial
- Executive Committee of the Academic Senate (ExCom), if revision is deemed substantial
- Academic Senate, if revision is deemed substantial
- University President, if revision is deemed substantial
- University Curriculum Coordinator facilitates the completion of the proposal and addition into the catalog
*Visit the Master Curriculum Calendar for examples of substantial revisions under the February 1st Headline.
Process for Revising a Minor
To make changes to an existing Minor Program in your department, you will first need to discuss your plans with your Department Chair. If your they are in agreement, you will create a proposal by:
- Log into Curriculog
- Select the New Proposal Icon,
- Select the "Programs" Tab
- Select "Program - Minor - Revision" if you are revising an existing Minor Program
- Select the "Start Proposal" icon to begin your proposal
Once a Faculty Member and/or Department Chair originates proposal in Curriculog, the proposal then moves through the approval process as follows:
- Department Chair (if not the originator)
- Consultation (Newly approved curriculum reviewed by all Department Chairs and Associate Deans. Colleges/Departments have five working days to review proposals and submit any comments within Curriculog.) If no consultation is requested, proposal proceeds as follows:
- Dean and/or Associate Dean
- College Curriculum Committee (proposal may require additional Dean/Associate Dean review if significant changes are made at this step)
- Academic Programs and Services (Technical and Articulation Officer Review and Director, Associate Dean or Dean approval depending on proposal).
*Visit the Master Curriculum Calendar for examples of substantial revisions under the February 1st Headline.
Semester Catalog Curriculum Deadlines
Revised programs can only take effect in Fall Semester. Academic Programs and Services deadlines are outlined in the Master Curriculum Calendar. However, college deadlines are set earlier, so please check with your College Curriculum Coordinator for college-specific curriculum submission deadlines.