Academic Catalog 2020-2021

THE MAJOR A major is an academic program designed to enable students to acquire mastery of a particular discipline or interdisciplinary area. Baccalaureate majors at Bluefield College consist of a minimum of 10 courses or 30 semester hours, at least five courses of which are 3000 level or above. The total number of courses a baccalaureate program may require at any level in the major and related departments is generally no more than 18 courses or 54 semester hours. THE CONCENTRATION A concentration is an academic program in which a student completes a basic set of courses within the major and another predetermined set of courses that more specifically define the major. The academic department specifies the courses required for a concentration. Concentrations require a minimum of five courses or 15 semester hours. At least five courses must be at or above the 3000 level. THE TRACK A track is an academic program within the student’s declared major that enables the student to focus the elective hours beyond the core courses in the major. The academic department specifies the courses for a track. Tracks require a minimum of three courses or nine semester hours. At least three courses must be at or above the 3000 level. THE MINOR A minor is an academic program that a student completes in an academic area other than that of the declared major. The academic department specifies the courses required for the minor. Minors require a minimum of five courses or 15 semester hours. Students may complete the requirements for any minor, but the major determines the student’s degree (e.g., Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science). REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION The General Degree Requirements for graduation are: 1. The student must earn 120 semester hours to include the general education require- ments, the requirements for at least one major, and the requirements for a minor, if required by the student’s major. 2. The student must have a grade point average of at least 2.0 for all work completed at Bluefield College. The student must also have a grade point average of at least 2.0 in all coursework required for the major (including primary and related disciplines, if any) unless a higher grade point average is specified as a requirement for that major. 3. A student earning a Bachelor’s Degree must complete at least 36 semester hours of Bluefield College coursework to include at least 21 hours of the major and 9 hours of the minor, if any. A student earning an Associate’s Degree must complete at least 16 semester hours of Bluefield College coursework. 4. The student must satisfy the College convocation requirement as verified by the Of- fice of Student Development. 5. The student must apply for graduation with the Registrar by the deadline posted on the Academic Calendar. 6. The student must pay the graduation fee of $120, $140 for Master of Arts in Biomedi- cal Sciences students; along with all accounts on campus (Business Office, Library, Student Development, etc.), in full at least 15 days before commencement. 7. All students must be within six semester hours before graduation day in order to par- ticipate in commencement exercises. No exception will be made to these requirements.

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