Academic programs: Proposal and approval process

• Guidelines: Program / concentration revision
• Form: Program / concentration revision
• Completed form example
• Program consultation form
• Consultation report summary table

Major revisions 

• Degree program credit weight changes
• Changes to honours requirements in undergraduate programs
• Changes to project, thesis, and special activity requirements in graduate programs
• Changes to the minimum program GPA requirement for honours programs (as long as the GPA requirement remains at 3.0 or greater)
• Restructuring the program requirements, either by introducing new courses that make up more than one-third of the program’s total credits, or by incorporating existing courses (from other programs) that make up more than two-thirds (requires MES approval). These proportions are calculated based on the total number of credits offered within the program, not the total credits required to graduate.

TAP will only consider major revision proposals that have been granted preliminary approval by TAP, APB and the Faculty leadership during TAP’s annual program development planning exercise. teaching_programs.provost [at] mcgill.ca (Contact us for details).

Moderate revisions 

• Changes to required course lists in a program
• Changes in program modality are made teaching_programs.provost [at] mcgill.ca (by memo) (not the course revision form)

Minor revisions 

• Degree program title changes
• Changes to complementary course lists that do not affect the credit weight of the program
• Course changes within the offering unit’s own subject code
• Credit weight changes to program components (excluding degree programs)

Program retirements

• Program retirement requests are made using the program revision form. 
• Requests to reinstate a retired program are made teaching_programs.provost [at] mcgill.ca (by memo) (not the course revision form)

Approval timeline

• Approximately 6 – 12 months for major program revision proposals
• Approximately 2 – 4 months for minor/moderate program revision proposals and program retirements

teaching_programs.provost [at] mcgill.ca (Contact us) for status updates.

Approval paths for program revisions and retirements

* CGPS approves all graduate programs. 

The Associate Provost (Teaching and Academic Planning) (APTAP) reviews all proposals on behalf of the Academic Policy Committee (APC), may resolve questions, and determine if additional APC review is required. 

All proposals are included for information in regular reports to APC and Senate.