FORMAT AND GUIDELINES FOR REQUESTING ACADEMIC DEGREE PROGRAM CHANGES
(Title change, transfer from one organizational unit to another, merging two or more academic degree programs)
Directions; 1. Provide information regarding the proposed program changes in the format requested on the attached pages. Respond to each item individually. Indicate '"not applicable" where appropriate. 2. Obtain signatures of the department or committee head and college dean or Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs. In some situations signatures of more than one dean or department head may be required. If the changed program had a commitment of resources from other than the initiating unit, the signature of the collaborating department/committee head and collaborating college dean is also required. If you have any questions, please contact Patti J. King, MLK 320, 621-4107. 3. Forward the original and one copy to the college office for the dean's signature and retain a copy for departmental files. 4. The dean should forward the original to the Curriculum Office - Academic Programs, Attn: Patti J. King, MLK 320, and retain the remaining copy for college files. An electronic version of the documents with appropriate signatures is preferred but not required. For electronic submission, only the signature page should be submitted as a PDF. 5. Documents must be submitted in a timely manner to move through the campus/tri-university/Arizona I3oard of Regents approval process. UA campus protocols include review by appropriate subcommittee(s) of the Undergraduate/Graduate; full Undergraduate/Graduate/ Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs Advisory Council review; Provost Management Group and Academic Council (deans) review; Instruction and Curriculum Policy Committee of the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Senate. Once through the UA campus protocols, proposals are sent for review by the Office of the Provost's Office to the Chief Academic Officers at Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University as well as to the Board staff at the Arizona Board of Regents, for final review prior to submission to the Arizona Board of Regents for formal approval.
Initiating college, department, or committee: School of Architecture, College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture._
Title of this proposal: _TitIe change of the current Master's degree in Architecture. _
Unit Administrator: (name and title) Laura H. Hoi 1 en green, Interim Director and Associate Professor
Unit Administrator Signature: r-»-**-Mfc- ft- (4+^U^y^,. Date:__V/^l/?:
College Dean Sigt^ffTuI^ fy[^lj )jl^^/y Date: *f /P? 0/0 ^j x ^^^ff\ff Y^^ g / / Academic Program Change Request
Program Name and CIP Code: Graduate Program in Architecture, CIP code 04.0201
Requested by: School of Architecture, College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.
Desired effective term: Academic year 2009-2010.
Request: Distinguish the non-accredited Master's program in Architecture from the accredited program by changing the degree title of the non-accredited program from Master of Architecture to Master of Science in Architecture.
Background (History of program, years in place, factors that led to this request)
The non-accredited, post-professional Master of Architecture (M. Arch) program was established at the University of Arizona in 1973, and the first M. Arch degree was conferred in 1976. Based on the University of Arizona's international reputation as a Research 1 university, the M.Arch degree was designed and presented to the Board of Regents as a research-based, post-professional program, built on the foundation of an accredited Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) degree, which could be completed in 1.5 years. The current graduate program offers specialization in Design & Energy Conservation, Emerging Material Technologies, Preservation Studies, and Urban Design & Infrastructure. Other topics can be pursued as an Independent Research Option,
A joint B. Arch/M. Arch program option was developed in 1988 to accommodate graduates of 4- year, non-accredited degree programs in Architecture with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture degree (B.A. Arch). This option allowed selected students to receive both the accredited B. Arch undergraduate degree and the research based M. Arch degree in approximately 3 years.
Rationale for the request:
On March 25, 2009, the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs approved a proposal to streamline and convert the "joint" program into an accredited Master of Architecture degree, which can be completed in 3+ years by individuals with a Bachelors degree in a different discipline, and in 2 years by individuals with a 4-year Bachelors degree in Architecture. At the time, the Office of the Vice Provost suggested that the current Master's degree title be changed in order to distinguish it more clearly from the accredited degree.
The suggested name change would also bring our degree into conformity with the nomenclature in use at other graduate programs in architecture nationwide. Schools of architecture nationwide refer to non-accredited, post-professional Masters degrees in Architecture as "M.S. in Architecture" or "M.S. Arch", while accredited Master's degrees in Architecture are entitled "Master of Architecture" or "M.Arch". This usage is implicitly prescribed by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) in the following statement, which is required to be included in the catalogs and promotional material of all fully accredited schools of architecture: "In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted a 6-year, 3-year, or 2-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards."
Benefits to be derived:
• The title change will bring our School's graduate programs into alignment with official NAAB nomenclature, and with usage at design schools nationwide. • The title change will prevent confusion among prospective students, current students, prospective employers of our graduates, and other interested parties, regarding the nature of the difference between the two types of Master's degrees offered by our School. Impact on Department/Institution:
• Marketing and promotional materials will be revised to indicate the title change and its relevance.
Implications for students affected by the change:
• Students currently in the non-accredited Master of Architecture degree program will be offered the option of receiving their degree under that title, or under the changed title. • Students entering the non-accredited Master's degree option will in the future no longer experience uncertainty about the nature of the degree and its implications for architectural licensure.
Implications for faculty affected by the change: The current non-accredited Master's degree will remain unchanged, except for its title. Therefore, faculty will not be affected by the change.
Impact on other academic units:
No impact, except for the need to become aware of the title change. The Graduate College's degree certification unit is the one most directly affected by the need to know.
Budgetary impact: No budgetary impact is anticipated beyond the need to revise marketing and promotional materials, which will occur at minimal cost.