Southwestern University
2002-2003 Catalog

Academic Calendar

Southwestern University: A Statement
The Academic Program
Degree Requirements
Academic Regulations

Course Descriptions

Brown College of Arts & Sciences
 Biology
 Chemistry
 Classics
 Communication
 Economics & Business
 Education
 English
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 Kinesiology
 Math & Computer Science
 Modern Languages & Literatures
 Physics
 Political Science
 Psychology
 Religion & Philosophy
 Sociology & Anthropology

Sarofim School of Fine Arts
 Art
 Music
 Theatre

Interdisciplinary Programs
Special Academic Programs

Admission & Financial Aid
Student Life
Cultural Activities
History & Governance
Endowments & Scholarships

University Directory
Board & Officers
Faculty
Administration
 

ACADEMIC REGULATIONS

REGISTRATION

Registration of new students for a regular semester is the weekday before the first day of classes. A pre-registration day is available only to currently enrolled students each fall semester for pre-registering for the spring semester and each spring semester for pre-registering for the summer and fall semesters. Students who pre-register must confirm their pre-registration before their enrollments are complete. Further, neither registration nor confirmation of pre-registration is complete until the student has paid all tuition, fees, and fines in full or a schedule of payments has been approved by the Business Office.
Students must register or pre-register in person at the times designated. Students arrange class schedules in consultation with their academic advisors prior to registration or pre-registration. The student’s completed tentative schedule card, signed by the academic advisor, is his or her admission ticket into registration or pre-registration. The student’s schedule is completed only after the faculty members involved have personally approved the student’s admission into their classes. This is done on a first-come basis when students are accepted into classes by individual faculty members. If a student fails to confirm pre-registration, the student’s pre-registration is canceled and the student must register late by asking each faculty member to sign or initial the student’s tentative schedule card which he or she then returns to the Registrar’s Office. Faculty members have the privilege of limiting late enrollments in their classes.
Late registration is possible in emergency situations through the first week of classes, but is not recommended. No student may register for a course after the start of classes without the approval of both the instructor and the student’s academic advisor. Any absences incurred due to late registration (or late add) may be counted against the student’s attendance record for the course and any work missed must be made up to the satisfaction of the faculty member involved. Further, the student is required to pay a fee for late registration.

CHANGE OF CLASS SCHEDULE

Academic advisor approval is required for the initial registration or pre-registration. Once registered or pre-registered, students may modify their schedules with the appropriate approvals—signatures or other means as specified by the Registrar. Addition of courses is subject to approval by the instructor or academic department offering the course. Students may drop a class through the tenth class day without any approvals—the student simply completes the transaction form used by the Registrar’s Office. After the tenth class day, approvals from the instructor and academic advisor are required.
Students may not register to audit courses until the first class day. Otherwise, changes in Pass/D/Fail status and audit status may be made without approval through the tenth class day. Approvals are required from the eleventh class day through the end of the fifth week of class, after which such changes are not permitted.
Change of Registration (drop/add) cards are available in the Registrar’s Office. To be valid, the Change of Registration card must be properly approved and returned by the student to the Registrar’s Office within three class days of the date the faculty member’s signature is secured. Improperly prepared Change of Registration cards will be returned to the student without being processed. Students who withdraw from a course without the approvals outlined above receive a grade of F for the course.
Students may add courses through the second week of classes. Students may drop courses without record entry (or change graded courses to or from Pass/D/F, audit, or no credit) through the end of the fifth week of classes. From the beginning of the sixth week through the end of the tenth week of classes, students may drop courses with a record entry of “W.” The “W” will appear on the student’s permanent record but will not be counted as part of his or her academic grade point average. After the last day of the tenth week of classes, students may not drop courses. All deadlines are at 5 p.m. on the designated days. NOTE: Courses may be less than a semester in duration. Drop dates for those courses are proportionate to the length of the course in relation to a regular 15-week semester.

THE ORGANIZATION OF COURSES

Credit for courses in the curriculum of the University is expressed in terms of semester hours. One semester hour represents one hour per week of lecture or a three-hour laboratory period (except as otherwise noted). Most courses are scheduled to meet three hours each week and are designated as three-semester-hour courses. Students should expect to spend a minimum of two hours studying outside of class for every hour of class meeting.

