W. Va. Code R. § 133-11-3

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 133-11-3 - Definitions

3.1. "Area of emphasis" means a specific subject area of study which has defined course offerings within an approved degree program and major. Normally, a minimum of 12 and no more than 18 hours would be expected for an area of emphasis within a baccalaureate degree program and a minimum of six and no more than 12 credit hours would be expected for an area of emphasis within a graduate degree. Typically, a minimum of six and no more than nine credit hours would be expected for an area of emphasis within an associate degree program. Areas of emphasis completed would appear on the student's transcript.

3.2. "Certificate programs" (as distinguished from the one-year Certificate Degree Program offered by the community and technical colleges) means a coherent, specialized curriculum designed for students in search of a specific body of knowledge for personal or career development or professional continuing education. The certificate program is not attached to a degree program, although credit hours earned in a certificate program may be applied to a degree if they are deemed appropriate by the institution. The awarding of a certificate upon completion of the program is not contingent upon completion of a degree program. The certificate would appear on the student's transcript and an institution may issue an official certificate of completion. Normally, a minimum of six and no more than nine credit hours would constitute a certificate program at the associate level, and a minimum of 12 and no more than 21 credit hours would constitute a certificate program at the baccalaureate or graduate level.

3.3. "Chancellor" means the Chancellor for Higher Education as that term is defined in W. Va. Code § 18B-1-2 or his or her designee.

3.4. "Commission" means the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission as established by W. Va. Code § 18B-1B-1.

3.5. "Degree program" means an area of study approved as such by the institution and the Commission and listed on the official Commission inventory of degree programs, e.g., English, Social Work, Physical Education. The degree, which is an award signifying a rank or level of educational attainment and which is conferred on students who have successfully completed a degree program, is represented by the official degree designation, e.g., B.A. - Bachelor of Arts, B.S. - Bachelor of Science, A.S. - Associate of Science, etc. The degree program completed would be listed on the student's diploma.

3.6. "Joint degree program" means one common degree program offered jointly by two participating institutions in which the student takes courses from both institutions and, upon graduation, receives a degree listing both institutions on the diploma or certificate.

3.7. "Major" means a field of study within an approved degree program having its own curriculum. A degree program may have more than one major. An institution may elect to include the major(s) on the student's diploma.

3.8. "Minor" means a secondary area of specialization beyond a college major that is earned in a specific subject area of study and must be composed of at least 12 credit hours of course work. A student may not earn a baccalaureate minor in a subject area in which he or she is earning a baccalaureate major.

3.9. "New academic program" means any prescribed course of study at a State university that constitutes a major, minor, concentration, or certificate leading to a recognized degree or specific employment situation that was not in effect as of the effective date of this rule and that has not been previously approved by the Commission.

3.10. "State university" or "institution" means those public four-year institutions not affiliated with or under the administrative umbrella of West Virginia University, Marshall University, or the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. Those institutions are Bluefield State University, Concord University, Fairmont State University, Glenville State University, Shepherd University, West Liberty University, and West Virginia State University: Provided, That pursuant to W. Va. Code § 18B-1C-2(i), West Virginia University and West Virginia University Institute of Technology, as it relates to providing academic programming at the Beckley campus, shall be subject to the provisions of this rule; Provided further, That pursuant to W. Va. Code § 18B-1-1f(e)(3), the provisions of this rule shall not apply to the administratively exempted schools.

W. Va. Code R. § 133-11-3