Academic Policies
ACADEMIC COMMON MARKET
The Academic Common Market is an interstate agreement among southern states for sharing academic programs. Participating states enable their residents who qualify for admission to enroll in specific graduate programs in other states on an in-state tuition basis. Arrangements traditionally are limited to unusual programs or programs not offered within the state of residence. To enroll as an Academic Common Market student, an applicant must obtain certification from the common market coordinator in the student's home state.

The Academic Common Market serves residents of the following 14 southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Students must be admitted to the appropriate degree program by the Office of Admissions, and the letter of certification must be received in the Office of Admissions before the first day of classes for the effective term. For information on the state's authorization of programs or on the identity of the coordinator for a particular state, contact the Office of the Associate Provost.

The following UWF programs are affiliated with the Academic Common Market:

ACADEMIC STANDING
Undergraduate
GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING
Undergraduate students are required to maintain UWF cumulative GPAs of at least 2.0 to remain in good academic standing.

ACADEMIC PROBATION
Students whose grades in UWF courses fall below a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or who fail one half of their UWF course work for a semester may be placed automatically on academic probation by the Academic Review Committee of the major college for the following semester of enrollment. Students on probation return to good standing by achieving a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better during the semester of probation. Academic suspension may occur if a student fails to achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 during the semester of probation.

Students carrying only one course during a given semester may be placed on academic probation if the course is failed. Students registering for a single course for the next semester of enrollment and who fail that course, will be subject to academic suspension.

Students on probation are not eligible for office in any student organization and cannot represent the University in any official capacity during the semester of the probation.

Students on probation may apply for a change of major; however, approval is granted by the chairperson of the prospective department. Students should contact the chairperson for guidance.

ACADEMIC SUSPENSION
Normally undergraduate students are not placed on academic suspension without first being placed on probation for at least one semester.

The decision to suspend a student for academic reasons is made by the Academic Review Committee of the student's major college. Notification to the student and the Office of the Registrar is the responsibility of the student's major college.

Students carrying more than one course who fail more than one-half of the total credit hours attempted during a semester may be continued on probation or suspended.

Students under academic suspension may not enroll as a degree or non degree-seeking student at any of UWF's campuses or centers.

Students suspended from UWF who subsequently receive an A.A. degree from a Florida public community/junior college or State university may be readmitted to UWF upon application for readmission, with earned credit accepted in accordance with University policies (see section on Grade Forgiveness-A.A. Degree).

REINSTATEMENT
Students placed on academic suspension may request reinstatement after being away from the University one semester. The request for reinstatement must be directed to the college dean suspending the student at least two weeks in advance of the first day of classes of the semester for which reinstatement is requested. In addition, students not attending UWF the previous three semesters must file an application for readmission with the Office of Admissions.

Students reinstated from suspension may apply for a change of major. Approval is granted by the chairperson of the prospective department.

Graduate
GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING
Graduate students are required to maintain a UWF cumulative GPA of 3.0 to remain in good academic standing.

ACADEMIC PROBATION
Graduate students may be placed on probation by the academic department at the completion of the semester during which the cumulative GPA falls below 3.0. A grade of "S" (satisfactory) is not considered in the evaluation of academic standing. Written notification will be mailed by the department to the student.

Graduate students on probation who do not achieve good standing (cumulative GPA of 3.0) by the end of the semester in which an additional 10 semester hours of graduate work is completed, may continue only upon recommendation of the college Academic Standards Committee and approval of the college dean.

Graduate students on probation are not eligible for office in any student organization and cannot represent the University in any official capacity during the semester of the probation.

With the approval of the prospective department chairperson and college dean, a student on probation in a graduate program may apply for admission to another graduate program provided requirements for admission to that program are met. Applications must be processed through the Office of Admissions.

ACADEMIC SUSPENSION
Graduate students not achieving good standing (3.0 GPA) within the period designated may be suspended from the program. Written notification will be mailed by the department to the student.

With the approval of the prospective department chairperson and college dean, a student suspended from a graduate program may apply for admission to another graduate program provided requirements for admission to that program are met. Applications must be processed through the Office of Admissions.

REINSTATEMENT
Students suspended from a graduate program may petition for reinstatement after the lapse of one academic semester during which the students are not enrolled at UWF. Written evidence of eligibility must be submitted to the college dean.

Graduate students on suspension may submit a written appeal to the college dean who may refer the matter to the college Academic Standards Committee. Students not attending UWF the previous three semesters must file an application for readmission with the Office of Admissions.

Doctorate
GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING
A student's degree program GPA must be at least 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) for all courses taken at UWF. No grades of "C+" in the major courses and no "D" may be counted toward the Doctor of Education degree. A grade of "S" (satisfactory) is not considered in the evaluation of academic standing. Students who do not maintain a 3.25 GPA are placed on academic probation. Specialization areas may have additional requirements regarding acceptable letter grades for major courses that are counted toward the Ed.D. degree.

ACADEMIC PROBATION AND SUSPENSION
Graduate students on probation who do not achieve good standing (cumulative GPA of 3.25) by the end of the semester in which an additional 10 semester hours of graduate work is completed, may continue only upon recommendation of the College Academic Standards Committee and approval of the College of Education Dean. Until the additional 10 hours is completed, probation will continue.

Students who do not achieve good standing within the period designated may be suspended from the program. Students should consult the College of Education Graduate Office for requirements for the Preliminary Examination and continued enrollment in the program.

REINSTATEMENT
Students suspended from a graduate program may petition for reinstatement after one academic semester during which the students are not registered at UWF. Written evidence of eligibility must be submitted to the college dean. Students on suspension may submit a written appeal to the college dean who may refer the matter to the College Academic Standards Committee. Students who are suspended must submit an appeal within the 12 month or three semester period following notification of suspension. Students who do not submit an appeal within the 12 month period must reapply to the program through the Office of Admissions. Readmitted students are responsible for the degree requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

Non Degree-Seeking Students
Non degree-seeking students are subject to the same academic standards and review procedures as students admitted to degree programs.

CHOICE OF CATALOG
The catalog year for an undergraduate student's program (general studies and major curriculum) will be the catalog year in effect at the time of initial enrollment as a degree-seeking student. Those students who do not change their major and who maintain continuous enrollment in the University have the option of following the catalog in effect at the time of initialenrollment as degree-seeking students or the catalog in effect at the time of graduation.

Students holding the A.A. degree or certification of the completion of general studies requirements from a Florida public junior/community college or SUS (State University System) institution may elect to complete the degree requirements of UWF which were in effect at the time the student first entered the junior/community college or SUS institution as a degree-seeking student. Students electing this option must be enrolled at UWF as a degree-seeking student within three years of the date of initial enrollment in the junior/community college or SUS university. The transcript of the student granted this option must demonstrate that a four-year plan was made by the inclusion of the appropriate lower-division courses. Students should contact their major department for additional information regarding requirements for their degree program.

Change of Major
Undergraduate students who change their majors after initial enrollment as degree-seeking students have the option of following the major degree program outlined in the catalog in effect at the time of the change of major or the catalog in effect at the time of graduation. Changing from "undecided" to a specific major is considered a change of major.

Readmission
Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment and who are readmitted to the University after non-enrollment of three consecutive semesters have the option of following the degree program outlined in the catalog in effect at the time of re-enrollment as degree-seeking students or the catalog in effect at the time of graduation. Doctoral students must consult the College of Education Graduate Office for readmission information.

Combination of Catalogs
A combination of catalogs may not be used to fulfill major degree requirements.

