UNDERGRADUATE DIVISION

Descriptions of Baccalaureate Degrees
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of General Studies
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music Education
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science in Education
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology
Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Technology
Bachelor of Science in Vocational-Technical Education
Associate Degree
Certificates
Undeclared Majors
Non-Degree Seeking
Requirements for All Baccalaureate Degrees
Requirements for The Associate Degree
General Education Degree Requirements for All Baccalaureate Degrees
General Education Degree Requirements for Students Preparing to Teach Elementary School
General Education Degree Requirements for Students Preparing to Teach Secondary School
Undergraduate Academic Policies and Regulations
Scholastic and Academic Honors
Enrollment Regulations

UNDERGRADUATE DIVISION

DESCRIPTIONS OF BACCALAUREATE DEGREES

BACHELOR OF ARTS

The Bachelor of Arts degree offers the student opportunity to become acquainted with a variety of subjects which provide the fundamentals of a liberal education. It enables the student to secure preparation for advanced work and provides opportunity for specialization in some areas. Persons completing this degree who plan to teach should see the teacher education section.

Requirements for a Major

Each student must select a major area of concentration from among the following departments or areas: biology, communication, English, geography, history, international studies, mathematics, modern languages and literatures, physics, political science, psychology, social science, and sociology.

Requirements for a Minor

Each student must select one minor of at least 20 semester hours from among the following departments or areas: art, biology, business administration, chemistry, communication, computing, economics, English, family and consumer sciences, geography, history, international studies, mathematics, military science, modern languages and literatures, multicultural studies, music, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology and sociology. Minors from other departments or areas may be selected if approved by the major department.

Special Regulations

(1) Not more than 23 hours of professional education courses may be counted toward this degree. (2) Not more than 6 hours in courses of a practice or shop nature may be counted and then they will reduce the 23 hours maximum allowed in education courses proportionately. (3) Ten hours of foreign language are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree. These 10 hours are to be in one language.

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

The Bachelor of Business Administration is a professional degree providing preparation for business careers through: (1) broad preparation in communication, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, and humanities; (2) a substantial knowledge of economics and the functional areas of business; and (3) a limited specialization selected from: accounting, economics, finance, information systems, management or marketing. Cooperative education courses offered outside the Kelce College of Business may not be applied toward the BBA degree.

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS

This degree is structured to provide a concentrated art experience for those students interested in a professional career in art and for those interested in specializing in a specific art form or study. Students with an interest in commercial art should consider this degree. Emphasis is placed on the study of historical and contemporary techniques and philosophies of art. A minor is not required.

BACHELOR OF GENERAL STUDIES

The objective and intent of the Bachelor of General Studies degree is to encourage students to define clearly their own objectives and to design a course of study that will best achieve their objectives. The Bachelor of General Studies degree is for students who wish to develop new combinations of courses to serve personal or occupational goals which are not met by traditional majors and minors. In consultation with faculty advisors, students may design four-year programs of study which combine courses from any department or college.

Basic Assumptions

This is a campus-wide degree that allows students to select courses as they wish and to organize them in logical, coherent programs of study which meet their defined objectives.

The degree may incorporate studies from any combination of fields of study, department, or colleges to serve specific personal or occupational goals. Students electing this degree option work very closely with their advisor to organize an academic experience that represents identifiable goals: it is not intended to be used as a means of circumventing the academic expectations associated with more traditional degree programs.

Students are responsible for the selection of the program that they take and for its use after graduation. Problems of transferring into other degree programs, admission to graduate school, and licensing and certification that are required in some professions and occupations are the responsibility of the students.

Admission and Advisement

Admission to the degree program must be approved by the director of the BGS program, Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, 311 Grubbs Hall. The conditions for admission to the Bachelor of General Studies degree program are (1) the submission of an acceptable plan of study, and (2) the completion of at least four hours of college credit before application to the program.

It shall be the responsibility of the director and the student to develop a statement of objectives, to plan a program, and to review the student's progress. Continuation in the program requires development of a final plan of study at the beginning of the junior year. Bachelor of General Studies student programs shall include a minimum of 24 (twenty-four) semester hours in at least one specific discipline.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete 124 semester hours of selected courses and meet all other university requirements including general education requirements. Students will not complete a traditional major or minor. Students may complete no more than 30 semester hours of Kelce College courses toward the minimum total hours required for this degree. Courses in computer science-information systems and lower division economics do not count against this 30 hour limitation. Students will also complete a program assessment document, administered by the director, near the completion of their course of study.