Course Numbers

Most courses are designated by five digits. The first two digits denote the department in which the course is offered; third and fourth digits are the department’s numbers for the course; the fifth indicates the number of credit hours usually granted for the course. The number of credit hours may not be modified except in unusual circumstances and with the specific approval of the Registrar.
In the department’s numbers, courses from 0 to 19 are used for introductory courses, and from 20 to 89 are regular advanced offerings beyond the introductory level. Courses numbered 90 and above are special offerings for advanced students.
Example: In the course number ENG 10-703-01, the following information is conveyed:
ENG 10 indicates the department (Department of English)
70 is the department’s number for the course (since it is above 19,
it is an above-introductory course)
3 indicates that the course grants three semester hours
01 indicates that the course is section number one of multiple sections
Courses with laboratory requirements show in their Catalog descriptions the number of clock hours per week devoted to lecture and laboratory, respectively. For example, (3-3) following PHY 53-104 indicates that there are three lecture hours and three lab hours per week associated with this course.
The numbering system in applied music is as follows: the first position is always “8”; the second position is a letter indicating the instrument being studied; the third and fourth positions are zeroes; the fifth position is the number of credit hours being granted. Also, a two-digit suffix may be used to indicate multiple sections. For example, the course number APM 8A-001-01 indicates that the course is section one of a one-hour applied music piano course. NOTE: All courses in applied music and ensembles after the second semester in each course count as advanced courses.

SPECIAL COURSE OPTIONS

Southwestern offers a number of special course options.

Independent Study

Independent study is offered to students after they have a sufficient command of the techniques needed to work independently. Independent Study projects are planned by the student and carefully examined by the supervising professor to assure that satisfactory scholarship is involved and that the program is suited to the student’s educational needs. Independent studies may not duplicate courses appearing in the Catalog. In exceptional cases, with permission of the Registrar, an independent study project may be approved to last more than one semester. A minimum of three contacts between teacher and student are required for any independent study project. A student may not take an independent study as the first course in a subject area. See course offerings for independent study numbers.
An Independent Project Description Form must be completed by the student and supervising faculty member giving the 1) Title, 2) Statement of Purpose, 3) Methods, and 4) Content. This form serves to describe the content of courses that may be repeated with changed content. Completion of this form does not register a student for this course. Registration must be through the standard registration process or an add card. The completed form is due in the Registrar’s Office by the last day to add courses.

Research Courses

Research courses, available in certain departments, require special permission of the instructor and are available only to those students who have displayed exceptional competence and maturity in their field of endeavor. The research course is generally designed to provide guidance in the methodology of research in a discipline for one who plans to pursue the particular discipline in graduate school. Registration is made and credit given in the semester in which the research course is completed.

Tutorial Courses and Seminars

Tutorial courses are offered by several departments where students demonstrate need and readiness for courses beyond those regularly offered by the department. Tutorials may be repeated with changed content. Seminars are provided by some departments for small groups of students to participate more directly than in regular classes by involving them in the preparation and presentation of reports and papers. Classes remain under the general direction of a faculty member. Seminars meet regularly, but less frequently than regular courses.

Selected Topics

Selected topics are offered by some departments. These special courses are in addition to the department’s regular course offerings and may be repeated for credit with changed content.

Honors Courses

Certain departments offer to highly qualified and able junior or senior students the opportunity to participate in the University’s Departmental Honors Program. This program is described in the Special Academic Programs section of the Catalog.

Academic Internships

Academic Internships are offered by a number of departments and programs. These programs allow students to acquire field or on-the-job experience and are structured so that the students are encouraged to relate their classroom activities to their field experience. Internships for credit require significant academic work beyond on-site activities, such as keeping a journal, writing, research, classroom meetings and presentations. Unless otherwise specified, all internships are graded on a Pass/D/F basis. Students should consult the Catalog for specific departmental or programmatic requirements regarding academic internships. General policies and procedures can be found in the Faculty Handbook and the Advising Handbook. Students interested in academic internships must contact the Internship Coordinator in the Office of Career Services as early in the planning process as possible. Registration must be through the standard registration process or an add card. In addition, a completed internship form is due in the Registrar’s Office by the last day to add courses.

