2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog Point Park University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The University Seal Point Park University’s seal retains several elements from the seal of Point Park College. These include the escutcheon with the inverted furca (fork) as its ensign. The inverted furca represents salvation flowing from above and embracing the world below. This furca also draws obvious attention to the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers and their confluence at Point Park, the triangular spot of land in downtown Pittsburgh that gave the University its name. The three scrolls contained within the escutcheon articulate the goals of a Point Park University education and express that a Point Park education stands for the benefit of knowledge, the community and careers. This catalog is the official announcement of Point Park University (a tax-exempt, not-for-profit, educational institution) for the academic year 2021-2022.. The University reserves the right to repeal, change, or amend the rules, regulations, and provisions contained in this catalog, and may withdraw or modify the programs and courses listed herein. Updates to the catalog will be posted on the University website. It is published by the Office of the University Registrar. 2 Table of Contents ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2021-2022………………………………….………………………….4 THE UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT……………………….…………………………5 GENERAL INFORMATION………………………………………………….…………………….8 ADMISSIONS………………………………………………………………………….………………..14 STUDENT ACCOUNTS…………………………………………………………………………….19 FINANCIAL AID……………………………………………………………………………………….22 STUDENT AFFAIRS……………………………………………………….………………………….31 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES…………………………………….………………………….35 ACADEMIC POLICIES………………………………………………….…………………………..42 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS…………………………………………….…………………………….59 CONSERVATORY OF PERFORMING ARTS………………….……………………………69 SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES…………………………….…………………………….97 ROWLAND SCHOOL OF BUSINESS…………………………………………………………157 SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION…………………………………………………………….180 SCHOOL OF EDUCATION………………………………………………………………………199 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS………………………………………………………………………..226 HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS………………………………………………………...358 BOARD OF TRUSTEES…………………………………………………………………………….359 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS……………………………………………………………………………360 FULL-TIME FACULTY………………………………………………………………………………360 FULL-TIME STAFF……………………………………………………………………………………368 INDEX………………………………………………………………………………………………………380 3 Calendar 2021-2022 Fall Semester 2021 Fall Term Begins August 30 Labor Day, University Closed September 6 Thanksgiving Break November 22 – 28 Last Regular Class Session December 13 Final Examination Week December 14 – 17 Spring Semester 2022 Spring Term Begins January 10 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No Classes January 17 Spring Break February 28– March 6 Last Regular Class Session April 25 Final Examination Week April 26– 29 Commencement April 30 Summer Semester 2022 Summer Term Begins May 2 Memorial Day, University Closed May 30 Independence Day, University Closed July 4 Summer II & Summer 12 Classes End July 22 For the full academic calendar please visit our webpage 4 Point Park University Mission Statement Point Park University provides innovative undergraduate and graduate education in a dynamic urban setting. Dedicated to aca- demic excellence and community engagement, we prepare stu- dents of diverse backgrounds with the knowledge, skill, and expe- rience to lead meaningful lives as informed citizens and successful professionals. Vision Statement To be one of the most dynamic, private urban universities in America with an intense focus on student success through distinctive, innovative, and experiential learning. Values Promoting divergent thinking and problem solving Fostering a community of mutual respect and diversity Encouraging innovation Ensuring integrity and ethics Focusing on student needs Responding to our stakeholders Fostering good citizens 5 About the University Founded in 1960, Point Park is a dynamic, urban university with a strong liberal arts tradition. Located in Downtown Pittsburgh, Point Park enrolls more than 4,000 full- and part-time students. There are 86 bachelor’s programs, 17 master’s programs and three doctoral programs offered through the School of Arts and Sciences, Rowland School of Business, School of Communication, School of Education and Conservatory of Performing Arts. Since its founding, Point Park has been known for providing students with an innovative, disciplined education that brings real-world experience into the classroom. Many of the faculty members are professional practitioners. Classes are small by design, giving students more one-on-one time with professors. The Univer- sity’s unique urban location puts students in close proximity to internships, cooperative education opportuni- ties, culture, entertainment, and employment opportunities. Embedded in Downtown, Point Park is committed to being an integral part of the success of the city and region. Its growth and development over the years reflects that: Established in 1933 as a business training college, Point Park became a junior college in 1960 and then a four-year undergraduate institution in 1966. It offered its first graduate degree in 1981 and achieved university status in 2003. In 2008, Point Park announced the Academic Village Initiative, a multi-block, living and learning hub that is redefining the student experience, campus life and the University’s connection to Downtown Pittsburgh. The Academic Village Initiative has resulted in new residence halls, a student center, the Village Park and streetscape enhancements. The Center for Media Innovation opened in 2016, providing a creative, collaborative space for students, an innovative networking place for media professionals and an informative showcase for the city. In the fall of 2018, the new Pittsburgh Playhouse opened downtown, having relocated from Oakland. The Campus Point Park University is located in one of America’s most dynamic cities - Downtown Pittsburgh. The city consistently ranks among the top places to live, work, and visit, and the Pittsburgh region boasts dozens of billion-dollar global companies. Point Park has actively participated in the city’s rejuvenation. The campus, which includes the new Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Playhouse built in 2018, has expanded from five buildings to one of Downtown’s largest footprints. The Academic Village Initiative has included such recent campus additions as the George Rowland White Performance Center, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold-certi- fied building, loft-style residence halls, the Village Park, streetscape enhancements, a student center, and Law- rence Hall lobby renovations that include an art gallery. The School of Communication also boasts the Center for Media Innovation, which includes broadcast and photo studios, a multimedia newsroom, podcasting center, and presentation and gallery space. At Point Park, the city is truly our campus. Students can walk to cultural attractions such as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and the Pittsburgh Opera, as well as the latest concerts at Stage AE on the North Shore. Major sporting events held at PNC Park, Heinz Field and the PPG Paints Arena are also close to campus. Just across the Monongahela River from the University is Station Square, a unique entertainment destination on the river. Other local attractions include the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, the Duquesne and Monongahela inclines, the National Aviary, and the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Notable museums in the area include the Carnegie museums of art and natural history, the Carnegie Science Center, the Senator John Heinz History Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. 6 The Pittsburgh Playhouse Point Park University's Pittsburgh Playhouse is the performing arts center of Point Park University and the Conservatory of Performing Arts. The three-theater performing arts center in downtown Pittsburgh is home to Conservatory Theatre Company and Conservatory Dance Company. The Pittsburgh Playhouse maintains a rigorous performance calendar with eighteen major productions and 235 performances entertaining more than 30,000 patrons annually. A 90,411-square-foot theater complex, the Pittsburgh Playhouse features a total of 91 rooms including a magnificent lobby space that boasts a three story wide-open space with natural light, a grand staircase and tucked-in spaces for students to lounge and gather; the 550-seat PNC Theatre whose backstage and inner workings are visible from the street, resulting in an intentional glimpse into performing arts classes; the main floor which includes an enormous paint shop, a 2,738-square-foot soundstage three stories high, a 15-foot- high catwalk and 24-foot-high ceilings to provide professional-level learning opportunities to students in mul- tiple disciplines, including cinematography, audio work, lighting work and aesthetics. The Library The Point Park University Library is located on the first floor and the lower level of the University Center, a turn of the twentieth century former bank building which also houses classrooms, a 200-seat auditorium, and production facilities for the Cinema Arts Department, as well as the TV broadcasting program for the School of Communication. The Library has quiet study space, an instruction/computer lab, fourteen group study rooms and a presen- tation practice & recording room on the lower level. There are computers, scanners and printers throughout the Library. Laptops, headphones, calculators and HDMI