Academic Affairs

Chowan University’s academic offerings are organized into four schools: the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business and Design, the School of Education and Professional Studies, and the School of Graduate Studies. Each school has structured its degree programs to provide students with a sound general educational background as well as marketable skills.

Degrees and Major Fields

The Master of Education is awarded in Elementary Education. Additional graduate degrees include a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education and Secondary Education.

The Bachelor of Arts degree is awarded in the following fields: Biology, Business, English; English Education; Fine Arts Studies; General Studies; History; Humanities Studies; Integrative Studies; Mass Communication; Mathematics; Music; Religion; Social Sciences; and Studio Art.

The Bachelor of Science degree is awarded in the following fields: Biology; Business Administration; Business and Design; Comprehensive Science Education; Criminal Justice; Educational Studies, Elementary Education; Exercise Science; General Studies; Graphic Communications; Graphic Design; Health and Physical Education; History; Humanities Studies; Integrative Studies; Mathematics; Mathematics Education; Music Education; Psychology; Recreation, Wellness, and Sport; Social Sciences; Social Studies Education; Sport Management; and Studio Art.

The Associate of Arts degree is awarded in the following fields: Business Administration, Criminal Justice, General Studies, Psychology, Social Sciences, and Recreation.

The Associate of Science degree is awarded in Biology, Pre-Nursing.

A degree is awarded in the Associate in Printing Production and Imaging Technology.

Minor Fields

Students may choose to minor in one of the following fields: Accounting; Biology; Business Administration; Chemistry; Coaching; Criminal Justice; Drama; E-Commerce; Economics; Education; English; Graphic Communications; Graphic Design; History; Humanities Studies; Information Systems; Management; Marketing; Mathematics; Missions; Music; Pre-Art Therapy, Psychology; Religion; Sport Management; Studio Art; and Writing. The minor cannot be in the same field of study as major.

VALUES Core

Vocation, Application, and Learning in the Undergraduate Experience for Students

A Chowan University education prepares students to consider questions about values (“How should I live?”), identity (“Who might I become?”), and purpose (“How do I reflect, integrate, and apply approaches to vocation from my exposure to a Chowan education?”). In addition to meeting standards of excellence in a major field, students gain insights into the content and skills of a variety of academic disciplines. They use their integrated learning to inform their education and their lives, both personal and professional.

The Chowan University VALUES Core is an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to develop the whole, educated person, one who has developed knowledge and skills beyond those expected in the area of specialization. This breadth of training is based on a liberal education that provides students a broad exposure to the arts and sciences, integrates multiple perspectives, helps students form essential skills of critical thinking and problem solving, fosters a spirit of ethical and social responsibility, develops a questioning mind, cultivates freedom of expression, and enables students to apply their learning to a wide variety of vocations.

The VALUES Core

• allows students to develop self and identity and explore the individual’s role in and impact on society;
• engages students in critical analysis of the past to understand how knowledge of history helps them to navigate their future;
• encourages students to ask critical questions about global issues and challenges;
• enables students to develop the skills necessary to employ the scientific method and assess the way evidence-based knowledge affects the understanding of self, others, and the world;
• encourages students to explore the physical, natural, and behavioral world;
• prepares students to interact with people from diverse backgrounds and thrive in an interconnected world;
• introduces students to an understanding of diverse cultures, arts, and communities.

The VALUES Core extends from the first year experience, which fosters personal, social, and academic growth and develops the skills necessary to be a successful student, through the capstone experience, which encourages students to pursue a deep integration of their major and the perspectives, values, concepts, skills, and knowledge they have attained throughout the entire VALUES Core curriculum.

Ringing of the Bell

Located on the west side of the McDowell Columns Building in the gazebo is the Chowan University bell. The bell dates back to the 1800s. “The bell swung from two stone pillars until 1880, when it was placed in the Bell Tower, a favorite meeting place for students. The bell was used to change classes, call students to chapel, and celebrate athletic victories.” (Frank Stephenson, Chowan College, 2004)

The tradition of the bell today is to establish a sense of community that begins in the first year and lasts beyond the confines of the four-year university experience. Each September, following University Convocation, faculty in full regalia and first year students proceed to the gazebo. With faculty lined up on both sides of the brick alumni walk leading to the gazebo, first-year students ring the bell to signify the beginning of their academic studies at Chowan.

The ringing of the bell is repeated again in April of each year. At the close of the Senior Banquet, the faculty and candidates for graduation recess from Thomas Dining Hall to the gazebo. With faculty lined up on both sides of the alumni walk once again, each candidate rings the bell one last time to signify the end of his or her academic studies at Chowan.

