The UNC Board of Governors has the statutory responsibility to authorize the establishment of new degree programs and the discontinuation of existing degree programs. The Academic Planning section of this site describes the procedures for planning and obtaining authorization to establish new degree and distance education programs and to discontinue existing programs.
All degree programs authorized by the Board are listed in a web database, where users can search according to degree type and campus. Links to special inventories for distance education and certificate programs are also available.
To find existing programs:
The UNC Academic Program Inventory (API) is a searchable database known as the Program & Degree Finder. The database includes all approved degree programs in the UNC System and their approved modes of delivery (online, off-campus, etc.).
To see programs being planned across the UNC System:
The Program Request Portal (PREP) displays the status of all degree programs and modes of delivery under active review by the UNC System Office.
For UNC System institutions proposing new degree programs:
UNC Regulation 400.1.1[R] governs the approval processes for all new baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degree programs in the UNC System.
Effective July 1, 2023 the UNC System has moved to a timeline for academic program approval by the Board of Governors. Refer to the calendar below to plan for new degree program requests in PREP.
- UNC System Academic Program Approval Calendar, Academic Year 2025-2026
Use the following forms for new degree program requests in PREP:
- PREP/API User Manual
- Request for Planning Authorization
- Request to Establish
- Academic Program Planning Financial Worksheet
- N.C.G.S. 116-143 requires the Board of Governors to set the tuition and fee rates at the constituent institutions of the UNC System, consistent with the actions of the General Assembly. Review the tuition and fee rates prior to completing the Academic Program Planning Financial Worksheet.
- Mandatory fees for distance education students only include the Educational & Technology, Campus Security, and ASG fees.
- Proposed academic program summary instructions and template:
For UNC System institutions Requesting Changes to Existing programs:
UNC System institutions requesting a change to an existing degree program may submit the following forms through the Academic Program Inventory (API):
- Request to Deliver (add online or site-based distance education or off-campus delivery)
- Request to Discontinue
- Request to Change CIP Code from Non-STEM to STEM
- Refer to the Performance-Weighted Enrollment Change Funding Model User Manual (Chapter 5: Instructional Areas and Levels) to identify STEM CIP codes for PREP-API.
- The Funding Model designation of STEM differs slightly from that of the Department of Education and the Department of Homeland Security. The Funding Model determines STEM using the two-digit CIP level rather than the full six-digit CIP code.
- Institutions select 6-digit CIP codes in the PREP-API system, with the first two digits serving as an indicator of whether a program falls under non-STEM or STEM.
- Guidance on Changes to Distinguished Professors Endowment Trust Fund
- Part 4A of Article 1 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes was rewritten to specify that any distinguished professorship established on or after October 2, 2023 must be for scholars for degree programs in STEM subject areas.
- Refer to the Performance-Weighted Enrollment Change Funding Model User Manual (Chapter 5: Instructional Areas and Levels) to identify STEM CIP codes for PREP-API.
- Requests to change a degree program title, non-STEM CIP code, specialty area code, or degree awarded can be accomplished through the API without a standard form.
Resources
- 2025 UNC Peer Institution Study
- UNC System Enrollment and Degrees Awarded Dashboards
- Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP)
- Department of Homeland Security STEM Designated Degree Program list
- Integrated Postsecondary Educational Data System (IPEDS)
- College Scorecard – U.S. Department of Education data on fields of study, costs, debt, and earnings
- NC Tower – workforce and education outcomes for graduates of North Carolina community colleges and public universities
- NCWorks – job searches and other employment tools for NC job seekers