Degree Requirements

University Learning Goals (revised 2012-2013)

To accomplish the University’s mission to educate students, the general education curriculum and all program curricula provide learning opportunities that assist students in attaining the following University Learning Goals and Objectives:

1. Effective Communication
   Our graduates can communicate effectively. Effective communication embraces oral, visual, and language arts, including the ability to listen, speak, read, and write. It includes the effective use of various resources and technology for personal and professional communication.
   • Our students can write effectively.
   • Our students can effectively deliver an oral presentation.
2. Personal and Social Responsibility
   Our graduates are prepared to be personally and socially responsible citizens, having the ability to apply knowledge and skills that encourage responsible civic engagement for the advancement of society. This includes an understanding of their own and other cultures and societies and the ability to make informed and ethical decisions.
   • Our students demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of their own and other societies and cultures.
   • Our students demonstrate an understanding of the process of making informed and ethical decisions.
   • Our students demonstrate an understanding of facts within historical and cultural contexts.
3. Critical Thinking
   Our graduates can think critically, solve problems, and make informed decisions. Critical thinking is the ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information and ideas from multiple perspectives. It includes the accurate use of terminology, information literacy, the application of scholarly and scientific methods, logical argument, and the capability for analysis and problem solving.
   • Our students use appropriate quantitative skills in making decisions.
   • Our students demonstrate an ability to think critically and creatively to analyze and solve problems.
4. Information Literacy
   Our graduates can use technology effectively in their fields. Information literacy is the ability to determine the nature of required information, to access it effectively and efficiently, and to evaluate it critically. It includes the responsible, legal, and ethical use of information.
5. Content Knowledge
   Our graduates have content knowledge in their chosen fields and the necessary skills to be successful. Content knowledge is discipline and degree specific.

As one means of attaining the mission of the University and of providing the student with a basic well-rounded education, all candidates for degrees complete prescribed general education courses. The general education curriculum includes courses that introduce and reinforce learning objectives for the following goals: Effective Communication, Personal and Social Responsibility, and Critical Thinking.

To accomplish the University’s mission to educate students, all candidates for degrees complete the prescribed major and minor requirements of the University’s degree programs. Curricula in all programs reinforce the learning objectives for effective communication, personal and social responsibility, and critical thinking; curricula in all programs also introduce and reinforce learning objectives for the following goals: Information Literacy and Content Knowledge.

The University measures student learning related to all five University Learning Goals and uses this information to continuously improve the curricula. Assessment reports that describe the ways these goals are integrated into classes are available through the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

General Education Curriculum

The courses that comprise SAU’s general education curriculum also constitute the University’s State Minimum Core, established in accordance with ACT 747 of 2011, for implementation the fall semester 2012. ACT 747 requires colleges and universities to identify “a minimum core of courses which shall apply toward the general education core curriculum for baccalaureate degrees at state supported institutions of higher education and which shall be fully transferable between state institutions.”

All degree-seeking students shall complete a minimum of 35 semester hours of general education courses. The number of hours to be completed in each academic area is listed below.

Completion of Curricular Requirements

All students earning degrees from Southern Arkansas University must complete the General Education Requirements and the University Requirement as shown in this catalog. They must also satisfy the major and minor requirements of the curricula in which they are enrolled and comply with any special requirements for their degrees. The student must complete the appropriate Academic Opportunities Program courses including GSTD 1002 - Freshman Seminar  (see below).

All full-time students are required to be enrolled in a writing course (developmental or composition) each semester until they have successfully completed ENGL 1123 - Composition II . All full-time students are also required to be enrolled in a mathematics course each semester until they have completed MATH 1023 - College Algebra  or MATH 1053 - Mathematical Literacy , or a higher mathematics course.

All students must demonstrate English proficiency by earning a C or higher in Composition I and Composition II. Any student required to take ENGL 0203 - Fundamentals of Writing , must earn a C or higher.

