MnSCU and MSU Mankato have established the following standards to guide development of curricular programs

Undergraduate Certificate
  1. 9-30 credit academic program.
  2. Addresses an occupational outcome or a focused area of study.
  3. Cannot have emphases.
Baccalaureate
  1. 120-credit program (unless a waiver is granted) incorporating general education (44 credits), major requirements and, as appropriate, a minor.
  2. BA focuses on study in the liberal or fine arts.
  3. BS prepares individuals to apply knowledge and skills in areas other than the liberal or fine arts.
  4. Chancellor may approve more specific degree types (e.g., BAS, BFA, BSN).
  5. Minimum 40 credits of upper-division.
  6. May have one or more emphases of at least 9 credits each with at least 18 credits in the major common to the emphases.
Majors
  1. Standard major is 32-47 semester credits and requires a minor.
  2. Broad major is 48+ semester credit hours and requires no minor.
  3. A major may require a specific minor.
  4. A major and a minor in the same discipline is not permitted.
Teaching Majors
  1. A minor is not required.
  2. Unless they have more than 48 credits in addition to the 30 professional education credits, teaching majors are not considered broad majors.
  3. Teaching majors may require a minor.
  4. All teaching majors must have a minimum of 32 required credits outside of the required 30 credits in professional education.
Minors
  1. Minor is a minimum of 16 credit hours.
  2. A major and a minor in the same discipline is not permitted.
Graduate Certificate
  1. A graduate certificate is awarded upon completion of a 9 to 30 credit academic program in a focused area of study at the graduate level.
  2. A graduate certificate shall not have emphases.
  3. All credits in a graduate certificate shall be taught by the faculty recommending the award. This requirement may be decreased upon recommendation of the faculty and approval by the president of the university.
Masters
  1. 30-54 credits at the graduate level in a discipline or professional field.
  2. MA focuses on study in the liberal or fine arts.
  3. MS prepares individuals to apply knowledge and skill in areas other than the liberal or fine arts.
  4. Chancellor may approve other degree types (e.g., MAT, MBA, MFA, MPA).
  5. At least one-half of required credits, exclusive of a thesis, capstone, or culminating project, shall be restricted exclusively to graduate students.
  6. May have one or more emphases of at least 9 credits when at least 18 credits are common to the emphases.
  7. A degree more than 54 credits may be approved by the chancellor when the length is (1) required by an employer, a licensing body or other regulatory agency, accrediting association, or board or (2) consistent with nationwide common practice.
Education Specialist
  1. 60-72 credits at the graduate level in the professional education field.
  2. May be awarded to a holder of a master's degree after the successful completion of a course of graduate study of at least 30 semester credits.
  3. May have one or more emphases of at least 9 credits each when at least 18 credits are required in the post-master's portion of the degree.
  4. No more than 16 credits may be master's dual-enrollment courses.
Doctorate
  1. At least 72 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree in an applied professional field.
  2. At least 36 of these 45 credits shall be in doctoral-only courses.
  3. No more than 16 credits may be master's dual enrollment courses.
  4. May have one or more emphases of at least 9 credits when at least 18 credits in the post-master's portion of the academic program.