BACHELOR OF MUSIC

The curriculum for this degree is highly specialized enabling the student to attain maximum performance potential on a major instrument together with skills in piano, music theory, history music, and conducting. A minor is not required.

BACHELOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION

The curriculum for this degree prepares the student to teach and supervise music in the schools from kindergarten through senior high school. The program requires thorough knowledge of an applied instrument together with conducting and basic techniques of keyboard, woodwinds, strings, brass and percussion instruments. Music theory, history of music and participation in organizations are also included. A minor is not required.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

The Bachelor of Science degree provides the fundamentals of a liberal education with opportunity for specialization. Persons completing this degree who plan to teach should see the teacher education section.

Requirements for a Major

Each student must select a major area of concentration from among the following departments or areas: biology, chemistry, computer science, family and consumer sciences, mathematics, physics, psychology, recreation, social work, sociology, and justice studies.

Requirements for a Minor

Each student must select one minor from among the following departments or areas: biology, chemistry, computing, economics, international studies, mathematics, military science, multicultural studies, physics, psychology, social science, recreation and technology. This minor must be in a different field from the major. The social work major does not require a minor. A major in family and consumer sciences, computer science, or mathematics may take a minor in business administration. A major in family and consumer sciences may take a minor in art. Minors from other departments or areas may be selected if approved by the major department.

Special Regulations

Not more than 10 hours of approved practice or shop courses may be counted toward this degree.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION

The Bachelor of Science in Education degree is designed for students preparing to teach in elementary or secondary schools, or in vocational-technical schools offering work at the secondary level. The degree is also designed to serve students planning graduate preparation for school service positions and for those planning graduate preparation for teaching in community junior colleges and other institutions of higher education.

The degree requires a substantial program of work in general education to provide opportunity for the student to acquire the fundamentals of a liberal education. In addition, the degree requires specialized preparation, or concentration, in the areas, or fields to be taught, together with a sequence of courses in psychology and professional education designed to assist the individual to function effectively as a teacher. See teacher education section.

Requirements for a Major

Students preparing to teach in the elementary school major in elementary education and complete two fifteen-hour fields and one 16 hour field of concentration in specified subject matter areas.

Individuals preparing to teach at the secondary level select a major area of concentration from any one of the departments offering a teaching major. In most instances, it is recommended that the individual preparing to teach in a secondary school develop adequate breadth as well as depth in the major field.  

Preparation to teach in higher education, including the junior college, requires depth of preparation in a teaching field and usually requires a fifth or sixth year of preparation.

Requirements for a Minor

The minor, when required on the student's degree program, must be selected with advisement as one appropriate to teacher preparation.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

Curricula offered under this degree are accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and are designed to prepare graduates for employment in industry. Students enrolled in these curricula have the opportunity to specialize in one of five engineering technology options. Graduates find employment in administrative and supervisory positions in industrial organizations and assume responsibilities in the areas of product design and development, manufacturing and production, sales and distribution, maintenance and service and industrial training.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

This degree is designed to prepare students for employment in clinical laboratories as medical technologists. The degree is necessary before a person is eligible to take the National Registry Examination for certification as a medical technologist. A minor in chemistry is required.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is designed to prepare students for the practice of professional nursing in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics and homes in the community. Persons receiving this degree are eligible to write the licensure examination required to become a registered nurse. No minor is required.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN TECHNOLOGY

This degree is designed to prepare students for employment in business and industry in high level technical, managerial and supervisory positions. A minor is not required.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL EDUCATION

The degree program is designed for those desiring positions as teachers and supervisors in vocational, industrial and technical education, and in health occupations. In addition, to meet curriculum requirements, the individual must meet work experience requirements established by the Division of Vocational Education, Kansas State Department of Education. A minor is not required.

ASSOCIATE DEGREE

The Associate of Applied Science degree is granted upon the completion of the following specified two-year program:

Department of Technology Studies
Automotive Service Technology
Electrical Technology
Wood Technology

CERTIFICATES

Two year certificates are granted upon completion of the following programs:

Department of Technology Studies

Automotive Service Technology Two Year Certificate

Electrical Technology Two Year Certificate

UNDECLARED MAJORS

Students who have not declared a major are advised through the undeclared major program which is coordinated through the Admission Office, Room 107 Student Welcoming Center/Horace Mann.

