Introduction to the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada 2021 Version 1.0

Preface

The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada 2021 is the fourth Canadian version of the CIP. The CIP Canada 2021 revision was accomplished through the joint efforts of Statistics Canada and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the United States Department of Education. NCES is the primary entity in the United States for collecting, analysing, and reporting data related to education.

This revision is based on research and consultation conducted separately by Statistics Canada and NCES in their respective countries. The information thus gathered informed the joint decision-making process during which Statistics Canada and NCES agreed on the revisions to be adopted for the common structure, as well as on various additional classes for distinctly Canadian content. Comparability between educational data from the two countries was thus maintained, while continuing to address Canada's distinct needs and circumstances. CIP 2020 and CIP Canada 2021 are respectively the American and Canadian versions of the same CIP revision.

The collaborative relationship between Statistics Canada and NCES, as well as the significant contribution of CIP users who provided input through the consultation process, have made the development of this revised classification possible.

Acknowledgements

This CIP 2021 revision was accomplished through the time, effort, and co-operation of numerous people in Canada and the United States.

In Canada, CIP 2021 was revised and published by Statistics Canada. The revision was developed by Sandra Mialkowski of the Centre for Statistical and Data Standards (CSDS), working closely with Jennifer Flack of the Canadian Centre for Education Statistics (CCES), and supported by Milena Lopez of CCES and Lauren Gomes of CSDS.

Purpose of CIP

The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada is a classification of instructional programs used to classify postsecondary educational programs according to field of study. It is Statistics Canada's official standard for the organizing, collection, processing, dissemination, and analysis of field of study statistics in its education statistics programs.

Background

The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) was developed in 1980 by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the United States. NCES released updates in 1985, 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020. CIP Canada 2021 is the fourth Canadian version of this classification; the others being CIP Canada 2000, 2011 and 2016.

CIP is designed to classify 'instructional programs', which are defined as:

A combination of courses and experiences that is designed to accomplish a predetermined objective or set of allied objectives such as preparation for advanced study, qualification for an occupation or range of occupations or simply the increase of knowledge and understanding (Chismore and Hill, A Classification of Educational Subject Matter, 1978, NCES, p. 165).

Although CIP was specifically designed for the classification of instructional programs, it has been used to classify instructional courses as well. CIP can also be used to classify and understand other units. For example, CIP could be used to classify institutions by programs offered, students and graduates by programs studied, or faculty by programs taught.

The organizing principle behind CIP is 'field of study'. At Statistics Canada, a field of study is defined as a "discipline or area of learning or training associated with a particular course or program of study." (Statistics Canada. (2021). Field of study of person).

Prior to adopting CIP, Statistics Canada had several field of study classifications. CIP was chosen to replace them because it was a detailed and proven classification with a 20-year history, was up to date, had an established mechanism for updates and a track record of regular updates, and a proper hierarchical coding structure. As an added advantage, it provides comparability with the United States. CIP has been Statistics Canada's standard for classifying field of study since 2005.

The classification structure and coding system

Classification levels

CIP Canada 2021 is a three-level hierarchical arrangement of classification items or categories with successive levels of disaggregation.

  1. The first level is made up of 'series', which are identified using two-digit codes. The series are the most general groupings of related programs. CIP Canada 2021 contains 50 series.
  2. The second level is made up of 'subseries', which are identified using four-digit codes. The subseries provides an intermediate grouping of programs that have comparable content and objectives. CIP Canada 2021 contains 454 subseries.
  3. The third level is made up of 'instructional program classes', which are identified using six-digit codes. Instructional program classes represent the specific instructional programs and are the most detailed level within CIP. They are the basic unit of analysis used in reporting instructional programs. CIP Canada 2021 contains 2119 instructional program classes.

Coding system

CIP Canada 2021 has a numeric coding system.

  • The code format at the series level consists of a two-digit code followed by a period. For example, 01.
  • The code format at the subseries level consists of the two-digit series code, followed by a period, then by a further two digits. There is at least one subseries within each series. For example, 01.01
  • The code format at the instructional program class (class) level consists of the four-digit subseries code, followed by a further two digits. There is at least one class within each subseries. For example, 01.0102.