Choice of Catalog - General Studies
Effective Fall 1996, all students (except for students holding an A.A. degree or certification of the completion of general studies requirements from a Florida public junior/ community college or SUS institution) entering UWF must complete the requirements specified under General Studies. Students admitted to the University as degree-seeking students prior to Fall 1996 may complete General Education requirements or Core Curriculum requirements in effect at the time of their admission to the University or request the option to follow the General Studies requirements implemented in Fall 1996. Contact the Office of the Registrar for detailed information.

CLASS ATTENDANCE
The University expects students to take full responsibility for their academic work and academic progress. To progress satisfactorily, students must meet the requirements of each course for which they are registered. Successful work depends to a large extent on regular class attendance.

Class attendance is regarded as an academic matter. Each faculty member will provide a written attendance policy to each class within the first week of classes. The use of attendance records in grading and handling of any excuses for absences is left to the discretion of the faculty member responsible for the course, subject to the guidelines given below:

  1. Students will be excused from class to observe religious holy days of their faith. No major test, major class event, or major University activity will be scheduled on a major religious holy day.
  2. Absences for imposed legal responsibilities (e.g., jury duty, court appearance) will be recognized as excused absences.
  3. Absences resulting from participation in extracurricular activities in which students are official representatives of the University will be recognized as excused absences.
  4. Absences for serious illness, death or serious illness within the student's immediate family, military obligations, or other sound reasons offered by the student may be accepted as excused absences.

It is the responsibility of students to know the attendance policy of each course they are taking. Students must inform their instructor(s) of absences from classes prior to or, as soon as possible, after the absence. Instructors have the right to request verification for all excused absences. Students are held accountable for all assignments in each course, whether or not the assignments were announced during an absence. Faculty are encouraged to provide opportunities for students to make up examinations and other work missed because of an excused absence.

Reserve/National Guard Duty
To fulfill an active duty military obligation of no more than two weeks concurrent with a normal academic semester at UWF, students must receive written permission for such absences from the instructors and departmental chairpersons for each course in which they are enrolled. The approval is not automatic but is discretionary with the instructors and departmental chairpersons.

COLLEGE-LEVEL ACADEMIC SKILLS TEST (CLAST)
The College-Level Academic Skills Test is designed to measure the level of student achievement of communication and computation skills. Prior to receiving an A.A. degree or achieving upper-division status in a bachelor's degree program, students must satisfy the CLAST requirement.

All undergraduate degree-seeking students are required to satisfy the CLAST requirement after completion of 18 semester hours and prior to completion of 60 semester hours. Students who have completed 36 semester hours of 3000/4000-level courses and who have not met this requirement may be limited to registration of 1000/2000-level courses.

Required scores by testing year are as follows:
Math Reading Eng Lang Skills Essay (taken prior to 10/1//91) Essay (taken after 10/1/91)
8/1/84-7/31/86 260 260 265 4 5
8/1/86-7/31/89 275 270 270 4 5
8/1/89-9/30/91 285 295 295 4 5
10/1/91-9/30/92 290 295 295 - 5
10/1/92- 295 295 295 - 6

CLAST TEST
There is one administration of the CLAST on the designated Saturday of each semester. An alternate administration is conducted on the first Tuesday after the regular administration. Students may participate in the alternate administration if they were registered for the Saturday administration but could not participate because of limitations of space or test personnel; health or religious reasons; temporary or active duty assignment in military service; participation in an authorized school-related function such as organized intercollegiate sports, debate, musical performances, etc., requiring their absence from the regular Saturday administration; or administrative error on the part of the institution. Documentation of the above is required for approval to participate in the alternate administration.

COMPUTER-ADAPTIVE TEST (CAT) ADMINISTRATION FOR RETAKE EXAMINEES
Examinees who have taken the CLAST but have not met the passing criteria may request to retake one or more of the multiple-choice subtests at one of the sites that offer the computer-adaptive version of CLAST. The essay subtest is not available via computer-adaptive test. No subtest may be taken within 30 days of an examinee's previous attempt of that subtest. The score for any subtest taken prior to 30 days from the previous administration of that subtest will not be reported and will be invalidated. UWF students wishing to participate in the CAT-CLAST must request permission of the Testing Office. An original, completed certification of eligibility form must be mailed from the Testing Office to the CAT site administrator before the student may make an appointment for testing. An advance payment is usually required for each administration. A list of CAT-CLAST testing sites is available in the Testing Office.

DISABLED EXAMINEES
Disabled examinees who require special test conditions, such as Braille or taped versions, specialized mechanical equipment, flexible scheduling, or specialized assistance, need to request special arrangements when they register for the test and provide evidence of the need for special test conditions.

ALTERNATIVE OPTION FOR CLAST
Students may meet one or more of the CLAST subtest requirements by achieving a minimum score on the CLAST or meeting the requirements of the alternative option. The determination of meeting CLAST through alternative means will be decided only by the Office of Admissions or the Registrar.

The alternative option for meeting the CLAST at UWF requires a combination of minimum test scores on the E-ACT or the R-SAT and a 2.5 GPA in specific courses. UWF will honor alternative options approved by other Florida public community colleges or SUS universities with a transcript showing CLAST was met or with an official letter from the Registrar of that institution.

Alternative options for CLAST apply to associate and baccalaureate degree requirements. Students considering Florida teacher certification should contact the Teacher Education Student Services for teacher certification CLAST requirements.

CLAST ALTERNATIVE OPTION (combination test scores and postsecondary courses)
All options llisted require the minimum test score listed AND a 2.5 GPA in a minimum of 6 semester hours of the required coourses.
Mathematics Subtest
Required Test Score: E-ACT Math 16 or R-SAT Math 440
Required Courses: Choose one of the following options - options may not be combined.
Computation Option 1 (choose 2 courses):
MAC _102 College Algebra (or any other MAC course with the last three digits higher than 102),
MGF _202 Finite Mathematics (or any other MGF course with the last three digits higher than 202),
or
STA _014 Statistical Methods (or any other STA course)
Computation Option 2 (choose 2 courses):
MGF _113 Topics in College Mathematics I,
MGF _114 Topics in College Mathematics II,
or
MGF _1118 Mathematics CLAST Review
Computation Option 3
MGF _113 Topics in College Mathematics I
MAC _102 College Algebra
English Language Skills and Essay Subtest
Required Test Scores: E-ACT English 16 or R-SAT Verbal 420
Required Courses:
ENC 1101 English I
ENC 1102 English II (or other equivalent college level English course)
Reading Subtest
Required Test Score: E-ACT Reading 16 or R-SAT Verbal 420
Required Courses:
ENC 1101 English I
ENC 1102 English II (or other equivalent college level English course)
Requirements for alternative options are subject to change

Four Time Rule (Florida Statutes)
Students who have taken a subtest of the CLAST at least four times and have not achieved a passing score, but have otherwise demonstrated proficiency in course work in the same subject area, may request a waiver of that particular subsection. Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA in all college credit courses in the subject area and have completed all Gordon Rule requirements. Additional documentation demonstrating proficiency is also required. Contact the Office of the Registrar for more information. Waivers shall be considered only after students have been provided test adaptations and other administrative adjustments to permit the accurate measurement of the student's proficiency in the subject area. The CLAST Waiver Committee shall consider the student's educational record and other evidence to decide if the student should be able to pass the subtest under consideration. A waiver may be recommended to the president upon a majority vote of the committee. The president may approve or disapprove the recommendation. The president may not approve a request which the committee has disapproved. If a waiver for a given subtest is approved based on this rule, the student's transcript shall include a statement that the student did not meet the CLAST requirement of the subsection(s) and that a waiver was granted. For more information, or to request a waiver, contact the Office of the Registrar.

