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Academic Information
Graduation Requirements
To be eligible to graduate from a certificate program, a student must fulfill the following graduation requirements:
Health-Care Certificate Programs:
- Completion of the college's residency requirement.
- Completion of all professional courses within five years of beginning the sequence.
- Completion of all program requirements within seven years of admittance to St. Catherine's.
Other Certificate Programs:
- Completion of the program's course requirement.
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
Associate Degree Programs:
All candidates for an associate degree must fulfill the following graduation requirements:
- Completion of all program requirements within seven years of admittance to St. Catherine's.
- Completion of the college residency requirement of a minimum of 30 semester credits.
- A.S. and A.A.S. degrees only: Completion of all professional courses within five years of beginning the sequence.
Associate Degree Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Requirements:
- Written/Oral Composition and Communication - ENGL 110
- Humanities - two credits in literature (ENGL 209, 210 or 299) and two credits in art
- Natural Science and Mathematics - six credits (may be taken in biology, chemistry, ecology, math or physics)
- Theology - two credits
- Social and Behavioral Science - eight credits (PSYC 100, SSCS 100 and two other credits in SSCS electives)
- Philosophy - PHIL 200
At least four additional credits of liberal arts and sciences are required for the A.A.S. degree and the A.S. degree. Individual programs may require specific credits in the liberal arts and sciences.
Students are encouraged to refer to their program's curriculum guide in this catalog for program-specific credit requirements.
For information about the two credit minimum requirement for Core Integrated Learning (CIL), refer to the CIL section of the catalog.
Baccalaureate Programs:
The college offers four-year programs in the liberal arts and sciences, or in the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation, leading to the bachelor of arts (B.A.) or the bachelor of science (B.S.) All candidates for a B.A. or B.S. degree must fulfill the following graduation requirements.
- A minimum of 130 semester credits including: a) completion of the liberal arts core requirements for either the B.A. or B.S. degree, as appropriate to the major; b) acceptance into and completion of the requirements for an approved major; c) a minimum of 80 semester credits outside the department of the major, or outside the department with the most courses required as part of an interdepartmental major.
- Demonstration of required proficiencies in writing and information and technology.
- Completion of the college residency requirement of a minimum of 64 semester credits. This residency requirement is reduced to a minimum of 48 semester credits at St. Catherine's if 57 or more semester credits are transferred prior to enrollment at St. Catherine's.
- Completion of the senior residency requirement of 24 of the last 32 semester credits in residence.
- Completion of an Intent to Graduate form.
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
Baccalaureate Liberal Arts Core Requirements
The following requirements apply to students seeking either a B.A. or a B.S. degree. (Additional requirements for each degree are listed under "Additional requirements. . .")
Writing Requirement (see below).
Information and Technology Proficiency (see below).
CORE courses - both CORE 100W The Reflective Woman, and CORE 399W The Global Search for Justice.
History - one course.
Literature in English - one literature course that involves careful reading of any literary genre originally written in and read in English. (Creative writing courses do no meet this requirement.)
Fine Arts - one course from among the following: art, music, theater or classical mythology. Special rules apply for music lessons and ensembles.
Philosophy - one course, excluding PHIL 210 and/or PHIL 215.
Theology - one course. (This course must be a course that offers students an intellectual account of some of the key elements of Christian theological tradition. See the Theology section of this catalog for more information.)
Foreign Language - demonstration of equivalency through the second semester level either by completion of the second semester elementary course at the College of St. Catherine or by achieving a passing grade on an approved equivalency test. American Sign Language (ASL) satisfies this requirement. Satisfied by two years of high school course work in the same language, with a minimum grade of C-.
Health and Fitness - completion of two different one-credit courses from the EXSS 100 offerings, or the two-credit EXSS 103 Health, Fitness and Lifestyle Issues.
Social Science - one course from among the following: anthropology, economics, geography, political science, psychology or sociology, except ECON 220 or 225, or PSYC 205.
Laboratory Science - one course with a laboratory component chosen from biology, chemistry, geology or physics.
Mathematics or statistics - one course, selected from ECON 220 or 225, PSYC 205 or any MATH course numbered 100 or higher, except MATH 250.
Additional requirements for students seeking a B.A. degree:
Foreign Language - demonstration of equivalency through the third semester level either by completion of the first semester intermediate course at the College of St. Catherine or by achieving a passing grade on an approved equivalency test. Satisfied by three years of acceptable high school course work in the same language, with a minimum grade of C-.
Philosophy or Theology - one additional course.
Additional requirements for students seeking a B.S. degree:
Mathematics, Laboratory Science or Social Science - two additional courses from any of these three categories.
Students who believe they have language skills sufficient to meet the language requirements (for example, native speakers from another country for whom English is a second language) should contact the Registrar's Office.
Required Proficiencies - Baccalaureate Programs
The ability to communicate and use information effectively is critical to both professional achievement and the fulfillment of public responsibilities and personal relationships. The faculty at the College of St. Catherine support and encourage the development of oral and written communication and information and technology skills. Throughout the curriculum, whether core requirements or courses directly associated with a student's major, students will learn to communicate to a variety of audiences and access and manipulate information in myriad ways. That is why, in addition to course work, the college provides a Writing/Reading Center with professional and student staff ready to assist students to improve their communication skills and a Computing Services Center that offers training and helpdesk support for students' academic computing needs.
BACCALAUREATE WRITING REQUIREMENT
Clear, eloquent writing opens doors to worlds students aspire to enter. At the College of St. Catherine, writing competency is required of all students as part of the basic process of earning a degree. To this end, each student must take four writing-intensive courses. This college writing requirement is fulfilled in the following ways:
CORE WRITING REQUIREMENT
Both CORE 100W The Reflective Woman and CORE 399W Global Search for Justice are writing- intensive courses. Successful completion of the two courses shall fulfill two writing-intensive course requirements.
WRITING REQUIREMENT FOR MAJORS
Each student must take one writing-intensive course, or the equivalent of one writing-intensive course, in her major. In those disciplines where the writing requirement has been integrated throughout the departmental curriculum, students fulfill the major's writing requirement through drafting and redrafting a sequence of writing assignments in several courses, following plans specially devised for majors. Students completing a major through another Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) school should consult with the director of writing programs to determine the St. Catherine's writing-intensive course(s) related to their major that can satisfy this component of the writing requirement.