University Requirement for All Programs

Transfer students who have fewer than 24 semester hours and beginning freshmen must take GSTD 1002 - Freshman Seminar  in the first regular semester of enrollment (offered in fall and spring semesters). Students accepted in the Honor’s College program must take HC 1013 - Honors Seminar .

Special Requirements for Each Degree

1. Bachelor of Arts
   1. Completion of six hours of a foreign language.
   2. Completion of prescribed requirements in one of the following majors: history/political science, mass communication, or modern languages.
2. Bachelor of Business Administration
   1. Completion of the core curriculum in business and the prescribed major requirements in either accounting or business administration.
   2. For business administration majors, completion of the major in general business program with a supporting minor field or completion of the major in business administration with an area of emphasis in one of the following fields: entrepreneurship, financial analysis, wealth management, general business with approved minor, general business with agricultural industries minor, information systems analytics, international business, management, marketing, and supply chain management.
3. Bachelor of Fine Arts
   1. Completion of the prescribed requirements with a concentration in either graphic design, interactive media and marketing, studio art or game, animation and simulation; performing arts-music with studies in business, performing arts-music education (instrumental), performing arts-music education (vocal), performing arts-music performance (instrumental), performing arts-music performance (vocal), performing arts-musical theatre, performing arts-theatre.
   2. Satisfactory completion of the Capstone Review for all art majors.
   3. Satisfactory completion of the following for music education:
      1. Completion of the proficiency examination in major and minor music areas.
      2. Presentation of prescribed number of recitals.
      3. Admittance to the Teacher Education Program.
      4. Completion of the prescribed major.
      5. Proficiency in established dispositions as indicated in the EPP Conceptual Framework.
      6. Proficiency in established TESS Domain Competencies as indicated in the EPP Conceptual Framework.
4. Bachelor of Science
   1. If the major is in the College of Liberal and Performing Arts, the student must meet the following requirements: completion of a mathematics, computer science, or statistics course; and completion of a total of six credit hours chosen from the natural sciences or mathematics. These requirements may not be fulfilled by double counting credit used to complete the general education science requirements or by completing BIOL 1203 /BIOL 1201 , BIOL 1043 /BIOL 1041 , MATH 1023 , or PHSC 2023 /PHSC 2021 .
   2. Completion of the prescribed requirements in one of the following majors: agricultural business; agricultural education; agricultural science; biological science; chemistry; computer science; criminal justice; cyber criminology; engineering-physics; exercise science; mathematics; psychology; or sports management.
   3. Students wishing to earn a Bachelor of Science degree and also receive a teaching certificate must meet all subject major, subject minor, and professional requirements listed under the corresponding Bachelor of Science degree with a minor in education.
5. Bachelor of Science in Education (elementary education and middle school education)
   1. Admittance to the Teacher Education Program.
   2. Completion of the prescribed major
   3. Proficiency in established dispositions as indicated in the EPP Conceptual Framework.
   4. Proficiency in established TESS Domain Competencies as indicated in the EPP Conceptual Framework.
6. Bachelor of Science in Education (secondary education program - K-12 Physical Education Wellness and Health only)
   1. Admittance to the Teacher Education Program.
   2. Completion of the prescribed major.
   3. Proficiency in established dispositions as indicated in the EPP Conceptual Framework.
   4. Proficiency in established TESS Domain Competencies as indicated in the EPP Conceptual Framework.
7. Bachelor of Science in Engineering
   1. Completion of the prescribed major.
8. Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
   1. Completion of the prescribed major.
9. Bachelor of Science in Nursing
   1. BSN (completion of the prescribed major)
   2. RN to BSN (the applicant must be an RN with an associate degree or a diploma RN to apply for the program)
10. Bachelor of Social Work
    1. Completion of a foreign language or American Sign Language (four to six hours at the University level).
    2. Completion of information systems or computer science course.
    3. Completion of the prescribed major.
11. Bachelor of University Studies
    1. Completion of a foreign language (three hours at the University level)
    2. Completion of an information literacy course.
    3. Completion of the prescribed major.
12. Associate Degree
    1. Specific requirements for each associate degree are described in the appropriate sections of this catalog.

