SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY   2000-2001 Catalog
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Degree Programs and Requirements

Academic Affairs
Churchill 130
541-552-6114
Charles Lane, Associate Provost for
Academic Affairs
Note: Students are cautioned that due to budgetary reductions, Southern Oregon University may be forced to change some academic offerings. Students should consult with advisors about the effects of any changes.

Arts and Sciences Programs

The arts and sciences at Southern Oregon University are centered in three schools: Arts and Letters; Sciences; and Social Science, Education, and Health and Physical Education. Two types of degree programs are available. For subject matter degrees, the major field of study is concentrated within one academic department. For interdisciplinary degrees, the major work is drawn from two or more fields of study from different departments (see printed catalog page 138). A complete listing of these degree programs may be found on printed catalog page 4 of this catalog.

Professional Programs

The professional programs at Southern Oregon University are centered in two schools: Business and Social Science, Education, and Health and Physical Education. The professional degree programs emphasize in-depth coursework within these schools and also draw upon the arts and sciences programs for supporting coursework and a strong general education component. A wide variety of emphases is available within the professional programs. Please refer to printed catalog page 4 of this catalog and to the appropriate academic section.

Program Planning

Students should consider the following when planning a degree program:

1. Core Curriculum. The core curriculum at SOU has three parts: (a) general education requirements; (b) special requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree; and (c) upper division writing and capstone experience requirements in each major. The general education requirements are related to specific integrating writing, speech, and quantitative skills in the context of critical thinking. Goals are met by selecting approved Explorations sequences, quantitative reasoning courses, and synthesis courses (listed in the class schedule and on the SOU Web site). These goals require approximately 48 credits of coursework, the equivalent of about a year of full-time college work. The special requirements for the BA or BS degree are listed under BA/BS Requirements on printed catalog page 31. The upper division requirements for writing, research, and the capstone experience vary according to the major (see the appropriate section in the catalog for a particular major).

2. Academic Progress. Students planning to complete the bachelor's degree in four years should take at least 15 to 16 credits a term each year.

3. Class Schedule. The class schedule, provided by the Office of the Registrar, lists classes available each quarter. Students should check the closed class list posted in the Office of the Registrar or the Office of Academic Advising before preregistering to be sure classes are available.

4. Course Content. For specific information about a course, consult the course description in this catalog or request a syllabus from the department or instructor offering the course. Texts for a course can be reviewed in the University Bookstore.

5. Special Course Scheduling Considerations. Many language and science course sequences begin fall quarter and cannot be entered midyear. Some courses have laboratory work that must be taken concurrently with the lecture component of the class. Students intending a major with a science specialty should consult early on with departmental advisors about supporting coursework requirements in mathematics and science.

6. Approval of Registration. Students with a declared premajor or major must obtain approval of the proposed schedule from their advisor before registration. Undeclared students and students majoring in interdisciplinary studies must obtain this registration approval from the academic advising office in Stevenson Union 134.

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

1. Minimum term credits: 180.

2. Completion of the core curriculum requirements. See following section, Core Curriculum Requirements.

3. Work in upper division courses: minimum of 60 credits.

4. Satisfaction of the departmental requirements for a major. This must be certified by the department chair.

5. Work in residence: minimum 45 credits of last 60; last 15 on campus.

6. Registration is blocked for any student who has completed 91 credits and does not have a declared major on file in the Office of the Registrar.

7. Students completing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree must complete the special requirements for these degrees. See BA/BS Requirements on printed catalog page 31.

8. Grade Point Average: minimum 2.0 in the major, minor, and overall. Some departments have a higher minimum GPA requirement for their majors and minors (see requirements for the major and minors in the departmental listing).

9. Restrictions:

a) Courses numbered below 100 taken after fall term 1982 do not apply toward graduation requirements. Note: Courses taken prior to fall term 1982 numbered 0-49 are not applicable toward graduation requirements; 50-99 are applicable toward graduation as electives only.

b) Open course numbers limitation:

(1) 199, 399, 401, 403, 405, 407 courses limited to 45 credits in the overall program.

(2) 409 practicum courses are limited to 15 credits a prefix (e.g., Wr, Sp, Anth), and 30 credits for the overall program.

(3) Courses that were taken as open-numbered courses but subsequently became regularly scheduled (non open-numbered) courses should not be counted in the credit hour limits on open-numbered courses.

c) Correspondence study: maximum 24 credits.

d) Extension study: maximum 60 credits (including the above).

e) Prior learning experience: maximum 90 credits approved.