FOURTH COURSE REQUIREMENT
A fourth and final writing-intensive course may be taken in the form of any other writing-intensive course, whether elective or required for a major or minor course of study. ENGL 200W Writing: Developing Skill and Confidence, a composition course with emphases upon the writing process, drafting techniques and concerns with audience, is recommended for students wanting a course focusing exclusively upon writing. Writing-intensive courses are indicated by a "W" after the course number (also see list of writing-intensive courses for the 2003-04 academic year below). Majors that have elected to integrate writing across the curriculum will describe their plans in separate departmental materials. Students should consult their major advisor for information on their major's writing requirement. An expository writing course transferred from another college or university may be credited as one writing-intensive course, depending upon approval from the director of writing programs and the registrar.
Writing-intensive Courses for 2003-04
ART 265W Art History: Modern
BADM 312W Intermediate Accounting II
BADM 449W Business Policy Formulation
BADM 463W Sales Force Leadership
BIOL 485W Senior Seminar
CDC 315W Developing Therapeutic and Counselor Authenticity
COMM 307W Gender & Rhetoric
COMM 485W Senior Seminar
CORE 100W The Reflective Woman
CORE 399W Global Search for Justice
CRST 205W Foundations of Critical Studies
CRST 221W Perspectives on Health and Aging
CRST 290W Women and Literature
CRST 310W Language as Power
CRST 325W Cultural Anthropology
CRST 485W Senior Seminar
ECON 348W International Economics
ECON 361W Microeconomic Theory
ECON 485W Seminar in International Business and Economics
EDUC 207W Teachers as Leaders for a Changing Society
ENGL 200W Writing: Developing Skill & Confidence
ENGL 202W Intermediate Writing: Strengthening Critical & Persuasive Voice
ENGL 203W Personal Writing: Autobiographical/Reflective
ENGL 213W Written Communication for College (when taken after ENGL 212)
ENGL 230W Literature in Translation
ENGL 260W English for Cross-Cultural Nursing
ENGL 275W Shakespeare
ENGL 290W Women and Literature
ENGL 302W Advanced Expository Writing
ENGL 304W Journalistic Writing
ENGL 305W Linguistics
ENGL 310W Language as Power
ENGL 402W The Editorial Process
ENGL 486W Seminar
FCNS 215W Sociocultural Aspects of Clothing
FCNS 400W Management Approach to Family Systems
FCNS 421W Experimental Foods
FCNS 430W Advanced Nutrition
FREN 305W French Composition I
FREN 306W French Composition II
HIST 130W Introduction to U.S. History
INDI 209W Promotional Communication
INDI 221W Perspectives on Health and Aging
INFM 320W Research and Needs Analysis
ISYS 415W Management of Information Systems and Projects
MATH 485W Senior Seminar
MUS 311W History and Literature of Music I
MUS 312W History and Literature of Music II
OSOT 310W/510 Life Occupations
OSOT 455W/655 Seminar
PHIL 220W Ethics
PHIL 230W Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 420W Contemporary Ethical Theory
PHIL 485W Senior Seminar
POSC 171W Introduction to Political Science
POSC 220W Introduction to Comparative Government
SOCI 325W Cultural Anthropology
SOCI 370W Social Theory
SPAN 300W Oral and Written Spanish
SPAN 325W Advanced Oral & Written Spanish
THEO 320W Suffering, Compassion and Healing
THEO 338W Women and the Bible
THEO 345W Women in American Christianity
THEO 367W Quest for God in Contemporary Experience
THEO 375W Studies in World Religions
THEO 380W Spirituality and Work
THEO 393W Christian Women Mystics
THR 412W Drama: Theory and Criticism
WOST 205W Foundations in Women's Studies
WOST 290W Women and Literature
WOST 310W Language as Power
WOST 325W Cultural Anthropology
WOST 338W Women and the Bible
WOST 345W Women and American Christianity
WOST 393W Christian Women Mystics
WOST 485W Senior Seminar (when offered at St. Catherine's)
Changes to Writing-intensive Course List for 2004-05
Added:
CDC 445W Group Therapy and Counselor Self-care
INT 421W Senior Seminar
WOST 307W Gender & Rhetoric
INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY PROFICIENCY
The information and technology proficiency requirement is integrated into the course work for majors of most departments. Students will be expected to use discipline-appropriate computer applications (e.g., word processing, graphing, database searching, statistical analysis, spreadsheet construction) in courses within their major and in the required mathematics or statistics course. Information technology is also addressed in CORE 100W The Reflective Woman.
In the event that the major does not fulfill the requirement, the department will advise students on an alternative method for its completion (e.g., successful completion of INFM 250, PHYS 111, CSCI 106 or any other St. Catherine's computer science course).
Students who are pursuing a major through the ACTC should consult with the Office of the Academic Dean on an acceptable way to demonstrate satisfaction of this requirement.
Major Fields of Study
Baccalaureate majors consist of not fewer than seven nor more than 10 courses required in the department. Approved interdepartmental majors may consist of up to 12 courses required from among the disciplines comprising the major.
All course work in a baccalaureate major is subject to the following restrictions:
- Courses in a major must be taken for a regular letter grade. A minimum grade of C- is required for a course to be counted toward the major. Unless otherwise stated, a minimum cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) must be earned for all major course work.
- A minimum of one-half of the courses in the major must be completed in residence.
- Transfer courses, substitutions and courses taken on campuses of the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) for a St. Catherine's major require the approval of the chair of the major department.
- Supporting courses for some majors must be completed for a letter grade with at least a C- or C. Unless otherwise stated, required supporting courses may be completed with the S/U grading option.
PETITIONING FOR ADMISSION TO MAJOR OR CHANGE OF MAJOR
CERTIFICATE AND ASSOCIATE PROGRAMS
Students who wish to change programs or majors must complete the required paper work. Forms for this purpose can be obtained in the Registrar's Office.
BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS
Normally, a student will select a major field of study before the end of her sophomore year by petitioning for admission to the department. Departmental approval of the petition is required for admission to the major. Forms for this purpose may be obtained from the Office of Academic Advising. In some departments, it may be necessary to limit the number of petitions approved in any given year because of limited clinical facilities, internship opportunities or other similar factors related to required learning experiences in the program.
Special Majors
A student may plan and gain approval for a special major involving work in two or more departments when no existing major or double major meets her academic needs. The Petition for Special Major form with complete instructions and requirements is available in the Office of Academic Affairs. Examples of such majors have included Family Studies and Engineering Physics. Such majors are to consist of a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 15 courses, with at least half of the courses to be numbered 300 or above. Special majors require the approval of the Educational Policies Committee.
Minors - Baccalaureate Programs
A minor consists of four to six specifically designated courses in a discipline. Students who wish to pursue a minor should contact the department chair or a faculty advisor in the minor discipline for assistance in planning the course work to be included in the minor. All course work in a minor is subject to the following restrictions:
- Courses in a minor must be taken for a regular letter grade. A minimum grade of C- is required for a course to be counted toward the minor and the cumulative grade point average for the minor must be 2.0 or higher.
