Effects on Programs, Degrees and Certificates
The list below includes programs proposed to be discontinued as part of USU’s strategic reinvestment plan.
These are proposed only and must be reviewed and approved by the Utah Board of Higher Education and legislative committees.
HB 265 Requirements
In creating USU’s strategic reinvestment plan under HB 265, USU must discontinue certain academic programs, degrees, and certificates. The new law and guidance from the Utah System of Higher Education call out specific criteria for use in evaluating programs: enrollment data, completion and timeliness, professional outcomes, workforce demands, program costs, and alignment with USU’s role in the state system of higher education.
Decisions to discontinue educational activities have been based on an iterative, data-informed process with specific focus on the criteria in HB 265, contextual information offered through the deans and USU community input, and USU’s anticipated strategic direction for reinvestment.
Visit www.usu.edu/president/reinvestment for a timeline for the development of USU’s strategic reinvestment plan.
University Teach-Out Protocol
Most students who are in a program proposed to be cut will be able to finish. HB 265 allows USU to teach out students in the affected programs over the next two years to minimize the impact, and the university has an existing protocol for teaching out programs when they are discontinued.
For all discontinued programs, the required coursework will be taught for a timeline that is 50% of their program duration. For example, a bachelor’s program will have a two-year teach-out timeline, and an associate degree program will have a one-year teach-out timeline. Therefore, students who have completed approximately 50% or more of their course requirements will have an opportunity to finish.
During this time, the university will offer the necessary courses and academic support to ensure eligible students can finish their programs.
For students who have completed less than 50% of the program, academic advisors are working closely with them to explore related majors or alternative pathways that align with their academic and career goals. The university is committed to ensuring every student is supported in finding a clear path to graduation.
Students who have any questions about the impacts of potential cuts should reach out to their academic advisor.
| Program/Credential Name | Credential Affected | Current College |
|---|---|---|
| Announced on April 29, 2025 | ||
| International Agribusiness Emphasis in Agribusiness Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis | College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences |
| Skilled and Technical Sciences Education Emphasis in Technology and Engineering Education Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis | College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences |
| Applied Climatology Emphasis in Soils and Sustainable Land Systems Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis | College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences |
| Applied Associate of Science Degree in Business/Commerce | Applied Associate Degree | College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences |
| Theatre Design & Technology Technical Direction Emphasis in Theatre Arts Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis | Caine College of Arts |
| Managerial Economics Emphasis in Economics Bachelor’s Degree | Emphasis | Jon M. Huntsman School of Business |
| Economic Theory Emphasis in Economics Bachelor’s Degree | Emphasis | Jon M. Huntsman School of Business |
| Business Economics Emphasis in Economics Bachelor’s Degree | Emphasis | Jon M. Huntsman School of Business |
| Financial Economics Emphasis in Economics Bachelor’s Degree | Emphasis | Jon M. Huntsman School of Business |
| Quantitative Economic History Emphasis in Economics Bachelor’s Degree | Emphasis | Jon M. Huntsman School of Business |
| Prelaw Emphasis in Economics Bachelor’s Degree | Emphasis | Jon M. Huntsman School of Business |
| Master of Science in Financial Economics | Master’s Degree | Jon M. Huntsman School of Business |
| Speech Language Pathology Emphasis in Communicative Disorders Bachelor's Degree (Not to be confused with the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Certificate which is still available) | Emphasis | EEJ College of Education and Human Services |
| Ethics Emphasis in Philosophy Bachelor’s Degree | Concentration | College of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Literature Emphasis in the English Teaching Composite Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis | College of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| American Studies Emphasis in the English Teaching Composite Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis | College of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| American Studies Bachelor's Degree | Bachelor’s Degree | College of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Spanish Teaching Emphasis in Spanish Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis | College of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| French Teaching Emphasis in French Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis | College of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| German Teaching Emphasis in German Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis | College of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Chemistry Education Emphasis in Chemistry Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis | College of Science |
| GeoWorkforce Emphasis in Geology Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis | College of Science |
| Announced on April 18, 2025 | ||
| Agriculture Communication Bachelor's Degree | Bachelor’s Degree | College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences |
| ASL Interpreting Track in the Communicative Disorders Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis | EEJ College of Education and Human Services |
| Deaf Education - BA | Bachelor’s Degree | EEJ College of Education and Human Services |
| Community and Public Health Emphasis in Health Education and Promotion Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis within Health Ed | EEJ College of Education and Human Services |
| Elementary Education and Deaf Education Bachelor's Degree (Not to be confused with USU's Bachelor's in Elementary Education, which will continue) | Bachelor’s Degree | EEJ College of Education and Human Services |
| Environmental Engineering Bachelor's Degree | Bachelor’s Degree | College of Engineering |
| Family Finance Emphasis in the Human Development and Family Studies Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis within Human Development and Family Studies | EEJ College of Education and Human Services |
| Family Life Studies Bachelor's Degree | Bachelor’s Degree | EEJ College of Education and Human Services |
| Master of Fitness Promotion | Master’s Degree | EEJ College of Education and Human Services |
| National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - Graduate Certificate | Graduate Certificate | SJ Quinney College of Natural Resources |
| Physical Education Teaching Emphasis in Kinesiology Bachelor's Degree | Emphasis in Kinesiology | EEJ College of Education and Human Services |
| Transition Education and Services - Post-Bachelor’s Certificate | Graduate Certificate | EEJ College of Education and Human Services |
| Data Science and Research Methodology Specialization in the Psychology PhD program | Ph.D. Specialization | EEJ College of Education and Human Services |
| Associate of Arts in Theatre (Price campus) | Associate Degree | Caine College of Arts |