Courses of Study | 2016–2017 Definition of Academic Terms Major A major is a program of study that offers both depth and breadth in a particular academic discipline. The requirements and the curriculum for a major are determined by the academic department offering the major with the appropriate approvals of the High Point University faculty and the Office of Academic Affairs. A major must consist of a minimum of 30 credits and ordinarily will not exceed 80 credits. Please refer to the appropriate academic department section of this Bulletin for details on a specific major. Concentration A concentration is an approved set of courses within a major that define a specialty area or specific field of study. The requirements and the curriculum for a concentration are determined by the academic department offering the concentration with the appropriate approvals of the High Point University faculty and the Office of Academic Affairs. Generally, students complete a portion of the core major requirements and then select focused courses to complete the concentration. A concentration must consist of a minimum of 15 credits and ordinarily will not exceed 30 credits. Please refer to the appropriate academic department section of this Bulletin for details on a specific concentration. Minor A minor is a program of study that offers less depth and breadth than a major. Minors may either complement a major or function as a stand-alone sequence of coursework. The requirements and the curriculum for a minor are determined by the academic department offering the minor with the appropriate approval of the High Point University faculty and the Office of Academic Affairs. A minor must consist of a minimum of 18 credits and ordinarily will not exceed 25 credits. Please refer to the appropriate academic department section of this Bulletin for details on a specific minor. Course Credit High Point University operates according to a semester credit hour system and uses the federal definition of the credit hour, along with generally accepted practices in higher education, to determine credit for all coursework. This definition applies equally to courses of varying semester hours, duration, mode of instruction, and for both the graduate and undergraduate level.
Specifically, one semester credit hour is defined as: 1. Not less than 50 minutes of classroom (“direct” or “face-to-face”) faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. or 2. At least an equivalent amount of work (as outlined in item 1 above) for other academic activities deemed appropriate by High Point University, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other approved academic work leading to the award of course credit.
Course Numbering System The course numbering system at High Point University is used to distinguish among courses that differ in terms of student classification, academic rigor, and learning expectations. In general, lower course numbers reflect introductory coverage of a particular subject with rigor and learning expectations that are appropriate for beginning learners. Higher course numbers reflect more advanced subject matter along with elevated rigor and learning expectations. 1000 – 1999 2000 – 2999 3000 – 3999 4000 – 4999 5000 – 6999 7000 – 8999
Freshman Courses Sophomore Courses Junior Courses Senior Courses Masters Courses Doctoral Courses
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