NON-DEGREE SEEKING

Students who do not wish to earn a baccalaureate degree from Pittsburg State University may be advised through the department of their choice. Non-degree seeking students must be admitted through the Admission Office, Room 107 Student Welcoming Center/Horace Mann.  

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL BACCALAUREATE DEGREES

1. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 124 semester hours of credit with an earned grade point average of 2.0000 for all hours attempted and included in the GPA computation.
2. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 45 semester credit hours outside the department in which they are enrolled as a major. The Department of Social Science is considered a multi discipline department and students with majors in those disciplines must complete 45 semester hours outside their discipline. The College of Technology is considered one department and students majoring in the College of Technology must complete 45 semester hours outside of that college.
3. Students must have a grade point average of 2.0000 for all major and minor credit hours attempted; all Bachelor of Science in Education (elementary and secondary) students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5000 in major credit hours. Department of Art undergraduate degree programs require a 3.0000 in art courses and grades of B or better in upper level art courses.
4. A minimum of 45 semester hours of credit must be earned in upper division courses (numbered 300 to 799). Upper division credit may be earned only through a four year institution.
5. A minimum of 30 semester hours of credit must be earned in residence (courses taken from Pittsburg State University) with a grade point average of 2.0000 for all resident hours attempted. These minimum resident hours must include eight semester hours of credit in the major department.
6. A two-year college transfer student must complete a minimum of sixty credit hours at an accredited four-year university or college.
7. A maximum of six semester hours of nonresident credit (correspondence courses, or work at another college or university) may be applied on the last thirty hours prior to graduation.
8. A maximum of 15 semester hours of correspondence credit may be applied on the baccalaureate degree.
9. Freshman English--Students must earn credit in 6 hours of English Composition/Research Writing (ENGL 101 and ENGL 190 or 299) with a grade of C or above.
10. Speech Communication--A student must earn credit in a course in basic speech communication.
11. Upon attaining 85 semester hours of credit (including current enrollment), the student must apply in writing for an official degree check, with the Degree Checking Office in the Office of the Registrar. Following the record analysis, the student will be provided with an outline of specific requirements which must be met before a degree can be granted. A copy of this official degree check is sent to the student's advisor.
12. Degrees are issued only at the close of each semester and summer session.    
13. A student must complete the degree requirements of the most recent Pittsburg State University catalog in effect at the time of the student's first matriculation at any college or university provided that the catalog has not expired. A student may also select any subsequent catalog provided that the catalog has not expired.
    
    This 2003-2005 University Catalog will expire at the end of 2009 summer session for students who take their first college course fall semester 2003 or before. Those students who take their first college course after fall 2003 will have six years to complete their degree under the 2003-2005 University Catalog.
14. Additional minors or majors will not be awarded or posted to a transcript after a baccalaureate degree has been granted unless a second baccalaureate degree is earned.
15. A second baccalaureate degree may be granted in a major area other than that in which the first baccalaureate degree was granted provided the student has met all requirements for the second baccalaureate degree, including not less than thirty semester hours of Pittsburg State University credit with a minimum grade point average of 2.0000 after the first degree was granted.
    
    Students seeking a second baccalaureate degree will not be required to meet general education requirements, except English Composition/Research Writing and Speech Communication requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to file for a degree audit with the Degree Checking Office as soon as they determine they will seek a second baccalaureate degree.
16. All students must successfully complete the Degree Specific Assessment Program prior to graduation.
17. Students must successfully complete the Writing To Learn requirement. See Writing To Learn section, page 33.
18. All international students from countries in which English is not their language of instruction must submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 520 or above.
    
    The successful completion of the highest level of the Pittsburg State University Intensive English Program (Academic Preparation Course) is the equivalent of a 520 TOEFL score and can be substituted for the TOEFL requirement.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ASSOCIATE DEGREE

1. The associate degree requires the successful completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit, with at least the last 15 semester hours earned at Pittsburg State University.
2. The student must earn a grade point average of 2.0000 for total hours, for all hours in their area of concentration, and for all hours attempted at Pittsburg State University.
3. The associate degree has the same general academic policies and regulations that exist for baccalaureate degrees at Pittsburg State University.
4. The associate degree will not be granted after a baccalaureate degree has been granted.

GENERAL EDUCATION DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL BACCALAUREATE DEGREES

The general education degree requirements consist of 49 credit hours of course work.

