DEGREE AUTHORIZATION
Every school must have approval to offer courses, services, or other activities
for college credit in Oregon, even when the college is regionally or nationally
accredited, and regardless of whether these academic programs are offered at a campus
or other site in Oregon, or to Oregon students via distance learning or online delivery
from outside the state. Apart from Oregon's public colleges and universities, Oregon
community colleges, and certain non-profit private colleges with a long history
in Oregon, all degree-granting schools must be authorized by ODA to offer academic
programs in Oregon.
The Office of Degree Authorization is responsible for…
- AUTHORIZATION OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS offered by degree-granting institutions under
its regulatory oversight, including degree, partial degree, placement, and non-degree
programs. Schools that meet the twenty Oregon standards described in Oregon Administrative
Rule (OAR) 583-030-0035, may be authorized to offer full academic degree programs,
courses for college credit, and clinical, student-teaching, internship, externship,
or other placement programs. ODA is responsible for the review and authorization
of programs at all levels, from Associate's to Doctoral degrees - regardless of
the school's accreditation status. ODA also approves certificate and other non-degree
programs offered by degree-granting private colleges.
- APPROVAL OF EXEMPT STATUS for qualifying schools under criteria determined by current
statutes and administrative rules. Exempt status is determined by the ODA Administrator
based on application, review, and verification of the relevant criteria.