Learning Disabled Consideration
Students, who, in the best professional opinion of the University, have a specific learning disability such that they cannot successfully complete one or more sections of the CLAST and are achieving at the college level in every area except that of the disability, and whose diagnosis indicates that further remediation will not succeed in overcoming the disability, may appeal through the appropriate dean to the Council on General Studies for special consideration. The committee shall examine the evidence of the student's academic and medical records and may hear testimony relevant to the case. The committee may grant a waiver for one or more sections of the CLAST. Contact the Associate Dean, College of Arts and Social Sciences for more information or to request a waiver.

Upper Division Prior to 1993 Clause (Florida Statutes)
Students who graduated with the A.A. degree from a Florida public community/junior college prior to September 1, 1982, and who were admitted to upper-level status before August 1, 1984 are not required to successfully complete CLAST as a condition of receiving a baccalaureate degree.

COMMENCEMENT
Commencement ceremonies at UWF are held twice a year, Fall and Spring. Summer graduates can participate in the preceeding spring or the following fall ceremony. Students submitting an Application for Graduation will automatically received information regarding the ceremonies. This information will be mailed to the students during the semester in which they should participate. If information is not received, students should contact the Commencement Marshall or the Office of the Registrar.

CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT
Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in the University without a non-enrollment period of three or more semesters (summer semester included).

Credits earned at other institutions during any semester will not constitute continuous enrollment at UWF.

COOPERATIVE EDUCATION ACADEMIC CREDIT
Credit for cooperative work experience is awarded by the student's individual department. At the undergraduate level, at least one semester hour of credit is assigned per semester. A maximum of four semester hours may be accumulated and used to satisfy degree requirements.

DISTANCE LEARNING
The University of West Florida's distance learning goal is to use emerging technology and distance learning capabilities to provide its citizens with enhanced learning opportunities and improved access by making learning available at times and in formats best suited to their needs. The initial focus is to provide courses and workshops using two-way interactive video, the internet and World Wide Web (WWW), public access television, and CD-ROM distribution. Courses and workshops are currently being offered in the Escambia County School District via two-way interactive video. The capability to deliver two-way interactive courses to our Fort Walton Beach campus; to Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton County Schools; and to our downtown center should be available in the fall, 1997 or spring, 1998. A number of courses are offered via the internet/WWW. Courses offered each semester are listed in the Course Planning Guide or on the UWF Home Page.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
Florida Statutes require that students admitted to an SUS institution meet the foreign language requirement for demonstrating competency in a foreign language. Students who have earned an A.A. degree from a Florida public community college may be admitted to the upper division but must demonstrate competency prior to graduation with a baccalaureate degree.

Students completing 8-10 semester hours of American Sign Language with passing grades will have satisfied the foreign language admission requirement. See General Studies requirements section of this Catalog.

Competency may be demonstrated in the following ways:

  1. Earning two credits of a single foreign language in high school or one credit in high school and the second semester (four semester hours) of the same foreign language at an accredited postsecondary institution.
  2. Satisfactory completion of two semesters (8-10 semester hours) of a single foreign language at a postsecondary institution prior to admission to UWF. Grades of "P" are acceptable for this requirement.
  3. Satisfactory completion of two semesters (8-10 semester hours) of a single foreign language at UWF. Grades of "P" are acceptable for this requirement.
  4. Successful completion of the following tests with appropriate test scores:
    1. CLEP subject matter examinations.
    2. MAPS-Latin examination published by the College Entrance Examination Board.
    3. Proficiency examination at UWF.
  5. Undergraduate transfer students are EXEMPT if:
    1. they received an A.A. from a Florida public community college prior to September 1, 1989; or
    2. they enrolled in a program of studies leading to an associate degree from a Florida public community college prior to August 1, 1989, and complete at least one academic course each twelve month period beginning with the student's first enrollment in a Florida public community college and continuing until the student enrolled at UWF.

The foreign language requirement must be satisfied prior to progression to upper-division status. In addition, each academic department may determine specific language requirements for students and will recommend or require languages and proficiencies according to individual needs, career objectives, and academic programs.

GENERAL STUDIES REQUIREMENTS
Students who entered the University from Fall 1993 through Summer 1996 with less than 45 semester hours of transfer work should complete the Core Curriculum.

Transfer students admitted to UWF prior to Fall 1996 with 45 or more semester hours, who did not earn an A.A. degree or who did not complete the general education requirements with appropriate statement on the official transcript from a Florida public community college or Florida SUS institution, should complete the General Education Program.

All undergraduate students admitted to UWF beginning Fall 1996 or thereafter, who do not have an A.A. degree or who did not complete the general studies requirements with appropriate statement on the official transcript from a Florida public community college or Florida SUS institution, are required to complete the General Studies Program.

Students responsible for Core Curriculum or General Education Program may choose to follow the General Studies Program; however, the catalog year for the major and General Studies Program will change to the current academic year. Students who are interested in this option may contact the Office of the Registrar for detailed information.

Core Curriculum
The Core Curriculum is a basic program of undergraduate studies providing students with a broad foundation in the liberal arts, science, and career awareness.

To meet these requirements, UWF has established the following 42 semester hour curriculum. Courses may not be taken on the pass/fail basis. Students with transfer credit should refer to the Transfer Credit section. Students should contact the University Advising Center for specific courses which meet this requirement.

To qualify for admission to the upper division and the A.A. degree, students must complete a minimum total of 60 semester hours in a planned program including the following Core Curriculum program:

English/Humanities (15 sh)
ENC 1101/2 English Composition I, II 6
PHI 2603 Ethics in Contemporary Society 3

Arts & Letters Electives (Choose 6 sh)
ARH 1050 Introduction to Art History 3
ART 2003C Visual Arts Experience 3
LIT 1110 Great Books I 3
LIT 1120 Great Books II 3
LIT 2010 Introduction to Prose Fiction 3
LIT 2030 Introduction to Poetry 3
LIT 2040 World Drama 3
LIT 2112 Introduction to Literature 3
LIT 2113 Western Literature I 3
LIT 2114 Western Literature II 3
MUS 2642 Music in Western Civilization 3
PHI 2010 Introduction to Philosophy 3
REL 2000 Introduction to Religion 3
SPC 2300 Speaking & Interpersonal Communication 3
THE 2000 The Theatre Experience 3

Math/Science (13 sh)
Math (MAC 1104 or above; 3 sh must be theoretical) 6
Natural Science (including at least one lab science) 7

Social Science (12 sh)
EUH 1000 Western Perspectives I 3
EUH 1001 Western Perspectives II 3
POS 1041 Political Institutions 3
Social Sciences Elective 3

Student Life Skills (2 sh)
SLS 1301 Student Life Skills 2
(required first semester)

Foreign Language (8-10 sh)
All students are required to have 8-10 semester hours of a single modern or classical foreign language as part of the Core Curriculum. This requirement is waived for students who have been admitted with two years of a single modern or classical foreign language with passing grades in high school. Credit in American sign language does not satisfy the Core Curriculum foreign language requirement.

General Education Program
Students must have completed 36 semester hours of general education courses evenly divided among English-humanities, social science-history, and science-mathematics. In the English-humanities area, at least two courses (six semester hours) must be in English composition. These courses and an additional six semester hours in humanities meet the requirements of the Florida Administrative Code. In the science-mathematics area, two courses (six semester hours) must be in mathematics at the level of college algebra or higher. Courses may not be taken on the pass/fail basis and must be selected from:

General Studies Program
The General Studies requirements are the basic studies that provide the students with a broad educational foundation and are essential requirements for all A.A. degree and baccalaureate degree programs. Courses may not be taken on the pass/fail basis. The General Studies requirements are specified in the distribution listed below.

