2019-2020 BSC Catalog

14 ACADEMIC POLICY AND INFORMATION
ACADEMIC POLICY AND INFORMATION
Academic Calendar
The academic calendar is divided into two terms, a fall term beginning in late August and
concluding in December, and a spring term beginning in early February and concluding
in May. The month of January is an Exploration term during which students engage in an
academic project under the supervision of a faculty member. There is also a summer term
on campus, including regular coursework and undergraduate research. The academic
calendar, showing pertinent dates for the academic year, is posted on the College website.
Typically, courses in regular terms are scheduled for two or three days per week. Not all
courses conform to this schedule; the College recognizes that different kinds of learning
experiences may require different contexts for learning. Students should consult the class
schedule as they plan their courses each term. A “Common Hour,” when no classes are
held, is built into the schedule on Tuesdays and Thursdays for special programs,
speakers, and College community activities.
Classification of Students
Students who are candidates for a bachelor’s degree are classified as follows: first-year
students, if they have completed fewer than seven units (regular units, excluding
Exploration term units); sophomores, if they have completed at least seven but fewer than
15 regular units; juniors, if they have completed at least 15 but fewer than 23 regular
units; and seniors, if they have completed at least 23 regular units but have not completed
all degree requirements. Transient students and special students are classified as notcandidate-for-degree
students.
Unit System for Academic Credit
The basic measure of academic credit at Birmingham-Southern College is a “unit,” which
reflects time spent in the classroom, lab, and/or studio, and completing course-related
assignments. A unit is the equivalent of four semester hours or six quarter hours. Each
one-unit course requires a minimum of 180 academic hours (150 clock hours; 9000
minutes).
Academic Load
Enrollment in three units is the minimum required for full-time status during a regular
term (fall and spring). During the fall and spring term, a full-time student’s normal load is
four full-unit courses or the equivalent. During the summer term, the normal full-time
load is two full-unit courses. During the Exploration term, the normal full-time load is a
project credited as one full-unit course.
Birmingham-Southern College Catalog 2019-2020