• Petition for Substantively New Degree Program

    Petition for Substantively New Degree Program

    for consideration by the ATS/COA Board of Commissioners
  • Commission-accredited schools must petition for approval prior to adding any new degree that is in a new degree category or represents a significant departure for its currently approved degrees (per Policies and Procedures IV.D).

    As noted in Policies and Procedures IV.D.1, "The Board considers offering a degree in a new category to include offering for the first time a master's or doctoral degree in a category in which it does not currently offer an approved degree. Standard 4 lists three categories of master's degrees: MDiv, MA, and ThM; Standard 5 lists three categories of doctoral degrees: DMin, Other Professional Doctorates, and PhD/ThD. Offering a doctoral degree in a new category may also require a focused visit before approval, especially new PhD degrees (see III.D.1). The Board considers offering a degree representing a significant departure from its approved degrees to include offering a degree in a field outside of the school's current area(s) of expertise and/or requiring significant additions in faculty, facilities, or finances." Schools are to use this form to petition for each new degree by completing the relevant portion (i.e., submit one petition form for each new degree). In completing this form, please include links to additional documentation as requested or as deemed helpful. Your Commission staff liaison will contact you if there are any questions regarding this petition.

    NOTE: As described in Policies and Procedures IV.D.1, offering new degrees in the same category or changing the name of an already approved degree DOES NOT require prior approval from the Board. However, any such change (including discontinuing an approved degree; see III.L.1) DOES require notification to, and acknowledgement by, the school's Commission staff liaison at least 60 days before being implemented (see notification forms on ATS petitions and notifications webpage).

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    Please note: you are able to save and return to this form as needed. Click "Save" at the bottom of any page and enter your email address. An email will be sent to you from Jotform (via noreply@jotform.com) which contains a link to your form in progress.

  • When finished, please submit this petition to the ATS Accrediting Records Coordinator by hitting the "submit" button below. You can expect an automated confirmation email within a few minutes. There is no fee for this (or any) Commission petition. Please do not send any paper copies or any emailed attachments; submit only this completed, online form (including any links to additional information requested).

    NOTE: Petitions for new degrees are typically decided by the Board of Commissioners within a few months (see submission deadlines on ATS petitions and notifications webpage). Petitions for a doctoral degree in a new category may require six months or more for approval, since the Board may require a focused evaluation visit before making a final decision, especially for new PhD programs.

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