Degree Programs and General Education Requirements

General Education Requirements

Mission Statement

The Chowan University general education program is designed to develop the whole, educated person, one who has developed knowledge and skills beyond those expected in the area of specialization. The program is based on a liberal education and prepares students for lifelong learning and responsible citizenship.

Core Competencies and Goals

Competency I:  Communication: reading, writing, verbal, non-verbal

Goal 1 - To demonstrate effective conveying and receiving of information.

Competency II:  Critical Thinking: analysis, evaluation, dispositions

Goal 2 - To demonstrate an understanding of intellectual dispositions essential to effective critical thinking.

Goal 3 - To demonstrate an understanding of the elements of effective critical thinking for use in analysis.

Goal 4 - To demonstrate an understanding of the universal intellectual standards for use in evaluation.

Competency III:  Wholeness: intellectual, physical, spiritual, inter-personal

Goal 5 - To demonstrate the importance and value of personal well-being and responsibility for intellectual, physical, spiritual, and inter-personal growth.

Goal 6 - To demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues and personal values necessary for personal and corporate responsibility.

Competency IV:  Knowledge and skills: arts, science, technology, mathematics

Goal 7 - To demonstrate an understanding of social science theories and concepts that analyze human behavior and events from historical, social, political, cultural, and economic perspectives.

Goal 8 - To demonstrate an understanding of the nature of literature, art, music, theater, religion, and philosophy.

Goal 9 - To demonstrate an understanding of the principles and methods in science, technology, and mathematics to solve problems.

The University believes that the following requirements (40 credit hours) form a core around which to build a sound program of study:

• PERS 101 - Perspectives Credits: 0 hours
• PERS 102 - Perspectives Credits: 0 hours
• PERS 103 - Perspectives Credits: 0 hours
• PERS 104 - Perspectives Credits: 0 hours
• CT 101 - Critical Thinking Credits: 2 hours
• CT 102 - Critical Thinking Credits: 2 hours
• ENGL 101 - College Writing Credits: 4 hours
• ENGL 102 - Advanced College Writing Credits: 3 hours
• REL 101 - Understanding the Bible: Texts and Contexts Credits: 3 hours
• HIST 105 - Discovering America Credits: 3 hours
• HIST 110 - Discovering the World Credits: 3 hours
• Mathematics Credits: 3 hours   (MATH 120 or above)
• SSPE 201 - Health Credits: 3 hours
• Physical Education Activity Credits: 1 hour  (​SSPE 106 - 149 or SSPE 199 Special Topics activity course)

Writing Across the Curriculum

The Writing Across the Curriculum program is designed to improve students’ ability to write clear and correct prose, students’ mastery of content, and students’ synthetic, critical, and creative thinking skills. The program is grounded in two beliefs: that cogent writing is inherently connected to clear thinking, and that students’ mastery of the content of most courses increases significantly when they are asked to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information by means of significant writing assignments. Therefore, this program is a cross-disciplinary endeavor that increases writing skills, cognitive ability, and a student’s mastery of the specific content in a particular course.

Since the University believes that analytical and writing skills should be developed and demonstrated throughout a student’s college experience, it requires that all students successfully complete a minimum of two upper level writing intensive courses, one of which must be in the major area. Preferably, one writing intensive course will be taken in the junior year and one in the senior year. Completion of prescribed writing intensive classes is regarded as one of the core requirements of the university. Students must complete ENGL 101  and ENGL 102  before taking any course identified as writing intensive.

Note: Adult degree completion program students are exempt from this requirement.

Critical Thinking Program

The Chowan Critical Thinking Program is designed to assist Chowan students evaluate the dispositions, understand the elements and standards, and apply the processes of the effective critical thinker. As they become effective critical thinkers, students will have a more significant learning experience and will establish a foundation for a lifetime of intellectual growth.

The program requires all students to complete CT 101  and CT 102 . In addition, it requires all students to complete a minimum of two critical thinking courses beyond CT 101  and CT 102 . Completion of prescribed critical thinking courses is regarded as one of the core requirements of the university. Students must complete CT 101  and CT 102  before taking a course identified as critical thinking.

Note: Students enrolled in the Adult Degree Completion Program are exempt from the Critical Thinking Program.

Perspectives Program

The purpose of the Perspectives Program is to enrich the intellectual, cultural, and spiritual development of students beyond the classroom. The program allows students to develop new perspectives by providing them with opportunities to explore issues of current interest, deepen their awareness of the arts, learn about cultural activities they may not have considered otherwise, discover a variety of disciplines, strengthen their understanding of faith and its diversities, grow toward spiritual maturity, celebrate the achievements of others, and develop an appreciation for the concept of campus community.

The Perspectives Program includes a broad selection of events throughout the academic year, including worship experiences, lectures, convocations, plays, concerts and art exhibits. Perspectives is also held each Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. The public is invited to attend each Perspectives event.

A calendar of Perspectives events is distributed to each student at the beginning of each semester, and is also available online. During the semester, Perspectives events may be added. These events will be promoted by e-mail and the Perspectives online calendar. A typical semester calendar includes 15-20 events available for students to fulfill their Perspectives credit requirements. Students are encouraged to attend academic events, cultural programs, and worship services outside the college and within campus organizations. However, the college grants Perspectives credit only for those events that are recognized as part of the college’s Perspectives Program.

