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Admission, Enrollment and Graduation Requirements
Planning a Major Program When students have selected a major field, they should study all the requirements that are specified in this catalog under their chosen degree program. They should make a tentative semester by semester plan for completing the requirements, including prerequisites, and discuss this plan with an advisor in the major. In addition to courses in the major department, related courses in other fields and supporting courses in basic skills may also be required. These should be included in the tentative semester by semester plan. Some departments require an application to the department and acceptance; and or placement tests prior to admission to classes. The times and places for the tests are determined by the department. Students should contact departments for testing times. Change of Major or Degree To change a major or degree a student must: Undergraduate • 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 150 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: 1. All prerequisites, supporting courses and departmental requirements (i.e. Writing Competency) for each major must be completed. 2. The second major must have a 'minimum' of 18 upper-division credits unique to that major (i.e., minimum of 48 major credits and 138 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 Students who wish to declare a minor to further hone their studies beyond their major are encouraged to do so. A minor requires a minimum of 18 credits, 9 of which must be upper-division. A minimum of 9 credits must also be unique to the minor (not counted toward any other requirements, including minoring in the same department as the major). Students may earn a minor of a different emphasis within the same department as their major. For sound academic reasons and with the approval of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, a school or department may offer a minor with as few as 6 upper-division credits and/or as few as 6 credits unique to the minor. At least 6 credits for the minor must be taken as Biola coursework. Students should seek academic advising from the schools or departments in which they will minor and also confer with the Office of the Registrar regarding each minor’s specific requirements. 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. 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. 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
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