- A maximum of two transfer courses may be counted toward a minor.
- Transfer courses, substitutions and courses taken on campuses of the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) for a St. Catherine's minor require the approval of the chair of the minor department.
See the Courses of Study section of this catalog for a list of the minors available and the specific courses required for each.
Courses Outside the Major- Baccalaureate Programs
All students graduating from the college must complete a minimum of 80 semester credits in disciplines outside of their major program. Courses outside of the major are defined as those courses outside of the department of the major or outside the department with the most courses required for an interdepartmental major. Required supporting courses are considered courses outside the major. An exception to the 80 credit policy is made for music education majors who must complete a minimum of 68 semester credits in disciplines outside the major.
Applied Foreign Language - Baccalaureate Programs
Students at the post-intermediate level may have the possibility of applying a foreign language in the study of another discipline. For further information, consult the language departments.
Individualized Learning
INDEPENDENT STUDY
An independent study is a form of study initiated by the student, for the purpose of expanding knowledge and/or skill in a particular area of interest. The work must be completed within the term of registration. Independent studies are not allowed for courses described in the catalog. In proposing an independent study, students work with a faculty evaluator to develop a learning contract, that specifies the content and objectives of the study as well as the requirements and procedures for evaluation. The amount of credit to be earned for the study also is included in the learning contract. An independent study may be taken for 2 or 4 credits and is graded S/U (satisfactory/unsatisfactory) unless it is fulfills a requirement for the student's major or minor.
ASSOCIATE PROGRAMS
Students may take a maximum of four independent study credits. Exceptions may be granted by the program director.
BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS
Students may register for no more than two Independent Studies, and for no more than six Independent Study credits. Exceptions may be granted by the student's major department chair.
Further information and forms for independent studies are available in the Registrar's Office.
FACULTY-DESIGNED INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
Faculty-designed independent studies are available in some areas of the associate degree program curriculum. Faculty have designed these independent studies with opportunities for students to make some choices about learning objectives and methods, which are recorded on a learning contract. Students taking faculty-designed independent studies work primarily on their own, though they keep faculty advised about their progress. Faculty-designed independent studies are listed in this catalog and in the class schedule.
DIRECTED STUDY
Directed study is individual study of a college catalog course. The directed study must be approved by the appropriate academic officer. A directed study is approved on a limited basis when the student is unable to complete the course requirement in a timely fashion unless the directed study occurs. Negotiation of learning activities for the course is conducted between the instructor and student and primarily involves individual learning. CORE 100W and CORE 399W may not be taken as directed study.
INTERNSHIPS
An internship is designed to be a structured out-of-class learning experience that takes place on or off campus and includes a substantial work component. An internship provides students with an opportunity to test career interests and potential.
All internships are arranged in conjunction with the internship director in the Career Development Office. The director assists students in generating possible internship sites, answers questions and provides training in resume preparation and interviewing. All students are required to participate in an internship orientation prior to beginning an internship.
Internships may be taken for 2 or 4 semester credits or on a non-credit basis. Students who wish to earn credit for an internship must make arrangements with a faculty member to serve as an advisor. The advisor and the internship site supervisor work with the student to prepare a learning contract which includes a list of learning goals, the specific strategies for achieving those goals, the methods to be used to evaluate achievement and the amount of credit to be earned. Further information may be obtained by contacting the Career Development Office.
RESEARCH
Undergraduate research provides an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and further develop critical-thinking skills through collaboration with an advisor (a CSC faculty member or a researcher at an off-campus site) on a scholarly project. Such projects, often arranged to take place either during the summer or during January, introduce students to scholarship as it is practiced in the discipline and anticipate and help prepare students for graduate study and an academic career. Students may arrange to earn credit for their research.
Opportunities for students to become involved in undergraduate research are made possible through both college-wide and individual departmental programs. Students interested in pursuing a research project should contact an appropriate faculty member or their major department chair. The registration form for arranging academic credit for research is available in the Office of the Academic Dean.
Immunization Requirements
Every student enrolling in a program of study at the College of St. Catherine must provide immunization information to the Clinical Requirements Office located on the Minneapolis campus. The requirements differ depending on whether a student is entering in a clinical or non-clinical program.
Forms are due to the Clinical Requirements Office by the specified date of the first semester in which students are enrolled; this date is listed on the college's Web site. Failure to provide all required immunization information will result in a $50 fee and a hold on a student's account to prevent registration for following semesters.
NON-CLINICAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
Minnesota Law (M.S. 135A.14), effective July 1, 1990, requires that all students born after 1956 and enrolled in a public or private post-secondary school in Minnesota be immunized against tetanus, diphtheria, measles, mumps and rubella, allowing for certain specified exemptions. The forms are available in the Clinical Requirements Office located on the Minneapolis campus and in the Health and Wellness Center on the St. Paul campus.
CLINICAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:
To protect all persons in a health-care program from possible exposure to measles, mumps and rubella, every student enrolling in a program of study that includes an off-site clinical rotation is required to provide physician documentation of immunization or positive antibody titers. In addition, students must have a tetanus/diphtheria immunization within seven years of admission to the College of St. Catherine. Mantoux tests to prove freedom from tuberculosis must be completed each year a student is in a clinical program. If a student has a positive Mantoux reading, a chest X-ray report and/or doctor's statement documenting the absence of active tuberculosis must be submitted. Students also will be asked to indicate if they have had chickenpox after their first birthday and to record the date of their last physical examination. Students enrolled in the Respiratory Care and Nursing programs are required to prove immunity to rubella, measles and chickenpox in the form of a blood titer. Students enrolled in the Radiography, Sonography and Respiratory Care programs are also required to provide physician documentation regarding ability to perform certain physical tasks and any limitations associated with these tasks. All students enrolled in the Nursing, Phlebotomist, Radiography, Sonography, Physical Therapy (doctor's program), Physical Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapy (master's program), Occupational Therapy Assistant, Respiratory Care and Chemical Dependency Counseling programs must provide proof of immunizations or positive antibody titer to Hepatitis B or sign a waiver declining Hepatitis B vaccinations. Without all of the documentation as described above, the student will be denied entry into a clinical facility. The forms necessary to complete the immunization requirements for clinical programs are available in the Clinical Requirements Office on the Minneapolis campus.
Student Exposure to Injury or Illness
Students in health-care and human-service educational programs at the College of St. Catherine participate in a number of classroom laboratories and clinical experiences. Those students assume the resulting risk of exposure to infectious organisms and injury in such environments.