Undergraduate Research

Directed Research

Most academic areas offer opportunities for directed research. In a directed research project or course, students work under the guidance of a faculty member to explore an area of interest that is not normally taught in the Chowan curriculum.

The Chowan University Student Research Conference

The purpose of the Chowan University Student Research Conference (CUSRC) is to provide a venue for undergraduate students to present the results of original research in an appropriate professional setting. The CUSRC aims to provide students with valuable experience, to encourage interdisciplinary discourse, and to expose the University and the surrounding communities to the undergraduate research being conducted at Chowan University. The CUSRC is open to students from all disciplines.

Experiential Learning

Internships

For Chowan University students, the university experience is not limited to the classroom. Student internship programs provide practical experience and training. Plans for internships should be made with both academic competency and career plans in mind.

Teacher Education and Certification

Chowan offers programs of study leading to teacher certification in the following specialty areas and for the indicated grade levels: Comprehensive Science Education, 9-12; Elementary Education, 1-6; English Education, 9-12; Health and Physical Education, K-12; Mathematics Education, 9-12; Music Education, K-12; and Social Studies Education, 9-12. These programs of teacher education are approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. All students who desire admission to the professional education program must complete an application for admission and receive the approval of the Teacher Education Committee.

Adult Degree Completion Program

The Adult Degree Completion Program at Chowan University is designed for adults, who, because of family and work responsibilities, need to attend college in a manner other than a traditional day school program. The program is structured to allow qualified students to earn an undergraduate degree at night, through full-time or part-time study, without sacrificing their professional and personal responsibilities. Adult students seeking a baccalaureate degree can choose between weeknight and main campus course offerings to reach their goal. Adult students choose Chowan for a variety of reasons, some of which are to earn a degree for career advancement or as a prerequisite to changing careers. Whatever the reason for completing a four-year degree, the Adult Degree Completion Program at Chowan is conveniently designed to meet the needs of adult students.

Students in the Adult Degree Completion Program major in Social Sciences. This major prepares students for a career that requires the ability to interpret and organize data, evaluate and solve problems, and communicate effectively. Upon completion of all degree requirements, graduates of the Adult Degree Completion Program are able to:

• Apply the body of knowledge learned in their major to work environments and life situations.
• Utilize communication skills developed through assignments in their major as well as in work and life situations.
• Initiate, design, and complete research papers and projects.
• Think critically and creatively about problem-solving.
• Combine life and classroom experiences in seeking new career directions.

The unique strengths of the program are:

• Committed Faculty - Faculty bring a commitment to learning and teaching that is student-centered and firmly based on scholarship.
• Engaged Students – An expectation of the program is that adult students can, and will, play a leading role in their own educational process. Students in the program are active and engaged in the learning process.
• Personal Atmosphere – Everybody knows your name at Chowan. Each student’s individual qualities are discovered through working with faculty, staff, and fellow classmates.

Adult Degree Completion Program students are provided access to all student services, to include, but not limited to, Whitaker Library, all electronic resources (Blackboard, email, Internet, Aviso, MyCU, etc.), athletic and cultural/social events, Office of Academic Success, academic advising, counseling services, and campus ministries. An orientation for students is held each August and January.

Academic Agreements

The University has articulation agreements with the North Carolina Community College System, Roanoke-Chowan Community College (NC), Pitt Community College (NC), Halifax Community College(NC), Tidewater Community College (VA), and Camp Community College (VA). These agreements address the transfer of students to Chowan. 

Chowan has a dual degree program agreement with Palmer College of Chiropractic. The agreement is designed for students who intend to pursue a chiropractic education, but want to receive a degree from Chowan. Once the student completes the Doctor of Chiropractic degree program, then the student is eligible to receive a degree from both institutions.

Chowan has agreements with the University of Mount Olive, William Peace University, Methodist University, and Gardner-Webb University for these institutions to offer online courses to Chowan through Acadeum, which provides a platform for member institutions to share online courses.

In articulation agreements between NCICU and the North Carolina Community College Systems, students studying Music, Teacher Education, Psychology, or Sociology at North Carolina’s community colleges can seamlessly transfer to Chowan to complete a bachelor’s degree in one of these disciplines. 

School of Graduate Studies

The School of Graduate Studies offers the Master of Education degree in Elementary Education. The mission of the School of Graduate Studies is to provide and promote, within a liberal arts setting, excellence in graduate education that identifies scholars and further empowers emerging leaders for both the northeast North Carolina region and the diverse world beyond, reflecting awareness of the needs of the region and the complexities of the global community.                                                         

The William. A. Krueger School of Graphic Communication

The William. A. Krueger School of Graphic Communication at Chowan University is a premier program of its kind in the Carolinas and on the East Coast. The program is housed in Horner. With its hands-on laboratories, the facility is specially designed for digital prepress, press operations, bindery and finishing, flexography, screen printing, and interactive multimedia applications. Since internships provide the student with real world experience, each student is required to complete an internship.

