Develop a Reduced-Credit Bachelor's Degree Program

A Reduced-Credit Bachelor’s Degree is an intentionally designed bachelor’s degree requiring between 90 and 120 semester units. RCBDs must maintain bachelor’s-level academic rigor and comply with CSU graduation, accreditation, residency, and financial aid requirements.

RCBDs may be developed under one of the following approved degree designations:

• Bachelor of Applied Studies (BAS)
• Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS)
• Bachelor of Education (BEd)

Follow the approval pathway below to begin developing the degree program:

STEP 1: Consult Before You Begin

1. Determine the appropriate degree designation:
   • Bachelor of Applied Studies (BAS)
   • Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS)
   • Bachelor of Education (BEd)
2. Identify the appropriate CIP code:
   • National Center for Education Statistics
   • CSU Academic Programs
3. Market Analysis
   Use the Academic Assessment Suite data available from Hanover Research to demonstrate the student and workforce demand and employment opportunities for graduates of your projected program(s). These data can be used to bolster the enrollment projections provided in your projected degree form. Each College Dean’s Office has access to Hanover Research. Please check with your representative for access to the portal, or have them generate the market analysis for you. The Office of Academic Programs also offers an orientation video. If you would like access, please email academic.programs@csusb.edu.

STEP 2: Project the Degree

1. Complete campus review and submit the Projected Degree Form for the Academic Master Plan and Board of Trustees approval to academic.programs@csusb.edu. 
2. Clearly identify the proposed program as a Reduced-Credit Bachelor’s Degree and indicate the appropriate degree designation: BEd, BAS, or BPS.
   • CSUSB Deadline - November 1st or May 1st
3. Check the status of your projected degree here.
   • Select San Bernardino from the 'Projected Degree Programs by Campus' drop-down list. If the projected program is listed in red, it has been approved by the BOT; if not, check back soon. It may take up to 5 months to be reviewed and posted. 

STEP 3: Propose the New Degree

1. Once approval from the BOT has been received, prepare the curriculum, student learning outcomes, assessment plan, enrollment projections, roadmaps, and five-year budget. An RCBD should be designed as an intentional, integrated academic program; not simply as a shortened or compressed version of an existing 120-unit degree. The program must achieve bachelor’s-level learning outcomes while maintaining appropriate disciplinary depth, breadth, and academic rigor.
   • Proposal checklist

STEP 4: Campus and WSCUC Review

1. Complete campus curriculum and governance review and submit the WSCUC screening form to academic.programs@csusb.edu. 
   • WSCUC determines whether additional Substantive Change review is required. 
   • WSCUC considers an RCBD an offering at a new degree level. The program should therefore be prepared to undergo substantive change review and, if required, structural change review. 
   • WSCUC recommends submitting the substantive change proposal approximately six to nine months before the anticipated implementation date. Additional time may be required if a structural change review or site visit is necessary.

STEP 5: Submit Proposal Packet

1. Submissions can be made to the Chancellor's Office year-round. Once everything has been approved at the campus level, send the New Degree Proposal Form with the documents listed below to academic.programs@csusb.edu, and our office will forward the proposal to the Chancellor's Office for review. 
   1. Assessment Plan
   2. Curriculum Map
   3. State-Support Budget Worksheet
   4. Self-Support Budget Worksheet
       

STEP 6: Implement

1. After CO authorization, the CSU Degrees Database, catalog, and Cal State Apply will be updated before students can begin enrolling. Keep in mind that the first cohort must enroll within 2 years of CO authorization.