Students are responsible and liable for medical costs related to any illness, injuries or exposure to infectious organisms arising out of or related to their participation in classroom and clinical experiences. The college urges all students to carry health insurance. Health insurance information is available at Health and Wellness on the St. Paul campus or from the Associate Director of Student Life on the Minneapolis campus.
Background Study Requirement
Minnesota law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with patients and residents at a health-care facility licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health have a background study conducted by the state on an annual basis. An individual who is disqualified from having direct patient contact as a result of the background study, and whose disqualification is not set aside by the Commissioner of Health, will not be permitted to participate in a clinical placement in a Minnesota-licensed care facility. Failure to participate in a clinical placement required by the academic program could result in ineligibility to qualify for a degree in the program.
Residency Requirements
In order to graduate from the college, students must satisfy residency requirements related to total course work, senior-year course work, major course work and possibly minor course work. Course work in residence is defined as all courses registered for and completed at the College of St. Catherine. In addition to courses taken on campus, this includes course work taken on an exchange basis (fall and winter semesters only) through the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (Day Program baccalaureate students only) and approved study abroad programs. For specific information, see the preceding sections on Graduation Requirements, Major Fields of Study and Minors.
Credits earned through examination (CLEP, AP, proficiency exams) or the Credit for Academically Relevant Learning (CARL) program are not considered in residence and therefore may not be used to satisfy college residency requirements. Credits earned from courses taken at other ACTC institutions during J-term and during the summer do not count toward residency.
Student Roles in Program Assessment
In all its curricula, programs and services, the college is accountable to its students and external audiences for providing a liberal arts education consistent with its mission. Thus, as part of its comprehensive assessment process, the college routinely measures student attitudes, achievement and satisfaction college wide and within academic and non-academic departments. The focus of these efforts is program evaluation rather than measurement of individual student attitudes or performance. Some examples of the types of questions being asked are: Do students display intellectual growth related to completion of the core curriculum and their major? Do our classes create effective and efficient learning communities? Do specific student affairs programs meet students' needs? What are the unique advantages of a liberal arts education at the College of St. Catherine?
The confidentiality of individual students' responses is guaranteed. Participation in assessment activities at the college-wide level (e.g., focusing on core curricular outcomes and non-academic programs and services) is expected of all students. Not every student is selected for participation in every activity. However, individual students will be involved in one or more assessment activities. Participation in assessment efforts is a graduation requirement of all academic programs and majors. The information obtained through all of these assessment procedures is used to evaluate and improve the quality of the educational experience at the college. It is through cooperative participation in the assessment process that the college can better understand itself and adapt to better serve its students.
Application for a Degree
When students are prepared to complete degree or certificate requirements, they must file the appropriate online form (Intent to Graduate or Intent to Complete Certificate) by the published deadline. Students who are pursuing a degree and a certificate simultaneously file the form once, when they have completed all of their requirements. Upon receipt of the form, the registrar will verify the student's eligibility for graduation and include the student as a candidate for graduation and order the diploma. Students are charged a $75 graduation processing fee the term they graduate.
Commencement
Commencement exercises are held in December and May. Students who are pursuing both a degree and a certificate simultaneously participate in commencement after they have completed the requirements for both the certificate and the degree. Undergraduate students who have not completed all graduation requirements may participate in commencement if the following conditions are met:
DECEMBER COMMENCEMENT
Students who have no more than four credits remaining to complete all graduation requirements may participate in the December commencement ceremony provided the remaining credits will be completed in the winter term following commencement.
MAY COMMENCEMENT
Weekend College students who will complete their degree requirements by the end of spring term may participate in the May commencement ceremony. Day students who have no more than four credits remaining to complete all graduation requirements may participate in the May commencement ceremony provided the remaining credits will be completed in the first summer session following commencement.
Students will not receive a diploma until all course work is completed.
Transfer Credit Evaluation
The registrar administers the credit evaluation process for transfer purposes. Generally, college-level course work from regionally accredited institutions of higher education will be considered for transfer toward the College of St. Catherine (CSC) degree. To be accepted, transfer course work must be college level, not vocational-technical, and must carry a grade of C- or better. In order for courses to be counted as equivalent to CSC courses, they must be reviewed by the appropriate department chair. Both degree credits and corresponding grade points will be transferred (after conversion to semester credits when necessary) for all approved course work and will be included in the student's cumulative grade point average at St. Catherine's. The respective St. Catherine's major department chair or program director judges the equivalency of transfer work to CSC major program requirements once the registrar's evaluation has been made.
Credit earned by correspondence, extension or certain other special programs may be applied toward the CSC degree requirements when such credit has been awarded as degree credit from regionally accredited institutions.
Courses and credits from nonaccredited institutions and from competency-based programs will be accepted at the discretion of the academic dean. When credit is awarded toward the CSC degree from these institutions, a grade of Satisfactory (without grade points) will be recorded. Evaluation of course work from nonaccredited institutions may be postponed until the student has shown competency to complete advanced work successfully.
AGE OF CREDIT TIME LIMITS
CERTIFICATE AND ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
In some programs, courses that are prerequisite to admission to a specific professional program must have been completed within seven years prior to enrollment at the College of St. Catherine. To be applied toward a degree, transfer credit also must have been completed within the seven years prior to the date the student first enrolled. Special considerations regarding age of credit will be given to students with a baccalaureate or higher degree.
BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS
Department chairs may impose time limits for courses applied to the degree, if appropriate.
Academic Advising
Each undergraduate student at St. Catherine's is assigned an academic advisor. Advisors help students clarify educational objectives, plan suitable courses of study, use available resources, explore opportunities for learning, and address academic problems that may arise.
CERTIFICATE AND ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
Students in associate degree and certificate programs are assigned academic advisors within their area of study. In order to assure sound academic planning, all students in the associate degree programs are required to obtain their academic advisor's signature on their registration materials each term. They are further encouraged to contact their academic advisor regarding any concerns or difficulties that might have an impact on their academic success.
BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS
Students in the Weekend College program are assigned an advisor in their chosen major at the time they enroll. Weekend College students are encouraged to meet with their advisor or the Weekend College academic advisor at least annually and to use advising resources as needed.
The Office of Academic Advising coordinates advising for students in the baccalaureate Day Program and serves as a clearinghouse of information for students and faculty regarding academic programs, policies and procedures, as well as overseeing each student's initial registration at the college. The office's professional staff advise students who are changing or deciding majors, pursuing majors at another ACTC college and taking leaves of absence or considering withdrawing from the college, as well as students looking for extra assistance with academic planning or academic problems.
Because discussing and carefully planning an academic program is crucial to success, first-year students and sophomores in the baccalaureate Day Program are required to meet with their advisors each term prior to registration. Juniors and seniors are strongly advised to consult with their advisors every semester.
