2005-06 Undergraduate Catalog
Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705
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• English Language Programs for International Students and Visitors |
Undergraduate Admissions Policy
Graduates of an accredited four-year high school or holders of a GED equivalency diploma are qualified to apply for admission to IUP. Students who have completed the junior year of high school may file an application any time after August 1.
Requests for applications and catalogs should be addressed to
Office of Admissions
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Sutton Hall, Suite 117
1011 South Drive
Indiana, PA 15705
1-800-442-6830 or 724-357-2230
An on-line application for admission is available at www.iup.edu/admissions.
The Admissions Committee, giving equal opportunity to all students, will take the following criteria into consideration when reviewing each application: grades and courses taken, class rank, SAT or ACT scores, high school counselor recommendations, extracurricular activities, and other pertinent information that would be helpful to the Admissions Committee in making decisions. SAT or ACT scores are not required for transfer applicants, veterans, or applicants who have graduated from high school more than two years before applying. However, transcripts from high school and colleges previously attended are required of all applicants.
Although the university does not require a specific number of high school credits in particular subject areas, applicants are strongly urged to take the usual college preparatory program in high school. Applicants should also take any available high school courses in the field of their intended major. Certain majors at IUP require completion of a foreign language at the intermediate level in order to earn a bachelor’s degree. The Admissions Committee does not require an applicant to take a foreign language in high school for admission to these majors; however, it is in the student’s best interest to do so.
Applications are considered by the Admissions Committee on a rolling basis. Under a rolling admissions policy, applications are reviewed as they become complete. Decisions can range from automatic acceptance, to request for additional information, to other alternatives, with a May 1 deadline for tuition deposits.
Academically qualified applicants to the departments of Art, Music, and Theater will be admitted to the university by the Admissions Committee. However, admission to the requested major will be subject to the acceptance by the Department of Art after a portfolio review and by the departments of Music and Theater after an audition. Students will receive information from the Art, Music, and Theater departments concerning auditions and portfolio reviews once they have been accepted to IUP.
All persons expecting to apply for freshman admission to IUP should plan to take the SAT or ACT test during their junior and/or early part of their senior year. The Admissions Committee recommends that students take the tests more than once. The committee considers the highest scores from all tests taken.
Arrangements to take the SAT or ACT tests can be made through the high school principal or counselor, or by writing to the College Entrance Examination Board, Box 592, Princeton, NJ 08540 or American College Testing, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA, 52243 for an information pamphlet and a test registration form.
In order for the test scores to be received by IUP, the applicant should designate IUP on the test registration form (SAT code: 2652, ACT code: 3704) as one of the universities to receive the scores, or the applicant can request that his or her school counselor forward test scores to the Admissions Office.
The applicant should give the completed application form and the nonrefundable $30 application fee payable to IUP to his/her high school counselor or principal. The counselor or principal should mail the application and complete packet of admissions materials to the IUP Office of Admissions, Sutton Hall, Suite 117, 1011 South Drive, Indiana, PA 15705.
A student who has been attending another institution of higher education and wishes to transfer to IUP must submit an application with the $30 application fee, official transcripts of all postsecondary educational work, and an official high school transcript.
All admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis by the Admissions Committee. Under a rolling admissions policy, applications are reviewed as they become complete. Decisions can range from automatic acceptance, to request for additional information, to other alternatives.
Transfer applications are reviewed on the basis of academic college coursework attempted or completed. This coursework should be nondevelopmental and nontechnical in nature and be taken from an institution which is accredited by one of the six regional accrediting agencies. Transfers are required to have at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (C average) from all schools previously attended and have met the minimum requirements established by the academic department to which the student is applying. Teacher education programs require increased standards for admission [successful Praxis I (PPST) scores]. Contact the Office of Admissions for specifics. In addition, the admissions decision considers other evidence of students’ performance and ability to be a successful college student.
The evaluation of credits from other institutions of higher education is the responsibility of the Office of Admissions and the academic college dean who has jurisdiction over the student’s desired major. Normally, courses considered for transfer are only those taken from institutions which are accredited by the six regional accrediting agencies. Each course is evaluated separately. The evaluation includes a review of the description, credits, and grade of each course along with the applicability of the course to the student’s major at IUP. However, only credits transfer, not grade-point average. It has been the policy of the university that only courses with a grade of C or higher will be accepted, except for two-year associate degree graduates of state-supported community colleges in Pennsylvania. No matter how many credits are transferable, the student must satisfy all of the degree requirements falling into the categories of (1) university requirements, (2) college requirements, and (3) department requirements.
University Requirements: Since all students are obliged to fulfill a basic program in Liberal Studies consisting of a minimum of 48 credits and there is a reasonable degree of flexibility in the Liberal Studies requirements, the transfer evaluator and the college deans will look to this area first for applicable credits for transfer. Most introductory courses are generally equivalent.
