How to Create and Manage Degree Programs in openSIS

How to Create and Manage Degree Programs in openSIS

Overview

A Degree Program is the foundation of the Graduation Requirements / Degree Audit module in openSIS. It represents the academic program that students are enrolled in and defines the overall structure used to evaluate graduation eligibility.

Examples of Degree Programs include:

  • High School Diploma
  • Diploma
  • Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Associate Degree
  • Certificate Program

Once a Degree Program has been created, administrators can organize its graduation requirements by creating Course Categories and assigning eligible courses to each category.


Why Create Degree Programs?

Degree Programs help institutions:

  • Organize academic programs.
  • Define graduation requirements.
  • Group courses under a specific program.
  • Track credit hour completion.
  • Support Degree Audit.
  • Monitor student progress toward graduation.

Every Course Category and graduation requirement must belong to a Degree Program.


Before You Begin

Before creating a Degree Program, determine:

  • The name of the academic program.
  • The graduation requirements for the program.
  • The course categories that will be required.
  • Whether the program uses Credit Hours, ECTS Credits, or both.

Planning the program structure beforehand makes setup easier.


How to Create a Degree Program

Step 1: Navigate to Graduation Requirements / Degree Audit

Go to:

Info
Settings → Grades → Graduation Requirements / Degree Audit

The left panel displays all existing Degree Programs.


Step 2: Open Program Management

Click the Settings (⚙️) icon above the Degree Program list.

The Programs window opens, displaying all existing programs.


Step 3: Add a New Program

In the Program Name field, enter the name of the new academic program.

Examples:

Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
High School Diploma
Certificate in Computer Science

Step 4: Save

Click the Add (+) icon to add the program to the list.

Then click Submit to save your changes.

The new Degree Program is now available and can be selected for graduation requirement configuration.


How to Edit a Degree Program

Administrators can rename existing Degree Programs whenever necessary.

Step 1

Open the Programs window.


Step 2

Locate the Degree Program you want to modify.


Step 3

Click the Edit icon beside the program.


Step 4

Update the program name.

Example:

Before:

BBA

After:

Bachelor of Business Administration

Step 5

Click Submit to save the updated program.


How to Delete a Degree Program

Programs that are no longer required can be removed.

Step 1

Open the Programs window.


Step 2

Locate the program.


Step 3

Click the Delete icon.


Step 4

Confirm the deletion.

The Degree Program is removed from the list.

NotesNote: Before deleting a Degree Program, ensure it is no longer associated with Course Categories or active graduation requirements.


Example Degree Program Structure

Degree ProgramGraduation Goal
High School DiplomaComplete required high school credits
MBAComplete graduate business curriculum
DiplomaComplete diploma program requirements
Certificate ProgramComplete certificate requirements

Each program can have its own unique graduation structure.


What Happens Next?

After creating a Degree Program, the next step is to define its academic requirements.

For each program, administrators will:

  • Create Course Categories.
  • Specify Required Credit Hours.
  • Specify Required ECTS Credits (if applicable).
  • Assign eligible courses to each category.

Together, these components define what students must complete before graduating.


Best Practices

Use Clear Program Names

Use official program names recognized by your institution.

Avoid Duplicate Programs

Check existing programs before creating a new one.

Plan the Program Structure

Identify required course categories and credit requirements before configuration.

Keep Programs Updated

Rename or remove programs when academic offerings change.

Review Before Deleting

Verify that a program is no longer in use before removing it.


Common Questions

Can I create multiple Degree Programs?

Yes. Institutions can create as many Degree Programs as needed.

Can I edit the name of a Degree Program?

Yes. Program names can be updated at any time.

Can I delete a Degree Program?

Yes, provided it is no longer needed and is not associated with active graduation requirements.

What happens after creating a Degree Program?

You can begin configuring Course Categories, Required Credit Hours, Required ECTS Credits, and eligible courses for that program.