2002-2003 Academic Catalog

Academic Information 20 General Education Course Sequence Many of the General Education Requirements provide important background for advanced courses that are required as a part of a major field of study. Consequently, in most programs many of these requirements are taken in the first two years of the four- year curriculum. The sample four-year curricula found by each major field of study in the catalog outlines this sequence. Because of the importance of several of the requirements to all students, the following six courses must be completed before the beginning of the junior year or before a student earns 64 semester hours: BEGE-1710 Christian Life and Thought BEGE-1720 Spiritual Formation COM-1100 Fundamentals of Speech ENG-1400 Composition PEF-1990 Physical Activity and the Christian Life The VII, C. Quantitative Course Requirement Graduation All students must realize that it is their own responsibility to check on their progress toward meeting all requirements for graduation. They are urged to plan the class schedule for both semesters of the senior year at early registration time at the end of the junior year. This plan should be approved by the faculty advisor and checked to see that when it is completed all degree requirements will have been met. To participate in the May commencement ceremony, students must submit applications for graduation by April 1st of the year they plan to graduate. This includes May, August, and December graduates. The catalog in use when a student first enrolls governs that student’s graduation requirements, unless that catalog is over 10 years old or that student has left and then re-enrolled more than one year later. Consequently, that catalog should be retained and used as a guide in case changes are made in the course or graduation requirements during the time the student is enrolled. A student may select a subsequent catalog if the student wishes; however, all requirements from that catalog must be completed. Early Commencement Students who cannot complete their graduation requirements before the end of the spring semester of their senior year, but who can complete them during the following summer or fall terms, must apply to participate in commencement before degree requirements are met. Students who have more than 18 semes- ter hours to complete after the spring term must obtain approval from the academic vice president to participate in commence- ment. Information concerning eligibility for August or December graduation and early commencement is available in the Aca- demic Services Office. Sessions and Credits The regular college year consists of two semesters of 15 weeks each plus final exam days, extending from August to May. Credits are earned in terms of semester hours; a semester hour equals one 50-minute period each week for one term. As an illustration, a student completing a course that meets 50 minutes a day, 3 days a week, for 15 weeks, receives 3 semester hours credit. Laboratory sessions, applied music courses, physical education courses, compressed courses, and internships are exceptions to this pattern. Academic Assistance Each student is assigned to an academic advisor who offers counsel concerning course scheduling. A student who has not declared a major will be assigned to a special advisor equipped to offer assistance in selecting a field of study. Students are encouraged to consult their academic advisor prior to registra- tion, whenever an academic problem is encountered, or when considering any changes in their educational program. A student with low grades in a major or minor field may be advised to select another field of study. Tutoring Tutoring is available to students desiring supplemental learning opportunities. The Student Government Association, in conjunc- tion with the Academic Assistance Office, offers student-to- student tutoring in several courses each semester including GMTH-1040 Calculus for Business, CHEM-1000 Principles of Chemistry, BIO-1000 Principles of Biology, GSS-1000 Founda- tions of Social Science, and others. Additionally, private tutoring may be arranged with individuals recommended by the professor of the course or through the Academic Assistance Office. Faculty assistance is available for all courses during posted office hours. Transient Study Coursework to be completed at other institutions by a student enrolled at Cedarville University must be approved by the transfer coordinator, the student's academic advisor, and the chairperson of the academic department governing the course requirement that the transferred course is to satisfy before the course is taken. Transient Study Applications are available in the Academic Services Office. An official transcript must be received before transfer credit will be evaluated and recorded. The Student Government Association offers student-to-student tutoring in several courses each semester.