Southwestern University
2006-2007 Catalog
Southwestern University: A Statement
The Academic Program
Degree Requirements
Academic Regulations
Course Descriptions
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UNIVERSITY DEGREES
Southwestern University offers four bachelor’s degrees. Degree plans typically have the following four components: Area One and Two requirements common to all degrees, specific additional requirements for the particular degree, an area of specialization (major, minor or area of concentration), and approved electives to total a minimum of 121 academic hours. A general outline of the requirements for each degree is given below. The departmental sections supplement this information with detailed requirements for majors and minors within a particular degree.
Bachelor of Arts
The Bachelor of Arts degree requires a minimum of 121 semester hours.
Area One and Two Requirements Common to All Degrees 35 hours
Specific Additional Requirements for the BA Degree:
Foreign Language, through fourth-semester level (See Note 1) 14 hours
Specialization:
A— The Major at least 30 hours
(18 hours must be above the introductory level)
The Minor (optional) 18 hours
(12 hours must be above the introductory level)
OR
B— The Independent Major (Area of Concentration) 48 hours
An area of concentration permits a student greater freedom to design an interdisciplinary course of study focusing on a theme or career plan. It must consist of no fewer than 48 semester hours: 1) 24 semester hours from one department, 18 of which are above the introductory level, and 2) 24 additional semester hours in other departments, 18 of which are above the introductory level. The area of concentration must be designed in consultation with the chairs of the Divisions/School and departments involved and must be approved by the Division/School in which the 24-hour block of 1) above is taken. The capstone experience required will be dictated by the subject area in the first 24-hour block of courses.
Fitness and Recreational Activity (See Note 2) 2 hours
Approved Electives 19 hours
Total, including approved electives, to complete a minimum of 121 hours
Bachelor of Science
The Bachelor of Science degree requires a minimum of 121 semester hours.
Area One and Two Requirements Common to All Degrees 35 hours
Specific Additional Requirements for the BS Degree:
Biology 50-102, 112, 122 and 162 8 hours
Chemistry 51-153/151 and either 51-163/161 or 51-173/171 8 hours
Mathematics and Computer Science
52-154 and either 52-253 or 52-113 or 54-143 or 54-183 7 hours
Physics 53-154 and 53-164 8 hours
Foreign Language, through fourth-semester level (See Note 1) 14 hours
Specialization:
The Major at least 30 hours
(18 hours must be above the introductory level)
The Minor (optional) 18 hours
(12 hours must be above the introductory level)
The major must be selected from the Division of Natural Sciences, Animal Behavior or Psychology. See specific course requirements for majors and minors listed under departmental program descriptions.
Approved Science Elective 3 to 4 hours
At least one science elective must be chosen from the following courses. This elective should not be within the Major department. Additional electives in upper-level science courses are strongly encouraged and students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses would be most beneficial to their degree.
Biology 50-222, 50-232
Chemistry 51-553/551, 51-713/711
Mathematics and Computer Science 52-353, 52-573, 52-673, 54-183 or 54-283
Physics 53-204, 53-214, 53-324, 53-334
Fitness and Recreational Activity (See Note 2) 2 hours
Additional Electives 9 to 11 hours
Total, including approved electives, to complete a minimum of 121 hours
Bachelor of Music*
The Bachelor of Music degree requires a minimum of 121 semester hours.
Area One and Two Requirements Common to All Degrees 35 hours
Foreign Language, through fourth-semester level (See Note 1) 14 hours
Specific Additional Requirements for the BMus Degree hours vary
Specialization (Area of Emphasis) hours vary
Fitness and Recreational Activity (See Note 2) 2 hours
Approved Electives hours vary
Total, including approved electives, to complete a minimum of 121 hours
Bachelor of Fine Arts*
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree requires a minimum of 121 semester hours.
Area One and Two Requirements Common to All Degrees 35 hours
Foreign Language, through fourth-semester level (See Note 1) 14 hours
Specific Additional Requirements for the BFA Degree hours vary
Specialization (Area of Emphasis) hours vary
Fitness and Recreational Activity (See Note 2) 2 hours
Approved Electives hours vary
Total, including approved electives, to complete a minimum of 121 hours
*Consult with the chairs of the departments in The Sarofim School of Fine Arts for details concerning BMus and BFA degree programs.
Note 1: If the foreign language requirement for any degree is met by a placement or proficiency examination on which credit hours are not awarded, the needed hours toward the 121 total may be earned as approved electives.
Note 2: No more than three semester hours of Fitness and Recreational Activity (FRA) courses may count in the minimum 121 hours required for any degree except for Kinesiology majors/minors.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Each student is responsible for meeting all Catalog requirements for graduation. A Southwestern University degree requires:
1. A minimum of 121 semester hours of academic work, of which at least 60 academic hours must be from a four-year (senior) college or university and the last 33 semester hours from Southwestern (see number 7 below). A minimum overall grade point average of 2.0 on all college-level work attempted in addition to at least a 2.0 on all Southwestern University work is required for graduation.
2. In addition to the overall minimum grade point average of 2.0 for graduation, no grade below C- may be counted toward the required semester hours in the major, minor or area of concentration and at least an average of C (2.0) must be presented in the major, minor and area of concentration.
3. Every degree plan must present a minimum of 60 semester hours of work above the introductory level. The major must include at least 18 semester hours (nine hours above the introductory level) at Southwestern, and the minor, if any, must include at least 12 semester hours (six hours above the introductory level) at Southwestern.
4. Completion of Areas One and Two, common to all degrees.
5. Completion of the major and minor or area of concentration requirements for a given degree plan and the specific additional requirements indicated in that degree plan by the student’s major department. A major requires at least 30 semester hours, 18 above the introductory level; a minor requires at least 18 semester hours, 12 above the introductory level. Specific requirements for each major are listed in the appropriate section of the catalog.
6. No more than 48 semester hours may be credited on the degree plan for work in one subject area.
7. The last 33 semester hours must be done in residence at Southwestern unless a student has undertaken the Pre-Engineering program or other similar program. Modification of this regulation will be considered only for those students who have completed a majority of their academic work at Southwestern University. Students who are candidates for the combined degree programs, such as the Pre-Engineering program, must have their combined degree plans approved by the appropriate academic officer at Southwestern University before enrolling in the cooperating school. The hours completed by students in approved programs off campus or overseas apply to this 33-hour rule.
Seniors may complete any remaining semester hours in summer school at a regionally accredited four-year college or university on the following conditions: (1) they must have been in residence at Southwestern University for a period of four semesters; (2) they must have completed the requirements for the major and minor subjects at Southwestern; (3) they must attend the commencement exercises on the scheduled commencement date; and (4) they must apply for and receive approval for the work in advance from the appropriate department chair and the Registrar.
All work attempted at other institutions must be reported to Southwestern on official transcripts, in time to meet deadlines for graduation certification.
8. A department may provide for a general evaluation of the students’ competence in their fields before the beginning of the final year. The specific techniques employed are adapted to the discipline involved, and may include public performance (as in The Sarofim School of Fine Arts) or oral or written examination or both. A senior oral examination or other departmental evaluation may be required at the discretion of the department. Such requirements may be in addition to the capstone experience.
9. Candidates for degrees must file the necessary application for diploma and make satisfactory arrangements for the payment of all accounts due the University before the degree is awarded.
10. Candidates are expected to be present for the conferring of the degrees. Should a candidate have a compelling reason to be absent from Commencement, he or she may petition to be graduated in absentia by writing to the Provost. Candidates may only participate in Commencement exercises once they have completed all degree requirements.
