Degree Requirements and Registration

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• Baccalaureate Degree Requirements
• Basic Skills Course Requirement and Course Placement Tests
• General Education Requirements

Degrees

The Bachelor of Applied Studies (B.A.S.) is conferred upon those with an approved degree in technical or career oriented fields who wish to complete a bachelor’s degree, but whose academic or career needs do not mandate a regular baccalaureate degree program.

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements in these majors: art*, communication, communication and theatre education, criminal justice, graphic design, economics**, elementary education, English*, French*, history*, international studies, music*, physical education*, political science, political science-public administration, psychology, sociology, Spanish*, special education*, and theatre.

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements in the following majors: applied mathematics, athletic training, biochemistry, biology*, business-chemistry, chemical physics, chemistry*, medical laboratory science, computer information systems, computer science, engineering technology management, exercise science, health science, mathematics*, optical physics and physics*.

The Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements in these majors: accounting, economics**, finance, general business, industrial management, international business, management and marketing.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) is conferred upon those who wish to be fully prepared professionals in visual arts and receive credentials for acceptance in professional associations that control participation in various fields in the visual arts.

The Bachelor of Professional Accountancy (B.P.A.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements of this 150-credit program.

The Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (B.S.E.E.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements in the electrical engineering major.

The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (B.S.M.E.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements in the mechanical engineering major.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements in the nursing major.

The Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements in the social work major.

The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements for the degree.

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements for the degree.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements for the degree.

The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements for the degree.

The Master of Science (M.S.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements for the degree.

The Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements for the degree.

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (M.S.O.T) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements for the degree.

The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) is conferred upon those who fulfill the requirements for the degree.

*Major is approved for secondary teaching certification; see College of Education.

**Students majoring in economics may receive either a B.A. or B.B.A. degree.

Graduation requirements for baccalaureate degrees are based on the regulations and requirements printed in the catalog in effect at the time of a student’s initial registration at Saginaw Valley State University. A catalog published after initial registration may be chosen by the student when it is to his or her advantage, but the entire set of graduation requirements listed in any one catalog must be used. The time limitation on this provision is that no student may graduate under the requirement of a catalog published more than six calendar years prior to the date of graduation. Readmitted students are subject to all regulations and requirements of the catalog current at the time of re-enrollment. The degree requirements in the 2006-07 catalog expire on completion of the spring/summer 2013 semester.

Summary of Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

1. Satisfy University Basic Skills requirements in reading, writing and mathematics.
2. Satisfy University General Education requirements.
3. Satisfy departmental requirements for a major and a minor or an interdisciplinary major (no minor required) or two majors.
4. Complete at least 6 upper division (300-400 level) credits in the major from SVSU; complete at least 3 credits at the 200 level or higher in the minor from SVSU.
5. Complete 42 credits of course work at the upper division (300-400) level.
6. Complete a minimum of 124 credit hours (at least 31 credits must be taken at SVSU).
7. Earn a 2.00 cumulative GPA with a grade of “C” or better in all Basic Skills, major and minor courses.

Credit Hours Needed

Saginaw Valley State University operates on a trimester system of three 15-week semesters: fall, winter and summer (divided into a seven-week spring session and a seven-week summer session). Each degree requires the fulfillment of the academic residency requirement (see below) and the completion of a minimum of 124 credits of academic work and must include 42 credits of upper division work (300 and 400 level courses).

Students pursuing a second SVSU undergraduate degree must complete a minimum of 31 additional credits beyond the first degree and also fulfill all requirements listed for a different major than from the first degree.

Academic Residency Requirement for All Bachelor’s Degree Programs

All candidates for baccalaureate degrees are required to take at least 31 credits at Saginaw Valley State University and the last semester must be on campus.

At least six upper division credits in the major field and at least three credits at the Sophomore or higher level in the minor field must be completed at SVSU.

Grade Point Requirement

Each candidate for a degree must have a grade point average of not less than 2.00 (“C” average).

Each student must satisfy basic skills course requirements for mathematics, reading and writing. Placement into or exemption from the required courses in mathematics, reading and writing will be determined by results of the ACT and/or course placement tests. Students who feel they have received an inappropriate placement may request additional assessment from Academic Advisement Center and/or the appropriate department chairperson. For transfer students, placement into or exemption from these required courses also may be determined by the results of the Transfer Evaluation Report (TER).

Students should view entry and college-level basic skills as minimum standards and continue to develop their skills in reading, writing and mathematics throughout their college careers. Although computer literacy is not a basic skills requirement at Saginaw Valley State University, students are strongly advised to become computer literate.