First-year students in the baccalaureate Day Program are assigned to advising groups of approximately 10 students drawn from their The Reflective Woman class. The advisor, a faculty member or student affairs staff professional, meets with the advisees individually and as a group. These advisors are specially trained to facilitate the transition to college, to help each student learn more about possible majors and to assist students in developing a productive relationship with a faculty advisor at the beginning of their college careers. Transfer students and students beyond their first year at the college choose or are assigned advisors in their major departments.
FOUR-YEAR GRADUATION GUARANTEE FOR BACCALAUREATE DAY PROGRAM STUDENTS
The Office of Academic Advising administers the four-year graduation guarantee plan. For a complete statement of the policies governing this program, contact the Office of Academic Advising. This program, available to students who enter the college as first-time baccalaureate students in fall semester, guarantees that students who meet regularly with their advisors, follow their advisors' advice and make satisfactory progress in their course work, will graduate in four years. Should the student meet all conditions of the guarantee in four years and not graduate, she may request to take any course(s) necessary to complete her degree in the fifth year tuition-free.
Majors that routinely require more than four years for completion, education licensure programs governed by the state, special majors and majors offered through the ACTC are not covered by the guarantee. Double majors and minors also are not covered. Students who begin their studies in one major and change to another major may not be eligible to continue under the guarantee.
Learning Center and O'Neill Center for Academic Development
The Learning Center on the Minneapolis campus and the O'Neill Center for Academic Development on the St. Paul campus are both designed to address the diverse academic needs and goals of all members of the college community. Detailed descriptions of both Centers are found in the Student Affairs section of this catalog.
Distinctions and Awards
In addition to election to honor societies, the college gives recognition to students for scholarly achievement in the following ways:
ANTONIAN SCHOLARS HONORS PROGRAM - BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS
Upon completion of all the requirements of the Honors Program, students are recognized as an Antonian Scholar in the commencement program and with a special diploma. The title of her Senior Honors Project and completion of the program is noted on the student's transcript.
DEAN'S LIST - BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS
The Dean's List gives recognition to those Day students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.667 and above in a semester while taking at least three full courses (12 credits) for letter (A-F) grades.
The Dean's List gives recognition to Weekend College students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.667 and above in a term while taking at least two full courses (eight credits) for letter (A-F) grades.
The Dean's List is assembled three days after the deadline for submission of final term grades. Students with incomplete grades may not be considered for the Dean's List during the term in which the incomplete is given.
Part-time day and Weekend College students earning a 3.667 grade point average and above for four or more full courses in a given academic year qualify for an annual part-time students' Dean's List.
Contact the Office of the Academic Dean with questions about the Dean's List.
DEPARTMENTAL HONORS
Departmental honors aim to provide intensive study and opportunity for original work in the student's major field. Departmental honors are awarded by the major department according to specific departmental criteria.
COLLEGE HONORS AND AWARDS
Each year, deserving students are selected for college honors and awards or inducted into honor societies.
ALL PROGRAMS:
Abigail Quigley McCarthy Awards
Thomas More Awards
BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS:
Antonian Scholars
Dean of Students Award
Irish Studies Award
Francis T. McCahill Athlete of the Year
Joseph Miesler Memorial Award
Mary Alice Muellerleile Student Leadership Award
Mary E. McCahill Award
Mother Antonia McHugh Award
Re-Entry Adult Program Leadership Award
Sister Alberta Huber Leadership Award
Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges
Honor Societies
Alpha Delta Mu/Beta Epsilon (Social Work)
Alpha Kappa Delta (Sociology)
Beta Beta Beta (Biology)
Delta Mu Delta (Business Administration)
Delta Phi Delta (Art)
Delta Phi Lambda (Creative Writing)
Iota Sigma Pi (Chemistry)
Kappa Gamma Pi (Scholarship/Leadership/ Service)
Kappa Omicron Nu (Family, Consumer and Nutritional Sciences)
Mu Phi Epsilon (Music)
Omicron Delta Epsilon (Economics)
Phi Beta Kappa (Liberal Arts)
Pi Delta Phi (French)
Pi Epsilon Delta (Theater)
Pi Gamma Mu (Social Sciences)
Pi Lambda Theta (Education)
Pi Mu Epsilon (Mathematics)
Pi Theta Epsilon (Occupational Therapy)
Psi Chi (Psychology)
Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish)
Sigma Tau Delta (English)
Sigma Theta Tau (Nursing)
Theta Alpha Kappa (Theology)
LATIN HONORS
Latin honors are awarded to baccalaureate students upon completion of all graduation requirements with the following cumulative grade point average:
- for graduation cum laude, a GPA of 3.667;
- for graduation magna cum laude, a GPA of 3.8;
- for graduation summa cum laude, a GPA of 3.9.
The honors awarded will be noted on the student's transcript and in the program at commencement. Eligibility for Latin honors is determined approximately six weeks prior to commencement.
Contact the Office of the Academic Dean with questions about Latin honors.
Registration
Students register for classes during assigned registration periods prior to the beginning of each term. Weekend College students may register in person or by mail according to the published calendar. All first-year and sophomore students in the Day Program on the St. Paul campus, and all first-year students in health-care certificate programs and associate degree programs on the Minneapolis campus are required to obtain the signature of their advisor on their registration form. All students are strongly encouraged to consult their academic advisor for assistance in planning their registration (see Academic Advising section of this catalog). Students who wish to register for more than 18 credits in one term must obtain written approval from their advisor. A late fee is charged for all returning students who register on or after the registration deadline. This fee does not apply to changes in registration.
Students must adhere to all prerequisite, corequisite and concurrent course requirements, unless the requirement has been waived by the instructor. Definitions:
- Prerequisite: must be taken prior to the upper-level course
- Corequisite: may be taken either prior to or at the same time as the upper-level course
- Concurrent course: must be taken with the accompanying course
- Recommended: not required, but may better prepare the student for the upper-level course
Prerequisite, corequisite and concurrent course requirements are listed at the end of every course description in this catalog, if applicable.
All students are cautioned to attend the first class session of each course for which they register, as instructors are free to reassign spaces to students when there are unexcused absences.
Registration procedures and policies for Summer Session classes are included in the Summer Session bulletin that is available in early March. Students may register for summer courses in person or by mail.
CHANGES IN REGISTRATION
Students must make all changes in registration (including section changes within the same course) in writing, and no change in registration takes effect until it has been processed by the Registrar's Office. Telephone or voicemail requests to drop or add courses cannot be processed. If a student stops attending class and does not officially drop the course, the instructor may award a failing grade for the course.
