General Catalog Georgia Perimeter College www.gpc.edu 3251 Panthersville Road Decatur, GA 30034-3897 An Associate Degree-Granting College of the University System of Georgia Serving the Metropolitan Atlanta Area Georgia Perimeter College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; Telephone 404-679-4501) to award Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degrees. CAMPUS OFFICES CLARKSTON CAMPUS LAWRENCEVILLE CAMPUS 555 North Indian Creek Drive AT THE GWINNETT UNIVERSITY CENTER Clarkston, Georgia 30021-2361 1000 University Center Lane Phone: (404) 299-4000 Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043-7409 Phone: (678) 407-5000 DECATUR CAMPUS 3251 Panthersville Road ROCKDALE CENTER Decatur, Georgia 30034-3832 FOR HIGHER EDUCATION Phone: (404) 244-5090 1115 West Avenue Conyers, Georgia 30012-5280 DUNWOODY CAMPUS Phone: (770) 785-6970 2101 Womack Road Dunwoody, Georgia 30338-4435 ALPHARETTA CENTER Phone: (770) 551-3000 AT GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY 3705 Brookside Parkway Alpharetta, Georgia 30022-4408 Phone: (770) 551-3000 2 ABOUT THIS CATALOG ABOUT THIS CATALOG This Catalog does not constitute a contract between Georgia Perimeter College and its students on either a collective or individual basis. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of the material published in the Catalog, Georgia Perimeter College reserves the right to change any provision listed, including but not limited to academic requirements for graduation, without actual notice to indi- vidual students. Every effort is made to advise students of changes. Information concerning academic requirements is available in the Advising and Counseling and Registration Services Offices. Georgia Perimeter College supports the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order #11246, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. No person shall, on the basis of age, race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or disability, be excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of the college. Any individual with a grievance related to the enforcement of any of the above provisions should contact the Assistant Director of Human Resources, Ombudsperson. The College complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, which guarantees any student the right to inspect and review his or her edu- cational records, to challenge the content of the records, and to control disclo- sures from the education records with certain exceptions. TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Academic Calendar . 4 About Georgia Perimeter College . 7 Admission to Georgia Perimeter College . 13 Fees and Expenses. 37 Financial Aid . 45 Academic Policies and Procedures . 65 Student Affairs . 89 Academic and Student Support . 95 Student Life . 103 The Center for Continuing and Corporate Education . 107 Programs of Study . 111 Course Descriptions . 151 Personnel . 199 Glossary of Terms . 221 Index. 225 4 ACADEMIC CALENDAR ACADEMIC CALENDAR All dates are subject to change. Please check the College Web site for the most recent information. Fall Semester 2004 First 7-Week Term Second 7-Week Term Full 15-Week Term Registration Aug. 18 - 20 Aug. 18 - 20, Aug. 18 - 20 Oct. 19 Schedule Adjustment Aug. 23, 24 Oct. 20 Aug. 23, 24 Classes begin Aug. 23 Oct. 20 Aug. 23 Labor Day Holiday Sept. 6 — Sept. 6 Midpoint of term Sept. 20 Nov. 17 Oct. 20 Thanksgiving Holiday — Nov. 25 - 28 Nov. 25 - 28 Classes end Oct. 11 Dec. 12 Dec. 12 Final Exams Oct. 13, 14, 16, 17 Dec. 13 - 19 Dec. 13 - 19 Learning Support Exit Tests Oct. 15 TBA TBA Spring Semester 2005 First 7-Week Term Second 7-Week Term Full 15-Week Term Registration Jan. 5 - 7 Jan. 5 - 7, Jan. 5 - 7 Mar. 15 Schedule Adjustment Jan. 10 - 11 Mar. 15 Jan. 10 - 11 Classes begin Jan. 10 Mar. 16 Jan. 10 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Jan. 17 — Jan. 17 Midpoint of term Feb. 7 Apr. 11 Mar. 15 Spring Break — Mar. 7 - 13 Mar. 7 - 13 Classes end Feb. 28 May 3 May 3 Final Exams Mar. 2 , 3, 5, 6 May 5 - 11 May 5 - 11 Learning Support Exit Tests Mar. 4 TBA TBA Commencement May 14 May 14 May 14 Summer Session 2005 First 5-Week Term Second 5-Week Term Full 11-Week Term Registration May 17 May 17, June 24 May 17 Schedule Adjustment May 17 June 24 May 17 Classes begin May 18 June 27 May 18 Memorial Day Holiday May 30 — May 30 Independence Day Holiday — July 4 July 4 Midpoint of term June 3 July 13 June 24 Classes end June 17 July 27 July 27 Final Exams June 20, 21 July 29 - Aug. 1 July 29 - Aug. 1 Learning Support Exit Tests June 22 Aug. 2 Aug. 2 ACADEMIC CALENDAR 5 Fall Semester 2005 First 7-Week Term Second 7-Week Term Full 15-Week Term Registration