Academic Policies and
Procedures
Degrees, Credit,
Calendar
Academic Policies and Procedures
Advising
At
Stephens, each student plans an individual program of
studies and activities with the assistance of a faculty
adviser. Students have the freedom to explore many areas
of subject matter and to major and minor in one or more
areas that suit their particular career or graduate study
plans. Students make educational decisions with the help
of faculty advisers and other college support
staff.
The faculty adviser is available to students for advice,
encouragement, information and support. Specified days are
scheduled for students to meet with their advisers. Students
may meet frequently with their adviser throughout each
semester. Many of these meetings are on an informal
basis.
Faculty members work to be competent advisers, both in their
academic fields and in the liberal arts, and to establish a
positive, personal relationship with students based on
confidence and respect. Students frequently discuss academic,
career and personal concerns with their advisers. When
appropriate, referrals are made for professional counseling.
Faculty members treat student-adviser conferences
confidentially.
Assessment
Stephens
College has a strong traditional commitment to curricular
innovation as part of its pursuit of academic excellence.
In recent years, a nationwide effort to assess the
outcomes of students' educational experiences has focused
attention on the need to demonstrate that academic
programs achieve their stated goals and that students
have developed skills and acquired knowledge consistent
with the academic or programmatic goals of the
institution. Stephens College, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, has developed and is initiating assessment
processes for all academic majors and for its liberal
arts requirements. All students will participate in the
assessment process. For the student, the benefits will be
twofold: she will have a concrete record of her
achievements, and she will have confidence that her
degree, as assessed by the College and the accrediting
association, is demonstrably excellent.
Policies on Access to Students'
Records
The Office of the
Registrar maintains an official folder of academic
information for all current students. A permanent
academic record card that shows credit attempted and the
resulting grade point average is also on file. Students
may review their academic records by showing appropriate
identification. Records open to students elsewhere on
campus include those maintained in the Office of the Dean
of Students, Health Services, the Office of Financial
Aid, Career Services, and by the faculty adviser.
Students may not review financial information submitted
by parents; confidential letters associated with
admission, employment or job placement; or any material
for which they waived the right to review. Any student
who believes that inaccurate, misleading or otherwise
inappropriate information may be in one of her record
files may request a hearing with the Academic Standing
Committee about academic matters or the Advising
Committee about non-academic matters. Information about a
student, other than directory information allowed by the
Family Education Rights and Privacy Acts of 1974 (as
amended), will not be released without the student's
written consent. A copy of the FERPA–1974 is
available for review in the Office of the Registrar. The
following directory-type information may be released
about a student: name, campus address and phone, home
address, classification, major field of study, dates of
attendance, degrees earned and honors received. A student
who wishes to prevent the release of directory-type
information must make the request in writing to the dean
of students by September 15 each year. Only College
personnel who have a direct educational interest in the
student, the parents who provide financial support, or
identified representatives of local, state and national
governmental law agencies have access to non-directory
information. Should information be requested to comply
with a judicial order or pursuant to any lawful subpoena,
efforts will be made to notify the student. Upon written
request and payment of necessary fees, the Office of the
Registrar will issue statements of academic standing and
official transcripts for students in good financial
standing; the dean of students will complete
recommendations, employment forms and statements of good
standing; and Career Services will provide placement
papers. If a fee is required, the student will bear the
cost (see Transcripts, below).
Grade Reports
Grade
reports are issued at mid-semester and at the end of each
semester and summer term. Mid-semester reports are
distributed only on campus, to students and their
advisers; semester grade reports are sent to students and
the parents of financially dependent students at the home
address. Students whose records in the Financial Aid
office show that they are financially independent may
request that parents not receive grades.
Transcripts
A
transcript is an official copy of the student's permanent
academic record; it bears the College seal and the
signature of the registrar. Official transcripts are
available to students in good financial standing upon
written request in the Office of the Registrar. The
charge is $5, paid in advance. Transcripts are normally
sent directly from the Office of the Registrar to the
receiving institution. If a student requests an official
transcript for herself, the words "Issued to Student"
will appear on it. A currently enrolled student may
obtain an information copy (unofficial) of her academic
record by providing appropriate identification in the
Registrar's office and paying a nominal copy fee.
Credit and Registration Information
Advanced Placement, International
Baccalaureate Credit and Credit by Examination
Students who participate in the Advanced Placement
Program (APP) while in high school or the College Level
Examination Program (CLEP), conducted by the College
Board, may have score reports sent to the registrar for
evaluation. Credit will be awarded for APP scores of 3, 4
and 5 and for CLEP scores at or above the 50th
percentile. Credit gained through APP or CLEP will
advance the degree program, and when appropriate, will
meet liberal arts requirements or count toward a major or
minor. However, because only satisfactory grades are
awarded, the credit will not affect the grade point
average.
Students who participate in the International Baccalaureate
(IB) program and score 4 or better on higher-level IB
examinations will be granted credit that advances their degree
program at Stephens College.
Students who have not participated in the APP or CLEP
examination programs, but who believe themselves to be advanced
in a particular area of study, may ask to be examined by
appropriate department faculty for possible awards of Credit by
Examination or placement in an advanced class. When credit is
awarded it will serve as elective credit or to meet a specific
degree requirement, as recommended by the faculty. Advanced
placement carries no credit award, but may serve as a
prerequisite for another course. Credit by Examination does not
affect the grade point average. The College charges a minimal
fee per course credit awarded through Credit by
Examination.
Course Prefixes and Numbers
The prefix of a course represents the
academic discipline. Courses numbered below 100 are
pre-college level and will not count toward a degree at
Stephens College. The 100 and 200 series are
lower-division courses, the 300 series are upper-division
and the 400 series are upper or graduate division.
Course Load, Overloads, Repeated Courses and
No Credit Grades
The
normal course load for students in a bachelor of arts or
a bachelor of science program is 5.0 course credits per
semester, plus up to .5 course credit in an activity,
such as applied music or physical activity. Students in
these degree programs, who maintain at least a 2.33
cumulative GPA, may petition the registrar for an
overload up to the maximum credit allowed per semester
(6.0 academic courses, plus .5 of activity credit).
Students in a bachelor of fine arts program or in the
Searcy House Plan, have automatic permission to enroll in
the maximum credit allowed per semester (6.5
courses).
Additional credit up to 4.0 course credits may be
earned in summer school, or during summer/winter/spring
intersessions, providing courses are available or independent
study plans can be worked out with a faculty sponsor.
Additional tuition is charged for credit earned in this manner,
based on the fee schedule in effect at the time.
