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ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
MAJORS AND DOUBLE MAJORS
In addition to the breadth of learning that occurs in Mercyhurst’s Core Curriculum, students are expected to choose one area of study that meets their intellectual interests and career needs. This is the student’s Major, a specific field of study with its particular scope, content, and methods. Upon graduation in a specific major, students are presumed to have a command of the intellectual history of the discipline, knowledge of contemporary issues and problems in that discipline, and the repertoire of methods and approaches needed for creative contributions to that discipline. In virtue of the intellectual demands both of the Core Curriculum and the Major program of study, Mercyhurst does not recommend that students “double-major.” This stipulated, Mercyhurst recognizes that occasionally some students wish to major in two departments. Such an academic program is extremely challenging, since the student is expected to take significant additional coursework while meeting the rigorous academic standards of two departments. Although in general Mercyhurst does not recommend that students double-major, Mercyhurst recognizes that such a program can be quite rewarding for some students. The requirements for a double-major are: • Approval/signatures of appropriate Department Chair(s) and School Dean(s) • Students working toward a double-major are expected to develop expertise in two distinct areas of study, each of which has its own intellectual history, unique content, and methods of inquiry. Students will be expected to meet all major requirements for each department. Normally, double-majors will be in non-cognate fields. • However, some students may choose to double-major in closely related fields In this case, students will be required to take ten courses in each field, with the possibility of two courses over lapping. (Double-majors with more than ten courses in each major may have a higher number of overlapping courses.) In some cases, this minimum course requirement for each major will mean that students will have to take departmental courses or independent studies in addition to the listed requirements in one or the other discipline in order to establish the uniqueness of each intellectual discipline and to assure the intellectual integrity of major and double-major.
MINOR PROGRAM
Students often find that a minor area of specialization adds considerably to their educational program. While choosing a minor is not required, Mercyhurst recommends that at most only one minor be selected in addition to the major. If students choose to minor in a field that is closely related to their maor and/or an additional minor, no more than two courses may overlap.
CONTRACT MAJOR/MINOR
Students who wish to develop a major or minor program not currently listed in the College Catalog may elect to put together an individualized contract major or minor. With the help and advice of at least two full-time faculty members, a student can choose offerings from several disciplines which meet a unique set of objectives or prepare him or her for a specialized job or career. Such a major or minor must not duplicate all, or even a substantial portion of, an existing program. Contract Majors will typically be titled as a Multi-Disciplinary major with two concentration areas. All contract majors will be Bachelor of Arts degrees. The final decision about the major or minor rests with the Office for Academic Affairs. Student eligibility for the contract major or minor option is determined as follows: 1. Students who have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours with a GPA of 2.80 or better may elect a contract major or minor. 2. Students who at the completion of 60 credit hours have maintained a GPA of 2.50 or better may elect a contract major or minor. 3. Students who have completed more than 60 credit hours or who are beyond the first term of their junior year are not eligible for a contract major.
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
4. Students who have completed more than 90 credit hours or who are beyond the first term of their senior year are not eligible for a contract major or minor. Students who are approved for a contract major or minor will be required to meet the graduation requirements stated in the current College Catalog. Specific requirements of the contract major are as follows: • At least 36 credit hours must be taken in the major. No more than 45 credit hours (excluding one-credit hour laboratories taken in conjunction with a regular course) may be required. • A student must earn a minimum GPA of 2.5. Specific requirements of the contract minor are as follows: • At least 24 credit hours must be taken in the minor. • A minimum GPA may be set at the discretion of the supervising faculty. Students who are eligible for, and who wish to develop, a contract major or minor must complete the following steps: • Secure the permission of at least two full-time faculty members who are willing to help as advisors. • Prepare a written proposal outlining the rationale for the major or minor and a list of the courses which will be required. • Obtain the signatures of the faculty advisors in their acceptance of the proposed major or minor. • Obtain the signature of the Vice President of Academic Affairs as a sign of his or her acceptance of the proposed major or minor. • Have a copy of the contract placed in the student’s permanent file in the Registrar’s Office and have copies prepared for each of the faculty advisors. Any changes in the approved program of study will require the signatures of the faculty advisors and the Office for Academic Affairs prior to implementation of the change. Upon the successful completion of the courses and all other graduation requirements, the student will be granted the bachelor degree in the contract major. If completed, the contract minor will be posted on the academic record.
ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND GRADES GRADING SYSTEM The grading system of the College is: GRADE A B+ B C+ C D+ D F
QUALITY POINTS 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0
LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE exceptional attainment superior work good work above adequate work adequate work less than adequate work poor work failure to meet course standards
GRADE POINT AVERAGE Grade points are earned according to the above grading scale for each credit attempted. Under the grading system, a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) is computed by dividing the number of grade points earned by the number of credits attempted. The resulting number is the student’s Grade Point Average. Example: Grade A C C+ F
grade points 4 2 2.5 0
x credits total grade points x 3 = 12 x 3 = 6 x 3 = 7.5 x 2 = 0
Totals 11 25.5
2011-2012 Mercyhurst College Course Catalog • www.mercyhurst.edu