The pathways described on this site are all collaborations between Antioch's undergraduate programs and Antioch's graduate programs. Therefore, every existing pathway requires participation from staff on both the undergraduate and graduate side. Similarly, each new proposed pathway requires approval by both the undergraduate and graduate programs and their respective curriculum committees. For any graduate program interested in developing a pathway with undergraduate studies, please contact the undergraduate program co-chairs to begin the conversation. What follows below is the format for new pathway proposals, as designated by the University Curriculum Committee (UCC). Note that members of the UCC are happy to consult on the development of a new pathway proposal to increase chances that it will be approved as presented.
Considerations
Masters programs that wish to establish a pathway with the undergraduate programs at Antioch must make several decisions before that pathway can be built. These should be informed by state regulations and specialized accreditation guidelines. The following need to be considered before a proposed pathway can be approved by the University Curriculum Committee (UCC). Note that approval of a new pathway is considered a Level 3A Curriculum Change (using format 3A2) and must be approved by the Undergraduate School Curriculum Committee as well as the School Curriculum Committee for the relevant graduate program prior to coming to the UCC.
Are there any specific prerequisites for students before they can qualify for a pathway with your graduate program?
Can the student begin taking graduate-level courses while still an undergraduate student?
Yes:
Pursue Early Decider pathway for students who want a graduate degree, OR
Pursue Advanced Standing for students who do not intend to immediately pursue a graduate degree
No: Pursue Fast Track pathway
Must the student apply to the graduate degree program before taking graduate-level course?
Yes: Pursue Early Decider or Fast Track pathway
No: Consider Advanced Standing option
How many credits toward the graduate degree can be taken as an undergraduate?
Note that Master's programs require a minimum of 30 semester credits, 45 quarter credits. That means that TOTAL CREDITS for the degree MINUS the credits taken as an undergraduate in the graduate program MUST BE AT LEAST 30 SEMESTER CREDITS
Example: A 36 semester-credit MA degree would allow undergraduates to take up to 6 semester credits of graduate coursework before matriculating into the MA program.
Note: An exception to this is any Ohio-based graduate programs, which have a 21-semester minimum of unique graduate courses if part of an undergraduate to graduate pathway. This includes our online MBA and IMA programs.
What coursework can the undergraduate students take before earning the undergraduate degree?
Specific courses (please provide a short list)
Required courses that all pathway students must take, and/or
Course options pathway students are allowed to take and choose from
Any course approved by the graduate program chair
PROPOSAL ELEMENTS
I. Nature of change
Brief overview
● Type of pathway being proposed (Early Decider, Fast Track, or Advanced Standing)
Brief description of involved parties
● Name, nature, and institutional location of the feeder and receiving programs
● Degree(s) / credential(s) granted at the end of this pathway
● Faculty and School Dean(s) sponsoring this Pathway
Mission consistency
● Consistency with university mission and academic units
● Reflects antiracist and inclusive pedagogies and curricula
Accountability
● Statement about state and other regional parameters
● Statement about accountability to external entity, including specialized accrediting body
II. Program Design
Structure of feeder program
● Academic calendar (quarter/semester/annual)
● Total credit requirement
● Terms and credits of overlap (minimum & maximum)
● Pathway prerequisites
Structure of receiving program
● Academic calendar
● Total credit requirement
● Terms and credits of overlap (for both full-time and part-time enrollment, as relevant)
● Curricular options (for full and part-time enrollment)
● Curricular requirements (including residency requirements) for pathway students before initial degree completion
● Delivery format options (classroom, hybrid, online)
Institutional responsibility for pathway students
● Program/office responsible for tracking degree completion for feeder program
● Program/office responsible for student progress toward full admission into receiving program
● Process for monitoring pathway success (student persistence, completion)
Alignment with regional and accreditation expectations
● Description of how meets accreditation and other regulatory expectations
III. Admissions Criteria
Admission into receiving program
● Nature of application process
● Nature of initial admission (provisional/full)
● Admissions criteria (i.e., requirements linked to prerequisite knowledge or skills needed for students to be successful in the receiving program)
● Process for pathway approval (from both feeder and receiving programs)
Timeline
● Deadline for application relative to start in pathway
● Limitations on admission terms for pathway students
IV. Impacts of change
University-wide impact
● Potential overlap with or distinctiveness from other university pathways
● Strategies for collaboration with similar program pathways
● Opportunities to replicate this elsewhere at the institution
Impacts on students, staff, faculty
● Impacts on current and prospective students & student demographics overall
● Impacts on current staff and faculty workloads; need for additions
Resource & Other impacts
● Resource demands on library, writing, AT, and other student services
● IT services and products necessary for implementation and sustainability
III. Logistics
Timeline
● Clear timeline for implementation that reflects conversations with campus collaborators
● Anticipated approval steps and timeline (both internal and external), including regulatory approvals
Tuition & Funding
● Tuition & fee structure; nature of revenue sharing (if relevant)
● Necessary financial investments to make the change
● Impacts on department/university budget
● Issues of economic justice (students/faculty)
Marketing
● Clear communications plan
IV. Stakeholder buy-in
University collaborations
● Departments/offices consulted about change impacts & proposal creation (including program faculty, library, writing support, registrar, admissions, financial aid, student accounts, disability support services, enrollment management, marketing, etc.)
● Departments/offices that still need to be consulted about change impacts