Core Curriculum Requirements

The faculty of Southern Oregon University have developed a core curriculum that must be completed by all baccalaureate students regardless of the major or type of baccalaureate degree. This curriculum is designed to give each student the skills, knowledge, and understanding necessary to be a responsible and productive citizen of a community that is becoming increasingly international. The core curriculum includes two sets of requirements: (1) general education requirements, and (2) components in the major.

General Education Requirements

The general education requirements are designed to provide undergraduate students with effective critical thinking, communication, and research skills. Furthermore, the requirements develop an awareness of connections and relationships among the social, artistic, cultural, and scientific traditions of human endeavor. The desired outcome of Southern's general education program is a person who is capable of resolving complex issues with intelligence, compassion, and understanding.

The general education program has both lower division and upper division requirements. The lower division requirements include the University Colloquium and various Explorations sequences. The upper division requirement includes a Synthesis and Applications course.

Outline of the General Education Curriculum

Lower Division

Explorations Sequences

Upper Division

Synthesis and Applications Courses

Total Credits** 45 credits

*The quantitative reasoning requirement may be satisfied by completion of either a stand-alone course or an Explorations sequence designed to incorporate the learning objectives of the quantitative reasoning requirement.

**Total credits are at least 45, but are likely to range between 48 and 52.

For the most recent listing of courses and sequences in the general education program, see the latest class schedule or the SOU Web site.

General Education Goal Policies

Courses in the major/minor can be used to meet general education requirements.

Components in the Major

Each academic major leading to a baccalaureate degree includes two requirements for students completing that major.

Writing and Research Component. Demonstrate writing and research skills within the academic field of study chosen as a major. This requirement is in addition to the writing requirement of general education and is met through coursework in the major that is designed to encourage the use of professional literature.

Students who have achieved the writing and research goals will be able to:

1. Systematically identify, locate, and select information and professional literature in both print and electronic formats within the knowledge base of the specific discipline;

2. Critically evaluate such materials;

3. Use the materials in a way that demonstrates understanding and synthesis of the subject matter; and

4. Develop cohesive research papers that use data and professional literature as evidence to support an argument or thesis following the style and conventions within the discipline of the major.

Capstone Experience: Complete a capstone experience designed to bring focus to and provide understanding of the major field of study.

Each department specifies the manner in which majors within that department meet these requirements. There is variation between fields of study. Please refer to the departmental listing of major requirements for details regarding the implementation of these requirements.

Assessment

The University is committed to improving the quality of instruction by assessing student outcomes. Southern determines the progress of the learning process by relating outcomes to clearly defined learning objectives. During the course of their collegiate careers, students are active participants in the outcomes assessment process. Student participation contributes to curriculum design and the evolution of the learning community.

BA/BS Requirements

Students completing the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree must satisfy the following requirements as well as the other graduation requirements detailed earlier in this section.

Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA)

For this degree, the student must:

1. Complete one year of study of a foreign language at the second year level or above at Southern Oregon University or another accredited college or university; complete four years of study of a single foreign language at the high school level; or successfully complete a proficiency examination administered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. The exam is offered registration week of fall quarter. See printed catalog page 48 for further details.

2. Complete at least 48 credits in courses offered by the School of Arts and Letters. Note: courses toward general education, the academic major, minor, and requirement 1 above may be counted toward this requirement.

Bachelor of Science Degree (BS)

For this degree, the student must:

1. Complete at least two courses (8 or more credits) in mathematics, computer science (CS), designated statistics courses, or designated logic courses. The following statistics and logic courses have been approved for this requirement:

2. Complete at least 48 credits in courses offered by the Schools of Business; Sciences; and Social Science, Education, Health and Physical Education (excluding education courses). Note: courses toward general education, the academic major, a minor, and requirement 1 above may be counted toward this requirement.

These requirements for the BA and BS do not apply to students completing the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA).

Transfer Student Policies

You are eligible to use SOU's transfer policy for general education requirements if you transfer in with a minimum of 36 credit hours of accepted college coursework. Students coming to SOU as eligible transfer students will be assigned to one of the following categories:

1. AAOT: Oregon community college transfer students who have completed an Associate of Arts-Oregon Transfer degree, as certified by an Oregon community college, are accepted by SOU as having met all lower division general education requirements. These students must complete SOU's upper division Synthesis courses.

2. Oregon University System transfer students who have completed all general education requirements from another Oregon University System (OUS) institution are accepted as having met all SOU lower division general education requirements. The OUS institution must confirm that the student satisfied all general education requirements at that institution. Students must complete SOU's upper division Synthesis courses, unless their university required similar upper division courses for general education.

