SECTION 5.3. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) Board--The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(2) Commissioner--The Commissioner of Higher Education.

(3) Health-related institution--a medical or dental unit as defined by the Texas Education Code, §61.003 (5).

(4) Public university--a general academic teaching institution as defined by the Texas Education Code, §61.003 (3).

(5) Degree program--any grouping of subject matter courses which, when satisfactorily completed by a student, shall entitle the student to a degree from an institution of higher education.

(6) Support area--a grouping of courses for which an institution does not have degree authority. The number of courses in a support area is limited to fewer than would provide a degree program in that specialty at that level. Support areas may include a single discipline, a subcategory of an approved degree program, or a component of a multi-disciplinary specialty.

(A) A variety of terms for subject matter course groupings, such as concentration, track, option, emphasis, specialization, and major are commonly used by institutions. The Coordinating Board does not have formal definitions for these terms, which vary in usage among institutions.

(B) Despite various terminologies, the Board considers subject matter course groupings to be degree programs if such groupings are substantially the same as those for a degree in a similar discipline at the institution or in the same discipline specialty (as identified by Texas CIP classification) at similar institutions.

(7) Degree title--name of the degree and discipline under which one or more degree programs may be offered. A degree title usually consists of the degree designation (e.g., Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts) and the discipline specialty (e.g., History, Psychology).

Source Note: The provisions of this §5.3 adopted to be effective May 28, 2003, 28 TexReg 4124