cover New Mexico Highlands University 007 ~ 009 Undergraduate Catalog Academic Affairs 454-3311 Student Academic Support Services 454-3327 Admission of Students - Undergraduate 454-3439 Admission of Students - Graduate 454-3266 Advisement/Testing 454-3327 Athletics/Intramurals 454-3351 Business Affairs/Student Accounts 454-3222 Campus Life 454-3495 Campus Security 454-3278 Career Planning and Placement 454-3327 Catalog 454-3437 Course Schedule 454-3424 Child Care 454-3510 Educational Outreach Services/Distance Ed. 454-3271 Financial Assistance 454-3318 Student Housing 425-4426 General Inquires 425-7511 Institutional Effectiveness/Research 426-2020 Library 454-3401 Post Office 454-3358 Registration 454-3438 Student Affairs 454-3020 Student Government 454-3594 Scholarship/Student Employment 454-3318 Support Services 454-3483 Transcripts 454-3455 TTY Switchboard 454-3003 Web Registration Problems 454-3226 President James A. Fries, Ph.D Board of Regents The Honorable Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, Santa Fe Javier M. Gonzales, Chairman, Santa Fe Walter Adams, Vice-Chairman, Las Vegas Rosanna C. Vázquez, Secretary/Treasurer, Albuquerque Robert Benavides, Member, Isleta Sherry Salas, Member, Las Vegas New Mexico Highlands University 007 ~ 009 Undergraduate Catalog Undergraduate Catalog 2007~2009 New Mexico Highlands University New Mexico Highlands University 007 ~ 009 Undergraduate Catalog New Mexico Highlands University Box 9000 Las Vegas, New Mexico 87701 (505) 425-7511 www.nmhu.edu New Mexico Highlands University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central As- sociation of Colleges and Schools, 30 North LaSalle St., Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504, 312-263-0456; 800-621-7440, fax 312-263-7462; www.ncacihe.org. To review or receive a copy of the University NCA Affili- ation Status Report, please contact the Office of the Registrar. New Mexico Highlands University reserves the right to change its instructional programs at any time. The provisions of this catalog are not to be regarded as an irrevocable contract between the student and New Mexico Highlands University. New Mexico Highlands University does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, or sexual orientation in employment, admission, programs or services. Any student who feels that he/she has been discriminated against is encouraged to file an incident report form with the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs. For more information please refer to the NMHU Stu- dent Handbook or the NMHU website at www.nmhu.edu. All NMHU educational programs and activities will be made accessible to students with disabilities upon request. Individuals with a disability who are in need of accommodations in order to participate in our programs may contact the university at 505 454-3188, TTY at 505 454-3003 or in writing to the Office of Disability Services, New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico 87701. For the full-time degree seeking freshman who entered the university during the 2000-2001 academic year the persistence and graduation rate may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. Bulletin Vol. 54, Issue 427 Fall 2007 This catalog is published in two versions, an undergraduate and a separate graduate publication. Published bian- nually by New Mexico Highlands University, Box 9000, Las Vegas, New Mexico 87701. Send change of address to NMHU Office of the Registrar Publication No. CAT-2007-9 New Mexico Highlands University 007 ~ 009 Undergraduate Catalog TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 Map 7 NMHU Mission Statement 8-9 Overview of Undergraduate Programs of Study 10 Highlands at a Glance 10-11 Student Services and Policies 12 Admission to the University 19 Tuition and Fees 22 Financial Aid and Scholarships 26 General Academic Policies and Procedures 32 General Degree Policies 33 General Graduation Policies 34 Registration 37 Undergraduate Degree Requirements 39 Academic Programs and Courses 41 College of Arts & Sciences 42 Department of Behavioral Sciences 54 Department of Communication and Fine Arts 69 Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences 93 Department of Humanities 116 Department of Natural Sciences 139 Department of Nursing 141 School of Business Administration 156 School of Education 172 Department of Exercise Sport and Sciences 186 School of Social Work 193 Interdepartmental Programs 197 The University Administration 198 Faculty 201 Emeriti Faculty 204 Index Academic Calendar is on inside back cover New Mexico Highlands University 007 ~ 009 Undergraduate Catalog The Undergraduate Catalog 2007-2009 is a description of New Mexico Highlands University’s academic pro- grams and courses of instruction. Although much effort has been made