CLASS ATTENDANCE/ABSENCE

Southwestern University considers class attendance to be an essential component of its educational mission. Students are expected to attend all regularly scheduled classes, laboratories, studios, rehearsals, etc., for which credit is granted. The instructor in each course will state an attendance policy in the course syllabus. Students are responsible for being familiar with the attendance policy for each course in which they are enrolled. Authorization to make up work or examinations missed because of absence is granted only as outlined in the instructor’s syllabus or as described under “Class Attendance and Absence Policies” in the Student Handbook.

INVOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL PROCESS

When excessive absences for any reason jeopardize a student’s work in any course, the instructor may inform the Director of Academic Services and Advising. Notice will be sent to the student as a warning that further absence may lead to failure or withdrawal from the course. If continued absence makes the student unable to complete a course satisfactorily, the instructor makes a written recommendation to the Director of Academic Services and Advising that the student be dropped from the course with a grade of “F.”
A student may appeal an involuntary withdrawal from a course by submitting a letter of appeal to the Director of Academic Services and Advising within five calendar days of the notification of withdrawal. The Director will forward all relevant documentation to the Provost, who will decide the merits of the appeal and inform the student and the instructor of the result of the appeal. The Provost’s decision is final.

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS

Transcripts of their permanent record are issued to students and ex-students of Southwestern or may be sent directly to other institutions upon written request. All requests for transcripts must be in writing to the Registrar’s Office and signed by the student or ex-student. Telephone requests are not accepted but signed fax requests will be honored. There is no charge for transcripts. No transcript of credits, semester grade report, statement of standing, diploma, or application for teacher’s certificate will be granted to individuals who are financially in arrears to the University.

GRADING SYSTEM

Grades indicate quality of work done by students as follows:
A Scholarship of excellent quality;
B Above standard mastery of the subject matter in a course;
C Standard mastery of the subject matter in a course. All required work is expected to be completed for this grade;
D Below standard, but of sufficient quality and quantity to receive credit;
F Failure.
The following grades do not affect students’ grade point averages:
P Pass in a Pass/D/F course; denotes C- or better;
S Satisfactory performance in an audit or noncredit course;
U Unsatisfactory performance in an audit or noncredit course;
AU Audit;
CR Credit by examination or in a credit/no credit course; denotes C- or better;
NC No credit in a credit/no credit course.
I An Incomplete grade. The grade of Incomplete shall be given only in the case of medical emergency or some other emergency situation beyond the student’s control. The grade of Incomplete may not be given for the sole reason of permitting additional time to complete assigned course work. If the Incomplete has not been replaced by 5:00 p.m. on the last day to add courses of the next regular semester, the grade becomes an F. Upon petition in writing by the student and approval by the faculty member, extension of the deadline may be granted by the Registrar.
W Honorable withdrawal from a course (without evaluation) after the end of the first one-third of the semester (the end of the fifth week for a regular semester course). Withdrawal privileges terminate at the end of the tenth week of a regular semester.
The grades of A, B, C, and D may be awarded with a plus or minus. In determining grade point averages, letter grades are given the following grade point values: A+, 4.00; A, 4.00; A-, 3.67; B+, 3.33; B, 3.00; B-, 2.67; C+, 2.33; C, 2.00; C-, 1.67; D+, 1.33; D, 1.00; D-, 0.67; F, 0.00.
All grades are reported to students by mail to their permanent addresses at the end of each semester.
In counting grade points for any one semester, students who have a grade of at least C- in a course completed prior to that semester may not again present grade points in that course to meet minimum requirements for continuance in the University.
The courses used for the major, minor or area of concentration must have at least a C (2.00) average and no grade below C- in above-introductory courses.

Repeated Courses

Courses may be repeated, but credit hours are counted only once and the most recent satisfactory completion of the course is the one that grants hours on the student’s degree plan or transcript. In computing students’ cumulative grade point averages, the grades for repeated courses in which no hours were earned are included in the average.