3. Transitional transfer policy for community college transfer students: transfer students who can provide evidence of previous completion of a minimum of 50 percent of SOU's former nine goal program will be allowed to satisfy those requirements under the catalog option rules. This transitional policy will remain in effect until the end of calendar year 2002.

4. Transfer general education students are students who come to SOU with a minimum of 36 credits of accepted college coursework. Students in this classification must meet the catalog requirements for the year they are first admitted and enrolled in courses at SOU. Students have a choice of meeting the resident SOU General Education Requirements described on printed catalog page 31 or SOU's Transfer Student Option as described below.

General Education Requirements: Transfer Student Option

Writing/Oral Communication (12 credits)

Mathematics (3-4 credits)

The math requirement may be met in one of the following ways:

Sequences

Students using the transfer student option must complete a two- or three-term lower division sequence in each of the following school areas:

Arts and Letters (8 credits) (Some sequences (especially from community colleges) may total only 6 hours. Students with less than the required 24 hours may complete additional courses in any of the three areas to bring the total amount of required hours to 24. )

Art, Communication, English, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Music, Philosophy, Theatre Arts, General Humanities

Science (8 credits) (Some sequences (especially from community colleges) may total only 6 hours. Students with less than the required 24 hours may complete additional courses in any of the three areas to bring the total amount of required hours to 24. )

(two courses with laboratory)

Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Geology, Physics, General Science

Social Science (8 credits) (Some sequences (especially from community colleges) may total only 6 hours. Students with less than the required 24 hours may complete additional courses in any of the three areas to bring the total amount of required hours to 24. )

Anthropology, Criminology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, General Social Science

Minimum total credits 24

Note: Courses used to meet these requirements may also be applied to major and minor requirements.

Synthesis Courses

Students must complete one upper division SOU Synthesis course in each of the following areas:

For the most recent listing of courses and sequences in the general education program, see the latest class schedule or the SOU Web site.

Guidelines for Normal Progress

The following serves as a guide for students and advisors to assess the rate at which students should complete general education and major requirements.

1. At the completion of 48 credits of study applicable to a bachelor's degree, the student should have:

a) A 2.0 or better cumulative GPA; and

b) Completed 12 credits of University Colloquium and at least 8 credits of lower division Explorations sequences.

2. At the completion of 91 credits of study applicable to a baccalaureate degree, the student should have:

a) A 2.0 or better cumulative GPA;

b) Completed all 24 credits of lower division Explorations sequences and a quantitative reasoning course or sequence; and

c) Declared a major. Registration is blocked for any student who has not declared a major after the completion of 91 credits.

3. At the completion of 144 credits of study applicable to a bachelor's degree, the student should have:

a) A 2.0 or better cumulative GPA;

b) Completed at least one of the three upper division Synthesis and Applications courses;

c) Completed at least one half of the credits in the declared major; and

d) Completed at least 30 credits of upper division coursework.

4. At the completion of 180 credits of study, the student should have completed all requirements for the baccalaureate degree.

Guidelines for Normal Progress Notes

1. Most baccalaureate degree programs at Southern Oregon University are designed to be completed in four academic years at an average academic load of 16 credits a quarter. Some students, however, pursue the degree at an average rate of fewer than 16 credits a quarter and complete the degree in a proportionately longer period of time. The guidelines above address the content of the program rather than the rate at which the student pursues the degree. Consequently, these guidelines are applicable to both full-time and part-time students.

2. The guidelines above are designed for a student whose total academic program is at Southern Oregon University. A transfer student's normal progress toward a degree should be evaluated on the basis of credits accepted for transfer to SOU by the Office of Admissions plus credits completed at SOU.

3. Some majors, particularly in the sciences and preprofessional programs, require a heavy academic load in the major and supporting areas during the first two years due to the sequential structure of the major program. Students in these majors may need to delay certain elements of the general education program until their junior or senior year. These students and their advisors may need to modify items 1b, 2b, and 3b of these guidelines to accommodate the special needs of the major.

Accelerated Baccalaureate Degree

Southern Oregon University offers an accelerated baccalaureate degree program for students who have the motivation, maturity, time management skills, and academic strengths necessary to finish a degree in three rather than four years. Advantages of the program are earlier entry into the job market, a focused undergraduate program as preparation for graduate school, and financial savings of one full year of tuition and fees.

Departments participating in the program are: business, communication, computer science, economics, geography, mathematics, political science, and foreign languages and literatures. For detailed information, see the Special Programs section on printed catalog page 145.

This material is from the 2000-2001
Southern Oregon University Catalog.

Page revised August 14, 2000
Copyright 2000, Southern Oregon University.
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