A student may be required to repeat a course in order to meet
a grade requirement or may elect to repeat in order to improve
her GPA. F grades earned prior to the fall of 1985 remain
permanently in the record and in the GPA, even if the course is
repeated. However, since the fall of 1985, when a student
repeats a course, the credit and grade earned when last
enrolled nullifies the previous record, including F grades.
Students may not receive credit more than once for an
equivalent course, whether taken at Stephens College or
transferred to Stephens, unless the catalog states that the
course may be repeated for credit a specific number of
times.
Pass/Fail Courses, Audits and Zero
Credits
Courses offered
on a pass/fail basis are so identified in the catalog
course description and in the course schedule. Students
may seek permission from instructors to take other
courses on a pass/fail basis, prior to enrollment. If the
course in question is not in the student's major or
minor, or taken to meet a general degree requirement, and
if the instructor signs the add petition for pass/fail
grading, the registration is entered as such. Grades for
pass/fail courses are recorded as S (Satisfactory) or U
(Unsatisfactory). An S grade grants credit but no grade
points. An S grade does not affect the GPA; a U grade
counts as an F in the grade average.
Courses may be audited but only with signed permission from
the instructor. The instructor determines what is required of
the student to have the audit (AU) recorded on the academic
record. Audits do not count toward course load; neither do they
produce credit or grade points. Audits must be enrolled at the
beginning of a course and they may not be changed to credit
later. If the student does not meet the instructor's
requirements for the audit, it will not become part of the
student's permanent academic record.
Credit courses may be registered for zero credit if approval
is signed by the instructor prior to enrollment. Zero-credit
enrollments do not count against the semester course load.
Students who enroll for zero credit are required to do the same
coursework as those enrolled for credit, and grades are
assigned accordingly. Grades for zero-credit enrollments are
recorded on the academic record but, because no credit is
received, the grade does not generate grade points or affect
the GPA.
Changes in Registration, Adding and Dropping
Courses
Petition forms for
changes in registration are available in the Registrar's
office and in program offices. To drop or add a course,
the student must obtain the signatures of the instructor
and the adviser and bring the completed form, in person,
to the Registrar's office. The drop or add will not be
registered until the student personally brings the form
to the Registrar's office.
Each student receives periodic printouts of her class
schedule. Students are responsible for checking the accuracy of
their registration with the Registrar's office. One week is
allowed at the beginning of a semester to add, and up to seven
weeks to drop, semester classes. [A "W" will be recorded as a
final grade with no penalty to the student for all courses
dropped after the fourth week of classes.] One week is allowed
to add, and four weeks are allowed to drop, session courses.
Students enrolled in ENG 101 (205L) or ENG 102 (206) may not
drop without permission from the vice president for academic
and student affairs.
If a student stops attending a class and does not drop it
within the deadline, an F grade will result. Under unusual
circumstances, a student who misses the drop deadline may seek
to withdraw (W) from a class. If the instructor and the
registrar agree that the W is warranted, it will be recorded as
the final grade without penalty to the student. The registrar
will not approve a request to withdraw from class after grade
report forms have been distributed.
Drop-add and withdraw deadlines are published and distributed
to all students and advisers in each semester's Schedule of
Courses. It is each student's responsibility to meet these
deadlines. Because ample notice is sent to students, lack of
compliance will result in failing grades.
Attendance Policy
Stephens College emphasizes the importance
of active participation in courses. A student must attend
the first class meeting to confirm enrollment in each
course. If the student does not attend the first meeting,
the instructor has the right to require the student to
drop the course.
Students are expected to attend class. Absence from class for
any reason counts as an absence and does not exempt a student
from completion of all work required for a course. All
off-campus, College-sponsored activities are voluntary; they do
not allow students unexcused absences from classes. Students
who know of a pending absence are responsible for notifying the
instructor so arrangements can be made to complete the work. It
is the instructor's prerogative to decide whether or not work
may be made up.
Instructors determine the attendance policy for their classes,
in accordance with the College drop-add policy. It is
permissible to use attendance as a factor in determining a
student's grade or to lower the amount of credit awarded for a
course. Each instructor is expected to announce an attendance
policy at the beginning of a course and to state the policy in
the syllabus or course outline given to students. Instructors
may drop a student for excessive absences.
Final Examinations
The Schedule of Courses published each
semester gives advance notice of the final examination
schedule; examination times are also printed on students'
class schedules and on the class rolls provided for
instructors. Examinations are held according to the
published schedule and students are responsible for
meeting the schedule. Should a student find that she has
three finals scheduled consecutively on the same day or
that she has more than three scheduled in one day, she
may see if one examination can be re-scheduled. A student
who believes she has an appropriate reason to take an
examination outside the scheduled time may do so only if
the department faculty approves her written
request.
Academic Integrity
As a community of scholars committed to
truth, Stephens College espouses the belief that any type
of academic dishonesty violates an important code of
ethics. Therefore, Stephens has adopted an academic
honesty policy that imposes penalties for students who
fail to declare enrollment at another college or
university; who are dishonest in examinations,
assignments, or any other academic activity; who
plagiarize; who falsify College forms or records; or who
willfully aid other students in an act of academic
dishonesty. The severity of a penalty will depend upon
the nature, extent and frequency of the violation and may
range from failing an assignment to revocation of a
degree. A full policy statement may be found in Within
the Ivy, the student handbook.
Grading Policies
Grades and grade points are assigned on
the following basis: A = 4.0, A- = 3.67, B+ = 3.33, B =
3.0, B- = 2.67, C+ = 2.33, C = 2.0, C- = 1.67, D+ = 1.33,
D = 1.0, D- = .67, F = 0.0.; S = credit but no grade
points, U = F; RE = no credit, no penalty, must re-enroll
in course. Grades in the A range denote excellent
achievement, the B range denotes above average
achievement, the C range denotes average achievement, the
D range denotes below average achievement (D- is the
lowest passing mark), and U/F denotes unacceptable
(failing) work. An I (Incomplete) mark may be assigned at
the discretion of an instructor if extenuating
circumstances indicate the student deserves additional
time to complete the coursework. An Incomplete becomes an
automatic F if a grade cannot be reported by the end of
the following semester or by an earlier deadline set by
the instructor. A W (Withdraw) mark indicates a late drop
with permission. The W carries no penalty.
The number of grade points earned for a class is computed by
multiplying the credit (1.0, .5, etc.) by the point value of
the letter grade. Semester and cumulative averages are computed
by dividing the number of grade points earned by the amount of
credit carried (not credit earned), excluding courses in which
NC or S grades are assigned. When a course is repeated to
improve a grade, the grade and points earned the second time
nullify the previous record. Failing grades earned prior to
fall 1985 are an exception to this policy; they remain in the
average even if the course is repeated.