Residency Requirements for Awarding of Degrees
The university requires that at least 45 credits, generally including the last 30 credits in a student’s curriculum, must be earned by enrollment in courses at IUP; 15 of these credits must be in the student’s major. It should also be noted that for community college graduates a maximum of 60 credits are transferable to this institution for the purpose of fulfilling a specific program of study. Excess credits, if any, may be transferred but cannot be used for fulfilling the minimum requirements for the degree.
To remain in good academic standing, transfer students must meet the same GPA requirements as those specified for all other undergraduate students. See section in this catalog entitled “Criteria Governing Continuance at IUP.”
The university accepts credits associated with “D” grades only when they are part of a completed associate degree earned at a publicly owned community college in Pennsylvania. These “D” grades will be treated in the same manner as those earned at IUP. This articulation policy was adopted by the Board of State College and University Directors in 1973.
Part-time undergraduate study is available through the School of Continuing Education to any high school graduate or holder of a GED Equivalency Diploma. No SAT scores are required. Note: A TOEFL Score is required as part of the application for an individual whose native language is other than English. Those who are not U.S. citizens must submit a notarized copy of their current visa and I-94 card or alien resident card.
Applications are available from the Part-time Studies Program and must be submitted with documentation directly to the School of Continuing Education by August 15 for the fall semester and December 15 for the spring semester. A $30 application fee is required. Applications submitted after established dates are not guaranteed consideration.
Transfer students may also apply to the School of Continuing Education for part-time study and must submit official transcripts for all previous college work attempted. An overall 2.0 GPA is required.
A student in the Part-time Studies Program is limited to a semester enrollment of no more than 11 credits and must apply for degree candidacy for formal admission to a degree program before 30 IUP credits have been earned. Applications for degree candidacy must be filed by the midterm point of the fall or spring semester preceding candidacy. Specific requirements for GPA and IUP credit vary by degree program. The minimum credit criteria to apply for consideration for degree candidacy follows:
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High School Diploma or GED |
15 IUP credits |
2.0 GPA |
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Veteran (DD-214 required) |
9 IUP credits |
2.0 GPA |
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Transfer (with 12 or more credits) |
9 IUP credits |
2.0 GPA |
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Transfer (with 11 or less credits) |
15 IUP credits |
2.0 GPA |
Note: A student who has applied and has been admitted by the Office of Admissions to a regional campus is not eligible to apply to the School of Continuing Education.
Program for Visiting High School Students
IUP permits the exceptional high school student to preview university life and earn regular college credit on a limited nondegree basis. The student must have completed the sophomore year with a minimum of a “B” average and have the written support of the high school principal or guidance counselor. The parameters of the student’s enrollment are defined in consultation with the appropriate high school official and are limited to a maximum of 9 credits per semester. For further information, contact the School of Continuing Education.
Postbaccalaureate Studies (Undergraduate)
The Postbaccalaureate Studies Program provides access to undergraduate courses to individuals who have an earned baccalaureate degree. Students may be seeking a second bachelor’s degree, an additional teacher certification, or personal enrichment. Students may enroll on a full- or part-time basis based on personal preference and availability of coursework.
Applications are available from the School of Continuing Education. A completed application and official transcripts of all previous undergraduate coursework must be submitted for review by August 15 for fall semester and December 15 for spring semester. Applications not submitted by established dates are not guaranteed consideration. A $30 application fee is required. The fee is waived for graduates of IUP.
Second Baccalaureate Degree
A student with an earned baccalaureate degree who wishes to complete the requirements for a second or subsequent bachelor’s degree must make application and submit official transcripts indicating degree(s) awarded. The student must complete a minimum of thirty additional IUP credits beyond those earned in his/her initial bachelor’s degree and meet the requirements for graduation established by the academic department and college in which the new degree is to be earned. However, a student may complete one or more secondary majors while earning the primary degree.
Teacher Certification
A college graduate with an earned nonteaching baccalaureate degree who wishes to complete the requirements for Instructional Level I Certification must apply as a second bachelor’s degree student. A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and successful Praxis I (PPST) scores are required for consideration for admission. Applicants must also meet the requirements of Step 1 of the 3-Step Process for Teacher Education which can be found in the College of Education and Educational Technology section of this catalog or at the website www.iup.edu/education.
A Pennsylvania-certified teacher who wishes to add a new area of certification may apply to the School of Continuing Education for admission as a postbaccalaureate student.
Students are required to complete a Student Health Form documenting immunization status. See Health Services information in section “Student Programs and Services.”
