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    Nov 03, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalogue 
    
2024-2025 Catalogue

Academic Programs (Traditional)


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 Arts in Music, Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, and 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 found on Blazenet and 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.

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

By the time students have earned 54 semester hours, they must complete a major selection form. The major selection form may be acquired from Blazenet. 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.

Minors

A minor is a secondary area of specialization beyond a college major. Undergraduates may use minors to complement their major or explore a different discipline. A major/minor 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 similar 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 the English language in written form 6
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 7-9
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 the English language in written form (6 hours)

  • ENG 101  - ENG 102 , or ENG 121  & 3 hours Humanities/Christian Ministries 
    • 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 .

Goal II: A familiarity with the great literature of the world with a Christian perspective (6 hours)

  • Freshmen:ENG 225  and ENG 226  
    • 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: 
    • 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 (4 hours)

Goal IV: A knowledge of mathematical skills (3 hours)

Goal V: An understanding and historical perspective of the contemporary world (6 hours)

  • Freshmen: HIS 225  and HIS 226  
    • 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: 
    • HIS 107  or
    • HIS 108  and
    • HIS 205  
    • A student who transfers to Belhaven and has already completed six hours of history will have fulfilled the history requirement, regardless of what type of history was taken.

Goal VI: A knowledge of Christian Scripture and an ability to integrate that knowledge with issues of daily life. (7 -9 hours)

  • BIB 220  and BIB 221  
  • Freshmen: BU 101  
    • BU 101  cannot be removed or dropped from registration.
  • Transfers - WVC 302  & BU 102   
    • 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

Major courses, general education courses, 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, one-year experience 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 or 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 the Department Chair of the new program and submit their completed form to the Registrar’s office.Students may not change programs during their final semester.


Students wishing to change to the Online campus must acknowledge that they understand the program format requires a computer and internet connection.