An instructor may lower a grade or reduce the credit in a
course for excessive absences. Faculty who exercise these
options are expected to discuss their grading system at the
beginning of each course and include their policy in the course
outline or syllabus each student receives. Students should not
hesitate to ask an instructor to explain the grading system
employed in that class.
Academic Appeals
In
all academic appeals except a grade appeal, the student
consults the registrar and submits a written petition to
the Academic Standing Committee. The written petition
shall set forth all reasons and documentation as to why
the student considers the academic suspension, expulsion
or involuntary withdrawal to be arbitrary, capricious or
contrary to College policy, or as to why it would be
appropriate to waive a degree requirement. The committee
will carefully review the petition and all other
pertinent information and records of the College. It will
determine whether or not the academic suspension,
expulsion or involuntary withdrawal was arbitrary,
capricious or contrary to College policy, or whether it
would be appropriate to waive a degree requirement. The
appropriate College officials and the student will be
notified in writing of the committee's decision.
In the case of a grade appeal, (1) the student shall speak
with the instructor. The student may ask to see the instructor
in the department chair's office or she may ask her adviser or
the student advocate to accompany her to the appointment. The
student must take all her graded work to the interview and
inquire how the final grade was determined. The instructor may
agree that a grade change is appropriate. If so, the instructor
shall complete a Change of Grade form in the Office of the
Registrar. An instructor may change a grade without review by
the Academic Standing Committee if the change is processed
within one semester after the grade is assigned. Grades that
have been on record for more than one semester may not be
changed unless approved after an examination of the
circumstances by the Academic Standing Committee. (2) If the
discussion with the instructor and the department chair does
not resolve the issue, the student may petition in writing the
Academic Standing Committee, giving the committee complete
information, including the syllabus and all the graded work she
did for the class, and why she believes the final grade was
arbitrary, capricious or contrary to College policy. (3) The
committee will ask the instructor how grades were assigned for
all students in the class and why the petitioner received her
grade. (4) The committee will carefully review all grade work
and other pertinent information and will decide whether to
uphold the grade or change it. In exceptional cases where a
grade change is called for, the committee, after consulting
with the instructor, will direct the registrar to change the
grade. All parties will be notified in writing of the
committee's decision.
Independent Study
Students are encouraged to consider
independent study to help realize special academic
interests and goals. Three types of independent study are
available at Stephens. Special Studies recognize learning
that is achieved through work-related experiences.
Readings are available in subjects not offered in the
regular curriculum; at least one major research paper
will be required. In a Project the study culminates in a
project that is supported by readings and short papers.
Independent study allows the student to explore subjects
not available in the regular curriculum. The credit is
elective unless the study is approved by the registrar to
meet a liberal arts requirement or by a department chair
to count toward a major or minor.
Mid-Missouri Associated Colleges and
Universities (MMACU)
Through
the Mid-Missouri Associated Colleges and Universities
(MMACU) consortium arrangement among mid-Missouri higher
education institutions, undergraduate students may enroll
at member colleges and universities in courses not
available at Stephens. Stephens students do not pay
additional tuition for enrollment through the MMACU
program; however, special course fees may be required.
All MMACU enrollments are on a space-available basis. To
participate, students must have completed at least one
semester at Stephens College, be in good standing and
have met appropriate prerequisites. Students must follow
the drop-add, attendance and other academic policies of
the institution they visit. MMACU institutions include
Lincoln University (Jefferson City), William Woods
University (Fulton), Westminster College (Fulton) and the
University of Missouri (Columbia). A similar arrangement
is also available through Columbia College (excluding
evening program). Course schedules for MMACU institutions
and Columbia College and information about enrolling is
available in the Registrar's office.
Stephens College accepts for transfer college-level courses
enrolled through the University of Missouri Center for
Independent Study. The Center catalog is available in the
Registrar's office. UMC tuition is charged at the lower- or
upper-division rate for UMC independent study and is to be paid
by the student upon enrollment. Credit earned through this
program counts toward degree requirements at Stephens as
elective credit, as general education credit if approved by the
registrar or for the major or minor if approved by the
department chair.
Advanced Courses
All
baccalaureate degrees require completion of at least 12.0
advanced-level courses (300 level or above). The 12.0
required advanced-level courses include all 300 level and
above courses taken in the major, minor or toward the
upper level liberal arts requirement.
Number of Courses and GPA
A baccalaureate degree requires completion
of all specific and general requirements, a minimum of
40.5 courses of college-level credit and a cumulative GPA
no lower than 2.0.
Transfer Credit
Students are
required to submit an official transcript for all work
passed or failed at any other college or university,
prior to or after enrolling at Stephens. It is
considered a form of academic dishonesty not to declare
these enrollments. The student who applies for
admission, re-admission or reinstatement to Stephens is
responsible for having each institution send an official
transcript directly to the Office of Admissions. After
entry to the college, transcripts are sent directly to
the Office of the Registrar. All college-level coursework
completed with a C- or better at an accredited
institution of higher education and oriented toward a
baccalaureate degree, including dual credit earned
while in high school, will be accepted for credit at
Stephens College. Credit will be granted only once for
equivalent courses. The registrar determines which
transfer credit will count toward liberal arts
requirements. The appropriate department chair will
evaluate credit that may apply toward a major or minor
upon submission of appropriate descriptive information.
Courses accepted will be included in the cumulative hours
earned but neither grades nor grade points earned at
other institutions will be used in the computation of the
Stephens College grade point average. Credit earned at
institutions that have non-regional accreditation and
all credit over 20 years old, will be considered
for transfer, but only on a course-by-course basis, as
approved by the registrar or department chair.
Acceptable transfer credit is converted to the course-credit
system employed at Stephens at little or no loss in credit. For
instance, 3 semester hours or 4.5 quarter hours become 1.0
course in the Stephens course-credit system. Transfer credit
counts toward graduation and is incorporated into the academic
record either as elective credit or to count toward specific
degree requirements.
Grade of Incomplete
A student who completes most of the work
in a course at a passing level, but is unable to complete
the work on time due to extenuating circumstances, may
speak with the instructor to see if receiving an
Incomplete (I) mark is warranted. When an instructor
grants an incomplete, one semester is allowed to complete
the coursework, unless the instructor sets an earlier
deadline. If the work is not submitted by the deadline,
the grade automatically becomes an F. If unusual
circumstances indicate the need, the instructor may grant
one additional semester to complete the course. An
incomplete does not affect the GPA in the semester it is
assigned. Students who receive incompletes are ineligible
for a deans' list that semester.
