Mar 18, 2024  
2016-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2016-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General College


Mission Statement


The General College’s mission is to provide an environment in which diverse learners can achieve academically, socially and spiritually to become 21st century leaders.  The goal of the college is to (1) engage students, faculty and staff in teaching, learning and scholarship through interdisciplinary collaborations, (2) link curricular and co-curricular programs to the University Core Competencies of the general education program, and (3) increase global learning in academic and social experiences. 

General College comprises the following programs and services:

Service Department 

Honors College

International Programs

Special Design Major

 

SERVICE DEPARTMENT

HISTORY PROGRAM


Studying the past can help improve the future of global society.  History cultivates an individual’s awareness of how long-term historical causes shape the present as well as providing the ability to recognize and critique myths of the past to which we are exposed. It enhances the understanding of identity and the comprehensive range of human possibilities in our diverse global society. Most importantly, history helps to stimulate an appreciation and tolerance for cultural differences.  History courses emphasize essential skills of analysis and reasoning, written and oral communication critical for professional success.

Goals

The goals of the history program are to:
•    Demonstrate the centrality of the history curriculum to the general education mission of the College;
•    Integrate the general education skills of writing effectively, reading intelligently and processing information through synthesis and analysis throughout the introductory courses of the History component; and
•    Develop students’ intellectual interest in history as a discipline and encourage student participation in the life of the department.

History Minor

Minors in History must: (1) receive a grade of “C” or better in the following courses; (2) declare History as a minor; and, (3) receive written approval of their program of study in the minor from the department chair and dean of their major area of study. 

Courses                                                                        Hours

HIST 231     American History I                                    3
HIST 232     American History II                                   3
HIST 224     African American History I                       3
HIST 225     African American History II                      3
HIST 440     Methods of Historical Research             3
HIST 450     Senior Research Project in History        3
Total History Minor Requirements                           18

 

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

Foreign languages provide students with the necessary course content to fulfill the core requirements for the General Education Program and for a minor course of study in Spanish or French. The department focuses on teaching the language and cultures of the countries in which the particular foreign language is spoken as a means of exposing the students to other cultures and peoples of the world.

Foreign Language Minor

The minor includes the required courses in language skills, literature, business and conversation needed to enhance a career in foreign affairs, international business, communications, law, English, education, political science, or other related professions. A major objective of the foreign language unit is to prepare students to acquire a survival level command of a language other than their own, broaden their outlook on life, and increase their interest and knowledge of other cultures and the relationship of countries to global affairs. Believing in the vital importance of broadening the educational and cultural horizons of our students by exposing them to the benefits of acquaintance with the world beyond the United States of America in these days of globalization and internationalization, the department also assists students applying for study abroad programs.

Students completing the minor in a foreign language will:
•    Demonstrate the skills of standard spoken and written aspects of the target language in everyday life and business settings;
•    Demonstrate knowledge of the history, literature, current affairs and cultures of some of the countries that speak the language;
•    Possess the skills necessary to gain employment that requires proficiencies in the language; and
•    Advanced study students will have the opportunity to experience study abroad/internship programs.

Requirements
The total number of credit hours to satisfy the requirements for a foreign language minor is
18 hours. Students who prove by placement testing to be proficient in the language at levels beyond the intermediate levels will then have to complete a minimum of 12 hours of the language minor to achieve the total requirement of 18 hours and may select from the following courses according to their own interest and the advice of a foreign language faculty member. The elementary language courses (131, 132) are for the removal of deficiencies only. Credit for these courses may not count towards the minor.

Spanish Minor

Course Requirements                                                                                              Hours

FLSP 231 Intermediate Spanish I                                                                                3
FLSP 232 Intermediate Spanish II                                                                               3
FLSP 235 Spanish Conversation I                                                                              3
FLSP 236 Spanish Conversation II                                                                             3
FLSP 233 Business Communication I or SPAN 331 Survey of Spanish Lit.       3
FLSP 234 Business Communication II or SPAN 338 Spanish American Lit.      3
Total Spanish Minor Requirements                                                                         18

French Minor

Course Requirements                                                                                            Hours    

FLFR 231 Intermediate French I                                                                                  3
FLFR 232 Intermediate French II                                                                                 3
FLFR 235 French Conversation and Phonetics I                                                     3
FLFR 236 French Conversation and Phonetics II                                                    3
FLFR 233 Business Communication I or FREN 331 Survey of French Lit.         3
FLFR 234 Business Communication II or FREN 336 Black Writers in French   3
Total French Minor Requirements                                                                         18


Study Abroad
International Studies cooperates with the Director of International Programs to assist students from all majors who wish to study abroad. While participating in a semester Study Abroad Program, a student is advised to take a minimum course load of 12 hours in order to stay on track for timely graduation. It is recommended that this coursework reflect the courses yet to be completed according to the plan of study in the student’s major or minor. This coursework must be approved prior to participating in the program.