Readmission Policy for Students Who Withdraw from the University Voluntarily
Graduate students wishing to return to the university must contact the Graduate School at 724-357-2222 for specific instructions.
All undergraduate students who have withdrawn from the university, or were not enrolled during the previous regular semester, must complete an Application for Readmission, available by one of the following options:
Stopping at the Office of the Registrar, Clark Hall Lobby
By calling 724-357-2377. During evening or weekend hours, you may call this same number and leave your name and address and a form will be mailed to you
From the Registrar’s Office website under Forms Available for Download
By logging on to URSA and selecting the Apply for Readmission to IUP option under the Student Services and Financial Aid section
The readmission deadline for the spring semester is December 1 and for the fall semester is July 20.
Requests for readmission for academically dismissed students or first-semester and transfer students who withdraw from the university voluntarily during their first semester of full-time enrollment will be forwarded to the Office of the Dean of the college in which the student was enrolled at the time of dismissal or of total university withdrawal for a decision on the student’s readmission.
Decisions for readmission of students in university probationary or dismissed status, regardless of whether the student was dismissed by the university or the student voluntarily withdrew, are the responsibility of the Academic Standards Officer of the college the student wishes to enter. If the student is seeking admission to a new college, the officer of the new college will consult with the officer of the former college before making a decision. The Registrar’s Office will officially change the major based on the officer’s readmission letter to the student.
All outstanding financial obligations to the university must be met before the Application for Readmission will be processed. Due to enrollment restrictions, requests for readmission to Nursing or the College of Fine Arts will be forwarded for approval by a representative from that department or college.
Readmitted students who have not been enrolled for two years or more may petition their college dean for application of the Cancelled Semester Policy, which provides for cancellation from the cumulative record of the effects of one semester below a GPA of 2.0. Students who have been academically dismissed and separated from the university for five consecutive calendar years may petition their college dean to return under the Fresh Start Policy. Students must pay fees and attend classes before a designated semester will be cancelled or the fresh start policy will take effect. See the Academic Policies section of this catalog for more information on these policies.
Once your application for readmission has been approved, you will be sent instructions on how and when to register.
As a student readmitted to IUP, you are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your financial aid eligibility. Your financial aid eligibility will be based on your financial need, as determined by the FAFSA, and on your prior academic record.
If you have previously attended a postsecondary school or schools other than IUP, a Financial Aid Transcript must be completed by this previous school and sent to the IUP Financial Aid Office.
The summer school program at IUP is designed to meet the needs of many students. Courses, workshops, and seminars are offered in the liberal arts, teacher education, and other fields of study.
Continuing university students, including newly admitted freshmen, who wish to accelerate their program of studies will find both Liberal Studies and special courses in all fields of study. Students from other colleges and universities may take courses at IUP; however, they are advised to first ensure that their home institution will transfer such credits earned at IUP.
Teachers-in-service will find courses in the summer program to serve a variety of needs. They may enroll to qualify for permanent certification, satisfy Act 48 requirements, take refresher courses in their field of specialization, or take courses for the purpose of extending their certification to a new field.
The summer sessions schedule can be viewed at the website www.iup.edu/summer. Contact the Office of the Registrar, Clark Hall (toll-free number: 888-800-3190), for more information.
Attendance at summer sessions undergraduate courses is open to all students but does not constitute admission or readmission for continuing registration in the fall and/or spring semesters. IUP students with less than a 2.0 cumulative GPA must receive approval from their dean’s office before attending summer courses. Non-IUP students who desire admission must obtain an application through the Office of Admissions or the School of Continuing Education, as appropriate. Students who desire readmission for the fall semester should apply to the Registrar’s Office by the preceding July 20 and by December 1 for the spring semester.
English Language Programs for International Students and Visitors
The American Language Institute (ALI) offers several noncredit, intensive English programs for international students and visitors from beginning through advanced levels each semester.
The English for Academic Purposes Program (EAP) is for applicants seeking to prepare themselves for study at any U.S. college or university. Enrollment in fall and spring semester is for fourteen weeks (20 hours per week). Midsemester admission is possible with the approval of the director. In summer semester, programs are offered for ten weeks. Students are placed at beginner, intermediate, or advanced levels by proficiency tests at the start of each program. An institutional TOEFL is administered at the conclusion of each semester.
The ALI also offers two less intensive programs: English for Specific Purposes (ESP) for graduate students entering specialized fields and English for Visitors (EV) for visiting professionals who seek improvement in English while experiencing life in the U.S. Special part-time credit programs can be arranged.
Students can also apply for provisional admission to an IUP undergraduate program through the ALI. Contact the director at 724-357-6944 or e-mail djt@iup.edu. Cocurricular social and cultural programs are offered to all students. For further information, visit our website at www.iup.edu/ali.
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