Pass/D/F Courses

All non-graded courses, whether student-elected or required by the Catalog, whether introductory level or above introductory level, are evaluated Pass, D, or F. Pass indicates a level of C- or better and is not included in the student’s grade point average, but a D or F is included in the student’s grade point average.
Students may take up to 12 total semester hours of elective credit in their junior and senior years at Southwestern on a “Pass/D/F” basis; however, these courses cannot replace regularly required courses of the major, minor, or the General Education or University Requirements for the degree. Certain other courses have been designated “Pass/D/F only.” These designated courses are treated the same as graded courses for major, minor, and degree requirements and do not count as part of the 12 semester hours of Pass/D/F courses students may elect to take. Students may not change graded registration of an elective course to Pass/D/F registration or Pass/D/F registration to a graded elective course after the last date for dropping a course without record (the end of the fifth week of classes).

Final Evaluations

Final evaluations are required in all courses at the close of each semester. Students who find it necessary to take a final examination out of schedule may do so only with the consent of the instructor and of the Registrar and after payment of a special rescheduling fee of $25 to the Business Office. Petitions for the approval of a final examination out of schedule are available in the Registrar’s Office. Re-examination or special projects to raise grades are prohibited for students who have failed the course or the final examination except in extraordinary cases as approved by the Provost. The published Final Examination Schedule may not be altered. Students who have three final examinations in one day may reschedule only the middle examination. (Take-home finals do not count in determining whether a student has three finals in one day.) There is no fee for rescheduling the exam, and the student and the faculty member may work out the time for the rescheduled exam without administrative intervention or approval. (Students may take three examinations in one day if they so choose.) Students with two finals in one day may not reschedule. Students must request that a final exam be rescheduled at least one week before final examinations begin, otherwise they must follow their examination schedule as it stands. Students who wish to reschedule final examinations for personal reasons must file a Petition for Final Examination Out of Schedule form and pay the specified fee for each exam rescheduled. Petition forms are available in the Registrar’s Office.

PERMANENT RECORD

A permanent record of each student’s course credits, grades, degree plans and academic status is kept in the Registrar’s Office. Access to this record is governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended.
A discussion of FERPA may be found in Section XV of the Southwestern University Student Handbook. Other relevant references are “Knowing the Rules” in the Southwestern University Faculty Advising Handbook and “Student Rights and Privacy” in the Southwestern University Faculty Handbook.
FERPA generally requires the student’s permission to release anything other than “directory information” about the student to any person outside the University. At Southwestern University, Directory Information includes:
• student’s name
• local and home residence addresses
• mailing address
• voice mail
• e-mail addresses
• local and home phone numbers
• date and place of birth
• major field of study
• participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• weights and heights of members of athletic teams
• dates of attendance
• degrees and awards received
• the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student
• photographs or other personal “imagery”
• listings of candidates for degrees
• full-time/part-time status
• other similar information
FERPA does allow the student to specify that even directory information which applies to him or her not be released. This is done by signing a form available in the Registrar’s Office.
Southwestern University policy generally prohibits the release of lists of
students and their directory information outside the Southwestern community. It also generally prohibits release of address information for a specific student outside the Southwestern community.

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION

During the academic year, official University correspondence and notices may be sent via telephone, electronic mail, or letter. This assortment is necessary to allow quick, efficient, and effective communication. The University provides every student with Internet access, a voice mail account, an e-mail account, and a postal box at the University Post Office.
To allow the University to contact students as needed, each student must maintain records of valid address information, including telephone, e-mail, SU box, local address (if living off campus) and permanent address. The latter two may not be the SU Box Number. The Registrar’s Office keeps information regarding each of these addresses as part of the directory information on the Student Record, and students must maintain accurate data there. Furthermore, students are responsible for claiming their accounts, ensuring that their mailboxes do not become too full, and regularly checking both e-mail and their SU Box for important University communications.