Credit Requirements

Anyone earning a baccalaureate degree from Southern Arkansas University must complete a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit. Of the 120 hours presented for a degree, 40 semester hours must be earned in non-activity courses numbered 3000 or above.

No more than four semester hours in any one activity or more than a total of six hours of activity credit may be counted toward graduation. For graduation credit, the earliest eligible activity credits will be counted, except in the case of specific activity courses required for a degree. No activity credit may be counted toward the 40-semester hour requirement of courses numbered 3000 and above. Physical education courses are classified as activities.

Residence Requirements

1. To earn a bachelor’s degree from SAU, a student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours on the SAU campus or through SAU extension classes. Of the last 30 hours taken, 24 hours must be taken on the SAU campus or through SAU extension classes.
   1. Of the last 30 hours, the student may take a maximum of 12 hours at SAU-Tech, so long as the student has already met the 30-hour residence requirement and the hours do not cause the student to exceed the transfer limit of 68 hours from a two- year institution.
   2. For a business degree, students must complete at least 50 percent of the business credit hours at SAU.
2. To earn an associate’s degree from SAU, a student must complete a minimum of 18 hours on the SAU campus or through SAU extension classes. Of the last 18 hours taken, 12 hours must be taken on the SAU campus or through SAU extension classes.
   1. Of the last 18 hours for the associate’s degree, the student may take a maximum of 9 hours at SAU-Tech, provided that the student has already met the 18-hour residency requirement and the hours do not cause the student to exceed the transfer limit of 68 hours from a two-year institution.

CLEP, correspondence course credits, departmental credit by exam, and military credits do not count as residence work at SAU. Students who wish to receive credit toward graduation through CLEP, correspondence courses, departmental exam, military credit, or transfer credit must have permission from their advisor, dean, and the registrar. The approval form may be obtained in the Office of the Registrar or in the deans’ offices.

In addition, it is the student’s responsibility to have an official transcript sent to the Office of the Registrar at SAU. The transcript must be received one day after graduation or the student will be required to reapply for graduation at a later date.

Documentation for CLEP credit, correspondence credit, and departmental credit by examination must be completed and on file in the Office of the Registrar by the following deadlines.

CLEP
August 1 for fall graduation
December 1 for spring graduation
May 1 for summer graduation

Correspondence
November 1 for fall graduation
April 1 for spring graduation
July 1 for graduation

Departmental Exam
Last day to drop a course each semester or summer term

A grade point average of 2.00 or higher on all SAU course credit is required to earn a degree. Certain programs may require a higher minimum grade point average. Of the total hours earned toward graduation, no more than 25 percent may be D grades. Only hours specifically used to satisfy degree requirements will be included in the 25% maximum calculation.

Length of Time to Complete Degree

The requirements for graduation listed in the catalog in effect when a student initially enters an institution of higher education, whether initial entry is SAU or another institution, are valid for eight years. Any student who fails to complete the graduation requirements in that time will then come under the regulations of the most recently published catalog.

Returning students are given the option of abiding by the requirements of their original catalog (assuming they are able to complete their degree within eight years from the time of initial enrollment into college) or by the most recently published catalog of SAU. No student can expect to take more than eight years to graduate under the catalog in effect at the time of initial enrollment into college. Exceptions to this eight-year requirement may result from actions taken by authorities external to the University such as accrediting associations or state agencies. Requests for a time extension of the eight-year policy should be submitted to the vice president for academic affairs.

Assessment

The assessment program - directed by the Assessment Review Council with faculty and staff representatives - is a unified effort by the entire University to assess student learning. The assessments include the classroom assessments, senior exams or projects, and alumni surveys. In the assessment of student learning, academic units consider their mission and goals, measure of student achievement, and make changes to enhance student performance.

Applying for Graduation

The ultimate responsibility for completion of a degree program rests with the student. Lack of knowledge or misinterpretation of policies and regulations by students does not absolve them from fulfilling the requirements of a degree.