Classification of Students
Students are classified according to the
amount of course credit earned. Freshman: 0.0 to 8.99
courses; sophomore: 9.0 to 17.99 courses; junior: 18.0 to
28.99 courses; senior: 29.0 or more courses.
Deans' Lists (Honors and High
Honors)
Full-time students
who are enrolled in at least 4.0 courses of graded (A-F)
credit who have no incompletes and who earn semester GPAs
that meet the standards described below will be named by
the vice president for academic and student affairs and
the dean of students to a deans' list at the end of each
semester. Part-time students who complete at least 4.0
courses over two semesters and meet these grade standards
will be named to a deans' list at the end of the second
semester.
Grade requirements for deans' lists are based upon a minimum
GPA determined by the vice president for academic and student
affairs and the dean of students. Students are named to the
lists at the end of the fall and spring semesters. The current
GPA requirements are 3.80 or better for the high honors list
and 3.60 to 3.79 for the honors list. Credit and grades earned
through Stephens in an off-campus program or through the
Mid-Missouri Associated Colleges and Universities consortium
(MMACU) will count toward eligibility for a deans' list.
Graduation with Honors
Eligibility to graduate with honors is
based upon criteria adopted by the faculty of Stephens
College. On April 15, 1987, the faculty set the following
cumulative GPA ranges for graduation honors with Latin
designations: cum laude: 3.70 to 3.79; magna cum laude:
3.80 to 3.89; summa cum laude: 3.90 to 4.00. Since the
fall of 1988, students who receive cum laude, magna cum
laude or summa cum laude honors must be eligible to
graduate and meet the following additional criteria,
adopted by the faculty on April 13, 1988.
Students in the residential program must have at least eight
sessions (four semesters) of full-time enrollment at Stephens
and achieve the requisite final cumulative GPA to graduate with
Latin honors.
Students in a continuing education degree program must have at
least 34.0 courses of graded credit, earn at least 10.0 courses
from Stephens College after admission to the program and
achieve the requisite final cumulative GPA.
As an alternative to Latin honors designations, graduation
"with honors" is available to continuing education students who
complete degree requirements and meet the following criteria:
achievement of 3.8 or better GPA in all college credit
attempted after admission to the program; completion of at
least 8.0 advanced-level courses enrolled through Stephens
College.
May degree candidates who have the requisite GPAs at the end
of the fall semester will be nominated for graduation honors.
Actual honors are determined after second semester final grades
are recorded, and it is ascertained that requirements are met.
Graduation honors are noted on diplomas and official
transcripts.
Satisfactory Academic Progress, Probation and
Suspension
The goal of
satisfactory academic progress is to achieve no less than
the 2.0 cumulative (overall) GPA required to receive a
degree from Stephens College. Students who carry a
standard load of 5.0 courses per semester, who maintain
at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA and who meet all other
degree requirements, can expect to receive a
baccalaureate degree in four academic years. Students who
carry fewer courses or who repeat courses in order to
improve their GPA should plan to attend summer school or
enroll more than four years.
Good standing is attained when at least a 2.0 (C) semester
average is earned over 4.0 or more academic courses and at
least a 2.0 cumulative GPA is maintained. Students who enter
the College on probation or who are placed on probation must
carry 4.0 academic courses and earn a semester GPA of 2.0 or
better by the end of the second semester on probation or
academic suspension will result. Suspended students are not
eligible to enroll at the College. Probationary students who
meet the 2.0 semester grade requirement, but whose cumulative
average remains below 2.0 may enroll, but they remain on
probation until a 2.0 cumulative average is achieved. A student
whose semester GPA is less than 1.0 in any semester, but whose
cumulative average remains 2.0 or better, will be placed on
academic probation with the warning that a semester average of
2.0 or better in at least 4.0 academic courses must be earned
the next semester or suspension will result. A student who
earns less than a 1.0 average in any semester, whose cumulative
average falls below 2.0 as a result, will be placed on academic
suspension.
If there are extenuating circumstances, as determined by an
interview with the dean of students or the registrar, a
suspended student may petition the Academic Standing Committee
for immediate reinstatement. When suspended, a student is
normally expected to enroll at another regionally accredited
institution for one semester and earn a 2.0 average on the
equivalent of 4.0 academic courses, in support of her petition
to be reinstated. When a student petitions the Academic
Standing Committee for reinstatement, the committee reviews the
student's record of achievement and makes a decision that fully
considers the student while upholding the academic standards of
the College. Reinstated students who do not meet the conditions
set by the committee during their first semester back at
Stephens will be suspended again, without immediate appeal.
Applications for immediate reinstatement are processed through
the registrar. All other applications for reinstatement are
processed through the Office of Admissions. When reinstated, a
student's eligibility for financial assistance will be reviewed
under the criteria explained in the next section.
Academic Standing Criteria for Financial
Assistance
Students receiving
financial aid must fulfill certain criteria to determine
that they are in good standing and maintaining
satisfactory progress in their course of study. For
financial assistance purposes, a full-time student must
maintain satisfactory academic progress defined as
successful completion of at least 7.0 courses per year
with a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Students who carry a normal
load of 5.0 courses per semester, who maintain a 2.0
cumulative GPA and who meet other degree requirements,
can expect to receive a baccalaureate degree in four
academic years. For purposes of financial aid, Stephens
College sets a maximum time frame of six academic years
for a full-time student to complete a baccalaureate
degree. At the end of each semester, a determination of
continued eligibility for financial assistance is made.
Any student who fails to meet the established criteria
will be placed on financial probation for one semester.
Continued failure to meet the established criteria will
result in suspension of financial assistance and loss of
all eligibility for financial assistance.
In the event of loss of eligibility of financial assistance
due to extenuating circumstances, the student may appeal to an
Appeals Committee for reinstatement of financial assistance
eligibility. The student must complete the Financial Assistance
Appeal Statement, which is available from the director of
financial aid. Examples of extenuating circumstances, which
must be documented by the student and which would be considered
by the Appeals Committee include the death of a relative of the
student or an injury or illness of the student.
Where there are no extenuating circumstances, the student may
petition for reinstatement of financial assistance eligibility
when she subsequently obtains academic standing consistent with
the established criteria as stated in the first paragraph of
this section.
Successful course completion requirements for financial
assistance eligibility will be pro-rated for transfer,
three-quarter and half-time students. GPA requirements are the
same for part-time students as for full-time students.
Withdrawal from Stephens
When it is necessary for a student to
voluntarily withdraw from the College, she or her parents
provide written notification to the dean of students. The
date of withdrawal is the date of notification, unless a
later date is requested. Students are expected to leave
within 48 hours of the date of withdrawal. If any refund
is due upon withdrawal, it will be made on the basis of
the policy in effect that year.