STUDENT STATUS

Normal Student Load

Students normally carry a load of 15 semester hours of academic work each semester. A regular full-time student is defined as one carrying at least 12 and not more than 17 semester hours of credit. Students completing an average of 15 semester hours of work each semester for four years plus two hours of FRA courses will complete the minimum 121 hours of credit required for all degrees. Any student schedule which includes (A.) three 4-hour courses, or (B.) an Applied Music, Fitness and Recreational Activity or Ensemble course, may exceed the 17 credit hour maximum for a total of 18 credit hours without special approval.

Overloads

When students have proven their ability to do above-average work, they may carry more than a normal load. Eighteen semester hours of work may be taken if an average grade of B (3.0) or better is achieved on a minimum of 15 semester hours of academic work taken the preceding semester. Students may not pre-register for an overload. Students of exceptional ability may be given permission to take up to 21 semester hours of work. Students wishing to add a larger than normal academic load must receive advisor and Registrar approval in advance. There is an additional charge of $350 per hour for all hours above 18.

Part-time Status

A part-time student is defined as one taking a course load of 11 semester hours or less. Students may not enroll as part-time students or change status to that of part-time students without the prior approval of the Registrar. A part-time student may be a degree-seeking student. Probation or suspension status for part-time students will be imposed or removed at the discretion of the Provost. Students who wish to drop below full-time status should meet with the Office of Academic Services to determine what consequences, if any, could result from such an action.

Student Leave of Absence

Southwestern University students in good academic standing may apply for a student leave of absence by completing the Request for Student Leave of Absence form available in the Office of Academic Services no later than one week prior to the beginning of the semester for which the leave is to begin. After review, in consultation with the appropriate academic advisors and approval by the Director of Academic Services and Advising, a student leave of absence may be granted for not more than one academic year. An application for readmission will not be required of students on approved leave of absence. Students who are granted a leave of absence will receive pre-registration materials and student housing requests (if applicable) for the semester in which they plan to return to campus. Enrollment and housing deposits (if applicable) must be made in order to pre-register.

Auditing

Persons desiring to audit a course must receive the permission of both the professor and the Registrar. The auditor who is not enrolled as a regular student at the University is admitted as an audit-only student. Auditors pay $150 per semester hour for the privilege of auditing a course. There is no charge for regular students unless their total load (including audited courses) exceeds 18 semester hours. In this case, they will pay $150 per hour above 18. Permission from the Registrar is required if a student’s total load exceeds 17 semester hours. Courses designed to develop skills and that are “hands-on” in nature such as applied music, studio art, or Fitness and Recreational Activity may not be taken as audit. Registration to audit a course is on a space available basis after “regular” registration.

Classification of Students

Students who have fewer than 30 semester hours of credit are classified as first year students; those who have at least 30 semester hours of credit and fewer than 60 are classified as sophomores; those with at least 60 semester hours, and fewer than 90, as juniors; and those with at least 90 semester hours, as seniors. Students who have already earned degrees and are taking additional undergraduate work are classified as post-graduates. Students may be conditionally admitted, and their admission will be reviewed at the close of the semester.

ACADEMIC HONORS, PROBATIONARY STATUS, ELIGIBILITY

The University seeks to recognize student academic achievement through a Dean’s List each semester and by Academic Honors at the time of graduation.

Dean’s List

Students are placed on the Dean’s List for a given semester if they attain a grade point average for that semester of at least 3.60 on 12 academic hours of graded course work, and if they are in good standing with the University. There is also a Dean’s List for regular part-time students (so designated by the Provost).

Academic Honors

Each year academic honors (Latin Praise) are awarded upon graduation to a small group of students who have demonstrated high academic achievement, measured by their cumulative grade point averages. The faculty, upon recommendation of the Academic Affairs Council, sets the cumulative grade point average requirements for graduation cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude. The faculty seeks to recognize approximately ten percent of the graduating class with academic honors. Any change in the grade point averages required for graduation with honors will be made at least two years before it takes effect. The most recently approved cumulative grade point averages, in effect since the May 1983 graduation, are at least 3.65 for cum laude, at least 3.80 for magna cum laude, and at least 3.95 for summa cum laude.
Students must have a minimum of 60 hours of academic credit at Southwestern to be eligible to be graduated with academic honors. Grades transferred from another institution are not included in cumulative grade point averages. The foregoing is separate from the University Departmental Honors Program explained elsewhere in this Catalog.

