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General Information | Scholastic Requirements SCHOLASTIC REQUIREMENTSThe grade system in use employs five grades: A, B, C, D, or F. The mark X represents an incomplete course; the mark IP is given in thesis and other courses which cannot be completed within one semester; credit awarded by examination and hours earned with the mark CR are counted in determining classification, but are not included in determining grade point average. The Q mark is given for courses dropped from the thirteenth class day (fifth class day for summer session) and until the last day for dropping courses without penalty as stated in the Academic Calendar. The mark NC may be given only for failure to complete satisfactorily the requirements for selected courses, including student teaching. Courses with the mark NC and the marks Q and X are not included in determining grade point average.
CLASS ATTENDANCE
STUDENT ABSENCES ON RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS Section 51.911 of the Texas Education Code requires that an institution of higher education shall allow a student who is absent from class for the observance of a religious holy day to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence. The student, not later than the 15th calendar day after the first day of the semester, or the 7th calendar day after the first day of a summer session, must notify the instructor of each scheduled class that he/she would be absent for a religious holy day. Refer to the Academic Calendar for the deadline date for notification by students to the faculty members of the student’s intent to be absent on religious holy days. FINAL EXAMINATIONS Final examinations are not given before the designated time in the official examination schedule. A student is not permitted to take a final examination before all other work for the course is completed. A student who is compelled to be absent from a final examination may petition the chair of the academic department involved to permit a mark of X in the course. This permission is granted only by the academic department chair with the recommendation of the instructor concerned. DEAN’S LIST OF ACADEMIC HONORS Those outstanding undergraduate students who attain a grade point average of 3.5 or better, with no grade of F, for all courses attempted while earning not less than twelve semester credit hours of academic course work during the semester are included on the Dean’s List of Academic Honors. The Dean’s List is released at the close of each semester. In order to provide the appropriate recognition which these students have earned, the Dean’s List is distributed throughout the University community as well as by the News Bureau to the various other media. PRESIDENT’S HONOR ROLL Those undergraduate students who achieve a grade point average of 4.0 in all course work attempted while earning not less than twelve semester credit hours of academic course work during the fall semester or spring semester attain the distinction of being included on the President’s Honor Roll. The names of those students achieving the highest attainable grades denoting academic excellence comprise the President’s Honor Roll and are released at the conclusion of each semester. In order to provide the appropriate recognition which these qualifying students have earned, the President’s Honor Roll is distributed throughout the University community as well as to the various other media. ACADEMIC PROBATION AND SUSPENSION In order to achieve and remain in academic good standing at Sam Houston State University, an undergraduate student must maintain an overall grade point average of at least 2.0 (C). A 2.0 overall grade point average is the absolute minimum required for graduation. An undergraduate student who falls below a 2.0 overall grade point average at the close of any semester or summer school during which one or more semester hours are attempted will be placed on probation. Summer school (two sessions) is considered to be a unit equivalent to a semester. If an enrolled student on probation fails to achieve a minimum of a 2.0 overall grade point average at the close of the next semester or summer school attended following the starting of the probation, the student will be suspended. Undergraduate transfer students who are admitted with less than a 2.0 overall grade point average will be admitted on probation. An undergraduate transfer student must achieve a minimum overall grade point average (including all transfer work) of 2.0 at the close of the semester or summer school for which the student is admitted or the student will be suspended. The cumulative grade point average is based only on course work at Sam Houston State University for which the student earns the grade of A, B, C, D, or F. The marks of Q, WP, WF, NC, and X are not counted as hours attempted in figuring the cumulative grade point average. Deficient grade points on transferred work must be made up sufficiently in order to earn a degree at Sam Houston State University. Grades earned at other institutions may not be used to remove grade deficiencies earned at Sam Houston State University. Any student who has accumulated a total of 30 or more deficient grade points at the end of any long semester or summer school will be automatically suspended. Deficient grade points which may have been transferred in from other institutions are added to those received at Sam Houston State University in order to determine total grade point deficiency. Academic actions are based on the total Sam Houston State University record and are implemented at the close of the fall semester, the spring semester, and the summer school. Academic good standing is defined as follows: If a student is allowed to enroll, a letter of good standing will be issued. The appropriate academic dean may place on probation or retain on probation or suspend any student deficient in grade points without regard to the regulations previously stated. Summer Transient Students are not subject to academic action while in that status. Only hours earned at Sam Houston State University and hours accepted in transfer from other institutions will count toward the student’s classification. The official classification is determined by the Registrar. Credit awarded by examination and hours earned with the grade of CR are counted in determining classification, but are not included in determining grade point average. REMOVAL FROM ACADEMIC PROBATION The student will be removed from academic probation at the close of the semester in which the cumulative grade point average achieves the required standard. READMISSION AFTER ACADEMIC SUSPENSION The period of academic suspension and the subsequent readmission of a student on academic probation are based on the entire Sam Houston State University academic record and at the discretion of the academic dean. The student is encouraged to see his/her dean for specific or additional requirements of the appropriate college and the University.
