2008-2009 Catalog - Virginia Wesleyan College

PLAN OF STUDY 33repeated courses, only the hours and the grade points fromthe last attempt are used in the computation.The following examples demonstrate the method ofcomputing the grade point averages:1. A student who completes 15 semester hours with 12semester hours of C and 3 semester hours of S hasearned 24 quality points for the C’s and no qualitypoints for the S. To find the student’s average, dividethe 12 semester hours of traditionally graded workattempted into the 24 quality points earned to findthe grade point average of 2.0.2. A student who completes 15 semester hours with 3semester hours of B, 3 of C+, 3 of C-, 3 of D, and 3of F has earned 9 quality points for the B, 6.99 forthe C+, 5.01 for the C-, 3 for the D, and 0 for the F,for a total of 24 quality points. Divide the 15semester hours into the 24 quality points to find thegrade point average of 1.6.A semester’s grade point average is computed underthese rules by considering only courses undertaken in agiven semester. The cumulative grade point average of allwork at Virginia Wesleyan is simply computed byconsidering all traditionally graded courses undertaken.Cumulative grade point averages cannot be computed byaveraging semester grade point averages.Incomplete: An Incomplete is given at the discretion ofthe instructor when circumstances beyond the control ofthe student prevent the completion of course requirements.Incomplete work must be made up during the ensuingterm (summer counting as a term) so that a letter grade canbe turned in to the Registrar no later than the last day ofclasses. Otherwise, an Incomplete is recorded as an “F.” Anyexception to this practice must have the approval of thedean of the college prior to the stated deadline.Graduating with Honors: In order to be considered forany category of graduation with honors, students mustfulfill all institutional requirements described in the catalogunder which they are to graduate. For a student whosemajor draws on a single discipline, the average shall becomputed by including all courses which appear on thetranscript bearing the rubric of the major discipline andwhich the catalog describes as suitable for fulfillment of amajor in the discipline. For a student who is majoring in aprogram which draws on more than one discipline, thisaverage shall be computed by including all courses which,according to a list provided to the registrar by the student’sadviser, constitute the major program for that student.Each of the following requirements must besatisfied to graduate with Latin honorsSem. hrs. completed at VWC 60Degree hours completed (min.) 120*Minimum GPA major courses(including transfer courses)3.0*Minimum cum GPA(including transfer courses)3.4Two traditionally-gradedcourses (3 or more sem. hrs. ea.)at the 300/400 level fromtwo different divisionscum laudemagna cum laudesumma cum laude6 sem. hrs.•Cumulative GPA ofat least 3.40•Cumulative GPA ofat least 3.60•Recommendation ofdepartment ordivision•Faculty vote•Entitled tomagna cum laude•Cumulative GPA ofat least 3.80•6 sem. hrs. ofindependent researchat the 300/400 levelwith highcompetenceas certified by thefaculty supervisor(s)*Transferred grades cannot increase the VWC GPAfor honorsThe independent research requirements may be satisfiedby the completion of: 1) 300-400-level independentresearch (see “Program Enhancement”); 2) 400-levelcatalog courses such as senior projects, senior thesis ororiginal research projects requiring independent research;or 3) an alternate independent project primarily devoted toindependent research. Catalog courses, such as, but notlimited to, BIO 489, CHEM 489, CJ 480, CS 489, EES489, HIST 360, 460, INST 482, MATH 489, MUS 480,PSY 480, SOC 480, SOSCI 351 satisfy the independentresearch requirement. The independent work need not be“original” except to the student, and could be primarilyexpository in nature. A student should demonstrate thathe/she understands the methods of independent researchand can employ them in the production of a significantpaper or project. The faculty supervisor of such projectsshall make application in writing to the appropriatedivision chairman for approval of the project andevaluation shall be similar to the method used forindependent research.Two final copies of each project intended to satisfy theindependent research requirements for highest distinctionare to be submitted by the student. One is to be markedand graded by the project evaluators. The other copy,bearing the signatures of its evaluators, will remainunmarked and will be placed in the library for publicexamination for a period of not less than one month duringthe following semester (excluding summer).To qualify for any honors category, students withtransfer credit must satisfy the quality point average requirementsboth in the set of all courses counted towardgraduation and in the set of courses taken at VirginiaWesleyan.