UNIVERSITY of ST. THOMAS H O U S T O N UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG 2012 - 2014 Undergraduate Catalog 2012–2014 Houston’s Catholic University School of Arts and Sciences Cameron School of Business School of Education School of Nursing 3800 Montrose Blvd • Houston, Texas 77006–4626 • 713–555–7911 • www.stthom.edu GRADUATE PROGRAMS The University of St. Thomas offers the following graduate degree programs. Please contact the appropriate graduate school for information. Master of Business Administration (MBA) Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) Dean, Cameron School of Business 3800 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77006–4626 Telephone: 713–525–2100, [email protected] Associate Dean, Director of Graduate Business Programs Cameron School of Business 3800 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77006–4626 Telephone: 713–525–2101, [email protected] Master of Education (MEd) Dean, School of Education 3800 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77006–4626 Telephone: 713–525–3540 Master of Arts in Faith in Faith and Culture (MAFC) Director, Center for Faith and Culture 3800 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77006–4626 Telephone: 713–942–5066, [email protected] Master in Liberal Arts (MLA) Director, MLA Program 3800 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77006–4626 Telephone: 713–525–6951, [email protected] Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Master of Arts in Philosophy (MA) Director, Center for Thomistic Studies 3800 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77006–4626 Telephone: 713–525–3591, [email protected] Master of Divinity (MDiv) Master of Arts Theological Studies (MA) Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS) Dean, School of Theology 9845 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024–3498 Telephone: 713–686–4345, [email protected] ACCREDITATION ACCREDITATION The University of St. Thomas is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the BA, BBA, BS, BTh, MA, MAPS, MBA, MDiv, MEd, MAFC, MIB, MLA, MSA, MSIS and PhD degrees. Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 1866 Southern Lane Decatur, GA 30033–4097 404–679–4500 www.sacscoc.org Special Accreditations Association of Theological Schools (School of Theology) Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (Cameron School of Business) Texas Board of Nursing The Texas Education Agency for Teacher Certification (School of Education) The Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors Member of Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs (AGLSP) Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Council of Undergraduate Research (CUR) Independent Colleges and Universities (ICUT) Texas Independent College Fund (TICF) American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education The College Board Council for Higher Education Accreditation Educause Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities International Council of Universities of St. Thomas Aquinas National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Association of Financial Aid Administrators Texas Independent College Fund Greater Houston Partnership National Association of College and University Business Officers. The 2012–2014 Undergraduate Catalog was produced by the Office of Academic Affairs in cooperation with the Office of Publications. GENERAL EDITOR Dr. Jerry Kramer, Writing Program Administrator ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ms. Alexis Scates, Catalog Project Manager ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ms. Sara Laidlaw, Director of Academic Advising PUBLICATION DESIGN Mr. Christopher Zeglin, Publications Designer TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS THE UNIVERSITY............................................................................................5 MISSION STATEMENT..............................................................................5 VISION STATEMENT.................................................................................5 HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY..............................................................6 BASILIAN TRADITION..............................................................................6 UNIVERSITY SEAL....................................................................................7 SESSIONS CALENDAR..............................................................................8 CONTACT INFORMATION .......................................................................10 ENTERING THE UNIVERSITY......................................................................11 UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS..........................................................12 AP, IB and CLEP ..........................................................................................17 FINANCIAL INFORMATION .........................................................................23 TUITION AND FEES...................................................................................24 PAYMENT OF TUITION AND FEES ........................................................25 SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID.................................................27 SCHOLARSHIPS..........................................................................................27 FINANCIAL AID .........................................................................................32 UNIVERSITY LIFE ...........................................................................................37 STUDENT SERVICES.................................................................................38 ATHLETICS .................................................................................................51 STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES ..................................52 CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT ..............................................................60 ACADEMIC POLICIES....................................................................................61 ACADEMIC ADVISING .............................................................................62 ACADEMIC STANDARDS.........................................................................65 ACADEMIC RECORDS AND TRANSCRIPTS.........................................75 REQUIREMENTS FOR BACHELOR’S DEGREES..................................76 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS................................................................................87 PROGRAMS OF STUDY ............................................................................88 HONORS PROGRAM..................................................................................89 SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM............................................................92 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH .............................................................92 STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS.................................................................93 COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS ....................................................................95 PREPROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS ...........................................................99 SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES ............................................................102 CAMERON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ............................................................265 SCHOOL OF EDUCATION .............................................................................284 SCHOOL OF NURSING....................................................................................294 BOARD OF DIRECTORS.................................................................................301 UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION................................................................302 FACULTY ...........................................................................................................304 INDEX..................................................................................................................315 The University of St. Thomas makes every effort to include in the Undergraduate Catalog accurate and current information on policies, programs and courses. However, the University reserves the right to make changes considered expedient for its general well–being or that of any of its constituencies. Furthermore, the provisions of the Undergraduate Catalog do not constitute an irrevocable contract between any student and the University, and all provisions of the Undergraduate Catalog remain subject to revision at any time for any reason and without prior notice. The Undergraduate Catalog is primarily an online document, thus allowing changes to be made in the online catalog between printings. Consult the catalog at www.stthom.edu MISSION • VISION STATEMENT 5 THE UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT We are the University of St. Thomas, the Catholic university in the heart of Houston. We are committed to the Catholic intellectual tradition and the dialogue between faith and reason. By pursuing excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service, we embody and instill in our students the core values of our founders, the Basilian Fathers: goodness, discipline, and knowledge. We foster engagement in a diverse, collaborative community. As a comprehensive university grounded in the liberal arts, we educate students to think critically, communicate effectively, succeed professionally, and lead ethically. Approved by the Board of Directors, January 19, 2005 VISION STATEMENT We have decided that within 25 years we will become one of the great Catholic universities in America. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES Our vision of building a great Catholic university for the future entails making a firm commitment in the present. Over the next five years we will lay the foundation of our vision by focusing on four strategic initiatives that will guide all