PHILOSOPHY 

The Philosophy curricula serve to prepare students for real challenges in a complex, diverse world. The faculty understands that the leaders of tomorrow must be critical thinkers who will be expected to act as concerned, morally responsible citizens. Philosophy is designed to:
•    Develop responsible ethical agents;
•    Train critical thinkers;
•    Expose students to the history of philosophical thought and 
•    Show students how various philosophical views apply to daily life experiences.

Office of International Programs 

The Office of International Programs at Saint Augustine’s University is a vital hub for all activities that appeal to a global audience.  We work diligently in a variety of forums to advance the educational mission of the institution while providing meaningful, educational content for our student population.  Below are the five components of the office.  

Center for Global Engagement and Leadership

The mission of the Center for Global Engagement and Leadership is to promote the University’s mission to prepare students for leadership roles in a complex, diverse, and rapidly changing world. This will be achieved by fostering a climate in which students participate in various global and leadership activities to acquire the foundational and analytical skills critical to successful navigation of accelerated global change.

Student Learning Outcomes to be achieved:

a)    Incorporate a comparative understanding of world cultures into their general knowledge.
b)    Understand the relationship of power and language, and how language interacts with culture
c)    Locate, analyze, and synthesize information to provide a solution for a global issue.
d)    Demonstrate an understanding of the ideas and values expressed in at least one world culture.

The Center sponsors excursions to local universities to participate in cultural activities as well as integrates programming from the surrounding community into the curriculum where appropriate.


Confucius Institute 

Saint Augustine’s University officially opened its Confucius Classroom on August 25. 2011. The Confucius Classroom at Saint Augustine’s University is the first of its kind at a Historically Black College or University. It is one of four Confucius Classrooms under North Carolina State University’s Confucius Institute. The others are at Central Carolina Community University in Sanford, Enloe High School and Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh. The collaboration between Saint Augustine’s University and N.C. State primarily provides an opportunity for students to learn Chinese language and culture.

Experiential Education

Students at Saint Augustine’s University have an array of opportunities to demonstrate their global competence by participating in the various international educational programs provided by the university.  They include study abroad trips and service-learning excursions that allow students to navigate cultural paradigms, practice language skills and gain new perspectives on how citizens in other societies live, work and expound on their values, beliefs and ideals.


International Student Recruitment and Retention

The Office of International Programs plays vital role in Helping international students adjust to the academic environment at the university.  In the fall, we host a welcome reception to integrate them into the greater SAU community as well as leverage their assistance in recruiting former classmates to the university.  Finally, we work diligently with the President’s Latino Advisory Committee to facilitate dialog with the Spanish-speaking community.

Academic Initiatives

There are several academic initiatives that are housed in the Office of International Programs. The Leadership Studies Concentration allows students who obtain an additional twelve credit hours the opportunity to customize their degree program to include this additional set of skills and core competencies. In the future, we plan to add a Global Studies component (concentration or minor) to complement our focus on international education and the building of a global community for learning.

 

Special Design Major

Description

The Special Design Major allows students whose particular interests, background, or professional objectives are not served by a traditional BA or BS degree programs offered at Saint Augustine’s University. The purpose of the Special Design Major is to make available to students who satisfy the prerequisites for the program the opportunity to design, with faculty approval, a flexible interdisciplinary curriculum. Admission to the Special Design Major is limited to students whose individualized programs can be organized around a special topic or a cross-disciplinary inquiry that is original and involves work in more than one department.

The Special Design Major is not intended to bypass normal graduation requirements and may not be used to duplicate formally structured degree programs at Saint Augustine’s University. It is reserved for students who cannot find an established degree program that meets their special interests and career goals that cross disciplinary lines. Students will be able to take courses in disciplines not offered at Saint Augustine’s University through the Cooperating Raleigh Colleges Consortium (CRC).

ATTENTION CREDENTIAL STUDENTS. At the present time, a Special Major cannot be used to satisfy the requirements for a teaching credential in secondary education unless the student passes the PRAXIS II Examination. For additional information the student should contact the Department of Education. As a second major, a Special Designed Major could be a distinct advantage to those with an approved secondary education teaching major. By itself, however, it might be too specialized unless it meets the criteria for approved majors commonly taught in the public schools in North Carolina.

