The Major

The Major

Each student must successfully complete at least one major offered by the University. The student must declare a major and designate a major advisor no later than the semester in which the student completes 64 hours. Subsequent change to a different major is subject to the requirements of that particular major, such as restrictions on GPA and time of declaration. Forms for completing this process are available on the Registrar’s home page or in the Registrar’s Office. Students may change majors at any time by filing a new declaration.

The student’s major advisor or committee must certify that the student has successfully completed all the requirements for the major prior to graduation. A student may not present more than 64 semester hours in any one discipline to fulfill graduation requirements (see “Course Limitations”).

Major Programs

Each student is required to choose a major field of concentration and to complete the requirements of that program. Details for majors are found in the alphabetical listing of majors and courses in the “Programs and Courses” section of this catalog.

Minor Programs

In addition to a major program, students have the option of completing one or more minors. This choice must be approved by a full-time faculty member of the department in which the minor will be completed, who will certify that the student has completed the requirements for the minor prior to graduation. No more than 8 semester hours taken to fulfill requirements for a student’s major (or majors) may also be used to fulfill requirements for a minor. A course used to fulfill requirements for a minor may be used to fulfill a General Education requirement. Students with Advanced Placement credit should consult the specific department to determine whether those semester hours can be included as part of the minor. Application for Minor forms are due in the Registrar’s Office by March 1 for May or August graduation and by October 1 for December graduation.

The requirements for a minor shall consist of a minimum of 20 semester hours and a maximum of 28 semester hours (traditionally graded). Twelve hours must be at the 200 level or above, and at least 8 of those hours must be at the 300 level or above. A minimum of 12 hours must be taken in residence at VWU. A 2.0 GPA (C) average is required for all courses taken in the minor field. Students may not complete a minor in the same area(s) as their major(s). The requirements for each minor are listed in the appropriate section of this catalog that deals with that discipline.

Details for minors are found in the alphabetical listing of majors and courses in the “Programs and Courses” section of this catalog (an alphabetical list is provided here).

Certificate Programs

In addition to majors and minors, students and those outside the VWU community have the option of completing one or more certificate programs. Certificate programs provide certification of a knowledge base in a specialized area, but do not offer a transcript or degree.

Total Semester Hours

Students must complete at least 128 semester hours of academic coursework, all of which must be college-level, and two-thirds of which must be traditionally graded.

Grade Point Average

Students must have at least a 2.0 (C) grade point average in the major and at least a 2.0 cumulative average. The comprehensive liberal studies, history and social science, and social work majors require a 2.5 average. The individualized major requires a 2.7 average.

Residence Requirement

Effective Fall 2013, all students are required to complete 128 semester hours to graduate, and they must complete their last 32 hours and at least 16 semester hours in their major area in residence at Virginia Wesleyan. Students participating

Oral Communication Proficiency

Students graduating from Virginia Wesleyan must meet discipline-specific standards of oral communication established for their major programs.

Application for Graduation

Degrees are conferred in May, August, and December. Each candidate for a degree is required to file an Application for Graduation according to the following schedule:

Degree Received December May August**

Apply for Graduation on WebAdvisor by: 9/15 of the same year 9/15 of the previous year 9/15 of the previous year

Completion of all Graduation End of fall semester End of spring semester End of summer

Requirements:

Date of Degree Conferral: December May August Previous or following

Date of Commencement Exercises: May of following year May May** **See Two-Course Rule for August Candidates. The Application for Graduation can be found after logging in to WebAdvisor.

Commencement Exercises

Students are eligible and expected to participate in the first Commencement exercises held after they have completed all graduation requirements.

Two-Course Rule for August Candidates

At the end of the spring semester, if a potential graduate has at most two courses to complete, the student may obtain permission from the Registrar’s Office to participate in May commencement exercises. To secure such permission, a student must: • Have submitted an Application for Graduation by the mandated deadline the previous September; • Have at most two courses remaining to complete all graduation requirements; • Have at least a 2.0 overall grade point average; • Have at least a 2.0 grade point average in a traditional major, or at least a 2.5 in a comprehensive liberal studies, history and social science, or social work major, or at least a 2.7 in an individualized major; and • Enroll in Virginia Wesleyan’s Summer Sessions to complete the remaining graduation requirements.

For purposes of determining two courses, the following applies: an internship is considered one course, regardless of the number of semester hours it carries; a science course together with a corequisite lab is considered one course.

If the student receives permission to participate in the commencement, special notice will be made of the student’s status as an August candidate, and the degree will be conferred in August upon successful completion of the remaining courses. Honors status will not be determined until all summer coursework is completed.

A student who has participated in the May commencement exercises as an August candidate may not participate in a later commencement. If a student has not completed all degree requirements by the end of the summer session, the degree will be conferred at the next conferral date—December, May, or August—following successful completion of all degree requirements.

Transcripts

Transcripts are provided by the Registrar’s Office and are issued only upon the written request of the student. All financial obligations to the University must be met prior to the release of a transcript.