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What is the purpose of the
Catalog?
How is the
Catalog organized for searching?
How
do I interpret the program description and
requirements?
Definitions of Programs—terms to know
Descriptions of Programs—parts making up the
whole
Viewing Programs—a visual map
How do I find the content and select courses
listed in the programs?
What is the purpose of the Catalog?
Information in the Undergraduate Catalog is considered the
official standard for course information, programs, policy and regulations of specific
departments or degree programs. Because curriculum revisions and program changes
could occur after printing during the two-year period the Undergraduate Catalog is in circulation, students should assume
the responsibility of consulting the
appropriate academic unit or advisor for more current or specific information.
How is the Catalog organized for searching?
The Web version of the catalog mirrors the printed version
and follows the academic structure of the university. The university is made up of
colleges which administer their various departments. Searchers may browse curriculum by
viewing the departments within colleges to learn about the majors, minors, specialized
programs, and courses taught in the department. Searches for specific programs can be
initiated from the Catalog Home Page "Quick Links" or the Search Engine
incorporated into this site.
NAVIGATIONAL STRUCTURE:
LEVEL 1: Home Page Links: "Quick Links" (search by college, department, program, course
prefix);
general
academic programs;
general degree requirements;
general educational
opportunities and services.
LEVEL 2: Specific Academic
Information -- Colleges, Departments, Programs: "College List"
linking to each college.
LEVEL 3: College Information Page:
Provides
links to all departments within the college and a preview of all
programs within the departments.
LEVEL 4: Department Level Information Page:
Includes a list of programs and course
prefixes, requirements for each program, and course descriptions of courses offered in the
department.
How
do I interpret the program description and
requirements?
- Definitions of Programs—terms to know
- Descriptions of Programs—parts making up
the whole
- Viewing Programs—a visual map
Definition of Programs: terms to know
The highest level of study available in a department
is normally a "major"---a concentration of courses in a particular subject area;
the next level below the major would normally be called a "minor." The
minimum requirements for a Bachelor's degree program consists of the University Core
Curriculum, a major, and a total of 126 credits. Some programs could have
requirements which bring the total above 126 (see General
Academic Programs). If, by adding the University Core Curriculum and the
major, the total is below 126, the remaining hours could be filled by electives
(choice of
student), or additional programs, usually one or more minors or possibly an additional
major(s). Teaching programs require standard professional courses and could include
teaching minors or courses for additional licensing areas.
Associate degree programs require a minimum of 63 credits
(exceptions, see General Academic Programs) and
include an abbreviated Core Curriculum and a concentration. In some instances,
students may have a choice from options in the concentration. Some 2-year programs
offer a choice for electives.
Descriptions of Programs---parts making up the
whole
Each program for a department is described by courses and
hours required. Often, courses are placed into various requirement groups:
- courses making up a core of courses
required for all majors (example: the Miller College of Business common core)
- courses required for various options of
choice (example: Biology major: Wildlife option)
- courses required for an emphasis or
track within an option
(example: Family and Consumer Sciences Merchandising option---apparel design emphasis)
- directed electives (electives limited to
courses selected by the department)
- complimentary minors required (example:
Graphic Arts Management-- Business Administration minor)
Viewing Programs: a visual map
Each college level page links to departments. The
department level page lists programs and links to the requirements for the programs which
uses the following format:
| PREFIX |
NO |
SHORT TITLE |
CR HRS |
| ENG |
103 |
Eng Comp 1 |
3 |
PREFIX column: An abbreviation for the
course (designated by the department or academic area offering the course).
NO column: A designation identifying a
particular course designated with the prefix.
SHORT TITLE column: An abbreviated
version of the title in the official course description.
CR HRS column: "Credit
Hours" shows the credit earned value of the course.
For further information on the courses required for a
program, the searcher may look at the courses section of the department level page. Courses at Ball State are identified by prefix and course number. Course descriptions are presented in the following format:
Course Descriptions:
ENGLISH (ENG)
103 English Composition 1. (3)
Introduction to composition with an emphasis on writing short essays. Includes
assigned readings. Introduction to basic research methods.
Prerequisite: appropriate combination of SATV or ACT scores and high school rank.
Not open to students who have credit in ENG 101 or 102.
In course descriptions, the course number is immediately
before the prefix. If a number in parentheses follows, it is the most recent former number
of the course.
Course numbers are categorized as follows:
Courses numbered below 100 are not offered for credit toward graduation.
Courses numbered from 100 to 199 are primarily freshman courses.
Courses numbered from 200 to 299 are primarily sophomore courses.
