2015-16 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

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Mission Statement
Interdisciplinary programs at the University are designed to
encourage the thinking, research, and applications that help
students understand the interrelationships among disciplines that
are characteristic of a true liberal arts education. Drawing from
several academic disciplines, these programs promote learning
that broadens and deepens the student’s view of knowledge and
the world as a whole.
Personal Requirements
Students who choose interdisciplinary programs typically
possess a unique love for learning. They desire to know about
many areas and enjoy discovering the relationships among
the various academic disciplines that comprise the body of
knowledge. Though most college preparatory curricula provide
a good measure of breadth through their coverage of the basic
disciplines, students interested in interdisciplinary programs
should choose electives that sharpen their thinking skills and
expand their intellectual horizons. Advanced high school courses
in writing, literature, mathematics, science, economics, world
history, or social science are recommended.
Although background in foreign language is not required for
admission to the programs, foreign language competency is
necessary for effective international service. Consequently, two
or more units of foreign language in high school are strongly
recommended.
Programs of Study
The University offers the following interdisciplinary programs:
• Honors Program
• Individualized Studies
• Liberal Arts
• Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
• Air Force
• Army
Cocurricular Opportunities
Tau Delta Kappa (TDK) provides an opportunity for fellowship,
ministry, exchange of ideas, and support of students involved in
the honors program. TDK students also tutor school children in the
Cedarville area.
Career Opportunities
Graduate and professional schools welcome Cedarville
graduates. Careers pursued by graduates include:
• Diplomat
• Government worker
• International relations
• Military officer
• Missionary
Honors Program
The honors program is designed to challenge gifted students
to reach their academic potential through a specially designed
course of study. The courses designated as “honors courses” are
rigorous and demanding, challenging students to aspire to greater
heights in their academic progress.
Admission to the program for entering freshmen is based upon
ACT/SAT scores, extracurricular and work experience, and a
sample of expository writing. Admitted freshmen students who
meet the minimum standardized examination score and GPA
requirements will be invited to apply to the Honors Program.
Prospective students must complete a separate application, which
is available through Admissions.
A limited number of students are admitted into the program
each fall. Students enrolled in the honors program are required to
complete four honors courses in addition to a senior seminar or
project.
Two of these courses are taken in the freshman year in a
sequence entitled “The Making of the Modern Mind,” which traces
the development of philosophic, cultural, and artistic traditions
against the background of the history of western civilization. These
two courses meet general education requirements in humanities,
philosophy, and history.
In the sophomore and junior years, honors students take two
integrative seminars. Typically, each honors seminar provides an
interdisciplinary perspective on the topic of study. Enrollment in
honors seminars is limited to 20 students.
In the senior year, each honors student chooses a capstone
experience from two options: (1) Honors students may complete
a traditional honors thesis, working one on one with a faculty
mentor; or (2) Honors students may participate in the Honors
Senior Colloquium during the two semesters of the their senior
academic year. This seminar provides a capstone experience
focusing developing a Christian worldview in the midst of a
contemporary society that is often inhospitable to biblical principle.
Through the honors program, Cedarville University encourages
superior scholarship, allows a thorough integration of the various
disciplines, and provides the student an opportunity to better
understand how all knowledge relates to its source in God. The
honors program offers an adventure in the world of ideas, coupled
with practical incentives for transcribing faith and learning into
the larger culture for the glory of God and the benefit of men and
women in His image.
Course requirements for the honors program involve 16 semester
hours including:
I. Freshman Colloquia: The Making of the Modern Mind*.......10
II. Honors Integrative Seminars. .................................................4
Two seminars, typically two hours each, taken in the sophomore
and junior years.
III. Honors Research Project/Thesis...........................................2
Participation in a one-hour interdisciplinary colloquium each
semester or an interdisciplinary
research project
*If taken together, these two courses replace the following general
education requirements:
Humanities Elective........................................................................3
(or 2000-level philosophy course if required for the major)
History Elective..............................................................................3
If either of these two courses are taken individually, the course
may be designated as five semester hours of credit toward either
the humanities or history general education requirements.
Individualized Studies
The individualized studies program serves students with
specialized career aspirations that may not fit with a particular
major program offered at Cedarville University or those who desire
a traditional, broad undergraduate program before proceeding to
graduate school. The program leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree
and includes the following provisions:
1. A student interested in an individualized studies program
may submit a proposal after completing 20 semester hours
at Cedarville University, exclusive of Advanced Placement,
CLEP, and transfer credits, with GPA of 3.25 or higher.
2. The student must define the focus of the intended
individualized program on the program approval form. In
addition, the student must demonstrate that the proposed
program objective cannot adequately be achieved through
an existing major at Cedarville University. The program
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Interdisciplinary Studies Mission Statement