Retention Information and the Student Right to
Know Act
In compliance with
the Student Right to Know Act, Stephens publishes the
current applicable data in the College catalog. Detailed
information about the retention rate of students at
Stephens College is available on request from the dean of
students.
Obligation of the College in the Event of
Curtailment of Programs
Stephens College will not be obligated to
refund any fees for room, board, tuition or other
charges, nor will it assume liability for any kind of
curtailment of operations resulting from weather,
accident, fire, war, or riot; nor from lack of faculty or
other personnel, lack of materials, supplies, or
equipment, or any cause not involving gross negligence on
the part of the College.
Notification of Rights under FERPA For
Postsecondary Institutions
The Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with
respect to their education records. They are:
- The right to inspect and review the
student's educational records within 45 days of the day the
College receives a request for access.
Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The College officials will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed. - The right to request the amendment of
the student's education records that the students believes
are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the College
to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or
misleading. They should write the College official
responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of
the record they want changed, and specify why it is
inaccurate or misleading.
If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right of a hearing. - The right to consent to disclosures of
personally identifiable information contained in the
student's education records, except to the extent that
FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. -
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department
of Education concerning alleged failures by Stephens
College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The
name and address of the Office that administers FERPA
are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605
Directory Information
Notice
Colleges may disclose, without consent,
"directory" information. Directory information is information
not generally considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if
disclosed. This includes, but is not limited to, a student's
name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth,
honors and awards, field of study, enrollment status and dates
of attendance. However, the College must give eligible students
a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not
disclose directory information about them.
Degrees, Credit, Calendar
Stephens offers three
baccalaureate degree programs: bachelor of arts, bachelor of
fine arts, and bachelor of science. The associate in arts
degree is also available.
At Stephens, course credit is counted in units: 1.0 (full)
course, .5 (half) course, .25 (quarter) course and multiples of
these units. Some courses are completed in a semester, some are
completed in a session (half a semester); however, the same
amount of instructional time is scheduled for courses receiving
the same amount of credit, whether taught in the semester or
session format. Credit transferred from other regionally
accredited colleges or universities is converted into the
course credit system on the following basis: 3 semester hours,
or 4.5 quarter hours, is the equivalent of 1.0 course credit
(1c).
The Stephens academic calendar consists of first semester
(fall term) and second semester (spring term). There are a
minimum of 71 instructional days in a semester, plus a final
examination period. Each semester contains two sessions. Summer
programs are offered in special performing arts programs.
Semester I (Fall Term)
15 weeks
Session 1:7.5 weeks; Session 2:7.5 weeks
Semester II (Spring
Term)
15 weeks
Session 3: 7.5 weeks; Session 4:7.5 weeks
Students are held responsible for knowing the academic
policies and procedures of the College, as published in the
catalog, the course schedule and advising materials. Degree
programs are planned in accordance with the catalog of the year
the student entered Stephens. Faculty advisers, program chairs,
support staff and student life and academic administrators of
the College welcome the opportunity to assist students as they
plan a degree program. Potential graduates are required to file
a degree plan and an application for graduation with the
registrar at least one semester prior to the semester in which
they expect to receive a degree. The registrar and department
chairs evaluate each senior's degree plan. Students and their
advisers receive copies of the evaluations. When deficiencies
are identified in a degree plan, it is the student's
responsibility to make the necessary adjustments that will
allow them to complete graduation requirements.
General Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts,
Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Science
Degrees
The following general
requirements apply to students in the residential program
who earn the bachelor of arts degree, the bachelor of
fine arts degree or the bachelor of science degree. A
student in the residential program is one admitted
through the Office of Admissions, regardless of where the
student resides.
Academic Residency Requirement
Academic residency for the residential program is met by one
of the following: full-time enrollment for at least seven semesters,
full-time enrollment for at least six semesters with at least four
advance placement or college credits earned before initial enrollment,
or full-time enrollment (4.0 courses) for at least three semesters
for transfer students. Part-time students meet the academic residency
requirement. The last 5.0 courses of credit in all degree programs
must be earned through Stephens College or its programs.
Liberal Arts Sequence
The liberal arts sequence
reflects a strong regard at Stephens College for the value of
depth and breadth in the liberal arts. A background in the
liberal arts— gained in courses that stimulate students
to examine what they believe in, what they are committed to,
and what they are concerned about—enables students to
make appropriate decisions as they choose a major or minor.
Study in the liberal arts enhances the education of students so
they are better informed citizens upon graduation.
Courses representing many disciplines have been identified to
meet liberal arts requirements. The courses selected by a
student to fulfill this degree requirement will represent a
broad perspective on various aspects of the human experience.
These courses are developmental in nature, building from
introductory level in several disciplines to upper-division
study that is broader in concept. Students are expected to
complete the lower-division sequence by the end of the
sophomore year (the sequence must be completed for the
associate in arts degree) and completion of the upper-division
sequence is required for the baccalaureate degree.
In support of the mission of Stephens College, both lower- and
upper-division liberal arts courses incorporate scholarship by
and about women and ethnic minorities. This scholarship is
reflected in teaching methodology that includes students as
partners in learning. In addition, liberal arts courses provide
students with multiple experiences in the use of writing and
research skills, incorporated as an integral part of thinking
and learning.
Due to the special nature of the liberal arts courses taught
at Stephens, it is highly desirable for students to complete
the sequence at the College. However, students who transfer to
Stephens will be given every consideration in determining which
transfer courses count toward the liberal arts requirements.
Stephens students who wish to earn part of the liberal arts
requirements at another regionally accredited college during
the summer may seek approval to do so by providing catalog
descriptions of the courses they wish to take for the registrar
to review. Permission to take a transfer course in the major or
minor is obtained from the appropriate department chair. To
ensure transferability, approvals must be obtained prior to
enrollment. (Forms are available in the Office of the
Registrar.)
Advanced Courses
All baccalaureate degrees
require completion of at least 12.0 advanced-level courses (300
level or above). The 12.0 required advanced-level courses
include all 300-level and above courses taken in the major,
minor or toward the upper-level liberal arts requirement.
Number of Courses and GPA
A baccalaureate degree
requires completion of all specific and general requirements, a
minimum of 40.5 courses of college-level credit and a
cumulative GPA no lower than 2.0.
Liberal Arts Requirements
All degree programs require a minimum of
8.0 lower-division course credits representing the
following categories: behavioral/social sciences, fine
arts, history, humanities/religion/philosophy, languages
and literature, mathematics, and natural sciences.
