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College of Social Sciences
Academic Information

Social Sciences Policies and Procedures

Advising

The goal of the advisors in the College of Social Sciences and the departments within the college is to ensure that each student has access to competent academic advising at all stages of the student's college career. All incoming freshmen and transfer students are strongly encouraged to go through orientation, where pertinent policies and procedures are introduced and potential problems are discussed.

Orientation for the college is handled in conjunction with the Dean of Students office. Once the student has been given an overall view of the college, the undergraduate advisor in each department helps students with the initial task of schedule planning and registration. Thereafter, advisors are available on an ongoing basis should any questions or problems concerning academic progress occur.

Specific times when academic advising is suggested:

• upon entering (freshman or transfer).

• for registration and add/drop questions.

• to change a major.

• to declare a minor.

• to clarify any academic policy or procedure.

• at 60 hours to file a degree plan (filing a timely degree plan can and does minimize lost hours and late graduation).

• a semester before the intended semester of graduation to verify that all requirements will be met as expected.

Declaration of Major

Many entering students have a well-defined career objective and major course of study. These students should declare their majors upon entering the college and should seek academic counsel from their major departments.

Freshman students who are uncertain of their majors are encouraged to enroll first as social sciences-unspecified majors and seek academic advising from the Office of the Dean. Before enrolling as juniors (60 hours), students must petition for a change in major to one of the degree programs in the college.

Change of Major

Students who wish to change their majors to any of the college's degree programs must have a 2.00 minimum cumulative grade point average on courses taken at this university, except students in their first semester of enrollment, who are exempt from the grade point average requirement.

Students with less than a 2.00 grade point average are encouraged to obtain academic advising from the departments to which they wish to change; however, they are not eligible to officially change their major until the required grade point average is attained.

To apply for a change of major, consult the departmental advisor of the desired major and submit an undergraduate general petition requesting the change.

The department and the Office of the Dean will review the petition and send notification of approval or disapproval by mail.

Degree Plans

Students must meet all requirements of the catalog under which they are graduating. After selecting a major field of study, and no later than the beginning of the junior year, students should request that a degree plan be prepared through the department of their major. Students with double majors should choose a primary major for record keeping and degree plan purposes. Students proposing a minor must file a declaration of minor form in the department of their minor and obtain approval from that department's undergraduate advisor. Final degree plans and minor forms for the College of Social Sciences must be submitted to the dean's office for approval.

Deadlines

The college of Social Sciences adheres to the university calendar, e.g., admission and registration deadlines, drop dates, application for graduation, etc. Exceptions are considered only for documented, extenuating, non-academic circumstances.

Grade Changes

Questions regarding grades in College of Social Sciences courses must be resolved within the semester following the posting of the grade. Grade changes are approved only for correction of errors in computing the grade, and a grade change form must be submitted no later than the close of the semester/summer session following the posting of the grade.

Grades of I (incomplete) must be resolved within one year of the posting of the grade. Incomplete grades must be resolved with the instructor awarding the grade. Incomplete grades cannot be resolved by re-registering for the course in question.

Fulfillment of Grade Requirements for a Degree

To determine the fulfillment of qualitative degree requirements, the required grade point average for graduation is calculated as described in the Academic Regulations and Degree Requirements section of this catalog with the following differences:

1. The grade of I is considered an F for students enrolled in their graduating semester.

2. The college will not eliminate any elective semester hours of undergraduate course work from the computation of the graduation grade point average for a bachelor's degree.

3. All courses taken in major and minor fields in the College of Social Sciences will be considered when determining major and minor GPA's.

Filing for Graduation

To be a candidate for a degree, students must submit an application for graduation by the stated deadline in the class schedule, one semester before the intended semester of graduation. Candidates for graduation who were previously disapproved must reapply.

Degrees are not awarded automatically upon completion of the scholastic requirements. Successful graduation candidates can anticipate the posting of the degree approximately six weeks after the official closing date of the semester allowing for final audit procedures.

Grievance Procedures

The College of Social Sciences follows University policy with respect to student grievances. A multilevel procedure of redress of grievance concerning academic matters is available to undergraduate students of the College. Every effort shall be made by the student, faculty, and department Chair to resolve the grievance within the department structure. Failing resolution at this level, the student may appeal to the Dean of the College or his designate.

Readmission from Suspension

Any student suspended from the college for academic or disciplinary reasons is ineligible to return during the designated period of suspension. After that specified period, students may apply to the Office of the Dean for readmission after scheduling an appointment with their academic advisor, who will make a recommendation regarding readmission to the dean. Students should be advised that readmission is not automatic.

A student readmitted from academic suspension enters the semester on probation and must fulfill the following requirements to avoid further academic action.

1. Enroll in no more than 12 semester hours of approved courses (six semester hours in a summer session) during the semester of re-entry and each semester thereafter while on continued academic probation.

2. Earn a minimum 2.00 grade point average during the semester of re-entry and each semester thereafter while on continued academic probation.

3. Monitor progress of course work closely and properly drop any course if necessary.

Failure to attend the university during the semester of readmission cancels the readmission approval. Students may reapply in any subsequent semester.

Special Problems Courses and Internships

Each social science area provides opportunities for majors and minors to take special problems (independent study) courses and/or internships. Participation in special problems courses and/or internships requires an approved petition to be on file in the appropriate department. No more than six semester hours of these special problems courses and/or internships may be used to satisfy any major or minor requirements in the College of Social Sciences. An unlimited number may apply toward elective hours.

Note:If a student takes 9 or more hours of internship/special problems courses, no more than 9 hours will be given a letter grade.

Transfer Credit

Questions concerning transfer credit are resolved by the petition process. This process originates in the department of the major, and the petitions are routed to the relevant department and dean's offices.

Dean's List

The Dean's List, a tabulation of the names of all undergraduate honor students, is compiled each semester. To qualify for this recognition in the College of Social Sciences, students must earn a 3.50 minimum grade point average (the grade of S is not counted) on twelve or more semester hours completed during the semester. At least nine of the twelve semester hours must be letter grades. Students who earn a grade of I (except in a senior honors thesis course), D, F, or U during the semester are excluded from consideration for the Dean's List.

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