Program Adjustments

About This Policy

Definitions

Academic Program

A distinct curriculum leading to a degree, certificate and/or other credential recorded on a student’s transcript (e.g., minor).

Program Adjustment/Program Exception

Substitution or waiver of a course and changes in credits in order to achieve equivalencies and equal access to academic programs, including required courses, restricted electives, etc., in a declared program, minor, or certificate.

Course

A unit of teaching and learning focused on a specific academic subject or area of inquiry, specified by a unique combination of title, alpha code, course number, credit hours, and instructional level. Courses may be delivered in a variety of modes including face-to-face, online, other form of distance learning, or hybrid.

Course waiver

Excuses a student from completing a particular required component (course or other academic requirement) of an academic program by taking a test, having completed the equivalent course at another accredited institution, or otherwise demonstrating sufficient knowledge demanded by that requirement.

Credits (or credit hours)

The unit measuring quantity of academic study, with one credit-hour established as 150 minutes of academic work each week for 15 weeks in one semester, which is typically accomplished by 50 minutes of face-to-face class activity each week complemented by at least 100 minutes each week of laboratory or outside assignments, but may also be accomplished through an equivalent amount of academic work.

Policy

Undergraduate and graduate academic program, certificate, minor, and other University requirements may be adjusted to:

• Equate academic courses earned by a student at an accredited institution of higher learning other than Montclair to Montclair courses.
• Allow a course to fulfill a requirement area or the “spirit of the requirement” without being a direct equivalent for a Montclair course.
• Allow a student to substitute an equivalent course completed at Montclair to a course in their Montclair curriculum.
• Allow a student to waive a course or other program requirement.
• Adjust the number of credits required for certain components of the curriculum.
• Accommodate a student’s disability.
• Other valid purposes or program requirements not listed above.

General Requirements

To pursue an adjustment a student must first consult with an academic advisor. The advisor will initiate a Program Adjustment Request form on behalf of the student. Forms are processed by the Office of the Registrar.

An approved course substitution will apply in the degree requirement(s) but will not change the course prefix and number on a transcript.

A lower-level course substituting for an upper-level requirement is not able to count toward the required number of upper-level hours.

Changing programs may nullify earlier approved adjustments.

For courses meeting a major or program requirement, the academic unit chair/director and dean/designee must review and approve the program adjustment. When the substitute course is in a department/school other than the student’s major, that chair/director must also sign the approval.

A graduate course may be applied to an undergraduate program, but an undergraduate course may not substitute for a graduate course.

A specific substitute course or requirement must be identified for the request, rather than a range of courses.

For courses counting as General Education or another graduation requirement generally, and not a specific matching course, the provost or designee will review and approve the substitution.

Substitutions cannot be made that effectively circumvent Montclair institutional or accreditation standards.

Multiple courses may be used to satisfy a credit adjustment for one Montclair course.

Substitutions must be justified, addressing both the level of equivalency between the two courses and a rationale for making an exception to the requirement.

Pass/fail grades cannot be used for substitute courses

Students seeking course substitutions should consult the Residency Requirements Policy and the Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Requirements Policy.

Guidelines for Approval of Adjustments – Transfer Credits

Transfer students may apply courses and course credits to their new programs at Montclair, under the following conditions:

• Montclair program adjustments may not be determined by other institutions.
• The learning objectives or spirit of adjusted courses must be equivalent.
• Considerations should include impact on the program plan of study, the skills and knowledge specified by the program learning outcomes, and industry requirements.
• Undergraduate students may transfer a maximum of 60 credits from 2-year colleges, or 90 credits from 4-year institutions, master’s level graduate students a maximum of 6 credits, and doctoral students a maximum of 9 credits from other institutions of higher learning.

Guidelines for Approval of Adjustments – Montclair Credits

A clear relationship must exist between the courses being adjusted, indicating the learning objectives or spirit of the requirement have been or will be covered in the substitute.

Substitutions must be justified, addressing both the level of equivalency between the two courses and a rationale for making an exception to the requirement.

When there is a change in major, an approved course substitution or requirement waiver applying to a General Education requirement may continue to apply.

Allowing a Student to Waive a Course

A waiver dismisses the requirement. Generally, waivers should be avoided, but are allowed to accommodate a demonstrated level of competence in a subject.

A student requesting a waiver must present documentation to an academic advisor, Program Coordinator/Graduate program director, and Chair/Director of the student’s major, explaining how the course requirements were met. The Chair/Director may require that the student take an exam.

In some cases, waivers will not be permissible if a degree or program requires a minimum number of credits by policy, law, or statute.

Accommodating a Student’s Disability

To qualify for adjustments based on a disability, a student must first self-register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC). See the DRC Academic Adjustments Policy. Students with disabilities are expected to complete all academic requirements necessary for graduation. Reasonable accommodations will be made to ensure that requirements do not discriminate against qualified applicants.

Students must begin by working with the DRC for any proposed adjustment. The DRC will then work with the departments, provost or designee, or other approver on the student’s behalf to accommodate a disability by substitution or adjustment.

Justification by reason of disability must indicate how the substitute course is an appropriate replacement for the required course.

Adjustments for disability cannot fundamentally change program requirements or standards.

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