Academic Probation

Students remain in good standing academically as long as they are making satisfactory progress toward graduation. Academic standing is based only on coursework attempted at Southwestern. Academic probation status is noted on students’ permanent records and transcripts.
Full-time students will be placed on academic probation if their cumulative grade point average at the end of a regular semester falls below 2.0 or if they pass fewer than nine semester hours in any regular semester after their first. To remove academic probation, students must: 1) receive academic counseling as outlined by the Office of Academic Services; 2) pass at least 12 graded semester hours in the next regular semester at Southwestern with a semester grade point average of at least 2.20; and 3) raise their cumulative grade point averages to at least 2.0. Students on academic probation are expected to demonstrate reasonable progress in removing academic probation. “Reasonable progress in removing academic probation” is determined at the end of each regular semester by a committee composed of the Registrar, the Provost (or a designate), the Director of Academic Services and Advising (or a designate), and the Vice President and Dean of Students (or a designate). This determination, and the notification of students affected, is made as soon as is practicable after semester grades are posted in the Registrar’s Office. An exception may be made for students whose performance in Southwestern’s summer school raises their cumulative grade point average to a 2.0 or better. Such students may petition the Academic Standards Committee to have their probation status removed for the following semester. Students continued on academic probation for a second consecutive semester must remove the conditions of the continued probation at the end of that semester to be eligible to return to the University the following regular semester.

Academic Warning

Full-time students not on academic probation, whose semester grade point averages fall below 2.0, but whose cumulative grade point averages are at least 2.0, will be placed on an academic warning by the Registrar. Students receive a letter notifying them of academic warning, but no entry is made on the students’ permanent records or transcripts.

Dismissal and Eligibility for Continuance

Students in their first regular semester who do not pass a minimum of six semester hours of course work are ineligible to return for the following semester. Students continued on academic probation for a second consecutive semester must remove conditions of the continued probation at the end of that semester to be eligible to return to the University the following regular semester. Students declared ineligible to return the first time must wait one regular semester to be considered for readmission to the University.
Dismissal based on spring semester performance is effective beginning with the following second summer session. Dismissal status is not affected by any summer courses which may be completed.
Students declared ineligible to return a second time must wait one year to be considered for readmission to the University. Students declared ineligible to return a third time are permanently suspended from the University. Ineligible-to-return status and its duration are noted on students’ permanent records and transcripts.
Students declared ineligible to return to the University may appeal that decision as outlined in the following section. Students who sit out the period of ineligibility must apply for and be granted readmission in order to re-enroll at Southwestern. Students who are granted readmission to the University after being declared ineligible are readmitted on academic probation, but the ineligible-to-return status remains on the students’ records and is considered in determining any subsequent terms of dismissal or readmission.
Southwestern University reserves the right to dismiss or deny readmission to students who fail to meet the University’s academic standards for any reason.

Appeal of Academic Ineligibility Decisions

The procedure for a student who appeals an academic ineligibility decision is as follows:
1. The student submits an appeal, in writing, to the Associate Provost no later than the deadline specified in the Registrar’s letter of dismissal. If applicable, the letter should be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. The student may also submit other written materials with the written letter, including letters from faculty members supporting the appeal.
2. The Associate Provost convenes a meeting of the Academic Standards Committee which studies the appeal letter, any supporting materials, and the student’s records with input from the Vice President for Enrollment Management (or designate) and the Vice President and Dean of Students (or designate). A recommendation is made to the Provost whether or not to reinstate the student’s eligibility.
3. The Associate Provost takes the recommendation of the Academic Standards Committee to the Provost who makes a decision regarding the student’s status based on all available information. The decision by the Provost is final and is conveyed to the student by letter.

Withdrawal from the University

A student in good standing may withdraw from the University during a semester by submitting a completed request for withdrawal to the Director of Academic Services and Advising. Except under unusual circumstances, students may not withdraw from the University after the last day for dropping courses. Forms for withdrawal are available in the Office of Academic Services and the Dean of Students Office. Students who withdraw from the University and wish to re-enroll for a later semester may be required to apply for readmission.

