Program Nomenclature

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POLICY NO: A-55.0

DATE OF APPROVAL: October 2008

AMENDMENTS: 1996

REFERENCE AUTHORITY: Deputy Vice Chancellor: Academic

CROSS REFERENCES:

A-35.A: Quality Assurance and improvement: Programs, courses and teaching arrangements
Coursework Program Approval Manual
Research Degrees Program Approval Procedures

CONTENTS:

Preamble
Scope
Provision for existing programs
Policy
Appendix 1: Approved existing program titles

Preamble

The nomenclature standards applying to University of South Australia programs are based on the following principles. A program title should:

clearly represent the award gained;
be embedded within a broad discipline area;
be concise and meaningful in a broader context;
be robust; there should be some element of longevity in the title chosen rather than attempting to represent every transitory trend (i.e. the "buzz" word titles);
acknowledge national/international and professional standards and usage; and
be responsive to demonstrable long term market demand.

Scope

With the exception of the Doctor of Philosophy and Higher Doctorates, this policy applies to both coursework and research degree programs.

Provision for existing programs

With the approval of Academic Board, existing programs may retain their current title for the life of the program provided that the program continues to show demonstrable long term market demand. A case for continuation of the title will form part of the program review and re-accreditation submission (See academic policy A-35: Quality assurance and improvement: programs, courses and teaching arrangements).

Titles approved under this provision are listed in Appendix 1.

Policy

1. Program titles will be determined as part of the program approval process and approved by Academic Board.

2. Undergraduate programs and graduate bachelors degrees

2.1 All University undergraduate programs and graduate bachelors degrees will use one, or a combination (see clause 2.2), of the discipline area titles listed in Table 1.

2.2 A combined discipline area title will be approved by Academic Board in each case, on the basis of the principles listed above and will apply to that program only.

2.3 The standard structure of the program title will be the discipline-based title followed by specialisation in parentheses, where required. For example, Bachelor of Engineering (Civil).

2.4 For honours degrees and degrees with honours, the honours will immediately follow the discipline-based title in parentheses. This will then be followed by the specialisation also in parentheses, where required. For example, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil).

Table 1: Approved Discipline Area Titles

Architecture or Architectural Studies	Environmental Science	Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Science
Arts	Health Science	Physiotherapy
Built Environment	Human Movement	Podiatry
Business	Industrial Design	Psychology or Psychological Science
Business Administration	Information Technology	Science
Commerce	Interior Architecture	Social Science
Communication	Laws	Social Work
Computer Science	Management	Technology
Computing	Mathematical Sciences	Urban and Regional Planning
Construction Management and Economics	Medical Science	Visual Arts
Counselling	Medical Radiation Science
Design	Midwifery
Education	Nursing
Engineering	Occupational Therapy

3. Postgraduate programs

3.1 The program title for postgraduate programs may either:

a) be based on the discipline area titles listed above, followed by the specialisation in parentheses; or

b) refer to the specialisation only.

3.2 There will be no differentiation in nomenclature between a Masters degree by research and a Masters degree by coursework when the discipline area title is the same.

4. All programs

4.1 Program titles will be no more than 100 characters in length.

4.2 Specialisations will be managed as plans in the student information system. The specialisations will be reported on the parchment and transcript.¹

4.3 The standard use of 'of' for doctoral, masters and bachelors degrees and 'in' for sub-awards will apply. For example, Master of Engineering, Graduate Diploma in Engineering (Water Resources).

4.4 Degree post nominals will be determined by Student and Academic Services as part of the program approval process in accordance with the Guidelines for Award Post Nominals.

¹Potentially, the specialisation will also be reported on the proposed Australian Graduation Statement (ie Diploma Supplement).

Appendix 1: Approved existing program titles

In accordance with the Provision for existing programs statement above, retention of the existing title for the following programs has been approved.

Division of Business
DBBF DBMN LBRL DBTM	Bachelor of Applied Finance* Bachelor of Marketing and Communications Bachelor of Sport and Recreation Management Bachelor of Tourism and Event Management*

Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences
LHAV MBCE MBIE MBJO MBJI MBMA MBPB LBAE	Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education (Honours) Bachelor of Early Childhood Education* Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (In-Service) Bachelor of Journalism* Bachelor of Journalism/Bachelor of Arts (International Studies) Bachelor of Media Arts* Bachelor of Public Relations Bachelor of Teaching (Anangu Education)

Division of Health Sciences
IBNF IBBL	Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine

Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment
DBBI LBFS LBNL DBQF LBST LHST LBSG	Bachelor of Business Information Systems Bachelor of Financial Science Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology* Bachelor of Quantitative Finance Bachelor of Sustainable Environments Bachelor of Sustainable Environments (Honours) Bachelor of Software Engineering

*Includes the transnational version of this program.

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