Changes to course titles, descriptions, and other requirements (e.g., number of credits, prerequisites, grading system, etc.) are initiated by submitting a Graduate Course Change proposal through Curriculog. Proposers may change one or two elements of a course using a change form. Generally, more than two changes should be completed by deleting the course (through completing a Graduate Course Delete proposal) and generating a corresponding new course. Once a Graduate Course Change proposal is received, the Graduate College and Office of the Registrar will complete a technical review of the request to ensure that it conforms to all relevant policies and guidelines. The Graduate Course Change proposal will then automatically route through the appropriate department and unit for approval.

Once the course change has been approved by the department and unit as specified by the unit bylaws, the change proposal will be added to the upcoming Graduate Course Review Committee (GCRC) agenda. The proposal originator will be notified when the course change will be considered and may be asked to attend the GCRC meeting to present the change(s) to the committee. Course changes must be approved by the GCRC no later than the May meeting in order to be included in the new Graduate Catalog published each summer.

New Course proposals are submitted by initiating a Graduate Course Create proposal in Curriculog. Once received, the Graduate College and Office of the Registrar will complete a technical review of the request to ensure that it conforms to all relevant policies and guidelines. The Graduate Course Create proposal will then automatically route through the appropriate department and unit for approval.

Once the new course has been approved by the department and unit as specified by the unit bylaws, the proposal will be added to the next GCRC agenda. The proposal originator will be notified when the new course proposal is added to an agenda. The person proposing the new course or her/his proxy must attend the meeting to answer any committee questions.

New course proposals must be approved by the GCRC no later than the May meeting in order to be included in the new Graduate Catalog published each summer.

Once a program change proposal is received in Curriculog, the Graduate College will complete a technical review of the request to ensure that it conforms to all relevant policies and guidelines. The program change proposal will then automatically route to the appropriate department and unit for approval.

Once the catalog and program changes have been approved by the unit as specified by the unit bylaws, the proposal will be added to the next GPC agenda. The contact person for the proposed change will be notified when the agenda is available. The person proposing the change or his/her proxy must attend the GPC meeting to answer committee questions.

Changes must be approved by the Graduate Programs Committee (GPC) no later than the April meeting to be included in the new Graduate Catalog published each summer.* Please note that the Graduate Catalog is the document of record for all UNLV Graduate Programs. Any changes to a degree program, including admission requirements, degree requirements, and mode of delivery are required to be submitted as program change proposals in Curriculog.

*Please note that if there is an aggregate change of 25 percent or more in the number of clock or credit hours or program content within an existing program, it will require Board of Regents approval. In these cases, program changes will only be reflected in the Catalog after approval by the Board of Regents.

New degrees must be included on the NSHE/UNLV Academic Master Plan before they may be proposed. Degree proposers should begin by reviewing the New Degree Program Proposal Process described on the Provost's website. The establishment of a new graduate degree program is a multistage process. New degree program proposals should be initiated at least 18 months prior to your desired first admit term.

If you are proposing an inter/transdisciplinary program, please contact the Graduate College.

The first step is a pre-proposal (directions and additional information) that is reviewed by the Provost's Office, Graduate College Dean, and other campus leadership as appropriate. If approved at that stage (the pre-proposal), the submitters will be invited to initiate the full new degree proposal in Curriculog.

The full new degree proposal process begins by submitting a Graduate Program Create proposal in Curriculog. The following documents should be uploaded to the proposal within Curriculog:

• NSHE Proposal form. This is available from the Senior Provost for Academic Affairs.
• New Program Cost Estimate form. This is available from the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.
• Memo from the Dean identifying strengths and weaknesses of the proposal and showing the priority of this program within your College/School’s strategic plan.
• Approved Three-Year Academic Assessment Plan. This is available from the UNLV Office of Academic Assessment.

Once a Graduate Program Create proposal is received, the Graduate College will complete a technical review of the documents to ensure that it conforms to all relevant policies and guidelines. The proposal will then automatically route to the appropriate department and unit for approval.

Once the new degree has been approved by the department and College, as specified by unit bylaws, the proposal will be added to the next GPC agenda. The proposal originator will be notified when the degree will be reviewed by the GPC committee. The person proposing the new degree or his/her proxy must attend the meeting to answer questions about the proposal.

The committee's recommendation will be forwarded to the Provost's Office. From there, if approved, the program will be proposed to the NSHE Academic Affairs Council (AAC). If approved by the AAC, the new program will be placed on the agenda for the following Board of Regents meeting.

Once approved, there is a campus-wide process to “build” and implement the degree. For example, one important step is gathering materials for the UNLV Degrees Directory. All degrees and certificates must appear in the UNLV Degrees Directory with 5 current, representative syllabi and a program handbook. To submit information for an approved program, please visit the update form of the Degrees Directory or contact GradCurriculum@unlv.edu. Additional Program Handbook information is available immediately below.

For more information about program holds and eliminations, please read the Graduate Program, Degree, Track/Strand Deactivation Request section of the Academic Program Actions & Processes page.

New Certificate Programs

This process begins by submitting a Graduate Certificate Create proposal through Curriculog. The following documents should be uploaded to the proposal within Curriculog:

• Approved Three Year Academic Assessment Plan. This is available from the UNLV Office of Academic Assessment.
• Two (2) letters of support that verify the appropriate faculty approvals, need for the program, and existence of necessary resources:
  • Chair/Director of the academic unit that will offer the certificate
  • Academic Dean
• Certificate Financial Aid Reporting form: Please email gradcurriculum@unlv.edu to request the Certificate Financial Aid Reporting form

Once a Graduate Certificate Create proposal is received, the Graduate College will complete a technical review of the documents to ensure that it conforms to all relevant policies and guidelines (for example, a minimum of 12 graduate credits). The proposal will then automatically route to the appropriate department/school and college for sequential approval.

