Stephen F. Austin State University

2009 - 2010 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 more than 80 undergraduate degrees and 120 areas of study. SFA offers all 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. Learning is extended beyond the classroom at facilities including the Science Research Center, the Columbia Regional Geospatial Service Center and the Early Childhood Research Center.

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 15 intercollegiate varsity sports and student activities from movies to intramurals, there is something to interest every student.

While the university has undergone tremendous growth and transformation during its first 85 years of service, the change on campus during the past few years has been especially significant. Our residence halls, student center and student recreation center provide facilities to suit almost any personal hobby, preference or need. The people of a university, however, 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.

As we continue to provide excellence, accessibility and diversity in education, we are aware of all we can accomplish with a sense of community as we pursue our goals together. We plan to continue to offer the best education possible - 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 '65, '66
President

Quick Facts

BASICS

FACULTY

COLLEGES

ACADEMICS

COSTS*

*Based on costs at time of printing; subject to change

HISTORY

Academic Calendar

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 & 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 and housing; 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 lists 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.
Corequisite.
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 and are found in the Graduate Bulletin.
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 in contrast to those that are required.
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.
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. 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 graphic 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.

University Showcase

Service to community was an underlying theme of Stephen F. Austin State University's yearlong 85th anniversary celebration. In that spirit, university and community leaders issued a proclamation asking all students, faculty and staff to commemorate the anniversary by participating in 85,000 combined hours of community service leading to the betterment of life for all East Texans. Below, read how one SFA student's class project benefited a Nacogdoches non-profit agency.

What started out as a class project for one SFA student resulted in a grant for a Nacogdoches organization helping disadvantaged women enter the work force.

Traditionally, when students enroll in a college course, they expect to sit in a classroom, listen to lectures and take notes on the important material. But the idea of the traditional classroom has evolved to include "service learning," which helps students put the theories they learn in class into practice.

Students in Dr. Kenneth Untiedt's advanced technical writing class used community service projects to enhance their technical writing skills. Untiedt required his students to research two organizations in the community that interested them. A requirement was that the organizations needed assistance in producing written material, such as brochures and newsletters.

After the presentations, students divided into groups to discuss their projects and select one organization where they could put their research findings into action.

Ana Munzinger, a senior business major from Corpus Christi, and her group worked with the Christian Women's Job Corps of Nacogdoches, an agency offering computer literacy and job readiness classes, along with vocational guidance. As a result of the relationship Munzinger developed with the job corps, she was asked to speak at its spring commencement ceremony.

"Ms. Tiller asked me just to speak to the women and challenge them to continue their commitment to changing their lives," Munzinger said. "I was expecting to see no more than 20 people at the ceremony, but there were about 80 people there to support these women. It was so motivational seeing how determined everyone was to help them succeed."

Due to the quality of the group's work, the Christian Women's Job Corps received a service-learning grant offered by SFA.