All baccalaureate students must successfully pass the general education requirements. Separate general education degree requirements have been approved for some departments. See each department section for specific requirements.

Courses meeting general education requirements may also satisfy major, minor, emphasis or program requirements.

The requirements for each of the six areas can be satisfied only by taking one of the courses or combination of courses listed. These courses have been selected by the academic departments and approved by the General Education Committee.

BASIC SKILLS

CORE COURSES

NATURAL SCIENCES

LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

FINE ARTS

ECONOMY AND SOCIETY

GENERAL EDUCATION DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS PREPARING TO TEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

These requirements are for undergraduate students who are preparing to teach elementary school. The requirements as listed will meet general education degree requirements as well as teaching certification requirements.

The general education degree requirements consist of 54 credit hours of course work.

Courses meeting general education requirements may also satisfy major and other program requirements.

The requirements for each of the six areas can be satisfied only by taking one of the courses or combination of courses listed. Refer to curriculum guides in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, page 196 for additional course requirements specific to the major.

See page 190 for scholastic achievement required for common core general education courses for Early Childhood/Late Childhood (K-6) majors. General Education Components

(Courses underlined are general education core curriculum courses. A 2.75 GPA is required on the 35 hour general education core curriculum for admission to teacher education.)

BASIC SKILLS

*Student must earn grade of "C" or higher in each basic skills course.

CORE COURSES

**One of these courses (SOSCI 100 or SOSCI 101) is required to be included in the core curriculum for the 2.75 GPA calculation.

NATURAL SCIENCES

LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

FINE ARTS

ECONOMY AND SOCIETY

GENERAL EDUCATION DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS PREPARING TO TEACH SECONDARY SCHOOL

These requirements are for undergraduate students who are preparing to teach secondary school. The requirements as listed will meet general education degree requirements as well as teaching certification requirements.

The general education degree requirements consist of 52 credit hours of course work.

Courses meeting general education requirements may also satisfy major, minor, emphasis or program requirements.

The requirements for each of the six areas can be satisfied only by taking one of the courses or combination of courses listed. Refer to curriculum guides in the department of your major for additional course requirements, as well as common core general education requirements specific to your major.

See page 190 for scholastic achievement required for common core general education courses for secondary majors.

General Education Components

(Courses underlined are general education core curriculum courses. A 2.75 GPA is required on the 36 hour general education core curriculum for admission to teacher education.)

BASIC SKILLS

*Must have a grade of "C" or better in each of the basic skills courses.

CORE COURSES

NATURAL SCIENCES

LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

FINE ARTS

ECONOMY AND SOCIETY

**One of these courses (ART 102, ENGL 113, COMM 105, MUSIC 120) is required for general education core curriculum GPA calculation.

***Two of these courses (SOSCI 100, SOSCI 101, or SOSCI 106) are required for general education core curriculum GPA calculation.

UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP

Requirements for Graduation

Since a C average is required on total hours attempted for graduation, on major courses, and courses taken in residence (see Requirements for All Baccalaureate Degrees), a student's record should reflect progress toward that level of achievement. A C average at Pittsburg State University requires two grade points for each hour attempted on recorded grades of A, B, C, D, or F, except those D or F grades that have been cancelled by a repeat enrollment. F grades earned under Pass-Fail are used in the computation of a student's grade point average. When a student repeats a course for the purpose of raising a C, D or F grade, only the last grade earned shall be counted and computed in the student's cumulative grade point average. Grades earned on the first attempt will continue to appear on the transcript but will be marked as a repeat and will not be calculated in the GPA. A student will lose credit for a C or D grade repeated with a grade of F, or a C grade repeated with a grade of D.

Academic Warning

A student will be placed on academic warning when the student is from 5-19 grade points below a C average on hours attempted. Academic warning is designed to alert the student that difficulty may be encountered in meeting graduation requirements.

Academic Dismissal

A student who is 20 or more grade points below a C average on hours attempted will be dismissed for poor scholarship.

Such a student is not making progress toward meeting graduation requirements and dismissal will provide time to reconsider and evaluate academic plans.

Academic Reinstatement

Students who are academically dismissed are not permitted to re-enroll at the university until one full semester (fall or spring) has elapsed after the date of the dismissal. At the conclusion of one full semester of dismissal, the student may petition for reinstatement to the dean of the student's college. Each petition will be considered on its own merit. Reinstatement is not automatic.

