Savannah State University A Senior, Residential Unit of the University System of Georgia University Catalog 2011-2012 Savannah, Georgia 31404 Civil Rights Compliance Special Notice The statements set forth in this catalog are for information purposes only and should not be construed as the basis of a contract between students and this institution. While the provisions of this catalog will generally be applied as stated, Savannah State University reserves the right to change any provision listed in this Catalog, including but not limited to academic requirements for graduation, without actual notice to individual students. Every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes. Information on changes will be available in the Offices of the Registrar, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Student Affairs, and the offices of the academic deans. It is especially important that students note that it is their responsibility to remain apprised of current graduation requirements for their particular degree programs. Savannah State University, an affirmative action/equal opportunity education institution, does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, age, religion, handicap, or national origin in employment, admissions, or activities. Savannah State University Table of Contents Savannah State University ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Academic Calendar .................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Academic Information .............................................................................................................................................................................. 12 Student Services ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 38 Financial Information ................................................................................................................................................................................ 59 Computer Services and Information Technology ..................................................................................................................................... 67 Core Curriculum ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 68 Academic Degree Programs .................................................................................................................................................................... 70 College of Business Administration .......................................................................................................................................................... 71 College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences ............................................................................................................................................. 75 College of Sciences and Technology ....................................................................................................................................................... 91 Description of Courses ........................................................................................................................................................................... 110 University Personnel .............................................................................................................................................................................. 183 Where to Write or Call ............................................................................................................................................................................ 197 Index ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 199 3 2011 – 2012 Catalog University System of Georgia The University System of Georgia includes all state-operated institutions of higher education in Georgia - 4 research universities, 2 regional universities, 13 state universities, 8 state colleges, and 8 two-year colleges. These 35 public institutions are located throughout the state. A 16-member constitutional Board of Regents governs the University System, which has been in operation since 1932. Appointment of board members - five from the state-at-large and one from each of the state's eleven congressional districts - are made by the governor, subject to confirmation by the State Senate. Regular terms of board members are seven years. The chairman, the vice chairman, and other officers of the Board are elected by the members of the Board. The chancellor, who is not a member of the Board, is the chief executive officer of the Board and the chief administrative officer of the University System. The overall programs and services of the University System are offered through three major components: instruction, public service/continuing education, and research. Instruction consists of programs of study leading toward degrees, ranging from the associate (two-year) level to the doctoral level, and certificates. Requirements for admission of students to instructional programs at each institution are determined, pursuant to policies to the Board of Regents, by the institution. The Board establishes minimum academic standards and leaves to each institution the prerogative to establish higher standards. Applications for admission should be addressed in all cases to the institutions. A core curriculum, consisting of freshman and sophomore years of study for students whose educational goal is a degree beyond the associate level, is in effect at the universities, four-year colleges, and two-year colleges. This curriculum requires 60 semester credit hours, including 42 in general education - humanities/fine arts, mathematics and natural sciences, and social sciences - and 18 in the student's chosen major area of study. It facilitates the transfer of freshman and sophomore degree credits within the University System. Public service/continuing education consists of non-degree activities, primarily, and special types of college-degree-credit courses. The non-degree activities are of several types, including short courses, seminars, conferences, lectures, and consultative and advisory services. Typical college degree-credit public service/continuing education courses are those offered through extension center programs and teacher education consortiums. Research encompasses investigations conducted primarily for discovery and application of knowledge. These investigations include clearly defined projects in some cases, non-programmatic activities in other cases. They are conducted both on and off campus. The research investigations cover a large number and a variety of matters related to the educational objectives of the institutions and to general societal needs. Most of the research is conducted through the universities; however, some of it is conducted through several of the four-year and two- year colleges. The policies of the Board of Regents are for the governance, management, and control of the University System. The administrative actions of the chancellor provide autonomy of high degree for each institution. The executive head of each institution is the president, whose election is recommended by the chancellor and approved by the Board. The University System Advisory Council, with 34 committees, engenders continual system wide dialogue on major academic and administrative matters of all types. It also makes recommendations to the chancellor for transmittal to the Board of Regents as appropriate, regarding academic and administrative aspects of operation of the system. The advisory council consists of the chancellor, the vice chancellor, and all presidents as voting members, and it includes other officials and staff members of the institutions as nonvoting members. The advisory council's 21 academic committees and 13 administrative committees are made up of representatives from the institutions. The committees dealing with matters of university- system-wide application include, typically, at least one member from each institution. 4 Savannah State University Board of Regents District/Term Expires Kenneth R. Bernard, Jr. Thirteenth District, 2014 Larry R. Ellis State at Large, 2016 Rutledge A. Griffin, Jr. First District, 2018 Robert F. Hatcher State at Large, 2013 C. Thomas Hopkins, Jr. Third District, 2017 W. Mansfield Jennings, Jr. Eighth District, 2013 James R. Jolly Ninth District, 2015 Donald M. Leebern, Jr. State at Large, 2012 William NeSmith, Jr. Tenth District, 2015 Doreen Stiles Poitevint Second District, 2011 Willis J. Potts (Chair) Eleventh District, 2013 Neil L. Pruitt, Jr. Fifth District, 2017 Wanda Yancey Rodwell Fourth District, 2012 Kessel Stelling, Jr. Sixth District, 2015 Benjamin J. Tarbutton, III Twelfth District, 2013 Richard L. Tucker Seventh