The appropriate academic dean may place on probation or retain on probation or suspend any student deficient in grade points without regard to the regulations previously stated. RESIGNATIONS To resign (officially withdraw) from the University, a student must notify the Registrar’s Office and process a Resignation Request. The Resignation Request must be in writing and becomes effective on the date received by the Registrar’s Office. The effective date of the Resignation Request, as received by the Registrar’s Office, is the date which is used for determining any refund as authorized in the State Refund Policy . The student is responsible for clearing all debts owed to the University. Students who fail to officially resign from the University will receive the grade of F for each course in which they are enrolled. Students who resign after the first nine weeks of a regular semester or after the first two weeks of a summer session receive a mark of WP (withdrew passing) or WF (withdrew failing) for each course for which they are enrolled. Students who resign from the University while enrolled in a course whose duration is less than a normal term will receive a mark of WP or WF if they resign after one-half of that course time has been completed. The mark of WP or WF is the responsibility of the student’s instructors. ACADEMIC GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES FOR STUDENTS Academic grievances include disputes over: academic standards; course grades; unauthorized class absences or tardiness; suspension from the university for academic deficiency; alleged unprofessional conduct by a course instructor. A copy of Academic Policy Statement 900823, Academic Grievance Procedures for Students, can be obtained from the office of the student’s academic dean, department chair, or the Newton Gresham Library. This academic policy statement is also available online. TRANSCRIPTS A currently enrolled student or a former student of the University may obtain a transcript of his/her completed work from the Office of the Registrar. All requests for transcripts must be in writing and must be accompanied by the individual’s signature. A fee which, according to state law must be paid in advance, will be charged for each copy. The fee for each transcript is $5, effective June 1, 2002. Transcripts will not be released for students who have a financial indebtedness to the University. Checks should be made payable to Sam Houston State University CORRESPONDENCE COURSES Correspondence courses are offered for those students who wish to add to their academic program by individual study. A student is permitted to complete eighteen semester hours toward a bachelor’s degree by correspondence course work. Correspondence courses may be completed in a minimum of sixty days or a maximum of one calendar year. Semester credit hours earned in a correspondence course(s) are not considered “Resident Classroom Instruction” hours and are not used in determining academic honors: cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude, The Dean’s List, and the President’s Honor Roll. However, the semester credit hours and grade points earned for correspondence courses are included in the calculation of the overall SHSU grade point average. Correspondence courses are not offered at the graduate level, nor can any correspondence course taken at any level or at any institution count towards a graduate degree at Sam Houston State University. Enrollment in correspondence courses may be completed at any time. Additional information, including a brochure listing the courses which are offered and an enrollment application, may be obtained by inquiring in person in Room 116, Academic Classroom Building III, or writing to Correspondence Course Division, Box 2536, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341-2536. Telephone: (936) 294-1003, 294-1005, 294-3824. Website: cor.shsu.edu GRADUATION APPLICATION FOR A DEGREE Prior to the semester or summer school in which the degree is to be conferred, a formal application and payment of the degree audit/diploma fee of $18 must be made in the Registrar’s Office. The Academic Calendar which is located in the current catalogue and in the Schedule of Classes indicates the deadline for making application for a degree. A student filing a degree application after the published deadline will be assessed an additional $25 late fee. A student who is completing the last semester of course work at an institution other than the University must provide the Registrar with an official transcript of this course work no later than one day prior to the graduation date. Application for a degree is available online. ATTENDANCE AT COMMENCEMENT Should a degree candidate be unable to attend commencement, a written request for the award of the degree in absentia should be directed to the Office of the President of the University. The degree candidate should indicate the address to which the diploma is to be mailed and should include the correct fee for postage and packaging the diploma. $5.00 — USA; $17.00 — Mexico; $12.00 — Canada; $24.00 — other countries. Checks should be made payable to Sam Houston State University. GRADUATION WITH SPECIAL RECOGNITION Special recognition at graduation is provided to undergraduate students who compile outstanding academic records. Those graduates who have achieved undergraduate academic excellence at the university receive a gold cord at graduation to reflect this achievement. The gold cord indicates one of the following academic achievements: Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Cum Laude, With Academic Distinction, Special Scholastic Recognition for Transfer Students, or Alpha Chi. Degrees conferred Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude reflect an outstanding grade