Based on its reviews of comprehensive and focused visits, the Board of Commissioners and staff to the Commission determined that it would be useful to provide member schools with more specific guidance about how to interpret the duration requirement specified in the degree program standards for two-year master’s programs (Degree Standard C and Degree Standard E).

The “Duration” section of both degree program standards states that the goals of the programs require two years of full-time academic work or its equivalent. The Board of Commissioners adopted a policy in January 2006 that, at a minimum, one academic year (two semesters) be understood as consisting of no fewer than 24 semester hours. Thus, a two-year master’s program would normally consist of at least 48 semester hours. A school may require more than 48 semester hours.