24 / 221
21
Hardin-Simmons University 2018-2019
(To be awarded credit for Foreign Language the student
must demonstrate a writing proficiency by writing an
acceptable essay and a speaking proficiency by adding
an oral interview. Contact the Department Head of
Foreign Language.)
Science and Mathematics
General Biology
BIOL
1306, 1106, 1307,1107
50
General Chemistry
CHEM 1310,1110,1311,111
1 50
College Algebra
MATH 1310
50
Precalculus
MATH 1311
50
Social Sciences
American Government
POLS 1302
50
History of US I: Early Colonization to 1877
HIST 1301
50
History of US II: 1895 to Present
HIST 1302
50
Western Civilization I: Ancient to 1648
HIST 2301
50
Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present
HIST 2302
50
Educational Psychology
Elective
50
Introduction to Psychology
PSYC 1301
50
Introduction to Sociology
SOCI 1301
50
POLICIES
Classification
Classification of students is based upon progress toward
meeting degree requirements as follows:
Credits Earned
Classification
0-29
Freshman
30-59
Sophomore
60-89
Junior
90 or above
Senior
Explanation of Course Numbers
The course level or class is indicated by the first digit in the
course number: 0-non-degree credit; 1-freshman; 2-
sophomore; 3-junior; 4-senior; 5 or 6-postgraduate or
graduate; 7 or 8 doctorial. The second digit indicates the
semester hour value of the course (except music, nursing, and
special topics courses). The third and fourth digits indicate the
departmental sequencing of the course and make it a unique
number within the department or subject area.
Example: ENGL 1301
ENGL Departmental abbreviation
1 Course level
3 Semester Credits
01 Departmental Sequence
Freshmen are not allowed to enroll in upper-division
courses except under special circumstances.
The semester hour is the unit of course credit at HSU.
Ordinarily, a semester hour credit is based upon one 50-
minute class period or two or more hours in the
laboratory/studio per week throughout a semester.
Accordingly, a course carrying a credit value of three
semester hours would ordinarily meet for three 50-minute
periods each week or in two sessions of one and one-quarter
hours each. The number of semester, class, and
laboratory/studio hours is indicated by the numbers in
parentheses following the title of each course. The first
number indicates semester hours, the second class hours,
and the third lab/studio hours. For example, a 4-semester
hour course involving three hours of lecture, plus two hours of
lab per week will show that information as (4-3-2). An X (4-3-
X) in the lab space indicates a variable, optional, or field
activity noted in the course description.
Credit Hour Policy and Procedure
This policy is designed to assure consistency in awarding
academic credit at Hardin-Simmons University in conformity
with commonly accepted standards in higher education and in
accordance with federal regulations. In the following
definition, HSU utilizes the Carnegie Unit, a generally
recognized measurement for awarding academic credit, as a
means to express the institution’s definition of a credit hour.
Definition of credit hour
Using the Carnegie Unit as a commonly accepted standard,
Hardin-Simmons University defines a credit hour, recorded by
the university as a semester hour, in terms of instructional
time and associated class preparation. Each credit hour
reflects one hour of instructional time per week for a total of
15 instructional hours per semester. Students are expected
to devote a minimum of two hours outside of class in
preparation for each instructional hour. Thus students are
expected to spend a minimum of approximately 3 hours
engaged in learning per week per semester for each credit
hour.
The application of this definition of credit hour must be
equivalent throughout the curriculum. Faculty are responsible
for assuring that at least a reasonable approximation of a
comparable amount of work consistent with this definition of
credit hour is represented in all academic activities for which
the university awards academic credit, including, but not
limited to, distance education, blended courses, practica,
internships, laboratory work, travel courses, and studio work.
In establishing equivalency, faculty should consider course
content, method of delivery, pedagogical methods, and
measurement of intended student learning outcomes,
academic calendars, degree levels, and other factors to
assure equivalency.
The university grants credit only for courses approved by the
academic policies established by the university and taught by
faculty approved by the university. The process for approving
course credit involves individual faculty members developing
a new course proposal which is then vetted by the department
and the curriculum committee of the appropriate college or
school. If approved, the course proposal is sent to the
Academic Committee of the University for discussion and final
approval. In some cases the protocol requires approval of the
University faculty.
Course Listing
Course listings in this catalog begin with a four-digit number
as described in the preceding section. The departmental
prefix plus this number constitutes the principle identifier of
the course and must be accurately noted when registering.
The number is followed by the course title indicating the topic
of the course and by the parenthetical numbers indicating the
hours of credit, of lecture and of lab, all of which are printed in
bold face type. If the numbers in the parenthesis are followed
by the symbol “[#]”, the course is also listed in the Texas
Common Course numbering system for easy cross-reference
when transferring. This information is followed by a brief
statement describing the content of the course. Note that this
brief description is not comprehensive and that the full course
content is contained in a syllabus obtainable from the
department offering the course. The description may conclude
with a prerequisite notice, indicating conditions which must be
satisfied or other courses which must be completed prior to
enrollment in the course. It may also be followed by an
indication of when the student may expect the course to be
offered. For example, a course normally offered each fall
semester will have the word “Fall” printed at the end of the
description. It is possible that such a course may occasionally
be offered in the spring or summer, but the student should not
expect that to be the case and should plan to take the course
during the fall semester.