Academic Fresh Start

Academic fresh start is a policy which allows returning undergraduate students with poor or marginal academic records to resume work towards an undergraduate degree without the burden of poor past performance in college or university work. The calculation of grade point average (GPA) and credit hour totals is based solely on work completed after returning to the university. This policy is designed for prospective students who have gained maturity through extended experience outside of educational institutions and who have decided that a return to academic life would be beneficial. However, academic fresh start is not for every returning student. There are two requirements that a student must meet before being granted this option:

1. Separation from all institutions of higher education for at least four years
2. Formal application to the dean of the college in which the student wishes to major. This application should describe the reasons for the request and outline an academic plan which includes the declaration of a major.

If academic fresh start is granted, the student may resume his/her studies under this option. Academic fresh start may be granted only once. The student's permanent record will remain a record of all work, regardless of the institution at which that work was completed; however, the returning student will forfeit the use of all credit hours toward a degree earned prior to the four-year separation period. In addition, the student's record will carry a notation designating when the academic fresh start was granted and noting that the calculation of GPA and credit totals for degree purposes begins with that date. Students applying for admission under the academic fresh start policy must meet admission requirements established by the individual colleges.

ACADEMIC STANDING AND PROGRESS

Academic Good Standing

An undergraduate student in academic good standing is a student who has not received an academic warning nor has been dismissed for academic reasons and who has earned a total number of grade points that will average to within four grade points of 2.0000.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Undergraduate students are considered as making satisfactory academic progress if they have not been academically dismissed or are not on academic warning. Undergraduate students who are enrolled full time are considered as making satisfactory academic progress if they are not on academic warning and complete at least a minimum number of semester hours credit permitting them to graduate in ten semesters if working toward a baccalaureate degree and five semesters if working toward an associate degree.

SCHOLASTIC AND ACADEMIC HONORS

University Scholastic Honors

There are three levels of University Scholastic Honors: Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude.

University Scholastic Honors are based on the student's cumulative grade point average at the time of the first baccalaureate graduation. University Scholastic Honors are not awarded for a second baccalaureate degree. To qualify for University Scholastic Honors, a student must have a cumulative grade point average equal to or greater than 3.9500 for Summa Cum Laude, 3.9000 for Magna Cum Laude, and 3.8500 for Cum Laude.

The Office of the Registrar, as an agent of the faculty, will determine the student's qualifications for University Scholastic Honors.

Deans' Scholastic Honors

To qualify for Deans' Scholastic Honors, a student must:

1. Complete at least 12 semester hours (or at least 6 semester hours during a summer session),
2. Receive a GPA of 3.6000 for all credit course work that semester or summer session, and
3. Have no grade lower than B and no grade of I in any course during that semester or summer session.

The Office of the Registrar will compile the list of Deans' Scholastic Honors recipients and inform both the dean and the student of the award.

Deans' Scholastic Honors will be noted on the student's grade report and transcript.

All A Scholastic Honors

To qualify for All A Scholastic Honors, a student must:

1. a.Be enrolled for at least 12 semester hours (or at least 6 semester hours during a summer session), and
2. Receive a grade of A in all credit course work for that semester or summer session.
3. Have no grade lower than A and no grade of I in any course during that semester or summer session.

All A Scholastic Honors are awarded each semester or summer session. The Office of the Registrar compiles the list of All A Scholastic Honors recipients and informs both the deans and the students of the award.

All A Scholastic Honors will be noted on the student's grade report and transcript.

DEPARTMENTAL ACADEMIC HONORS

The Departmental Academic Honors Program is designed to challenge students with superior academic abilities. The program provides an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of an academic area through independent study and close faculty-student association. Students who complete

the requirements outlined below graduate with the distinction of "With Departmental Academic Honors" noted on their transcript.

Departmental Academic Honors are awarded to students who:

1. Maintain a cumulative 3.5000 GPA.
2. Complete a minimum of nine semester hours of credit designated as taken for honors in the student's major department.

Students usually complete three courses to accrue the minimum of nine semester hours credit. In no case will a student receive honors credit for completing fewer than two courses.

Departmental faculty designate upper-division and senior-graduate courses which may be taken for honors and determine the nature of the honors work to be completed by the student. Eligible courses are designated by the notation "May be taken for honors" in the course description of the University Catalog. Independent Studies and/or Readings courses are not allowed to be taken for departmental academic honors.