Communication (6 sh)
English Composition
ENC 1102 English Composition II 3
Choose one:
Option 1
ENC 1101 English Composition I 3
Option 2
ENC 1101 English Composition I 3
ENC 1990L English Composition Lab 1

Mathematics (6 sh)
Students may choose one of the following two options:
Option 1
Take one of the courses in Group A (3-4 sh) plus one of the courses in Group B (2-4 sh), for a total of 6 sh.
Group A
MAC 1103C College Algebra w/Lab 4
MAC 1104 College Algebra 3
MAC 1140 Precalculus Algebra 3
Group B
MAC 1113 Trigonometry 2
MAC 2233 Calculus with Business Applications 3
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry &Calculus I 4
MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry &Calculus II 4
MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry &Calculus III 4
MAD 2104 Discrete Mathematics for Information Systems 3
MGF 1202 Finite Mathematics 3
STA 1013 Seeing Through Statistics 3
STA 2023 Elements of Statistics 3
Option 2
For students with strong mathematics background; take 6 sh from the following:
MAC 1113 Trigonometry 2
MAC 2233 Calculus with Business Applications 3
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry &Calculus I 4
MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry &Calculus II 4
MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry &Calculus III 4
MAD 2104 Discrete Mathematics for Information Systems 3
MGF 1202 Finite Mathematics 3
STA 1013 Seeing Through Statistics 3
STA 2023 Elements of Statistics 3

Social Sciences (9 sh)
Social Sciences: Historical Perspectives
(choose one course)
AMH 2010 U.S. to 1877 3
AMH 2020 US. Since 1877 3
EUH 1000 Western Perspectives I 3
EUH 1001 Western Perspectives II 3
Social Sciences: Behavioral Perspectives
(choose one course)
ANT 2000 Introduction to Anthropology 3
PSY 2013 Advances in Understanding Human Behavior 3
DEP 2xxx Human Development Across the Lifespan 3
Social Science: Socio-Political Perspectives
(choose one course)
CPO 2002 Comparative Politics 3
ECO 2013 Principles of Economics Macro 3
INR 2002 International Politics 3
POS 1041 Political Institutions 3
POS 2041 American Politics 3
SYG 2000 Introduction to Sociology 3
SYG 2010 Current Social Problems 3

Humanities (9 sh)
Literature
(choose one course)
AML 2010 American Literature I 3
AML 2020 American Literature II 3
ENL 2010 History of English Literature I 3
ENL 2020 History of English Literature II 3
LIT 1110 Great Books I 3
LIT 1120 Great Books II 3
LIT 2010 Introduction to Prose Fiction 3
LIT 2030 Introduction to Poetry 3
LIT 2040 World Drama 3
LIT 2112 Introduction to Literature 3
LIT 2113 Western Literature I 3
LIT 2114 Western Literature II 3
Fine Arts
(choose one course)
ARH 1050 Introduction to Art History 3
ART 2003C Visual Arts Experience 3
MUH 2110 Music in Western Civilization 3
THE 2000 The Theatre Experience 3
Contemporary Values and Expressions
(choose one course)
PHI 2010 Introduction to Philosophy 3
PHI 2100 Introduction to Logic 3
PHI 2603 Ethics in Contemporary Society 3
REL 2000 Introduction to Religion 3
SPC 2300 Speaking & Interpersonal Communication 3

Natural Sciences (7 sh)
Biological/Life Sciences & Physical Sciences
Students must take two science courses, including at least one with lab. Choose from the following:
AST 3033 Modern Astronomy 3
BOT 1801 Introduction to Plant Science 3
BOT 2010/L General Botany/Lab 4
* BSC 1010 General Biology 3
BSC 1010L General Biology Lab 1
CHM 1020/L Concepts in Chemistry/ Lab 4
CHM 2045/L Chemistry I/Lab 4
CHM 2046/L Chemistry II/Lab 4
GEO 1200/L Physical Geography/Lab 4
GEO 2330 Environmental Science 3
PCB 2131 Cell Biology 3
ZOO 1010/L General Zoology/Lab 4
**Choose either:
* PHY 2048 University Physics I 3
PHY 2048L University Physics I Lab 1
* PHY 2049 University Physics II 3
PHY 2049L University Physics II Lab 1
or
* PHY 2053 General Physics I 3
PHY 2053L General Physics I Lab 1
* PHY 2054 General Physics II 3
PHY 23054L General Physics II Lab 1

* May be taken with or without lab.
**General Physics is non-calculus based and is usually recommended for non-science majors. University Physics is calculus based and is usually recommended for science majors.

COURSE PREREQUISITES/COREQUISITES
Many courses require prerequisites and/or corequisites. These requirements are included in the specific course descriptions. A prerequisite is a course in which credit must be earned prior to enrollment in a specific course. A corequisite is a course which must be taken concurrently with or prior to a specific course. Students must have completed the required prerequisites and register for, or have completed, corequisites prior to registration for the specific course. It is the student's responsibility to review prerequisite/corequisite information as stated in the course description.

Effective Fall 1996, common degree program prerequisites will be offered and accepted by all SUS universities and Florida community colleges, except in cases approved by the Board of Regents.

COMMON PROGRAM PREREQUISITES
Beginning Fall 1996, students entering most bachelor's degree programs at any institution in the SUS must successfully complete a set of lower division courses specified as "common prerequisites" for the selected program. The common lower division prerequisites for a given program are listed with other course requirements for that program.

Students are urged to consult their advisors early about choices of majors and to schedule general studies and common prerequisites course work to avoid imposition of an excess hours surcharge in a later semester.

CORRESPONDENCE STUDY
Undergraduate students who anticipate taking correspondence courses should discuss these plans with their faculty advisor.

Information regarding correspondence courses offered by the State University System may be obtained by writing: Department of Independent Study and Distance Education, 2209 NW 13th St., Suite D, Gainesville, Florida 32609-3498.

Correspondence study should not be permitted as part of any master's degree program.

It is the student's responsibility to have an official transcript forwarded to the Office of Admissions.

CREDIT BY PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION
Students currently enrolled in the University as undergraduate degree candidates may request permission to take an examination for course credit. No fees will be assessed. Students should contact the chairperson of the appropriate department to make arrangements for an examination to be given. The grade for the proficiency exam will be submitted to the Office of the Registrar. Grades will be recorded and UWF's grading system and policies will be applied. Proficiency exams may be taken on the pass/fail basis. Credits earned by examination when taken pass/fail become part of the maximum six semester hours or two courses (whichever is greater in credit) allowed on the pass/fail basis. All other pass/fail regulations apply.

Students currently enrolled in a course may not use the credit by examination option for that course. Students may attempt to earn credit by examination in a specific course only once, regardless of whether the examination is passed or failed. Students who have earned a letter grade "A-F" in a course may not challenge the course by examination under the forgiveness policy. A total of 30 semester hours of credit by examination may be applied to an undergraduate degree.

Non-degree seeking students who possess a bachelor's degree or higher, who are participating in an approved teacher education program, and who demonstrate significant teaching experience, may take one or two courses amounting to no more than nine semester hours of their course work through the credit-by-examination option. Students must be enrolled in UWF at the time the exam is given.

DEAD WEEK
To provide students time to prepare for final examinations and other end-of-course assignments, the University maintains the following dead week policy:

There is a designated period each semester during which no written examination, test, or quiz will be given. For fall and spring semesters, this period is the last five scheduled days of classes. For the summer semester, no examination other than a final examination is to be given during the last seven days of classes. For shorter terms, proportional periods are established.

