109.3 Academic Concentrations

109.3 Academic Concentrations

A. Background

All students at Furman University are required to declare an academic major in order to receive a bachelor's degree. However, a student may choose to enrich his or her academic experience and supplement his or her major by concentrating on a specific topic from the perspectives of different academic disciplines. In order to enable students to do so effectively, Furman University has identified certain groups of existing courses, the focus of each group being a specific area or topic deemed appropriate for academic concentration.

B. Policy

An academic concentration at Furman University shall consist of 16 to 24 hours of related course work selected from no fewer than three departments. At least 12 of the required hours shall be in courses beyond the entry level. The concentration must be approved by all departments proposing the concentration, and by the appropriate faculty committees, the general faculty, and the academic administration.

C. Guidelines

1. Any group of interested faculty may submit a proposal for a new concentration. This proposal shall be submitted first to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean who shall evaluate the resources necessary for the concentration. The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean shall forward the proposal, with his evaluation, to the Academic Policies Committee which will in turn evaluate the proposal and report its evaluation, with or without a recommendation, to the faculty. If the proposed concentration is approved by the faculty, it shall be submitted to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean for approval.

2. The Academic Policies Committee will require the following information when a new concentration is proposed: A general description of the concentration A rationale for the proposed concentration A list of the courses in the concentration, with an identification of any courses specifically required. The list for each concentration will be published each year in the catalogue and in the advisor's handbook. A list of recommended General Education Requirements (GERs). These recommended GERs may not be used to disqualify any student from completing the concentration. That is, any required course must be included in item c. above. An estimate of the number of graduates per year who will complete the concentration. An estimate of the effect that the concentrations will have on existing departments, majors, and concentrations with respect to course enrollments, frequency of course offerings, and possible similarity to (or duplication of) existing programs. An estimate of additional resources required for the concentration (e.g., faculty, staff, equipment, supplies, library materials). A statement of support for the concentration from each participating department. The statement of support should include a record of the departmental vote on the concentration. Department chairs must invite those who oppose the concentration to submit their views in writing to the Academic Policies Committee and to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean. The signatures for approval of the chairs of the participating departments.

3. Each concentration will be administered by an oversight committee composed of a member from each department offering courses in the concentration. The committee and its chair will be appointed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean with advice from the participating departments. The committee shall advise those students who declare the concentration. The membership of the oversight committees will be published in the advisor's handbook each year.

4. When a student expresses an interest in a concentration, his or her academic advisor will provide the student with the name of the chair of the appropriate oversight committee. The chair will then assign an appropriate faculty advisor for the concentration. The student and concentration advisor will discuss the requirements and then fill out and sign a concentration form, copies of which will be sent to the registrar's office and to the student's academic advisor. It is strongly recommended that a student declare an intention to pursue a particular concentration as soon as possible in his or her academic program, preferably no later than the end of the junior year.

5. Minor variations from the normal concentration requirements for an individual student must be approved by the concentration oversight committee.

6. The chairs of the oversight committees for all concentrations will meet at least once a year with the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean to provide an overview of their concentrations and to enable the Dean to monitor their effectiveness and viability.

7. All changes to a concentration (e.g., addition or subtraction of participating departments, additions to the list of course options) must be approved by the oversight committee of the concentration, by the Academic Policies Committee, and by the faculty.

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