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| UNDERGRADUATE
CATALOG 2000-2002 |
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Mission
History
Commitments
Accreditation
University Schools
Ball State University is a
comprehensive, publicly assisted institution of higher education whose mission is to
provide excellent education. It is located in Muncie, Indiana, a city of 78,000, fifty-six
miles northeast of Indianapolis. Although its primary concern is for the citizens of
Indiana, it offers programs with appeal to regional, national, and international
audiences. Ball State University offers more varied academic programs than the small
liberal arts college while providing a more personalized educational experience than may
be found at a large research-oriented university.
Ball State University offers a strong
undergraduate liberal and professional education and selected graduate programs of high
quality. Ball State students can choose from a comprehensive range of academic programs at
the associate, baccalaureate, and master's levels, as well as doctoral programs in areas
where the university has special competence and the state of Indiana has need. In addition
to core academic programs in the arts, sciences, and humanities, the university offers
more than 140 major and minor areas of study through its seven colleges: Applied Sciences
and Technology; Architecture and Planning; Business; Communication, Information, and
Media; Fine Arts; Sciences and Humanities; and Teachers College.
A major component of Ball State's
mission is its obligation to maintain an environment in which scholars, both students and
faculty, are motivated to inquire, to evaluate data and observations, and to use and share
knowledge. Ball State graduates are able to analyze information, think critically, solve
problems, communicate effectively, and demonstrate competency with computers. In addition,
they have an understanding of historical context, an appreciation for aesthetic and
cultural pursuits, and an awareness of the importance of international affairs in modern
society. Ball State graduates are encouraged to participate in experiential education,
such as internships, to enhance career preparation.
Although Ball State University is
primarily a residential academic community, it also supports programs that reach students
well beyond the immediate campus. Through interactive telecommunications, Ball State
students are able to take some courses of study in various teaching sites across Indiana.
Moreover, because the university has a strong commitment to cultural diversity and
international programs, it offers exchange programs with other universities throughout the
world.
Entering Ball State students exhibit
either the immediate ability and motivation or the very strong potential to benefit from
higher education. The university is selective and does not accept for admission all
applicants; in some areas, such as architecture, the university is very selective.
Exceptionally well qualified undergraduate students may enroll in the Honors College for
more intellectually demanding programs of study. Students who exhibit potential and a
strong desire for a university education but who have not decided on a major or who may
need to strengthen their learning skills can take advantage of the special academic
assistance and intensive educational counseling offered by University College.
Ball State faculty members are
primarily concerned with the quality of education offered to students; that concern is
manifested through personal contact and accessibility. Integral to Ball State's teaching
function is its obligation to provide a climate in which professors and students pursue
scholarly activities or creative endeavors together. These activities enhance the teaching
mission of the university. This blend of research and teaching not only contributes to the
advancement of knowledge in specific disciplines, but also offers practical applications
as faculty members find new ways to use their research discoveries in working with
off-campus practitioners. Faculty members are expected to remain active in their
professional activities and organizations and to provide service to the university,
community, and state.
As part of Ball State's commitment to
excellence in education, the university offers students a friendly, collegiate atmosphere;
a full range of out-of-class activities; and excellent, well-planned academic,
residential, and recreational facilities. An impressive array of student support services
contributes to the personal, social, and intellectual development of all students. Because
Ball State seeks to foster the full development of individual potential, it encourages the
active involvement of students in a variety of university-sponsored programs.
Ball State University strives to be a
premier teaching institution offering, at a reasonable cost, instruction and scholarly
inquiry of high quality within an environment that emphasizes personal attention. The
university's mission continues to be to provide a strong liberal education that gives its
graduates the foundation for diverse and rewarding lives.
Ball State University was founded as
Indiana State Normal School, Eastern Division, in 1918. Its antecedents, all housed in
what is now the Ball State Administration Building, were also normal schools, owned and
operated under various names. In 1918, the Ball brothers, a prominent Muncie industrial
family, bought the property and donated it to the state of Indiana, which, in turn,
transferred control of the school to the board of trustees of the Indiana State Normal
School. In 1922, in recognition of the generosity of the Ball brothers, the board added
Ball Teachers College to the school's name. In 1929, the Indiana General Assembly
separated the two colleges, naming the campus in Muncie Ball State Teachers College.
On February 8, 1965, the general
assembly renamed the institution Ball State University in recognition of its phenomenal
growth in enrollment and physical facilities; the variety and quality of its educational
programs and services; and in anticipation of the much broader role it would
be expected to assume in the future.
A university's commitments reflect its
character. Among the values we stress at Ball State University are the following:
We value teaching. Like
most universities, our mission includes teaching, research, and service. We believe,
however, that the last two should serve the needs of the first; we have made a commitment
to excellence in teaching. Our best teachers and researchers are in the classroom.
We value integrity. Academic
integrity is fundamental to the quality of a university and its graduates. Ball State
University fosters an atmosphere of honest scholarship. High standards of integrity are
expected from all members of the university community.
We value diversity. Because
we believe there is strength in diversity, the university seeks students from all ethnic,
cultural, regional, and economic backgrounds. The opportunity to interact with people of
other races, ages, and life-styles--students from cities, rural communities, and other
countries--will broaden students' perspectives and foster understanding and appreciation
of our differences.
