AURORA UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG 2014–2015 CATALOG UNDERGRADUATE UNIVERSITY AURORA Discover what matters. And build your life around it. Undergraduate Catalog 2014–2015 Welcome to Aurora University At Aurora University, we understand that students pursue higher education for many different reasons. Some enroll in preparation for specific careers or because they are passionate about certain academic disciplines or activities. Others come because they have discerned vocational callings and want to serve the needs of others or to advance the well-being of society as a whole. Many earn their degrees in anticipation of a new chapter in their lives or seek the skills and knowledge necessary to advance in today’s competitive work environment. Our mission is to affirm our students’ educational purposes and to champion their fulfillment. For this reason, AU students learn in a variety of different settings. Our Aurora, Illinois campus offers a traditional collegiate environment for undergraduate and graduate study, while our Wisconsin-based George Williams College campus provides a wooded, lakeside alternative for students in selected academic disciplines. AU also has a growing center in McHenry County and takes its curriculum directly into a number of workplaces throughout the region. Regardless of the reasons our students choose AU or the specific campus environment in which they earn their degrees, we are confident that the experience will be truly life-changing. This is what we mean in our mission statement, when we describe our singular dedication to “the transformative power of learning.” The benefits of this kind of an education are explicit and may be measured in terms of specific outcomes. But they are also timeless and enduring. That’s why we encourage each AU student to “discover what matters and build your life around it.” Rebecca L. Sherrick, PhD President 2014–2015 Undergraduate Catalog Academic Policies, Academic Programs and Course Descriptions An independent university founded in 1893 Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission; Member – North Central Association ncahlc.org 312-263-0456 Aurora University 347 S. Gladstone Ave. Aurora, IL 60506-4892 630-892-6431 (All Locations) 630-844-5533 (Office of Admission) 630-844-5535, fax (Office of Admission) aurora.edu [email protected] 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Welcome.....................................................................Inside front cover General Information About Aurora University .................................................... Admission...................................................................................................................15 Student Services.......................................................................................................24 Academic Regulations and Procedures ..............................................................29 Undergraduate Academic Majors ........................................................................74 Accounting..........................................................................................................75 Actuarial Science................................................................................................76 Art ........................................................................................................................77 Athletic Training ................................................................................................78 Biology (BA)/Secondary Education Licensure..............................................80 Biology (BS) ........................................................................................................81 Business Administration...................................................................................82 Coaching and Youth Sport Development .......................................................84 Communication .................................................................................................86 Communication Sciences and Disorders........................................................88 Computer Science..............................................................................................89 Criminal Justice.................................................................................................90 Disabilities Studies.............................................................................................91 Elementary Education ......................................................................................92 English ................................................................................................................95 English/Secondary Education Licensure........................................................97 Finance................................................................................................................97 Fitness and Health Promotion.........................................................................98 Health Science ...................................................................................................99 History ...............................................................................................................101 History/Secondary Social Studies Education Licensure ............................102 Marketing .........................................................................................................103 Mathematics .....................................................................................................105 Mathematics/Secondary Education Licensure............................................106 Media Studies ...................................................................................................107 Music .................................................................................................................108 Nursing ..............................................................................................................110 Philosophy .........................................................................................................112 Physical Education ...........................................................................................113 Political Science ................................................................................................115 Psychology .........................................................................................................116 Religion..............................................................................................................118 Social Work .......................................................................................................119 Sociology ...........................................................................................................124 Spanish..............................................................................................................126 Special Education.............................................................................................127 Theatre ..............................................................................................................129 Supplemental Major .......................................................................................130 Secondary Education .......................................................................................131 Approved Professional Educator Licensure Grade-Level Endorsements ...........................................................................................133 3 Undergraduate Academic Minors......................................................................135 Accounting........................................................................................................136 American Culture and Ethnic Studies...........................................................136 Art ......................................................................................................................137 Art History ........................................................................................................137 Bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) Education.................137 Biology...............................................................................................................138 Business Administration.................................................................................139 Chemistry..........................................................................................................139 Coaching............................................................................................................139 Computer Science ............................................................................................140 Creative Writing...............................................................................................140 Criminal Justice ...............................................................................................140 Digital Marketing ............................................................................................140 English ..............................................................................................................140 Film Studies ......................................................................................................141 Finance...............................................................................................................141 Fitness and Health Promotion........................................................................141