CAUTION: This is a unique major that suits individual goals and is personally valuable, but may pose professional obstacles. Career goals and prerequisites for higher degrees should be considered carefully before proceeding with this major.

PREREQUISITES TO APPLICATION: A grade point average of 3.0 or higher upon completion of at least half of your GEP requirements during the freshmen year. 

CRITERIA FOR SPECIAL DESIGN MAJORS

For a course of study to be considered appropriate for a Special Design Major, it must meet the following criteria:

 

1. It must consist of a minimum of 60 credits of course work in two or more disciplines. A Special Design Major must be truly interdisciplinary. It may not be an individually fashioned degree in any single existing discipline.

2. It must be integrated: the course work must be coherent with respect to the program’s topic.

3. The course work should consist of an adequate and appropriate distribution of courses in the disciplines involved in the program.

The guidelines that appear below have been developed to assure that these criteria are met and to assist you through the regulations and procedures that pertain to the Special Design Major housed within the Department of Liberal Studies.

 

REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES IN BRIEF

In order to be accepted as a Special Design Major, you must do the following:

Step 1. Consult with the Dean of General College who will serve as coordinator and assist you with the formation of an Interdisciplinary Academic Advisory Committee (IAAC).

Step 2.  In consultation with you IAAC chair, complete the application for Special Design Major Liberal Studies Program.

Step 3. Submit the application for review.

Step 4. If the application is approved, you may register as a Special Design Major.

 

REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES IN FULL

STEP 1. CONSULT WITH THE DEPARTMENTCHAIR/ SDM COORDINATOR

1. Before developing an application, you must consult with the Dean of General College who serves as coordinator of special design majors to explore your ideas for a course of study. At this meeting, the chair will discuss with you the feasibility of carrying out your program and explain the application procedure. The Chair will also help you identify a faculty advisor from each of two departments in your program to serve as your Interdisciplinary Academic Advisory Committee.

2. Very early in the advising process, it must be determined if Saint Augustine’s University and/or Cooperating Raleigh College Consortium (CRC) has the courses necessary to constitute a program in the subjects you wish to pursue. By your second meeting with the Chair, you should have familiarized yourself with the current Catalog as well as CRC catalogs for courses not offered at Saint Augustine’s College and compiled a list of courses from which a coherent course of study might be fashioned.

If the Chair has determined that your idea for a Special Design Major is appropriate for the degree program and that you meet the Program’s academic criteria, you are in a position to take the next steps:

STEP 2. FORM AN ACADEMIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE

3. Depending on your areas of study, two or three faculty members, one from each discipline in which you wish to take courses, must agree to constitute your Interdisciplinary Academic Advisory Committee (hereafter: Your Committee) and act as advisors for your program of study. The members of your Committee must be from disciplines found on your course list. Your Committee has three main functions:

A. To recommend courses appropriate to your program;

B. To advise you on any other matters pertaining to your program, such as University regulations or the career or academic potential for such a program;

C. To evaluate your Senior Project.

Once you have formed your committee, it is your responsibility to plan with its members a coherent, original, and feasible course of study.

 

4. CHAIRPERSON OF THE INTERSIDCIPLINARY ACADEMIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE. One of the members of your committee must agree to be the Chair of your Committee and to advise you on your major course of study, GEP, CRC enrollment and all other graduation requirements. In addition to the responsibilities mentioned above, the Chair has several special duties:

A. To advise you on your course of study as a whole;

B. To advise you in the writing of your proposal and application;

C. Once your proposal is accepted, to act as your regular advisor concerning your course of study and all other graduation requirements.

D. To oversee and assist you with your Senior Project.

5. The Chair of your committee must be a full-time, tenured or tenure-track member of the Saint Augustine’s University faculty. Ascertain from a potential Chair whether he or she will be available during the period in which you will be working on your degree. If your Chair plans to be away for part of this time, as for instance on a Sabbatical, plan with your Chair well in advance for someone to take his or her place, or consider another faculty member to fill this important role.

6. CONSULTATION OF THE DEAN OF GENERAL COLLEGE WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON. Early in the student’s application process, the General College dean will contact the Chair of the student’s Committee to discuss his or her responsibilities and answer any questions he or she may have concerning procedures.

STEP 3. COMPLETE AN APPLICATION

7. In consultation with the Chair and your committee, you must complete an application. (The requirements for the application appear below in these guidelines.) When the application is completed, submit it to the Chair/SDM Coordinator by an application deadline.

STEP 4. SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION FOR REVIEW

8. APPLICATION DEADLINES. There are three deadlines each semester for filing an application for a Special Design Major. Each semester’s deadlines are posted outside the door to the Liberal Studies Office. You are urged to submit your application by the first or second deadlines, so that if revision is required, the application can still be acted on during the semester it was submitted.

