Requirements for Degrees
Belhaven University offers courses leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music in Performance, Bachelor of Music in Composition, Bachelor of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, or Bachelor of Social Work. In addition to earning a minimum of 124 semester hours credit (120 of which must be academic) and to maintaining an overall C average (2.00 GPA), as well as a C average in the major (2.00 GPA), a candidate for a bachelor’s degree from Belhaven University must complete basic course requirements, meet all departmental requirements for a major, meet the Belhaven University residence requirement, satisfy the chapel attendance policy, and submit an application for a degree completion audit and submit the application online.
Graduation/Degree Completion Application: This application is best described as a Degree Completion Application and is something that is required from each student completing a degree or certificate program. It initiates the degree audit, program posting to the transcript, and diploma/certificate processing. It is found on BlazeNet and is labeled “Apply for Graduation” in the section My Academic Information.
Applications for graduation/degree completion audits must be made online by the deadlines listed in the academic calendars in order for the student to be eligible to participate in commencement. If the application is submitted after the deadline the student will be eligible to participate in the next available commencement ceremony.
In order to stay in compliance with Federal regulations, the registrar’s office reserves the right to update your record as degree complete when routine analysis of degree requirements verifies your degree is complete regardless of graduation application submission.
Residence Requirement
Belhaven University requires of all candidates for an undergraduate degree a minimum residence of one year. The last 31 semester hours of work must be earned in residence with the exception that students who have completed at least 90 hours at Belhaven University may request permission from the registrar to complete the final 12 hours required of their degree at another accredited senior college or university. Students who have completed at least 60 hours at Belhaven University may complete nine hours off campus; those with at least 31 hours at Belhaven University may complete six hours. For an undergraduate certificate at least 25% of coursework must be taken at Belhaven University.
Second Degree Requirements
A student who wishes to obtain a second degree from Belhaven University must complete a minimum of 31 semester hours in addition to the 124 hours earned for the primary degree and must meet all the general education requirements for the second degree and the specific requirements for the second-degree program. There must be at least 18 hours of unique requirements for each degree. Some departments may require more than 18 unique hours.
Majors
Requirements for majors are specifically stated before the course listings for each department in the section of this catalogue entitled Courses of Instruction. By the time students have earned 54 semester hours, they must complete a major selection form. The major selection form may be acquired from the university website. Students may double (multiple) major by meeting all the requirements of both (all) majors, provided they are the same degree. There must be at least 18 hours of unique requirements for each major. Some departments may require more than 18 unique hours. Students who plan to double major must discuss with both major department chairs whether an overlap of required courses will present a problem. Majors are listed below:
A signed major selection form stating the minor must be turned in to the registrar’s office to declare a minor. Students majoring in one discipline who are required to take course work in a cognate discipline may not apply this coursework toward a minor unless given special permission by the minor department chairman. Students taking a major and a minor that include overlapping courses may apply up to six credits from those courses toward meeting the course requirements of the minor.
Progress Toward Degree
Students who have not completed a degree within six years of attendance at Belhaven University will continue their seventh year of study under a new catalogue.
General Education Goals
In keeping with its vision and mission, Belhaven University believes that high academic and scholarly goals are first realized through a foundation in general education that affirms the Lordship of Christ over all aspects of learning - scholarly and personal.
| GOAL |
DESCRIPTION |
REQUIRED HOURS |
| Goal l |
A mastery of one’s own language in written form |
3-7 |
| Goal lI |
A familiarity with the great literature of the world with a Christian perspective |
6 |
| Goal lII |
An understanding of science |
4 |
| Goal lV |
A knowledge of mathematical skills |
3 |
| Goal V |
An understanding and historical perspective of the contemporary world |
6 |
| Goal Vl |
A knowledge of Christian Scripture and an ability to integrate that knowledge with issues of daily life |
6 |
| Goal VIl |
An appreciation of humanity’s artistic accomplishments |
2 |
| Goal VIIl |
An ability to apply the biblical vision of the Kingdom of God |
3 |
Course Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree
Goal I: A mastery of one’s own language in written form
- ENG 101 - ENG 102 , or ENG 121 & 3 hours Humanities/Christian Ministries 6 hours
- Freshmen students, who have completed high school requirements in the fall or spring semester just prior to entering Belhaven University, or any transfer students are required to enroll in English composition courses until the core requirements of ENG 101 and ENG 102 are met. ENG 101 - ENG 102 or ENG 121 cannot be removed or dropped from registration. All students must have completed the ENG 102 core requirement prior to the first semester of their junior year.