CREDIT BY TRANSFER

Credit from another regionally accredited institution, including credit completed through approved dual credit programs, is normally accepted at face value upon receipt of an official college transcript of the credit by Southwestern University. However, Southwestern University evaluates all transfer work for its applicability to Southwestern programs of study. Credits earned at non-accredited institutions are subject to re-evaluation on the basis of the quality of work done at Southwestern University. Although there is no limitation on the number of years for which courses are accepted, the older the courses are, the less likely they are to be currently applicable. Generally, applicable courses are accepted if they have grades of C- or better. Grades of D or F are not accepted. Transfer hours are not calculated in the student’s overall grade point average. Up to three hours of graded Fitness and Recreation Activity course credit are accepted. Excess Fitness and Recreation Activity hours are not accepted, nor is credit for varsity athletics. Some military training, ROTC, etc. may be accepted for credit (P or CR) if the credit appears on a transcript from a regionally accredited institution. Credit by examination hours awarded by another institution will transfer only if they meet the minimum standards required by Southwestern at the time the transferring student enters Southwestern.
Upon approval, courses taken by a Southwestern University student at another regionally accredited institution or previously approved foreign institution may be transferred to Southwestern University. If the student has earned 90 or more semester hours, approval of the Registrar is required. When a course is to be taken at a two-year college, approval of the Registrar is required if the student has earned 60 or more hours at the time the course will be taken. No course taken at a two-year college will count as upper-level credit. If a course is to substitute for a course in the general education requirements common to all degrees, it requires approval by the student’s academic advisor and the Registrar (in consultation with the appropriate department chair). If a course is to substitute for a course fulfilling either a requirement specific to a degree plan or a major, it requires approval by the student’s academic advisor and the appropriate department chair. Approval is based on content equivalency as documented by the course description in the catalog of the institution in which the course is taken and/or the course syllabus. Prior approval should be secured on a form provided by the Registrar’s Office (for regionally accredited institutions) or by the Director of Study Abroad (for foreign institutions). Unless that is done, no guarantee can be given that credit so earned will fulfill requirements on degree plans at Southwestern.
Failure to report courses taken at another institution on an official transcript, either prior to admission or at any time prior to graduation at Southwestern, is considered a falsification of records and could result in severe disciplinary action.
Credits earned through extension and correspondence are treated like other transfer credit for establishing scholastic status, eligibility for graduation, and honors.

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION—PLACEMENT

If an entering first-year student has earned no previous college credit in the area being tested either at Southwestern or elsewhere, he or she may receive college-level credits or exemptions prior to enrollment through the College Board Advanced Placement examination. Upon entering Southwestern, students may be granted exemptions through Southwestern University’s foreign language placement examination, if results warrant such exemption. Upon declaring a major or minor in a language, students may earn up to six credit hours by examination. Such language credits are not posted to a student’s permanent record until all requirements for the major or minor are fulfilled. (See also the Modern Languages and Literatures section of the Catalog.)

Foreign Language Examinations

Southwestern administers placement examinations in French, German, Latin, and Spanish. Students with a high school background in language should place high enough to receive exemption from a beginning level course. Credit hours are not awarded.
Students taking language to fulfill the language requirement for their degrees are expected to attain proficiency in oral and written expression, listening comprehension and reading. These goals are usually attained at the end of a fourth semester course at the college level which is why students remain in the same language through the intermediate level. Students may take a proficiency test at the level required for their degree program or complete with a passing grade the specified semester requirement.
All incoming students with high school credit in a foreign language that they intend to continue at Southwestern are to take a foreign language placement exam during the Orientation week of their first year. Students can receive exemption if their placement scores so warrant, and they will be advised as to which course they should take in that same language, based on the results of the placement exam; in the case of Classical languages, additional information such as high school program will be used to help establish placement. Students may take the beginning course (-014) in a different language if they choose not to pursue the language taken in high school.
Placement tests may be taken in more than one foreign language. These tests are routinely given once a year to first-year students during orientation. Students entering the University at mid-year may take placement tests before the beginning of the spring semester.
International students whose native tongue is not English may satisfy the foreign language requirement by scoring at least 550 on the TOEFL exam.

