1. Accreditation: This is arguably the most crucial requirement. Colleges must be accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting agency. This agency will then review the proposed graduate program for its own specific standards. Accrediting bodies often have specific requirements regarding:
* Faculty Qualifications: Graduate programs require faculty with advanced degrees (typically doctorates) and substantial experience in their field. The number of full-time faculty, their teaching load, and their research productivity are often assessed.
* Facilities and Resources: Adequate library resources, labs (if applicable), technology infrastructure, and physical space for classes and research are needed. The quality and accessibility of these resources are evaluated.
* Curriculum and Program Design: The program's curriculum must be coherent, rigorous, and aligned with professional standards and best practices. The learning outcomes must be clearly defined and measurable. The program must demonstrate a clear rationale and purpose.
* Student Support Services: Adequate advising, career services, and other support services for graduate students are necessary.
* Admissions and Assessment: Clear and transparent admission criteria, processes for evaluating student progress, and methods for assessing program effectiveness are essential.
* Financial Stability: The institution must demonstrate financial stability to support the long-term viability of the program.
2. State/Provincial Licensing and Regulations: Many jurisdictions have specific regulations for post-secondary institutions, including requirements for offering graduate programs. These may cover aspects like:
* Program Approval: Formal approval or licensing from the state or province may be required before a program can be offered.
* Compliance with Regulations: The institution must comply with various regulations related to student records, financial aid, and other areas.
3. Specialized Accreditation (for some programs): Certain graduate programs, particularly in professional fields like law, medicine, engineering, or business, require accreditation from specialized professional bodies *in addition* to the general institutional accreditation. These specialized accreditations often have even stricter requirements than general institutional accreditation.
4. Legal Compliance: The institution must comply with all relevant federal and state/provincial laws related to higher education, including those concerning discrimination, privacy, and student rights.
In summary: The process of establishing a graduate program is complex and resource-intensive, involving a significant amount of planning, documentation, and review by multiple bodies. It's not simply a matter of deciding to offer a program; a robust application process involving significant self-study and external evaluation is generally required. The specific requirements will depend heavily on the context (country, state, accrediting body, and program type).