Laboratory components of courses will be excluded, and the last regularly scheduled day of such classes may be used for final examinations. Oral presentations and other non-written activities will be permitted. Examinations rescheduled for the benefit of individual students will be allowed.

Instructors who believe their ability to evaluate students adequately in a particular course is jeopardized or impaired by this rule may petition, in writing, their respective college dean for an exception for the particular course. All exceptions shall be reported to the academic vice president, who will make a summary report each semester to the Faculty Senate for their information.

No intercollegiate athletic events may be added after midterm to the schedule during dead week, with the exception of tournament-type play for which a berth has been earned by a team or individual player as a result of earlier competition.

DOUBLE MAJOR
The University of West Florida does not offer a degree with a double major.

EXCESS HOURS FOR DEGREE PROGRAMS
For information refer to Excess Hours under the Fee and Tuition section of this Catalog.

GRADES
Change of Grades
Students graduating from UWF having earned a letter grade of "F, D, D+, C-, C, C+, B-, B, B+, A-, or A" may not have a grade changed for a course which was taken and completed prior to graduation. Graduated students having an "I, V" or other deferred incomplete grade in a course taken prior to graduation may have the incomplete grade changed to a letter grade after graduation upon completion of required work and submission of appropriate grade change forms by the course instructor via the chairperson and college dean (see Grades of Incomplete).

Grade Appeal
Students should consult the Student Handbook for information regarding the grade appeal process. Grade appeals for courses cross-listed with another department within one college will be heard through the college housing the department, regardless of the departmental affiliation of the faculty member teaching the course.

Grade Forgiveness - A. A. Degree
Effective Fall Semester 1993, students who previously attended UWF, whether as degree-seeking or non degree-seeking, who subsequently earn an associate of arts degree at another Florida public institution, have the following options:

  1. All credit earned at UWF prior to earning the A.A. will be excluded from the number of hours earned towards a baccalaureate degree and from all calculations of the UWF GPA. The official academic record will reflect 60 semester hours of credit and completion of the general studies and Gordon Rule requirements in accordance with the State Articulation Agreement. The UWF GPA will include only those courses completed from this point forward, and the student will be in good academic standing.
  2. Credit, status, and GPA earned at UWF remain the same. The transferable credit will be added to the total number of hours applicable to a baccalaureate degree and the A.A. degree will be posted. The student record will reflect completion of the general studies and Gordon Rule requirements.

CLAST scores will be posted and the record will reflect whether or not this requirement has been met.

Grade Forgiveness Policy
Grade forgiveness is restricted to undergraduate degree-seeking students.

A completed "Grade Forgiveness Request" form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar no later than the last day of classes of the semester in which the course is repeated. Forms are available from the Office of the Registrar.

Once a bachelor's degree has been awarded by UWF, a student may not repeat a course and be forgiven the original grade in a course taken prior to graduation.

Effective Fall Semester 1996, native students are allowed two opportunities for grade forgiveness and transfer students are permitted only one forgiveness with no distinction between the lower and upper division. Grade forgiveness is limited to courses (4 semester hours or less) numbered 1000-4999, in which grades are recorded on an "A-F" scale, including a "WF."

If a course has been taken more than one time prior to the application for forgiveness, forgiveness can be used to replace only the most recently awarded grade.

A student may not exercise grade forgiveness by repeating at UWF a course which was initially taken elsewhere, nor may a course taken at UWF be repeated at another institution for forgiveness by UWF.

The grade forgiveness policy is not retroactive. To apply the grade forgiveness policy for all students, the second attempt at the course must have been taken subsequent to fall semester 1986. For the second option for grade forgiveness for native students, the second attempt must be the Fall Semester 1996 or later.

Grade forgiveness awarded for repeated courses will not retroactively alter any previous academic action. For example, a probation or disqualification status will not be removed from the records of the semester in which the student originally took the course.

Under unusual circumstances, a different but similar course may be used if the substitute course is approved by the student's college dean.

If a student withdraws from a course repeated under the grade forgiveness policy, the attempt will count as an allowable attempt. However, the original grade will not be replaced with the "W" or "WF" received in the repeat attempt.

All grades will remain on the student's official transcript. The original course grade will be annotated with a "T" to indicate that the course has subsequently been repeated, and the repeat course grade will be annotated with an "R," with the transcript containing appropriate explanations thereof. The original grade will not be computed in the GPA or course hours included in hours earned except in a case in which the student withdraws from the repeated course or takes an incomplete grade.

If it is determined that the student is ineligible for the grade forgiveness policy, neither a refund of fees nor automatic withdrawal from the course will be made.

A student who has earned a letter grade "A-F" by proficiency exam may not repeat the course under the grade forgiveness policy.

The grade forgiveness option may not be exercised to remove a grade awarded in a case of academic misconduct.

G.I. Bill students and others receiving Veterans Administration educational benefits are advised that the forgiveness of any grade other than an unsatisfactory grade must be reported to the V.A. and may result in the retroactive reduction of benefits for the semester for which the forgiven grade was originally assigned. An unsatisfactory grade may be forgiven without similar consequences. Notify the Office of Veterans Services when utilizing the forgiveness option.

Grades of Incomplete
An incomplete ("I") grade signifies that all course requirements have not been met. If circumstances exist beyond the control of the student, as determined by the instructor, the following applies:

  1. The instructor may assign a grade of "I," provided the student has satisfactorily completed at least 70 percent of the course requirements. Students who receive an involuntary call to active military duty should consult with their instructors.
  2. The "I" becomes an "F" at the end of the next semester in which the student is enrolled unless the grade is changed by the instructor to a letter grade ("A"-"F") or the instructor extends the completion period ("V"). The student is responsible for submitting a written request to the department for a grade change or extension prior to the end of the last instructional day of the semester.
  3. Students receiving grades of incomplete should NOT reregister for courses in which an "I" has been assigned.
  4. At the end of each semester when grades are submitted to the faculty chair, each instructor shall submit a completed "Report on Assignment of Incomplete Grade" form for all incomplete grades given. The student will be given a copy of this form with the instructor's expectations and requirements for completion of the course.
  5. An "I" grade will be converted to a "V" grade upon graduation if the course in which the "I" was received was not required for graduation.
  6. Graduated students having a "V" or other incomplete grade for a course may have the incomplete grade changed to a letter grade within three years after receiving a degree. To change the grade, the student must complete the required work and the course instructor must submit the appropriate grade change form via the chairperson and the dean.
  7. For the purposes of honors designation, a letter grade which replaces an incomplete grade subsequent to a student's receiving a degree will not change the student's GPA associated with the earned degree. However, the student's transcript will be annotated to show that the course requirements were completed after graduation.

Grading System
Grades will be reported in the following manner:
Grade Description Grade Points
A Outstanding 4.0
A- 3.7
B+ Above average 3.3
B 3.0
B- 2.7
C+ Average 2.3
C 2.0
C- 1.7
D+ Below average 1.3
D 1.0
F Failure 0.0
U Unsatisfactory 0.0
WR Withdrawal with partial refund of fees *
TR Withdrawal with full refund *
W Withdrawn *
WF Withdrawn/failing 0.0
X Audit *
I Incomplete *
I* Late Grade *
V Deferred "I" grade *
G Deferred (thesis and dissertation only) *
P Pass *
S Satisfactory *
N Noncredit course *
NU Noncredit course (not completed) *

*Grade not included when computing the GPA.

Student teaching, practicums, and special courses are graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory ("S/U") basis. Other courses may be taken by undergraduates under a pass/fail ("P/F") option.