Forms for dropping and/or adding courses are available from the Registrar's Office. Courses may be added on a space available basis until the deadline for adding classes. The instructor's signature will be required after the published deadline. The term calendar contains the deadline for dropping a course without notation on the transcript. Courses dropped between this deadline and the last day to withdraw result in a W (Withdrawal) notation on the transcript. Courses dropped after the last day to withdraw automatically receive a grade of F. Students are financially responsible for every course for which they register; the amount of tuition refunded for a dropped course is established by deadlines found in the Summary of Financial Procedures distributed by the Student Accounts Office. Students are expected to read this publication and adhere to published deadlines.
REGISTRATION AT OTHER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Students working toward a degree at the College of St. Catherine and planning to register for courses at other colleges and universities must receive prior written approval from the Registrar's Office in order to transfer that course work to their St. Catherine's academic program.
Policy on Student Eligibility for Study Abroad
To be eligible for study abroad, students must meet the following requirements:
- Sophomore status (first-year students may take J-term programs)
- Good academic standing and at least a 2.5 GPA (many foreign universities have a higher GPA requirement).
- Good disciplinary standing, as determined by the dean of students.
- Goals for participating in study abroad compatible with the goals and objectives of the program selected.
It will be the decision of the director of the Global Studies Office whether a student has met these criteria for acceptance into a study abroad program. If denied acceptance for study abroad, the student has the right to appeal that decision in writing to the Global Studies Advisory Committee. Decisions of that committee are final.
Instructional Policies
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY*
A. Suspicion of an academic integrity violation.
1. When a faculty member suspects a student had engaged in academic dishonesty the faculty member should immediately initiate a discussion with the student to further evaluate grounds for suspicion and educate the student about academic integrity issues.
If no violation is established the faculty member should discuss with the student the reasons for suspicion and discuss general issues of integrity. No records need be kept of the suspicion or incident.
If the faculty member concludes that a possible violation has occurred, follow section B.
2. In all cases where a student alleges a possible violation, the alleging student should contact the faculty member responsible for the course in which the alleged violation has occurred to initiate faculty controlled process.
3. In all cases a faculty member may consult with colleagues about the validity of suspicions, but must preserve the student's anonymity.
B. Faculty member concludes that a possible academic integrity violation has occurred.
1. It is the faculty member's duty to address the issue and to not let it go unacknowledged.
2. From this point on, the faculty member is to keep records of all correspondence or contact; keep copies of papers, exams or other materials involved.
3. The faculty member notifies the academic dean of the suspected violation for information tracking purposes, to allow for the recognition of repeat violations and to assist in coordination with department specific policies.
C. Faculty controlled review process for academic integrity violations.
1. Faculty member meets with the student to discuss the review process, including the appeal process and possible sanction. The primary purpose of this meeting is to collect critical information (including the student's side of the matter and pertinent information) and to assess intent and knowledge regarding the nature and circumstances of the alleged violation. This should be structured to be a learning situation for the student.
2. Once the above meeting is complete the faculty member needs to determine and communicate the appropriate sanction.
3. Appeals of the faculty controlled review process must be made to the appropriate academic dean. All appeals must be in writing and made on the basis of process error or inappropriate sanction. All decisions at the academic dean level are final.
D. Independent review process for academic integrity violations.
1. Allegations of academic integrity violations may be adjudicated by an independent review only upon referral from an academic dean. The Faculty Controlled Process is preferred in nearly all matters, and only in extraordinary cases will the matter be forwarded for independent review.
2. Referral process.
a. Once it has been determined the complaint will not be resolved via Sections A, B, or C the full complaint will be forwarded by the academic dean for either an Administrative Hearing or Hearing Board. The dean of students is responsible for processing all independent review hearings involving academic dishonesty.
b. Once a possible violation has been referred for independent review no grade should be assigned by the faculty member until after the decision of the independent process. A grade will then be assigned as per the decision of the hearing process. Faculty are required to submit a recommendation for sanction as part of the complaint. The hearing officer will consult with the faculty member and the appropriate academic dean prior to determining final sanction.
*Note: The above Academic Integrity policy is pending approval by the Faculty Educational Policies Committee. Students can expect to follow the policy in the current form unless otherwise notified. Contact the Office of Student Affairs with questions.
GRADING
The grading system of the college includes the following grades with appropriate grade points assigned to them:
Grade Grade Points
A 4.000 Superior achievement of course requirements
A- 3.667
B+ 3.333
B 3.000 Better than satisfactory achievement of course requirements
B- 2.667
C+ 2.333
C 2.000 Satisfactory achievement of course requirements
C- 1.667
D+ 1.333
D 1.000 Less than satisfactory achievement of course requirements but acceptable for
credit
F 0.000 Failure to achieve course requirements
In addition, grades with the following notations are also given:
S = Satisfactory; credit given; does not affect grade point average
U = Unsatisfactory; no credit given; does not affect grade point average
W = Withdrawal after official deadline
I = Incomplete
X = Signifies that the course extends beyond term end date. Replaced by grade when course is completed
AU = Audit
LAB = Signifies successful completion of the no-credit laboratory portion of a course
(for courses that require separate laboratory registration)
Grades are made available to students on the Web as soon as possible after the end of the term. Students are notified in writing when academic performance has resulted in probation, suspension or other academic action.
INCOMPLETES
A grade of incomplete is given only when unusual circumstances deem it appropriate. Ordinarily, such circumstances would involve matters that are not wholly within a student's control, such as illness. Students who wish to receive an incomplete must present an Incomplete Contract (available online or in the Registrar's Office) to their instructor no later than the last day of the term in which course requirements are due. The student must be making satisfactory progress in the course at the time the Incomplete Contract is signed. Incompletes are awarded at the faculty's discretion. If granted, the normal deadline for completion of the work is no more than eight weeks after the last day of classes in the session or subsession in which the course is offered. The instructor may establish a due date after the normal deadline if the student requests it and special circumstances warrant it. The instructor will submit an alternate grade that will automatically be recorded if the student does not complete the requirements for the course by the deadline. If the students completes the course requirements by the deadline, the instructor must submit the final grade within one week. Extensions to the due date originally agreed to by the student and the instructor must be approved by the appropriate academic dean.
GRADE CHANGES
Final course grades are typically not changed after the grade due date. Exceptions are made if the grade change is due to a recording or computational error or in extraordinary circumstances. Faculty must include the reason for the change when the new grade is submitted. There is no deadline for submitting changes based on recording or computational errors. Grade changes as a result of extraordinary circumstances (i.e., circumstances that could not reasonably have been avoided) may be submitted up to 15 weeks after the end of the session or subsession in which the course was offered. Grade changes made as a result of extraordinary circumstances after the 15-week period are submitted to the appropriate academic dean for review.
