Definition of an Academic Program

The college makes a distinction between an academic program and an academic department.

Academic Program:

A collection or series of courses that lead to a degree, certificate, or transfer to another institution of higher education (Title 5, ACCJC program definitions, Title 5 TOP code specifications[1]).

For purposes of college organization, a program is composed of all the degrees and certificates offered by a specific academic department. CTE departments that offer separate programs accredited by different outside accrediting agencies are considered one department that offers multiple programs.

For example, the ECE Program includes an AS and AS-T degree and all certificates offered by the ECE Department. The Spanish Program is the AA degree offered by the World Languages department. The Medical Assistant department offers two programs: Medical Assistance and Phlebotomy Technician because they are accredited by two separate outside accrediting agencies. Using this definition, there are a few programs that do not belong to a specific academic department (such as the General Science degree, Liberal Arts and Sciences degree or General Education).

Academic Department:

A group of faculty in a related field of study or a discipline that offers an academic program.

Departments are people. Programs are courses of study, certificates and degrees.

[1] The Taxonomy of Program (TOP) is a system of numerical codes used at the state level to collect and report information on programs and courses, in different colleges throughout the state, that have similar outcomes.