In computation of the required grade point average (GPA) for retention and conferral of a degree, the total number of quality points (grade points times course semester hours) is divided by the total number of semester hours for which letter grades are received (see the Grading System for grade points). All regulations tied to a specific grade average should be interpreted to mean the numerical average associated with that specific grade. Hence, the required "C average or better" is interpreted as "2.0 average or better."

Repeated Courses
A student may receive credit for a course only once regardless of how many times it is taken in transfer or at UWF. All attempts at UWF count in the GPA unless grade forgiveness is used (see Grade Forgiveness Policy).

HONORS PROGRAM
The Honors Program at UWF is designed to provide creative ways for students to explore their academic talents. Students admitted to the Program are required to enroll in honors courses within major disciplines. Faculty from across UWF's four colleges work with Honors students affording them opportunities to contribute to serious research, scholarship, and creative productions under the supervision of recognized experts in their fields.

To qualify for UWF's Honors Program, entering high school graduates (or early/dual enrolled students) must meet two of the following entrance requirements: rank in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class or have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 or higher and have an E-ACT composite score of 26 or higher or a R-SAT combined score of 1170 or higher.

Some benefits for participation in the Program include early registration, small classes (average of 15 students), Honors Speakers Series, social and cultural activities, a certificate of completion when Program requirements are met, annotation on the UWF transcript of Honors courses taken, participation in an Honors Commencement Ceremony for recognition of Program graduates held prior to graduation, and individual recognition by UWF's President during Commencement exercises.

Interested students should contact the Honors Office for more information.

MAJORS
Change of Major or Area of Specialization
Undergraduate students (including lower-division students) must complete a "Major Change Request" form to enter a different major or second undergraduate degree program. Program approval is determined by the appropriate department chairperson. Students who change majors have a choice of meeting the major degree requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of change of major or at graduation. Students should be aware of admission requirements for limited access programs.

Students on probation and students returning from suspension may apply for a change of major. However, approval of the change of major is granted by the chairperson of the prospective department. Students should contact the chairperson for guidance.

Graduate students desiring new programs must complete new applications for graduate admissions. Contact the Office of Admissions for further information.

DOCTORATE PROGRAM
Faculty in individual specialization areas review, approve, or deny admission of students who apply to a selected area. A student is admitted into the Ed.D. program when a specialization area admits a student into the specialization. Students admitted and enrolled in course work in the Ed.D. program, choosing to change their specialization area, must reapply for admission to the Ed.D. program through the Office of Admissions. Students must complete requirements in effect at the time of admission.

Non Degree-Seeking Student Status
Undergraduate students who wish to change to non degree-seeking status must complete the change request form in the Office of the Registrar for approval by the advisor and department chairperson.

MINORS
A student may declare a minor by completing the "Declaration of Minor" form available in the Office of the Registrar. Students should consult the minor department for course requirements. Neither diplomas nor certificates are issued for completion of the minor. Upon completion of minor course work, students must submit a "Completion of Minor" form to the Office of the Registrar.

An undergraduate degree-seeking student or a person holding a UWF bachelor's degree may qualify for a minor by meeting specific departmental and/or college requirements. A minimum of 12 semester hours of upper-division work must be completed in the minor, nine semester hours must be courses taken at UWF.

NONTRADITIONAL CREDIT
The University recognizes the following programs for which undergraduate students may receive academic credit. A combined total of 60 semester hours, of which not more than 20 semester hours may be upper-division credit, may be accepted for transfer. Credit toward major requirements must be approved by the student's major department. Categories and maximum acceptable limits are as follows:

Advanced Placement program (AP) 30 sh
Civilian nontraditional credit 30 sh
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) 30 sh
Correspondence/extended learning 30 sh
Departmental proficiency examination 30 sh
International Baccalaureate program (IB) 30 sh
Military service schools 30 sh
Proficiency examination program 30 sh
USAFI/DANTES credit 30 sh
International high school credit 20 sh

Acceptability of University credit from all sources will be determined by the Office of Admissions. Credit earned through nontraditional sources does not satisfy the requirement for 60 semester hours at a senior institution nor meet residency requirements.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
The University of West Florida grants credit in lieu of course work for both the general and subject matter examinations of the College-Level Examination Program. Credits are awarded to any regularly admitted, degree-seeking undergraduate student who scores at or above the 50th percentile level of the combined men and women sophomore norms on the CLEP general examinations. Students receive appropriate credit provided they have not attempted comparable credit at the college level in the appropriate general education area, received credit through the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB), or in the specific discipline.

No credit will be awarded for a subject matter examination if the student has already earned any course credit in the subject area.

Dual credit on CLEP is not allowed for similar examinations. For example, a student may earn credit on the CLEP general examination in English composition or on the subject matter examination in English composition, but not on both; on college algebra or on college algebra/trigonometry, but not on both.

In accordance with the articulation agreement and because CLEP credit is regarded in the same category as transfer credit, students who have earned CLEP credit in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the A.A. degree from a Florida public institution will be awarded credit on the basis of their presentation of the A.A. degree. The University of West Florida will not evaluate individually the credits on which the A.A. degree is based.

Transfer students who have completed a general studies program at a Florida public postsecondary institution and whose transcript is so marked will be considered to have completed the general studies requirements at UWF. A second evaluation of CLEP credits will not be undertaken at this University.

CLEP credits for transfer students other than those identified in the above sections will be awarded according to the guidelines stipulated by the Florida Administrative Code. Contact the Office of Admissions for detailed information.

Advanced Placement Program (AP)
The University of West Florida allows credit hours under the CEEB's Advanced Placement Program. Students who have completed the high school advanced placement course and have achieved a score of three or better on the CEEB subject matter examination may receive credit. Contact the Office of Admissions for details.

International Baccalaureate Program (IB)
Students in the International Baccalaureate program may receive a maximum of 30 credit hours of lower level credit. Contact the Office of Admissions for details.

RECENCY OF CREDIT
Undergraduate credits which are more than ten years old and graduate credits which are more than five years old may be reviewed and reevaluated for credit toward degree requirements at UWF.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT
Effective with the catalog year 1993, the last 30 semester hours of course work for the undergraduate degree must be completed in residency at UWF. Up to six semester hours of the residency requirement may be waived by appeal through the advisor, chair, and dean upon documented hardship to the student.

SUMMER SEMESTER 9-HOUR RULE
Undergraduate students entering one of the State universities of Florida with less than 60 semester hours of credit must earn at least nine semester hours prior to graduation by attendance during one or more summer sessions at one of the ten State universities.

TRANSFER CREDIT
Level of Transferred Courses
Courses from accredited institutions with appropriate grades are acceptable for transfer at the level at which the course was classified by the institution granting the credit.

Transfer Grades
A "P" grade in a transferred pass/fail course may be used to satisfy general education and Gordon Rule requirements if there is documentation provided by the student that the "P" was equal to a grade of "C" (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) or higher, or if pass/fail was the only grading system available for the transferred course.

Undergraduate Transfer Credit
Transfer credit is normally allowed for courses completed at or through other regionally accredited institutions of higher learning. No credit, however, is allowed for technical, vocational, or pre-college courses or for courses completed with grades below "D-."

Credits earned from Florida public institutions will be evaluated on the basis of the Common Course Numbering System. Those courses considered equivalent will be accepted for transfer credit at the level at which the course was classified by the institution originally awarding the credit. Courses are considered equivalent when the prefix and the last three numerical digits of the course number are the same. Courses not considered equivalent may be accepted for transfer credit at the discretion of the departmental chairperson.

All grades earned at other regionally accredited institutions are entered on a student's record at the time of transfer exactly as earned. Such grades are averaged separately from grades earned at UWF and are not considered in the UWF GPA. Transfer courses appear on the UWF transcript.

