OTHER ACADEMIC INFORMATION

:: Credits

Because Ball State University is on the semester system, credits earned for a degree are expressed in semester hours. Generally, a semester hour means one daily fifty minute period in class each week for a semester, approximately fifteen weeks. A typical class period is fifty minutes in length and the content may be a lecture by the professor, a group discussion, presentation by students, or an examination. A three semester hour course would meet for three fifty minute periods a week in class. Two or three hours in laboratory are considered the equivalent of one hour in class. The average number of hours carried each semester is 16 hours for the undergraduate and 12 hours for the graduate. As an international UNDERGRADUATE student, you are required to carry at least 12 hours each semester.  As an international GRADUATE student you are required to carry at least 9 hours each semester (unless you have a graduate assistantship).

The bachelor's degree requires the completion of a minimum of 126 semester hours. At least 30 hours, including a 6 hour thesis or a 3 hour research paper or a designated graduate research methodology course, are needed to complete the master's degree. The doctoral degree candidate must complete, including the dissertation, at least 90 semester hours of graduate work beyond the master's degree.

:: Classes

The lecture method is the usual way of teaching; however, professors frequently involve the students in discussion of the subject, and class members are expected to participate. The lectures may cover assigned readings or they may cover supplementary materials related to the textbook. Required readings may be in one or more textbooks. Frequently a bibliography is provided from which students are expected to select readings supplementing the textbook requirement. Oral and written reports by the student are frequently required. Textbook, reference books, lectures, and class discussions are in English in all classes except for foreign language classes.

:: Examinations

The kind and number of examinations in a given course are determined by the professor. Most professors give important examinations at mid­semester and at the end of the semester. In some classes tests are given more frequently. Class attendance and being on time are very important. Examinations, which are usually written, may be subjective in nature; however, the objective type of examination is often used. In an objective examination the student must decide whether given statements are true or false or must select the correct statement from several choices.

:: Grades

At the end of each semester a letter grade for each course taken is recorded on the student's permanent record, indicating the quality of the student's performance as determined by examinations, required papers, and class participation. The grades are as follows: A= excellent, B=above average, C=average, D=poor, F=failing. The university also offers some students, under certain conditions, the choice of enrolling in classes under the pass/fail option (credit/no credit). This option is not available for graduate courses.