Current Precedent

The Equivalency Committee often makes decisions that set a precedent for future equivalency approvals. These decisions cannot contradict the Minimum Qualifications set by the state. The goal of establishing precedent is to streamline the process for discipline experts as well as Human Resources and ensure that some applications can move through process more quickly where their educational background aligns with established precedent. 

The following includes the current precedents set and observed by the Equivalency Committee for the 2023-2024 Academic Year. These precedents are subject to change. 

1. Candidates who possess a Doctoral Degree in a discipline, but do not possess a Master’s degree as required in the Minimum Qualifications Handbook, are granted minimum qualifications if the degree is in the specific discipline as listed in the handbook. For example:

• The minimum qualifications for Foreign Languages are:  

Master’s in the language being taught  

OR  

Bachelor’s in the language being taught  

AND  

Master’s in another language or linguistics OR the equivalent  

Therefore, an applicant who has an earned Doctorate in French, but not a Master’s degree, meets minimum qualifications to teach French.  

1. Humanities:

• Humanities is an expansive, interdisciplinary field that includes a variety of disciplines.  
• Therefore, the following disciplines meet the requirements for minimum qualifications to teach in Humanities courses:  
• Comparative Literature.  
• History.  
• Film Studies 
• Art History.  
• Interdisciplinary Studies.  
• Philosophy.  
• Gender and Cultural Studies.  
• Speculative Fiction.  
• Religious Studies.  
• Classics.  
• Individuals who hold degrees in the above areas also meet minimum qualifications for their respective disciplines.  

1. Medical Doctorate:

• The minimum qualifications for a candidate in Biological Sciences is: 

Master’s in any Biological Science.  

OR 

Bachelor’s in any Biological Science  

AND  

Masters in Biochemistry, Biophysics, or Marine Science.  

Or the Equivalency.  

• The committee has determined that individuals who possess an M.D. meet the minimum qualifications in biological sciences regardless of their specific field. 

1. Counseling: 

• A Master's degree in "School Counseling" will be considered equivalent to a Master's degree in "Educational Counseling," and thus will meet the minimum qualification.