Occasional gaps may occur in the numerical sequence of categories. They result either from deletions of categories that appeared in previous editions of CIP or from moves of categories to new locations in the classification.

Within each series, subseries are listed in numerical order.

Within each subseries, instructional program classes are listed in numerical order. Classes with a general focus are listed first. Residual classes are listed last and include instructional programs that belong in the subseries but are not covered in a specific instructional program class. For example, within subseries 01.01, Agricultural business and management, class 01.0101 Agricultural business and management, general, appears first and class 01.0199 Agricultural business and management, other, appears last.

Titles

Titles are generally one word or phrase, such as 'Psychology' or 'Civil engineering', that conveys the most commonly used or accepted name describing a program.

Use of the slash (/) in titles

In some cases, more than one title may be used for the same instructional program. To reflect this, the title of the corresponding category uses words or phrases separated by slashes. This is done in the following situations:

  • two or more commonly accepted names exist for the same program, or
  • the same program has different names at different educational levels, or
  • the program has undergone a recent name change but many institutions still use the older name for the program.

For example:

  • series 30. Multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary studies, includes multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary programs
  • subseries 26.07 Zoology/animal biology, includes programs that focus on the study of zoology and/or animal biology
  • class 12.0510 Wine steward/sommelier, includes programs that prepare individuals to become wine stewards and/or sommeliers.

Descriptions

  • The series descriptions broadly identify the objectives and content of the two-digit series.
  • The subseries descriptions identify the six-digit classes included in the four-digit subseries.
  • The instructional program class descriptions identify the objectives and content of the six-digit classes.

Program descriptions using the phrase "any program that focuses on" describes academic and general programs. Program descriptions using phrases such as "program that prepares individuals to" or "program that generally prepares individuals to" describe programs designed to prepare individuals for specific occupations.

Class descriptions are intended to be general categories, not exact duplicates of majors or programs offered at individual postsecondary educational institutions. In most cases, classes may be used for postsecondary educational programs at various levels and are not intended to correspond exclusively to a specific credential.

Example descriptions
Level Code Title Description
Series 01. Agricultural and veterinary sciences/services/operations and related fields This series comprises instructional programs that focus on agriculture, animal, plant, veterinary and related sciences and that prepare individuals to apply specific knowledge, methods, and techniques to the management and performance of agricultural and veterinary operations.
Subseries 01.01 Agricultural business and management This subseries comprises instructional program classes 01.0101 to 01.0199.
Class 01.0102 Agribusiness/agricultural business operations This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to manage agricultural businesses and agriculturally related operations within diversified corporations. These programs include courses in agriculture, agricultural specialization, business management, accounting, finance, marketing, planning, human resources management, and other managerial responsibilities.

Illustrative examples

Illustrative examples accompany the CIP Canada 2021 instructional program classes and appear under the heading "Illustrative example(s)". When a class has more than ten illustrative examples a list of all the illustrative examples for the class can be found by clicking the "All examples" link when using the CIP HTML format on the Statistics Canada web site, or in the alphabetical index when using the CIP PDF format.

Some of the examples are based on program names provided in response to the Census of Population of Canada and reflect the way respondents typically describe programs, and some are based on the program titles used at Canadian postsecondary educational institutions.

The examples are intended to illustrate the contents and scope of the instructional program class. The list of illustrative examples is not meant to be exhaustive.

Inclusions

Inclusions are borderline examples where it might not be clear from reading both the class title and description that the example belongs in the class. They appear under the heading "Inclusion(s)".

CIP Canada 2021 has only four inclusions:

  • victimology, in 45.0401
  • art restoration, in 50.0703
  • fundraising, in 52.0206
  • fundraising management, in 52.0206

Exclusions

Many instructional program classes also have exclusions. Exclusions clarify the boundaries of the instructional program class by identifying related instructional program classes and similar programs that are classified elsewhere. They appear under the heading "Exclusion(s)".

The instructional programs cited in the Exclusions were selected from among the examples of related instructional program classes.

The list of exclusions is not meant to be exhaustive.