Courses numbered from 300 to 399 are primarily junior courses.
Courses numbered from 400 to 499 are primarily senior courses.
Courses numbered 500 and higher are graduate courses.
A student who earns credit in a course under any other number may not earn
credit in it under its current number except under the terms of course repetition. It is
the responsibility of the student to not duplicate courses. If a course number
has changed, the previous catalog's course number is in parentheses immediately
following the course number--this indicates the course was previously taught
under the number in the parentheses and should not be taken again under the new
number (except course repetition).
The number in parentheses after the descriptive title of the course is the
credit-hour value of the course. It shows the specific total number of credit hours that
can be earned in the course unless another statement in the description permits earning a
greater number of credits. The hours may also be listed as a range (for example, 15,
which means a student can earn up to 5 hours of credit in the course); or as two
possibilities (for example, 3 or 6, which means a student can earn either 3 or 6 hours of
credit in the course).
Prerequisite refers to a course or courses that must be taken before the
described course.
Parallel indicates a course or courses that must be taken at the same time
as the described course.
Prerequisite recommended indicates a course that is not required
but would provide additional preparation for the course described.
How to Interpret Prerequisites
A prerequisite may consist of a specific single course, multiple courses (or sets of
courses), a choice of courses, class standing, or other criteria such as test scores or
completion of a specific test or application approval, a minimum grade attained in a
specific course, a minimum grade-point average, department permission, major or minor, acceptance
into a major or minor.
NOTE: In some
cases the stated prerequisite course can have its own prerequisites which are not
necessarily stated within the course description. Checking each prerequisite course for
additional information is a good practice for selection of appropriate courses.
Examples:
BIOLOGY (BIO)
215 Cell Biology. (4)
An introduction to the biology of the cell, including cell
differentiation and growth, the nature of the organization of the cell, basic
bioenergetics and enzyme function, cell environment, membrane structure and
function, cell metabolism, and the work performed by cells.
Prerequisite: BIO 111, 112; CHEM 231 or permission of the department
chairperson.
Translation: A student must have the following before taking BIO 215:
(1) BIO 111 and 112
(2) CHEM 231 or permission of the department chairperson.
These additional prerequisites were discovered by looking
up each course (see block below):
BIO 111 requires one year of high school chemistry, or one semester of college chemistry,
or the equivalent knowledge.
CHEM 231 requires CHEM 112.
CHEM 112 requires CHEM 111 and MATHS 108 or the equivalent.
CHEM 111 requires one year of secondary school algebra or the equivalent.
MATHS 108, Intermediate Algebra, has a recommended prerequisite.
Students who question their knowledge level or preparation
for a course should seek additional information from advisors or the department. For
example, even though a specific course is not stated as prerequisite for MATHS 108, the
student could take courses helpful for attaining the knowledge assumed for the course.
BIOLOGY (BIO)
111 Principles of Biology 1. (4)
Designed for biology, allied health, and other science majors. Emphasis at cellular level:
chemical and physical organization of life, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure and
function, bioenergetics, cell division, genetics, gene expression, protein synthesis, and
evolution. Lecture and laboratory.
Prerequisite: one year of high school chemistry, one semester of college chemistry, or the
equivalent.
112 Principles of Biology 2. (4)
Emphasis at organism, population, and community levels: major plant and animal
phyla with emphasis on structure, function, classification, and phylogenetic
relationships; ecology, including human ecology and environmental biology. Lecture and
laboratory.
CHEMISTRY
(CHEM)
111 General Chemistry 1. (4)
Chemistry of the elements and their compounds with emphasis on basic principles. Atomic
and molecular structure, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, properties of solutions, and
nature of matter. Three hours of lecture and one three-hour recitation-laboratory period
weekly.
Prerequisite: one year of secondary school algebra or the equivalent.
112 General Chemistry 2. (4)
Continuation and extension of CHEM 111, including chemical kinetics, electrochemistry,
chemical equilibrium, chemistry of metals and nonmetals, and radioactivity. Three hours of
lecture and one three-hour recitation-laboratory period weekly.
Prerequisite: CHEM 111; MATHS 108.
231 Organic Chemistry 1. (4)
Nomenclature, structure, bonding, and functional group chemistry of organic compounds.
Three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory period weekly.
Prerequisite: CHEM 112.
Not open to students who have credit in CHEM 234.
MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES (MATHS)
108 Intermediate Algebra. (3)
Review of factoring, quadratic equations and inequalities, relations and functions,
rational exponents, systems of linear equations, and exponential and logarithmic
functions.
Recommended background: two years of college preparatory mathematics in high school.
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