2016-2017 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

Independent Study Independent study allows students to develop a high degree of independence in their ability to choose and investigate problems. The objectives of the program include providing opportunities 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 chair or the associate/assistant dean of the school of the student’s primary major. 2. The maximum credit that may be earned for an independent study project is three semester hours. 3. The faculty member supervising the independent study, the student’s advisor, and the associate/assistant dean or 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 six semester hours in independent study may be counted toward the major field, no more than three semester hours toward a minor field, and no more than 12 semester hours toward graduation. Independent study taken outside major and/or minor fields must be approved by the associate/assistant dean or the department chair 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. 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 for details. 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 associate/assistant dean of the school or the department chair, the faculty member teaching the course, and the advisor. Out-of-class course approval forms are available in the Office of the Registrar. Exceptions to the course level requirement listed above must be approved by the respective faculty member, advisor, and and the associate/assistant dean of the school or department chair. Grading System A Recognizes excellent achievement. It is indicative of superior quality work and reveals a thorough mastery of the subject matter. The student receiving this grade should demonstrate enough interest to do some independent investigation beyond the actual course requirements. B Indicates work and achievement that are well above average. The student receiving this grade should be capable of doing advanced work in this field. The quality of the work should be considered better than that achieved by the average student. C Indicates average achievement and a satisfactory meeting of requirements. D Reveals inferior accomplishment and is generally unsatisfactory from the standpoint of course requirements. This is the lowest grade for which credit can be earned. F Failing grade. It indicates very unsatisfactory work. No course credit is earned. AU Given when a course is audited. To receive this notation, the student must attend and participate in the course. No credit is earned. CR Given when credit has been granted. It also applies to the credit/no credit program in which credit is received for satisfactory (“C” average or higher) performance in the course. A course in which a CR has been earned counts toward the total graduation requirements but is not used in the computation of GPAs. CE Credit for the course has been earned by an examination administered by the University or another recognized testing agency or program. I Signifies an incomplete and is a temporary grade given when a student is unable to complete the course work on time because of extraordinary circumstances, such as illness, emergency, or other reasonable cause. This temporary grade does not influence the student’s GPA. To be considered for an incomplete, the student must be passing the course and have completed the majority of the course work. The instructor giving the incomplete will establish an appropriate completion date with the student. This date may extend to the end of the semester following the one in which the course was taken. If the work is not completed by the designated date, the “I” will be changed to an “F” and will be calculated as such in the student’s GPA. INC Indicates a permanent incomplete, a grade assigned in special situations by the faculty member with the approval of the Vice President for Academics. This permanent grade does not influence the student’s GPA. To receive a permanent incomplete, the faculty member should submit the appropriate form to the Registrar identifying the circumstances warranting this special grade. If a permanent incomplete is awarded, the grade may not be changed at a future date. To receive credit for the course, the student must again register for the course and complete the course requirements. K Signifies credit and accompanies courses transferred from other colleges or universities. It has no effect upon cumulative GPA. NC Indicates no credit has been earned. Credit hours for which an “NC” has been earned are not used in the computation of GPAs. 2016–17 Undergraduate Academic Catalog Page 29 Academic Information Registration for Courses