Pennsylvania Code › Title 22 - EDUCATION › Part I - State Board of Education › Subpart C - Higher Education › Chapter 31 - GENERAL PROVISIONS › ACADEMIC PROGRAM › Section 31.21 - Curricula

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) The curricula
					 must provide the opportunity for the achievement of the stated objectives of
					 the institution, as related to its statement of philosophy and mission, and
					 must be structured in a group of coherent, integrated degree
					 programs.
(b) Degree requirements
					 stated in this section may be stated in terms of semester credit hours or
					 quarter credit hours, as determined by the institution and conforming to
					 generally accepted academic practices. General education, as defined in this
					 section, refers to the curricular inclusion of humanities, arts,
					 communications, social sciences, mathematics, technology and science courses in
					 support of the mission of the institution. A semester credit hour represents a
					 unit of curricular material that normally can be taught in a minimum of 14
					 hours of classroom instruction, plus appropriate outside preparation or the
					 equivalent as determined by the faculty. A quarter credit hour represents a
					 unit of curricular material that normally can be taught in a minimum of 10
					 hours of classroom instruction, plus appropriate outside preparation or the
					 equivalent as determined by the faculty.
(1)
					 An associate degree exclusive of a specialized associate degree must require
					 the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 60 semester credit hours, which
					 includes a minimum of 20 semester credit hours of general education, or a
					 minimum of 90 quarter credit hours, which must include a minimum of 30 quarter
					 credit hours of general education.
(2) A specialized associate degree must
					 require the satisfactory completion of at least 60 semester credit hours or a
					 minimum of 1,500 clock hours or a minimum of 90 quarter credit hours. At least
					 70%, but no more than 80%, of the program must consist of specialized
					 instruction that bears directly upon the employment objectives of the program;
					 and at least 20% of the program must consist of general education.
(3) A baccalaureate degree must require the
					 satisfactory completion of a minimum of 120 semester credit hours or a minimum
					 of 180 quarter credits. Of the total baccalaureate degree program course
					 requirements, at least 40 semester credit hours or 60 quarter credit hours must
					 be in general education and represent a broad spectrum of disciplines in
					 general education.
(4) A first
					 professional degree, except those for the preparation of professional
					 educators, must require the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 60 semester
					 credit hours or 90 quarter credit hours for admission to the degree program and
					 the satisfactory completion of a total minimum of 150 semester credit hours or
					 225 quarter credit hours for the program. Professional educator preparation
					 programs must comply with Chapter 354 (relating to preparation of professional
					 educators).
(5) A master's degree
					 must require the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 semester credit
					 hours or 45 quarter credit hours beyond the baccalaureate level.
(6) The number of semester or quarter credit
					 hours for a degree beyond a first professional or master's degree shall be
					 determined by the faculty and reflect the recommendations of professional
					 associations or National learned societies.