point average with a minimum of sixty semester hours earned in residence at Sam Houston State University. The distinction and corresponding grade point averages are: Cum Laude — 3.50 to 3.66; Magna Cum Laude — 3.67 to 3.85; Summa Cum Laude — 3.86 to 4.00. The Department Academic Distinction Program is an individualized learning experience available to outstanding students at Sam Houston State University. An Academic Distinction Program project provides qualified students with a comprehensive introduction to meaningful research under the guidance of a designated faculty advisor. Transfer students from accredited institutions who complete their final requirements for a baccalaureate degree (see NOTE below) at Sam Houston State University will receive Special Scholastic Recognition and a gold cord at commencement plus an appropriate notation on their academic transcript when they have achieved not less than a 3.5 overall grade point average computed on all accepted transfer resident classroom instruction, have attained a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5 computed on all resident classroom instruction taken at Sam Houston State University, and have met other specified university criteria. Alpha Chi, a national honor society organized to recognize and promote scholastic excellence, is open to all university seniors who accepted membership and have achieved a 3.6 or higher grade point average on all college-level course work. Participation in the Honors Program at Sam Houston State University is based on a competitive selection process, and provides outstanding academic opportunities, and distinct undergraduate college experiences. Upon successful completion of the Honors Program — twenty-four semester hours of Honors courses and two special seminars — the student’s academic transcript will indicate graduation “With Honors” and the student may wear an Honors medallion with academic regalia. To be designated as having graduated “With Highest Honors” the student must also successfully complete a special senior project involving original research and/or an effort of creative expression. NOTE: Semester credit hours earned in a correspondence course(s) are not considered “resident classroom instruction” hours and are not used in determining the minimum semester credit hour requirement for academic honors: cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude, the Dean’s List, and the President’s Honor Roll. However, the semester credit hours and grade points earned for correspondence courses are included in the calculation of the overall SHSU grade point average. DEPARTMENT ACADEMIC DISTINCTION PROGRAM An enriched program is offered to superior students at Sam Houston State University, culminating in the student’s receiving a diploma designating that the degree is being conferred “With Academic Distinction” in a field of specialization. The program consists of six hours of individual work on a project under the guidance of a designated faculty member. To qualify for department Academic Distinction, the student must enroll for six (6) semester hours of credit in a department Academic Distinction program, and the student must have the following qualifications: (a) be of junior standing (64 semester hours or more) or written approval of the chair of the major department or the discipline in which academic distinction is sought, (b) have a Sam Houston State University grade point average of not less than 3.25, (c) have a grade point average of 3.5 on all courses taken in the major field, and (d) have the written approval of the department chair, the Director of The Honors Program and the Academic Dean. To complete the six-hour program and to graduate with Academic Distinction in a specified academic discipline, the student must maintain not less than a 3.25 Sam Houston State University grade point average and not less than a 3.5 grade point average in the major field or in the discipline in which academic distinction is sought and must complete all other academic requirements which the individual department considers necessary. The six additional semester credit hours of department Academic Distinction Program course work will be completed in addition to the standard requirements within the major field and may not be taken in lieu of any requirements in the major field. The graduate programs at Sam Houston State University offer advanced and specialized study to those who aspire to become intellectual leaders in the professions and in various field of teaching and research. The University provides graduate students the opportunity to pursue individual educational programs through carefully directed intellectual activity. Above all, Sam Houston State University offers graduate education that is both professional and personal. Masters and doctoral degree programs are available at Sam Houston State University. The list of graduate degree programs is located online. Students should contact the appropriate department or college housing the degree program for more information on availability of scholarships and graduate assistantships. Application materials are available from the Graduate Studies office in Academic Building III, room 325; telephone: (936) 294-1971; email: graduate@shsu.edu: mailing address: Office of Graduate Studies, box 2478, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341. Applications for admission can also be downloaded and mailed to the University by accessing the University’s graduate web page. View the online application. While requirements vary by degree, students should submit the following items with their application:
International students (non-U.S. citizens) must meet the same admissions standards as U.S. students. Applicants from non-English speaking countries must score at least 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). International students should have application materials submitted 60 days prior to registration and must satisfy all immigration requirements. TRANSFER INFORMATION TRANSFER GUIDELINES The following guidelines and definitions are established to clarify and enhance Chapter 5, Subchapter A, Section 5.4 of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rule pertaining to Transfer Curricula and Resolution of Transfer Disputes for Lower-Division Courses. DEFINITIONS The definitions listed below were established by the Coordinating Board and will serve as criteria to resolve legal questions as specified in Section 1.23, Subchapter C, Chapter 61 of the Education Code, Section 61-078. The publications Transfer of Credit Policies and Curricula of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Community College General Academic Course Guide Manual: A Manual of Approved General Academic Transfer Courses for State Appropriations to Texas Public Community Colleges are the references for this issue: The following criteria for lower-division and upper-division course credit were adopted by the Task Force to Update the Academic Course Guide Manual. A. Criteria for Lower-Division Course Credit Lower-Division (Baccalaureate/Associate Degree) Courses Courses offered in the first two years of college study are those which:
B. Criteria for Upper-Division Course Credit Upper-Division (Baccalaureate) Courses Courses offered only in the third or fourth years of a baccalaureate program are those which
C. Free Transferability Lower-division courses included in the Academic Course Guide Manual and specified in the definition of “Lower-Division Course Credit” shall be freely transferable to and accepted as comparable degree credit by any Texas public institution of higher education where the equivalent course is available for fulfilling baccalaureate degree requirements. It is understood that each Texas institution of higher education may have limitations that invalidate courses after a specific length of time. For Texas community colleges, these freely transferable courses are identified in the latest revised edition of Coordinating Board publication Lower Division Academic Course Guide Manual, (revised 2002). Specifically excluded are courses designated as vocational, ESL/ESOL, technical, developmental or remedial, and courses listed as “basic skills.” For senior four-year institutions, lower-division courses that have the same course content and CIP codes as approved by the Coordinating Board shall bear equivalent credit. Specifically excluded are course designated as ESL/ESOL, technical and developmental/remedial courses. Within the spirit of the law it is realized that differences in interpretation of “same course content” may generate disputes. D. Disputes Transfer disputes may arise when a lower-division course is not accepted for credit by a Texas institution of higher education. To qualify as a dispute the course(s) in question must be offered by the institution denying the credit (receiving institution), or in the case of upper-level institutions, must be published as a lower-division course accepted for fulfilling lower-level requirements. For community colleges, the course(s) must be listed in the Lower Division Academic Course Guide Manual, and be offered at the receiving institution. Additionally, the sending institution may challenge the receiving institution’s denial of credit. Students at Sam Houston State University who require additional information/clarification regarding Transfer Dispute Resolution Guidelines should contact the Director of Undergraduate Admissions, telephone (936) 294-1828. The University reserves the right to refuse to accept transfer credit when the instructor of record does not meet the requisite academic credentials. COMMON COURSE NUMBERS The Texas Common Course Numbering System was developed in part to assist students in identifying which courses at one college will meet specific course requirements at another college. In other words, the common course numbering system promotes the successful transfer of course work among colleges and universities in Texas, making the transfer process easy for students. The common course number has a standardized four-letter prefix followed by a four-digit number — example, ENGL 1301. The four-letter prefix identifies the subject area. Each digit in the four-digit sequence gives additional information about the course. The first digit identifies the course as either freshman level (1) or sophomore level (2). The second digit identifies the number of credit hours a student will earn upon completion of the course. Most often this digit will be a 1, 2, 3, or 4. The final two digits serve to establish the sequence in which courses are generally taken. In the course description sections of the catalogue, the common course number is shown in brackets — example, [ENGL 1301]. The following is a list of all the common course numbers currently adopted by Sam Houston State University. Courses which fulfill one of the General Education Requirements for the Core Curriculum are identified with the letters GE to the right of the Sam Houston State University course number.
UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC POLICY MANUAL AND STUDENT GUIDELINES Sam Houston State University’s Academic Policy Manual and Student Guidelines provide specific information pertaining to the educational procedures of the University and student conduct. Copies of these publications may be viewed at the Reference Desk in the Newton Gresham Library or online. Academic Policy Statements which may be of special interest to Sam Houston State University students include: General Information |
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