Restriction of taking courses off campus the last semester prior to graduation. For graduation purposes, students will not be allowed to take courses off campus during the last semester/term of graduation. Any exceptions to this regulation must be approved by the advisor and dean of the student’s major and confirmed by the registrar. Approval must take place prior to the close of registration. Examples of exceptions to this regulation would be: class cancellations, classes not offered, class conflicts, and other documented circumstances beyond the student’s control.

Students obtaining an exception must furnish the SAU Office of the Registrar verification of enrollment in off-campus courses within 10 days of enrollment in the off-campus courses. Failure to provide this information may cancel the application for graduation.

The University has three commencement ceremonies each year: spring, summer, and fall. To become a candidate for spring graduation, a student should apply for graduation during advance registration in the fall semester. To become a candidate for summer or fall graduation, a student should apply for graduation during advance registration in the spring semester. An up-to-date degree plan must accompany the application for graduation. A $50 late fee is assessed for candidates applying late for graduation.

Applying for graduation includes the following:

1. Completing the application for graduation form
2. Submitting an updated degree audit form
3. Paying the graduation fee at the Business Office
4. Settling all financial and other obligations with the University

Failure to complete any step of this process may result in postponement of graduation.

To remain eligible for graduation, students must remain enrolled in all required courses through the last date to drop during the semester/term immediately preceding their graduation date.

Candidates for degrees must participate in the commencement exercises unless excused by the registrar. A candidate who wishes to graduate in absentia should submit a written request to the Office of the Registrar at least two weeks before the commencement date.

A candidate who fails to graduate during the term stated on the application must complete a new application form during registration for the semester or term in which the degree will be completed. Reapplications for summer graduation will be accepted during registration for the first summer term only.

Failure to apply for the degree or pay the graduation fee may result in the postponement of the degree.

Earning More Than One Degree

A student may earn an additional baccalaureate degree, provided the student:

1. Completes any general education requirements mandated by the state, and
2. Satisfies all requirements for both degrees

A student may earn two baccalaureate degrees simultaneously. The respective deans for each degree will maintain separate degree plans. Any course required in both degrees may be double counted (i.e., counted in both degrees) as approved by both deans.

A student who has earned an associate’s degree may earn an additional associate’s degree by completing all requirements for the additional degree and completing at least 15 semester hours, 12 of which must be in residence, after the first degree was awarded.

A student who has earned a baccalaureate degree from SAU or an accredited university has fulfilled the general education requirements for an additional baccalaureate degree from SAU.

A student who previously completed a bachelor’s degree from SAU, or from any other institution, must complete at least 30 hours of additional coursework from SAU, not necessarily subsequent to the requirements for the first degree. Of the additional 30 hours, 24 hours must be earned in residence. More than 30 hours of coursework may be required to satisfy all University, college, or departmental requirements.

Double Majors

A student may earn a double major by completing all of the requirements for any two approved majors under the same degree program (i.e., two majors under BBA, two majors under BA, two majors under BS, etc.). In general, any course required in both majors may be double counted (i.e., counted in both majors) as approved by each major’s dean. However, some colleges may have more specific requirements for double majors within their college. At the time of application for graduation, the student should have a separate degree plan filed in the Office of the Registrar for each major. When a student earns two majors, a minor will not be required.

A student may earn a double major in the College of Liberal and Performing Arts by completing all of the requirements for any two approved majors within the same degree program (i.e., two majors under BFA, two majors under BA, two majors under BS, etc.). Courses required in both majors may be double counted (i.e., counted in both majors) as approved by the dean, but the student must complete a minimum of 15 unique hours in each major. To be considered a double major, the requirements for both majors must be completed within the same term of graduation. At the time of application for graduation, the student should have a separate degree plan filed in the Office of the Registrar for each major. When a student earns two majors, a minor will not be required.

Double majors within the College of Science and Engineering must take at least 15 hours of CSE credits that are exclusive to each major degree plan. Minors within the College of Science and Engineering must include at least 9 hours of CSE courses that are not already counted towards the major.