A student must have completed basic skills requirements, or have appropriate courses in each of the three sequences in progress by the time the SVSU total of registered credits reaches 12, and continue in the appropriate courses each succeeding semester until the requirement is satisfied in full. Failure to meet this requirement will block registration. Authorization to register without meeting this requirement may be given, in extenuating circumstances, only by an advisor in the Academic Advisement Center.

Basic Skills Course Requirements

Math: Basic Mathematical Skills (Math 081), and Beginning Algebra (MATH 082)

Reading: One of the three sets of the following courses, depending on placement: 1) Foundations for College Reading and Learning (English 082) and College Reading and Learning (English 103); 2) College Reading and Learning (English 103); 3) Strategies for Academic Success (English 104).

Writing: Writing Skills (English 080) and Composition I (English 111).

Students may satisfy the basic skills course requirements in one of the following ways:

• Completing these courses with a satisfactory grade (“P” or minimum of “C”):
• Transferring appropriate coursework from another college or university. Equivalent coursework for transfer students is indicated on the Transfer Evaluation Report (TER) provided by the Registrar’s Office upon completion of the review of transcripts from the previous institution(s). Early submission of transcripts from the previous institution(s) is encouraged for appropriate and timely course placement.
• Meeting the required ACT College Assessment score for a course waiver.
• Meeting the required SVSU course placement test score for a course waiver.

For more information on course placement, call the Academic Advisement Center, 117 Wickes Hall, at (989) 964-4286.

Math Course Placement

Students will be initially placed into mathematics courses by ACT math sub-score, as detailed below.

A student may request a mathematics placement test. If a sufficient score is made on this test, the student will be placed in a higher course than the minimum placement indicated above. Students may take this placement test no more than 2 times. Placement tests are coordinated by the Department of Mathematical Sciences and the Math Resource Center, scheduled by the Math Resource Center, and given on specific dates.

Students without ACT Math sub-scores must take the mathematics placement test. These students may take the placement test no more than 2 times. Transfer students who do not transfer appropriate coursework to SVSU, but do submit ACT Math sub-scores, will follow the usual procedure for students with ACT scores as described above.

Reading Course Placement

Students will be placed into reading courses according to this scale:

Transfer students who do not transfer appropriate coursework to SVSU, but do submit ACT College Assessment scores, will follow the scale above. Transfer students who do not transfer appropriate coursework to SVSU and who do not submit ACT scores must take the Nelson-Denny Reading Test (NDRT). A student who transfers to SVSU with 62 or more credits is exempted from English 082.

Writing Course Placement

Writing course placement will be based on appropriate scores on authorized assessments, such as ACT. All SVSU students (except those who transfer appropriate course work to SVSU) must submit a score on an authorized assessment to determine writing course placement.

Currently, students with ACT English scores of 16 or higher are placed in ENGL 111; students with scores below 16 are placed in ENGL 080 or in linked sections of ENGL 080 and ENGL 082.

General education refers to that part of a student’s education that contributes to the breadth of knowledge needed to be a more effective citizen of a complex and culturally diverse world. It supports the student with the skills and perspectives that will not always be gained from a specialized program of study and provides a basis for a common educational experience all students and graduates of the University can share. It is intended to help each student become more broadly knowledgeable, adaptable, and capable in their many life roles. By graduation, students will have been given opportunities to develop their insight, creativity and intellectual curiosity, as well as analytical and critical skills. The General Education Program is designed to develop in each student:

• Appreciation of a wide range of perspectives and experiences
• Acquaintance with the many ways of experiencing and acquiring knowledge
• Broad knowledge about the human and natural world
• Understanding of the structure and order of the natural world, including human thought processes
• Appreciation of the arts for aesthetic value and for their usefulness in exploring complex human truths
• Knowledge of the history of civilizations
• Competence in communication
• Exploration and development of individual values and ethics

The major goal of General Education, therefore, is to develop students’ capacity to think critically, reason logically, and communicate effectively in a wide range of disciplines beyond their major field. A general education program cannot satisfy all of an individual’s lifelong general education needs. SVSU’s General Education Program enhances the graduate’s ability to learn and function as an educated person in the many demanding roles of contemporary life.

The General Education Program comprises 35 credit hours in 10 categories, each with a learning objective, a required number of credit hours, and an approved group of courses from which to choose. Two courses chosen from Categories 2 through 8 must be communication intensive (designated [CI]). Categories 3, 9 and 10 must be completed in the student’s first 75 credit hours.

General Education Requirements

NOTE: English 111 is prerequisite to all courses in Objective Categories 1 and 10 and for all courses with a CI suffix. Students are required to complete two “CI” courses from Objective Categories 2 through 8. Requirements for Objective Categories 3, 9, and 10 must be completed within a student’s first 75 credit hours or registration will be blocked.