We value the ability to communicate.
One of the requirements for success in any career is the ability to communicate
effectively in spoken and written language. At Ball State students develop the ability to
speak and write and to convey ideas clearly through the completion of the University Core
Curriculum requirements in English and speech. They are also required to take a writing
competency exam during their junior year.
We value wellness. Wellness
involves a series of personal choices. We are committed to providing an environment in
which students can learn to take responsibility for their well-being in all parts of their lives—social, physical, emotional, intellectual, vocational, and spiritual.
We value technological competence.
Ball State seeks to prepare its students to deal with the technology of the
twenty-first century. Students must be able to understand technological applications and
to use them when appropriate. In recognition of that need, the university has become
involved on many fronts with providing the latest in technology for its students, an
effort that places Ball State on the cutting edge of technology in telecommunications.
We value computer competence.
The university has built computer competence into the upper-division courses in
each major. At Ball State students learn to use computers to solve real problems in their
academic disciplines.
We value assessment. Measuring
student intellectual growth, attitudes, perceptions, and skills provides the university
with essential information in evaluating its effectiveness. Students are expected to
participate in assessment activities that will enable the university to improve its
educational offerings and services.
We value experiential education.
Internships and co-ops give students experience for their résumés, allow them
to test their commitment to their majors, help them establish contacts with employers, and
give them a clearer understanding of the careers they are considering. We strive to
provide experiential education opportunities for all interested students.
ACCREDITATION
Ball State University is accredited by the
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the American Association of
Museums, the National Architectural Accrediting Board, the American Society of
Landscape Architects, the Committee on Professional Training of the American
Chemical Society, and the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.
All teacher education and licensing programs
are accredited by the Indiana Professional Standards Board and the National
Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
The university is a full member of the
National Association of Schools of Music and the Association of Collegiate
Schools of Architecture.
The university is an institutional member of
the American Association of University Women.
The dietetics program in the Department of
Family and Consumer Sciences is approved by the American Dietetic Association.
The dietetic technology program has developmental accreditation by the American
Dietetic Association.
The technology teacher education program in
the Department of Industry and Technology is accredited by the Council for
Technology Teacher Education. The manufacturing engineering technology program
is accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation
Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), 111 Market Place, Suite 1050,
Baltimore, MD 21202, phone (410) 347-7700.
The programs in the School of Nursing are
accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (350 Hudson
Street, New York, New York 10014, (212) 989-9393, ext. 451 or (800) 669-9656,
ext. 153) and the Indiana State Board of Nursing.
The athletic training major in the School of
Physical Education is accredited by the National Athletic Trainers Association.
The program in urban planning is accredited
by the Planning Accreditation Board of the American Institute of Certified
Planners and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.
The College of Business is accredited by the
American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business and the National Association
of Business Teacher Education. The accounting programs is accredited by the
Accounting Accreditation Committee of the American Assembly of Collegiate
Schools of Business.
The program in medical technology is
accredited by the National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Life Sciences.
The Department of Geology is accredited by
the American Institute of Professional Geologists.
The Department of Journalism is accredited by
the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.
The allied health science programs are
accredited by the American Medial Association and the Committee on Allied Health
Education Accreditation. The associate degree program in nuclear medicine
technology is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Nuclear
Medicine Technology. The associate degree program in radiography is accredited
by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
The Center for Medical Education is
accredited as a part of the Indiana University School of Medicine by the Liaison
Committee on Medical Education, Association of American Medical Colleges.
The two-year legal assistance program is
accredited by the American Bar Association.
The Department of Social Work is accredited
by the Commission on Standards and Accreditation of the Council on Social Work
Education.
The Counseling and Psychological Services
Center is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services.
The university also holds membership in many
professional organizations, including the American Association of State Colleges
and Universities, American Council on Education. American Association of
Colleges for Teacher Education, Council for Advancement and Support of
Education, Council of Graduate Schools in the United States, National University
Continuing Education Association, and College Entrance Examination Board.
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UNIVERSITY SCHOOLS
BURRIS LABORATORY SCHOOL
Burris Laboratory School serves as a laboratory in which preservice and inservice teachers can observe education practices; prospective teachers can gain experience working with young people before student teaching; and teachers can develop, study, and test ideas and methods for improving education. The school publicizes its findings and offers consulting and leadership services for public schools. Burris Laboratory School enrolls students in kindergarten through the twelfth grade.
(back to top)INDIANA ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, AND HUMANITIES
www.bsu.edu/academy
The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities is a residential school for three hundred of Indiana's most academically gifted high school juniors and seniors. In addition to core courses required for all students, the exploratory curriculum gives students the opportunity to sample advanced courses from the university's curriculum and to pursue individualized research and experiential education opportunities in cooperation with businesses, university faculty members, and practicing professionals. Students are also required to
provide services to both the Indiana Academy and the larger community.
The Indiana Academy also offers one of the most
extensive outreach programs of any residential program in the
country. Included are a one-year teacher fellowship program;
monthly and summer staff development workshops for teachers;
electronic field trips and on-line resources for students and
teachers K-12; year-long Advanced Placement, foreign language, and
science distant learning courses for high school students; and an
extensive two-year elementary modern language course.
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