Stephen F. Austin State University

2011 - 2012 General Bulletin

Welcome to Stephen F. Austin State University

Choosing a university is one of the most important decisions in life, and there are many reasons to choose SFA. Since 1923, when classes were first held, SFA has grown into a nationally respected university offering 82 undergraduate majors and more than 120 areas of study. Recently ranked in the first tier among the best regional public and private universities in the western United States, SFA offers the academic opportunities and amenities of a larger university while preserving the feel of a tight-knit community. Students experience close interaction with faculty and often have the opportunity to engage with them in innovative research.

Through our strong academic and extracurricular programs, students are encouraged to learn, lead and serve. More than 200 student organizations focus on academics, social activities and/or career goals. Our sports activities, cultural programs, Student Government Association, and other clubs and organizations contribute to an all-around enriching, supportive and stimulating campus environment. With 13 intercollegiate varsity sports and student activities from movies to intramurals, there is something to interest every student. Our residence halls, student center and student recreation center provide facilities to suit almost any personal hobby, preference or need.

The university experienced tremendous growth and transformation during its first 85 years of service, but the change on campus during the past few years has been especially significant. We continue to provide outstanding hands-on educational opportunities for SFA students, while facilitating research that can lead to improvements in the quality of life for every citizen of our state and nation. Although we will persist in expanding and improving our physical landscape, the people of a university are what create a great institution. I am confident that you won't find a more caring collegiate atmosphere than at our university among the pines.

Because we are aware of all we can accomplish with a sense of community as we pursue our goals together, SFA will continue to provide excellence, accessibility and diversity in education. We plan to continue providing students with the academic, leadership and social tools to build a brighter, more successful future for themselves, their communities and the world.

Baker Pattillo
President

Quick Facts

Basics
Faculty
Colleges
Academics
Costs
History

Academic Calendar for 2011 - 2012

Fall Semester 2011
Spring Semester 2012
May-mester, 2012
Summer, 2012

Summer I

Summer II

*Consult schedule of classes online for variations in class beginning and ending dates.

Guide to Using the Bulletin

Organization

This Bulletin has many sections, but basically is divided into 12 broad categories:

  1. Welcome with a greeting from the university president, quick facts and a highlight about the university, the academic calendar and this guide to using the Bulletin.
  2. General Information about the university, its administration and governing body, and the university's mission.
  3. University Policies dealing with the Americans with Disabilities Act, nondiscrimination, use of computer resources, sexual harassment, student academic rights and responsibilities, student conduct, student access to information, and the use and release of student information.
  4. Undergraduate Admissions outlining application policies and procedures and testing requirements.
  5. Academic Programs and Policies including degree requirements, class attendance policies, grading system, grade appeal, academic integrity and grievances, academic progress and suspension, withdrawal from the university, academic honors, honors classes, international programs, advanced placement, credit by examination, international baccalaureate, and correspondence and extension courses.
  6. Registration covering unit of credit and course load, student classification, registration procedures, and adding, dropping and auditing courses.
  7. Fees, Expenses and Financial Aid outlining the costs of attending the university, including the cost of housing, meals, and books; payment deadlines, and installment payment plan; required deposits; residency requirements; tuition rebates, exemptions; waivers and refunds; financial aid; and scholarships.
  8. Student Services explaining facilities, student center and residence life; academic support services; athletics and intramurals; campus safety; counseling services, career services, disability and health services; student employment, testing services and orientation programs and student affairs, government and organizations.
  9. Academic Units divided into colleges. Each consists of smaller units called departments, programs or areas of study. This section of the bulletin begins with the core curriculum and undergraduate degrees offered and then provides a broad overview of each academic unit, degree requirements and courses arranged by subject area.
  10. Appendix listing courses numbered according to the Texas Common Course Numbering System and the comparable courses at Stephen F. Austin State University.
  11. Faculty includes all full-time faculty, their titles, degrees held and the institutions that awarded those degrees.
  12. Index for help in locating a topic or department quickly.

Definitions

The academic terms defined below are used throughout the Bulletin.

