7.8 Dual Degree Programs with Partnering Institutions

7.8.1 General Provisions for a Dual Degree with a Partnering Institution

Dual degree programs are expected to be designed and operated in conformity with the Standards of Accreditation and relevant policies of each respective institution’s accrediting body (WASC/ACSCU for NPS). A partnering institution within the United States must be accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-approved accrediting agency. An international partnering institution must substantially meet the standards of WASC accreditation, as determined by the Academic Council. Dual degrees will not be awarded for substantially the same body of work. NPS will not offer a dual degree program with a partnering institution for which the student is awarded two degrees of the same name for completion of what would normally be the course of study for one degree (e.g., a Master of Business Administration from NPS and a second MBA from another institution for the same set of 30 to 36 semester units that would normally lead to a single MBA). An approved dual degree program may result in awarding two degrees with the same name provided that the degree program complies with the provisions of this policy and the WASC/ACSCU Standards of Accreditation, that the degree program is sufficiently extensive and unique in design, and that it exceeds the amount of academic work typically required for a single degree at either institution.

All dual degree programs must have a clear written agreement between NPS and the partnering institution that outlines the plan to offer, monitor, and assess the dual degree program. That agreement must be submitted to the AC for review, as a part of the approval process.

Considerations for developing a dual degree program which should be addressed in such written agreements include:

• Which courses, if any, will be counted towards both degrees. In no case will the total number of double counted and transferred course credits exceed 25% of the required course credits for the degree received from either institution.
• The program should be consistent with NPS and the partnering institution’s mission and educational objectives.
• The degree awarded should represent a coherent course of study that is in keeping with the quality of other degree programs offered by NPS and the partnering institution. Sound practices are employed for the award of credit at each institution.
• Appropriate program level, course content, and standards are established and periodically evaluated at each partnering institution.
• Appropriate student learning outcomes, expectations for student achievement, and means to assess student achievement are established.
• Sufficient and qualified faculty and staff are available to execute the agreed on instructional and administrative responsibilities at each partnering institution.
• Provisions for institutional quality assurance processes, including program review, are applied.

7.8.2 Requirements for Approval of a Dual Degree Program with a Partnering Institution

Requests for approval of a new dual degree program involving NPS and a partnering institution shall be submitted to the Academic Council in sufficient time for the Council to review and decide on the request prior to admitting any students into the dual degree program.

The request should include:

1. Identification of the NPS School and specific department or group responsible for the execution, content and quality of the NPS degree in the dual degree program.
2. The submitting department or group must provide the information required for evaluation as listed in paragraph 7.8.1, if that information is not publicly available.
3. A general description of the program and rationale for its development.
4. The name of the degrees associated with each institution and associated degree requirements.
5. A detailed listing of the required courses in the program, to include which institution will be responsible for delivering each, course descriptions, and current status (existing, approved, or under development).
6. A final negotiated draft of the detailed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NPS and the partnering institution that fully describes all aspects of the collaborative relationship. While the Academic Council is primarily interested in academic rigor, content, and quality of the degrees in a dual degree program, the MOA should cover the following matters, as a minimum.
   1. Administrative issues such as: student admission; advising and other student services; record keeping; information resources, technology and facilities.
   2. Program quality and content issues such as: maintenance of sufficient and qualified faculty and staff at each institution; application of quality assurance processes; scheduled joint program reviews.
   3. Planning and budgeting issues such as: tuition; cost transfers, cost sharing, if appropriate.

A dual degree program will not be considered fully approved for delivery or award of the degrees until both the NPS Academic Council and the partnering institution’s equivalent entity have approved the program and the detailed MOA for the program has been signed by the appropriate representatives from each institution.

7.8.3 Reporting and Reviewing Requirements of a Dual Degree Program with a Partnering Institution

Any dual degree program is subject to the same review and reporting requirements as any other NPS degree. This includes notification requirements and requests for approval of substantive changes as outlined in Chapter 8 of this Policy Manual. Additionally, because of the unique relationship and trust required between partnering institutions in the execution of a dual degree program, the Academic Council shall be notified of the results of any joint program reviews concerning academic rigor, content or quality.

7.8.4 Required Notation on Student Records of Dual Degrees with Partnering Institutions

Transcripts and diplomas shall indicate that the program in which the student was enrolled is a dual degree program. Transcripts shall indicate which courses were completed at the partnering institution.