S/U GRADING OPTIONS
When a student elects the S/U grading option for a course, work meriting a letter grade of C- or better is recorded as S (Satisfactory). A final grade below C- is recorded as U (Unsatisfactory). S and U grades do not affect the grade point average.
Associate program students may choose this option for no more than once course per semester and for a maximum of 12 semester credits excluding CLEP and proficiency exams. The S/U option is not allowed for professional courses or program required liberal arts courses.
Baccalaureate students may choose this option for no more than one course per term (excluding courses only graded S/U) and for a maximum of 26 credits excluding CARL, CLEP and proficiency exams. The S/U option is not allowed for courses in the student's major or minor field, or for CORE100W and CORE399W. Unless stated by the major department, the S/U option may be elected for required supporting courses. Students should be aware that most graduate schools require letter grades in all the prerequisite courses for their advanced degree programs.
Students must elect the S/U option by the published deadline. The form for designating the S/U option is available online. Once elected, the S/U option may not be rescinded, even if the filing deadline has not lapsed.
REPEATING A COURSE
When a course is repeated, the most recent grade received when taking the course is counted toward the grade point average, although the previous grade remains on the transcript, with the notation "Course Repeated." If a student receives a U or F grade, credit may be gained only by repeating the course and not by proficiency exam. Courses may be repeated once. Exceptions may be granted by the program director or program chair.
AUDITING
Auditors are students who attend classes and participate in discussions but do not submit papers or examinations for a regular letter grade. Although academic credit is not earned, and therefore may not be used to complete degree requirements, audits are recorded on the student's transcript. The grade on the transcript is AU. Unlike a credit-earning student, an auditor does not have a claim on the time of the instructor for the purpose of critiquing or evaluating the auditor's work. Department chairs, in conjunction with individual faculty members, will determine which courses are available and appropriate to be taken as audits.
Students may register to take a course on an audit basis up until the deadline for adding classes each term. This also is the last day students may change from credit to audit status, or vice versa, with any appropriate changes in tuition applied. Audit registration and all changes between credit and audit status must be processed through the Registrar's Office.
Students will be charged at a rate of 25 percent of tuition for auditing a course.
FINAL EXAMINATIONS
In the last week of each semester, final examinations are conducted at the hours specified on the posted final examination schedules. Examinations in Weekend College are given in the week following the end of classes in each term or during the last class meeting. Some instructors may administer take-home exams.
ATTENDANCE
Regular class attendance is expected of all students. Students are responsible for class assignments whether present or not. Absences for any reason may be taken into account in the evaluation of the student's work. Each instructor will state her or his attendance policy at the beginning of each term.
ENROLLMENT LIMITS AND MINIMUM CLASS SIZE
The college reserves the right to limit the enrollment in any course and to cancel any course for which fewer than 10 students register.
CLASSIFICATION OF STUDENTS
ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
The student's classification is based on his or her progression through the program. For example, a student is considered a first-year student until he or she completes the courses outlined in the first year of the curriculum.
BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
Student classification is based on earning the following number of credits:
Sophomore: 24 credits
Junior: 60 credits
Senior: 92 credits
STUDENT ENROLLMENT STATUS
A student's enrollment status is based on the number of credits for which he/she is registered as indicated below.
UNDERGRADUATE
PER SEMESTER PER WEEKEND TERM SUMMER
Full time 12 or more credits* 8 or more credits* 6 or more credits*
3/4 time 9-11 credits 6-7 credits 5 credits
Half time 6-8 credits 4-5 credits 3-4 credits
Below half time 5 or fewer credits 3 or fewer credits 2 or fewer credits
GRADUATE
PER TERM
Full time 6 or more credits
3/4 time 4-5 credits
Half time 3 credits
Below half time 2 or fewer credits
*These credit levels are used for deferment reporting and for awarding financial aid. NOTE: The state of Minnesota requires a different definition of full-time enrollment to award state grant funds. Detailed information can be found in the Admission and Financial Information section of this catalog.
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE COLLEGE
Students may withdraw from the college at any time by contacting the appropriate office. Weekend College students must contact the Weekend College Office or the Registrar's Office. Day students on the St. Paul campus must contact the Office of Academic Advising or the Registrar's Office. Minneapolis campus students must contact the Registrar's Office on that campus. In all cases, the effective date of withdrawal is the date on which the student initially contacts the appropriate office.
No refunds of tuition are given unless a student has officially withdrawn. Such refunds are made on a prorated basis according to the schedules published in the Summary of Financial Procedures (distributed by the Student Accounts Office) and on the college's Web site.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
HEALTH-CARE CERTIFICATE AND ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
Students wishing to take a leave of absence for one or two terms must contact the Registrar's Office. Upon return from the leave, students must apply for re-enrollment through the Registrar's Office.
BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM
Students wishing to stop attending classes and return after one or two semesters (one to three terms for Weekend College students) may request a leave of absence. Day and second major students must contact the Registrar's Office or the Office of Academic Advising to request a leave. Weekend College students must contact the Registrar's Office or the Weekend College Office. Students who have been away from the College for more than two semesters (more than three terms for Weekend College students) must complete a re-enrollment form (available online) when they return from leave and prior to registering for courses. Students on leave will receive information on registration from either the Office of Academic Advising or Weekend College during their leave.
READMISSION TO THE COLLEGE
HEALTH-CARE CERTIFICATE AND ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
If a student discontinues course work for any reason, he or she must apply for re-enrollment through the Registrar's Office. Program completion time limits apply to re-enrolled students; time away from the college is counted toward the seven year maximum (and five year maximum for major course work).
Petitions for readmission after academic suspension will be reviewed by the associate academic dean. Students returning to the college after an absence of one year or more will be required to meet the same degree requirements as newly admitted students.
BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM
Students in good standing who have been away from the college more than one academic year may apply for readmittance by contacting the Office of Admission. An additional application fee is not charged.
Petitions for readmission after academic suspension must be addressed to the academic dean. Students may apply for readmission after one year from the date of academic suspension.
Typically, program requirements established at the time of admission do not change for students who temporarily leave the college and return within five years to complete their programs. Students whose absence from the college extends five or more years will need to complete the program requirements under the catalog in effect at the time of their re-enrollment. Modifications in such requirements may be made at the discretion of the academic dean.
ACADEMIC PROBATION AND SUSPENSION
HEALTH-CARE CERTIFICATE AND ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
To advance from one term to the next, students are required to show satisfactory academic performance to meet requirements of the particular program and to fulfill all financial obligations to the college. Policies for progression within programs are available from the program director.