When the new certificate has been approved by the department and college as specified by the unit bylaws, the proposal will be added to the upcoming GPC agenda. The contact person for the new certificate will be notified when the agenda is available. The person proposing the new certificate or his/her proxy must attend the meeting to answer questions. If approved, it is recommended to the Graduate College Dean and the Provost's Office for final review and implementation. No Board of Regents review or approval is necessary for certificates under 30 credit hours.

All certificates must appear in the UNLV Degrees Directory. Certificates must have a minimum of 4 current, representative syllabi. A handbook is not required. To submit information for an approved program, please visit the update form of the Degrees Directory or email GradCurriculum@unlv.edu.

Changes to Certificate Programs

Once a certificate change proposal is received, the Graduate College will complete a technical review of the request to ensure that it conforms to all relevant policies and guidelines. The certificate change proposal will then automatically route to the appropriate department and unit for approval.

Once the catalog and certificate changes have been approved by the department as specified by the unit bylaws, the proposal will be added to the next GPC agenda. The contact person for the proposed change will be notified when the agenda is available. The person proposing the change or his/her proxy must attend the GPC meeting to answer committee questions.

Changes must be approved by the Graduate Programs Committee (GPC) no later than the April meeting to be included in the new Graduate Catalog published each summer. Please note that the Graduate Catalog is the document of record for all UNLV graduate certificates. Any changes to a certificate, including admission requirements, certificate requirements, and mode of delivery are required to be submitted as program change proposals in Curriculog.

This process begins by submitting a Graduate Microcredential Create proposal through Curriculog. The following documents should be uploaded to the proposal within Curriculog:

• Two (2) letters of support that verify the appropriate faculty approvals, need for the program, and existence of necessary resources:
  • Chair/Director of the academic unit that will offer the microcredential
  • Academic Dean

Once a Graduate Microcredential Create proposal is received, the Graduate College will complete a technical review of the documents to ensure that it conforms to all relevant policies and guidelines (for example, a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 11 graduate credits). The proposal will then automatically route to the appropriate department/school and college for sequential approval.

When the new microcredential has been approved by the department and college as specified by the unit bylaws, the proposal will be added to the upcoming GPC agenda. The contact person for the new microcredential program will be notified when the agenda is available. The person proposing the new microcredential or his/her proxy must attend the meeting to answer questions. If approved, it is recommended to the Graduate College Dean and the Provost's Office for final review and implementation. No Board of Regents review or approval is necessary for programs under 30 credit hours.

All microcredential must appear in the UNLV Degrees Directory. Microcredential must have a minimum of 2 current, representative syllabi. A handbook is not required. To submit information for an approved program, please visit the update form of the Degrees Directory.

To submit information for an approved program, please visit the update form of the Degrees Directory or email GradCurriculum@unlv.edu.

Changes to Microcredential Programs

Once a program change proposal is received, the Graduate College will complete a technical review of the request to ensure that it conforms to all relevant policies and guidelines. The program change proposal will then automatically route to the appropriate department and unit for approval.

Once the catalog and microcredential changes have been approved by the department as specified by the unit bylaws, the proposal will be added to the next GPC agenda. The contact person for the proposed change will be notified when the agenda is available. The person proposing the change or his/her proxy must attend the GPC meeting to answer committee questions.

Changes must be approved by the Graduate Programs Committee (GPC) no later than the April meeting to be included in the new Graduate Catalog published each summer. Please note that the Graduate Catalog is the document of record for all UNLV graduate credit-bearing microcredentials. Any changes to a microcredentials, including admission requirements, program requirements, and mode of delivery are required to be submitted as program change proposals in Curriculog.

The purpose of the technical review step in the curriculum process is to provide timely feedback on proposals so that they adhere to the standards of acceptable course and program design and align with UNLV policies, practices and guidelines. One of the major goals of conducting technical reviews is to ensure that proposals address and include the required information in order to streamline the curricular review process and prevent frustrating delays in the approval/implementation process. Curricular technical review is not content based review, it is purely technical input. Having this technical feedback early in the proposal review process decreases the chance for later technical questions that could send a proposal back to the proposer for revisions after considerable time has already been invested. We strive to avoid this scenario to be respectful of faculty time and supportive of faculty curricular initiatives. The goal is to proactively work with presenters to address any technical questions early and help them realize their curricular goals. 

Curricular technical reviews do not focus on content but rather on the administrative elements including but not limited to: ensuring that proposal forms are complete and have all the required information; confirming that proposals meet basic accreditation standards; compliance with initiatives of UNLV offices such as: the office of online education, compliance, international students, Registrar’s office, VPAP office, and the like.

Technical reviews are typically conducted within one week for courses and bi-weekly for programs by the Associate Dean of the Graduate College, Registrar’s office, and the Grad Curriculum and Assessment Manager. Other UNLV offices are also triggered at the technical review step. For example, when there are changes to the course that may be related to service learning, a trigger email is sent to the Service Learning office to work with proposers prior to the proposal reaching the GCRC step. 

In fall 2021, both the Graduate Programs Committee (GPC) and the Graduate Course Review Committee (GCRC) discussed and supported the process of Curricular Technical Reviews occurring immediately following the originator’s submission in order to catch errors and omissions early and to offer faculty curricular support, as needed.