Academic advising.
Process in which students interact with university staff/faculty advisers in decision-making, problem solving, and long-range planning related to the students' academic goals.
Advanced courses (Upper Level).
For undergraduate students, these normally are courses offered on the junior and senior levels (300 or 400).
Audit.
To take a course without intention of earning credit.
Certificate.
A formal document that recognizes academic achievement in a specific discipline-usually as an adjunct to an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
Competency.
A specific skill in a specific area.
College.
One of six major academic divisions within the university that offers specialized curricula.
Co-requisite.
A course or other educational requirement that must be completed simultaneously with another course.
Course.
A subject or an instructional subdivision of a subject offered during a term or semester. Each course is assigned a course level. Courses numbered from 100 through 400 levels are undergraduate courses. Courses numbered 500 are master's level and those numbered 600 are doctoral level. These are found in the Graduate Bulletin (on-line).
Course load.
The number of semester hours for which a student enrolls in a given term.
Curriculum.
An organized program of study arranged to provide integrated cultural or professional education.
Discipline.
A branch of learning or field of study, such as mathematics, history or psychology.
Electives.
Courses that students may choose to take (not requirements).
Grade point average (GPA).
The current GPA is determined by dividing the total number of grade points acquired during that semester by the total number of semester hours taken that semester. The cumulative grade point average is the total number of grade points earned in all courses taken at the university divided by the total number of semester hours.
Interdisciplinary.
A course of study from two or more academic disciplines.
Major.
A primary undergraduate or graduate field of specialized study.
Minor.
A secondary undergraduate or graduate field of specialized study.
Pre-professional programs.
Undergraduate courses of study taken in preparation for professional or graduate degrees.
Prerequisite.
A course or other educational requirement that must be completed successfully prior to registering for another course or before proceeding to more advanced study.
Schedule of Classes.
On-line list of courses and sections for a specific semester, including names of instructors; day, hour and place of class meeting; and detailed registration procedures.
Semester/term.
Length of study during which courses are offered.
Semester hour.
Unit of measure for credit purposes. One semester credit hour means a student is expected to spend about two hours in preparation for each hour of lecture or recitation per week.
Seminar.
A small group of students studying a subject under direction of a faculty member. Although practices vary, students may do original research and exchange results through informal lectures, reports and discussions.
Sequence.
Two or more closely related courses that must be taken in specified order.
Transcript.
The record of an individual student, listing course work, grades earned and credits received.
Withdrawal.
Official withdrawal from all courses during a semester at the university. Students usually initiate withdrawal; under certain circumstances other campus personnel may take this action.

Explanation of Course Offerings

The university offers more than 1,600 undergraduate courses as part of its curriculum. In the "Academic Units" section of this Bulletin, these courses are listed alphabetically by course abbreviation. (See next page.) Within each subject the courses appear in numerical order, moving from beginning freshman or remedial-level courses to senior-level.

Not all the courses listed in this Bulletin are offered every year. The university reserves the right to cancel any scheduled course or withdraw any program from the list of offerings when the best interests of the institution require such action.

Courses are designated by a course abbreviation and number along with a descriptive title, such as the following mathematics course:

MTH 138 College Algebra (MATH 1314) - Real numbers, relations and functions, inequalities, matrices, theory of equations, complex numbers, mathematical induction, sequences and series, binomial theorem, permutations and combinations. Students may be required to have a graphing calculator. Prerequisites: See General Course Requirements.

The first digit in the course number indicates the academic level of the course. First digits of 1, 2, 3 or 4 indicate that the course is primarily designed for the freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior year, respectively. Remedial courses begin with "0" (for example, MTH 098). The course numbers in parentheses that follow the course title identify this course as part of the Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS) that facilitates transfer between Texas colleges and universities. (See Appendix.)

Prerequisites for courses. Certain prerequisites apply to some courses listed in this bulletin and are listed at the end of the course description.

Course Abbreviations

The following index may be helpful in interpreting the course abbreviations used in the curriculum sections of this catalog.