Graduation All students must realize that it is their responsibility to check on their progress toward meeting all requirements for graduation. Although each student has an academic advisor to help with course planning, the student is ultimately responsible for the chosen class schedule and course of study. Students 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 advisor and checked to see that when it is completed all degree requirements will have been met. Progress toward completion of degree requirements can be verified at any time using Student Planning. To participate in the May commencement ceremony, each student must submit an application for graduation by February 1 of the year they plan to graduate. This includes May, August, and December graduates. IMPORTANT The catalog in use when a student first enrolls governs that student’s graduation requirements, unless that catalog is more than 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 semesters, must apply to participate in commencement before degree requirements are met. Students who have more than 18 semester hours and/or a cumulative grade point average below 2.30 to complete after the spring semester must obtain approval from the Office of the Registrar to participate in commencement. Information concerning eligibility for August or December graduation and early commencement is available in the Office of the Registrar. Academic Programs and Majors Admission to Academic Programs Some academic programs have unique requirements. For example, music students must audition for entry to that department; engineering candidates must meet a minimum test score requirement; students in education, social work, and nursing apply for admission to their respective programs during their sophomore year after the program prerequisites have been satisfied; admission into the athletic training program is competitive and limited to the top 10 eligible students. Therefore, students should review the specific entrance requirements outlined in the respective departmental sections of the catalog. Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to an academic program. Selecting a Major Many students have not chosen a major field of study by the time they enroll at Cedarville. Others change their major at some time during their collegiate studies. The University offers special advising and other services to help students make these important decisions through the academic enrichment center. Students uncertain of a major begin as “undeclared” majors. They work with academic advisors who specialize in helping students who have not yet chosen a field of study. Until they choose a particular major, undeclared students typically take courses specified as meeting the general education requirements. They are also encouraged to utilize the resources of Career Services. This office offers career profiles, interest inventories, and counselors so that students in the midst of making career decisions have good information. Most undeclared students select a major by the middle of the sophomore year. In many instances, delaying the choice of major does not extend the time needed to graduate from Cedarville. However, in programs of study with extensive specific course requirements, delaying the choice of that major even one semester can cause students to take longer to complete degree requirements. The suggested four-year curricula listed with each major outlines the recommended course sequences. Requirements of a Major The amount of work for a typical major field approximates 36 semester hours and must include the requirements of the department. Comprehensive majors are typically from 48 to 60 hours. Specific requirements are listed at the beginning of department course offerings. In order to graduate, a student must satisfy the requirements for at least one major field of study. With proper scheduling, he or she may concurrently complete the requirements for more than one major. Majors involving fewer than 42 semester hours of coursework lend themselves to this approach. Major courses in which “D” grades are received may count as meeting the requirements of the major field if permitted by departmental policy. If “D” grades are not permitted, the department Chair or dean of the school may approve a course substitution as an alternative to repeating a course. To qualify for graduation, students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA for their major. Electives The provision of elective choice is based upon the premise that students should have an opportunity to strengthen their major field or minor field or broaden their background by selecting courses in areas of inadequacy or interest. Elective choice also provides students with some flexibility should they decide to change major fields. 2022–23 Undergraduate Academic Catalog Page 21 Academic Information Academic Programs and Majors
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