- Students completing ENG 121 with a grade of C or higher will also take 3 hours of Humanities/Christian Ministries from the following list of subjects/courses: ENG, HIS, PHI, PSC, ICS, IST, CJU, COM, BIB, PSY HUM 402 , FLM 105 , FLM 210 , FLM 215 , GDS 110 , GDS 112 , GDS 240 , GDS 320 , BUS 320 , ART 215 , MUS 120 , DAN 120 , FLM 120 , or THE 120 . If ENG 121 is passed with a grade lower than C, students must successfully complete ENG 101 with a grade of C- or above. Students failing ENG 121 must successfully complete ENG 101 with a grade of C- or above and ENG 102 .
- Freshmen: BU 101 1 hour
- BU 101 cannot be removed or dropped from registration.
- Transfers: BU 102 * 1 hour
Goal II: A familiarity with the great literature of the world with a Christian perspective
- Freshmen:ENG 225 and ENG 226 6 hours
- Freshmen are required to take ENG 225 and ENG 226 throughout the sophomore year. The courses cannot be registered in the freshman year and are required to be taken in the sophomore year. These two courses are required as a course of study that must be finished in its entirety. ENG 225 , HIS 225 AND HUM 225 must be taken simultaneously within the fall semester of the student’s sophomore year. ENG 226 , HIS 226 and HUM 226 must be taken simultaneously within the spring semester of the student’s sophomore year.
- Transfers: 6 hours
- ENG 201 , ENG 202 , ENG 203 , ENG 204 , ENG 205 , or ENG 206
- A student who transfers to Belhaven and has already completed six hours of literature will have fulfilled the literature requirement, regardless of what type of literature was taken.
Goal III: An understanding of science
Goal IV: A knowledge of mathematical skills
Goal V: An understanding and historical perspective of the contemporary world
- Freshmen: HIS 225 and HIS 226 6 hours
- Freshmen are required to take HIS 225 and HIS 226 throughout the sophomore year. The courses cannot be registered in the freshman year and are required to be taken in the sophomore year. These two courses are required as a course of study that must be finished in its entirety. ENG 225 , HIS 225 AND HUM 225 must be taken simultaneously within the fall semester of the student’s sophomore year. ENG 226 , HIS 226 and HUM 226 must be taken simultaneously within the spring semester of the student’s sophomore year.
- Transfers: 6 hours
- HIS 107 or
- HIS 108 and
- HIS 205
- A student who transfers to Belhaven and has already completed six hours of history will not be required to take HIS 205 , and the requirement for history will have been fulfilled.
Goal VI: A knowledge of Christian Scripture and an ability to integrate that knowledge with issues of daily life. 6 hours
- BIB 220 and BIB 221 6 hours
- Transfers - WVC 302 - 2 hours; BU 102 - 1 hour 3 hours
- Students who have transferred to Belhaven will be required to complete BIB 220 & BIB 221 and WVC 302 & BU 102 .
- WVC 302 and BU 102 are to be taken within the first two semesters of transfer and are a prerequisite for WVC 401 which is required of all students in the semester immediately prior to the student’s graduation.
Goal VII: An appreciation of humanity’s artistic accomplishments 2 hours
- Freshmen: HUM 225 and HUM 226
- Freshmen are required to take HUM 225 and HUM 226 throughout their sophomore year. The courses cannot be registered in the freshman year and are required to be taken in the sophomore year. These two courses are required as a course of study that must be finished in its entirety. ENG 225 , HIS 225 AND HUM 225 must be taken simultaneously within the fall semester of the student’s sophomore year. ENG 226 , HIS 226 and HUM 226 must be taken simultaneously within the spring semester of the student’s sophomore year.
Goal VIII: An ability to apply the biblical vision of the Kingdom of God 3 hours
Course Enrollment Regulations
Core courses, courses required for the major listed in the General Education Goals, and electives must total a minimum of 124 semester hours.
Regulations with course-completion timelines such as biblical studies and English apply to degree-seeking students and do not apply to non-degree seeking special students, summer session students, or to students entering the second semester if the appropriate courses are not offered at that time.
All students should select elective courses in an area outside their major. The total number of hours in a major should not exceed nine semester hours more than what is already required for the degree.
Transfer students who transfer 24 or more semester hours of college credit earned following completion of high school requirements will enter the alternate general education curriculum, which is intended to give a Christian perspective on the world of ideas and to form a broad base for a detailed study in a major discipline.
Academic Plan
Academic plans for students are available on the Belhaven website. Students must keep their own records of their academic progress; ultimately, it is the responsibility of the student to see that he or she is registered for the correct courses for the degree he/she is pursuing.
Changing Programs
Students can change programs within the university by submitting a Major/Minor Selection Form. Undergraduate students must have a cumulative overall GPA of 2.0 or higher. Traditional students must have approval of their academic advisor and submit their completed form to the Registrar’s office.
Students wishing to change to the Online campus must acknowledge that they understand the program format requires a computer and internet connection. The specific information is outlined on the “request to take an online class” form.
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