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 semester hours. 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 semester hours.
The Stephens academic calendar consists of first semester (fall term) and second semester (spring term). There are at least 70 instructional days in a semester, plus a final examination period. Each semester contains two sessions. Summer programs are offered in some residential and 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. A graduation fee of $100.00 will be charged. 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 12 hours of advance placement or college hours earned before initial enrollment, or full-time enrollment (12 semester hours) for at least three semesters for transfer students. Part-time students meet the academic residency requirement. The last 15 semester hours of credit in all degree programs must be earned through Stephens College or its programs. Under certain circumstances this requirement may be waived with permission from the students academic adviser and the registrar.
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. A graduation fee of $100.00 will be charged. 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.
Bachelor of arts degrees may be in a single-discipline, interdisciplinary or student-initiated major.
A bachelor of arts degree includes at least 24 semester hours of specified credit, of which at least 15 semester hours must be at or above the 300 level. As many as 45 semester hours may be required in the major, including those specified in the prefix of the major and those specified in other prefixes. The last 15 semester hours in all degree programs must be earned through Stephens College or its programs.
A student-initiated bachelor of arts degree, 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 degrees may be in a single discipline, interdisciplinary or student initiated major.
A bachelor of science degree includes at least 45 semester hours of specified credit, of which at least 15 semester hours must be at or above the 300 level. As many as 57 semester hours may be required in the major, including those specified in the prefix of the major and in other prefixes. The last 15 semester hours of credit in all degree programs must be earned through Stephens College or its programs.
A student-initiated bachelor of science degree 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
Bachelor of fine arts degrees may be in a single discipline, interdisciplinary or student-initiated major.
The bachelor of fine arts degree must include at least 60 semester hours of specified credit of which at least 15 semester hours must be at or above the 300 level. A bachelor of fine arts degree may specify up to 75 semester hours of required credit in the major, including those to be taken in the prefix of the major and those to be taken with other prefixes. The last 15 semester hours of credit in all degree programs must be earned through Stephens College or its programs.
A student-initiated bachelor of fine arts degree 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.
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 15 semester hours, of which 6 semester hours must be 300-level or above. Students may elect additional courses in the prefix of the minor, up to a maximum of 24 hours. Lower-level courses required for a major, but not in its prefix, may also count toward a minor (not applicable to interdisciplinary majors). Minors completed are recorded on the student's academic record but not on the diploma.
A concentration consists of 15 to 24 semester hours organized exclusively for inclusion in the liberal studies major. The concentration may be disciplinary, interdisciplinary or interdepartmental. One advanced-level course (3 semester hours) is to be designated as the capstone (senior requirement) course.
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 150 semester hours, 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 within the same department or combination of departments, if the major is interdisciplinary.
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 graduation fee will be charged). 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 24 semester hours through Stephens to meet the residency requirement. The last 15 semester hours in the degree program must be earned through Stephens College.
- Liberal Arts: Completion of all lower division liberal arts courses including Composition I and II or its equivalent.
- Number of Courses and GPA: A minimum of 60 semester hours of college-level credit and a cumulative GPA no lower than 2.0 (C) are required.