A student may not enroll for departmental academic honors unless the student has at least a 3.5000 cumulative GPA.

Students enrolling in courses for honors will be expected to complete all of the regularly assigned course work and additional assigned work demonstrating scholarship, research, and/or creative endeavor.

The student and the instructor will develop a statement that will define the work to be completed in the designated courses.

Students are limited to one honors course per semester or summer session.

No project/paper and/or course shall be accepted with a grade less than B. Students must earn a letter grade of "A" or "B" in a class taken for honors to receive honors credit.

Students must formally elect to take a course for honors within the first one-fourth of the length of the course.

It is recommended that a grade of incomplete be allowed for the honors project of a course for a period not to exceed one semester and only under extenuating circumstances.

Any exceptions to the above guidelines must be approved by the Honors Committee of the Pittsburg State University Faculty Senate.

THE HONORS COLLEGE

For a description of The Honors College see page 31.

WRITING TO LEARN PROGRAM

For a description of the Writing To Learn Program see page 33.

ENROLLMENT REGULATIONS

Assignment of Academic Advisors

Each student is assigned an academic advisor by the chairperson of the student's academic department at the time the student first enrolls at the university.

Students who wish to change advisors but retain the same major should request the assignment of a new advisor from the department chairperson.

Students are required to consult with their academic advisor and to obtain the advisor's signature of approval on an enrollment form prior to enrolling for courses each semester.

The Admission and Enrollment Services office has responsibility for the undeclared major program for new freshmen. The student's UGS 100 instructor advises new freshmen enrolled in UGS 100 Freshmen Experience until a major is selected. New students with 24 or more college hours and entering as a transfer are assigned advisors through the Admission and Enrollment Services office. If students do not declare a major within their first two semesters they are advised to take PSYCH 230 Career Explorations. Students with 45-college semester hours are encouraged to declare a major. The Admission and Enrollment Services office is located in the 105-07 Student Welcoming Center - Horace Mann Building.

Selecting and Changing an Academic Major

Students should select an academic major upon initial enrollment in the university.

Students who do not wish to declare a major upon enrollment must select a department for advisement, though such department may not be the student's final major department. Selection of the major should be made no later than the end of the sophomore year.

An undergraduate student can change a major by consulting the department chairperson of the major to be declared. The chairperson will assign the student an advisor and will request that the chairperson of the previous major forward the student's advisement folder to the new major department.

Courses previously taken may or may not be accepted as part of the new degree program as determined by the department in which the new major will be taken. The student will be expected to meet all regular requirements for the new degree program as defined by the catalog in force at the time of initial enrollment in the university and any subsequent catalog.

Required Courses for Freshmen

Considering the fundamental nature and value of the freshman courses in English Composition, it is the policy of Pittsburg State University that all full-time freshman students shall enroll in ENGL 101 English Composition unless given credit by examination.

Classification of Students

Sophomore30 hours passed

Junior60 hours passed

Senior90 hours passed

Enrollment in Courses Above Freshman

Sophomore Level

1. Admission to courses numbered 700-799 requires 170 grade points. These courses are primarily for graduate students.
2. Admission to graduate courses (numbered 800-899) requires admission to the Graduate School.
3. Admission to courses numbered 900-999 is open only to students with a master's degree, except for MBA courses.

Normal Academic Load

The normal academic load for an undergraduate student is 15 or 16 hours of credit per semester. An undergraduate student who has demonstrated superior academic achievement may exceed this academic load. The normal academic load for summer is eight hours of credit per eight-week session. A student who has demonstrated superior academic achievement may exceed this academic load.

Repeated Courses

Only courses in which C, D or F grades have been earned may be repeated. A course may be repeated only one time.

If a student twice fails a course required by the degree program in which there is no substitute, the student may petition the dean of the student's college for permission to take the course again.

Students may not repeat by correspondence study or credit by examination a course failed in resident study.

Grades earned on the second attempt will be used in computing the GPA. Grades earned on the first attempt will continue to appear on the transcript but will be marked as a repeat and will not be calculated in the GPA.

Duplication of Undergraduate Credit

Students may earn credit in courses which do not duplicate courses already completed.

Pass-Fail System of Grading

The Faculty Senate adopted the pass-fail system of grading certain courses under certain conditions.

I. Courses legislated on a pass-fail basis only may not be taken for a letter grade. These are noted in the course description.