The University accepts the A.A. degree from Florida public institutions at face value. Students must earn at least an additional 60 semester hours at a senior institution.

College work completed with satisfactory grades by a student at a regionally accredited institution of higher learning, prior to graduation from high school, will be considered under the same guidelines as other transfer work. The Office of Admissions must be provided an official transcript of such work.

Courses taken at another institution will not meet the UWF residency degree requirement.

Graduate Transfer Credit
Graduate transfer credits must have been earned within five years of the date of admission and be approved by the student's academic department. Graduate credits may be transferred from other institutions only when a grade of "B" or higher was earned in the graduate work to be transferred.

Students whose programs consist of 30 to 36 semester hours may have a maximum of six semester hours or two courses (whichever is greater in credit) of graduate work at other universities accepted toward their program requirements at UWF. The department chairperson's permission is required.

Students whose programs consist of more than 36 semester hours may have a maximum of 10 semester hours of graduate work from other universities accepted toward their program requirements at UWF.

DOCTORAL PROGRAM TRANSFER CREDIT
Students who have completed an Educational Specialist degree within the previous five years at UWF can transfer a maximum of 36 semester hours of graduate credit earned beyond a master's degree into the Ed.D. program. Students requesting to transfer course work from other institutions are advised on an individual basis. The UWF graduate transfer policy states that graduate transfer credit must have been earned within five years of the date of admission and be approved by a student's academic department. Students are eligible to transfer a maximum of 10 semester hours of graduate work from other universities.

All hours transferred into the Ed.D. program must align with the professional core and specialization course requirements. Students admitted into the Ed.D. program must enroll in at least 30 semester hours in the Ed.D. program at UWF. Exceptions on transfer work and the 30 hour rule will be determined by the Ed.D. Program Committee.

Students choosing to petition for a larger number of hours to be credited to the Ed.D. program must submit an "Ed.D. Student Petition" form to the College of Education Graduate Office.

TRANSFER OF CREDIT FOR MATRICULATED STUDENTS
UWF degree-seeking students completing course work at other institutions should:

  1. obtain permission of the department chairperson and advisor prior to enrollment at another institution;
  2. consult with the Director of the University Advising Center if completing the UWF General Studies requirements; and
  3. obtain certification from the Office of the Registrar for residency and degree status for students taking courses at a Florida public junior/community college or SUS institution. The determination of specific course requirements (Gordon Rule, general studies, etc.) will be made upon receipt of the official transcript. The major department will determine course equivalency for courses in the major.

Credits earned at other institutions during any semester will not constitute continuous enrollment at UWF.

TRAVELING SCHOLAR PROGRAM
The University participates in a traveling scholar program which enables graduate students to take advantage of special resources available on another campus but not available on the home campus. Examples are special course offerings, research opportunities, unique laboratories, and library collections.

A traveling scholar's graduate advisor will approach an appropriate faculty member at the proposed host institution and recommend the scholar for a visiting arrangement. After agreement by the student's advisor and the faculty member at the host institution, graduate deans of both institutions will be fully informed by the advisor and have the power to approve or disapprove. A student will register at the host institution and will pay tuition and/or registration fees according to fee schedules established at that institution. Credit for the work taken will be recorded at the home university.

Each university retains its full right to accept or reject any student who wishes to study under its auspices. A traveling scholar will normally be limited to one term on the campus of the host institution. A traveling scholar accepted by the host institution will be regarded as being registered at that institution for the period.

A traveling scholar is not entitled to displacement allowance, mileage, or per diem payments. The home university, however, may at its option continue its financial support of the traveling scholar in the form of a fellowship or graduate assistantship with any work obligation to be discharged either at the home or at the host institution.

UNIVERSITY HONORS
Baccalaureate Honors Graduation
The University will confer baccalaureate honors recognition on those students whose catalog year is 1991 or later who have earned:

  1. at least 40 semester hours of graded work at UWF. This policy excludes all courses with grades of "P" or "S." Grades of "WF," "F," or "U" are not earned hours but are included in the GPA;
  2. at least a 3.5 GPA on all work attempted at UWF; and
  3. at least a 3.5 GPA on all work attempted, including UWF and all other institutions. The GPA used for honors will be no higher than the UWF cumulative GPA.

The following minimum GPAs are required for graduation honors:

Cum Laude 3.50
Magna Cum Laude 3.70
Summa Cum Laude 3.90

Students with catalog years prior to 1991 should consult the respective catalogs for baccalaureate honors requirements.

Previous recognition on the President's or Dean's Honor Rolls does not insure baccalaureate honors at graduation.

UWF does not have a grade honors program for graduate and doctorate students.

President's Honor Roll
All undergraduate students who earn a semester GPA of 3.90 or higher on a minimum of six semester hours of graded ("A-F") course work at UWF are recognized on the president's honor roll for that semester.

Dean's Honor Roll
All undergraduate students who earn a semester GPA of 3.50-3.89 on a minimum of six semester hours of graded ("A-F") course work at UWF in any semester are recognized on the dean's honor roll for that semester.

Other Honors
Several colleges and departments of the University recognize meritorious achievement in appropriate ways.

UPPER-DIVISION STATUS
The following criteria must be completed to achieve upper-division status:

  1. admission to the University;
  2. 60 semester hours of academic credits;
  3. general studies requirements;
  4. Gordon Rule requirements;
  5. CLAST requirement; and
  6. foreign language requirement.

WITHDRAWAL FROM A COURSE
A student may withdraw from a course while remaining in other course(s) before the end of the ninth week of instruction of any fall or spring semester (see calendar dates for summer semester and short term dates). A grade of "W" will be assigned during this period. The "Withdrawal Request" form is available in the Office of the Registrar, Fort Walton Beach Campus, and Eglin Center. Individual course withdrawals may not be processed after the published deadline. Students who do not complete the course requirements or officially withdraw will be assigned a standard letter grade. Students are encouraged to consult with their advisors prior to withdrawing from classes and to contact the Cashier's Office for questions regarding fee liability or financial aid awards.

Doctoral students who have an excessive number of class withdrawals will be reviewed by the College of Education Graduate Office.

WITHDRAWAL FROM ALL COURSES IN A TERM (UNIVERSITY WITHDRAWAL)
Forms for withdrawing from all courses in a term are available in the Office of the Registrar. Students withdrawing from all courses prior to the end of the 4th week of any semester will receive a grade of "WR" (partial refund). A grade of "WR" is not computed in the UWF GPA.

Students who are first-time attendees at this University who withdraw from all courses for the semester are eligible for prorated refunds during the first 60 percent of the academic semester. This special refund provision applies to the first semester of attendance only at this institution.

Students withdrawing from all courses beginning with the 5th week through the end of the 9th week of any fall or spring semester will receive a grade of "W" in each course (see calendar for summer semester and short term dates). Students withdrawing after the designated automatic "W" deadline through the last day of instruction will be assigned a grade of "W" or "WF" at the discretion of the course instructor(s). Grades of "WF" are computed in the UWF GPA. Withdrawal from all courses does not prevent registration for future terms. Students are not required to apply for readmission unless they have not enrolled at UWF for three or more academic semesters (including summers). Students are encouraged to consult with their advisors before withdrawing from classes.

If a doctoral student withdraws from all courses within a semester, the semester will not be counted as a semester to fulfill the residency requirement.

Students may be allowed to withdraw from a course or the University (all courses) with a full refund of tuition fees for the following situations (documentation required):

  1. Involuntary call to active military duty (copy of official orders or letter signed by commanding officer on official military letterhead required);
  2. Death of the student or death in the immediate family (parent, spouse, child, sibling-copy of obituary notice or death certificate required); or
  3. Student's illness of such duration and severity, as confirmed in writing by a physician, that completion of the term is precluded.