Probation results as a consequence of earning a D in any course that must be completed at the C level for graduation, or earning an F in any course. Students are informed by the dean's office, in writing, of their status.
A student must complete a minimum of six credits in the next semester with grades of C or better. If the student does not qualify for removal from probation but shows improvement, the student may be placed on extended probation. At the end of the probationary term, the student may be removed from probation, placed on extended probation or suspended.
Students may be suspended from the college if the conditions for removal from probation are not met. They may apply for readmission after one semester's absence.
READMISSION TO CERTIFICATE OR ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM AFTER SUSPENSION:
Conditions to be met prior to or at the time of re-enrollment may be established, and they will be presented to the applicant as part of the re-enrollment offer. Offers of re-enrollment to students who were suspended for academic reasons will include at least the following conditions:
1. The student will be on probationary admission status during the first semester.
2. In order to remain at the college beyond the first semester, the readmitted student must meet the conditions of the re-enrollment.
3. As part of the re-enrollment decision, the applicant's previous educational record at the College of St. Catherine will be evaluated as that of a student transferring from another college.
BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM
A student is placed on probation by the action of the Educational Policy Committee because of an unsatisfactory academic term or an unsatisfactory cumulative grade point average. Unsatisfactory progress is defined as a grade point average of less than 2.0, or having received grades of F or I in at least one-half of the previous term's course work. A student may be placed on probation without prior warning if the Educational Policy Committee determines that her academic situation is severe enough to warrant such action. Ordinarily, a student will receive a maximum of two letters of warning from the committee before being placed on probation.
A student may be suspended from the college if she does not maintain the following minimum cumulative grade point average:
Completion of 32 credits 1.5
Completion of 64 credits 1.9
Completion of 80 credits 2.0
A student who is suspended from the college has the right to appeal her suspension to the academic dean. If she does so, she will be interviewed by the academic dean before action is taken on the appeal. If the appeal is granted, a contract will be agreed to for improving the student's performance. Should the terms of the contract not be met, the student may be suspended for a full year without the right of appeal.
ACCESS TO RECORDS
At the close of each term students may view their grades on the St. Catherine's Web site. Students may request a complete transcript of their college record from the Registrar's Office for a nominal fee. Transcripts may be withheld if a student has not met financial obligations at the college.
The college maintains the following records for students:
- Medical records of treatments and immunizations received at the college are kept for seven years. These records are available through the Health Center.
- Standardized test scores (e.g., ACT, SAT). These records are available through the Registrar's Office.
- Letters of recommendation for seniors, alumnae and graduate students that have been processed through the credentials service provided by the Career Development Office are kept for a limited period of time.
- Financial aid records. These records are available through the Office of Financial Aid.
- Academic records. These records are available through the Registrar's Office.
Disclosure of student records to a third party is limited by law. Access is given only upon written consent of the student, or if required by law. Additional information about a student's right to access his or her education record and the laws governing release of education records can be found in Le Guide.
THE AGE OF MAJORITY
Under Minnesota law, the age of majority is 18 and carries full adult rights and responsibilities. The college communicates directly with students in matters concerning grades, academic credit and academic standing. In communications with parents, the college is bound by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (as amended) to respect the privacy of the student and not to disclose information from student education records without the prior consent of the student. Only with written permission of the student may such information be provided to parents, guardians or spouses.
Credit By Examination
Students may demonstrate mastery of curriculum areas through Advanced Placement (AP), the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Credit for Academically Relevant Learning (CARL) program, International Baccalaureate (IB) Exam or departmental proficiency examination. The following general guidelines apply to all of these programs (specific details for each follow):
- A maximum of 32 semester credits earned through these programs may be applied toward the degree.
- A grade of Satisfactory is awarded for credit earned through these programs and is not included in computed grade point averages. (In some special cases, where the major requires it, the letter grade will be awarded.)
- Credit earned through these programs does not fulfill the college residency requirement.
- Credit is recorded on the student's permanent record after he or she enrolls at the college.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)
The college grants credit for Advanced Placement (AP) Tests administered by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). The minimum grade required for credit varies across subject areas. For some AP tests, credit is awarded for a grade of 3 or higher, whereas other tests require a minimum grade of 4 or 5. Specific requirements are on file in the Registrar's Office.
COLLEGE-LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP)
CLEP has been established to enable students of all ages to earn college credit by examination. The College of St. Catherine accepts the recommendations of the American Council on Education for the minimum scores necessary to earn credit and the number of credits awarded for General and Subject Examinations. Students must have official CLEP scores submitted for credit to be considered.
To obtain further information about CLEP examinations, write to the College-Level Examination Program, P.O. Box 6600, Princeton, NJ 08541-6600, visit their Web site at www.collegeboard.org or inquire at the Office of Academic Affairs.
CREDIT FOR ACADEMICALLY RELEVANT LEARNING (CARL)
The CARL program provides an opportunity for students to earn credit for prior learning that took place outside of the classroom. Interested students develop a portfolio that describes and documents a relevant, college-level learning experience, which is assessed by a faculty evaluator. After evaluation, the faculty member recommends a credit award for the student's learning.
Students are charged a rate of 50 percent of tuition for CARL credits and may apply for the program after completing 16 semester credits at the college. For further information, contact the Office of Academic Affairs.
POST SECONDARY EDUCATION CREDITS
Students who completed post-secondary college-level work through their high school may be able to transfer the course work to St. Catherine's. (See Transfer Credit Evaluation in this catalog for information pertaining to the evaluation process.) The Registrar's Office must receive a copy of the student's transcript from the college that offered the course. Having the course recorded on the student's high school transcript is not sufficient.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE EXAMS (IB)
The college grants credit for IB exams. The IB exam score determines the number of credits awarded. The number of credits varies across subject areas. Specific requirements are on file in the Registrar's Office.
PROFICIENCY EXAMS
A proficiency exam allows students to earn credit for a course by successfully completing an examination and/or skills test covering the content of the course. Students may request to challenge a course when they believe their previous course work (for example, a portion of a course or combination of courses), experience (work, on-the-job training, continuing education) or knowledge (independent study in an area of special interest) is commensurate with a St. Catherine's course.
This option is provided only by certain departments. Baccalaureate students may use proficiency examinations to satisfy a maximum of two courses in any one department. A fee, equal to one-fourth of the tuition, is charged for the testing process. Applications to take a proficiency exam must be submitted to the instructor (associate degree programs) or department chair (baccalaureate programs) no later than the second week of the term in which the particular course to be challenged has begun. Individual programs may have earlier application deadlines. Limits may be placed on the number of times a student may take a proficiency exam for a given course.
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