Biola University 2015–16 Catalog
• Obtain the form from the Office of the Registrar and obtain the signatures from your current and new majors, or • If changing a degree program in another school, submit a full application. Graduate • If changing a degree program at the same degree level within a school, submit the Change of Program Form to the office of Graduate Admissions (contact the office at 562-903-4752 or go to the Admissions Front Counter in Metzger Hall), or • If changing a degree program in another school, submit a full application. Major changes submitted after the second week are effective for the following semester. A student may not avoid a requirement of Admission by a change in status. Whenever a student changes major or degree, they follow the catalog for the academic year in which they make the change. A student must be in good standing in the current major/degree program before requesting a change. Students are not allowed to change programs while on probation in their current program. They must clear their present academic status before changing to a new degree program. Double Degree Students seeking a second baccalaureate degree must complete a minimum of 30 unique credits with 24 unique upper-division credits in a second area of major studies. A minimum of 160 total credits are required for graduation with a double degree. All prerequisites, supporting courses and departmental requirements (i.e. Writing Competency) for each major must be completed. The student must confer with the departments in which he will major and with the Office of the Registrar. Double Major A student may graduate with two majors. The following information is for those pursuing two majors within the same degree: All prerequisites, supporting courses and departmental requirements (i.e. Writing Competency) for each major must be completed. The second major must have a ‘minimum’ of 18 upper-division credits unique to that major (i.e., minimum of 48 major credits and 148 total credits required–see individual major requirements). Students must confer with the departments in which they will major and with the Office of the Registrar. Minors Although Biola University does not require the student to have a minor for graduation, there are a number of instances in which a student may wish to take a minor, especially in planning for a career in teaching. By checking the various departments in the catalog, a student may determine if a minor is offered. A minor usually requires a “minimum” of 18 credits, 12 of which must be upper-division and 6 of these should be unique to the minor, i.e., not counted toward any other requirements. A minimum of 6 upper-division credits must be taken in residency. Students should confer with the departments in which they will minor and with the Office of the Registrar. Writing Competency Requirement Before graduation from Biola, every student must fulfill the Writing Competency Requirement with a passing score. This requirement tests a student’s ability to write clear and correct English prose. This requirement will not be given separately from the standard curriculum. Instead, each department has designed its requirements to suit the particular demands of its own discipline. Students with more than one major must fulfill the requirement in each major. The Writing Competency Requirement should be met during the junior year. Students with junior status should enroll in at least one of the Writing Competency courses offered by their department. Most departments identify their Writing Competency courses in the Schedule of Classes. Several departments offer more than one Writing Competency course. If a student enrolls in more than one Writing
Competency course, that student may choose the course in which he or she will attempt to fulfill the Writing Competency Requirement. Some departments require a student to submit a portfolio of the student’s written work from several upper-division courses. Students should find out from their department about its requirements. ELSP students must have passed ENGL 171, and all students must have successfully completed ENGL 100 or 112 and ENGL 113 before attempting to fulfill the Writing Competency requirement in their departments. Students who do not pass the Writing Competency Requirement on their first attempt must re-attempt to pass it during a subsequent semester. After their second failure, students must take ENGL 210, Writing for Competency. A grade of C+ or higher in this course will satisfy the Writing Competency Requirement. Students may not enroll in ENGL 210 unless they have failed their department’s requirements twice. Delaying the fulfillment of the Writing Competency Requirement may jeopardize the student’s graduation. A notation will be made on the student’s transcript once the Writing Competency Requirement has been passed. It is strongly recommended that students plan to fulfill the Writing Competency Requirement by the time they turn in their Graduation Petition. Students will find it helpful to take their papers to the Biola University Writing Center in the Library before submitting them to their departments. First Year Seminar Requirement All students are required to complete a First Year Seminar (GNST 102) course. This requirement is waived for students with more than 12 transferable credits from a college or university (excluding AP, IB, dual credit, or CLEP). Undergraduate Graduation Petition Graduating seniors must file a “Graduation Petition” form with the Office of the Registrar, meet with their graduation counselor, and submit any departmental checklists at least one year prior to graduation. Students filing late will be charged a late graduation petition fee. A late petition is defined as any graduation petition received after classes begin in the student’s graduating semester. Late petitions for graduation will be accepted prior to November 1st for Fall commencement and April 1st for Spring commencement. Thereafter, the student must participate in the next available commencement ceremony. Requirements for All Baccalaureate Degrees 1. All baccalaureate degrees require a minimum of 130 degree applicable credits for graduation (124 credits for the B.B.A). Each major consists of a minimum of 30 credits of which 24 must be upper-division. The Bachelor of Music degree requires 142 credits. A degree in Nursing requires 141 credits. For specific major requirements please see indicated major listings. In the case of repeated courses, only the credits from one of the repeated courses apply. 2. Completion of all academic requirements. Obtain approval of the student’s graduation petition by the major advisor and a graduation counselor in the Office of the Registrar at least one year before graduation. To ensure completion of degree requirements, the normal academic load, during the last year, for a student anticipating graduation, is 18 credits. Those students who wish to take more are expected to notify their graduation counselor. Approval for additional credits beyond the norm will be made through the Office of the Registrar. 3. A minimum of 30 credits must be taken at Biola University, at least 15 credits (upper-division level) in the major field. Biola has a residency requirement for biblical studies. Of the 30 credits of Bible required of all students, 15 credits must be taken at Biola. Transfer credit, credit for prior learning, credit by examination and off-campus programs may not be used to fulfill the minimum residency requirement.
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