Interdisciplinary Symposium

In response to a call for greater interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration among Chowan University faculty and the importance of demonstrating to Chowan students the connections among various disciplines in their education curriculum, the university sponsors an interdisciplinary symposium each year. The symposium is based on the premise that if students have an opportunity to see that their course work is inherently linked and that what they learn in one class can be transferred to another, then their education might seem purposeful. Reinforcing the integration of disciplines and building on the ties that bind all disciplines of study is what makes an education valuable. Past themes include “The World of Mark Twain,” “War and Society,” “The American South,” “Exploring the Environment”, “Leisure and Play in Society,” “A Sense of Place,” “Talking About a Revolution,” “A Pop Culture Society,” From Field to Table: A Foodways Journey,” “Thinking Gender,” “Futures: Past and Present,” “Monsters and the Monstrous,” “A Diverse World,” “Seeing Color,” “A Changing World,” and “The Pursuit of Happiness.”

The Chowan Academic Forum

The Chowan Academic Forum is a weeklong celebration of the intellectual and artistic life of the University. Held each April, events include the Senior Art Exhibit, drama production, music concert, Interdisciplinary Symposium, Chowan University Student Research Conference, and Awards Day Convocation.

Mary Frances Hobson Lecture and Prize 

The annual Mary Frances Hobson Lecture and Prize for Distinguished Achievement in Arts and Letters brings the University and surrounding community together each spring to celebrate the accomplishments of an author of note from the region. Initiated in 1995 by the Hobson Family Foundation of San Francisco, the award serves as a memorial to Mary Frances Hobson (1912-1993), a journalist and poet, who was the first woman to receive the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award in journalism from the University of North Carolina. Previously Hobson Prize recipients are: Kay Gibbons, Mark Richard, Jill McCorkle, Randall Kenan, G.D. Gearino, Amy Hempel, Allan Gurganus, Padgett Powell, Sheri Reynolds, Chuck Sullivan, Shelia P. Moses, Michael Parker, Josephine Humphreys, Judy Goldman, Darnell Arnoult, Lee Smith, Robert Morgan, Silas House, Joseph Bathanti, Sharyn McCrumb, Dorothy Allison, Edward P. Jones, Kevin Wilson, Jim Grimsley, Wiley Cash, Crystal Wilkinson, and Michel Stone.

Dan and Sallie Surface Lecture in History 

Chowan University and the Department of History host a lecture featuring a leading scholar each October. The Dan and Sallie Surface Lecture in History is a free event and open to the public. The lecture is an opportunity to bring together Chowan University and the larger community to listen to an engaging presentation of new research in southern, Civil War, North Carolina, or Virginia history.

The Brown Lady

The Brown Lady is an academic and creative publication. It brings together the best work of students exploring a range of disciplines in their chosen fields–everything from creative work in the visual arts, creative writing (prose and poetry), and music performance, to academic pursuits represented by undergraduate and graduate-level papers. The magazine is sponsored by the Honors College Student Association and the Department of English.

The Brown Lady Academic Bowl

The Honors College Student Association established The Brown Lady Academic Bowl in fall 2012. The intent of the competition is to foster school spirit through an academic competition among the University’s academic departments and student affairs offices. The event pits sixteen teams comprised of students, faculty, and staff against each other in a fast-paced round of trivia that covers everything from chemistry to pop culture. Champions: 2012 - Department of History; 2013 - Department of History; 2014 - Department of History; 2015 - Department of History; 2016 - Department of Religion; 2017 - Department of History; 2018 - Department of Communication Arts; and 2019 - Department of History.

Theatre@Chowan

Threatre@Chowan exists to provide opportunities for artistic and creative expression as well as intellectual exploration. It allows students to discover their unique talents and foster their innate creative abilities. Drama is derivative from the Greek word meaning “to do,” and at Chowan, students have the opportunity to do it all. Students work backstage, on stage, and in various administrative capacities such as box office and ushering.

Pre-Professional Programs

Pre-Law Advisory Program

The American Bar Association has emphasized that there is no preferred major nor recommended curriculum for those preparing for law school. Individuals interested in going to law school may feel comfortable following most programs of study in conjunction with advising through Chowan’s pre-law advisory program. The program is not a major, but a means of assisting students in meeting the requirements to get into law school, regardless of their undergraduate major.

Pre-Health Professional Advisory Program

No specific undergraduate major is required for admission to medical school. Chowan’s pre-health professional advisory program can help students prepare for admission to medical school and provide guidance on how to tailor the undergraduate program to meet individual areas of interest. Increasingly, medical schools recommend that the undergraduate education of medical students be as academically diverse as possible. Most medical schools require two semesters of the following introductory science courses with laboratories: General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics. Beyond these foundational courses, a student’s major can be shaped to fit individual interests. The pre-health professional advisor is located in the Biology Department and can assist any student interested in medicine in matters related to admission to medical school. The pre-health professional advisor will work with the student to develop an undergraduate program, as well as provide information regarding specific medical schools, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and the American Medical Colleges Application Service (AMCAS). Students should make an appointment with the pre-health professional advisor early in their academic careers to begin planning the pre-medical component of their degree.

Several other allied health related pre-professional advisory programs are available at Chowan. Included in this category are areas of Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Nursing, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Physical Therapy and Pre-Veterinary Medicine. Students planning to continue studies in any of these fields must plan their degree programs carefully. Although all require a similar core of science courses with laboratories, specific entrance requirements, entrance examinations, and admissions procedures vary from program to program. Students interested in these programs should contact the pre-health professional advisor to that program as early as possible.

Special Educational Opportunities

The Honors College

The Honors College at Chowan University is designed to offer attractive and challenging opportunities for intellectual growth to well-prepared and highly motivated students. The college has both curricular and extracurricular components. The Honors College Committee will normally consider for acceptance into the program any freshman who enters college with at least a 3.25 high school grade point average and an 1100 or higher SAT score. Transfer students and Chowan rising sophomores must have earned at least a 3.50 GPA and a B in English composition.

Chowan honor students will complete the program requirements, which include honors-enriched courses. The emphasis in any course designated as honors is on teaching students to articulate an understanding of a given field, to relate that field of knowledge to others, to think independently, and to write and speak clearly and cogently. Honors classes are generally smaller than usual and provide opportunities for intensive class discussion and innovative teaching. Students who successfully complete the Honors College graduate with a special designation on their diplomas and transcripts. Members of the Honors College hold automatic membership in the Honors College Student Association.

The Chowan Fellows Program

The Chowan Fellows Program strengthens students’ leadership skills, prepares students for lives of service, and promotes students’ professional preparations. 

Stages of the University Fellows Experience

Explore

In the first year, Fellows explore their interests in leadership and service through involvement in the Chowan Fellows Association. This allows Fellows to develop their skills while discovering what leadership and service means.

Expand

In the second year, Fellows expand their involvement in the Chowan Fellows Association. Initial coursework focuses on issues of leadership and connects Fellows to positive action through service-learning opportunities.

Elevate

In the third year, Fellows elevate their role in the Chowan Fellows Association through purposeful involvement. Fellows continue their coursework in leadership and service and are provided initial professional preparation guidance while participating in off-campus cultural enrichment activities.

Empower

In the fourth year, Fellows empower others by serving as Chowan Fellows Association mentors to first-year and second-year members. Fellows receive individualize assistance for post-graduation opportunities and reflect on their Fellows experience.

Study Abroad

Chowan University supports and encourages students to participate in a study abroad experience. A variety of programs are available, including short trips sponsored by Chowan University. These programs may carry academic credit based on prior approval.

As a way to assist students with their study abroad experience, the M. Elizabeth Harris International Travel Study Endowment was established to assist up to fifteen students from Chowan University. Students who participate in this program will receive a scholarship towards the trip, will be known as Harris Scholars, and will also receive academic credit. Past study abroad trips include visits to Turkey, Greece, Israel, Egypt, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Spain, and Portugal.

Upward Bound

Chowan Upward Bound is a federally funded (United States Department of Education) program for high school students who want to continue their education beyond high school. The Chowan Upward Bound program works annually with seventy-five high school students from Hertford, Bertie, and Northampton Counties in the Roanoke-Chowan region of North Carolina. In the truest sense the name, Upward Bound should be “College Bound” because this program is specifically designed to work with students who are seriously interested in attending college after graduation from high school, but who may be having difficulty understanding the process. Upward Bound at Chowan University offers its students a full range of instructional, tutorial, and counseling services. The program at Chowan is purely academic and cultural in nature and is operated in two phases: a six weeks residential summer program on the Chowan campus and an academic year program that runs the course of the academic year. The academic year program does not replace the secondary school year.