CIP Canada 2021 revision methodology

Background research

To determine the need for new CIP instructional program classes for CIP 2021, the first phase of background research was guided by analyzing data for graduates from the Postsecondary Student Information System (PSIS). Using the five most recent years of PSIS data, all programs of study coded to residual codes (ending in '99', or '9999') were reviewed and compared against existing CIP classes to determine if a mapping could be found. Programs of study which did not clearly map into an existing CIP class were identified as possible additions to the new 2021 version of CIP.

The second phase of background research was conducted by analyzing write-in responses to the 2016 Census for the question on major field of study. The Census write-ins on major field of study are a rich data source for the development of the classification. Each of the write-in suggestions was mapped against the 2016 CIP, and high frequency write-ins which did not map into an existing CIP class were identified as possible additions to the new 2021 version of CIP.

The third phase of background research was to conduct internet research through a scan of postsecondary educational institution web sites for each of the potential additions that had been identified. After reviewing the results, the CIP Revision Working Group decided on a list of new classes to include for bilateral discussion at the CIP Technical Review Panel (TRP) in Washington, DC.

Bilateral development

Statistics Canada and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the United States worked jointly on this revision of CIP from the TRP forward. Separate consultations with users of the classification in the two countries had identified areas where updates were required to clarify class boundaries, update information, or include new programs. Agreement was reached between the two countries on all revisions at the TRP: on new classes, on the placement of specific examples and on the restructuring of some series. All new and revised class descriptions were developed jointly, except those for classes appearing only in CIP Canada. This collaboration allowed the two national versions of CIP to be revised in a way that maintains the high degree of commonality between them and continues to permit close comparability between Canadian and U.S. educational data and to facilitate a common approach to future classification revisions.

Canadian version development

With the revised structure agreed to, Statistics Canada then proceeded to fully develop CIP Canada by researching appropriate examples and exclusions for all new and revised instructional program classes, ensuring new class descriptions reflected Canadian terminology and adding the classes that had been agreed would be specific to CIP Canada.

Even where no current Canadian programs are known to exist for new NCES-proposed CIP classes, these classes were included in CIP Canada 2021. This was done to support the coding of responses received by social surveys and the Census which ask respondents to report the field of study of their highest certificate, degree, or diploma. As this qualification may have been obtained outside of Canada, retaining all CIP classes is necessary to support coding.

Summary of changes from CIP 2016 Version 1.0 to CIP 2021 Version 1.0

In CIP Canada 2021 Version 1.0, the Generic Statistical Information Model (GSIM) is used to identify the types of changes made to the classification. In GSIM:

  • Real Changes - are those affecting the scope of the existing classification items or categories, whether or not accompanied by changes in the title, description and/or the coding
  • Virtual Changes - are those made in coding, titles and/or descriptions, while the meaning or scope of the classification item remains the same

The "real changes" are the most important ones for analysis.

Changes can occur at all levels of the classification. A complete list of all changes at all levels between CIP 2016 and CIP 2021 is released as a separate correspondence table and made available on Statistics Canada's website, and can also be obtained upon request.

Creation of new classification items or categories

One new series has been added. All new and existing residency and fellowship programs for physicians have been moved to a new series 61:

  • 61. Medical residency/fellowship programs

A total of 73 new subseries have been added to incorporate additional instructional programs and to restructure certain series and subseries, including:

  • 16.18 Armenian languages, literatures, and linguistics
  • 30.52 Digital humanities and textual studies
  • 43.04 Security science and technology

A total of 438 new instructional program classes have been added to incorporate the new programs and specializations now being offered in postsecondary educational institutions, including:

  • 01.0610 Urban and community horticulture
  • 11.0902 Cloud computing
  • 45.0205 Forensic anthropology

New Canada-only classes

Among the new classes are ten new six-digit classes for Canadian-only programs, which are found only in CIP Canada:

