Programs Section Guidelines
The Programs section contains up to three levels:
- Main Programs landing page (i.e., hyperlinked list of programs)
- Program subject landing pages
- Individual program pages
Also submit to Creative Services:
- Links to other sections or sites
Main Programs Section Landing Page
This page is organized in tables listing subjects in your school/college in alphabetical order and the associated degrees, hyperlinked to the relevant pages alongside them. Where relevant, the list may be broken into categories by department or school.
Examples: The College of Communication and the College of Fine Arts have tables broken out by department/school within the college.
Sample table
General Information & Special Programs
In some cases, there are special programs that don’t fit into a category, or general information that should accompany programs because it pertains to many or all of them. General information appears as a bulleted list above the table, with list items linking to appropriate pages. Special programs are treated similarly, appearing as a bulleted list below the table and hyperlinked to their individual pages.
Example: The College of Arts & Sciences has a Programs page with both general information and multiple special programs.
Programs Landing Pages without Tables
Some schools do not require the table structure because of the nature of their programs. Their Programs page is a list of degrees with hyperlinks to the individual degree pages.
Example: College of General Studies
Program Subject Landing Pages
In cases where a subject or program has more than one degree associated with it, it will have a landing page listing each degree or program offered and linking to the individual page for each. This page exists primarily to assist with user discovery through the right-hand navigation.
Example
Individual Program Pages
Individual program pages describe necessary details about a specific degree program, including both the program overview statement and the specific degree requirements.
Program Overview
Some Programs pages in the Bulletin are missing important introductory information that helps students understand the programs’ objectives. Before defining specific degree requirements, each Programs page should begin with a clear and substantive description of what the program aims to do for its students. The overview should be about 3 sentences (100–125 words), outlining:
- The intellectual content of the major
- What students gain
- What it prepares students for in life and work
Successful Program Overview Examples
Program Requirements
Here are some tips on writing the program requirements section of an individual Programs page:
- Think scannability and ease for the reader. Arrange information in bulleted lists when possible, and use subheads, etc., to create easy-to-digest chunks of information.
- Arrange courses in bulleted lists alphanumerically.
- Include units after courses in parentheses.
- Where appropriate, use first- and second-level subheads.
- Be consistent in your terminology and treatment of various programs. For example, if you begin a page with requirements for one program, follow suit in the others.
What information is appropriate to include on the individual Programs page?
Required Information:
- Program learning outcomes, as published on the Provost’s office Assessment page
- Total number of units required to complete the program
- All degree requirements, including course numbers and units
- All non-course requirements (thesis, internships, etc.)
- For master’s programs: terms of entry, average time to completion*
- For undergraduate programs: BU Hub requirement information
- Grade requirements (info specific to a particular program belongs in the Programs section; general detailed info belongs in the Policies section)
- Special examinations relating to the program
- Honors requirements specific to the program
*Suggested language: “This program requires an average of x terms to complete. Students may enter in either January or September/Students can only enter in September.”
Optional/If Necessary:
- Contact sidebar (if necessary). Contact sidebars point to individual school/college websites.
- Application/admissions information (if necessary)
- Other policies specific to this program (if necessary)
- Licensure information (if necessary)
Do Not Include:
- Complete explanation of a program and its opportunities, attractions, relevance to the modern world, and so on (these belong on your school website)
- “Marketing copy” (e.g., “Why study at?”) for the major/program (this belongs on your school website)
- General policy information (this belongs in the Policies section)
- General grade information (this belongs in the Policies section)
Examples of Programs pages with concise, complete information and degree requirements:
