Mar 18, 2024  
2011-2012 Undergraduate Catalogue 
    
2011-2012 Undergraduate Catalogue Archived Catalogue

Academic Programs


The University of North Carolina Wilmington offers four-year programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing, the Bachelor of Music, the Bachelor of Science, and the Bachelor of Social Work degrees. Graduate programs lead to the Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, Master of Fine Arts in creative writing, Master of Public Administration, Master of School Administration, Master of Science, Master of Social Work, Doctor of Education in educational leadership and administration, and Doctor of Philosophy in marine biology degrees. Professional undergraduate programs include those offered in the Cameron School of Business, the Watson School of Education, and the School of Nursing. Pre-professional programs are offered in allied health, health-related careers, dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, podiatry and veterinary medicine. The university offers special programs in marine science and environmental studies, 2+2 and 3+2 programs in engineering, as well as a number of opportunities for students to enrich their course of study throughout their academic careers as undergraduates.


University Studies Program


The University Studies Program at UNCW encourages students to begin a life-long journey of engaged inquiry and societal contribution. As a consciously integrated component of each student‘s overall educational experience, the program reflects our institution‘s fundamental commitment to fostering ethical and intellectual development and to promoting the growth of well-informed, creative, literate members of society. The University Studies Program first establishes the basis of an essential liberal education through a multi-faceted exploration of our diverse intellectual heritage. As it extends through each student‘s educational career, the University Studies Program builds upon this foundation through a course of study designed to cultivate the skills and capacities students require to respond to and anticipate the complexities of modern citizenship in an inclusive and creative manner.

Students who meet the requirements of the University Studies program will:

  Goal 1. Acquire foundational knowledge, theories and perspectives in a variety of disciplines (Foundational Knowledge);
  Goal 2. Engage in rigorous, open-minded and imaginative inquiry (Inquiry);
  Goal 3. Locate, evaluate, and effectively use information by applying a variety of academic and technological skills (Information Literacy);
  Goal 4. Integrate multiple methods and perspectives to critically examine complex problems (Critical Thinking);
  Goal 5. Effectively express meaningful ideas in speech and writing (Thoughtful Expression);
  Goal 6. Demonstrate basic proficiency in speaking, listening, writing and reading in a language in addition to English (Foreign Language);
  Goal 7. Describe and examine the importance and implications of human diversity (Diversity);
  Goal 8. Describe and examine the intellectual and ethical responsibilities of active global citizenship (Global Citizenship).

University Studies Requirements:


The Core Curriculum:


I. Foundations:


a. Composition (3-6 hours):

Students must complete ENG 100  or ENG 101 , and ENG 200  or ENG 201 , or must complete ENG 103 . Placement is determined by an English placement test or by scores on the Advanced Placement or the CLEP test. ENG 103  is a 3-credit course, but successful completion of the course satisfies the university studies composition requirement.

b. Lifetime Wellness (2 hours):

Required: 

d. Foreign Language (3-6 hours):

Required: Proficiency through 201 level, or 102 level in a language not previously studied.
Students will demonstrate proficiency by completing a course at 201 level or higher in a language previously studied, or at the 102 level in a language not previously studied (3-6 hours).

II. Approaches and Perspectives:


a. Aesthetic, Interpretive, and Literary Perspectives (at least 6 hours):

Note: No more than 3 hours from any one discipline.

f. Living in a Global Society (at least 3 hours) **:

Note:

** One of the courses used to fulfill a requirement in either e or f above may also be used to fulfill a requirement in a-d. Only one course may be double-counted in this way.

Waiver of Requirements:


English:


Students who have not qualified for advanced placement but who because of special circumstances may have writing competencies equal or superior to those required in ENG 101 , ENG 103 , or ENG 201  may present evidence of these writing competencies to the chairperson of the Department of English and request a waiver. At the chair’s discretion either or both requirements may be waived. This waiver does not grant academic credit.

Foreign Languages:


Students who prefer to waive the language requirement rather than take a 300-level class and receive supplemental credit must demonstrate written-language proficiency. Students should make an appointment for the waiver examination and subsequent assessment with the chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. This waiver does not grant academic credit.

Mathematics:


Students who have not qualified for advanced placement but who may have competencies equal or superior to those required for successful completion of MAT 151  or MAT 161  may, at the discretion of the chairperson of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, take a waiver examination for either of these courses. An acceptable score on this exam waives the requirement that one of the introductory mathematics courses be taken. This waiver does not grant academic credit.

Physical Education:


Students who meet either of the following conditions will be waived from the PED 101  requirement: 1.) Current military personnel or veterans who have served two or more years active duty; and 2.) students who are 55 year of age or greater.

Students with Existing Degrees:


For students who already possess an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university, including UNCW, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (or her/his designee), after consultation with the chair(s) of the academic unit(s) through which the student is pursuing the second degree, will determine the extent to which the previous course work meets the spirit of UNCW‘s current university studies requirements and will determine any remaining requirements to be completed. Students who are transferring to UNCW for a second baccalaureate after having earned a baccalaureate at any UNC institution with a general education requirement will be given a University Studies waiver.

Oral Communication Intensive Courses:


Currently approved as oral communication intensive courses are:

Required Physical Education:


Through participation in the required physical education program, students should expect to develop an understanding of the role of life-long physical activity in enhancing the quality of one’s life.

The university requires all students to complete with a passing grade PED 101 - Physical Activity and Wellness . Transfer students who have not had an equivalent course must also complete this requirement. Students with disabilities are encouraged to participate to the fullest extent possible in physical education activities and are encouraged to consult with the director of the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences concerning participation in these activities.

The university requires all students taking Physical Education to have had a physical exam within the past year. The Physical Examination form can be downloaded with the Immunization and Medical History Form. Questions should be directed to the Student Health Center at 910-962-3280. Completion of this requirement is a prerequisite to:

  1. enrollment in any physical education activity course,
  2. participation in any physical education activity course,
  3. utilization of the physical education facilities for recreational purposes.

Based on the information contained in this report, the student will be assigned to one of three categories listed below:

  1. Unrestricted participation
  2. Restricted participation
  3. Temporarily restricted participation because of an injury or illness