Aug. 17 - 19 Aug. 17 - 19, Aug. 17 - 19 Oct. 18 Schedule Adjustment Aug. 22, 23 Oct. 19 Aug. 22, 23 Classes begin Aug. 22 Oct. 20 Aug. 22 Labor Day Holiday Sept. 5 — Sept. 5 Midpoint of term Sept. 20 Nov. 16 Oct. 20 Thanksgiving Holiday — Nov. 24 - 27 Nov. 24 - 27 Classes end Oct. 10 Dec. 11 Dec. 11 Final Exams Oct. 12, 13, 15, 16 Dec. 12 - 18 Dec. 12 - 18 Learning Support Exit Tests Oct. 14 TBA TBA Spring Semester 2006 First 7-Week Term Second 7-Week Term Full 15-Week Term Registration Jan. 4 - 6 Jan. 4 - 6, Jan. 4 - 6 Mar. 14 Schedule Adjustment Jan. 9 - 10 Mar. 14 Jan. 9 - 10 Classes begin Jan. 9 Mar. 15 Jan. 9 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Jan. 16 — Jan. 16 Midpoint of term Feb. 6 Apr. 10 Mar. 14 Spring Break — Mar. 6 - 12 Mar. 6 - 12 Classes end Feb. 27 May 2 May 2 Final Exams Mar. 1, 2, 4, 5 May 4 - 10 May 4 - 10 Learning Support Exit Tests Mar. 3 TBA TBA Commencement May 13 May 13 May 13 Summer Session 2006 First 5-Week Term Second 5-Week Term Full 11-Week Term Registration May 16 May 16, June 23 May 16 Schedule Adjustment May 16 June 23 May 16 Classes begin May 17 June 26 May 17 Memorial Day Holiday May 29 — May 29 Independence Day Holiday — July 3, 4 July 3, 4 Midpoint of term June 2 July 13 June 23 Classes end June 16 July 27 July 27 Final Exams June 19, 20 July 29 - Aug. 1 July 29 - Aug. 1 Learning Support Exit Tests June 21 Aug. 2 Aug. 2 About Georgia Perimeter College Mission Statement . 8 Accreditation. 9 History . 9 Campuses . 10 Georgia Perimeter College Foundation. 11 Georgia Perimeter College Alumni Association . 11 8ABOUT GEORGIA PERIMETER COLLEGE ABOUT GEORGIA PERIMETER COLLEGE Mission Statement A community committed to learning and to becoming a preeminent associate degree- granting institution, the faculty, staff, administrators, and students of Georgia Perimeter College share the following aspirations: To gain national recognition as a community of learners To assume a national leadership role in developing creative, technologically advanced academic and student services programs To serve as a model for other institutions in developing collaborative partnerships to deliver public services, technical assistance, lifelong learning, and economic develop- ment training A regional, multi-campus unit of the University System of Georgia, Georgia Perimeter College strives to meet the changing expectations of our diverse collegiate and community constituencies by providing effective, innovative, lifelong educational opportunities. We are committed to diversity, continuous improvement, high academic standards, and the effi- cient use of resources. In decision-making at all levels, the enhancement of our students’ lives is our first priority. Georgia Perimeter College, a non-residential institution, serves diverse populations of traditional Placing learning first, we and non-traditional students in Greater provide accessible and afford- Metropolitan Atlanta. Placing learning first, we able high quality undergraduate provide accessible and affordable high quality credit and non-credit programs undergraduate credit and non-credit programs for for students seeking to complete students seeking to complete an associate degree, an associate degree, transfer to transfer to a senior college or university, prepare a senior college or university, for immediate entry into a career, pursue personal prepare for immediate entry into goals or enhance current workplace skills. Our a career, pursue personal goals curriculum specializes in liberal arts and profes- or enhance current workplace sional preparation and promotes international and skills. intercultural understanding. We also serve the broader community as an educational, cultural, and economic resource. Our academic programs and student support services focus on careful assessment of our learners’ abilities, achievements and needs, accommodations of their special requirements and resources, and guidance in the development and realization of their expectations and goals. We thus offer specialized sequences of courses and support programs that promote academic and personal success for students of varying levels of academic preparation. We encourage excellence in teaching, provide a technologically advanced learning environ- ment, support innovative strategies for meeting the learning styles of all students, and pro- mote learning by engaging students actively and collaboratively. In meeting the educational needs of the citizens of Georgia for the 21st century, we share with all other institutions in the University System of Georgia the following characteristics: A supportive campus climate, necessary services, and leadership and development opportunities, all to