Withdrawal from the University does not automatically relieve the student from fee payment liability in the case of deferred payment status such as VA notes, tuition loan notes, and financial aid pending status. Students in a deferred status should consult the Cashier's Office regarding fee liability.

WRITING SKILLS REQUIREMENT
In addition to the SUS writing requirements (Gordon Rule), all students seeking undergraduate degrees must satisfy the writing requirements for the college in which their major resides.

WRITING AND MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENTS (GORDON RULE)
To fulfill the writing and mathematics requirement for earning the first baccalaureate degree (Gordon Rule, Florida Statutes), 12 semester hours of English or humanities course work with 24,000 written words, and six semester hours of mathematics at the level of college algebra or higher are required (six semester hours of theoretical or three semester hours of theoretical and three semester hours of applied). Applied logic, statistics, and other such computation course work which may not be placed within a mathematics department may be used to fulfill three semester hours of the six semester hours required by this rule. Grades of "C-" or better successfully complete this requirement. Courses may not be taken on the pass/fail basis. Transfer students should refer to the Transfer Credit section of this Catalog. Students must complete these requirements before advancing to upper-division status.

Normally, these requirements will be satisfied at the freshman and sophomore level. Applicants transferring from other than Florida public community/junior colleges will be advised of procedures to follow. Students may seek assistance in improving writing and mathematics in the appropriate laboratories. The following UWF courses are approved for Gordon Rule:

ENGLISH/HUMANITIES
ARH 2051 Survey II-Medieval/Renaissance/Baroque Eras
ARH 4305 Early Italian Renaissance Art
ARH 4430 The Age of Revolution1760-1880
ARH 4450 Modern Art 1880-1950
ENC 1101 English Composition I
ENC 1102 English Composition II
ENC 1101/L English Composition I/Lab (1 sh)
ENC 2313 Expository Writing
ENC 3240 Technical Writing
ENC 3250 Professional Writing
EUH 1000 Western Perspectives I
EUH 1001 Western Perspectives II
EXP 3082L Experimental Psychology Lab
GEB 3212 Writing for Business: Theory & Practice
LIT 1110 Great Books I
LIT 1120 Great Books II
LIT 2010 Introduction to Prose Fiction
LIT 2030 Introduction to Poetry
LIT 2040 World Drama
LIT 2112 Introduction to Literature
LIT 2113 Western Literature I
LIT 2114 Western Literature II
PHI 2010 Introduction to Philosophy
PHI 2603 Ethics in Contemporary Society
PHI 3700 Philosophy of Religion
PHI 4300 Theory of Knowledge
REL 2000 Introduction to Religion
REL 3156 Religion and Personality Theory
REL 3158 Psychology of Religion
REL 3213 Studies in Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament
REL 3243 Studies in the New Testament
THE 2000 The Theater Experience
THE 4500 Dramatic Theory & Criticism
WOH 1012 World History I
WOH 1022 World History II

MATHEMATICS THEORETICAL
MAA 4211 Advanced Calculus I
MAA 4212 Advanced Topics in Multi-Variable Calculus
* MAC 1103C College Algebra w/Lab (3 sh)
* MAC 1104 College Algebra
* MAC 1113 Trigonometry (2 sh)
* MAC 1140 Precalculus Algebra
MAC 2233 Calculus with Business Applications
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry & Calculus I
MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry & Calculus II
MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry & Calculus III
or
other higher level math courses; courses with the MAE prefix do not satisfy the Gordon Rule math requirement

MATHEMATICS APPLIED
PHI 2100 Introduction to Logic
MGF 1202 Finite Mathematics
STA 1013 Seeing Through Statistics
STA 2023 Elements of Statistics
STA 3134 Quantitative Methods for Business
or
other higher level statistics courses for applied mathematics

*See Math Course Restrictions

Math Course Restrictions
Effective Fall 1995:

  1. Credit Towards Graduation:
    1. Students may earn credit toward graduation, but not Gordon Rule, for MAC 1101.
    2. Students may only earn a maximum of 10 semester hours toward graduation with a combination of the following:
      MAC 1101 Principles of Algebra
      MAC 1140 Precalculus Algebra
      Choose one:
      MAC 1103C College Algebra w/Lab
      MAC 1104 College Algebra
  2. Credit Towards Gordon Rule Requirement:
    Students may earn only three semester hours of credit toward Gordon Rule requirement (grades of "C-" or better) for any combination of the following courses:
    MAC 1103C College Algebra w/Lab
    MAC 1104 College Algebra
    MAC 1140 Precalculus Algebra
  3. Departments have the prerogative to determine the level of mathematics required for the major, including prerequisites.
  4. Students should consult the Office of Admissions for evaluation of transfer mathematics courses for general studies requirements, Gordon Rule, and credit for graduation.

WAIVER AND APPEAL POLICIES
Level of Policy Initial Recommendation Made By: Initial Decision Made By: First Appeal Heard By: Final Appeal Heard By:
Department Faculty Advisor Department Chairperson College Dean Provost
College Faculty Advisor College Dean not applicable Provost
University Faculty Advisor
Department Chairperson
Dean
General Education Curricula (General Studies, General Education, or Core)--
Associate Dean, College of Arts & Social Sciences
Other Undergraduates--
Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment Services
Graduate Students--
Vice Provost		 Provost

The following list illustrates the waivers or appeals and the levels where initial decisions are made:

Departmental Level (Department Chair)
Course substitution or waiver of requirement for department
Prerequisite or department course
Course equivalents for department courses
Requirements for program admission, such as limited access and teacher certification
Other matters related to department policy

College Level (College Dean)
Waiver or substitution of required college core course
Waiver or substitution of prerequisite for college core
Required score on test for college requirements
Grade changes (not including withdrawals)
Probation or suspension
Graduation application deadlines
Hours accepted as a non degree-seeking student
Other matters related to college policy

University Level (Enrollment Services)

Semester hours of upper level course work requirement
Semester hours in residence requirement
Foreign language (State admissions requirement)
Late withdrawal within current term (prior to last day of classes)
Retroactive graduation
Retroactive withdrawal (for previous semesters)
Semester hours at senior institution requirement
Last 30 semester hours at UWF
Catalog year
A.A. forgiveness
Graduation with honors
Semester hours for second degree requirement
Summer hours requirement
Other matters related to university policy

General Studies (General Studies Council, attention: Associate Dean, College of Arts & Social Science)
Requests for waivers or substitutions of general education, Gordon Rule, and other general studies requirements
A.A. requirements

CLAST Waiver
By State law, requests to waive one or more parts of the CLAST based on having attempted the CLAST four or more times must be heard by a special committee chaired by the Provost. These requests should be directed in writing to the Provost.

Student Academic Grievances
The process for handling academic grievances, including grade appeals, is detailed in the current issue of the Student Handbook.

Student Non-Academic Grievances and Student Misconduct
The process of handling student non-academic grievances is detailed in the current issue of the Student Handbook.

DEADLINES FOR SPECIFIC APPEALS
Nature of Appeal Deadline
Academic probation or suspension 2 weeks after written notification from dean
Admission or readmission (undergraduates & graduates) Last day of drop/add period
CLAST requirements 1 semester prior to projected graduation
Drop/Add Last day of class for semester
Grade Forgiveness Last day of class for semester
Late withdrawal from class or university 3 months after end of semester
Late registration End of 3rd week of class
Residency for tuition purposes Last day of drop/add for semester

UWF Home Page
Table of Contents
Adrienne Turner
Enrollment Services
August 5, 1997