Faculty Qualifications

Kennesaw State University expects all faculty teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses to meet the expectations outlined in the SACSCOC Faculty Credentials Guidelines. The information and forms below are intended to assist Department Chairs through the process of submitting qualification reviews and justifications of faculty qualifications.

Faculty are expected to have an earned doctorate/terminal degree in the discipline they teach. Based on the degrees earned by faculty, they are identified as either AQ (academically qualified) or EQ (Experientially Qualified) to teach specific courses.  

  • Academically Qualified - Match of the earned degree CIP code and the the Course CIP code.
  • Experientailly Qualified - Individualized review of academic preparation, research, professional experience related to the content of courses assigned to teach.

Faculty Qualification Review Request Form (New and Existing Faculty as well as GTA Instructors of Record)

Upload a CV, position description, list of courses they might teach, and any transcripts with the Faculty Qualification Review Request Form. You will receive a review response within approximately two business days.

SACS Faculty Justification Form (For Existing Faculty)

If you wish to assign a faculty member to teach a course for which they are not academically qualified based on degree title and/or the Course Correlations tables, please submit the SACS Faculty Justification Form. This form will become the "verified justification" and will be used as evidence to demonstrate faculty qualifications.

Please upload a copy of the course syllabus, a recent CV, and any other evidence to support the individual's exceptional experience to explain how this person is prepared to teach the content of the course.

Course Correlations

Each department in consultation with the program faculty identify what degrees and majors are appropriate to teach the content for each course. These course correlations are then used to determine if a faculty member is academically qualified to teach a course. Department Chairs have access to the shared Course Correlations for the courses assigned to their department. If you need access to a Course Correlations tables, please contact the department chair or email Leigh Funk (lfunk@kennesaw.edu).

Approved Master's as Terminal Degrees

KSU maintains a list of master's degrees that are widely accepted as the terminal degree in the field by professional associations, government agencies, accrediting bodies, and other universities. Please see the KSU Master's Terminal Degree List for degrees that KSU has examined, vetted, and approved as terminal degrees.