Code Class
01.0480 Cannabis product processing and inspectionCAN
01.0680 Cannabis production operations and managementCAN
01.1180 Cannabis product development and plant breedingCAN
12.0580 Cannabis ediblesCAN
44.0580 Cannabis-related public policy analysisCAN
51.1580 Cannabis abuse/cannabis addiction counsellingCAN
51.2280 Cannabis-related public healthCAN
51.9980 Cannabis-related health professions and clinical sciences, otherCAN
52.1880 Cannabis-related selling skills and sales operationsCAN
52.1980 Cannabis-related marketing and marketing operationsCAN

Transfer / Restructuring

Three series were restructured:

  • 01. Agricultural and veterinary sciences/services/operations and related fields
  • 51. Health professions and related programs
  • 60. Health professions residency/fellowship programs

To bring CIP 2021 in line with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) and international coding practice, veterinary medicine, science, technology and veterinary-related services and support were transferred from series 51. Health professions and related programs, to series 01. Agricultural and veterinary sciences/services/operations and related fields.

Physician residency and fellowship programs were transferred from series 60. Health professions residency/fellowship programs, to a new series of their own, series 61. Medical residency/fellowship programs. And the new nurse practitioner, pharmacy, and physician assistant residency and fellowship programs have been added in series 60. Health professions residency/fellowship programs.

Changes to titles and descriptions

The titles and the descriptions of several classes were changed for clarity, accuracy or to reflect terminology changes. For a complete list of title and description changes, see the correspondence table which is released as a separate document on Statistics Canada's website, and can also be obtained upon request.

Additions and changes to examples

Over 5,000 new examples were added to CIP 2021, based on research of new and emerging instructional programs and suggestions from subject matter experts, and the existing illustrative examples were reviewed for usefulness and accuracy. The new additions and review included both English and French examples, and care was taken to ensure that all content illustrated by the examples in one language was also conveyed by the examples in the other language. The examples used are illustrative of possible survey responses and actual program names and are not an exhaustive list of examples.

Changes in CIP Canada 2021 Version 1.0 relative to CIP Canada 2016 Version 1.0

Net count of classification items by level
Level CIP Canada 2021 Version 1.0 CIP Canada 2016 Version 1.0 Added Eliminated Net difference
2-digit series 50 49 1 0 + 1
4-digit subseries 454 387 73 6 + 67
6-digit classes 2,119 1,689 438 8 + 430
Total 2,623 2,125 512 14 + 498

Variants of CIP

CIP Canada 2021 contains the standard classification structure and three standard variants of that structure. The standard classification is intended for broad use, whereas each variant is designed to meet a specific user need. Variants are released as separate documents on Statistics Canada's website, and can also be obtained upon request.

The three variants of CIP Canada 2021 are all regrouping variants. Regrouping variants reorganize the categories of the standard classification in a different, subject-specific way. The variants are not meant to replace the standard classification, but rather to complement it by enhancing the analytical usefulness of the classification by changing its organization (regrouping).

Variant of CIP Canada 2021 Version 1.0 - Primary groupings

The Variant of the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada 2021 Version 1.0 for Primary groupings is used for the presentation, summary, analysis, and dissemination of highly aggregated data, and is an update of the Variant of CIP 2016 - Primary groupings.

The primary groupings variant is comprised of 13 'primary groupings' at the first level, and each primary grouping is made up of one or more of the 50 two-digit series.

The second level is comprised of the 50 CIP 2021 series. Each series belongs in only one primary grouping, except for series 30. Multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary studies. Series 30. has been split into its constituent four-digit subseries, and each of the subseries has been grouped with its closest equivalent series by field of study.

The primary groupings are based on field of study and are independent of the level of postsecondary education at which they were taken. The two secondary education level series in CIP are the exception. These two series, 21. Pre-technology education/pre-industrial arts programsCAN, and 53. High school/secondary diploma and certificate programs, are included in the "Other" primary grouping category.

Variant of CIP Canada 2021 Version 1.0 - Alternative primary groupings

The Variant of the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada 2021 Version 1.0 for Alternative primary groupings is used for the presentation, summary, analysis, and dissemination of highly aggregated data when the Primary groupings variant is too detailed at the second level for smaller geographic areas and is an update of the Variant of CIP 2016 – Alternative primary groupings.

The variant has the same 13 'primary groupings' as the Primary groupings variant at the first level which are a convenient and useful basis for summarizing and analyzing more detailed classes.