Learning Assistance

Academic Advising

Academic advising is a cooperative effort by the advisor and the student to clarify the student’s educational and life goals and to develop plans to reach these goals. While the student is ultimately responsible for setting and meeting goals and published requirements, the advisor provides assistance by helping the student work through the decision-making process and keeping track of the student’s academic progress.

Each new student is assigned a faculty advisor. Each student interacts with this advisor in a series of meetings designed to help students become familiar with university policies and with various university resources, as well as helping them understand their own responsibility for academic planning and personal success.

Academic Success

The mission of the Office of Academic Success is to promote student success by providing educational assistance and guidance in an environment that is both challenging and supportive: academically, socially, and spiritually. The Office serves to help students resolve issues affecting their academic success such as absences, illness, scheduling problems, administrative paperwork, and appeals processes. The Office also serves as a liaison between concerned parents and the campus community. Parents are encouraged to contact the Office with concerns or suggestions at 252.398.6365.

Chowan Tutoring Program

The University offers a tutoring program to provide academic assistance for the entire student body. Student tutors and the coordinator work one-on-one with students. The program, which operates four nights per week, is housed in the Writing Center, which is located in Marks 118. Tutoring is available to students at no additional expense. In addition, online tutoring through Brainfuse is available to students enrolled in mathematics, business, and science courses.

Disability Services

It is University policy to ensure that no qualified student with a disability is denied the benefits of, excluded from participation in, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in any University program or activity. The Learning Center is responsible for ensuring that the academic needs of students with disabilities are met. Accommodations include, but are not limited to, extended time testing, distraction reduced test environments, note takers, textbooks in alternative format, and computer software.

All students with any type of disability are required to contact the Director of the Learning Center for information and guidance. In order to receive any academic accommodation, students must self-identify with the Learning Center and complete an eligibility process, which includes submitting recent, valid documentation of the disability. If the request for an accommodation is granted, the student receives a letter noting the type of accommodation. Students must provide their instructors with a copy of the letter. Instructors must work with the Learning Center to ensure students with learning disabilities received the appropriate accommodation. Students must request an accommodation at the beginning of each semester.

Math Placement

Prior to registration all new students are evaluated in the area of mathematics. In cases where evaluation results indicate specific academic deficiencies, a student may be advised or required to enroll in a developmental course. Because such work is preparatory and supportive of university-level work, no academic credit is awarded for successful completion. The student should complete such work as early as possible in order to make appropriate progress toward graduation.

Writing Center

The Writing Center provides a quiet, supportive and resourceful environment for all students in any major to get help with their writing assignments at any stage of the writing process. The center is located in Marks Hall.

Aviso

Aviso is a transformational student platform that empowers instructors and advisors and engages students. Faculty report attendance and academic progress. Students check their class attendance. Advisors and advisees use it as a medium for collaboration on degree progress.

First Year Experience Program

• “A Sense of Capability” by building academic skills.
• “A Sense of Academic Culture” by familiarizing themselves with Chowan University and university culture in general.
• “A Sense of Purpose” through an exploration of why they are at the University.
• “A Sense of Resourcefulness” by learning how to navigate the University to seek help and information.
• “A Sense of Connectedness” to the University by learning about and/or participating in CU’s rich academic, social, cultural, and spiritual communities.

Whitaker Library

With its approximately 100,000 physical books and 350,000 ebooks, 91,000 streaming educational videos, 132 database, and access to over 73,000 periodical titles, Whitaker Library is conceived as an integral part of the educational process. The library operates on the assumption that the ability to locate and evaluate needed information with confidence is one of the distinctive marks of an educated person. By means of formal and informal instruction in research methods and bibliography, the student is encouraged to progress from the heavy reliance on textbooks and assigned readings characteristic of the freshman to the independent work of the upper-level student who has learned how to discover and gain maximum benefit from modern information resources.

If resources are needed beyond those locally provided, students and faculty may choose to use reciprocal borrowing agreements in place between Chowan and East Carolina University, Shaw University, and Halifax Community College, or interlibrary loan (ILL). Working with interlibrary loan member libraries provides access to nationwide resources. Several special collections are available, including the Oscar Creech Baptist Collection and the McDowell Collection of Archives and Antiquities. The library also houses the Music Media and Teaching Resource Centers.

Assessment Program

Chowan University maintains a continuing assessment effort to provide academic excellence to all students. As a part of a comprehensive assessment program, the University also regularly evaluates each academic major. Assessment at Chowan involves faculty, students, administrators, and staff. The Office of the Provost collects and analyzes assessment reports from each academic and administrative unit annually and determines that each unit has developed plans to bring about program improvement and improved student learning.