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ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
may be waived. A grade of “B” or better in the undergraduate courses may qualify for waiver of graduate level coursework. The courses must also be no older than five years than five years upon matriculation into the MBA degree program. Students must apply to RIT for admission into the program and meet the required minimum GMAT and GPA requirements. Fashion Institute of Technology The Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) is a fully accredited educational institution offering programs in a variety of areas including Fashion Merchandising. F.I.T. sponsors a visiting student program which allows students from other schools throughout the United States to study for a full year, an opportunity which provides excellent social, cultural, and professional advantages. Students studying for a full year at F.I.T. will graduate with an associate degree from F.I.T. in addition to their baccalaureate degree from Mercyhurst. Prior to applying to participate in the F.I.T. visiting student program, Mercyhurst students must consult with the director of the Fashion Merchandising program. Students typically apply to F.I.T. during their sophomore year and attend during their junior year. F.I.T. sets minimum standards for acceptance, which is a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.7 or higher, but F.I.T. does not guarantee admittance based solely on G.P.A. Applications to F.I.T. must be sent by January 1. STUDY ABROAD/OFF-CAMPUS PROGRAMS Qualified students who have completed four regular terms may be granted permission to spend all or part of their year in study at a qualified college or university in another country. Students who wish to study abroad must have a minimum 2.75 grade point average. Degree credit is granted upon successful completion of an approved program of international study. Permission to study abroad must be obtained in the term preceding the proposed study/travel from the student’s faculty advisor, the Registrar, the study abroad advisor, and the Director of International Education. Students interested in study abroad are advised to begin planning a minimum of two terms before the proposed study and to consult with their faculty advisor and Student Financial Services early on in the process. Exceptions to any study abroad policy must be granted in writing by the Director of International Education. Mercyhurst is affiliated with several international organizations, including CEA, AFIS, and Australearn, and will grant credit for overseas travel approved by the Director of International Education. Students who wish to receive credit for overseas travel/study abroad must secure written approval as noted above prior to the travel/study. The college will not, in most cases, accept transferred credits if the student has not secured appropriate permissions and/or approvals in advance of a study abroad experience. In addition, Mercyhurst regularly offers students the opportunity to participate in faculty-led study abroad excursions that allow students and their instructors to study and learn together about the richness of our global community. As one example, students enroll in one or more college courses that begin with classroom study on campus in the spring term and culminate in a faculty-led summer study abroad experience that brings the content of the course into the context of overseas travel and cultural diversity. Courses in this program, known as FSAT, are offered each year. Students must enroll in the FSAT program in the year before the designated course/travel. Coursework must be completed before travel begins. Grades for the courses are assigned after the successful completion of the travel.
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL PREPARATION Mercyhurst students interested in professional careers in such fields as law, dentistry, medicine, osteopathy, pharmacy and veterinary medicine may choose a major from among a variety of academic disciplines. Students are urged early in their freshmen year to consult with one of the College’s Pre-Professional Advisors to assist them in determining an appropriate major, minor, choice of courses, and to learn the educational requirements necessary for entrance into professional schools. PRE-HEALTH PROFESSIONS ADVISORY PROGRAM The College has a Pre-healthProfessions Advising Office, which provides specialized counseling and advisement to students regarding all aspects of becoming a healthcare professional. The advisors work with students on course selection, career direction, and preparation for admittance exams (e.g. MCAT’s). Advisors also assist students with the application process and final preparations for going on to professional school. More information is available on the Pre-Health Professions Web page: http://biology.mercyhurst.edu/academics/prehealth/ LIBRARY SERVICES The mission of the library is to enhance the Mercyhurst education process by cultivating an information rich environment and develop life-long learners and moral consumers of information. The Hammermill Library provides materials and services in support of the College curricula and the scholarly needs and interests of the College community. Special collections include the Eimer Curriculum Collection, the Sister Mary Lawrence Franklin Archival Center, and the D’Angelo Music Collection. There is also a library at Mercyhurst - North East. Hammermill Library’s collections contain over 110,000 book volumes and more than 11,000 audiovisual items. The library subscribes to 400 periodicals and provides access to over 23,000 more on-line. The library’s information technology infrastructure provides access to the online catalog, electronic reserve readings, detailed research guides, online indexes and databases, and full-text electronic journals. Additionally, research assistance, interlibrary loan, EZ-borrow, course reserve readings, and library user instruction remain integral components of the library’s mission to serve the research and information needs of the College. The library offers a variety of Information Literacy workshops centered around today’s research methods and technologies. The library provides a variety of spaces for study including beautiful reading rooms, study carrels, and group study rooms. There are 105 computer workstations – all with access to library resources, the College network, and the Internet. Most of these also provide word processing, spreadsheet, and related software as well. There are three computer lab/classrooms in the library with computers in varying arrangements. During regular academic terms, the library is open 104 hours per week. The Café Diem, a student-run coffee shop, also operates within the library along with a 24/7 Study Lounge.
Students interested in study abroad should review the study abroad link under “Academics” on the college’s intranet website (Lakernet) or stop by the study abroad office in the International Student Center.
2009-2010 Mercyhurst College Course Catalog • www.mercyhurst.edu