9. THE STUDENT’S FILE. Upon receipt of your completed application by the General College dean, a file is established in the chair’s office. The file will contain, in addition to the application, a copy of all documents, such as memos, petitions, letters, and grade reports, which are related to your degree program.

10. THE REVIEW PROCESS. Filing an application with the General College dean, does not constitute or assure acceptance in the Special Design Major program. Each proposal must be reviewed by the Liberal Studies Committee. After a program is reviewed, the Committee conveys its recommendation to the student through the General College dean, The Committee may recommend approval or conditional approval of the application, may request that the application be reworked and resubmitted, or may reject the application. Applications approved by the Committee must then be approved by the General College dean, and the Provost. If the application is approved at both levels of review, you may register as a Special Design Major.

11. ATTENDING THE REVIEW. The Chair of your faculty committee may attend to the SDM meeting at which your application is reviewed. Information regarding the date, time and place of the Committee meetings can be obtained from the General College Office.

STEP 5. REGISTER AS A SPECIAL DESIGN MAJOR

12. Immediately upon approval of your program, file a Change of Major Form with the Registrar’s Office. The petition must be signed by the Dean of General College and by the department chair of your former major/academic advisor

13. DISTRIBUTION OF THE APPROVED PROGRAM. Upon approval of your proposal for a Special Design Major, the Dean of General College provides you, your advisors, and the Provost with a copy of your approved program of study. A copy is also kept in your file in the General College office.

 OTHER REGULATIONS

14. CHANGES IN THE MAJOR. Once your proposal is approved, any changes in the curriculum must be approved by the General College Dean and the Chair of your Advisory Committee. All changes are made through a letter of explanation that is signed by the Advisory Committee Chair and the GC Dean and is placed in your file in the GC Office. If the changes substantially alter the focus of your program, they must also be approved by the SDM Committee.

15. ACADEMIC ADVISING. At the end of each semester, you should be advised by the Chair of your Committee concerning your schedule for the next semester and your progress on GEP and other graduation requirements. The GC Dean is also available for advising.

* * * * 

EXPECTATIONS OF THE INTERSIDCIPLINARY ACADEMIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

In its consideration of your application for the Special Design Major, IAAC will look for evidence of your ability to pursue a self-designed program to completion and of your awareness to your major and other graduation requirements. The Committee will look for such evidence, not only in your rationale, but in the following areas:

1. GPA. The GPA required for admission to the Special Design Major is 3.0. Exceptions to this requirement may be made at the discretion of the Dean of General College, and approval of your IAAC and the Provost. You may be asked to submit a letter of recommendation and other supporting material, such as mid-semester evaluations, to support your proposal.

2. General Education Program (GEP). At the time you apply for a Special Design Major, you should have completed at least half of your GEP requirements.

3. TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS COMPLETED TOWARD GRADUATION. Ideally, you should begin your Special Design Major early enough in your academic career that you can graduate without an excess of credits, i.e., without more than the 124 units required for graduation. Although a higher number of credits completed at the time you apply, it will not disqualify you from the Special Design Major but the inclusion into your proposal of courses already completed will be examined closely to insure the relevance of such courses to the focus of your Special Design Major.

4. NUMBER OF MAJOR CREDITS IN YOUR PROPOSAL. The total number of major credit hours may range from 60 to 72.  The courses for your major are divided into Core Courses and Supporting Courses. At least twenty-four (24) credits in the Core Courses are to be Upper Division units (300 and above). The number of Upper Division units in the Supporting Courses must be sufficient to fulfill the goals of your proposal.

5. UNIQUENESS OF YOUR MAJOR. You must make clear in your proposal why you require a Special Design Major, and why a Bachelor’s degree in an existing major, a double major, or a major and a minor would not fulfill your academic goals.

THE IDEAL TIME TO BEGIN A SPECIAL DESIGN MAJOR. Given the factors discussed above, the ideal time for you to start a Special Design Major no later than the beginning of the second semester of the sophomore year. You will have had the opportunity to complete much of your GEP, but will not have accumulated an excess of units toward graduation. You will also have had the opportunity to prove yourself academically and to develop the study habits that will help you succeed with your Special Design Major.

* * * *

SKILLS AND PERFORMANCE COURSES IN THE SPECIAL MAJOR

The Departments of Art, Communication Studies, Dance, Drama, and Music have a large number of courses devoted to the development of skills. These skills include painting, film-making, writing, directing, dancing, singing, playing an instrument, and many more. Although such skills are an important part of a major in the creative arts, and although they are not to be excluded from the Special Major, the focus of your program must be on ideas appropriate to the academic tradition and your professional goals. Proposals that emphasize professional development and career pathway as well as intellectual content are considered suitable for the Special Design Major.

