2012-2013 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

Page 19 2012–13 Undergraduate Catalog Introduction Admissions Academic Information Academic Departments Course Descriptions Financial Information Appendix Index Graduate and Professional Education In 2000 Cedarville University launched its first graduate degree program to meet the professional and advanced education needs of Christian teachers. That first Master of Education program was designed to extend Cedarville University’s undergraduate reputation for quality academics and biblical integration while offering convenient delivery and affordable pricing for working professionals. During the last decade, the University has expanded its graduate and first-professional degree programs, serving students from the local region and around the world. Equipping Christian professionals for lifelong leadership and service, Cedarville provides an education that is marked by excellence and grounded in biblical truth. Every Cedarville University graduate or first-professional degree program is built on four distinctives: biblical integration, practical application, collaborative engagement, and technological innovation. Graduate faculty challenge students to think critically, communicate effectively, excel professionally, and engage their world with the heart and mind of Jesus Christ. Courses are delivered both online and in a traditional on- campus format. Class schedules are convenient for graduate students. To ensure access, costs are very competitive with comparable universities and financial aid options are available. Current graduate and first-professional degree programs: • The 34-semester hour Master of Education (M.Ed.) Teacher- Leader program, offered fully online, prepares educators interested in enhancing their classroom effectiveness and becoming instructional leaders in their schools. • The 42- or 43-semester hour Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) program prepares nurses for advanced nursing practice with two areas of focus: global health ministries and family nurse practitioner. • The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D.) program is a seven-year curriculum consisting of three years of prepharmacy studies followed by a four-year advanced professional-level segment. The final year of the pharmacy program involves advanced clinical rotations in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings around the region and nation. Students may gain preferred admission to the program as an undergraduate freshman or transfer student. Admission to the final, four- year advanced professional segment is also available to candidates who have earned a bachelor’s degree with prepharmacy coursework from another institution. For information about available graduate opportunities, contact University Admissions at 1-888-CEDARVILLE (233-2784), email gradadmissions@cedarville.edu , or visit cedarville.edu/ graduate. Undergraduate Study The Cedarville University undergraduate academic program is designed to meet the educational, moral, physical, social, and spiritual needs of young people who desire to honor God with their lives. The total program represents a balance between the knowledge gained through the courses studied, the cocurricular activities, and worship in the regular chapel and church services. In such a setting, truth from Scripture is integrated with the knowledge taught in each course to provide effective learning and enduring life values. The knowledge and skills learned from the courses give students an excellent background for professional competence in their chosen fields. Calendar 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, three days a week, for 15 weeks receives three semester hours credit. Laboratory sessions, applied music courses, physical education courses, compressed courses, and internships are exceptions to this pattern. 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. Nondegree students are those taking courses but 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 after graduation from high school. 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 Hours Completed Freshman 0–30.99 Sophomore 31–60.99 Junior 61–90.99 Senior 91+ Nondegree 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.