College Board Advanced Placement Examinations

College Board Advanced Placement examination credit is recognized and three or four semester hours of introductory-level elective credit may be awarded for scores of 4 or 5 in each subject area. AP credits may count for Perspectives on Knowledge (POK) Courses. No credit is given for scores on College Board Aptitude or Achievement Tests or ACT examinations. However, students who do well on these tests are encouraged to take the appropriate College Board Advanced Placement examinations through their high school to be awarded credit as stated above.

International Baccalaureate Program

Southwestern University recognizes the International Baccalaureate Program and will consider requests for academic credit on an individual basis. A minimum score of 5 on higher-level exams is required to be considered for credit. Decisions regarding credit are made on a case-by-case basis for each applicant by the appropriate academic department.

General Certificate of Education Examination—Advanced Level (“A” Levels)

Successful completion of the Advanced Level Examination (completion with a grade of A or B) yields the equivalent of Southwestern University introductory level credit in the subjects tested. Evaluation will be made on an individual basis to determine, in conjunction with the appropriate Southwestern University departments, the specific introductory courses for which the student will earn credit.

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION—ADVANCED STANDING

Students who are currently enrolled may earn credit by taking advanced standing examinations in most subject areas, except that native speakers who have been exempted from the foreign language requirement may not take an exam in their native languages. These examinations may be administered, after proper approval, in two ways: by CLEP subject examination or by a departmentally prepared examination. Petition forms for these examinations are available from the Testing and Certification Coordinator and in the Registrar’s Office. An advanced standing examination in a subject must be taken prior to enrollment in a subsequent continuous course in the same subject. Further, an advanced standing examination may not be taken in the same subject more than once a semester and not at all in the same semester in which the student is enrolled in the corresponding course. All advanced standing examinations must be completed and scores reported before the final week of classes to be included on the student’s permanent record for that semester.
Advanced standing examination credits are treated like regular courses for degree plans, repeated courses, etc., except that only grades of A, B, C, or CR are recorded. A level of C- or better is required to earn CR. A student may choose between the letter grade or CR after the exam is scored. Letter grades affect the student’s grade point average, but CR does not. Once the choice of letter grade or CR has been recorded, it cannot be changed. Students are advised that certain professional certifications, medical schools, graduate programs, etc. will not accept a grade designation of CR for meeting certification or admission requirements.

CLEP Subject Examinations

In general, students should not take CLEP subject examinations prior to entering Southwestern. Credits received for CLEP subject examinations while students are enrolled at other universities are usually treated like other transfer credits if they appear on official transcripts along with credits for regular course work. The only exception to the rule of not taking CLEP subject examinations before entering Southwestern are for the CLEP subject examinations in foreign language. Credit for appropriate scores on these examinations can be awarded without prior arrangement with Southwestern, but credit is not posted to the student’s permanent record until Southwestern academic credit has been earned.
Students currently enrolled may take CLEP subject examinations after prior approval. If the CLEP subject examination in a particular subject area is available, it must be taken before a departmental examination is requested. In the case of chemistry, an American Chemical Society standardized examination is used in lieu of the CLEP subject examination. For these examinations, letter grades or CR are awarded based on the score level that the department concerned determines is appropriate. This level is indicated on the petition form before the examination is approved. CLEP subject examinations for advanced standing credit are arranged for through the Office of Testing. CLEP subject examinations may not be repeated within a six month’s period. The testing service keeps track of this and will disallow repeated exams within the prohibited time period. NOTE: Southwestern University does not grant credit for CLEP general examinations.

Departmental Advanced Standing Examinations

If the appropriate CLEP subject examination is not available in the subject area in which a student seeks advanced standing, students may arrange to take a departmentally prepared advanced standing examination. The student usually arranges this type of examination with an individual professor who signs the petition form and administers the examination after the student has received all approvals and paid the appropriate advanced standing examination fee.