2009-2010 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

Academic Information Academic Information 26 Cedarville University 2009–10 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 curriculum 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 61 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 Course Load Assuming that proficiency requirements have been satisfied, a minimum of 128 semester hours is required for graduation. A student should average at least 16 credit hours each semester to graduate upon completion of the 8th semester. A normal course load is 15-18.5 hours each semester. Students working more than 20 hours per week are advised not to carry a full course of studies. A student’s academic load is subject to reduction or limitation by a school dean or by the academic vice president for poor scholarship or excessive work outside of school hours. Students who wish to take more than 18.5 credit hours must obtain permission through the following procedure: To request 19-21.5 credit hours The following students require advisor approval: • SENIORS with at least a 2.3 cumulative GPA • SOPHOMORES and JUNIORS with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA • FRESHMEN with at least a 2.7 cumulative GPA • All students without a Cedarville University GPA who scored at least a 25 or equivalent on the ACT The following students require department chair approval: • Any student not meeting the criteria above • Any student whose advisor is not available The following students require dean approval: • Any student whose department chair is not available To request 22 or more credit hours • All students require approval of advisor, department chair, and dean The following situation requires academic vice president approval: • When dean is not available Credit By Examination Advanced Placement High school students may receive advanced collegiate standing by participating in the advanced placement program. Up to 40 semester credits may be earned through this program or by other test-out procedures. Hours earned through the advanced placement program do not count as hours in residence toward graduation with honors. To earn credit through advanced placement, students must enroll in specific advanced placement courses offered by their respective high schools. Upon completing these courses, students take individual advanced placement examinations in each advanced placement course. Students may earn college credit for advanced placement scores of three, four, or five. Students should request that scores from these examinations be sent directly to Cedarville University by entering code number 1151 on their registration forms. Upon receipt of an official score report, the University awards the appropriate amount and type of credit for each examination as determined by each academic department. No fees, other than the fees accompanying the examinations, must be paid in order to receive the University credit. In some cases, sophomore standing in particular subject areas may be earned through these examinations. Students should contact their local high schools to obtain advanced placement course and registration information. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Students earn credit through CLEP by taking nationally standardized examinations in a variety of subject areas. These tests may be taken at local colleges before enrolling at Cedarville or at Cedarville after enrolling. To have CLEP scores sent directly to Cedarville University, students should enter code number 1151 on their CLEP registration forms. An official copy of the score report must be received before CLEP credit will be evaluated and recorded. By earning scores above specified levels, students receive college credit in specific course areas. Up to 40 semester credits may be earned through this program or by other test- out procedures. A complete list of the appropriate tests and respective Cedarville courses, as well as registration information, is available from the admissions office, the office of the registrar, or the University website. No fee, other than those accompanying the examinations, must be paid in order to receive college credit through CLEP. Students who wish to use CLEP examinations to satisfy general education requirements in foreign language, literature, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences must earn credit-satisfying scores on the respective CLEP examinations by the time they earn 61 semester credits. Students may not pursue CLEP credit for courses in which they were enrolled previously, nor may they pursue CLEP credit for a course if they have taken a more advanced-level course in that discipline. Transfer students transferring more than 61 credits must earn credit-satisfying scores on respective CLEP examinations by the end of their first semester of full-time attendance at Cedarville. Hours earned through CLEP do not count as hours in residence toward graduation with honors. Institutional Test Out Qualified students may earn credit toward graduation by passing the appropriate examinations with a grade of B or better. A student interested in testing out should obtain a course test-out form from the office of the registrar, obtain the approval of the chair of the department in which the course is offered, and contact the instructor of the course to schedule the test.