Lower-division requirements are to be met prior to the
attainment of junior standing. Students in all degree
programs also complete upper-division coursework, or
course content that meets the intent, in these
categories: cross-cultural, interdisciplinary, and moral
and ethical issues. Transfer credit will count toward the
liberal arts requirements when approved by the
registrar.
Liberal arts courses with the prefix of a student's major
count in the major (and not toward liberal arts), unless they
are set aside in the catalog as required liberal arts courses
for that major. As for the minor, according to a motion passed
by the faculty on April 26, 1989, one (1.0 c) lower- or
upper-division liberal arts course with the same prefix as a
student's minor may count as liberal arts credit and in the
minor. This means that if more than one course is in question,
the student either replaces the liberal arts credit with
courses outside the minor or decides not to declare the minor.
Courses approved to meet the liberal arts requirement must be
graded A–D and registered for credit.
Meeting the Lower-Division Liberal Arts
Requirement
The
lower-division liberal arts requirement is met when eight
(8.0) courses are completed that represent each category
of liberal arts described below. Each semester the course
schedule lists courses approved to meet the requirement.
These courses are identified in this catalog and in the
course schedule by code letters appended to the course
number (for example, CHS 114S).
English Composition
The English requirement is
met by completion of ENG 101 and ENG 102. Students in the
Searcy House Plan meet the requirement by completing ENG 206.
In each course taken to meet the requirement, students who earn
a C- or better grade receive credit. Those who complete the
work of these courses but do not attain at least a C- grade
will receive an RE (re-enroll) mark. The RE mark carries no
penalty; however, those who receive it must repeat the course
until at least a grade of C- is achieved. Students who do not
demonstrate sustained effort to master the skills central to
these courses will receive lower than C- grades and will also
be required to repeat the course. Once the required grade is
achieved, any earlier grade is nullified in the cumulative GPA.
Students enrolled in ENG 101 or ENG 102 (ENG 206) may not drop
without permission from the vice president for academic and
student affairs.
Transfer credit in college-level English composition, if
earned at a regionally accredited college, will serve as the
equivalent of ENG 101 and/or 102 at Stephens.
Humanities/Religion/Philosophy (A) (1.0 course credit
required)
To meet the intent of this requirement,
students choose from courses that help them understand how the
arts influence our lives and how social and technological
change affect the arts, or from courses that help them
understand how beliefs shape cultures and the lives and actions
of all peoples as they form personal commitments and seek to
have a better understanding of life. To meet the requirement in
this category, students choose from the following
courses:
| ARH 101A: | Introduction to the History of Art | 1c. | |
| ARH 201A: | Greek and Roman Art | 1c. | |
| ARH 203A: | Medieval and Byzantine Art | 1c. | |
| ARH 205A: | Renaissance Art | 1c. | |
| ARH 207A: | Reformation to Revolution | 1c. | |
| PHL 104A: | Introduction to Philosophy | 1c. | |
| PHL 250A: | Philosophy and Western Intellectual Tradition | 1c. | |
| REL 201A: | Religion Across Cultures | 1c. | |
| REL 207A: | The God of Israel | 1c. | |
| REL 208A: | Jesus and Philosophy of Love | 1c. |
Fine Arts (F) (1.0 course credit
required)
Courses that meet the fine arts category
requirement give students an opportunity to develop the skills
required in the creative process. Through expressive
involvement in one or more of the fine and performing arts,
they imagine, design, perform, criticize and revise original
works. To meet the requirement in this category, students
choose from the following courses:
| APM 110F: | Stephens Concert Choir | 0-1c. | |
| ART 105F: | Beginning Drawing | 1c. | |
| ART 202F: | Graphic/Digital Design I | 1c. | |
| ART 213F: | Beginning Ceramics | 1c. | |
| DAN 101F: | Introduction to Modern Dance | 1c. | |
| ENG 210F: | Introduction to Creative Writing | 1c. | |
| REL 220F: | Zen and Japanese Arts | 1c. | |
| THA 122F: | Acting I | 1c. | |
| 1c. |
History (H) (1.0 course credit
required)
To meet this requirement, students choose from courses that
introduce structure and modes of inquiry in the discipline
through study in American, European or Far Eastern history, or
the philosophical study of Western intellectual traditions.
Students choose from the following courses:
| HIS 204H: | 19th Century America | 1c. | |
| HIS 205H: | 20th Century America | 1c. | |
| HIS 220H: | American Business/Labor History | 1c. | |
| HIS 230H: | Early Modern Europe 1485-1789 | 1c. | |
| HIS 231H: | Modern Europe since 1789 | 1c. | |
| HIS 240H: | The American West | 1c. | |
| HIS 242H: | The American South | 1c. | |
| HIS 250H: | Revolutionary China: 1800–Present | 1c. | |
| HIS 258H: | Reading in History | 1c. | |
| 1c. |
Languages and Literature (L) (1.0 course
credit required)
Through study in the disciplines
represented in this category, students learn to achieve
effective verbal and written communication skills and to
appreciate the cultural significance of languages and
literature. To meet the requirement in this category, students
choose from the following courses:
| CHN 165L: | Introduction: Chinese Language/Culture | 1c. | |
| ENG 115L: | Introduction to Literature | 1c. | |
| ENG 205L: | Literature and Writing (Searcy only) | 1c. | |
| ENG 255L: | Literary Studies: (TBA) | 1c. | |
| ENG 256L: | Border Literature | 1c. | |
| ENG 257L: | Fairy Tales and Folklore | 1c. | |
| ENG 258L: | The Bible as Literature | 1c. | |
| ENG 270L: | American Literatures II | 1c. | |
| ENG 272L: | English Literary Traditions I | 1c. | |
| FRN 101L: | Intensive Elementary French | 1.5c. | |
| FRN 102L: | Elementary French II | 1.5c. | |
| FRN 251L: | Intermediate French Review | 1c. | |
| FRN 252L: | Intermediate Reading and Writing | 1c. | |
| JPN 160L: | Introduction to Japanese Language and Culture | 1c. | |
| SPN 101L: | Intensive Elementary Spanish | 1.5c. | |
| SPN 102L: | Elementary Spanish II | 1.5c. | |
| SPN 251L: | Intermediate Spanish Review | 1c. | |
| SPN 252L: | Intermediate Reading and Writing | 1c. |
Mathematics and Analytical Reasoning (M)
(1.0 course credit required)
To meet this
requirement, students choose from courses designed to enhance
their reasoning skills in analytic/quantitative
courses.
