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. Program Licensure Prospective students should be aware that each state and U.S. territory may have different professional licensure and certification requirements governing various occupations. Cedarville University ensures that its educational programs meet the educational prerequisites for professional licensure or certification within the state of Ohio; however, if you plan to pursue licensure outside of the state of Ohio you should contact your Cedarville University academic or program advisor to verify that the program you are pursuing meets the licensure requirements for the state or territory in which you plan to seek licensure. The requirements in that state or territory may be different from Ohio’s requirements. Students are ultimately responsible for verifying their individual eligibility for state licensure and for satisfying any requirements, both academic and professional, imposed by that state or territory. While a program may initially meet the educational requirements for licensure, changes made to requirements by a state/territory could impact the program’s ability to meet any new educational requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to check with their state licensure board to confirm licensure requirements and to obtain additional guidance as needed from that board and their Cedarville University academic/program advisor. 2023–24 Undergraduate Academic Catalog Page 21 Academic Information Academic Programs and Majors
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