Federal Requirement: The institution maintains a curriculum that is directly related and appropriate to its purpose and goals and to diplomas, certificates, or degrees awarded.
XCompliance
Partial Compliance
Non-Compliance
Narrative:
Georgia State University is authorized to offer baccalaureate through doctoral degrees by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Its mission, goals, and degree programs are approved by the Board of Regents. (See further discussion of the institutional mission at Requirement 2.7.2.) As stated in the most recent Strategic Plan, Georgia State University aspires “to become one of the nation’s premiere research universities in focused areas that maximize [the institution’s] unique strengths.” [1]
Georgia State’s curriculum is directly related to the University’s mission and purpose. It also forwards University System of Georgia’s (USG) mission “to contribute to the educational, cultural, economic, and social advancement of Georgia by providing excellent undergraduate general education and first-rate programs leading to associate, baccalaureate, masters, professional, and doctorate degrees; by pursuing leading-edge basic and applied research, scholarly inquiry, and creative endeavors; and by bringing these intellectual resources, and those of the public libraries, to bear on the economic development of the State and the continuing education of its citizens.”[2] The USG’s degree approval process ensures that each program contributes to the mission of the institution. (See further discussions of degree approval processes at Standard 3.4.1 and 3.4.10.)
Continued alignment between Georgia State’s curriculum and its mission is ensured by two complementary processes. The first is the 5-year cycle for reexamination and approval of the Georgia State’s strategic plan. [3] As part of this extensive review, alignment between programs and Georgia State’s mission is reviewed and appropriate changes to the mission are made. The second is the 7-year cycle for Academic Program Review (APR).[4] APR is required for all programs. The review considers whether or not a program continues to support Georgia State’s mission. Programs which do not may be discontinued. The APR reviews include site-visits by external peer-review
Undergraduate Programs
Requirements for all undergraduate degrees are set out in the Undergraduate Catalog. [5] This Catalog specifies, among other things, the total number of credit hours to be earned (a minimum of 120), the Core Curriculum (required for all undergraduate degrees), the academic residency requirement (39 hours at the 3000 or 4000 level), and the requirements specific to each undergraduate degree. Prerequisite and corequisite requirements are listed in the Course Descriptions section of the Catalog. To see their progress towards their degrees, students may view an academic progress report (PACE or CAPP) via the web.[6]
Graduate Programs
Requirements for all graduate degrees are set out in the Graduate Catalog. [7] This Catalog specifies the requirements for each graduate degree. Prerequisite and corequisite requirements are listed in the Course Descriptions section of the Catalog. All graduate degree program requirements are also listed in the Catalog.