The CIP is a taxonomic coding scheme that contains titles and descriptions of primarily postsecondary instructional programs. It was developed to facilitate NCES’ collection and reporting of postsecondary degree completions by major field of study using standard classifications that capture the majority of reportable program activity. The CIP: 2000 edition is the third revision of the CIP. It was originally published in 1980 and was revised in 1985 and 1990. The CIP is the accepted federal government statistical standard on instructional program classifications.

• Classification of Instructional Programs: 2000 Edition (2.31 MB)
  This handbook includes the full 2000 CIP code specifications in addition to changes from the 1990 CIP Codes.
  
  
• Classification of Instructional Programs: 1990 Edition (1.10 MB)
  This handbook includes the full 1990 CIP code specifications.
  
  
• CIP Crosswalk Reference (1.75 MB)
  This excel document includes descriptions for the 1990 and 2000 CIP codes. It also crosswalks the 1990 and 2000 CIP codes.
  

Sources:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=91396
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2002165