| MAT 111M: | College Algebra | 1c. | |
| MAT 207M: | Introduction to Statistics | 1c. | |
| MAT 211M: | Calculus/Analytical Geometry I | 1.5c. | |
| PHL 201M: | Logic and Critical Thinking | 1c. |
Natural Sciences (N) (1.0–1.5 course
credits required)
Through study in the natural
sciences, students learn that change is continuous in a
universe shaped by forms that range from simple to complex. To
meet the requirement in this category, students choose from the
following courses:
| BIO 111N: | Biological Concepts (with lab) | 1c. | |
| BIO 121N: | Introduction to Horticulture | 1c. | |
| BIO 181N: | Investigations in Biological Concepts I (with lab) | 1.5c. | |
| CHM 111N: | General College Chemistry (with lab) | 1.5c. | |
| NSC 115N: | Intro to Physical Science (with lab) | 1c. | |
| NSC 211N: | Earth and Environmental Science | 1c. | |
| PHY 211N: | College Physics I (with lab) | 1.5c. |
Social and Behavioral Sciences (S) (2.0
course credits required)
The disciplines represented
in this category encourage students to explore how humans
function in highly complex organizational systems responding to
change, how humans learn from the experience of living in a
society, and how important the understanding of group life is
to the achievement of a better common destiny. To meet the
requirement in this category, students choose from the
following courses:
| CHS 114S: | The Child: Lifespan/Cross-Cultural | 1c. | |
| GEG 201S: | Introduction to Geography | 1c. | |
| LPR/WST 110S: | Women, Law & Justice | 1c. | |
| LPR 250S: | Conflict Resolution: Personal and Community Negotiation | 1c. | |
| PSC 101S: | Introduction to Political Science | 1c. | |
| PSC 201S: | American Government: Structure/Process | 1c. | |
| PSC 210S: | International Politics | 1c. | |
| PSC 215S: | Peace and World Order | 1c. | |
| PSC 230S: | World Order and Developing Nations | 1c. | |
| PSY 111S: | Introduction to Psychology | 1c. | |
| SOC 201S: | General Sociology: Socialization | 1c. | |
| WST 210S: | Introduction to Women's Studies | 1c. |
Meeting the Upper-Division Liberal Arts
Requirement
Specific courses
are required in the bachelor of arts, the bachelor of
science and bachelor of fine arts degree programs to meet
the upper-division liberal arts requirement; however, in
some bachelor of fine arts programs, the intent of the
requirement is met by incorporation of special material
into courses required in the major (see below).
The upper-division liberal arts sequence requires each student
to take courses that address cross-cultural issues,
interdisciplinary issues and moral and ethical issues. Each
semester the course schedule lists courses that may be taken to
meet these requirements. The courses are identified in this
catalog and in the course schedule by code letters appended to
the course number (example: AMS 315D).
Cross-Cultural (C) (1.0 course credit
required)
Courses in this category combine or
contrast information about two or more cultures or cultural
groups, thus providing the student with a wider understanding
of human experience and promoting a critical, comparative and
less ethnocentric perspective on self and society. To meet the
requirement in this category, students choose from the
following courses:
| ARH 317C: | Islamic Art and Culture | 1c. | |
| ARH/WST 355C: | Women in Art | 1c. | |
| CHS 311C: | Adv. Child Dev.: Cross-Cultural Perspective | 1c. | |
| CHS 355C: | Literature for Children: Person, Place & Time | 1c. | |
| DAN 324C: | History of Dance | 1c. | |
| ENG 342C: | World Mythologies | 1c. | |
| ENG 345C: | Shakespeare | 1c. | |
| ENG 360C: | Western World Literatures | 1c. | |
| FAS 315C: | Pre-20th Century Costume | 1c. | |
| FAS 375C: | 20th Century Costume | 1c. | |
| HIS 303C: | 19th Century Europe | 1c. | |
| HIS 304C: | 20th Century Europe | 1c. | |
| INT 311C: | Japan Seminar Abroad | 1c. | |
| PSC 340C: | American Foreign Policy | 1c. | |
| PSC 371C: | Politics in the Third World | 1c. | |
| SSC 310C: | Modern Japan Seminar | 1c. | |
| SPN 357C: | Topics in Hispanic Literature | 1c. | |
| THA 313C: | Theatre History I through | .5c. ea | |
| THA 316C: | Theatre History IV | .5c. ea | |
| WST 310C: | Gender Across Cultures | 1c. |
Interdisciplinary (D) (1.0 course credit
required)
Interdisciplinary courses examine the
theoretical orientation and methods of study of two or more
disciplines applied in the analysis of concepts or issues, thus
engaging students and faculty from different disciplines in
dialogue and discovery. To meet the requirement in this
category, students choose from the following
courses:
| AMS 315D: | Pop Culture in 20th Century America | 1c. | |
| EDU 363D: | Education/Psychology of the Exceptional Child | 1c. | |
| ENG 372D: | Criticism and Culture | 1c. | |
| FRN/HIS 326D: | French Civilization and Culture | 1c. | |
| HUM 309D: | Modernism and Post-Modernism in the Arts | 1c. | |
| HUM 336D: | Impressionism in the Visual Arts and Music | 1c. | |
| INT 311D: | Japan Seminar Abroad | 1c. | |
| LPR 360D: | The Supreme Court and Constitutional Law | 1c. | |
| MAT 311D: | History of Mathematics | 1c. | |
| MCO/PSC 375D: | Politics and the Press | 1c. | |
| NSC/WST 365D: | Women, Science and Society | 1c. | |
| PSC 330D: | International Comparative Politics | 1c. | |
| PSY 301D: | Psychology of Women | 1c. | |
| PSY 390D: | History and Systems of Psychology | 1c. | |
| REL 351D: | Religion and Crisis in America | 1c. | |
| SPN 338D: | Hispanic Civilization and Culture | 1c. | |
| WST 311D: | Development of Feminist Thought | 1c. | |
| WST 312D: | Contemporary Feminist Thought | 1c. |
NOTE: B.F.A./theatre majors
meet this requirement through the dramatic literature courses
required for the major.
Moral and Ethical Issues (E) (1.0 course credit
required)
To respond to challenges of basic values
that are a part of everyday life experience, students need to
heighten their moral and ethical sensibilities. Courses in this
category identify ethical issues and use normative ethics as a
framework for evaluating the ethical dimensions of actions.
Courses approved to meet the requirement in this category
include:
| BUS/PHL 318E: | Social/Ethical Issues in Business | 1c. | |
| ENG 340E: | Languages: Uses and Abuses | 1c. | |
| LPR 330E: | Philosophy and Law Seminar | 1c. | |
| MCO 333E: | Media Ethics | 1c. | |
| PHL 306E: | Ethics and Environmental Problems | 1c. | |
| PHL 312E: | Ethics of Life and Death | 1c. | |
| PHL 320E: | Ethical Issues | 1c. | |
| PHL 321E: | Social and Legal Philosophy | 1c. |
NOTE: B.F.A./theatre majors meet this
requirement with content added to THA 420 or 425.
