2004-2005 Academic Catalog

Academic Information 21 Classification of Students Regular students are those who have met the requirements for admission, are enrolled in a degree program, and are carrying at least 12 semester hours of credit from Cedarville University in that academic semester. Special students are those who are not enrolled in degree programs. Part-time students are those who have met all admission requirements, are seeking a degree, and are taking fewer than 12 semester hours. Transfer students are those who have studied full time for at least one term at another accredited college or university. High school students are those who have not completed high school graduation requirements. Assignment to Classes Official class membership is determined according to the following schedule: Class HoursCompleted Freshman 1-30 Sophomore 31-60 Junior 61-90 Senior 91+ Special Assigned Class Attendance In general, regular attendance is necessary for the student to receive full benefit from the college experience. Since there are several different ways in which ideal class attendance may be achieved, official faculty policy allows each faculty member to determine and develop attendance standards that will meet the particular needs of the course. Out-of-Class Courses In order for students with irreconcilable conflicts to be able to complete graduation requirements on schedule, it is sometimes necessary to allow instruction in an out-of-class setting. To take a course out of class: 1. The course must be 2000, 3000, or 4000-level. 2. Students must obtain approval from the department chairperson, the faculty member teaching the class, and theadvisor. Out-of-class course approval forms are available in the Academic Services Office. Exceptions to the course level requirement listed above must be approved by the respective faculty member, department chairperson, and advisor. Correspondence Study / Distance Education Cedarville University does not offer correspondence credits, and it does not accept correspondence credits from institutions that do not have accreditation from a recognized United States regional accrediting agency. In some unusual circumstances, the University may accept correspondence credits from region- ally-accredited institutions of higher learning, but a student may not utilize more than 10 semester hours of correspondence credits toward fulfilling degree requirements. Cedarville University does offer several mediated/online learning courses, and it does accept this type of course from institutions that are accredited by a U.S. regional accrediting agency. Distance learning courses are subject to the same policies and restrictions as normal transfer courses. The University reviews and processes credits received for distance learning and correspondence study in the same manner as transfer credits. For additional information, contact the Academic Services Office. Internships Many of the major fields of study include opportunities to receive credit for supervised, on-the-job activities. Interested students should contact the respective department chairperson for details. Independent Study Independent study allows students to develop a high degree of independence in their ability to choose and investigate prob- lems. The objectives of the program include providing opportuni- ties to explore areas not covered in normal course structure, recognizing foreign travel experiences, rewarding self-motivated students, and encouraging joint study by faculty and students on specialized projects. Individual students and faculty members develop the specific criteria that must be met for the successful completion of specific independent study projects. However, the following guidelines govern the independent study program: 1. Only one independent study project may be undertaken in an academic term, unless permission is granted from the department chairperson and dean of the student’s primary major. 2. The maximum credit that may be earned for an indepen- dent study project is 3 semester hours. 3. The faculty member supervising the independent study, the student’s advisor, and the department chair must sign the student’s independent study form. Registration for the independent study must occur at the beginning of the semester in which the work is to be completed. 4. No more than 6 semester hours in independent study may be counted toward the major field, no more than 3 semester hours toward a minor field, and no more than 12 semester hours may be counted toward graduation. Independent study taken outside major and/or minor fields must be approved by the department chairperson and the dean of the supervising faculty member. 5. Supervising an independent study is a privilege a faculty member may extend to a student. It is not a right that a student has. 6. Supervising faculty members determine the grade (letter grade or credit/no credit) for the independent study. Many well-known speakers come to the Cedarville Campus to share inspiring messages from God’s word.