The second level is comprised of the 50 CIP 2021 series. Each series belongs in only one primary grouping, except for series 30. Multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary studies. Series 30. has been split into its constituent four-digit subseries, and each of the subseries has been grouped with its closest equivalent series by field of study.

In order to facilitate the dissemination of information at smaller geographies, the variant collapses the 100 subgroupings of the Primary groupings variant at the second level into 59 subgroupings. Each of the collapsed categories at the second level in the Alternative primary groupings variant has an explanatory footnote stating which of the CIP 2021 series 30. Multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary subseries it includes.

Variant of CIP Canada 2021 Version 1.0 - Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and Business, humanities, health, arts, social science and education (BHASE) groupings

The Variant of the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Canada 2021 Version 1.0 for Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and Business, humanities, health, arts, social science and education (BHASE) groupings is used for the analysis, comparison, presentation, summary, and dissemination of STEM and BHASE data, and to compare education and labour market outcomes between STEM and BHASE fields of study. The variant is an update of the Variant of CIP 2016 – STEM and BHASE groupings.

The groupings in the variant are based on field of study and are independent of level of study.

The first level of the variant consists of two groupings, STEM and BHASE fields of study. At the second level, the STEM grouping is disaggregated into 3 sub-groupings, and the BHASE grouping is disaggregated into 7 sub-groupings. At the third level, the STEM grouping is further broken out into 7 categories, and the BHASE grouping is further broken out into 21 categories. The fourth level of the variant consists of the CIP 2021 instructional program classes.

Changes for 2021:

  • The acronym in the French title for this variant was changed from "Science, technologie, génie et mathématiques (STGM)" to "Science, technologie, ingénierie et mathématiques (STIM)" to bring it in line with current standards of practice
  • The BHASE sub-grouping b.3 Social and behavioural sciences, was subdivided into four categories to improve analysis.

Relationship between CIP and ISCED-F 2013

The International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) is the classification used for organizing education programmes and related qualifications by level and field of education within the United Nations International Family of Economic and Social Classifications.

CIP is comparable to the International Standard Classification of Education - Fields of Education and Training (ISCED-F) 2013, the classification from the ISCED family of classifications that is used to classify educational programs and related qualifications according to field of study.

ISCED-F 2013 has a hierarchy of 3 levels. The top level is comprised of 11 broad fields, which are divided into 29 narrow fields at the middle level, and which are further subdivided into about 80 detailed fields at the lowest level.

Correspondence tables showing the CIP to ISCED-F relationship between CIP 2016 and ISCED-F 2013 and between CIP 2021 V1.0 and ISCED-F 2013 are released as separate documents on Statistics Canada's website, and can also be obtained upon request.

Assigning CIP codes to instructional programs

To ensure consistency at the national level, Statistics Canada codes instructional program data submitted from household survey responses and from educational institution administrative data files. This coding is done with the help of software that has been developed to provide a combination of auto-coding and computer-assisted manual coding. The basic approach to CIP coding is described below for institutions or organizations that do their own coding.

The main coding tool is the classification manual available in HTML, CSV and PDF formats.

In addition to the manual, those who are coding instructional programs using CIP should have enough information about the program to be able to code accurately, including:

  • program title
  • program description
  • type of institution
  • duration of study
  • nature of the academic award.

With this information, the coding of a single-discipline instructional program is relatively straightforward. The coder selects all likely series and from among those chooses the most applicable. The process is then repeated at the subseries level, and again at the instructional program class level. This top-down process is facilitated by referring to the illustrative examples and exclusions in the manual. An electronic search of the illustrative examples can also be done.

Several examples are presented to show the coding process.

Suppose the coder has the following information:

  • program title: Hair styling
  • program description: Combining hands-on training and theory, the Hairstyling program prepares you for a career as a licensed professional hairstylist
  • type of institution: college
  • duration of study: two years
  • academic award: college diploma

The coder first tries to identify the appropriate two-digit series. In this case, from the title and description, series 12. Personal and culinary services is likely the best series to look in for a match. Within series 12., subseries 12.04 Cosmetology and related personal grooming services, gets us closer to the sort of program we are looking for. Within 12.04, the program is coded to instructional program class 12.0407 Hair styling/stylist and hair design. By referring to the description and illustrative examples, the coder can see that "hairstyling" is part of this class. The institution type and duration of study were not used.