In order to pass Perspectives, students must attend a minimum of eight (8) events during that semester. To satisfy the requirement for graduation, students must pass four semesters of Perspectives. Students seeking a degree from Chowan must enroll in Perspectives in their first semester of attendance and continue to enroll in Perspectives (PERS 101 , PERS 102 , PERS 103 , PERS 104 ) until they have fulfilled this graduation requirement. Transfer students may not be required to satisfy the full four-semester requirement. The Registrar’s Office will determine the Perspectives requirement for transfer students.

Students receive attendance credit for each Perspectives event they attend. Attendance is recorded by the scanning of student ID cards. Attendance is included in the student’s transcript as a pass/fail grade. A pass grade for four semesters is a requirement for graduation. It is the responsibility of each student to keep track of the number of events attended each semester and to monitor the four-semester requirement. Chowan does not grant degrees to students who fail to earn a pass grade for four semesters. Questions regarding attendance or pass/fail grade should be directed to the Registrar’s Office. A student must register for Perspectives (PERS 101 , PERS 102 , PERS 103 , PERS 104 ) through the normal registration process. PERS 101 , PERS 102 , PERS 103 , PERS 104  must be added on or before the last day to drop/add classes.

NOTE: Part-time students are exempt from Perspectives. However, if at any time a part-time student becomes a full-time student, the student must enroll in and pass Perspectives in the semester or semesters the student is classified as full-time. In addition, adult degree completion program students are exempt from Perspectives.

Senior Capstone

As part of the general education requirements, each department has developed a capstone course through which each of its respective majors can complete a senior culminating experience. A student must complete the capstone course.

Oral Communication Competency

Chowan defines oral communication competency as a student’s ability to effectively communicate thoughts orally and intelligently through conversation, group discussion, and public presentations. These skills are addressed in communication classes and within the major. Therefore, Chowan graduates demonstrate oral communication competency by virtue of successfully completing all degree requirements.

Computer Competency

Chowan defines computer competency as the ability of a student to type, word process, save files, print, navigate the Internet, conduct electronic research, and demonstrate workplace writing skills (varied format procedures). These skills are addressed in IS 101  and within the major. Therefore, Chowan graduates demonstrate computer competency by virtue of successfully completing all degree requirements.

Other Degree Requirements

1. The student must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours of university level work. Some major fields may require significantly more than 120 credit hours.
2. The student must earn a minimum grade point average of 2.00 on all university work attempted. Some programs may require a 2.50 or 2.75 average.
3. The student must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average on all courses in the major field. Some programs may require a C or better on all courses toward the major. In addition, some programs may require a 2.50 average.
4. The student must complete at least one half of the credit hours required for graduation at a four-year institution.  All credit hours must be completed at accredited institutions.
5. The student must possess competence in reading, writing, oral communication, fundamental mathematical skills, and use of computers. If at any point a student’s work demonstrates a lack of competence in any of these areas, he or she may be required to pursue prescribed remediation. In such cases, satisfactory remediation is required prior to graduation.
6. A student who wishes to complete a degree from Chowan must complete the last twenty-five percent of the credit hours required for the degree in residence. At least twelve (12) credit hours at the upper level (exclusive of practicums, student teaching, internships, etc.) must be taken in residence. Note: Students completing the Biology-Chiropractic track are exempt from this requirement.
7. The student must discharge all financial obligations to the University, including graduate fee.
8. The student must have the recommendation of the faculty and approval by the Board of Trustees.

Special Graduation Requirement Notes

1. No more than four (4) Physical Education activity credits may be applied to graduation. An exception may be allowed for the student majoring in Physical Education.
2. The Physical Education activity requirements may be waived for students with physical disabilities, as certified by a physician, but such students must take the equivalent hours in electives, as approved by the advisor.
3. A student must choose to meet the requirements of the catalog under which he or she entered or the current catalog, but may not use both interchangeably. Major and minor requirements must come from the same catalog. A student who has returned to Chowan after a break in enrollment of more than one semester must choose to meet the requirements of the catalog under which he or she was readmitted or the current catalog, but may not choose the catalog under which he or she originally entered Chowan. The candidate must indicate on the application for graduation the catalog under which he or she intends to graduate.
4. All degree candidates, including transfer students, are allowed six (6) years from the date of enrollment at the university to satisfy the curriculum requirements in effect at the time of enrollment. After six (6) years, the current requirements must be met.
5. Any substitutions or changes in course requirements must be recommended by the department chair and approved by the School Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
6. The student is responsible for making official application for graduation to the Office of the Registrar. Application for graduation must be submitted to the Registrar no later than March 1.

Student Responsibility

Responsibility for knowing and following academic requirements rests with the student. Academic requirements are specified for each degree program at Chowan University and these must be met before a degree is granted. Advisors, assigned to assist students in their progress toward degree completion, department chairs, and appropriate administrators will provide specific information concerning these requirements, but the student alone is responsible for fulfilling them.

General Education Requirements

The following general education requirements (21 credit hours) form the core of the associate degree:

• CT 101 - Critical Thinking Credits: 2 hours
• CT 102 - Critical Thinking Credits: 2 hours
• ENGL 101 - College Writing Credits: 4 hours
• ENGL 102 - Advanced College Writing Credits: 3 hours
• REL 101 - Understanding the Bible: Texts and Contexts Credits: 3 hours
• Mathematics Credits: 3 hours
• Physical Education Activity Credits: 2 hours