to ensure accuracy, errors or omissions may be present. All official corrections to this catalog are on file with the Office of the Registrar. The administration and faculty of New Mexico Highlands University believe that the educational programs of the university are effective and valuable. However, the ultimate results of the programs offered, in terms of such matters as achievement, employment, and professional licensing, are also dependent on factors beyond the control of the university, such as individual student initiative, governmental or institutional regulations, and market conditions. Therefore, New Mexico Highlands University makes no representation or guarantee that following a particular course or curriculum will result in specific achievement, employment, admission to other programs, or profes- sional licensing. New Mexico Highlands University 007 ~ 009 Undergraduate Catalog 7 MISSION STATEMENT world, the University aspires to develop and deliver New Mexico Highlands University is a diverse comprehen- new models for baccalaureate and graduate programs sive quality university serving the global community by inte- in additional programs such as engineering, forestry grating education, research, public service, and economic de- management, watershed management, bilingual programs velopment, while celebrating our distinctive Northern New in the professional schools, and programs that clearly Mexico cultures and traditions. We achieve this through a acknowledge that a university that fully takes advantage university-wide commitment to quality student-centered edu- of, and prepares its students for, creative application of cation, recognition of the growing importance of the Spanish technology to improve the quality of life, is a university language to our nation’s interests, and an acknowledgement that will prosper, grow, and be relevant. In support of its to our many responsibilities to residents of Northern New mission the university has adopted the following strategic Mexico as the principal educational institution in the region. goals: STRATEGIC GOAL A: Develop a learner-centered As a student-centered, publicly supported, regionally environment that promotes the improvement of learning and based, comprehensive university offering programs in personal development of students from first-year courses liberal arts, sciences and professional disciplines the through degree completion. University brings together students from distinctive STRATEGIC GOAL B: Enhance the long term strategy cultural, socioeconomic, linguistic, geographic, religious, for university engagements in community and regional and educational backgrounds. partnerships. New Mexico Highland University is committed to STRATEGIC GOAL C: Become the premier Hispanic programs that focus on its multiethnic student body Serving Institution (HSI) in the country. with special emphasis on the rich heritage of Hispanic STRATEGIC GOAL D: Align New Mexico Highlands and Native American cultures that are distinctive to the University technology with institutional priorities, be on the State of New Mexico and particularly to Northern New leading edge of technology developments in higher educa- Mexico. The University clearly perceives that its success tion, provide faculty, students, staff and administration, and depends upon an appreciation of the region’s cultural and the communities the University serves convenient access linguistic identities. By reinforcing cultural identity and to information needed for learning, research, teaching, encouraging the use of these assets, the University seeks administration, and communication. to empower students and the region’s ethnic populations STRATEGIC GOAL E: Achieve a competitive position to achieve full involvement in the activities of society. with peer institutions in research and scholarship in targeted areas that promote the achievement of the university mis- The University emphasizes graduate and professional sion. programs, and a balanced curriculum promotes STRATEGIC GOAL F: Maintain the adequacy and quality undergraduate study that is firmly grounded in the liberal of the physical campus environment. arts and sciences, emphasizes excellence in teaching and STRATEGIC GOAL G: Develop effective and efficient individual attention to students, and prepares students academic and administrative processes, systems and struc- for lifelong learning, for graduate and professional tures that support continuous improvement schools, and for present and future occupations. The STRATEGIC GOAL H: Communicate the image and University remains true to its legacy of emphasis on reputation of the University to the general public and to teacher preparation, interdisciplinary programs involving students with a focus on its high quality. the Hispanic