Application for a Degree, Graduation
Potential degree candidates receive and must
file degree-check materials and a degree application with the registrar
at least one semester prior to the intended date of graduation.
Associate and baccalaureate degrees are granted in December, May
and August to students who qualify. Commencement is held only in
May of each academic year. Students who graduated the previous December
and those who file a plan with the registrar that enables them to
graduate the following August may participate in May Commencement.
Waivers of Degree Requirements or Other Academic Policies
Under unusual or extraordinary circumstances, some students
will have reason to petition for the waiver of an academic policy
or procedure. Such students submit a written petition to the Academic
Standing Committee for consideration. Supportive statements written
on behalf of the student by the faculty adviser, other faculty or
a student life staff member are usually requested by the committee.
After thoughtful consideration of the petition, a decision is made
by the committee and communicated to the student.
Degrees
A baccalaureate degree requires completion
of at least one major. Students are expected to declare a major
prior to attaining junior standing. General information about the
types of degrees offered at Stephens is given below. Specific information
about the requirements for each major is found in the academic sections
of the catalog.
The Bachelor of Arts Degree
Stephens offers three types of bachelor of arts majors: single-discipline
majors, interdisciplinary majors, and student-initiated majors.
A bachelor of arts major includes at least 8.0 specified courses,
of which at least 5.0 must be at or above the 300 level. As many
as 15.0 courses may be required in the major, including those specified
in the prefix of the major and those specified in other prefixes.
Students may elect additional courses in the prefix of the major,
up to the limit of 15.0 courses in a 40.5 course degree program.
Some majors require 1.0 to 3.0 liberal arts courses, as listed under
the requirements for the major. Courses that count as liberal arts
courses do not count in the major. The last 5.0 courses of credit
in all degree programs must be earned through Stephens College or
its programs.
A student-initiated bachelor of arts major, including the liberal
studies major, is subject to the above guidelines and is planned
by the student in conjunction with her adviser and the department
chairs or coordinators who represent the primary disciplines that
will comprise the major. Declaration forms and guidelines are available
in the Office of the Registrar.
The Bachelor of Science Degree
Bachelor of science majors may be in a single discipline, interdisciplinary
or student initiated.
A bachelor of science major includes at least 15.0 specified courses,
of which at least 5.0 must be at or above the 300 level. As many
as 19.0 courses may be required in the major, including those specified
in the prefix of the major and in other prefixes. Students may elect
additional courses in the prefix of the major, up to the limit of
20.0 courses in a 40.5 course degree program. Some majors require
1.0 to 3.0 specific liberal arts courses, as listed under the requirements
for the major. Courses that count as liberal arts courses do not
count toward the major. The last 5.0 courses of credit in all degree
programs must be earned through Stephens College or its programs.
A student-initiated bachelor of science major is subject to the
above guidelines and is planned in conjunction with the faculty
adviser and the department chairs who represent the primary disciplines
that will comprise the major. Declaration forms and guidelines are
available in the Office of the Registrar.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree
A bachelor of fine arts major may specify 25.0 required courses
in the major, including those to be taken in the prefix of the major
and those to be taken with other prefixes. The BFA major must include
at least 20 specified FCE of which at least 5.0 FCE must be at or
above the 300 level. Students may elect additional courses in the
prefix of the major, up to the limit of 26.0 courses in a 40.5 course
degree program. Some majors require 1.0 to 3.0 specific liberal
arts courses, as listed under the requirements for the major. Courses
that count as liberal arts courses do not count toward the major.
A student-initiated major is not available in the bachelor of fine
arts degree program. Courses that count as liberal arts do not count
toward the major. The last 5.0 courses of credit in all degree programs
must be earned through Stephens College or its programs.
Minors
Students completing a baccalaureate degree
program may elect to include a minor, as offered by the academic
areas of the college; there is no student-initiated minor. The requirements
for minors are found in the academic sections of the catalog. A
minor requires a minimum of 5.0 courses, of which 2.0 must be 300-level
or above. Students may elect additional courses in the prefix of
the minor, up to a maximum of 8.0 courses in a 40.5 course degree
program. Lower-level courses required for a major, but not in its
prefix, may also count toward a minor (not applicable to interdisciplinary
majors). One (1.0c) lower- or upper-division liberal arts course
may also count in a minor. Minors completed are recorded on the
student's academic record but not on the diploma.
Concentrations
A concentration consists of 5.0 to 8.0 course
credits organized exclusively for inclusion in the liberal studies
major. The concentration may be disciplinary, interdisciplinary
or interdepartmental. A concentration of 5.0 to 6.5 credits must
include at least 3.0 advanced course credits (at or above the 300
level); one with 7.0 or 8.0 credits must include at least 4.0 advanced
credits. One (1.0c) advanced-level course is to be designated as
the capstone (senior requirement) course. A concentration may designate
up to 2.0 liberal arts courses that are required for the concentration.
Double Majors or Minors and Dual-Degree Programs
Students may earn a double major by completing
all general and specific requirements for two majors that are available
in the same degree program, after which a single diploma is awarded.
A double minor may be completed in any baccalaureate degree program.
Students who complete the general and specific requirements that
pertain to two degree programs, such as a bachelor of arts major
and a bachelor of science major, and who complete a minimum of 50.5
course credits, will receive a diploma for each degree program.
A dual-degree may require additional semesters to complete.
Double majors or dual degrees may not be earned with the same department
or combination of departments, if the major is interdisciplinary.
Associate in Arts Degree
The associate in arts degree signifies completion
of a two-year academic program, primarily in the liberal arts. The
associate in arts degree may be conferred in December, May or August.
Applications for this degree must be filed in the Office of the
Registrar one semester in advance of the date on which the degree
is to be awarded. The requirements are as follows:
Residency: Students who enter as freshmen must be a full-time
student for at least four semesters; transfer students must enroll
full-time for at least two semesters. Part-time students must earn
8.0 credits through Stephens to meet the residency requirement.
The last 5.0 courses in the degree program must be earned through
Stephens College.
English: Completion of ENG 101–102 or ENG 205L–206
with grades of C- or better.
Liberal Arts-Lower Division: The requirement is 8.0 courses
of credit in seven categories.
Number of Courses and GPA: A minimum of 20.0 college-level
course credits and a cumulative GPA no lower than 2.0 (C) are required.