 

THE APPLICATION

Your application form must contain the following information:

I. Your name and the title of your major (see the application cover sheet). (Note: Only 65 characters, including spaces and punctuation marks, are allocated to the title of a major on a diploma. In developing a title for your major, therefore, you will want to choose one that does not exceed this limit.)

II. A list of the core and supporting courses totaling at least 60 credit hours.

Restrictions:

1. No courses that you use to satisfy General Education Program requirements may be included in the course list for your Special Major.

2. No professional courses in the Education Department, with exceptions specified by the Department, may be included in the program of study.

3. Only courses graded A-C may be applied toward major requirements.

B. Core courses must consist of upper division courses (300/400 level) only.

The Senior Paper or Senior Project/Thesis [HON 400/HON 499 (3 units)] must be included in the Core courses.

C. Supporting courses. Supporting courses may include lower division pre-requisite courses when appropriate.

III. Your signature, the signature of the SDM Coordinator and the names and signatures of the faculty advisors for your special designed major.

 

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

IV. A written statement of purpose must accompany the application form. This essay is the rationale for your program and is the most important part of your proposal; it is here that you demonstrate that the program you have developed is both interdisciplinary and of a content comparable to that of traditional academic programs of study. The rationale should be of no more than three double-spaced, typewritten pages in length.

It may be helpful to you and your committee to view the rationale as consisting of five components: A) a description of the basic idea of the program, B) a description of your objectives and uses for the course of study, C) a description and justification of the courses on the course list, D) an overview of the Senior Project, and E) a justification of your program as a Special Major.

A. The Basic Idea. Your program must have a focus that goes beyond that of a single discipline. The title of your program must express this interdisciplinary focus. Begin this essay by stating the subject of your program, showing how the proposed subject is appropriate as an interdisciplinary course of study and providing any information that would be helpful in understanding both the subject itself and your reasons for pursuing this study. The latter may include a description of the interests, experience, and training that provide you with a background for the proposed program.

B. Objectives and Uses. The rationale must contain a statement of your objectives and uses for the course of study, i.e., the knowledge and skills you seek from your program and how you intend to apply them. If you are undertaking this study to enhance your academic or career opportunities, state this clearly.

C. Courses. An interdisciplinary course of study requires the same substance and breadth found in an established Bachelor’s Degree program in a single subject in a Liberal Arts Institution. In addition, an interdisciplinary course of study has a coherence that a double major or a major and minor in different subjects does not have. In a double major, there is no necessity to integrate the areas of study. In the Special Major, the necessity to integrate the disciplines from which you have selected courses is at the heart of the program.

Describe the courses in your course list from the standpoints of how they meet the standards described above and of what they contribute to the study of the subject of your program. Be sure to describe the relationship between the courses selected for your program of study. The Committee will look for your ability to demonstrate this relationship and to show how each course supports the purpose of the program. List and explain supplementary courses that are not included in the List of Courses (Core and Supporting).

D. Senior Project [HON 400/HON 499 (3 units)]. Your Special Major program must include a Senior Project. The topic of the Senior Project must be an obvious outcome of your stated goals and course work; it must bring together the various aspects of your course of study. It may be a research paper or a creative project. It must be limited enough to accomplish within the given time and unit constraints. It must be included among the Core courses.

The Senior Project is to be prepared under the supervision of your faculty committee. It will be graded by your Committee and you will describe your project orally to the IAA Committee at the completion of your senior year.

Data Collection from Human Subjects. If your Senior Project involves the collecting of data from human subjects, you must familiarize yourself with the regulations concerning human subjects and submit a form indicating details concerning venue, method of collection, etc. Approval for the collecting of such data must be given in writing by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) before you begin collection. Data collected before written authorization is obtained may not be used. For more information, contact the Liberal Studies Office.

E. The justification for a Special Major. Your Special Major must be unique; you must show that it does not duplicate a program of study that can be pursued through a traditional department or program at Saint Augustine’s College. It is your responsibility to consult the catalog to confirm that such programs do not exist.

 

General College Faculty

Sevealyn Smith, DMA, Professor and Dean of General College

Dino Bryant, PhD, Assistant Professor of History
Shirkeymu Winston, PhD, Assistant Professor of History

Bernard Luscans, PhD, Assistant Professor of International Studies
Javier, Pabon, MA, Assistant Professor of International Studies

Programs