Section III Postsecondary Affairs
E. Certificates and Degrees
- Definitions
Programs of instruction require specified numbers of credits earned
through educational work on the part of students. Completion of the program of instruction
results in the awarding of a certificate to or conferring of a degree upon the student by the
faculty and the chief executive officer. The following definitions have been approved by the
Board:
- CERTIFICATES:
- Academic Certificate
A credential awarded for completion of a coherent program
of study consisting of seven (7) semester credits or more, representing a coherent body of
knowledge, that does not lead to a degree.
- Academic Certificate of Completion
A credential awarded for completion of a
coherent program of study consisting of six (6) semester credits or less, representing a
coherent body of knowledge, that does not lead to an academic certificate or a degree.
- Technical Certificate of Completion
A credential awarded by the institution
for a professional-technical program that does not meet the criteria for other
professional-technical certificates and consists of seven (7) semester credits or less.
- Postsecondary Technical Certificate
A credential awarded for completion of
requirements in an approved professional-technical program of instructions of at least
eight (8) semester credit hours and mastery of specific competencies drawn from requirements
of business/industry.
- Technical Certificate
A credential awarded for the completion of requirements
entailing at least 27 semester credit hours and less than one year of full-time work and
includes mastery of specific competencies drawn from requirements of business/industry.
- Advanced Technical Certificate
A credential awarded for completion of technical
and technical support requirements entailing more than one (1) academic year, a minimum of
52 semester credit hours and mastery of specific competencies drawn from requirements of
business/industry.
- ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE: A credential awarded for completion of requirements
entailing at least two but less than four years of full-time professional-technical study with
a minimum of 60 semester credits (includes a minimum of 16 general education credits) and includes
mastery of specific competencies drawn from requirements of business/industry. The A.A.S. degree
has specific requirements in the individual technical fields (e.g., drafting, electronics, civil
engineering technology, business occupations, information technology, etc.). An Advanced option
may be awarded for additional credits of at least 15 credit hours that are beyond the A.A.S.
degree.
- ASSOCIATE DEGREE: A credential awarded for completion of requirements entailing at least two
(2) but normally less than four (4) years of full-time academic work.
- BACCALAUREATE DEGREE: A credential awarded for completion of requirements entailing at least
four (4) years of full-time academic work.
- MASTER'S DEGREE: A credential awarded for completion of requirements entailing at least one
(1) but normally not more than two (2) years of full-time academic work beyond the baccalaureate
degree, including any required research.
- SPECIALIST DEGREE: A credential awarded for completion of requirements entailing at least two
(2) but normally not more than three (3) years of full-time academic work beyond the baccalaureate
degree.
- DOCTORAL DEGREE: A credential awarded for completion of requirements entailing at least three
(3) years of full-time academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree, including any required research.
- Academic and Professional-Technical Credit Requirements.
Forty-five (45) clock-hours of student
involvement are required for each semester credit, which includes a minimum of fifteen (15) student contact
hours for each semester credit.
- Each institution will establish the number of earned credits required for each certificate or degree.
The requirements may differ from the general requirements specified in the definitions, but all credit
requirements must receive approval in accordance with the program approval policies provided in III.G.
Institutional catalogs will specify the required number of earned credits for each certificate or degree.
- Programs offered at the institution, as well as the certificates and degrees to which they lead,
are subject to review and approval in accordance with the program approval policies provided in III.G.
A certificate or degree conferred upon the student is conferred under the authority of the Board.
- A current listing of authorized certificates and degrees awarded by each institution is maintained
at the institution by the chief executive officer and for all institutions at the Office of the State
Board of Education.
- Honorary Degrees.
Each institution, except Eastern Idaho Technical College, may award
honorary degrees, not to exceed the highest level of Board-authorized degrees currently awarded by the
institution, to persons in recognition of distinguished achievements at the local, state, or national
level in areas such as education, public service, research, sciences, humanities, business, or the
professions. The award of an honorary degree must receive the prior approval of the chief executive
officer upon recommendation by the faculty.
Each institution will develop its own procedures
for seeking nominations for and selecting honorary degree recipients. Those procedures may include a
statement of eligibility requirements for honorary degrees. However, no person who is currently employed
by the institution, is a member of the Board or the Board's staff, or is an incumbent elected official
is eligible for an honorary degree during the term of employment, appointment, or office.
Additional Resources
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