In a second case, the coder has the following information:

  • program title: Mathematics Teacher Education
  • program description: This integrated program provides students with the learning opportunities needed to become proficient Mathematics teachers and consists of courses in Education (including field experiences) and courses in the subject area of the teaching specialization
  • type of institution: university
  • duration of study: three years
  • academic award: Bachelor of Education (BEd)

The coder first tries to identify the appropriate two-digit series based on the program title and description, in this case, series 13. Education. Within series 13, subseries 13.13 Teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas, is the most applicable. Within subseries 13.13, instructional program class 13.1311 Mathematics teacher education, is selected. By referring to the description and illustrative examples, the coder will find that "mathematics teacher education" is part of this class.

In a third case, the coder has the following information:

  • program title: LL.M. in Taxation
  • program description: The LL.M. in Taxation will provide graduates with a depth of knowledge and level of technical expertise in tax law beyond that which can be acquired in a basic law degree or other relevant disciplines
  • type of institution: university
  • duration of study: one year
  • academic award: Master of Laws (LLM)

The coder first tries to identify the appropriate two-digit series based on the program title and description. In this case, series 22. Legal professions and studies, is the clear choice. As this is a master's degree it belongs in subseries 22.02 Legal research and advanced professional studies (Post-LLB/JD), which can only be used for law degrees and legal research above the bachelor's degree level. Within subseries 22.02, instructional program class 22.0211 Tax law/taxation (LLM, LLD, JSD/SJD) is selected. By referring to the description and illustrative examples, the coder can confirm that "tax law (graduate level)" is part of this class.

In a fourth case, the coder has the following information:

  • program title: Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training
  • program description: the Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training program will help prepare you for a career as a firefighter with highly realistic firefighting, rescue and emergency care training. Graduates of the program are eligible to write the firefighter certification exams.
  • type of institution: college
  • duration of study: one year
  • academic award: college certificate

The coder first tries to identify the appropriate two-digit series based on the program title and description. In this case, series 43. Security and protective services. Within series 43, subseries 43.02 Fire protection, is the most applicable. Within subseries 43.02, instructional program class 43.0203 Fire science/firefighting, is selected. By referring to the description and illustrative examples, the coder will find that "preservice firefighter" is part of this class.

Coding of combined majors and multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary programs

The coding of instructional programs which combine content from two or more disciplines, referred to as combined majors (also 'double majors' or 'joint majors'), and as multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary programs, follows the same top-down approach. Using the same method described for single-discipline programs, the coder tries to find an instructional program class that specifically covers the combined program. If such a class is found, the program can normally be coded directly to that class. When no specific class can be found, the program is coded to the appropriate residual class (code ending in '99', or '9999').

In general, a program that combines content from two or more two-digit series is coded to a class in series 30. Multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary studies, and a program that combines the content from two or more subcategories within one two-digit series can be coded to a class in that two-digit series. An electronic search of the illustrative examples can also be done.

The approach for coding combined majors and multidisciplinary programs is as follows:

  1. When a specific class exists for a combined program with content from two different two-digit series, code to the appropriate specific class in series 30:
    • "Computer science and mathematics" combines content from 11.0701 Computer science and 27.0101 Mathematics, general, and should be coded to 30.0801 Mathematics and computer science, the appropriate specific class in series 30. Multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary studies
  2. When a specific class does not exist for a combined program with content from two different two-digit series, code to 30.9999 Multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary studies, other, the residual class in series 30:
    • "Computer science and music" combines content from 11.0701 Computer science and 50.0901 Music, general, and should be coded to 30.9999 Multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary studies, other, the residual class in series 30. Multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary studies
  3. When a specific class exists for a combined program with content from two different four-digit subseries of the same two-digit series, code to the appropriate specific class for that combination:
    • "Political science and economics" combines content from 45.1001 Political science and government, general and 45.0601 Economics, general, and should be coded to 45.1004 Political economy, the appropriate specific class in series 45. Social sciences
  4. When a specific class does not exist for a combined program with content from two different four-digit subseries of the same two-digit series, code to the residual class for that series (code ending in '9999'):
    • "Mass communication and journalism" combines content from 09.0102 Mass communication/media studies and 09.0401 Journalism, general, and should be coded to 09.9999 Communication, journalism and related programs, other, the residual class in series 09. Communication, journalism and related programs
  5. When a specific class exists for a combined program with content from two different six-digit classes of the same four-digit subseries, code to the appropriate specific class for that combination:
    • "Pharmacology and toxicology" combines content from 26.1001 Pharmacology and  26.1004 Toxicology, and should be coded to 26.1007 Pharmacology and toxicology, integrated, the appropriate specific class in subseries 26.10 Pharmacology and toxicology
  6. When a specific class does not exist for a combined program with content from two different six-digit classes of the same four-digit series, code to the residual class for that subseries (code ending in '99'):
    • "Hotel and casino management" combines content from 52.0904 Hotel/motel administration/management and 52.0908 Casino management, and should be coded to 52.0999 Hospitality administration/management, other, the residual class in subseries 52.09 Hospitality administration/management.

Coding of combined language majors

  1. There is an exception regarding the use of 30.9999 Multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary studies, other, the residual class in series 30. to code programs that combine content from two or more two-digit series. 30.9999 is not used to code combined and double language majors and combined language programs which combine content from two or more of these two-digit series for languages:
    • Series 16. Indigenous and foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics
    • Series 23. English language and literature/letters
    • Series 55. French language and literature/letters

    For programs combining content from two or three of these two-digit series, the combined programs are coded to 16.9999, the residual instructional program class for series 16. Indigenous and foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics. For example:

    1. a combined French / English major is coded to 16.9999 Indigenous and foreign languages, literatures and linguistics, other
    2. a combined French / German major is coded to 16.9999 Indigenous and foreign languages, literatures and linguistics, other
    3. a combined English / Russian major is coded to 16.9999 Indigenous and foreign languages, literatures and linguistics, other

    However, a major that combines French and another romance language from subseries 16.09 is coded to 16.0999, the residual class for subseries 16.09 Romance languages, literatures and linguistics, because they are both romance languages. For example:

    1. a combined French / Spanish major is coded to 16.0999 Romance languages, literatures and linguistics, other
    2. a combined French / Italian major is coded to 16.0999 Romance languages, literatures and linguistics, other
    3. a combined French / Portuguese major is coded to 16.0999 Romance languages, literatures and linguistics, other

    Likewise, a major that combines two languages from the same four-digit subseries (same language family) is coded to the residual class for that subseries. For example:

    1. a combined Japanese / Korean major is coded to 16.0399 East Asian languages, literatures and linguistics, other
    2. a combined Norwegian / Swedish major is coded to 16.0599 Germanic languages, literatures and linguistics, other
    3. a combined Hindi / Urdu major is coded to 16.0799 South Asian languages, literatures and linguistics, other

    And a major that combines two languages from two different four-digit subseries (different language families) is coded to 16.9999, the residual class for series 16. For example:

    1. a combined Bulgarian (16.0405) / Romanian (16.0906) major is coded to 16.9999 Indigenous and foreign languages, literatures and linguistics, other
    2. a combined Arabic (16.1101) / Persian (16.0801) major is coded to 16.9999 Indigenous and foreign languages, literatures and linguistics, other
    3. a combined Chinese (16.0301) / Vietnamese (16.1408) major is coded to 16.9999 Indigenous and foreign languages, literatures and linguistics, other

Revision cycle

CIP has a 10-year revision cycle. Revising a statistical classification involves a complete review of the conceptual basis of the classification as well as a review of user needs and available tools. Part of that review involves determining whether proposed changes would work better than the current practices and thus warrant a revised version of the classification.

Between revisions, updates can be made to incorporate illustrative examples for new instructional programs being offered.

Report a problem or mistake on this page
Date modified: