Specializations vs. Concentrations vs. Tracks vs. Clusters vs. Focus Areas

Faculty often question the difference between specializations, concentrations, tracks, clusters, and focus areas--a group of courses for the major designed around a common theme. 

Do they show on the transcript? Only specializations show on the transcript, and are intended to be larger than concentrations, tracks, clusters, and focus areas.

What's the difference? Concentrations, specializations, tracks, clusters, and focus areas are used in rather the same way from one major to another, but the real difference comes in the way in which they are programmed in PeopleSoft and Degree Works. Concentrations, tracks, clusters, and focus areas do not appear on the transcripts and are not always declared. In order to have the concentration/track/cluster/focus area enforced in Degree Works for degree clearance, it must be declared by students on the Registrar's office major/minor declaration form. 

In the degree audit, concentrations/tracks/clusters/focus areas are built directly into the major itself, while specializations appear as a separate block of requirements on the audit. 

What about minors? While you may list suggested clusters of courses for minors, the degree audit team cannot program the minor to recognize a specialization/concentration/track/cluster/focus area.