II. Other courses:

Students may elect to take other courses with only a P or F grade being recorded. Such a system is advantageous to students since they may take courses that they may not otherwise attempt because of competition. Only free electives may be taken under this system of grading. The following conditions or restrictions apply:

1. A. Eligible students:
   1. Those with at least junior standing (60 hours).
   2. Those not on academic warning.
   3. Those who have declared a major.
2. B. Courses which would be ineligible:
   1. Courses used to fulfill the general education requirements.
   2. Courses used to fulfill the student's major
   3. or minor requirements.
   4. Supporting courses required by a student's major department.
   5. Courses which have been attempted for a letter grade.
3. C. Other regulations:
   1. A student is allowed one course per semester with a maximum of four courses on the pass-fail basis.
   2. At the time of enrollment a student must apply to the registrar for approval to take a course on a pass-fail basis. The grading option may not be changed after the last day for adding new classes.
   3. A student taking a pass-fail grading option would receive a grade of P or F for the course with a P (pass) being given for any grade of D or higher with respect to the rest of the class.
   4. Grades of P earned under pass-fail are not used in the computation of a student's grade point average. Grades of F earned under pass-fail are used in the computation of a student's grade point average. Courses passed are counted in the total courses required for graduation.
   5. A student who has received a pass in a course may not repeat the course for a letter grade.

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION

In General

Pittsburg State University grants credit by examination for three purposes: in order to enable a student to demonstrate that a body of knowledge or skill has been attained, to validate life experiences which parallel course work offered by the university, and to gain credit for work completed at an institution not accredited by a regional accrediting institution.

Students awarded credit by examination must be enrolled at Pittsburg State University.

Pittsburg State University accepts results of the College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement and College Level Examination Programs for credit by examination. Pittsburg State University is not a College Board Test Center, thus, students who participate in these programs have their test results forwarded to the university.

Department curriculum committees recommend the courses and the number of credit hours in which credit by examination is awarded. Departments with no curriculum committee will function as committees of the whole. Recommendations for credit by exam must be ratified by the department faculty and chairperson.

The results of all tests administered for the purpose of credit by examination will be recorded as pass, fail, or letter grade on the students transcript. High school seniors taking Pittsburg State University departmental examinations may elect to accept or not to accept the grade assigned.

Courses receiving pass as a grade for credit by examination will not be used to determine students' GPA. Courses for which letter grades are awarded will be used to determine students' GPA.

The registrar will post credit by examination to the students' transcripts at the direction of the appropriate departmental faculty.

Advanced Placement Program of the College

Entrance Examination Board (CEEBAP)

Students desiring advanced academic placement and university credit for those courses validated by such placement may do so using the CEEBAP examination.

Subject to department approval, students completing the CEEBAP examination with scores of 5, 4 or 3 will receive appropriate university credit recorded as pass. The department of biology requires scores of 5 or 4. Also see page 22.

Departmental Examination

Any student may attempt to earn credit by examination for any course specified by the department curriculum committee by requesting a departmental examination.

Departments may administer examinations on a scheduled basis or by special arrangement.

The determination of the maximum number of credit hours that may be earned by taking departmental examinations will be determined by the department faculty.

Department faculty will determine the standards for awarding and determining grades. These standards may vary from year to year.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Students with non-traditional educational experiences may have such experiences validated by the CLEP examination. There are two CLEP examinations: the general examination and the subject examination.

CLEP general examination. CLEP test results of students 20 years of age or under will not be accepted for credit by examination purposes.

The general examination may be used to validate life experience for academic credit.

Students completing the general examination with a score at or above the 50th percentile on sophomore norms will receive university credit with a grade of pass.

A maximum of 6 semester hours credit can be earned in each of the following areas: social science-history, natural sciences, humanities and mathematics.

No CLEP general examination credit will be allowed in any subject area in which college credit was earned prior to taking the examination.

There is no fee for evaluating or posting the results of the CLEP general examination.

CLEP subject examination. Academic departments determine the degree to which they participate in the CLEP subject examination program.

Academic departments determine the norm group and the percentile at or above which credit will be awarded. Students meeting the departmental criterion will be awarded university credit with a grade of pass.

The subject examinations will be used to validate life experience on a course-by-course basis.

No CLEP subject examination credit will be allowed for any course in which college credit was earned prior to taking the test.

There is no fee for evaluating or posting the results of the CLEP subject examination