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About This Catalog

This catalog explains the academic programs, the graduation requirements, the academic policies, and the academic services in effect at McPherson College as of July, 2023. Unless a student requests and is permitted to graduate under a subsequent catalog, the requirements and policies in this catalog shall govern the satisfactory academic progress and eligibility for graduation for all students entering McPherson College during Academic Year 2023-24.

This catalog does not constitute a contract between a student and McPherson College either expressed or implied. McPherson College reserves the right at any time to correct incidental errors or misstatements of policy or program requirements in order to align this catalog with the institution’s or faculty’s original intent. While the administration and faculty of McPherson College believe the academic programs described in this catalog are valuable and the instruction offered effectively delivered by qualified faculty, the ultimate responsibility for results such as achievement, employment, professional licensing, or other measure, lies with student. Likewise, students are ultimately responsible for knowing and fulfilling all the requirements of their academic programs. (See “Student Responsibility for Academic Progress” in the Other Academic Policies section.)

2023|01 Institutional Profile, Catalog 23-24|

Academic Calendar for 2023-2024

 

Fall Semester 2023
 Aug 15-17 Tues-Thurs  Faculty workshop
Aug 21 Mon  Transfer orientation; NIGHT CLASSES BEGIN
Aug 22 Tues  DAY CLASSES BEGIN
Aug 28 Mon  Last day to add a course for the semester
Sept 1 Fri  President’s Opening Convocation, 12:00-12:50 pm
Sept 4 Mon  No Classes – Labor Day
Sept 5 Tues  Last day to drop a course without a W and without $50 fee
Sept 19 Tues  20th day
Sept 22 Fri  End of first five weeks
Sept 26 Tues  Down grades due before noon
Sept 27 Wed  No Classes—Assessment/Prof Development
Oct 6 Fri  Midterm
Oct 7-10 Sat-Tues  No Classes – Fall Break
Oct 11 Wed  Classes convene at 8 am
Oct 17 Tues  Midterm grades due before noon
Oct 20 Fri  Classes meet until 11:30 am; Honors Convocation, 12:00-12:50 pm
Oct 20 Fri  Students attend afternoon seminars presented by alumni panels
Oct 21 Sat  Homecoming
Oct 23 Mon  Last day to withdraw from a course without a grade
Nov 18-26 Sat-Sun  No Classes—Thanksgiving Break
Nov 27 Mon  Classes convene at 8 am
Dec 4-6 Mon-Wed  Final exams for fall semester
Dec 7 Thurs  Make-up exam day (end of academic term)
Dec 12 Tues  Final fall grades due before noon
 

Interterm 2024

Jan 10 Wed  Last day to drop course
Jan 15 Mon  No Classes—Martin Luther King, Jr Day
Jan 25 Thurs  Final exams for interterm
Jan 26 Fri  Transfer orientation day; faculty workday
 

Spring 2024

Jan 29 Mon  CLASSES BEGIN
Jan 30 Tues  Final interterm grades due before noon
Feb 5 Mon  Last day to add a course for spring semester
Feb 12 Mon  Last day to drop a course without a W and without $50 fee
Feb 21 Wed  20th day
Feb 28 Wed  No Classes—Assessment/Prof Development Day
Mar 1 Fri  End of first five weeks
Mar 5 Tues  Down grades due before noon
Mar 8 Fri  Midterm
Mar 9-17 Sat-Sun  No Classes—Spring Break
Mar 18 Mon  Classes convene at 8 am
Mar 19 Tues  Midterm grades due before noon
Mar 25-28 Mon-Thur  Advising Week – 31 and Done!
Mar 29 Fri  No Classes – Good Friday
Apr 1 Mon  Last day to withdraw from a course without a grade
Apr 1-4 Mon-Thurs  Enrollment for upcoming and returning seniors
Apr 8-11 Mon-Thurs  Enrollment for upcoming juniors
Apr 12-17 Fri-Wed  Enrollment for upcoming sophomores
May 1 Wed  Awards Convocation, 12:00-12:50 pm
May 3 Fri  Preliminary senior grades due before noon
May 10 Fri  No Classes – All Schools Day
May 13-15 Mon-Wed  Final exams for spring semester
May 16 Thurs  Make-up exam day (end of academic term)
May 16 Thurs  Final senior grades due before noon
May 18 Sat  Commencement
May 21 Tues  Final spring grades due before noon
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Profile and Character of the College

Founded in 1887, McPherson College is a private, residential, four-year, career-oriented liberal arts college. The college’s mission is to develop whole persons through scholarship, participation, and service. This mission leads the college to stress on-campus residency for traditional-age students as a means for encouraging participation and community involvement. The college offers the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in 25 academic majors and a Master of Education degree with emphases in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) or high-incidence Special Education.

McPherson is a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, competing in seven intercollegiate sports for men and seven intercollegiate sports for women. Although full-time enrollment has historically averaged little more than 425 students, in recent years it has approached 800. The teaching faculty includes 46 full-time professors, more than three-quarters of whom hold terminal degrees. A 14:1 student-faculty ratio offers a personalized education tailored to students’ needs. Year in and year out, McPherson College is at or near the top among private Kansas colleges in the diversity of its student body. With 30 percent students of color, 40 percent women, more than 50 percent of students from out-of-state, and an international population now nearing 10 percent, McPherson is a vibrant community of learners consisting of rural and urban students and a wide variety of ethnic and faith backgrounds.

McPherson has a reputation for integrating excellent academic programs with career-preparation. The accrediting team that came to campus in December 2014 and extended the college’s accreditation through 2024 had special praise for the college’s senior capstone curriculum. They wrote: “The Team was very impressed with the Capstone program at McPherson and even more impressed with the diversity of programs and the number of students participating.… The Capstone experience utilized by all programs is excellent.” One hundred percent of 2019 McPherson College graduates who applied were accepted into graduate and professional schools. The accreditation team was similarly impressed with McPherson’s experiential learning curriculum: “Though not as promoted as the Capstone experience,” the team wrote, “the internship program of McPherson is impressive.” In 2018-19, 83 percent of graduating seniors had completed at least one internship, and 64 percent of the same graduating class had secured jobs before commencement (compared to a national average of 18 percent) and 95 percent were employed within six months of graduation.

McPherson College is affiliated with the Church of the Brethren but is independent of the denomination and welcomes faculty and students from all faith traditions. The college values its roots in the church and nurtures them, striving as an institution to model the Brethren values of ethical behavior, simple lifestyles, non-violence and peace, respect for the environment and all living creatures, and the expression of faith through service. In 2018-19, 351 McPherson College students participated in community service projects, averaging more than 13.5 hours of service per student.

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Statement of Mission and Identity

McPherson College is a vibrant community of persons from diverse faiths and cultural backgrounds committed to its mission: to develop whole persons through scholarship, participation and service.

Chartered in 1887 by leaders of the Church of the Brethren, McPherson College has a 130-year history of providing excellent career-oriented liberal arts education shaped by the essential values of its founding denomination. The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination founded in Germany in 1708. It accepts the New Testament as the rule of faith and emphasizes the inherent value of all persons, the communal discernment of truth, the necessity of putting faith into action, and the biblical calls to simplicity, non-violence, non-conformity and transformation through education. Brethren strive to “continue the work of Jesus – peacefully…simply…together.”

McPherson College’s programs integrate career guidance and practical experiences into a traditional liberal arts curriculum that upholds the highest standards of academic excellence. Our goal is to help students discern a vocational call consistent with their gifts and interests and to prepare them for a life of meaningful work.

Community is central to McPherson College. We affirm diversity within the community, emphasizing unity and acceptance rather than judgment and rejection. Because we believe that the pursuit of truth is a collective endeavor, and that the point of scholarly learning is to advance the common good, McPherson College aspires to be a healthy community of learning where whole persons nurture and balance their physical, intellectual, and spiritual components; develop and live in respectful, reciprocal relationships with others; and are committed to responsible service to the world.

To accomplish our mission, McPherson embraces the ideals of scholarship, participation and service.

Scholarship. All absolute Truth is God’s Truth and humankind must labor diligently in the pursuit of truth we can know; thus, McPherson College upholds the highest standards of academic excellence. Faculty strive to teach students to think critically and independently, to communicate clearly and effectively, to integrate knowledge across the disciplines, and to assess the value conflicts in issues. This is done without coercion, letting the evidence lead the search, and with respect for the consciences and value differences of others.

Participation. Students apply knowledge, practice skills, and deepen and broaden their understanding of themselves and others through active participation in diverse learning experiences. A smaller community requires greater participation from its members. For these reasons, McPherson College is committed to being a small college and encouraging student participation in a variety of activities.

Service. God’s love is personified in the life of Jesus who came to serve the world. Through works of peacemaking and compassion, humanity responds to God’s love and becomes an instrument of God’s servanthood in the world. Therefore, McPherson College emphasizes service to others, encouraging all members of its community to give selflessly of themselves to others.

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The Campus

The present campus, with its 19 major buildings and 42-acre setting, has matured into an institution of which its founders would be proud. To celebrate its 100th anniversary in 1987-88, McPherson College architecturally redesigned its entire campus, closing two city streets that bisected campus on both the east and the west—a factor that has improved the quality of living and learning at McPherson College.

In 2016 the college invested $7.4 million in its heating and cooling system and began installing a keyless entry system on its exterior doors that includes security cameras. That keyless entry system provides an additional margin of safety for all students and employees.

Campus community members have exceptional access to health care services. The college has its own clinic on campus, staffed by Partners in Family Care physicians. Office visits are free for students and employees, with only lab or technical services being charged to insurance. Client-Centered Counseling also maintains an office and regular hours in the health care clinic. Up to 10 counseling sessions are offered to students at no charge.

McPherson College is located in predominantly rural central Kansas. According to the most recent census figures, McPherson County is home to 29,356 people; 23.3 percent of this population is under 18 years of age while 18.7 percent is 65 or older. Ethnic and racial minorities constitute 4.2 percent of the county’s population.

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Services

 

Academic Advising

Academic advising at McPherson College is an intentional relationship between advisor and student as they plan and reach the student’s educational, career, and personal goals. Incoming freshmen are assigned an academic advisor. This advisor will help the student plan a program of study consistent with the student’s interests and abilities and oversee the student’s progress toward completing the plan of study. After earning 57 cumulative credit hours, the students will be transitioned to a faculty advisor. The faculty advisor also engages students in exploring their long-range occupational and professional goals and directs the student to resources that will help them confirm and achieve these goals.

Disability Services

Students with temporary or permanent disabilities are welcome at McPherson College under the regular admissions requirements. It is the college’s policy to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities and to afford them an equal opportunity to participate in and enjoy the benefits of college courses, programs, services, and activities. These students are urged to inform the college of their disability and special needs prior to their arrival to allow the college ample time to determine necessary resources and accommodations. Persons needing assistance may notify the Admissions Office or the Director of Student Success located on the main floor of Miller Library.

Counseling and Health Care Services

Campus community members have exceptional access to health care services. Partners in Family Care maintains a walk-in clinic located at 1800 Gordon Street across from Metzler Hall. Office visits are free for students and employees, with only lab or technical services being charged to insurance.

Client Centered Counseling also maintains an office and regular hours in the Partners in Family Care facility. Up to 10 counseling sessions per school year are offered to students at no charge. To schedule an appointment, call 620-241-2300. UWill, an online mental health service, is also available to students free of charge.

Career Services

The college recognizes that general life skills such as communication, computation, logical thinking, positive interpersonal relationships, and decision making constitute the major portion of the skills people need to succeed in their careers and in life in general. In collaboration with college faculty and staff, the Career Services Office offers special programs, seminars, and courses that assist students in refining life objectives, career goals, and internships and in making sound educational choices for achieving those goals and objectives. Seminars, workshops, and individual meetings are also offered to help students with preparing their résumés and developing the skills needed to secure employment. For additional information, visit the Career Services Office in Miller Library or consult the Career Services Office web page.

Tutoring and Academic Services

Students who need a tutor can download McPherson College’s tutoring app, Penji. Free tutoring services, both individual and group, are offered free of charge. For additional assistance, students may visit with the Academic Development staff, who are housed in the Royer Center, located in the Miller Library. Through individualized study, small group instruction, supplemental instruction, and tutoring, students are offered personalized attention while working to improve reading, writing, math, or study skills. The Writing Center is also available to students free of charge. Writing Center employees assist students with academic projects.

Miller Library

Miller Library serves as McPherson College’s academic hub. The library’s extensive collection of print and digital resources are aligned with the curriculum and can be searched using the Online Catalog. Miller Library also houses an automotive restoration collection featuring many rare items pertaining to the history of the automobile, as well as special collections documenting the history of the Church of the Brethren and McPherson College. Librarians offer formal research instruction, as well as point-of-use assistance for students conducting research. Miller Library’s extensive hours, along with computer workstations, study tables, carrels, lounge areas, and group rooms provide an environment conducive to group and private study. For more information, consult the Miller Library web page.

Housing & Residence Life

Residence Life at McPherson College is a comprehensive living experience that strives to build a strong and involved community. Our goal is that the residence hall are more than just a place to sleep. They are places to explore personal ideologies through the experience of living away from home. To do this, our Residence Life Team will host events; facilitate community agreements, floor meetings and roommate mediations; create opportunities for themed housing; and provide emotional support for all residents. The Residence Life Team consists of the Director of Residence Life, Professional On-Call Staff, Resident Assistants (RAs). This team is responsible for the daily operation of each hall, and is trained in basic emergency response, mental health support, programming, conflict resolution, and much more. Please contact [email protected] regarding questions or concerns.

Student Affairs

The Division of Student Affairs supports the mission of the college by developing and graduating whole persons through exploration, experience, and engagement. Student Affairs consists of several areas with a common purpose to help you thrive during your time on campus, including housing and residence life, student organizations and clubs, adventure programs and wellness, spiritual life, diversity and inclusion programming, Title IX, student conduct, and others. We provide leadership and student employment opportunities. The main office for the Division of Student Affairs is located in Miller Library, on the 1st floor, in the Royer Center. Contact information: [email protected] or 620-242-0500.

Dining Services

Sodexo is the McPherson College dining service provider. They provide students with 10, 14, and 19 meal plans. Students have different meal plans depending on their status as a student and the location in which they live. Our corporate dietitians are always available to provide guidance for students and families. In some cases, special food is kept on site for students with dietary restrictions. Students may contact Benny Lopez, Director of Dining Services at [email protected] for more information and to work out the details of their dining plan.

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Courses Outside of McPherson College

Kansas Independent College Association (KICA)

McPherson College is a member of the Kansas Independent College Association (KICA).  KICA strengthens the competitive standing of the 19-member independent, nonprofit, regionally accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities in Kansas through professional development and collaboration, governmental advocacy, and public engagement collectively aimed at supporting the ability of students to choose and afford an independent college education that fits their goals.

Through McPherson College’s affiliation with KICA, students can benefit from special programs and expanded course offerings. Currently, KICA offers an Adaptive Special Education program. Students who participate in this program will graduate with licensure in High Incidence Special Education (intellectual disability, learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and other health impairments) at the K-6 and 6-12 levels. In the future, participating KICA members may also make synchronous distance classes available to McPherson College students. Please see the registrar for additional information.

Member institutions of KICA include McPherson College and Baker University (Baldwin City), Benedictine College (Atchison), Bethany College (Lindsborg), Bethel College (North Newton), Central Christian College of Kansas (McPherson), Cleveland University-Kansas City (Overland Park), Donnelly College (Kansas City), Friends University (Wichita), Hesston College (Hesston), Kansas Wesleyan University (Salina), Manhattan Christian College (Manhattan), McPherson College (McPherson), MidAmerica Nazarene University (Olathe), Newman University (Wichita), Ottawa University (Ottawa), Southwestern College (Winfield), Sterling College (Sterling), Tabor College (Hillsboro), and the University of Saint Mary (Leavenworth).

Acadeum Courses

By arrangement with KICA, McPherson College students may also enroll in pre-approved online courses offered through the Acadeum platform. Students can explore the available online courses at https://www.collegeconsortium.org/institutions/mcpherson-college. All Acadeum courses must be approved by both the academic department and the registrar. Only those online Acadeum courses which are accredited will be considered for approval. Tuition for all Acadeum courses is above and beyond any other tuition paid to the college and must be paid prior to enrolling in the courses. Acadeum courses are billed at the part-time, per-credit-hour rate as published in the current academic catalog. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by both the Chief Academic Officer and the Chief Financial Officer.

The Acadeum course sharing platform offers additional courses outside of the KICA consortium. Students are able to explore these courses as well, and follow the same guidelines as listed above.

StraighterLine Courses

McPherson College will accept up to six credits of coursework from StraighterLine, as long as the credit recommendation comes on an official transcript from the American Council on Education (ACE) and the grade received is C or better. The credit earned will be accepted as elective credit. Current students wishing to enroll in a StraighterLine course must do so in coordination and with a monitoring plan from the Academic Athletic Advising office and the Academic Affairs office, prior to enrolling in the course.

 

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Accreditation

McPherson College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois 60604-1411, telephone: 800.621.7440, web address: www.hlcommission.org); by the Kansas State Department of Education (900 SW Jackson Street, Topeka, Kansas 66612); and by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (see Teacher Education Program for details). McPherson College is in good standing with all accrediting bodies. In addition, the college is a member of the following:

  • American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
  • American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
  • American Library Association
  • Association of Governing Boards
  • Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
  • Council of Independent Colleges
  • Kansas Association of Colleges of Teacher Education
  • Kansas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
  • Kansas Association of Private Colleges of Teacher Education
  • Kansas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
  • Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference
  • Kansas Independent College Association
  • Kansas Independent College Fund
  • Kansas State Department of Education
  • Liberal Arts Racial Equity Leadership Alliance
  • McPherson Chamber of Commerce
  • National Association of College and University Business Officers
  • National Association of Colleges and Employers
  • National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
  • National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
  • National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
  • National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
  • The Higher Learning Commission
  • Rocky Mountain Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
  • South Central Kansas Regional Library System
  • University of Southern California Race & Equity Center
2023|01 Institutional Profile, Catalog 23-24|

Institutional Policies

Nondiscrimination and EEO Statement

In accordance with state and federal law, McPherson College does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, sex, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic, in the hiring process, during employment, and in the operation of all College programs, activities, and services, including, but not limited to, academics, athletics, other extracurricular activities, the awarding of student financial aid, recruitment, admissions, and housing.

Persons having inquiries concerning the College’s compliance with this policy or any laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination are directed to contact the following:

  • A current student or potential student with questions or concerns about any type of discrimination is encouraged to bring these issues to the attention of the Provost and Executive Vice President, who may be contacted at: (620) 242-0439 or [email protected]. Additionally, any member of the college’s administration may be contacted with questions or concerns.
  • An employee with questions or concerns about any type of discrimination in the workplace or an applicant, who has applied for an open position at McPherson College, is encouraged to bring these issues to the attention of the Director of Human Resources, who may be contacted at: (620) 242-0454 or [email protected]. Additionally, employees should feel free to raise concerns of discrimination with their immediate supervisors at any time.
  • Questions or concerns regarding the College’s compliance with Title IX and its prohibition of sex discrimination may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator. McPherson has designated the following Title IX Coordinator as named in the College’s Sexual Harassment Policy and Title IX Grievance Procedures:

Hannah Rushe Piechowski, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students
(620) 242-0503 office
(620) 504-4807 on-call
[email protected]

For questions or concerns related to the Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, please contact:

Office of Advising and Student Success
Jen Sjuts
Director of Advising and Student Success
1600 East Euclid
McPherson College
McPherson KS  67460
[email protected]
(620) 242-0507

For all other inquiries related to discrimination at the College, please contact:

Amanda Gutierrez
Provost and Executive Vice President
McPherson College
1600 East Euclid
McPherson KS 67460
(620) 242-0439
[email protected] 

  • The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces discrimination laws related to race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age. Complaints related to these protected classes can also be filed with OCR by visiting: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html.

No individual will be subject to any form of retaliation, discipline, or other adverse action for reporting conduct in violation of the College’s nondiscrimination/EEO policy, assisting/cooperating in making a complaint, or assisting with the investigation of a complaint. Any individual who believes they have experienced or witnessed retaliation should immediately notify the appropriate member(s) of the administration as identified above. Those found to be engaging in any type of discrimination in violation of the law or College policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion or termination of employment.

ADM 180 – McPherson College Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation and Complaint Procedure explains the process for an individual to file a complaint.

In addition, the following policies and procedures are utilized by McPherson College in addressing various forms of discrimination complaints:

Disability Accommodations

Students with disabilities are welcome at McPherson College under the regular admissions requirements. For details about accommodations, see Disability Services on the Services page of this catalog.

Student Right to Know Information

The Student-Right-To-Know And Campus Security Act of1990, as amended by the Higher Education Technical Amendments of 1991, requires all colleges and universities participating in the Federal Student Aid Program to disclose basic institution information, graduation rates, and information on students receiving athletically related student aid. For the most up-to-date and complete information, see the Student Right to Know Information web page on the college website.

Consumer and Disclosure Information

For the most up-to-date and complete consumer and disclosure information, see the Consumer and Disclosure Information web page on the McPherson College website.

Student Records Policies

Student records are confidential but are open for inspection by the student. Records may also be inspected by parents of financially dependent students. Official transcripts must be requested through the college website https://www.mcpherson.edu/alumni/transcript-request/; other records must be requested in writing from the appropriate dean.

Privacy of Student Records

Certain information is considered to be public or directory information while other information is private in nature. Directory information includes a student’s name, address, email address, telephone number(s), hometown, photograph and/or video content, enrollment status, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance at McPherson College, degrees and awards received and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student. Directory information can be disclosed without a student’s consent unless the student gives a signed notice to the college restricting such disclosure.

A federal law known as the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, or FERPA, gives students and former students the right to inspect, review and copy education records related to them. Students have 10 days following the release of directory information to notify the college that any or all of the information designated should not be released without his/her prior consent. This notice must be given in writing to the office of the dean of students.

Education records and personally identifiable information from those records will not be released without the written consent of the student involved, except to other college personnel, officials of other schools in which the student intends to enroll, authorized state and federal government representatives, or unless it is released in connection with the student’s application for financial aid, in response to a judicial order or subpoena, or in the case of a bona fide emergency.

The college maintains with education records of each student a record identifying all persons other than college officials who have requested or obtained access to the records and indicating the legitimate interest of those persons. This record of access is available upon request to the student in question. Finally, all personal information about a student released to a third party will be transferred on the condition that no one else shall have access to it except with the student’s consent. A complete list, with location and custodian of all records kept on college students, is obtainable from the dean of students.

Upon request, a record covered by FERPA will be made available within a reasonable time, and in no event later than 45 days after the request. The student should direct the request to the custodian of the records in question. Copies of the record will be made available to the student at the student’s expense (usually limited to cost of materials).

A student may also request explanations and interpretations of the records from the official in charge. If the student believes that a particular file contains inaccurate or misleading information or is otherwise inappropriate, the college will afford an opportunity for a hearing to challenge the content of the record. Prior to any formal hearing, the official in charge of the record is authorized to attempt to settle the dispute through informal meetings and discussions with the student.

If the student is not satisfied, he/she may request a hearing. Procedures for such a hearing will be those outlined in the student handbook for all cases coming before the Campus Hearing Board. The student will have the opportunity at the hearing to present any relevant evidence.

Academic Record

A transcript is a student’s official record of courses taken and grades earned. The records are kept and maintained by the registrar’s office. Student records are confidential, but are open for inspection by the student. Inspection of records must be made in writing, with the request being made to the registrar’s office for transcripts and to the appropriate dean for other records. The registrar will notify the student when the file is available for inspection within 20 days of the date of the request.

Student Development File

The student development file is maintained in the office of the dean of students. It contains directory information for the student, emergency contact persons, copies of correspondence between the student and the dean’s office, a record of any disciplinary action which involved the student, and summary records of student involvements on campus such as work or internship experience and achievements through student organizations. Students who wish to review the contents of their Student Development File should make a written request to the dean of students, who is responsible for maintaining the files. The dean will notify the student when the file is available for inspection within 45 days of the date of request.

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Admissions Process

McPherson College is an ideal place for students to develop as whole persons, to learn, to explore and to grow. Offering a challenging liberal arts foundation, relevant career-oriented majors, and broad opportunities for internships in real-life settings, McPherson College provides a nurturing environment in which tomorrow’s leaders can discover their life’s work and their place in the world. Students who invest in the McPherson College experience will discover success measured in terms of classroom achievement, personal relationships, career opportunities and the enrichment of their entire lives.

Individuals wishing to be considered for admission must submit the following:

  • A completed Application for Admission
  • An application fee is NOT required
  • Official copies of all academic transcripts (high school AND college, if applicable)
  • Official copy of standardized test scores will be considered but are not required – Acceptable standardized testing programs are the American College Testing Program (ACT), the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Duolingo, or IELTS
  • Students who are accepted are required to pay a $150 deposit prior to being enrolled in classes. $100 is applied to the student’s account. For Automotive Restoration students the deposit is $250, with $200 applied to the student’s account.

McPherson College welcomes all students, regardless of sex, color, creed, disability, sexual orientation or national origin, with equal opportunity for admission. Specific admissions procedures and criteria follow.

First-time Freshman Applicants

After the completion of the junior year (6th semester) of high school, an official application form can be submitted online at www.mcpherson.edu/admissions/application. Applicants must ask their high school guidance counselor to forward a copy of their secondary school record directly to McPherson College. Students’ credentials are reviewed as soon as a completed application is received.

Criteria for admission include a state-certified high school transcript or the completion of the GED, corresponding standardized test scores, and appropriate personal qualifications. Recommendations from high school guidance personnel, teachers and pastors may be examined concerning character traits and personal qualifications. We welcome applications from home school applicants.

Freshman Admissions Requirements

  • 3.0 and above  – test blind – automatic acceptance (regardless of test score)
  • 3.0 and above with 18 ACT equivalent continues to meet our admissions policy
  • 2.5 – 3.0 – no score or below 18 ACT equivalent – Materials reviewed by Associate Vice President for Enrollment
  •  Below 2.5– no score or below 18 ACT equivalent, may be considered for conditional acceptance by the Enrollment Committee – Registrar, Director of Student Success, representative of the athletic department and Associate VP for Enrollment

Review Process:

  • 2.5 to 3.0 – no score or below 18 ACT equivalent – VP and Director of Admissions will make a decision after reviewing information available, including:
    • High School transcript
      • Level of academic rigor of courses (i.e. AP, College credit)
    • Class rank – if known
    • Test Scores – if provided
      • Date of test
      • Sub scores
    • Statement of college and career goals (on the application)
    • Information provided by counselor or coach
    • The VP and Director may ask for additional information such as input from the admissions counselor and or coach, high school counselor, teacher, or coach.  Additionally, the VP and Director could request an in-person or virtual interview with the candidate.
  • Below 2.5 – no score or below 18 ACT equivalent, review by Enrollment Committee
    • High School transcript
    • Class rank
    • Test Scores – if provided
    • Statement of college and career goals (incorporated on the application)
    • Personal Statement on how the student will be successful at the collegiate level
    • Two letters of recommendation that speak to the students’ academic ability
    • Information provided by counselor or coach
    • Interview – if needed

Conditional Acceptance Process requires:

  • Personal Statement – How do you plan to be academically successful in college? (400-500 words)
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation from academic sources (e.g., teacher, principal, counselor)

Students not meeting the minimum admissions requirements may appeal or be referred to the Enrollment Committee for consideration. Please contact your Admissions Counselor for more information.

Transfer Applicant Requirements

Criteria for admission include

  • Official copy of transcript(s) from all colleges or universities attended demonstrating satisfactory completion of 12 hours of college- level coursework.
  • A minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.0 from all transfer college-level coursework.

Only academic work from accredited institutions will be accepted at McPherson College. Credit accepted for transfer to McPherson College shall count as hours earned. Hours attempted and grade points achieved will not be transferred. Only courses in which a grade of C or better has been earned will be transferred as credit toward graduation. Consequently, a student’s grade point average will be dependent upon courses attempted at McPherson College.

Courses taken at another institution to replace a letter grade in a McPherson College course will not be accepted. McPherson College courses taken as a replacement course will be listed on the student’s transcript along with the initial and replacement course grades. Both course grades count toward a student’s cumulative GPA.

Applicants with fewer than 12 hours of college level credit may be required to take the ACT or SAT examination for diagnostic purposes.

Students who transfer to McPherson College will be expected to complete the general education requirements as outlined in this catalog. Transfer students holding an associate of arts or associate of science degree may be admitted with all earned credits transferring, and with general education foundation and distribution requirements met provided the student is not working toward teacher licensure. Students holding a certificate or degree other than an A.A. or A.S. will be evaluated on a course by course basis. Please refer to the General Education Requirements section.

Students wanting to transfer from McPherson College should work with the transferring institution in regards to its transfer credit policy since each institution decides what it will accept for credit.

Transfer students who have earned 64 credit hours may not transfer further two-year college credit. The last 60 hours of the bachelor’s degree must be taken at a four-year institution. Credit may be given for the service-training program conducted by the various branches of the Armed Services as recommended by the American Council on Education in “A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces.”

Reverse Transfer

McPherson College participates in a universal reverse transfer program with the Kansas Community Colleges. This program allows students to receive an associate’s degree from their most recent community college by combining credits earned at McPherson College with credits earned at the community college. Students who transfer at least 45 credit hours to McPherson College from Hesston College, Donnelly College, or any Kansas public community college are eligible to participate in the reverse transfer program.

Students who wish to participate should contact the Registrar’s Office and sign a Reverse Transfer Agreement. At the end of each semester, McPherson College will submit an official transcript back to the student’s community college for each student who is enrolled in the Reverse Transfer program and has at least 60 cumulative earned credit hours. Once the student has met all degree requirements for their declared associate’s degree, the community college will award the associate’s degree to the student.

Returning Applicant Requirements

Students who have previously attended McPherson College and who have interrupted their McPherson College program for longer than the period of one semester must make application for readmission by submitting:

  • A completed Reapplication for Admissions
  • Copies of academic transcripts from McPherson College and any colleges/universities the student has attended (students must possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0)

International Applicant Requirements

All non-United States citizens who are not permanent residents and who wish to study at McPherson College must complete the International Student Application.

Required Materials for Admission to McPherson College:

  1. International Application for Admission
  2. Official copies of your academic records submitted to INCRED (International Credential Evaluation).
    • Create an account at https://incredevals.org and upload an official copy of your transcript. Please choose McPherson College as the recipient of the evaluation.  INCRED charges a fee for processing. If the applicant is wanting to see if they are eligible to receive college credit for higher level high school work, they should choose the course by course evaluation.
  3.  Official test scores are required for all international students.
    • English proficiency is verified by the results of the TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS. Required minimum score for each test is listed below:

      • TOEFL = 79
      • Duolingo = 110
      • IELTS = 6.5
    • If a student does not meet the minimum requirements for language proficiency, their application will be reviewed additionally for acceptance eligibility.
    • The SAT can be substituted for the TOEFL with a minimum required score of 940 composite (Reading and Math only.) McPherson College SAT code is #6404.
  4. Affidavit of Support/Bank Statements
    • The affidavit should be signed by the party responsible for payment. Include with the affidavit six months of bank statements that support the ability of the responsible party to make payment.
  5. A photocopy of your passport. To ensure that immigration documents are prepared accurately, please provide a copy of your valid passport.

Once a student is ACCEPTED

  • A letter of acceptance will be emailed to you at the email address you supply on your application.
  • Please submit your $500 Enrollment/Housing Deposit.

I-20 – will be sent ONLY after your $500 Enrollment/Housing Deposit is received

The I-20 is mailed to you at the address listed on your application. You will use this to obtain an F-1 Visa which will allow you to enter the US to attend McPherson College.

The closest airport to McPherson College is Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT). It is located approximately 1 hour from McPherson College. If you are traveling from the Wichita airport, we estimate that this will cost approximately $100. Please plan for this expense. If you submit your receipt to the admissions office you will be reimbursed for this cost.

Automotive Restoration Applicants

Individuals interested in studying automotive restoration technology must be admitted separately to the program after being admitted to the college. Enrollment in the automotive restoration technology program is limited to 50 new students including 5 degree-holding transfers. To be admitted into the Automotive Restoration Program, an applicant must:

  1. Apply to McPherson College. Submit the free, online application to McPherson College.
  2. Submit required documents. High school students/first-time freshmen must provide a state-certified high school transcript or GED and corresponding standardized test scores. Transfer students must provide official copies of transcript(s) from all college(s) and an official copy of high school transcripts or a GED certificate. See Admissions Requirements page.
  3. Acceptance to McPherson College. You will be notified if all requirements are met and you are accepted to McPherson College.
  4. Apply for candidacy to the Automotive Restoration Program. Prepare and upload a portfolio, essay and resume to Slideroom. Please see upload requirements below.
    • Transcripts submitted for acceptance to the college will be considered in the review process. Strong candidates for the AR program will have a 3.0 or higher high school or cumulative transfer GPA.
  5. Interview for Acceptance. After students have submitted their portfolio, faculty will reach out to schedule an interview for acceptance into the program.
    • There will be 2 acceptance dates: Early November and early February. The first round of portfolios must be submitted by October 31st to be included in the first round of acceptances. The second round of portfolios must be submitted by January 31st for the second round of acceptances.
    • Faculty will review portfolios then contact the ones they would like to move on to the interview portion in early November and again in early February.
    • Submit Enrollment Deposit. Upon acceptance into the Automotive Restoration Program, students must submit a $250 deposit to reserve their place. The non-refundable deposit will be applied to her/his tuition. Early applications are encouraged because the size of the program is limited. Please do not submit your deposit until you hear about acceptance into the automotive restoration program. Depositing before you have been accepted will not guarantee your spot in the program.
  6. Upload Materials
    • Prepare and Upload the following materials to Slideroom:

1) A brief statement of interest (between 100 – 500 words) describing the applicant’s motivation for seeking a bachelor’s degree in Automotive Restoration at McPherson College;

2) A résumé outlining applicant’s education, activities, honors, employment, service and leadership experience where applicable;

3) Submit 6 to 25 images that represent applicant’s aptitude for restoring antique automobiles or motorcycles, where applicable. Personal experience in automotive restoration is beneficial, but examples of an applicant’s skills and/or craftsmanship in other areas are acceptable. Images that show a progression of work or that illustrate work in process are particularly meaningful to reviewers. All images should be accompanied by captions. The captions may be included in the images themselves, added to the end of applicant’s statement of interest, or uploaded as a separate file.

Submit the aforementioned materials to Slideroom using the following link: https://mcphersoncollegeautorestoration.slideroom.com. There is a $12 fee that must be paid to Slideroom for the use of this service. Once accepted to the college, applicant’s materials will be reviewed in their entirety.

If you need additional clarification on portfolio submissions, reach out to admissions at [email protected].

 

Mid-year Undergraduate Entrance

Most baccalaureate degree programs are available to students who wish to start their academic careers second semester. Consequently, each year a number of students enter the college at the beginning of the spring semester. The Admissions Office welcomes inquiries concerning mid-year entrance.

Applicants for M.Ed. or Graduate Courses in Education

Students may choose any of the following options when applying to the graduate program: ESOL licensure courses, SPED licensure courses, or combine those courses with the core graduate courses to pursue a Master of Education degree.

Applying for ESOL licensure and/or SPED licensure:

  • Application for Admission
  • Official college transcript showing bachelor’s degree earned

Applying to M.Ed. Program with ESOL or SPED licensure:

  • Application for Admission
  • Official transcripts for all colleges attended and showing bachelor’s degree earned
  • College GPA of 3.0
  • Essay stating professional goals (300 words) – please email to [email protected]
  • Two letters of recommendation

All materials are reviewed by a subcommittee of the Teacher Education Board. The subcommittee’s recommendation is forwarded to Teacher Education Board for final approval.

Conditional Admission

Candidates not meeting the GPA requirement identified above may be admitted to the program on a conditional status assuming there is reasonable evidence of candidate success. Conditionally admitted candidates must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their first six hours in order to remain in the program.

Transfer of Graduate Credits

After acceptance into the M.Ed. program, students who have previously completed graduate credit hours at another accredited institution may apply to have up to 15 graduate credit hours accepted toward the M.Ed. degree as long as those credits have been earned in the last 10 years at the time of entry into the master’s program.

To request that previously-earned credits be considered for transfer, the student must submit a final official graduate transcript along with a formal request listing the credits from the transcript the student wants considered for transfer. The formal request should include descriptions of the coursework and how it meets the requirements of the M.Ed. program at McPherson College.

Only courses in which a grade of B or better has been earned will be accepted for credit toward the M.Ed. degree. Consequently, a student’s grade point average depends upon courses attempted at McPherson College only. The director of the M.Ed. program at McPherson College evaluates which courses qualify for transfer. The program director may request further information from the student, for example, course descriptions or syllabi, before making a recommendation to the registrar. With the programs director’s recommendation in hand, the registrar makes the final decision about the transfer credits. The registrar’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.

Admissions Policies

 

Notification of Admission

Notification of acceptance is given in writing, usually within one week of completion of the application process.

Students who are admitted through the admissions appeal process may receive conditions of enrollment with the acceptance letter. Restrictions for conditionally admitted students continue through the first semester of enrollment. At the completion of the first full semester, the student’s academic progress will be evaluated.

Students may be admitted based on partial high school (6th or 7th semester) or college transcripts and exam score reports. However, students must provide FINAL OFFICIAL copies of all academic documentation prior to enrollment:

  • High School Transcript – Must include official seal or signature and be sent to McPherson College directly from your school. Transcript should include graduation date and cumulative GPA.
  • College/University Transcript – Must include official seal or signature, include grades for final semester of attendance and be sent directly from the college/ university to McPherson College.
  • ACT/SAT Score Reports – Must be sent directly from ACT or the College Board to McPherson College OR have the official ACT/SAT score reported on the official high school transcript.

Students will receive regular reminders from the Office of Admissions identifying information needed to complete the admissions and financial aid record.

Provisional Acceptance

Transfer Students may be provisionally accepted for admission with submission of an unofficial transcript. This allows transfer students to avoid the cost of requesting an official transcript before the completion of their final term. Provisional Acceptance allows the student to continue through the admissions process.  Provisionally accepted students can deposit and secure their housing and enrollment as well as receive their financial aid package.  Provisional Acceptance must be resolved by August 1 for the fall semester applicant and January 15 for the spring semester applicant. Students that remain at Provisional Acceptance will be taken out of the next term course(s)/or not allowed to enroll in the subsequent term if final official transcripts are not received before the 20th day of classes.

Here are the guidelines for provisionally accepting transfer students:

  • Unofficial transcripts must include the institution name, student name, and all courses (pass/fails/withdrawals) included.
  • Unofficial transcripts must have grades for the last completed semester included on the transcript.
  • The college must receive transcripts (unofficial or official) from every school the student has attended.
  • Official transcripts must be received by August 1 for those entering in the fall and by January 15 for those entering in the spring.

Conditional Admittance

Individuals who do not meet the McPherson College’s minimum admissions criteria may be considered for conditional acceptance. The Enrollment Committee will evaluate the student’s academic history, letters of recommendation and request for conditional admittance to recommend if the student is accepted conditionally or denied acceptance. The Vice President for Enrollment will make the final determination if a student is accepted conditionally or denied acceptance. Conditional admittance may include but not be limited to the following conditions:

  1. Meet with the Vice President for Academic Affairs prior to the start of the semester.
  2. Enroll in no more than 12-13 total semester hours during the first semester.
  3. Enroll in College Reading/Study Skills – ID109 – 2 hours.
  4. Enroll in College Rhetoric – EN110 – 3 hours.
  5. Enroll in College Learning Skills – ID100 – 1 hour
  6. Meet regularly with your academic advisor as directed by him/her.
  7. Make satisfactory academic progress.
  8. Complete every course for which you are enrolled earning a grade of “C” or better.
  9. Attend class regularly.
  10. Unexcused absences may result in academic suspension.
  11. Meet with the Director of Student Success to asses your academic plans and goals and to arrange any services that may be necessary to assist you in being successful..

Admissions representatives are available to answer questions related to this process. All appeals must be submitted to the Office of Admissions where they will be forwarded to the Enrollment Committee for consideration. Students will be notified in writing of the committee’s decision.

Student-Athletes

A student can be admitted to McPherson College and NOT be eligible for NAIA intercollegiate competition. It is the player’s responsibility to be aware of the eligibility requirements set forth by the NAIA. Please refer to https://play.mynaia.org/ for more information.

 

Student Expenses for 2023-2024

 

Regular Charges and Fees for 2023-2024

Tuition $ 34,072
Fees $ 1,090
Room Standard Double Room (Dotzour, Bittinger, Morrison, and Metzler) $4,166
Private Residential Room Upgrade: additional $1,000 per semester
Harter Apartments $ 5,638 (3.0 GPA)
Baer Apartments/Baer House $ 5,638 (3.0 GPA)
Terra Nova Luxury Apartments $ 9,378 (3.25 GPA)
Lakeside Apartments $ 6,010 (3.0 GPA)
MC House $ 5,900 (3.0 GPA)
Deerfield or Lakeside Duplex $ 6,010 (3.0 GPA)*Costs include apartment cleaning fee of $100 per semester.
Board 19-meal $ 5,288 includes $ 100 dining dollars (required for all first-time freshmen)
14-meal (224 block) $ 5,252 includes $ 240 dining dollars (available for sophomore through senior students)
10-meal (160 block) $ 3,760 includes $ 300 dining dollars (required for all off-campus athletes)

 

Tuition – Full-time
$ 34,072
Includes twelve (12) to sixteen (16) hours for fall and spring term and four (4) hours in interterm.
Students must be enrolled full time to receive institutional financial aid.  Excess hours over sixteen (16) hours: $ 250 per hour

Tuition – Part-time
1-7 hours: $ 430 per hour
8 to 11 hours: $ 750 per hour

Tuition – Summer School
Undergraduate: $ 430 per hour

Room
Double Room: (see above)
McPherson College is a residential college. All unmarried students age 23 and under not living with their parents live in residence halls.
Singl
e rooms at an additional $1,000/semester to the double room charge. Based on availability.

General Fee
$ 1,090
The general fee is assessed to all full-time students to assist in covering the costs associated with student activities, computer support, student life, athletics, and Student Government Association.

Student Insurance
$ 2,094
Proof of Insurance is needed for student athletes and international students.

Part-time Fee
3-7 hours: $ 30 per term
8-11 hours: $ 50 per term

Graduate Tuition
McPherson students: $ 375 per hour

Special Charges and Fees

Admission
Enrollment Deposit: $ 150/$ 250 for Automotive Restoration.
Deposit is refundable before May 1, with the exception of Automotive Restoration which is non-refundable. 

Athletic Fee
$ 675

Records
Late payment arrangement: $ 100 after August 1
Each change of schedule: $ 50 (drop and add after the first two (2) weeks of term)
Official transcript: $ 8+ processing fee to National Student Clearinghouse
Returned check charge: $ 30

Special Classes
Auditing courses, per hour: $ 50
Senior citizen audit fee: $ 25
The Vice President for Academic Affairs determines which courses may be audited. Restoration technology, studio art classes, and private music lessons may not be audited. Permission to audit is granted on a space-available basis.
Private music lessons: $ 150 per semester hour in addition to regular tuition
Piano rental for Class Piano: $ 50
Instrument rental: $ 50 per instrument

Art and Design Course Fees

G-AR 101 Drawing I: $150
G-AR 102 Painting I: $150
G-AR 131 Ceramics I: $150
G-AR 202 Painting II: $150
G-AR 220 Graphic Design for Non-Art Majors: $150
G-AR 310 Art History I: $100 for Digital Textbook
G-AR 311 Art History II: $100 for Digital Textbook
G-AR 350 Sculpture I: $150
AR 103 Elementary Design: $150
AR 210 Drawing II: $150
AR 231 Ceramics II: $150
AR 345 Art as Community & Social Practice: $150
AR 358 Methods for Teaching Art in the Elementary School: $50
AR 401 Methods for Teaching Art in the Secondary School: $50
AR 403A Senior Show: Photography: $150

Art and Design Printing and Production Course Fees

AR 130 Design Software: $125
AR 203 Photography I: $150
AR 205 Video Editing and Production: $125
AR 225 2D Printing Production Process: $125
AR 230 Graphic Design I: $125
AR 235 Graphic Design II: $125
AR 260 UX/UI Prototyping: $125
AR 265 UX/UI Application: $125
AR 303 Photography II: $150
AR 315 Metalsmithing and Jewelry Making: $150
AR 320 Typography and Logo Branding: $125
AR 323 Analog Photography: $150
AR 330 Graphic Design III: $125
AR 335 Design Software II: $125
AR 440/CM 440 Web Design II: $125
AR 470A Senior Show: Digital Design: $125
AR 475G Graphic Design IV: $125

Art and Design Software Course Fees

The software fee is only charged once a semester, even if the student is enrolled in more than one course with this fee associated. Interterm will be a separate charge, however.
G-AR 310 Art History I: $100
G-AR 311 Art History II: $100
AR 130 Design Software: $100
AR 203 Photography I: $100
AR 205 Video Editing & Production: $100
AR 225 2D Printing Production Processes: $100
AR 230 Graphic Design I: $100
AR 235 Graphic Design II: $100
AR 260 UX/UI Prototyping: $100
AR 265 UX/UI Application: $100
AR 303 Photography II: $100
AR 320 Typography and Logo Branding: $100
AR 330 Graphic Design III: $100
AR 335 Design Software II: $100
AR 340/CM 340 Web Design I: $100
AR 440/CM 440 Web Design II: $100
AR 470A Senior Show: Digital Design: $100
AR 475G Graphic Design IV: $100
CM 360 Videography I: $100
CM 410 Videography II: $100

Theatre Course Fees

     G-TH 170 Technical Theatre I: $30
     G-TH 270 Technical Theatre II: $30

Business Course Fees

BA 325 Financial Management: $ 50

Teacher Education Course Fees

G-CI 251 Introduction to Education Practicum: $ 20
CI 401/AR 401 Methods for Teaching Art in the Secondary School: $ 50
CI 476 Student Teaching: $ 150 per semester
EE 301/AR 358 Methods for Teaching Art in the Elementary School: $ 50

Natural Science Course Fees

G-BI 101 Principles of Biology: $ 30
G-BI 111 College Biology I: $ 30
BI 112 College Biology II: $ 30
BI 225 Human Anatomy: $ 30
BI 283 Genetics: $ 30
BI 310 Statistical Data Analysis: $ 30
BI 315 Human Physiology: $ 30
G-CH 101 Principles of Chemistry: $ 30
G-CH 105 GOB Chemistry for Life: $ 30
G-CH 111 College Chemistry I: $ 30
CH 112 College Chemistry II: $30
CH 201 Quantitative Analysis: $ 30
CH 251 Organic Chemistry I: $ 30
CH 252 Organic Chemistry II: $ 30
BI/CH 370 Biochemistry I: $ 30
BI/CH 373 Biochemistry II: $ 30
CH 380 Green Chemistry: $30
CH 390 Instrumental Analysis: $ 30
G-NS 141 Environmental Science: $30
G-PH 205 College Physics I: $30
PH 206 College Physics II: $30
G-PH 215 General Physics I: $30
PH 216 General Physics II: $30

Music Course Fees

G-MU 132 Concert Choir: Students who have not previously acquired concert attire will be required to purchase it.
MU 330 Private Lessons: $150
MU 436 Music Theory IV: $100
MU 159 Sight Singing & Ear Training: $35
MU 259 Sight Singing & Ear Training II: $35
MU 359 Sight Singing & Ear Training III: $35
MU 459 Sight Singing & Ear Training IV: $35

Behavioral Sciences Course Fees

PY/SO 474 Scientific Writing for Behavioral Sciences: $ 25
PY/SO 475 Senior Seminar/Thesis: $25

Automotive Restoration Technology Course Fees

TE 141 Engine Rebuilding: $ 65
TE 145 Drivetrain Restoration: $ 65
TE 162 Fundamentals of Woodworking: $ 65
TE 252 Vintage Panel Restoration: $ 65
TE 262 Machining Technology: $ 65
TE 271 Chassis Restoration: $ 65
TE 281 Automotive Trim: $ 90
TE 480 Advanced Automotive Paint Restoration: $ 75
TE 481 Advanced Automotive Trim: $ 65
TE 152 Sheet Metal: $ 90
TE 242 Re-Babbitting: $ 65
TE 275 Automotive Paint Restoration: $ 300
TE 301 Materials and Processes: $ 50
TE 341 Advanced Engine Rebuilding: $ 65
TE 353 Finishing Touches: $ 25
TE 360 Electrical and Electronic Systems: $ 25
TE 380 Applied Diagnostics: $ 40
TE 385 Restoration Assembly Processes: $ 25
TE 406 Woodworking in Automotive Coachwork: $ 65
TE 414 Advanced Electrical and Electronic Systems: $ 25
TE 452 Advanced Sheet Metal Restoration: $ 65
TE 462 Advanced Manual Machining: $65

 

Billing and Payment Policies

McPherson College expects the student to be financially responsible. All student accounts are in the student’s name regardless of who makes payment on the account.

Billing

Students may view their account statement on Bulldog Connect. The first charges for the fall semester will be available in July. The spring charges will be available in late November. These initial statements list tuition and applicable fees, room and board for residential students as well as estimated financial aid, payments, and the estimated balance due. Activity after the initial account statement is created may affect the amount you are responsible to pay. Such activity could include adding/dropping courses, bookstore charges, changes to room and board, and/or changes to your financial aid package.

Email communications to the student’s McPherson College email address are sent letting them know when their account statement is available. However, students are strongly encouraged to stay informed on a regular basis by accessing their account on Bulldog Connect at any time throughout the year.

Financial Aid

The Business Office will recognize credit on the student’s account balance for posted federal financial aid and issue a credit refund check within 14 days from the posting date in accordance with Department of Education rules. For other non-federal aid, the following circumstances apply:

Institutional/Merit Awards: Credit will be recognized when the award is posted to the student account.

Outside Scholarships: Awards from outside sources will not appear on the student’s account statement until McPherson College receives the funds and the aid is posted to the student account.

Alternative Loans: Credit will be recognized when loan funds are made available to the college and the loan is posted to the student account.

Federal Work Study: Although Work Study may be part of your financial aid package, it is not a guarantee of employment and will not be deducted from your student account. Arrangement may be made in the Business Office to direct future wages to be applied directly to the student account.

Monthly Payment Plan

If an annual or semester payment is not possible, McPherson College requires students to set up a budget plan through Transact CashNet. For a small enrollment fee ($35 per semester) families can budget convenient, interest-free monthly payments beginning August 1, depending on the plan selected. Further information can be found on Bulldog Connect. All plans must be enrolled by August 1 to be split into five (5) monthly payments.

Payments

You are responsible for payment in full of your student account balance minus estimated financial aid. The payments are due as billed unless noted otherwise. The fall semester bill is due on August 1, and the spring semester bill is due on January 1. While McPherson College encourages payment in full by the end of the semester, you are allowed to carry over $1,500 of unpaid expenses from the previous semester to the current semester. A larger carryover may be allowed only under specific arrangement with the Business Office.

*Debt Project Participants: If the student is accepted to the Student Debt Project, please review further details about payments and earning match funds on Bulldog Connect. 

Courses taken online through College Consortium must be paid in full up front. If payment in full is not made before the course drop date, the student will automatically be withdrawn from the College Consortium course.

Checks should be made payable to McPherson College, and payments should be mailed to McPherson College, Attn: Business Office, P.O. Box 1402, McPherson, KS 67460. Cash payments are accepted in person in the Business Office. Credit card payments can be made online or by telephone. For online payments, please log into Bulldog Connect to view your account. Student payments made by debit or credit card will be charged a fee to cover the transaction costs. To avoid the fee, a bank draft or check can be used for the payment. If you have questions, please contact the Business Office at 620-242-0450.

The college reserves the right to withhold official academic transcripts if the student fails to pay their balance in full. Diplomas will not be released if an account balance remains. Students with a balance are also not allowed to participate in Commencement.

The college will provide an unofficial copy of an academic transcript at the student’s request. It will be marked with the word “UNOFFICIAL.”

Holds

Failure to pay the balance on the student’s account by the due date places the student on a restricted enrollment status, or HOLD. Students on HOLD will not be allowed to register for classes, confirm existing pre-registrations, obtain transcripts or receive other non-essential services until their accounts are brought current. Please contact the Business Office at 620-242-0450 or 620-242-0459 for assistance with HOLD resolutions.

Late Fees

A late fee of $25 will be assessed on the last day of each month for any account that has a balance, is not enrolled in a payment plan, and for which no payment was made on the account. Scholarships and grants do not count as a payment on the account.

Institutional Refund Policy

Students who withdraw from McPherson College on or after the first day of a term may be eligible for a refund (proration) of qualified institutional charges and non-federal financial aid. Qualified charges would include tuition, fees, room and board. Charges that are not included in a refund include, but are not limited to, books, fines, and insurance premiums. Non-federal aid would include aid from the institution, state, and outside resources. McPherson College determines the percentage of adjustment by calculating earned and unearned percentages using the following method:

All calendar days from the beginning of the term to the Last Day of Attendance (LDA) are divided by the total number of calendar days in the term to determine the percentage of adjustment for all qualified charges except housing and meal plans. Housing charges are determined by the last date of occupancy and meal plan charges are determined by last date of use unless they are before the LDA. Housing and meal plan charges may be overridden by the Senior Housing Officer. Scheduled breaks of five calendar days or more and temporary break days are excluded.

  1. If the withdrawal occurs within the first 60% of the term, a pro rata adjustment will be made to the student’s account. Qualified charges and non-federal aid will be adjusted individually. Earned amounts will remain posted, and unearned amounts will be returned to the issuing authority. If an outside agency allows, a larger percentage of the entire award may remain posted to pay adjusted charges.
  2. If the withdrawal occurs after the first 60% of the term, no adjustment or refund is due.

Federal Financial Aid Refund Policy

In addition to the institutional refund calculation, recipients–and, in some cases, intended recipients–of federal Title IV financial aid (with the exception of Federal Work Study) will be subject to the refund policies as mandated by the United States Department of Education. McPherson College must calculate earned and unearned federal aid using the same method as described under the Institutional Refund Policy.

  1. If the withdrawal occurs within the first 60% of the term, a pro rata adjustment will be made to the student’s account. The resulting percentages are applied to the total of Title IV aid that was disbursed and could have been disbursed. Any unearned amount must be returned to the appropriate program source in the following order until the unearned amount is satisfied:          1) Unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loans, 2) Subsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loans, 3) Federal Perkins Loans, 4) Federal Direct PLUS loans, 5) Federal Pell Grants, 6) Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, 7) Federal TEACH grants, 8) Iraq/Afghanistan Service Grants.
  2. If the withdrawal occurs after the first 60% of the term, no adjustment or refund of federal Title IV financial aid is due.
2023|03 Financial Information, Catalog 23-24|

Financial Aid Process

Over 99 percent of McPherson College students receive financial assistance each year from McPherson College scholarships and awards, federal and state programs, work-study programs, and educational loans.

McPherson College has a financial aid awarding policy that considers a variety of factors including academic achievement, participation in co-curricular activities, and financial need. The college’s goal is to award enough financial assistance to provide incentive, recognition, and access.

Financial Aid Application Process

To be considered for and receive financial aid, students should take the following steps:

  • Submit their Application for Admission and academic transcripts to McPherson College. Students must be admitted to McPherson College in order to be considered for aid.
  • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). McPherson College’s priority deadline for FAFSA submissions is March 1 each year. McPherson College’s federal school code is 001933.
  • Review their Student Aid Report (SAR) and submit verification documentation to the Financial Aid Office. Students whose Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is selected by the Department of Education for verification must complete the Verification Worksheet (Dependent, Independent) and submit official tax transcripts from the IRS for the student and/or parents/spouse. If supporting schedules are required, the college will ask for them separately.
  • Await receipt of their Financial Aid Award Notice, which the college prepares and mails/emails, usually within 3–5 working days after their financial aid record is complete.
  • Follow the instructions enclosed with the Financial Aid Award Notice by the date indicated to acknowledge acceptance of awards.
  • Complete the required application/promissory note if taking advantage of student loan opportunities.
  • Complete entrance interview if borrowing direct loans.

Financial Aid Calendar

October 1 – Application process begins. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
November 1 – Financial aid award notification begins for admitted students.
March 1 – Priority deadline for financial aid. Offers of aid after this date will be extended only as funds remain available.
April 1 – FAFSA submission deadline for Kansas Comprehensive Grant.

Scholarships and Awards

Every student meeting McPherson College’s admission standards who is enrolled full time is eligible for institutional financial aid. Institutional financial aid may be based on academic achievement, co-curricular participation, demographic characteristics, leadership qualities, and major areas of interest. A financial aid calculator and additional information about institutional awards and scholarships are available at https://www.mcpherson.edu/admissions/scholarships/

Endowed Scholarship Funds

The endowed scholarships and loan funds listed below have been established through personal generosity and a desire on the part of the donors to assist future generations of students in attending McPherson College. The college is grateful for these endowed gifts, which provide a permanent expression of love and support for the college and for the students who will benefit from this kindness. These gifts fund the existing McPherson College Scholarship and Grant Program.

Unrestricted Endowed Scholarship Fund with no specifics for awarding:

  • Walter E. Beery Scholarship Fund
  • Virgil Meyers Berkebile Scholarship
  • Earl Bowman Scholarship Fund
  • R.S. Christensen Endowment Scholarship Fund
  • Earl E. Curtis Memorial Scholarship Fund
  • Samuel L. Elrod Scholarship Fund
  • Esther Eslinger Memorial Scholarship Fund
  • Leland and Pauline Flory Endowment Scholarship Fund
  • Oscar C. Frantz & Flora Gish Frantz Scholarship
  • Roy O. Frantz Endowed Scholarship Fund
  • Harry H. and Marguerite Gilbert Memorial Endowment Scholarship
  • Raenell Hall Endowed Scholarship Fund
  • Ira M. Hoover Endowed Scholarship Fund
  • Helen Jacobs Memorial Scholarship
  • Ralph F. Johnson & Irene Ramey Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund
  • Edith Keller Scholarship Fund
  • John Giolin Pearson Scholarship
  • Ralph H. Rindt Endowed Scholarship Fund
  • Scott Robinson Memorial Scholarship Fund
  • Ray Simmons Endowed Scholarship Fund
  • Stucky Scholarship Fund
  • Dr. Galen M. Tice & Ruth Kilmer Tice Memorial Scholarship Fund
  • Robert George Wolfe Memorial Scholarship
  • Worthington Church Scholarship Fund
  • Una Yoder Memorial Scholarship

Restricted Endowed Scholarships:

  • African-American: Harrison African-American Academic Scholarship
  • Alumni: Alumni Legacy Scholarship—for children and grandchildren of alumni
  • Andes: John and Elrae Andes Performing Arts Scholarship—for performing arts &/or music majors
  • Appel: Appel Family Scholarshipsupports student with need in an internship experience
  • Austin: Charles & John Austin Memorial Scholarship Fund—no restrictions
  • Austin: Glen D. Austin Scholarship—western Colorado residents
  • Barrett-Jackson Auction Co.: Brian Jackson Scholarship—auto restoration students with financial need; 3.0 GPA
  • Barrett-Jackson Auction Co.: Russ Jackson Scholarship—auto restoration students with financial need; 3.0 GPA
  • Beach – Carolyn Beach Scholarship Fund – Full time students pursuing degree in health science fields; 3.0 GPA
  • Beam: Royce & Phyllis Bowman Beam Scholarship in Vocal Music—student(s) enrolled in Performing Arts with preference to vocal music students
  • Beech: Olive Ann Beech Scholarship—Wichita, Kansas residents
  • Beeghly: Milford & Dorothy Graham Beeghly Scholarship—Iowa or Northern Plains District Church of the Brethren; display leadership qualities
  • Bell: Pauline L. Bell Memorial Scholarship—junior or senior students majoring in music education or music
  • Bittinger: Desmond & Irene Bittinger Scholarship—institution acceptable academic standing
  • Bowman: J.L. & Elva Bowman Scholarship—science majors
  • Brammell: Ira N.H. & Freda E. Brammell Scholarship—excellent leadership ability
  • Breon: Earl & Margaret Breon Scholarship—financial need
  • Breon: Phil & Clara Breon Scholarship—financial need
  • Brown: Elizabeth & Ed Brown & Classic Thunderbird Club of S. Florida Scholarship—2nd-, 3rd-, or 4th-year auto restoration students
  • Brown: Larry Brown Scholarship—student athletes majoring in physical education
  • Brubaker: Earl Brubaker Scholarship—financial need
  • Burkholder: Kathy Burkholder Endowed Scholarship Fund- women students who are studying disciplines that include business, human rights, or equality, minimum 3.0 GPA.
  • Butler: Edward R. & Judith Brammell Butler Student Leadership Scholarship—students who demonstrate leadership potential in student services
  • Campbell: David V. Campbell Scholarship—orphaned, handicapped, and underprivileged students
  • Casebeer: John & George Casebeer Scholarship—financial need
  • Cassler: Winston Cassler Scholarship—students studying music
  • Chief: Chief Staph Page Salute Heroes Veteran Scholarship- AR Program students, primary consideration to combat-wounded post 911 veterans of the U.S. Armed Services, honorably discharged. Secondary consideration to post 911 veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces honorably discharged. Other considerations given for veteran category approved by President and CEO of CSAH. 3.0 GPA
  • Chisholm: Will Edwin & Olive M. Chisholm Scholarship—no restrictions
  • Class of 1953 Scholarship— freshman student with financial need
  • Class of 1967 Scholarship**—full-time student in any academic program; minimum GPA; financial need
  • Class of 1968 Scholarship—full-time student in any academic program; minimum GPA; financial need
  • Class of 1972 Scholarship: first generation college student, financial need, minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Cobb: Redell & Barbara Cobb Scholarship—former students of Canton-Galva High School; 3.0 GPA
  • Coppock: X.L. & Martha Coppock Scholarship **—financial need
  • Coughenour: Dean Coughenour Endowed Scholarship Fund- Kansas students, leadership abilities, financial need, 3.0 GPA
  • Crago: Crago Family Scholarship—financial need; exchange student; minimum GPA or students(s) pursuing math, science or business major
  • Dalke: Elmer O. & Velma L. Dalke Scholarship—financial need
  • Darby: Edith & Harry Darby Foundation Scholarship— juniors and seniors; minimum GPA
  • DeCoursey: Wesley & Verda DeCoursey Scholarship in Chemistry—full-time student majoring in chemistry; minimum GPA; without regard for financial need
  • Dell: Lois E. Dell Scholarship Fund for Women—women who have been absent from a college campus; business majors
  • Dell-Little: Dell-Little Scholarship- student at any grade level majoring in natural sciences, health sciences, or behavioral sciences. Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Dennison: Nora Dennison Scholarship—financial need
  • Detrick: Herbert & Lula Detrick Scholarship— financial need
  • Dodson: Susan Wheeler Dodson Scholarship—visual arts major; minimum GPA; without regard for financial need
  • Doman: David T. Doman/Franklin Club Scholarship – freshmen or sophomore auto restoration major; priority to student with H.H. Franklin Club membership
  • Dotzour: Royer & Edna Dotzour Scholarship—freshman male & female; Kingman County (KS) high school graduates; preference to Norwich High School
  • Duesenberg: Fred Duesenberg Scholarship—auto restoration student
  • Edwards: James “Jim” Edwards Scholarship – automotive restoration student with financial aid; minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Ehling: Lucas Ehling eSports Scholarship Fund – student in E-Sports program, minimum 3.0 GPA; academic merit, financial need
  • Eisenbise: Bernette Eisenbise Scholarship—sophomore, junior, or senior teacher education major
  • Elliott: Elliott Family Scholarship—financial need
  • Evans: Franklin Evans & Roberta Brown Evans Scholarship—sophomores, juniors, seniors; minimum GPA; leadership/campus involvement
  • F & J: F&J Foundation Scholarship—auto restoration student
  • Fasnacht: Everett M. & Joy C. Fasnacht Scholarship—Church of the Brethren members seeking career in church service, peace studies, conflict resolution
  • Fike: Duane & Ruthita Fike Scholarship **—no restrictions
  • Flory: Glen & Esther Flory Family Scholarship—financial need
  • Forror: Elizabeth Wagoner Forror & Jo Wagoner Scholarship—Church of the Brethren members or student seeking service-oriented career in health services or dependents of missionary workers
  • Forsyth/Switzer: Lyle & Florence Forsyth & Merl & Ola Switzer Scholarship – financial need
  • Frankenbery/Werner: Frankenberry/Werner Family Scholarship—financial need; student(s) in natural science and education; minimum GPA
  • Frantz: Gary Frantz Endowed Scholarship Fund- full time student, minimum 2.8 GPA
  • Frantz: Ralph Samuel Frantz Endowed Scholarship Fund in Auto Restoration- automotive restoration students, 3.0 GPA
  • Frantz: Hazel Ratliff Frantz Endowed Scholarship Fund in Health Science- health science majors, 3.0 GPA
  • Frantz: Earl & Lela Frantz Scholarship —Church of the Brethren members; financial need
  • Frantz: Edward R. & Virginia L. Frantz Scholarship – students pursuing interest in Entrepreneurship and/or athletics; enrolled full-time; financial need
  • Frantz: Merlin & ImoJean Sheller Frantz Scholarship—financial need
  • Fries: Ramona R. Fries & Arthur H. Fries Scholarship—academic merit; financial need
  • Geisert: Fred J. & Martha E. Geisert Scholarship—Dickinson County (KS) high school graduate or resident; preference to New Basel United Church of Christ, Abilene, KS, members/children
  • Gish: Warren & Luella Gish Scholarship—no restrictions
  • Glaser: Adelaide Glaser Scholarship—sophomores, juniors, seniors; Kansas resident; B average; financial need; good leadership qualities
  • Global: Endowed Fund for Global Studies—no restrictions
  • Global: Global Studies Scholarship Fund- Demonstrate a genuine desire to live with and learn from international countries, Minimum 3.0 GPA. A recommendation will from the Study Abroad Advisor.
  • Goering: Raymond “Dutch” & Dorothy L. Goering Scholarship—financial need
  • Green: Bob and Gayla Green Scholarship – first generation members of their family to attend college, financial need, minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Greim: Mary Roop Greim Scholarship—Missouri residents
  • Groff: Forrest & Della Groff Scholarship—Church of the Brethren/Groff family members; minimum GPA
  • Grossnickle: J. Edgar & Willa Grossnickle Scholarship—Iowa Church of the Brethren members, COB students from Iowa, or students from Iowa; preference given to COB students
  • Grover: Mable Beyer Grover Scholarship—financial need
  • Haas: William W. Haas Scholarship—Dickinson County (KS) high school graduates
  • Hall: Henry & Nellie Krebbs Hall Scholarship—financial need
  • Hanzlik: Evan and Edward J Hanzlik Scholarship – auto restoration students, financial need, demonstrate service through involvement in activities and/or in the community, minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Harden: Len & Stella Harden & Joyce Harden Brown Scholarship—juniors & seniors; science, math, pre-med majors
  • Hart: Dorothy Bryant Hart Scholarship—financial need
  • Harvey: Andrew Harvey Memorial Endowed Scholarship- preference given to student with a declared major in Automotive Restoration or similar field, minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Hatcher: Eugenia D. Hatcher Scholarship—female students
  • Hatfield: Verlin L. & Florence M. Hatfield Scholarship—resident students; financial need
  • Haury: Kenneth Haury Scholarship—business or accounting majors
  • Hemken: Col. Daryl and Ann Hemken Endowed Scholarship Fund- 3rd and 4th year Automotive Restoration students, pursuing degree in automobile preservation and restoration, based on merit.
  • Hershey: Dr. J. Willard Hershey Scholarship—juniors & seniors; science majors
  • Hess: Dick & Beverly Hess Fine Arts Fund—fine arts students; leadership/service ability; financial need
  • Hess: Dick & Beverly Hess Science Fund—science students who have demonstrated talent; financial need
  • Hess: Lou Ann (Dyck) Hess Fine Arts Fund—music students; other fine arts students; financial need
  • Hess: Lou Ann (Dyck) Hess Science Fund—biology students; other science students; financial need
  • Hewitt: The David and Sharon Hewitt Fund for Internship Experiences- full time students, preference to automotive restoration students, juniors and seniors. Director of Career services recommendation.
  • Hewitt: Sharon & David Hewitt Scholarship—JR/SR students interested in auto or motorcycle restoration
  • Hodgson: Gayle (Tammel) Hodgson Scholarship – primary consideration given to Iowa students, good academic standing
  • Hoerner: Della Hoerner Scholarship—students seeking career in nursing, medicine, medical technology
  • Hofen: Phillip J. Hofen Scholarship—Iowa residents; financial need
  • Hoffert: John and Mary Hoffert Scholarship – auto restoration student, maintain 3.0 GPA, academic merit, financial need, recommended by AR faculty
  • Hoffman: Paul & Joanna Hoffman Scholarship—Church of the Brethren members (US)
  • Hoffman: Samuel Hoffman Scholarship**—financial need; high achievement
  • Holden: Holden Family Scholarship—student enrolled in automotive restoration program; financial need; show interest in restoration and preservation of vehicles or vintage cars of historic importance
  • Holl: Dennis A. Holl Scholarship—Church of the Brethren members; students with Brethren Volunteer Service experience; financial need
  • Hoover: Wilbur and Miriam Hoover Endowed Scholarship Fund- Preference given to students who are children of ministers currently serving or who have served in the Western Plains District of the Church of the Brethren, minimum 3.0 GPA, financial need.
  • Hornbaker: Royal & Norma Hornbaker Scholarship—financial need
  • Ikenberry: Alta Gross Ikenberry Scholarship—freshman Idaho or Kansas resident, female athletes or pursuing career in education, pre-med or pre-dental
  • Ikenberry: Ernest & Olivia Ikenberry Scholarship**— financial need and good academic standing
  • Ingalls: Grace Vaniman Ingalls & Roscoe Ingalls Scholarship—financial need and good academic standing
  • IMA: Insurance Management Association Scholarship – business majors; financial need
  • Insurance Management Association Scholarshipbusiness majors; financial need
  • Jackson: Nellie Jackson Endowed Scholarship Fund for Women in Automotive Restoration- full time female student in the AR program, 3.0 minimum GPA, financial need.
  • Jewell: J. Paul & Fern Watkins Jewell Scholarship – full-time business and economics major; preference to 2nd-, 3rd-, and 4th-year students; minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Johnson: Daniel Palmer Johnson Scholarship—students majoring in math or science
  • Keim: Howard Keim & Winifred O’Connor-Keim Scholarship—women who will have achieved 23rd birthday prior to award; financial need
  • Kindig: Ethel Ward Kindig Scholarship—Nebraska residents; students interested in Christian ministry or service; financial need; good academic standing
  • Kinzie: Kinzie Foundation Scholarship—juniors or seniors; Church of the Brethren members; financial need
  • Kough: John K. & Arlene Flory Kough Scholarship—Church of the Brethren members from Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Colorado, North Dakota, Texas, and Montana
  • Kreider: Roy Levi Kreider Scholarship—financial need
  • Kuhn: Walter & Ruby Kuhn Scholarship—business, computer science, auto restoration majors
  • Lee: William & Mary Lee Scholarship—financial need
  • Lehman: Harry & Minnie Lehman Scholarship—financial need
  • Lehman: Harvey & Ruth Kurtz Lehman Scholarship—financial need
  • Lehman: Henry L. Lehman & Anna Burkholder Lehman Scholarship—demonstrated academic and leadership ability; financial need
  • Lengel: Leland L. Lengel Scholarship in History—sophomores, juniors, seniors; top history majors in each class; minimum GPA
  • Lichty: Henry Lichty Lovett, Dorothy Lichty Vogel, Mr. & Mrs. Glenn A. Lichty, Lucile Lichty West Scholarship—financial need; students from Northeast quarter of Kansas
  • Lingenfelter: The Fern Lingenfelter Artist Series and the Fern Lingenfelter Scholarship of Music—full-time student majoring in music; minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Long: V. Allen Long Scholarship—physical or natural science major and good academic standing
  • Marchand: F.E. & Cora A. Marchand Scholarship—Church of the Brethren members; financial need
  • Martin: Alice B. Martin Scholarship—financial need
  • Martin: Martha Cecile Martin Endowed Scholarship—teacher education student; McPherson County origin; financial need
  • Maune: Louie Maune Scholarship—financial need
  • McCluggage: The Denise McCluggage Scholarship—female student demonstrating passions in the fields of auto restoration, journalism, photography, communication, media arts, and/or writing; minimum 3.0 GPA
  • McDaneld: Wallace & Nellie Wagner McDaneld Scholarship—Kansas residents; interested in Christian ministry or service; financial need
  • McGhee: Grace Brunk McGhee Scholarship— financial need
  • McGonigle: Josephine Shirar McGonigle Scholarship—financial need
  • McHugh: Ellen McHugh Scholarship— financial need
  • McIlwaine: Delia Chavez McIlwaine Scholarship—music education major
  • McKellip: Margaret Yost McKellip Endowed Scholarship Fund- financial need, 3.0 GPA.
  • McSpadden: Dwight McSpadden Scholarship—student athletes
  • Meguiar: Meguiar Family Scholarship in Automobile Restoration—auto restorations students
  • Melhorn: J. Mark & Katherine J. Ramsey Melhorn Scholarship—McPherson County student participating in at least one athletic program and intention to major in science field
  • Merkey: Samuel R. Merkey Scholarship—financial need
  • Metzler: Burton & Mabel Metzler Scholarship—financial need
  • Metzler: David & Doris Metzler Scholarship **—full-time student preparing for the ministry or Christian service or PreK-12 classroom teaching
  • Miller: Delma Miller Scholarship—Church of the Brethren members
  • Miller: Oscar & Vida Miller Scholarship— financial need
  • Mingenback: Mary Mingenback Scholarship—art or music students; financial need
  • Moats/Neher: Edgar & Marie Moats/Roy & Wava Neher/Edna Neher Scholarship—preference to Ivester (Grundy Center, IA) and Osage (McKune, KS) Church of the Brethren members
  • Moore: Alma Anderson Moore Scholarship—speech/theatre students
  • Morrison: Milton & Rebecca Morrison Scholarship—financial need
  • Moyers: David W. & Florence Smith Moyers Scholarship—Church of the Brethren members who demonstrate church leadership potential
  • Mugler: Carrie Mugler Scholarship—financial need
  • Murrey: Chester & Pearl Crumpacker Murrey Scholarship—freshmen, first-year transfer; financial need
  • Myers: Phil & Jean Myers Scholarship—priority consideration given to students who, due to unique opportunities, crisis situations, or extraordinary accomplishments and/or contributions to their community in the face of difficulties, deserve recognition and encouragement to complete their education; minimum 3.0 GPA; financial need
  • Negley: Negley Family Scholarship— Church of the Brethren members; financial need
  • Nichols: Connie Nichols /Ethel McClure Scholarship—interior design or art majors; participate in at least one extra-curricular or volunteer activity on campus or in McPherson
  • Nonken: Ray Nonken Scholarship—Kansas residents who reside in a rural area; athletes; minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Nordling: Barbara & Bernard Nordling /Leland E. Nordling Family ScholarshipKansas residents west of Highway 81, excluding Sedgwick County; academic achievement
  • Noyes: Pat Noyes Men’s Basketball Scholarship—juniors and seniors in previous year; exemplify character of Pat Noyes (leadership, positive attitude, team player, exert maximum effort, passion for the game of basketball); good academic standing
  • Page: Chief Staph Page Salute Heroes Veteran Scholarship – auto restoration major; primary consideration given to combat wounded post 911 veteran of the United States Uniformed Armed Services; secondary consideration to post 911 veterans of the United States Uniformed Armed Services; minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Pair: Paul & Pauline Vaniman Pair Scholarship for Computer Science—computer science majors
  • Pair: Pauline Vaniman Pair Scholarship for the Fine Arts—art, music, theatre majors; good academic standing
  • Paul: Paul Family Endowed Scholarship Fund- full time student, financial need, African-American descent, 2.6 GPA.
  • Pebble Beach: Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Scholarship—auto restorations majors
  • Peckover: Lila Marie Peckover Scholarship—Hutchinson (KS) Community Church of the Brethren members
  • Penland: M.W. & Hallie Goforth Penland Scholarship—philosophy/religion, science, or education majors
  • Pepsi-Cola Scholarship—auto restorations majors
  • Peterson: Ernest & Inez Peterson Scholarship—juniors and seniors; business and accounting majors; minimum GPA
  • Phillips- Phillips Family Endowed Scholarship Fund- students pursuing a degree in automotive restoration, minimum 2.9 GPA.
  • Platts: Henry M Platts Endowed Scholarship Fund- automotive restoration students, minimum 3.0 GPA.
  • Porter: Irwin and Betty Porter Fund—no restrictions
  • Powell: Powell Family Scholarship in Science and Religion—science or religion/philosophy majors with preference to those studying both disciplines
  • Prather: A.B. & Vera Prather Scholarship—financial need
  • Quapaw: Benjamin Quapaw Scholarship—Native-American students
  • Quint: Don Quint Memorial Soccer Scholarship Fund—business majors who also are a member of the soccer team; minimum GPA
  • Railsback- Gene & Sheryl Railsback Family Scholarship Fund- Upperclassman majoring in elementary education, from a rural or small-town background.
  • Ray: Art Ray Track & Field /Cross Country Scholarship—students participating in track and field or cross country; minimum GPA
  • Reed: Don Reed Endowed Scholarship Fund: no restrictions
  • Reed: Blake Reed Mac2Mac Scholarship—graduated from McPherson High School and participated in high school football program as a senior and plans to attend McPherson College and participate in the college’s football program; current McPherson College football player with financial need
  • Rock: Kenneth M. Rock Scholarship—upper 25% of their high school class; financial need
  • Rolls-Royce: Rolls-Royce Foundation Scholarship—auto restorations students with demonstrated interest in Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars
  • Royer: Patricia A. .Royer Endowed Scholarship Fund—full-time students; affiliated with COB; majors in fine arts, business, sciences, or teacher education; minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Royer: William D. & Alice Nash Royer Scholarship—biology majors
  • Sahl: Bob Sahl Scholarship—2nd-, 3rd- and 4th-year auto restoration students who demonstrate interest in pre-’16 autos; recommendation from the auto restoration faculty; financial need
  • Sargent: Paul & Rowena Vaniman Sargent Scholarship in Business—priority given to business majors; minimum GPA; financial need; nominated by business faculty
  • Sargent: Paul & Rowena Vaniman Sargent Scholarship in Foreign Language – for majors in any field with a commitment to study abroad for a minimum of one (1) semester
  • Sell: Orlin N. Sell Scholarship—students interested in Christian education, ministry, teaching, or social work
  • Sheller: Arlene Barley Sheller Scholarship—Ivester Church of the Brethren members/friends
  • Shenefelt: Leslie M Shenefelt and Bonnie K Harwick Shenefelt Endowed Scholarship Fund- student majoring in teaching education or health science.
  • Smith: The A. Herbert and Jeanne Jacoby Smith Fund for International Service Learning- Experience inter-disciplinary cultural immersion in a developing part of the world, use their major to serve a need in the country they are in, full time students.
  • Smith- Zane Smith Endowed Scholarship Fund for Business- Business majors, 2.2. GPA minimum.
  • Smith: Delbert L. & Barbara J. Smith Cross Country and Track & Field Scholarship—Student who participates in cross country and/or track and field; financial need
  • Smith: Dwight Smith Scholarship—financial need
  • Smith: Paul E. “Gene” Smith Scholarship—junior; football player who excelled at athletic performance, attitude, sportsmanship, and team play during sophomore year; recommendation from athletic staff
  • Snavely: Paul & Edna Snavely Scholarship—financial need
  • Sneddon: Jack (Super Toe) Sneddon Endowed Scholarship – full time student participating in football, financial need, good character, minimum 3.0 GPA.
  • Sneddon: Jack [Super Toe] Sneddon Scholarship
  • Snell: Dale Snell Scholarship—junior or senior music major; good academic standing
  • Spear: Spear Brothers Scholarship—full-time student enrolled in the Auto Restoration program; financial need
  • Staats: Elmer B. Staats & Margaret Rich Staats Scholarship for Public Service—students seeking career in public service
  • Stahl- Foster “Buzz” Stahl Endowed Scholarship Fund – full time Auto Restoration student, demonstrates service through their involvement in college activities and/or in their community, minimum 3.0 GPA.
  • Strickler: Dale & Velma Strickler Scholarship—junior or senior students interested in social work, business or economics
  • Strickler: Lois Wood Strickler Secondary Teacher Education Scholarship – primary consideration given to students in secondary teacher ed program, students participating in student debt project, and then any student with financial need; minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Sutton: Charlie & Wilma Sutton Scholarship – full-time student; financial need
  • Trinity: Trinity Church of the Brethren Scholarship—students interested in ministry
  • Trostle: Bernice McClellan Trostle Scholarship—priority to history, English, humanities, or social science majors
  • Trostle: Raymond H. Trostle Scholarship—priority to chemistry or history majors
  • Turner/Harris: Turner/Harris Endowed Scholarship—full-time students in automotive restoration, graphic arts, or music programs; minimum 3.0 GPA; preference given to veterans
  • Ullom: Victor and Rosalie Ullom Scholarship—Colorado residents; financial need
  • van Asselt/Higgins: Peggy van Asselt/Pam Higgins Scholarship**—priority to biology/foreign language double majors; financial need may be considered
  • VanGoethem: James & Lori VanGoethem Family Scholarship—full-time student; financial need; minimum GPA
  • Vaniman: Elmer E. Vaniman Scholarship in Music—music students; priority to Church of the Brethren students
  • Voshell: LaVerne M. “Tony” Voshell Athletic Scholarship—students participating in football, basketball, or track
  • Wagoner: Paul and Mery Metzler Wagoner Scholarship – minimum 2.5 GPA
  • Wall: Ernest A. Wall & Eunice Almen Wall & Rollyn E. Wall Scholarship—freshmen students
  • Walton: Rob Walton Scholarship Fund- Automotive Restoration: students participating in the Restoration Technology program.
  • Ward: John Ward & Bonnie Martin Ward Scholarship—resident of McPherson, Kansas; planning to become a teacher; minimum GPA
  • Watkins-Gerhard: Watkins-Gerhard Scholarship—financial need
  • Weaver: Paul & Frances Weaver Scholarship—students pursuing career in Christian ministry; philosophy/religion students
  • Weinblatt- Henry “Hank” Weinblatt and Rita Goudy Weinblatt Endowed Scholarship Fund- students declaring major in automotive restoration, U.S. military serving or family is/was military, minimum 2.9 GPA
  • Will: W. Marvin & Doreen Will Scholarship—two annual scholarships to incoming freshmen majoring in political science, history or both
  • Will: W. Marvin & Doreen Will Scholarship—Internships of field experiences in foreign countries, for the study of history and/or political science
  • Wise: Jacob & Ruth Wise Scholarship—financial need
  • Witmore: Irma Cloe Witmore Scholarship—students of English, journalism, communication, theatre or library science who participate in at least one (1) extra-curricular or volunteer activity on campus each semester
  • Wittig: Randy & Sonya Wittig Scholarship—auto restoration students
  • Wittig: Roger & Rita Wittig Scholarship—auto restoration students
  • Yoder: Dayton & Hazel Yoder Scholarship—Church of the Brethren students with rural/agricultural background; academic achievement, leadership ability
  • York: H. Laverne & Evelyn Herr York Scholarship—student athlete majoring in physical education
  • Ziegler: Paul Ziegler Scholarship—priority given to member of the tennis team; demonstrate compassion, encouragement, and leadership; financial need

** not fully funded

Work Study and Employment

All students may apply for on-campus jobs, but students qualifying for the Federal College Work Study program are given priority. These jobs include clerical assistants, maintenance workers, housekeeping, resident assistants, admissions assistants, athletic event staff, etc.

Off-campus employment is usually available to students. The community of McPherson normally enjoys an unemployment rate far below the national average, and there are many requests for part-time student help. The Career Services Offices posts notices of available positions for both on- and off-campus jobs online at https://www.mcpherson.edu/career/.

Other Sources of Financial Assistance

Veteran’s Benefits may be used to attend McPherson College. For information on eligibility and to obtain application materials, students should contact the Veteran’s Administration by phone at 1-888-442-4551 or online at https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/ .

Local service agencies such as Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, PEO, AAUW and others often have funding available for qualified students. Inquire with these agencies for scholarship forms.

Other forms of financial aid may also be available. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for further information.

2023|03 Financial Information, Catalog 23-24|

Financial Aid Policies

 

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

To be eligible for financial aid, a student must make satisfactory academic progress. Academic progress is reviewed at the end of fall and spring semesters. Progress is based on the chart below.

First-time freshmen

Satisfactory academic progress is based on attempted hours, including all post-secondary coursework attempted. This includes failed coursework, coursework graded as incomplete and withdrawn coursework. Repeated coursework is included in the attempted hours and in the GPA hours for the term that course is recognized on the transcript.

Transfer students

A qualitative assessment is based on coursework accepted by McPherson College, and the accepted coursework is shown in both attempted and completed hours. Failed coursework, coursework graded as incomplete and withdrawn coursework are included in attempted hours. Repeated coursework is included in the attempted hours and in the GPA hours for the term that course is recognized on the transcript. A quantitative assessment is based on cumulative grade point average.

The maximum time frame for completing a degree is 186 credit hours. The time frame may be extended if necessary for students who have changed majors. An appeal will be required for this extension.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS:
Quantitative Qualitative
Hours attempted cumulative GPA hours earned / hours attempted
0 -15.9 1.60 50.0
16.0 – 31.99 1.70 55.0
32.0 – 46.99 1.80 60.0
47.0 – 61.99 1.90 65.0
62 + 2.00 67.0

Students are evaluated at the end of each payment period. A student who fails to meet the quantitative or qualitative measures may not be eligible for federal, state, and institutional financial aid. A student may fall into one of the following categories: Warning or Suspension.

  1. Warning – Students who do not achieve one or more of the academic criteria in any given semester/term are put on warning. The student is sent notification stating the policy and the consequences of a consecutive term below standards.
  2. Suspension – Students who do not achieve one or more academic criteria for a second consecutive semester are put on suspension. They are notified that their aid has been suspended and given the choice to appeal, explaining any unusual circumstances that prevented them from making academic progress. If the student chooses not to appeal, financial aid is withheld for the next payment period. If the student appeals, there are two options.
    1. Probation – If it is mathematically possible and probable that the student can meet satisfactory academic progress in one term and the student has an unusual circumstance, the student can be placed on probation and given one term to fix the issue. If the student achieves the required GPA and/or pass rate, the student continues in good standing. If the student fails to meet the minimum requirements, the student is immediately put back on suspension.   Students may appeal again if there are reasons for the lack of academic progress other than those cited in the original appeal.
    2. Plan – If it is not mathematically possible or is improbable that a student can achieve good standing in one term, McPherson College may choose to put the student on a multiple-term academic plan. The plan will utilize the SAP levels and a set number of credit hours per semester to get the student back into good standing. If the student meets the semester/term achievements but still lacks the cumulative requirements, the student is not put back on suspension but allowed to continue on their plan. If the student meets good standing sooner than planned, the student is put back in good standing. If the student does not meet any part of the semester/term plan, the student is put back on suspension and given the option to appeal only if there are circumstances other than those cited in the original appeal that explain the lack of academic progress.

Appeals

To appeal, the student must complete a financial aid appeal form and submit an unofficial transcript. If the appeal is approved, the student will be on financial aid probation for a semester. At the end of the semester another review will be completed. If the student does not meet the standards again, they will not be eligible for financial aid. The student may appeal to have their financial aid reinstated; however, the explanation cannot be the same as the first appeal. The student has the option of being placed on an academic plan.

Academic Plans

An academic plan outlines requirements a student must meet for a period of time. The academic plan may cover several semesters. The academic plan will be reviewed at the end of the fall and spring semesters. If the student is meeting the requirements of the academic plan, the student will remain eligible for financial aid. If the student is not meeting the requirements, financial aid will be revoked, but the student will have an option to appeal.

Code of Conduct for Private Education Loans

Students or parents may borrow from the lending institution(s) of their choice based on the criteria that they believe are most relevant and important to their situation. McPherson College does not make lender recommendations; however, upon request the college will make available a list of the 5–10 lenders selected most often by students and parents in past years.

  • McPherson College does not have any revenue-sharing arrangements with any lenders.
  • McPherson College and its employees do not accept any gifts from lenders, other than gifts of de minimis value such as coffee mugs, pens, holiday foods, etc.
  • McPherson College employees may not accept travel expense reimbursement, lodging, or compensation from lenders.
  • McPherson College does not use employees of lenders to represent the college in connection with financial aid matters, and we do not give permission for employees of lenders to represent themselves as employees of McPherson College.
2023|03 Financial Information, Catalog 23-24|

Bachelor’s Degrees

At the baccalaureate level, McPherson College offers the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. Most majors include a variety of emphases from which to choose as well as licensure programs that qualify students for a career in education. Please see the departmental curricula later in this catalog for complete descriptions of the emphases and licensure available within each major.

Major Requirements

A major consists of no fewer than 32 and no more than 62 semester hours, including all required courses for the major, regardless of prefix. Interdisciplinary and student-designed majors (see guidelines below) are exempt from the 62-hour cap. Not all current majors may be used towards an interdisciplinary or student-designed major. Departmental or program requirements for specific courses, field experiences, or comprehensive tests must be met. Those requirements are specified along with the departmental curricula.

Minor Requirements

A minor typically consists of a minimum of 18 credit hours of study within a particular academic discipline. Minors are available in biology, business administration, chemistry, communication, English, environmental science, environmental stewardship, graphic design, history, mathematics, Spanish, storytelling, peace studies, music, philosophy and religion, psychology, sociology, theatre, transformative entrepreneurship, writing, and visual arts. Requirements for the minors in each of these areas are specified in the departmental sections of this catalog. For the minor to be recognized on the transcript, the student must achieve a minimal GPA of 2.0 in the minor coursework.

Teacher Education Program

The Teacher Education Program at McPherson College focuses on three major levels of licensure. The type of degree earned (BA or BS) mirrors the content area. The following are lists of the levels and the programs:

6-12 Licensure
Biology, Chemistry, English, English for Speakers of Other Languages, History and Government, Mathematics, High-Incidence Special Education, Theatre.

K-6 Licensure
Elementary Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages, High-Incidence Special Education

PK-12 Licensure
Art, Music, Spanish, Sport Studies

 

Bachelor of Arts Degrees

A minimum of one hundred twenty-four (124) academic credit hours are required for the B.A. degree. A Bachelor of Arts degree may be obtained for the following majors:

  • Art and Design
  • Communication
  • Digital Media
  • English
  • History
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Philosophy and Religion
  • Social Justice and Advocacy
  • Spanish

Students completing one of the above majors who want a Bachelor of Science degree must take eight additional hours in a B.S. major beyond the general education requirements in that area.

Bachelor of Science Degrees

One hundred twenty-four (124) academic credit hours are required for the B.S. degree. A Bachelor of Science degree may be obtained for the following majors:

  • Automotive Restoration Technology
  • Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Business Administration
  • Chemistry
  • Elementary Education (including Special Education licensure)
  • Environmental Stewardship
  • Health Science
  • Healthcare Management
  • Politics and History
  • Mathematics
  • Psychology
  • Secondary Education (see Teacher Education Program section above for options)
  • Sociology
  • Sport Studies (Health and P.E. licensure available)
  • Sport Management

Students completing one of the above majors who want a Bachelor of Arts degree must take two semesters of a single second human language.

Requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree

  • A minimum of 124 credit hours.
  • Fulfillment of the major program requirements.
  • Fulfillment of general education requirements, or completion of an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree at an accredited institution. (Note: Education majors must complete all of the general education requirements, even if they have earned an associate’s degree.)
  • A minimum, overall residential GPA of 2.0.
  • A minimum, residential GPA of 2.0 in the major.
  • A minimum of 32 credit hours completed at McPherson College.
  • 20 of the last 30 or 40 of the last 60 credit hours completed at McPherson College.
  • A minimum of 8 hours of the major completed at McPherson College.
  • The last 60 credit hours completed at a four-year college or university.
  • No more than 64 credit hours from two-year institutions counted toward the degree.
  • At least six hours outside the home department of the major, in addition to the major and general education requirements. (Students with more than one major automatically meet this requirement. Students with a student-designed major must complete at least six hours outside both home departments of the major.)
  • Approval by majority vote at Faculty Meeting.

Interdisciplinary Programs and Student-Designed Major Programs

Interdisciplinary programs and student-designed major programs allow faculty and students to combine courses from two or three departments into one major.

Interdisciplinary Programs

Interdisciplinary programs are typically initiated by faculty.  The following guidelines must be followed:

  • An interdisciplinary major shall consist of a minimum of 44 semester hours and a maximum of 75 semester hours.
  • The program of study shall consist of at least 20 semester hours from two different departments.
  • The instructors supervising the program must come from from the departments providing 20 or more semester hours to the program of study.

When faculty initiate an interdisciplinary major program, two or more instructors from the appropriate departments plan the interdisciplinary concentration and submit the proposal to the Educational Policies Committee following the guidelines available from the registrar’s office. Examples of faculty initiated interdisciplinary majors are Environmental Stewardship, Health Science and Digital Media.

Student-Designed Major Programs

Student-Designed Major programs are initiated by the student.

The following guidelines must be followed:

  • The student must complete the Student Designed Major form available in the registrar’s office or on Bulldog Connect.
  • An interdisciplinary major shall consist of a minimum of 44 semester hours and a maximum of 75 semester hours.
  • The program of study shall consist of at least 20 semester hours from two different departments.
  • The instructors supervising the program must come from the departments providing 20 or more semester hours to the program of study.
  • The student should strive for a balance of 18 credits at 300 level, with a minimum of one 400 level course.
  • The program must be approved by the Educational Policies Committee no later than the second semester of the junior year.

A student may, in consultation with faculty advisors, propose a previously unestablished student-designed major. The chairs of each department represented in the program must approve the proposal. The proposal is submitted to the Educational Policies Committee (EPC) according to the guidelines. The student and a faculty advisor must present the proposal to EPC in person to explain and defend its academic integrity.

The following are examples of student-designed majors that have been approved by Educational Policies Committee and completed by recent graduates of McPherson College. They are listed here to illustrate the possibilities students may explore.

  • Family Life and Human Development
  • Pre-Nursing and Human Behavior
  • Bioethics/International Studies/Political Science
  • Psychology and Music

2023|04 Degree Programs, Catalog 23-24|

Transformative Entrepreneurship Minor

As a career-orient liberal arts college, McPherson College integrates the entrepreneurial spirit and mindset throughout its curriculum. Students who want to more intentionally develop their own entrepreneurial skills and thought processes can complete the minor in Transformative Entrepreneurship.

The Transformative Entrepreneurship minor helps students better understand the risks and processes involved in beginning an entrepreneurial venture. McPherson College’s minor is transformative in the sense that students who engage in future entrepreneurial ventures will make an impact and transform the world in some way.

McPherson College faculty have defined entrepreneurship as follows:

Entrepreneurship is the creative process of developing sustainable, innovative ventures that solve problems and meet the needs of the greater community. Balancing opportunity and risk, the entrepreneur manages resources and constructs solutions that benefit both self and society.
(Approved by faculty 2/3/11)

Students who complete a minor in transformative entrepreneurship will be able to:

  • Articulate the definition of transformative entrepreneurship
  • Articulate the roles that entrepreneurs have played in history
  • Identify and analyze opportunities and their related risks
  • Demonstrate creative processes required to develop entrepreneurial ventures
  • Determine their talents and role in effective teamwork
  • Demonstrate skill in project management and resource utilization
  • Demonstrate the process of resource acquisition through networking
  • Illustrate the interplay of economics and social change
  • Illustrate responsibility to a greater society

Transformative Entrepreneurship Curriculum

To complete the minor, students will complete the following four courses:

  • ET101 Creativity and Innovation for Transformation – 3 credit hours
  • G-ET201 Social Entrepreneurship – 3 credit hours
  • ET301/BA235 The Entrepreneur at Work – 3 credit hours
  • ET475 Entrepreneurship in Action – 2 credit hours

Additionally, students will select nine hours from the following courses. Students may choose one class from within her/his major coursework area. One class must be selected from outside the division where her/his major is housed.

Humanities

  • G-AR220 Graphic Design for Non-Art Majors
  • AR340 Web-based Design or CM350 Web Design for Effective Communication
  • G-CM130 Interpersonal Communication
  • G-PA160 Performing for the Stage
  • CM135 Media Writing
  • CM210 Multimedia Storytelling
  • G-CM218 Business & Professional Communication
  • G-CM221 Intercultural Communication
  • CM310 Public Relations
  • CM325 Conflict Communication
  • CM330 Persuasion
  • EN313 Adv. Expository Writing
  • G-PA160 Performing for the Stage
  • PA215 Seminar & Practica in Performance & Production
  • G-PR104 Ethics

Science & Technology

  • BI325 Human Ecology, Epidemiology, and Public Health
  • G-NS141 Environmental Science
  • NS415 Environmental Ethics
  • TE301 Materials and Processes
  • G-TE333 Technology & Society

Social Sciences

  • PY405 Personality Theories
  • SO206 Social Problems
  • SO260 Intro to Human Services
  • BA315 Business Law
  • BA224 Principles of Management

Additional Requirements: Students must submit a Horizon Fund grant at some point during their career. The focus of the venture proposal is open, but should reflect the student’s interests.

Transformative Entrepreneurship Course Descriptions

ET101 Creativity & Innovation for Transformative Entrepreneurship

3 hours
Interactive seminar introduces students to readings and processes from various disciplines that elucidate the interdisciplinary nature of creativity and enable students to create conditions that stimulate it. Projects and assignments are designed to encourage a “critical creativity” that challenges participants through inquiry, multi-faceted exploration and strategic development. Topics examined through writing and design assignments, group projects, and discussions include consciousness, receptivity, risk, ethics, self agency, and social engagement with the express objective of fostering creative potential and its application in all areas of experience.

G-ET201 Social Entrepreneurship

3 hours
Addresses the challenges of creating and sustaining organizations in today’s global environment. Provides an overview of the role and importance of entrepreneurship in the global economy and in society. Examines how individuals use entrepreneurial skills to craft innovative responses to societal needs.

ET301 The Entrepreneur at Work

3 hours
Explores the process of managing and growing the entrepreneurial venture. The course is designed to provide exposure to topics critical to the success of the venture in startup and early growth: business planning; growth management and strategic planning; marketing and financial strategies; exit strategies; and different modes of venturing, such as franchising, venture acquisition, and technology licensing. Prerequisite: G-ET201 or consent of the instructor.

ET475 Entrepreneurship in Action

2 hours
This capstone experience allows students to pursue their own venture or explore how an entrepreneurial mindset will serve them well in whatever career they choose. Regular discussions with entrepreneurial faculty, mentors, and entrepreneurs from the community will help students identify components of an entrepreneurial mindset and discover their use in society and their career. (Prerequisites: ET101, ET201, ET301)

2023|05 Special Programs, Catalog 23-24|

Pre-Professional Programs

Law

Although the pre-law student may choose a major in any field, a strong knowledge of either philosophy/religion, sociology (especially criminal justice), or politics/history proves very helpful. Hence one of these three majors is recommended for the pre-law student:

  • B.A. in Philosophy and Religion: Pre-Law
  • B.S. in Sociology (Criminal Justice emphasis)
  • B.S. in Politics and History

Students interested in law should counsel with the pre-law advisor or with the chair of the department of philosophy/religion, sociology, or history/politics. If you are considering law school, then the following courses (if not already required by your major) are excellent elective options.

BA 215 Business Law (3 hours)
G-CM 130 Interpersonal Communication (3 hours)
G-CM 140 Public Speaking (3 hours)
CM 325 Conflict Communication (3 hours)
CM 330 Persuasion and Social Influence (3 hours)
EC 201 Principles of Economics: Macro (3 hours)
EC 204 Principles of Economics: Micro (3 hours)
G-HI 140 U.S. History to 1877 (3 hours)
G-HI 150 U.S. History since 1877 (3 hours)
G-PR 104 or G-PR 104L Ethics (3 hours if G-PR 104; 4 hours and language intensive if G-PR 104L)
G-PR 107 Critical Thinking (3 hours)
G-PR 310 Religion and Law (3 hours)
G-PR 360 Modern Logic (3 hours)
PR 375B Junior Seminar: LSAT Prep (3 hours)
PR 432 Philosophy of Law (3 hours)
G-PS 102 U.S. Government (3 hours)
PS 356 American Diplomacy (3 hours)
PY/SO 308 Counseling (3 hours)
SO 206 Social Problems (3 hours)
SO 275 Criminal Justice (3 hours)

 

Medicine, Osteopathy, or Dentistry

Students who prepare for application to medical, osteopathic or dental school should complete a baccalaureate degree in any field. The recommended degrees are biology or biochemistry, which provides the best collection of courses suggested by most medical or health professional schools. The required courses include a minimum of the following:

G-BI 111 College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112 College Biology II (4 hours)
G-CH 111 College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112 College Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251 Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 252 Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
BI 310/CH 310 Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)
G-PH 215 General Physics I (4 hours)
PH 216 General Physics II (4 hours)

Other advanced courses recommended include:

BI 225 Human Anatomy (4 hours)
BI 315 Human Physiology (4 hours)
BI 325 Human Ecology, Epidemiology and Public Health (4 hours)
BI/CH 370 Biochemistry (4 hours)
BI/CH 373 Cell Physiology/Biochemistry II (5 hours)

A faculty member of the natural science department serves as pre-health advisor and should be consulted when planning a program to meet a specific school’s admission requirements.

Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant

A transition is under way in the physical therapy and physician assistant fields from training that culminates in a master’s degree to programs that grant the master’s or doctoral degree. Therefore, pre-physical therapy and pre-physician assistant students should first complete a baccalaureate degree at McPherson College. The recommended majors are biology or health science. The recommended courses include a minimum of the following:

G-BI 111 College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112 College Biology II (4 hours)
BI 225 Human Anatomy (4 hours)
BI 315 Human Physiology (4 hours)
G-CH 111 College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112 College Chemistry II (5 hours)
G-PH 215 General Physics I (4 hours)
PH 216 General Physics II (4 hours)
BI/CH 310 Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)

A faculty member of the natural science department serves as pre-health advisor for biology majors. The director of the health care initiatives serves as advisor for health science majors. These advisors should be consulted when planning a program to meet a specific school’s admission requirements.

Optometry, Podiatry

Three years of college are the minimum requirement to be considered for admission to optometry or podiatry school; however, the vast majority of students admitted have completed a college degree, majoring in one of the sciences. The recommended degree at McPherson College is biology, which provides the best collection of courses suggested by most health professional schools. The basic admission requirements in the sciences may usually be met with the following courses:

G-BI 111 College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112 College Biology II (4 hours)
G-CH 111 College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112 College Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251 Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 252 Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
BI/CH 310 Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)
G-PH 215 General Physics I (4 hours)
PH 216 General Physics II (4 hours)

Other advanced courses recommended include:

BI 225 Human Anatomy (4 hours)
BI 234 Microbiology (5 hours)
BI 315 Human Physiology (4 hours)
BI/CH 370 Biochemistry (4 hours)

A faculty member of the natural science department serves as pre-health advisor and should be consulted when planning a program to meet a specific school’s admission requirements.

Pharmacy

Students preparing for a career in pharmacy may attend McPherson College for at least two years during which the following courses must be taken: 20 hours chemistry, 16 hours biology, four hours mathematics, four hours physics, and 16 hours English, economics, and other electives in the social sciences and humanities. A faculty member of the natural science department serves as pre-health advisor and should be consulted when planning a program to meet a specific school’s admission requirements.

Social Work

McPherson College has well prepared its students majoring in the Behavioral Sciences for entrance into Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree programs. The pre-professional program at McPherson College commits itself to fostering student learning in career-oriented liberal arts so that students are prepared for community service and/or graduate study in social work. Students who have acquired knowledge and skills requisite for entry into the field of social services and graduate social work education demonstrate proficient knowledge, understanding, and application of psychological and sociological theories and concepts.

All accredited graduate programs in social work require a four year bachelor’s degree for admission. The pre-social work student should plan the liberal arts program to include courses in arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and biological sciences. Although the pre-social work student may choose a major in any field, a strong knowledge of human services, personality theory, counseling, and social problems is strongly recommended. The B.S. in psychology or sociology, with the health and human services emphasis is recommended.

M.S.W. programs require evidence of relevant paid/volunteer work experience related to human services organizations. The pre-social work student should therefore be prepared to complete at least one one internship or field experience related to community/social services. (The College’s Career Connections program is highly recommended.)

The M.S.W. Degree prepares graduates for advances social work practices in one of three areas—clinical social practice with individuals, families, and groups; social work administration/community practice aimed at social service administration and social policy development; and school social work. With such diverse professional practice concentrations, it is difficult to outline a generic program to prepare all pre-social work students for admission to these practice areas. Students should counsel with the pre-social work advisor to help them identify the type of professional program they are considering, and to assist them in developing a plan for completing the graduate admission requirements of that program. internship or field.

Although M.S.W. programs differ in admissions requirements, the following courses, in addition to the major, are recommended for students interested in entering the social work profession at the graduate level:

PY 405 Personality Theories (3 hours)
PY/SO 308 Counseling (3 hours)
SO 206 Social Problems (3 hours)

Courses in the Health & Human Services Emphasis:

SO 260 Introduction to Human Services (3 hours)
SO 365 Social Work in American Society (3 hours)
PY 430 Health Psychology (3 hours)
SO 470 Social Gerontology (3 hours)
PY/SO 388 Career Connections (1-10 hours)
PY/SO 295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)

Veterinary Medicine

At least two years of college are required to be considered for admission into a college of veterinary medicine; however, the vast majority of students admitted have completed a college degree, majoring in one of the sciences. The pre- veterinary medicine student will plan an appropriate course of study with the help of a faculty advisor. Courses are selected to meet requirements of the specific college of veterinary medicine to which the student plans to apply The following courses are representative of those required by colleges of veterinary medicine for students seeking admission:

G-BI 111 College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112 College Biology II (4 hours)
BI 234 Microbiology (5 hours)
BI 383 Genetics (4 hours)
G-CH 111 College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112 College Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251 Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 252 Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
BI/CH 370 Biochemistry (4 hours)
G-PH 215 General Physics I (4 hours)
PH 216 General Physics II (4 hours)

It is common for pre-veterinary medicine students to complete the bachelor of science degree before applying for admittance to veterinary school. A student electing to do so should pursue one of the programs at McPherson College that lead to a major in biology, chemistry, or biochemistry.

2023|05 Special Programs, Catalog 23-24|

The Chicago Center

McPherson College students interested in exploring the vital issues facing American cities have the opportunity to participate in The Chicago Center programs. Combining classroom study with action-based internships, The Chicago Center lives up to its motto: “Chicago is our classroom.” For an interterm or a semester, students receive McPherson College credit hours while they live, study and work in one of the United State’s most exciting urban environments.

The Chicago Center’s emphasis on “hands-on” experience helps students deepen their understanding of America’s economic and political structures, race and gender relations, and the role of the arts in community and social discourse. The direct link between the classroom and the internship increases student understanding of the practical work world outside the college campus. In addition to the academic coursework, the Center provides both housing and orientation training. The latter includes practical instruction in a variety of “city smart” skills ranging from basic street safety to using the city transit system.

The Chicago Center is open to students from any field of study and internships are available in a wide range of discipline areas.

2023|05 Special Programs, Catalog 23-24|

International Study

McPherson College students have exciting opportunities to live and study outside the United States. Options available include one-semester programs (both fall and spring), full-year programs, and summer programs. Programs include traditional classroom experiences, internships, and service-learning experiences.

McPherson is affiliated with two major international organizations that manage international study: BCA Study Abroad Powered by Amizade (bca.terradotta.com) and ISA International Studies Abroad (studiesabroad.com). Through these organizations, students have access to programming at more than 50 universities in over 30 different countries. The college’s director of international study can help students access programs beyond these two partner organizations at additional universities in other countries.

The study abroad experience begins by meeting with the director of international studies. Then students work with their academic and financial aid advisors to select the program that best matches their interests and career goals. Student athletes will also want to meet with their coaches and plan their study abroad to match their eligibility and team schedules.

Following the study abroad experience, student academic credits will be transferred to the college’s transcript and become part of the student’s permanent record, providing documentation of the student’s achievement. Please note: Study abroad official transcripts typically take longer to receive than domestic transcripts. If the student is also an athlete, he/she will want to work with the study abroad institution and their coach as to not impact athletic eligibility.

During their international study experience, students will retain enrollment at McPherson, using course code **297, where ** represents the major department’s course code prefix (BI for biology as an example). Once the official transcript arrives from the study abroad school, the registrar’s office will work with the student’s academic advisor for the coursework equivalencies.

Recent international study destinations for McPherson students have included: Spain, Thailand, Japan, Ireland, England, and Ecuador.

 

2023|05 Special Programs, Catalog 23-24|

4-1-4 Academic Calendar

McPherson College structures its academic terms on the 4–1–4 academic model; that is, the fall and spring semesters take place during four-month periods (roughly, late August through early December and late January through early May) with a one-month intervening term referred to as January Interterm. During the January Interterm, students take only one course.

Because most students average around 14 hours per semester during the fall and spring terms, and because students must complete no fewer than 124 credit hours to graduate (an average of 31 credit hours per year), most students need to enroll for Interterm classes each year in order to graduate in four years. Students should plan carefully and review their progress toward graduation with their faculty advisor or the registrar before choosing not to enroll for a January Interterm.

Definition of Credit Hour

The credit hour is the unit of measure used at McPherson College to signify the amount of work associated with successful completion of a course. An hour of academic credit is awarded contingent upon evidence of student achievement of prescribed learning outcomes of the course. McPherson College delivers courses in both face-to-face and blended formats in terms of varying length, as follows:

  • Fall and Spring semesters of 14 weeks
  • Graduate program terms of 7-8 weeks
  • A January Interterm of 3 ½ weeks
  • Compressed formats such as extended weekend sessions

For each hour of academic credit, a student should expect to spend 50 minutes per week in class over the course of a 14-week semester, 50 minutes per day over the course of a 14-day Interterm session, or 85 minutes per week for an eight-week term. In addition, for each hour of credit, students should expect to spend approximately two hours outside of class for class preparation and completion of assignments. Courses offered in a compressed format must meet the same learning outcomes as an identical course offered during the 14-week semester at the standard pace. Direct instruction time is a minimum of 12.5 hours per credit awarded. Regardless of the length of the term, the well-prepared, motivated student should expect to devote approximately 40 hours per term, in and out of class, for each hour of credit.

McPherson College also offers academic credit for internships and field experiences with approved student learning outcomes and appropriate assessment of those outcomes. Student-interns can earn one hour of academic credit for every 40 hours on the job at the site of the placement.

To demonstrate compliance with U.S. Department of Education regulations and standards established by the Higher Learning Commission, all McPherson College instructors include in their syllabi a course schedule with the requisite number of class meetings for the appropriate length of time as well as a detailed list of readings, assignments, and projects indicative of the expected hours outside the classroom.

Online Coursework

McPherson College offers a small number of online courses and traditional face-to-face classes blended with an online component. Consistent with the above guidelines, for every hour of credit granted for an online course or course component, the student should expect to spend the same 40 hours per term for each hour of credit. This can include time devoted to reading lecture notes, listening to recordings of lectures, or synchronous class time. Additional time elements to consider in the online environment are readings, writing assignments (including the discussion boards), exams/quizzes and student engagement.

Student Course Load

Undergraduate students must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours to be classified as a full-time student for the fall or spring semesters. During the January Interterm, students are limited to 4 credit hours. Graduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours to be classified as a full-time student for fall or spring semesters.

Undergraduate students may enroll in courses above 16 hours under the following conditions:

  • 17 hrs. Requires minimum residential GPA of 3.0 and approval of advisor
  • 18-20 hrs. Requires minimum residential GPA of 3.5 and approval of advisor
  • 20 + hrs. Requires minimum residential GPA of 3.5 and overload approval form and approval of chief academic officer or designee

All credits the student takes over 16 credit hours will be charged the overload fee specified in this catalog under Regular Charges and Fees.

Freshman and Transfer Enrollment

McPherson College hosts a number of enrollment days during the spring and summer for the upcoming academic year. First-time freshmen are encouraged to attend one of these opportunities to meet with an academic advisor regarding classes. First-time freshmen who are unable to attend an enrollment day and all transfer students will be advised of times when they may make individual appointments with an advisor.

Returning Student Enrollment

Enrollment periods are scheduled each spring when returning students can enroll by classification. Upperclassmen receive priority and enroll first, followed by sophomores and then freshmen. These enrollment period dates are published in the Academic Calendar.

All students have access to their degree audit in Bulldog Connect. For assistance, please email [email protected]. Students are strongly encouraged to schedule a junior check during the spring of their sophomore year and then a graduation check during the spring semester of their junior year. Students will receive an email reminder but the responsibility remains with the student to track their progress towards earning their degree.

It is important that students—especially juniors and returning seniors—enroll during the dates set aside for their class. Students who fail to enroll during their appointed enrollment period cannot be guaranteed a seat in courses filled by students who met enrollment deadlines.

Students with outstanding balances in excess of $1,500 will not be allowed to enroll for the following semester. Past due balances may result in dismissal from the college and may be placed for collection.

Student Classification

To be eligible to enroll in courses open to members of that class, a returning student must have earned hours toward a degree as listed:

Freshman             1-25 credit hours earned

Sophomore         26-56 credit hours earned

Junior                      57-89 credit hours earned

Senior                     90+ credit hours earned

Waiting Lists

Due to space limitations or pedagogical principle, all courses have a maximum number of students that can be enrolled. Once the maximum enrollment has been reached during the pre-registration period, students can be placed on a waiting list. As students with seats reserved in a course drop or withdraw, students on the waiting list will be moved into those empty seats on a first-come-first-served basis. Students who are still on a waiting list for a class when the term begins should meet immediately with their advisor to reconsider their course schedule. On occasion, an upper level student may be given priority as long as it does not hinder the progress of another student.

Academic Advising

Academic advising at McPherson College is an intentional relationship between advisor and student as they plan and reach the student’s educational, career, and personal goals.

Focal points of the advisement program at McPherson College include:

  • advising the student about his or her academic concerns, co-curricular activities and postgraduate plans
  • assisting each student to assess educational/academic objectives
  • serving as an interpreter of regulations and academic requirements
  • acting as a referral service for any personal or academic problems which may arise

With few exceptions, first-time freshmen are initially assigned an academic advisor. After reaching 57 cumulative credit hours, the Registrar assigns students to a faculty advisor from their academic major or from a discipline of interest to assist them with enrolling for the next academic year and with developing a graduation plan.

Students may ask to change advisors at any time. Change of Advisor request forms are available on Bulldog Connect (my.mcpherson.edu) and from the registrar’s office.

Beginning, Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Classes

The dates of all deadlines are published in the annual Academic Calendar. The last day to add a course is also the last day for students to begin courses. Students are not able to drop/add courses after the first day of classes without the assistance of their academic advisor. During the second week of classes, students may drop courses without a fee. Beginning the third week of class, students will be charged a $50 fee to withdraw from a course, and a grade of W will be posted on their transcript. Students may withdraw from courses until one week after midterm grades are due. Students who withdraw from a class before that deadline will receive a notation of “W” on the permanent record in place of a letter grade. Students may not withdraw after that deadline without the grade earned at the end of the term being reported on their transcript.

Students who drop a course within the first two weeks will not receive a W on their transcript since they are within the add/drop period. However, if a student withdraws from all courses, they will receive W’s on their transcript to document their attempt at McPherson College.

Auditing Courses

With permission of the instructor and the registrar, students may register to audit courses with available seats. The auditor is expected to attend class and participate along with students taking the course for credit. An auditing student is not required to take examinations and does not receive a grade or academic credit. Restoration technology, studio art classes, and private music lessons may not be audited. The chief academic officer or designee determines which courses may be audited.

Cancellation of Courses

Due to scheduling conflicts, faculty leaves of absence, sabbatical leaves, and other factors, a course listed in the catalog or course schedule may not be offered in a particular year. The college reserves the right to cancel or reschedule any course for which there is insufficient enrollment.

Special Courses

A special course may be developed by the student, or by the student with the faculty advisor, as an independent and personal search for information and understanding in a defined area. These courses may

  • extend the range of subject matter that the student can explore;
  • enable the student to collaborate with a faculty member on work relating to the latter’s research or teaching;
  • enable the student to use special learning opportunities on and off campus;
  • offer the student a chance to test self-teaching capacity and to develop skills.

Course by Appointment

A course by appointment is a course regularly offered and listed in the catalog. It may only be taken by appointment if circumstances do not permit a student to take the course when it is regularly offered. The Application for Special Courses (signed by the student, the course instructor and the vice president for academic affairs) is due before enrolling the student in the course.

Course on Demand

A course on demand is a course that is listed in the catalog but is only taken on an individual basis. Examples of courses on demand include Field Experience, Readings and Research, Independent Study, or an advanced topics course.

  • Independent Study – Ordinarily initiated by the student with the advice of the academic advisor, independent study presumes a special interest that will form the basis for a project in original research. Applicants must have a 3.0 grade-point average when they apply. Application is due 30 days prior to the final day of enrollment and must be presented to the vice president for academic affairs accompanied by a prospective course syllabus. The independent study option is course number 299 or 499 in all departments (1-4 credits).
  • Field Experience – Field experiences involve observation or participation in vocational and operational activities outside the classroom. Students, often participating without pay and for a single term or less, may or may not bring specific skills to the experience. The field experience option is course number 295 or 495 in all departments (1-4 credits).
  • Readings and Research – Reading and research courses provide an opportunity to do in-depth study in any field. Such courses, which may be initiated by the student or the instructor, may be undertaken only in the major department and only after the student has earned 12 credit hours in that department. A maximum of eight hours of research/readings credit can be counted toward graduation requirements. The Application for Special Courses (signed by the student, the course instructor and the vice president for academic affairs) is due before enrolling the student in the course. The readings and research option is course number 445 in all departments (1-4 credits).

Career Connections

The Career Connections program of McPherson College is designed to provide the students with an opportunity to gain hands-on work experience in their major fields of study and to receive academic credit for that experience. Students involved in Career Connections should realize valuable educational gains not obtained in the classroom. This knowledge should, in turn, assist the students’ transition from the classroom to the job. Appropriate paperwork must be completed before the student is registered in the experience.

Important Note: Academic departments at McPherson College are encouraged to help students develop Career Connection options consistent with institutional guidelines; however, all students considering Career Connection experiences should consult with their faculty advisor to determine whether or not their academic department has additional requirements or requirements different from those that follow.

Career Connections Internship

Internships are designed to provide students with the opportunity to gain work experience in their major fields of study and to receive college credit for that experience. Internships are normally reserved for students who have completed at least four semesters of study since they are expected to bring an appropriate level of skills into a productive employment setting. The internship option is course number 388 in all departments (1-10 credits).

Eligible Experiences

In consultation with the Career Connections coordinator, the faculty advisor must approve the student’s overall experiential learning plan. Any internship or field placement can make an acceptable Career Connections experience, as long as the student can demonstrate to the advisor and the Career Connections coordinator that it can advance previously determined and agreed upon educational goals. A student’s previous work experience, although personally valuable, does not meet the Career Connection criteria of directed, independent, and career-related learning.

Student Eligibility

To be eligible to enroll for a Career Connection option, a student must have completed 12 credit hours at McPherson College or, if a transfer student, and is a junior classification or above, must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

A student may be determined to be unplaceable at any time by either the faculty advisor or Career Connections coordinator. This may result in a student not being placed or termination of a placement.

Academic Credit Guidelines

One (1) credit hour may be awarded for approximately 40 hours of relevant internship or field placement experience.  A student may not receive more than four (4) hours of credit per semester or term for any kind of career connection’s experience unless otherwise approved by the faculty advisor, Career Services director and the Chief Academic Officer. A maximum of ten (10) hours of credit earned through Career Connections experiences can count toward graduation—six (6) for transfer students.

Complete, fully approved applications for internships are due in the registrar’s office before the first day of the experience. The Chief Academic Officer reserves the right to deny approval for any internship or field experience that is not submitted before the experience begins.

Academic credit must be applied to the term in which the internship or field experience is taking place. If Career Connections credits push the student’s semester load beyond 16 credits, they are charged the overload fee published in the most recent catalog. Career Connections credit hours cannot be applied to an interterm if the total interterm hours exceed four credit hours.

Assessment

In addition to the 40 hours onsite for each credit hour, Career Connections also requires the student to develop goal/strategy plans and reflective log summary reports that include appendices – items the student created or came in contact with. The work log reports, along with feedback from the employer and the performance appraisal will be the primary device used by the Faculty Advisor for grading the experience. However, the Faculty Advisor may also request other journals, papers, and projects for assessment of the total experience. (See assessment objectives worksheet.)

 

Alternate Ways to Receive Academic Credit

McPherson College currently accepts unlimited credit for Advanced Placement (AP) examinations with a score of 3 or higher, and International Baccalaureate (IB) for scores of 4 or higher. A student my receive up to 21 credit hours for College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and Credit by Departmental Examination depending upon score/grade.

Credit for Advanced Placement Equivalents

Students who have taken College Board Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school and have passed one or more Advanced Placement examinations with a score of 3 or higher can receive credit for McPherson College’s equivalent course(s), as determined by the college registrar.

Credit for International Baccalaureate Equivalents

Students who have participated in the International Baccalaureate program in high school and who have passed one or more IB examinations with a score of 4 or higher can receive credit for McPherson College’s equivalents courses(s), as determined by the college registrar.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Tests

Students may elect to earn credits for McPherson College courses by passing registrar-approved College Board CLEP tests with a score that meets the credit-granting scores recommended by the American Council on Education. Before registering to take a CLEP exam to test out of a particular McPherson College course, students should be sure the registrar approves the exam as an equivalent to the course for which they desire credit. No more than six hours of CLEP credit will be accepted in the area of college composition. Native speakers of a language other than English are able to earn up to six credits in their native language through College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) or Credit by Departmental Examination. Current CLEP credits are accepted through midterm of the semester the official scores are received by McPherson College. If the current CLEP scores are received after midterm, they will be transcribed the following semester.

The student is required to pay the fee per exam. Additionally, there is a $100 fee to post the credit on the student’s transcript.

Credit by Departmental Examination

Students who would like to attempt to earn credit by exam should first see if there is a College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) test available. The college registrar will work with the department chair to determine if there is an acceptable CLEP test as a first option. If a CLEP test is not available, the student may seek permission from the instructor of the course and/or the department chair to receive credit by institutional exam for the desired course. Credit is granted to undergraduate students who earn a grade of C or higher on the exam.  The grade earned on the exam will be recorded on the student’s permanent transcript, along with the notice that the credit was awarded by examination. Native speakers of a language other than English are able to earn up to six credits in their native language through College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) or Credit by Departmental Examination.

Credit by departmental exam counts toward the achievement of a degree and is included in the calculation of the student’s cumulative grade-point average. However, it is not included in the calculation of the GPA for the semester in which the examination is taken.

There is a $100 fee to post the credit on the student’s transcript.

Grades

All grades are determined by the instructor in charge of the course. Grades are reported as follows:

Grading Scale

A         high honor (reserved for very distinguished work)

B         very good work of much more than average quality

C         work of good average quality

D        work of the lowest quality that will enable the student to meet the standards of McPherson College

I          work is incomplete. This mark will be given only when the reason for the incomplete has been unavoidable, as determined by the instructor and the vice president for academic affairs

F         work that does not meet the standards of McPherson College

PS      a passing grade on the pass/fail system

FL      a failing grade on the pass/fail system

CR      credit granted

NC     no credit granted

W       withdrawal from a course

IP       in progress

AU     auditing (class attendance with no credit given)

NR     not reported

Incompletes

The grade of I should be given only when there are unavoidable reasons the student has been unable to complete the work by the end of the term. When instructors give a grade of Incomplete, they must also submit an Incomplete Grade Form with an alternate grade. If a Change of Grade Form is not submitted by midterm of the following semester, the alternate grade becomes the student’s final grade for the course.

Pass/Fail Option

A student may take only one course per semester on a pass/fail basis. Students must declare this intention by the end of the second week of class. General education courses and courses required for the major may not be audited or taken pass/fail.

Grade Points

Grade points are earned as follows:

A         4 grade points for each hour of credit
B         3 grade points for each hour of credit
C         2 grade points for each hour of credit
D        1 grade point for each hour of credit
F         0 grade points earned

Grading Periods

Faculty report grades at three points in the fall and spring semesters:

  • Faculty report D and F grades only at the end of the first five weeks. This is a preliminary grade intended to alert students and advisors to poor academic performance while there is time to address issues and get the student the help needed to be successful. Students making all C’s or better do not receive a five-week grade report.
  • All grades are reported at midterm, or half way through the semester. Midterm grades are preliminary and in no way indicate or guarantee similar grade at the end of the semester.
  • Final grades are reported at the end of each term. These grades become a permanent part of a student’s transcript unless a course is retaken to replace the previously earned grade. Unless the instructor miscalculates the grade or submits the wrong grade by mistake, final grades cannot be changed except through the Grade Appeal Process located in the catalog.

Because they are condensed into an intensive three-week period, Interterm courses do not report five-week or midterm grades.

Final Examinations

Most courses require final examinations. A final examination period during which no regular classes meet (usually four days) is scheduled at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Final examinations or, in some cases, an alternative learning experience or evaluation activity will be given during this period according to a final examination schedule approved by the Educational Policies Committee. Final examinations for Interterm courses are given during the last scheduled class meeting of the term.

Students who have three or more final exams scheduled on the same day of the final exam period may speak with the vice president for academic affairs about arranging with the involved faculty an alternative time for one or more of the finals. Students should not ask faculty to take their exams at a time other than the time approved by EPC for any reason other than extraordinary, unavoidable circumstances. Faculty have no obligation to give exams at a time other than the time approved by EPC, and approval of the vice president for academic affairs is necessary for them to do so.

Course Repeat Policy

With the approval of their advisors and the registrar, students may repeat a course. The last grade earned will be the grade used to compute the grade-point average. Courses taken at other institutions may not be used to repeat courses taken at McPherson College.

Some courses, such as choir, band, music ensembles, and private lessons, may be repeated multiple times.

After completing one year of intercollegiate athletic competition, students may enroll in intercollegiate competition (PE 211-21 and PE 311-21) for one credit hour, but a maximum of two credit hours for intercollegiate competition can count toward the 124 credit hours required to graduate. Students who transfer credits are limited to two credit hours for intercollegiate competition.

Grade Appeal Procedure

A student who receives a final course grade that he or she believes is biased, capricious, erroneous, or unfair must first discuss the evaluation personally with the instructor who assigned the grade. Unless the instructor is permanently absent or the vice president for academic affairs advises otherwise, no formal grade appeal may begin until that conversation has taken place.

If a student, after discussing the matter with the instructor, still believes the recorded grade is unfair, he or she should consult with the vice president for academic affairs, who may attempt to resolve the issue by conferring with the student and instructor separately and informally.

If no resolution is achieved through the intervention of the vice president for academic affairs, the student may, with the written permission of the VPAA, appeal to a review committee established as follows:

  • A member of the faculty selected by the student,
  • A member of the faculty selected by the instructor involved,
  • A member of a faculty selected either by the VPAA or the president of the college. (This member of the committee may be from another institution than McPherson College.)

The committee will determine the legitimacy of the student’s grievance. If the student’s grievance is found to be valid, the committee will recommend an alternative grade for record. Decisions of the review committee are final and not subject to further appeal.

NOTE:  This same appeal process is used for students wishing to appeal an academic dishonesty incident reported to the vice president for academic affairs. See the Academic Integrity policy under Other Academic Policies.

Academic Honors

Honor Rolls

At the end of fall and spring semesters, grade-point averages for the term will be calculated and an Honor Roll and Honorable Mention Roll compiled and published. Full-time students earning a GPA of 3.55 or higher will be placed on the Honor Roll. Students earning a GPA of 3.25 to 3.54 will be placed on the Honorable Mention Roll.

Students with an Incomplete reported for the term are ineligible for the honor rolls. Grade points earned by examination will not be included in the GPA to determine whether a student is on an honor roll.

Honor Graduates

Students who have consistently achieved a high level of scholarship during their study at McPherson College will be graduated with honors. Honors are determined by calculating both the overall cumulative GPA and the cumulative GPA in the major area of study. The lower of those two GPAs determines the appropriate honor, as follows:

  • Students earning a minimum grade-point average of 3.55 to 3.74 will be graduated cum laude.
  • Students earning a minimum grade-point average of 3.75 to 3.89 will be graduated magna cum laude.
  • Students earning a minimum grade-point average of 3.90 to 4.0 will be graduated summa cum laude.

Transfer students will be considered for graduation honors based on their work at McPherson College. The only exception to this shall be for persons who have participated in a study abroad program. These grades shall not be used in the calculation of honors.

Graduation honors for students with Incompletes or outstanding classes will be calculated after all work is completed.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

To remain in good academic standing at McPherson College, all students must make satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Academic SAP, as measured by McPherson College’s academic affairs office, is similar to, but distinct from, a student’s financial aid standing. An undergraduate student on academic warning or academic probation may also be, but is not necessarily, ineligible for financial aid. (See Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.)

Undergraduate SAP Standards

The academic standing of an undergraduate student at McPherson College is measured by the student’s progress toward a degree within an optimum amount of time. This includes a qualitative measure (cumulative grade point average) and a quantitative measure (credit hours earned as a percentage of credit hours attempted).

Academic Warning, Probation, and Suspension Policies

Students are placed on academic warning or academic probation on the basis of the table below. Attempted hours include all postsecondary coursework attempted after completion of the high school degree, including failed coursework, repeated coursework, and coursework graded as incomplete. The cumulative grade point average used to determine a student’s academic standing includes only courses taken at McPherson College.

Cumulative Hours
Attempted
Suspension
Residential GPA
Probation Range
Residential GPA
Warning Range
Residential GPA
0-15 ≤ 1.00 1.01 – 1.50 1.51 -1.70
16-31 ≤ 1.10 1.11 – 1.60 1.61 -1.75
32-46 ≤ 1.20 1.21 – 1.70 1.71 -1.85
47-62 ≤ 1.30 1.31 – 1.80 1.81 -1.95
63-77 ≤ 1.40 1.41 – 1.85 1.81 -1.99
78-93 ≤ 1.50 1.51 – 1.90 1.91 – 1.99
94-108 ≤ 1.60 1.61 – 1.95 1.96 – 1.99
109-124 ≤ 1.70 1.71 – 1.99 NA
125+ ≤ 1.80 1.81 – 1.99 NA

Determinations of satisfactory academic progress are made immediately after the conclusion of fall and spring semesters. In some circumstances, an individual student’s academic progress may be re-evaluated at the end of summer terms or the January Interterm. Students who exceed measures listed in the Warning column for both the qualitative and the quantitative measures are considered in good academic standing. Students who are placed on academic probation or who are academically suspended will be notified within 30 days after grades are due from the faculty.

Warning

Students placed on academic warning receive a letter notifying them of their tenuous academic situation, but academic warning imposes no particular conditions upon a student. Students on academic warning should avail themselves of the support services provided by the Center for Academic Development.

Probation

Students placed on academic probation have one semester in which to raise both quantitative and qualitative satisfactory academic progress indicators above the probationary levels identified for their respective hours attempted in the table above. Students on academic probation will receive letters from the vice president for academic affairs informing them of their standing and stipulating conditions that must be met during the coming semester. These conditions may include mandatory enrollment in College Study Skills or appointments with a staff member of the Center for Academic Development, a limit upon the number of hours that can be attempted in the coming semester, and/or class attendance monitoring.

Suspension

Students who fall below the qualitative and/or quantitative probation indicators for their respective attempted hours will be reviewed by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee to determine their eligibility for continued enrollment. Students who are not permitted to continue their enrollment will be placed on academic suspension for one semester or one year.

After serving their term of suspension, suspended students must reapply for admission to McPherson College. To be readmitted, the student must present evidence that he or she is prepared to do better academic work. If readmitted, the student will re-enter the college on academic probation, with one semester to demonstrate an ability to make satisfactory academic progress.

Please note: Academic warning, probation, and suspension are different from financial aid warning, probation, and suspension. Students on academic warning or probation should check with the financial aid office to confirm their financial aid status.

Appealing Academic Suspension

Students who wish to appeal a decision of academic suspension may appeal within 30 days after notification of their condition by submitting a written appeal to the vice president for academic affairs. The appeal should clearly explain the circumstances or behaviors that have prevented the student from making satisfactory academic progress and persuasively argue that such matters will not hinder future academic achievement. The appeal should include a specific plan the student is committed to implementing in order to work his or her way back into good academic standing. An appeal template is available from the academic affairs office.

Although he or she may consult with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee, the vice president for academic affairs makes the final determination regarding student appeals of academic suspension. The VPAA’s decision is not subject to further appeal.

A student who has been academically suspended has probably had his or her financial aid suspended as well, but appealing suspension is a separate process for each. The student must first appeal the academic suspension. If the vice president for academic affairs rescinds the academic suspension and allows the student to continue studies at McPherson College, the student who has also had financial aid suspended must follow the appeal procedures described in the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Graduate SAP Standards

The academic standing of a graduate student at McPherson College is measured by a qualitative measure (cumulative grade point average) and a quantitative measure (credit hours earned as a percentage of credit hours attempted). To maintain good academic standing, a graduate student must, at all times, maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and complete no less than 67 percent of all hours attempted. Any student whose GPA falls below 3.0 or who completes fewer than 67 percent of all attempted hours will be placed on academic probation. The student remains on probation until a 3.0 GPA is achieved or the percentage of hours earned totals at least 67 percent of hours attempted.

Graduation and Commencement

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate, students must satisfactorily complete no fewer than 124 credit hours with a cumulative, grade-point average of 2.0 or higher, both overall and in the courses required for their major field of study. The grade-point average includes only courses taken at McPherson College and is calculated by dividing the number of grade points earned by the number of graded hours.

For a complete list of graduation requirements, see Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree in the Degree Programs section and the Course Repeat Policy.

Conferral Dates

McPherson College will post degrees five times a year – December, February, May, July, and August, for those students meeting all graduation requirements. Commencement exercises are held each May for graduating seniors who are members of that class and who have successfully completed the graduation requirements, including applying for graduation and a positive senior audit. Please see the Participation in Commencement section for more details.

Graduation Checks

Students are highly encouraged to schedule two meetings with the registrar’s office to confirm they are on track to graduate. The first should be performed sometime during the spring semester of the sophomore year or first semester of the junior year. The second graduation check should be scheduled for the spring semester before the senior year. All students should be cautious about changing registration during the year. Any change that brings a senior below the stated requirements for participation in Commencement results in the student not being able to participate.

Candidacy for the Degree

In the fall, members of the senior class apply for candidacy for the degree to which their courses apply. Application is made through the registrar’s office. Only those members of the senior class that have been accepted as candidates for a degree may participate in Commencement events. Seniors not filing this application risk being overlooked for a diploma and inclusion in the Commencement program.

Participation in Commencement

Commencement exercises are held each May for graduating seniors who are members of that class and who have successfully completed the graduation requirements, including applying for graduation and a positive senior audit. Please note: Elementary education majors cannot participate in Commencement until after student teaching has been successfully completed. Secondary education majors may walk as a participator if they already have 118 earned credit hours and have met all the requirements for their major. They will then graduate after successfully completing their student teaching experience.

Only students who have successfully completed 118 credits out of the required 124 credits (meaning they do not have more than 6 credits outstanding) and with a minimum 2.00 grade point average (both overall residential and in the major as figured by tentative senior grade due date) and do not have a balance with the college are eligible to be included in the Commencement program and participate in Commencement and its related activities without having earned their degree. Students who participate in Commencement without actually graduating are referred to as “participators.” The diploma is conferred and a complete transcript available for order following completion of all requirements.

Neither senior status, number of courses attempted, time spent in college, delays in submitting off-campus or transfer work, nor other circumstances or miscommunication eliminate the 118 credit requirement for participation in Commencement. The responsibility for understanding and meeting graduation requirements rests entirely with the student.

Diplomas

A diploma is issued to each member of the graduating class approximately four weeks after Commencement under the following conditions:

  1. All requirements for the Baccalaureate degree have been successfully completed. A diploma is not issued to participators.
  2. The recipient has no outstanding financial obligations to the college.

The fee for replacing a diploma is $25 (domestic) or $35 (international).

Other Academic Policies

 

Student Responsibility for Academic Progress

Although McPherson College provides a thorough academic advising program, the ultimate responsibility for fulfilling requirements for satisfactory academic progress and graduation lies with the student. A student must satisfy the requirements of the catalog in effect at the time that the student is admitted and begins course work in a degree program; or the student may, with the consent of his/her advisor and the registrar, graduate under a subsequent catalog, provided the student complies with all requirements of the later catalog.

Students are expected to be familiar with the information presented in their applicable catalog, and to know and observe all regulations and procedures relating to their program of study. In no case will a regulation be waived or an exception granted because a student pleads ignorance of, or contends that he/she was not informed of, the regulations or procedures. Students planning to graduate should be familiar with the deadline for application for graduation and other pertinent deadlines.

Students should schedule an official graduation check with the registrar’s office during the second semester of their sophomore year. A final check with the registrar’s office is required during the first term of the senior year to assure that the student will meet all graduation requirements. Part-time students should complete the graduation check during the term prior to the term in which they expect to graduate.

Academic Integrity

Academic dishonesty is any act of cheating, fabrication, or plagiarism.

  • Cheating is using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids. Examples: copying homework, copying someone else’s test, using an unauthorized “cheat sheet,” etc.
  • Fabrication is falsification or invention of any information or citation. Examples: making up a source, giving an incorrect citation, deliberately misquoting a source, etc.
  • Plagiarism is representing the work (words, pictures, ideas, etc.) of another person or entity (e.g. Course Hero and/or the inappropriate use of ChatGPT) as one’s own in the submission of an academic assignment.

(The examples above are not exhaustive; infractions may include actions not listed.)

Other Kinds of Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty can also include dissimulation and aiding and abetting.

  • Dissimulation is the act of disguising or altering one’s actions so as to deceive another about the real nature of one’s actions concerning an academic exercise, including (but not limited to) fabricating excuses for missing classes, postponing tests, handing in late papers, turning in a paper for one class that was originally written for another class (when original work is requested), taking inappropriate credit for group work, etc.
  • Aiding and abetting is knowingly facilitating any act defined in this policy, including (but not limited to) helping other students plagiarize and/or cheat by unauthorized sharing or distribution of lab work or coursework, regardless of whether or not one is currently enrolled in the course. Unauthorized sharing includes posting onto homework sharing websites (e.g., Course Hero and other similar websites, either currently available or in the future). Aiding and abetting also includes not reporting others’ cheating incidents, etc.

Faculty retain the right to deal with instances of dissimulation and aiding and abetting as they deem appropriate, including reporting such incidents to the VPAA.

Procedures for Unintentional Violations of Academic Integrity

Instructors use their discretion in determining whether infractions of academic integrity are intentional or unintentional. When instructors determine an act of academic dishonesty is unintentional, they may use their professional judgment in determining the best way to remediate the student.

Procedures for Intentional Violations of Academic Integrity

When instructors determine that an act of academic dishonesty is intentional, they shall

  1. Complete and submit an Academic Dishonesty Incident Report form, including documentation of the incident, to the Assistant Provost and Dean of Faculty (AP/DF). (The form is available on the college Intranet site or in the Academic Affairs office.)
  2. Impose the sanction for academic dishonesty provided in their course syllabus, pending notification from the AP/DF that their incident report is the first one filed against that student.

Students reported to the AP/DF for the first time for an act of plagiarism shall submit documentation of their successful completion of a recommended plagiarism prevention program.

If a student has had one or more incident reports previously submitted to the AP/DF, the following consequences shall ensue:

  • Second reported offense: The student shall fail the course. At the request of the reporting faculty member, the student, the faculty member, and the AP/DF can meet to determine the appropriateness of an F in the course for the behavior reported.
  • Third reported offense: The student shall be suspended for the remainder of the term plus one additional full semester and fail the course in which the incident occurred. If the incident is reported prior to the last day to withdraw without a grade, the student will be withdrawn from all other courses in which he or she is enrolled. If the incident is reported after that date, the student shall receive final course grades calculated by adding zeroes for all remaining course assignments to grades received up to that point in the course. Suspended students must reapply for admission and are not guaranteed re-admittance.
  • Fourth reported offense: Dismissal with no right to appeal.

The AP/DF will notify the student, the student’s advisor, and the Coordinator of Student Success each time an Academic Dishonesty Incident Report is submitted. With the exception noted above for a student’s fourth infraction, students have the right to appeal any charge of academic dishonesty following the same procedures described in the Grade Appeal Policy published in the academic catalog.

Class Attendance

Every professor has the autonomy to establish his or her own class attendance policy, which is explained in the course syllabus. Students are responsible for understanding and complying with each professor’s policy. Instructors may lower final grades or fail students who do not comply with the attendance policy set forth in the syllabus. The vice president for academic affairs may withdraw chronically absent students from one or all of their courses.

Unless the instructor’s attendance policy specifies otherwise, students should notify instructors of necessary absences well in advance and arrange alternative means for completing class activities, if appropriate. When prior notification for absences is not possible, the student should explain each absence to the instructor at the next class meeting. The instructor will determine whether make-up work is allowable.

McPherson College’s Department of Athletics makes every effort to minimize student-athletes’ absences for intercollegiate competition. Although the athletics department notifies faculty in advance of students who will participate in intercollegiate competition, each student-athlete is responsible for contacting instructors prior to the missed day to make arrangements due to absence(s); when the student-athlete makes appropriate arrangements with faculty in advance of their absence, the absence will be considered excused. However, when the student-athlete fails to communicate in advance with instructors, those instructors may consider the absence unexcused. It is unacceptable for student-athletes to miss classes for sports-related activities such as practices, team meetings, weight lifting, film sessions, etc., unless approved by the athletic director and the vice president for academic affairs.

Classroom Conduct

Faculty members have the responsibility to maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning in their classrooms and labs. Therefore, when, in the judgment of the instructor, a student’s behavior undermines the learning atmosphere, the instructor may remove that student from the classroom for the remainder of the class period.

Students who repeatedly undermine the learning environment, or whose disruptive behavior includes violence, threats, or harassment, may be subject to permanent ejection from a course. Unless the instructor specifies otherwise, ejected students fail the course. Students have the right to appeal an instructor’s request for permanent removal from a course to the vice president for academic affairs.

Documents Originating From Another Agency or Institution

In accordance with record release standards, we do not release official documents nor copies of official documents that have become the property of  McPherson College. Examples of documents include high school records, ACT/SAT scores, AP/IB scores, and college transcripts from other institutions. Please contact the originating agency, organization, or institution that produced the original records to obtain an official record.

General Education Purpose Statement

At the root of a liberal arts education is a group of courses that are usually referenced as general education requirements. To define this group of courses at McPherson College the faculty first identified qualities that would demonstrate the “ideal McPherson College graduate.” McPherson College’s general education program provides an opportunity for the development of a life-long learner who…

  • Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;
  • Acquires and evaluates information;
  • Understands and is able to use mathematical properties, processes, and symbols;
  • Understands religion and spiritual traditions as a quest for human identity and has examined his/her own beliefs;
  • Understands the concept of holistic health and is conscious of his/her physical, emotional and spiritual well-being;
  • Understands the cultural diversity of our global community;
  • Assesses value conflicts in issues and makes informed ethical decisions;
  • Understands the role of service and peace-making in the historical context of McPherson College and the Church of the Brethren;
  • Integrates knowledge and experience with exploration and choice of career;
  • Appreciates the arts and literature and is able to make informed aesthetic responses;
  • Understands his/her relationship to the physical and biological world and the methods of science;
  • Understands the economics, social, and historical contexts of society;
  • Thinks critically and creatively;
  • Demonstrates the appropriate use of technology within his/her academic discipline.

To this end, all students at McPherson College are expected to complete a common set of general education requirements, defined in terms of foundations, seminars, and distribution courses. Students must complete all the general education requirements as outlined below in order to graduate.

 

2023|08 General Education, Catalog 23-24|

General Education Foundation Courses

 

A. Oral Communication:

Student Learning Outcome: Students should be able to deliver messages appropriate to their audience, purpose, and context.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Perform verbal and nonverbal communication behaviors that illustrate the competency of an effective communicator.
  2. Support and organize their ideas in a coherent manner.

Required: 1 Course
G-CM 130 Interpersonal Communication
G-CM 140 Public Speaking
G-CM 218 Business and Professional Communication

B. Written Communication & Information Literacy

Student Learning Outcome for Written Communication: Students should be able to write with skill and clarity.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Produce writing that shows an awareness of audience.
  2. Support their ideas with appropriate details and examples.
  3. Coherently organize their writing.
  4. Produce writing that shows careful attention to craft.

Student Learning Outcome for Information Literacy: Students should be able to demonstrate ethical and efficient use of information.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Show that they can find appropriate sources.
  2. Show that they can evaluate the reliability of sources.
  3. Use information from sources appropriately in their work.

Required: 4 Courses
G-EN 110 College Composition I
G-EN 111 College Composition II
and:
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts are required to take Spanish and one Language Intensive (LI) course in their major department.  Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science are required to take two Language Intensive courses with at least one LI course in the student’s major department.

Language Intensive – Oral and Written Communication

Student Learning Outcome for Oral Communication: Students should be able to clearly voice a coherent message.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Show that they can speak clearly and audibly.
  2. Support their ideas with appropriate research.

Speaking Component

(1) Informal oral communication exercises should be used frequently in the LI classroom. Most often, these will consist of required participation in small-group and class discussions. LI instructors can make even routine student participation in class discussions and activities into helpful oral communication exercises simply by (a) raising students’ consciousness about the variety of signals they send when they speak informally in class, and (b) helping students eliminate their careless habits in speech and delivery.

(2) At least one formal oral presentation should be included in the LI course. The presentation, probably brief, may be delivered to part or all of the class, or some other audience. It may derive from a formal writing assignment, recast for oral delivery.

Student Learning Outcome for Written Communication: Students should be able to write with skill and clarity.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Produce writing that shows an awareness of audience.
  2. Demonstrate effective participation in the writing process.
  3. Coherently organize their writing.
  4. Produce writing that shows careful attention to craft.

Writing Component

(1) Informal writing assignments should be frequent, perhaps one per class session, but certainly one per week. Most informal writing activities are in the “writing to learn” mode; that is, they are intended to push students to read, think about, and interpret course material more carefully and deeply than they otherwise might do. From a handful of basic, informal writing models, such as journals and microthemes, LI instructors can improvise an almost endless array of specific informal writing activities.

(2) Formal writing assignments should be substantial (but the meaning of “substantial” depends upon the course and the exact nature of the assignment). There should be at least one formal, polished piece of writing. Whenever possible, LI instructors should give formal assignments in stages, confer with students over drafts, and allow ample time for revision(s).

Courses designated as Language Intensive:

G-AR 310 Art History I
G-AR 311 Art History II
BA 475 Business Strategy & Policy
CI 455 Teaching-Learning Process
G-CM 130 Interpersonal Communication
G-CM 218 Business & Professional Communication
G-CM 221 Intercultural Communication
CM 220 Special Topics in Popular Culture
CM 475A Senior Seminar in Service in the Community
CM 475B Senior Seminar in Career Exploration
EE 303 Reading/Language Arts I
G-EN 210L Masterpieces of World Literature (4 hours)
G-EN 220L Contemporary World Literature (4 hours)
G-EN 255L American Literature II (4 hours)
G-EN 270L Fiction (4 hours)
EN 313 Expository Writing
G-EN 370L Poetry (4 hours)
EN 475B  Senior Project in English
G-HI/TE 333 Technology & Society
HI 475  Senior Thesis
MA 475 Senior Project in Mathematics
ML 385 Advanced Level Composition and Conversation
NS 300 Research Methods
NS 475 Senior Research
G-TH 265 Topics in Dramatic Literature
G-TH 385 Theatre History & Dramatic Literature I
TH 475 Senior Theatre Capstone
PE 304 Theories, Principles, and Leadership of Coaching
PE 445  Readings and Research for Health Science
G-PR 104L Ethics (4 hours)
G-PR 106L Spiritual Pathways
G-PS 215  Global Peace Studies
PS 475  Senior Thesis
PY 450 History and Systems of Psychology
PY 475 Senior Thesis
SO 475 Senior Thesis
TE 475 Senior Project

C. Mathematics

Student Learning Outcome: Students will be able to reason about and solve quantitative problems from a wide array of contexts.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

    1. Identify a quantitative problem (Understand the problem.)
    2. Use mathematical processes to solve the problem (Devise and implement a plan.)
    3. Evaluate the solution for reasonableness and/or implications for further study. (Look back at your solution.)

Required: 3-4 hours chosen from the following:
G-MA 105 College Algebra
G-MA 106 Pre-Calculus
G-MA 111 Calculus I
G-MA 123 Discrete Mathematics
G-MA 153 Principles of Geometry
G-MA 201 Survey of Mathematics
G-BA 220 Business Applied Statistics
G-MA 221 Elementary Applied Statistics

D. Religion/Beliefs/Values

Student Learning Outcome: Students should be able to answer fundamental religious or philosophical questions.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Develop answers relative to alternative religious/philosophical perspectives.
  2. Explain their position on religious or philosophical issues.

Required: 3-4 hours chosen from the following:
G-PR 101 God and People in Ancient Israel: Hebrew Bible Foundations
G-PR 102 Jesus: New Testament Foundations
G-PR 104 Ethics
*G-PR 104L Ethics (LI if taken as G-PR104L for 4 hours)
*G-PR 106L Spiritual Pathways: Transformation, Compassion, and Vocation
G-PR 107 Critical Thinking
G-PR 201 Introduction to Philosophy
G-PR 202 Christian Traditions
G-PR 203 Science and Religion
G-PR 204 Peacemaking: Religious Perspectives
G-PR 215 History of Philosophy
G-PR 302 Religion and Politics
G-PR 306 World Religions
G-PR 310 Religion and Law
G-PR 350 Philosophy of Religion
G-PR 360 Modern Logic

E. Wholeness/Health/Fitness

Student Learning Outcome: Students should be able to identify optimal behaviors that promote lifelong personal health.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Develop a personal strategy for health and fitness emphasizing the physical domain.
  2. Illustrate the relationship between personal behaviors and lifelong health and wellness.

Required: 1 course 
G-PE 150 Concepts in Holistic Health
G-HS/PE 190 Social & Behavioral Determinants of Health

F. Global/Intercultural Experience

Student Learning Outcome: Students should be able to understand they live in a world of diverse cultures.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Identify social, cultural, religious, or linguistic differences.
  2. Explain how values and contributions of diverse societies affect individual experiences.

Required: 3 hours+ chosen from the following:
G-BA 342IT International Business (Travel required)
G-CI 251
Introduction to Education Practicum
G-CI 333 Intercultural Education
*G-CM 221 Intercultural Communication
G-EN 210 Masterpieces of World Literature
*G-EN 210L Masterpieces of World Literature (LI if taken as G-EN 210L for four hours)
G-EN 220 Contemporary World Literature
*G-EN 220L Contemporary World Literature (LI if taken as G-EN 220L for four hours)
*G-HI/TE 333 Technology and Society
G-ML 108 Spanish Level I
G-ML 109 Spanish Level II
G-ML 208 Spanish Level III
G-ML 209 Spanish Level IV
G-ML 350 Junior Year Abroad
G-MU 210 Introduction to World Music
G-PR 306 World Religions
G-PS 130 Principles of Geography
*G-PS 215 Global Peace Studies
G-SO 202 Minorities in the U.S.

+Students completing a Bachelor of Arts degree must take G-ML 108 Level I Spanish for three hours as well as three additional hours in the Global/Intercultural Experience Foundation. These students will be required to take only one Language Intensive (LI) course.

College Seminars

In the seminar series, students will demonstrate (1) that they have explored traditional Church of the Brethren values; (2) that they understand service-learning and can complete a service project; (3) that they can make informed ethical decisions in personal and professional situations; and (4) that they have investigated career options in the fields of study. In addition, the various seminars address the following goals.

  1. G-ID 101 Academic Community Essentials (ACE) Seminar: Students will show that they have learned about college life, create a degree plan, and practice good study skills, critical thinking, and conflict resolution.
  2. G-ID 201 Sophomore Seminar: Students will complete a service project, develop a career plan, and show that they have explored internship options.
  3. Senior Capstone Experience: Students will complete a senior project, as designed by department faculty.
2023|08 General Education, Catalog 23-24|

General Education Distribution Courses

Humanities:

Required: 6 hours, with a course of at least 2 hours from each category: the arts and literature

Student Learning Outcome for Fine Arts: Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the process by which art is created.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the process by which art is created.
  2. Experience art through theory or practice.
  3. Demonstrate skill and control of the elements appropriate to the medium chosen.

G-AR 101 Drawing I
G-AR 102 Painting I
G-AR 131 Ceramics I
G-AR 220 Graphic Design for Non-Art Majors
*G-AR 310 Art History I
*G-AR 311 Art History II
G-AR 350 Sculpture
G-MU 132 College Choir
G-MU 134 College Band
G-MU 161 Music Appreciation
G-MU 210 Introduction to World Music
G-TH 100 Theatre as a Social Art
G-TH 110 The Business of Professional Entertainment (requires travel)
G-TH 125 Film and Culture
G-TH 160 Acting I
G-TH 170 Technical Theatre I
G-TH 270 Technical Theatre II

Student Learning Outcome for Literature: Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the functions and purposes of literature.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of literary terms and genre.
  2. Demonstrate an ability to think analytically about texts.
  3. Articulate ways in which literature is shaped by culture.

G-EE 210 Children’s Literature (3 credits)
G-EN 210 Masterpieces of World Literature (3 credits)
*G-EN 210L Masterpieces of World Literature (4 credits)
G-EN 220 Contemporary World Literature (3 credits)
*G-EN 220L Contemporary World Literature (4 credits)
G-EN 235 Selected Topics in Literature (3 credits)
G-EN 255 American Literature II (3 credits)
*G-EN 255L American Literature II (4 credits)
G-EN 270 Fiction (3 credits)
*G-EN 270L Fiction (4 credits)
G-EN 370 Poetry (3 credits)
*G-EN 370L Poetry (4 credits)
G-TH 265 Topics in Dramatic Literature (3 credits)
G-TH 385 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature I (3 credits; 4 credits if taken as language intensive)

Natural Sciences:

Student Learning Outcome: Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of how the natural sciences construct knowledge of the world.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Summarize the current consensus of the scientific community with regard to the structure and function of some aspect of the physical or biological world.
  2. Illustrate their knowledge of the changing nature of the consensus of the scientific community with regard to the structure and function of some aspect of the physical or biological world, by outlining the historical changes in that consensus.
  3. Report on their experiences with those methods and processes of the natural sciences which they conducted in the laboratory.

Required: 7 hours, one lab, one course from life and one course from physical sciences

Life Sciences
G-BI 101 Principles of Biology
G-BI 103 Food and Fitness
G-BI 111 College Biology I
G-BI 201 Biodiversity
G-BI 210 Principles of Nutrition
G-NS 100 Science & Society
G-NS 106 Sensational: Physics, Chemistry & Biology of the Senses
G-NS 141 Environmental Science

Physical Sciences
G-CH 101 Principles of Chemistry
G-CH 105 GOB Chemistry for Life
G-CH 111 College Chemistry I
G-NS 100 Science & Society
G-NS 106 Sensational: Physics, Chemistry & Biology of the Senses
G-NS 141 Environmental Science
G-NS 245 Climatology
G-PC 251 Geology
G-PC 275 Astronomy
G-PH 201 Principles of Physics
G-PH205 College Physics I
G-PH 215 General Physics I

Social Sciences:

Required: 9 hours, one each from behavioral sciences, social institutions, and history

Student Learning Outcome for Behavioral Sciences: Students should be able to illustrate the relationship between the self and the social world.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Describe the ways in which social world shapes the self.
  2. Describe the ways in which the self alters the social world.

G-CM 120 Introduction to Human Communication
G-PY 101 Introduction to Psychology
G-SO 101 Introduction to Sociology
G-SO 246 Marriage and Family

Student Learning Outcome for Social Institutions: Students should be able to understand the basic concepts of social institutions.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Identify a social institution at work in human affairs.
  2. Explain how social institutions influence peoples’ lives.

G-BA 130 Principles of Business Management
G-BA 230 Personal Finance
G-CI 150 Introduction to Education
G-ET 201 Social  Entrepreneurship
G-PS/HI 101 Historical Introduction to Politics
G-PS 102 U.S. Government
G-PS 125 International Relations
G-SO 246 Marriage and Family

Student Learning Outcome for History: Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the historical method.

Performance Indicators – Students should be able to:

  1. Compose a historical question.
  2. Apply that question to historical evidence to interpret the past.

G-HI/PS 101  Historical Introduction to Politics
G-HI 110 World Civilization to 1500
G-HI 120 World Civilization since 1500
G-HI 130 Introductory Methods for Historical Analysis
G-HI 140 American History to 1877
G-HI 150 American History since 1877
G-HI 205 Social History of the Automobile
G-HI 210 International Travel Study in History
G-HI 220 Modern Europe
G-HI 235 Topics in World History
G-HI 236 Topics in Social History
G-HI 237 Topics in Political History
G-HI 261 Kansas History

2023|08 General Education, Catalog 23-24|

Art and Design Program

Purpose Statement

The McPherson College art and design department provides 1) high-quality art instruction within the content areas of art production, art history, art criticism, and aesthetic inquiry, 2) unique art programs within the art and design major, including graphic design, graphic design marketing, graphic design photography, studio arts, art teaching licensure, as well as two hybrid majors: digital media with an emphasis in visual design and auto restoration design in conjunction with the technology department, and 3) venues for the fulfillment of academic and professional goals of students pursuing a visual arts-related career within a liberal arts context and an entrepreneurial environment at a small private college in Kansas.

Goals

The four primary goals of the art and design department are to produce graduates who can 1) effectively execute and perform a variety of art skills with sensitivity and intelligence, 2) communicate the ability to analyze and critique works of art, 3) relate the creative process to life in personally meaningful ways, and 4) apply skills and knowledge to arts-related opportunities and professions. The Art and Design department achieves these goals when graduates can:

  • demonstrate knowledge of art elements and design principles;
  • demonstrate performance in a variety of traditional and contemporary art media;
  • demonstrate abilities to analyze and critique works of art in verbal and written form;
  • demonstrate meaningful connections of art to life through the development of perceptual skills;
  • research, identify, and interpret Western and non- Western cultural contributions to art;
  • understand the qualities and the mentality needed to be a working, active artist and/or arts-related professional;
  • meet State Department of Education standards for certification in the area of art for those pursuing art teaching licensure;
  • demonstrate knowledge and skills with emerging technologies, both hardware and software, needed for opportunities and/or careers in the field of graphic design.

The Art and Design department’s curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students who want to 1) develop their artistic skills and refine their aesthetic values, 2) plan for careers as artists, graphic designers, or for employment in arts-related positions, 3) teach art in the public schools, and 4) further their education in graduate school.

Art and Design Major: Graphic Design Emphasis

G-AR 101 Drawing I (2 hours)
G-AR 102 Painting I (3 hours)
AR 103 Elementary Design (3 hours)
AR 130 Design Software I (2 hours)
AR 203 Photography I (2 hours)
AR 205 Video Editing & Production (2 hours)
AR 210 Drawing II (2 hours)
AR 230 Graphic Design I (3 hours)
AR 235 Graphic Design II (3 hours)
AR 303 Photography II (3 hours)
G-AR 310 Art History I (4 hours)
G-AR 311 Art History II (4 hours)
AR 312 Themes in Contemporary Art (3 hours)
AR 320 Typography and Logo Branding (2 hours)
AR 330 Graphic Design III (3 hours)
AR 335 Design Software II (3 hours)
AR 340 Web Design I (3 hours)
AR 345 Art as Community & Social Practice (2 hours)
G-AR 350
 Sculpture I (3 hours)
AR 440 Web Design II (3 hours)
AR 470A Senior Show: Digital Design, Part A. (1 hour)
AR 470B Senior Show: Digital Design, Part B. (2 hours)
AR 475G Graphic Design IV (3 hours)

Total: 61 hours

Suggested Supporting Courses

G-AR 202 Painting II (2 hours)
CM 360 Videography I (3 hours)
CM 410 Videography II (3 hours)
CM 210 Podcasting (3 hours)
BA 327 Consumer Behavior (3 hours)
BA 427 Marketing Research  (3 hours)
AR 388 Internship in Graphic Design (3 hours)

Majors in the graphic design emphasis are required to produce a senior exhibition during the spring semester of their senior year.

Art and Design Major: Graphic Design Photography Emphasis

G-AR 101 Drawing I (2 hours)
G-AR 102 Painting I (3 hours)
AR 103 Elementary Design (3 hours)
AR 130 Design Software I (2 hours)
AR 203 Photography I (2 hours)
AR 205 Video Editing & Production (2 hours)
AR 210 Drawing II (2 hours)
AR 230 Graphic Design I (3 hours)
AR 235 Graphic Design II (3 hours)
AR 303 Photography II (3 hours)
G-AR 311 Art History II (4 hours)
AR 320 Typography and Logo Branding (2 hours)
AR 323
Analog Photography (3 hours)
AR 330 Graphic Design III (3 hours)
AR 333 Commercial Photography (3 hours)
AR 335
Design Software II (3 hours)
AR 340 Web Design I (3 hours)
AR 345 Art as Community & Social Practice (2 hours)
G-AR 350 Sculpture I (3 hours)
AR 440 Web Design II (3 hours)
AR 403A Senior Show: Photography, Part A. (1 hour)
AR403B Senior Show: Photography, Part B. (2 hours)
AR 470A Senior Show: Digital Design, Part A. (1 hour)
AR470B Senior Show: Digital Design, Part B. (2 hours)
AR 475G Graphic Design IV (3 hours)

Total: 63 hours

Suggested Supporting Courses

G-AR 202 Painting II (2 hours)
CM 360 Videography I (3 hours)
CM 410 Videography II (3 hours)
CM 210 Podcasting (3 hours)
BA 327 Consumer Behavior (3 hours)
BA 427 Marketing Research  (3 hours)
AR 388 Internship in Graphic Design (3 hours)

Majors in the graphic design photography emphasis are required to produce a senior exhibition during the spring semester of their senior year.

Art and Design Major: Graphic Design Marketing Emphasis

G-AR 101 Drawing I (2 hours)
G-AR 102 Painting I (3 hours)
AR 103 Elementary Design (3 hours)
AR 130 Design Software I (2 hours)
AR 203 Photography I (2 hours)
AR 230 Graphic Design I (3 hours)
AR 235 Graphic Design II (3 hours)
G-AR 311 Art History II (4 hours)
AR 320 Typography and Logo Branding (2 hours)
AR 330 Graphic Design III (3 hours)
AR 335 Design Software II (3 hours)
AR 340 Web Design I (3 hours)
G-AR 350 Sculpture I (3 hours)
AR 440 Web Design II (3 hours)
AR 470A Senior Show: Digital Design, Part A. (1 hour)
AR 470B Senior Show: Digital Design, Part B. (2 hours)
AR 475G Graphic Design IV (3 hours)
G-BA 130 Principles of Business Management (3 hours)
EC 202 Survey of Economics (3 hours)
AC 202 Survey of Accounting (3 hours)
BA 215 Business Law (3 hours)
BA 221 Marketing (3 hours)
BA 322 Advertising and Promotion (3 hours)
BA 327 Consumer Behavior (3 hours)
BA 427 Marketing Research (3 hours)

Total: 66 hours

Suggested Supporting Courses

AR 205 Video Editing & Production (2 hours)
AR 305 Typography and Logo Branding (2 hours)
AR 303 Photography II (3 hours)

Majors in the graphic design marketing emphasis are required to produce a senior exhibition during the spring semester of their senior year.

Art and Design Major: Studio Arts Emphasis

G-AR 101 Drawing I (2 hours)
G-AR 102 Painting I (3 hours)
AR 103 Elementary Design (3 hours)
G-AR 131 Ceramics I (3 hours)
AR 130 Design Software I (2 hours)
G-AR 202 Painting II (2 hours)
AR 203 Photography I (2 hours)
AR 210 Drawing II (2 hours)
AR 230 Graphic Design I (3 hours)
AR 231 Ceramics II (2 hours)
AR 303 Photography II (3 hours)
G-AR 310 Art History I (4 hours)
G-AR 311 Art History II (4 hours)
AR 312 Themes in Contemporary Art (3 hours)
AR 315 Metalsmithing and Jewelry Making (3 hours)
AR 345 Art as Community & Social Practice (2 hours)
G-AR 350
 Sculpture I (3 hours)
AR 475A Senior Show: Studio Arts, Part A (2 hours)
AR 475B Senior Show: Studio Arts, Part B (1 hour)

Total: 49 hours

Suggested Supporting Courses

AR 235 Graphic Design II (3 hours)
AR 323 Analog Photography (3 hours)
AR 335 Design Software II (3 hours)
AR 340 Web Design I (3 hours)

Majors in the studio arts emphasis are required to produce a senior exhibition during the spring semester of their senior year.

Digital Media: Visual Design Emphasis

(See also Digital Media: Communication emphasis in the Communication Program section in this catalog.)

AR 130 Design Software I (2 hours)
AR 205 Video Editing & Production (2 hours)
AR 230 Graphic Design I (3 hours)
CM 330 Persuasion and Social Influence (3 hours)
AR 335 Design Software II (3 hours)
AR 340/CM 340 Web Design I (3 hours)
CM 360 Videography I (3 hours)
CM 410
Videography II (3 hours)
AR 440/CM 440
Web Design II (3 hours)
AR 103 Elementary Design (3 hours)
AR 203 Photography I (2 hours)
AR 235 Graphic Design II (3 hours)
AR 260 UX/UI Prototyping (2 hours)
AR 265 UX/UI Application (2 hours)
AR 303 Photography II (3 hours)
AR 320 Typography & Logo Branding (2 hours)
AR 330 Graphic Design III ( 3 hours)
AR 333 Commercial Photography (3 hours)
AR 475G Graphic Design IV (3 hours)
AR 470A Senior Show: Digital Design, Part A. (1 hour)
AR 470B Senior Show: Digital Design, Part B. (1 hour)

Total: 52 hours

Suggested Supporting Courses
BA 221
Marketing (3 hours)
BA 322 Advertising and Promotion (3 hours)
BA 327 Consumer Behavior (3 hours)
BA 427 Marketing Research (3 hours)

Majors in the digital media visual design emphasis are required to produce a senior exhibition during the spring semester of their senior year.

Art and Design Major: Licensure emphasis for teaching Art in the Public Schools (PK-12)

Requirements: In addition to the required courses in the Art and Design department, licensure art majors complete 44 hours in professional education requirements through the Curriculum and Instruction department.

G-AR 101 Drawing I (2 hours)
G-AR 102 Painting I (3 hours)
AR 103 Elementary Design (3 hours)
AR 130 Design Software I (2 hours)
G-AR 131 Ceramics I (3 hours)
G-AR 202 Painting II (2 hours)
AR 203 Photography I (2 hours)
AR 210 Drawing II (2 hours)
AR 230 Graphic Design I (3 hours)
AR 231 Ceramics II (2 hours)
AR 303 Photography II (3 hours)
G-AR 310 Art History I (4 hours)
G-AR 311 Art History II (4 hours)
AR 312 Themes in Contemporary Art (3 hours)
AR 315 Metalsmithing and Jewelry Making (3 hours)
AR 345 Art as Community & Social Practice (2 hours)
G-AR 350 Sculpture I (3 hours)
AR 358/EE 301 Elementary Art Methods (2 hours)
AR 401/CI 401 Secondary Art Methods (2 hours)
AR 475A Senior Show: Studio Arts, Part A (2 hours)
AR 475B Senior Show: Studio Arts, Part B (1 hour)

Total: 53 hours

Majors in the licensure emphasis are required to produce a senior exhibition during the spring semester of their senior year.

Art and Design Major: Pre-Art Therapy Emphasis

Art and Design Courses (42 hours):
G-AR 101 Drawing I (2 hours)
G-AR 102 Painting I (3 hours)
AR 103 Elementary Design (3 hours)
AR 130 Design Software I (2 hours)
G-AR 131 Ceramics I (3 hours)
AR 203 Photography I (2 hours)
AR 225 2D Printing Prod Processes (2 hours)
G-AR 220 Graphic Design for Non-Art Majors (3 hours)
G-AR 311 Art History II (4 hours)
AR 312 Themes in Contemporary Art (3 hours)
AR 315 Metalsmithing and Jewelry Making (3 hours)
AR 345 Art as Community & Social Practice (2 hours)
G-AR 350 Sculpture I (3 hours)
AR 401/CI 401 Secondary Art Methods (2 hours)
AR 358/EE 301 Elementary Art Methods (2 hours)
AR 475A Senior Show: Studio Arts, Part A (2 hours)
AR 475B Senior Show: Studio Arts, Part B (1 hour)

Behavioral Science (Choose 24 hours):
G-PY 101 Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
PY 204 Child and Adolescent Development (3 hours)
PY/SO 308 Counseling (3 hours)
PY 354 Child Development and Social Policy (3 hours)
G-SO 246 Marriage and Family (3 hours)
PY 454 Applied Behavior Analysis and Youth (3 hours)
SO 470 Social Gerontology (3 hours)
PY 305 Abnormal Psychology (3 hours)
PY 470 Developmental Psychopathology (3 hours)

Total: 66 hours

Graphic Design Minor

G-AR 220 Graphic Design for Non-Art Majors (3 hours)
AR 235 Graphic Design II (3 hours)
AR 320 Typography & Logo Branding (3 hours)
AR 330 Graphic Design III (3 hours)
AR 335 Design Software II (3 hours)
AR 340
 Web Design I (3 hours)
AR 475G Graphic Design IV (3 hours)

Total: 21 hours

Studio Arts Minor

A minor in art and design may be earned by completing 18 credit hours from four course categories: 1) two foundation courses for seven credit hours, 2) four credit hours in two-dimensional courses, 3) five credit hours in three-dimensional courses, and 4) three credit hours in graphic design.

Foundation Courses: 6-7 hours total

Choose two of the following courses:

G-AR 310 Art History I or G-AR 311 Art History II or AR 312 Themes in Contemporary Art (3 hours)
AR 103 Elementary Design (3 hours)

Two-dimensional Courses: choose 4 hours total

G-AR 101 Drawing I (2 hours)
G-AR 102 Painting I (3 hours)
G-AR 202 Painting II (2 hours)
AR 203 Photography I (2 hours)
AR 210 Drawing II (2 hours)

Three-dimensional Courses: choose 5 hours total

G-AR 131 Ceramics I (3 hours)
AR 231 Ceramics II (2 hours)
AR 315 Metalsmithing and Jewelry Making (3 hours)
G-AR 350 Sculpture I (3 hours)

Graphic Design Course: 3 hours

G-AR 220 Graphic Design for Non-Art Majors (3 hours)

Total: 18-19 hours

2023|Art and Graphic Design, Catalog 23-24|

Art and Design Course Descriptions

G-AR 101 Drawing I

2 hours
An introduction to the techniques and aesthetics of drawing from observation, with an emphasis on the exploration and application of basic design principles. A variety of media will be presented, including but not limited to pencil, colored pencil, charcoal, and conté crayon. (Fall and Spring)

G-AR 102 Painting I

3 hours
This course provides an introduction to the techniques and aesthetics of opaque painting, with an emphasis on the exploration and application of color theory.  Painting medium is acrylic paint. (Fall and Spring)

AR 103 Elementary Design

3 hours
This course will focus on the elements and principles of design. With the components of form, line, shape, value, texture, color, and space, students will learn to develop whole, integrated compositions. Emphasis will be placed on the formal and structural elements of design in various 2D and 3D media in order to provide a visual vocabulary for how art works are created. (Fall)

AR 130 Design Software

2 hours
An introduction to graphic design software. Basic operating systems of Macintosh computers and software will be demonstrated as well as print-, photography-, and vector-based design techniques using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. (Fall)

G-AR 131 Ceramics I

3 hours
The emphasis of this course is in discovering clay and glaze as an art medium. This will be accomplished through an exploration of: hand building techniques and throwing on the potter’s wheel, the various drying stages of clay, slip, stain and glaze application, the firing process, and the historical and contemporary significance of clay as a functional and expressive medium for the ceramicist.  This course is level 1 and is required for all art majors; no prerequisites.  (Fall and Spring)

G-AR 202 Painting II

2 hours
This course is an introduction to abstract techniques and aesthetics of opaque painting/mixed media, with an emphasis on the exploration and application of color theory and the elements and principles of design. Painting medium is acrylic paint and mixed media. No prerequisites. (Fall)

AR 203 Photography I

2 hours
An introduction to photography with an emphasis on developing a working familiarity of the concepts and techniques required to take aesthetic photographs.  Camera functions, settings, and manual applications of digital photography primarily using digital SLR cameras will be emphasized. (Spring)

AR 205 Video Editing & Production

2 hours
A working overview of Adobe’s Premiere Pro editing software. On mastering the concepts in this course, students will understand the main principles and functionality of audio and visual narrative editing. (Spring)

AR 210 Drawing II

2 hours
A continued experience in the techniques and aesthetics of drawing with an emphasis on the human figure from direct observation. Prerequisite: G-AR 101. (Spring)

G-AR 220 Graphic Design for Non-Art Majors

3 hours
An introduction to graphic design for non-art majors focusing on the foundation of graphics through design principles and elements. Topics will cover branding and advertising basics. Basic operating systems of Macintosh computers will be demonstrated as well as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and an introduction to motion design. No prerequisite; however, G-AR 101 Drawing I and AR 103 Elementary Design strongly recommended. (Fall & Spring)

AR 225 2D Printing Production Processes

2 hours
An introduction to both digital setup and hands-on types of printing production applications. Proper setup of digital files to support various topics including color separations, spot color, preflight, management of color kits and profiles will be covered. Types of digital and hands-on press printing options will be overviewed. Students will have the opportunity of learning how to take digital images and setup files for hands-on printing production applications including block, mono, collagraph, and photo polymer. Additional techniques in chine colle, intaglio, letterpress and types of screen printing will also be covered. The class will use both digital aspects mixed with traditional studio techniques to create 2D prints. (Spring)

AR 230 Graphic Design I

3 hours
An introduction to graphic design focusing on the foundation of graphics through design principles and elements. Topics over conceptual thinking, uses of typography and symbols, layout, advertising, branding, environmental and packaging design, motion and web layout will be covered. Prerequisite: AR 130 Design Software. (Fall)

AR 231 Ceramics II

2 hours
An advanced experience in exploring clay and glaze as an art medium. This will be accomplished through an exploration of: hand building techniques and/or throwing on the potter’s wheel, the various drying stages of clay, slip, stain and glaze application, the firing processes, and the historical and contemporary significance of clay as a functional and expressive medium for the ceramicist.  Prerequisite: G-AR 131 (Spring)

AR 235 Graphic Design II

3 hours
A course focusing on using design principles and elements for three-dimensional packaging in relation to print and advertising media. Photoshop and Illustrator will be used. Prerequisite: AR 230 Graphic Design I (Spring)

AR 245/HI 245 The History of Automotive Design

3 hours
Discover and examine the technological and stylistic evolution of automotive design. This course will explore ways in which automobiles, by way of their design, reflect the technology and communicate the values of the culture that produced them. Prerequisites: None. (Fall)

AR 260 UX/UI Prototyping

2 hours
Build the expertise needed to design interactions between the consumer and the product. Create more natural and intuitive user experiences through analysis, prototyping, usability testing, and evaluation. (Fall, even years)

AR 265 UX/UI Application

2 hours
Learn to apply techniques and tools to improve the usability, accessibility, and pleasure with which people interact with digital interfaces. Using a project-based approach, become skilled at interaction design, information architecture, and interface design. (Fall, odd years)

AR 303 Photography II

3 hours
A continuation in the study of photography with a focus on lighting techniques, advanced Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom editing, contemporary photography practices and professional presentation. Prerequisite: AR 203 Photography I or consent of the instructor. (Fall)

G-AR 310 Art History I*

4 hours, Language Intensive
A worldwide survey of art, its meanings and functions in society, and major trends in the evolution of art. Encompasses prehistoric through the Middle Ages. Interrelates art to diverse aspects of society, and explores meaning and function of art as an integral part of life. (Fall)

G-AR 311 Art History II*

4 hours, Language Intensive
A worldwide survey of major art movements and individual artists from the Renaissance to contemporary art. Interrelates art to diverse aspects of society, and explores meaning and function of art as an integral part of life. (Spring)

AR 312 Themes in Contemporary Art

3 hours
This course is a study of a variety of themes in contemporary visual art of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, designed for art majors and all students interested in contemporary art issues.  Students will study works produced by contemporary artists beginning with the postmodern period through to the present day. The students will also begin to find their own place as artists in today’s art world. (Spring)

AR 315 Metalsmithing and Jewelry Making

3 hours
This studio course is an introduction to the techniques, materials, and aesthetics of jewelry and small metal sculpture design and fabrication. Students will design and fabricate jewelry and small sculpture utilizing stones and metals such as silver, copper, and brass. Basic metalsmithing techniques will be covered such as forging and shaping, silver solder, casting, enameling, as well as a variety of other assemblage methods.  (Fall)

AR 320 Typography and Logo Branding

2 hours
A course focusing on type design with an emphasis on design techniques using typography in layout and logo branding. Glyphs, a font editing program and Adobe Illustrator will be used. Prerequisite: AR130 Design Software (Fall)

AR 323 Analog Photography

3 hours
A further study in photography including alternative processes and analog techniques, including black and white 35-mm film developing and photographic print developing in the darkroom, including photograms and medium/large-format film cameras. Prerequisites: Photography I and II or consent of instructor. (Spring, odd years)

AR 330 Graphic Design III

3 hours
A course focusing on advanced projects in graphic design, including print, packaging and motion design. This course functions as a preparatory experience leading into AR 475G Graphic Design IV. Prerequisite: AR 235 Graphic Design II. (Fall)

AR 333 Commercial Photography

3 hours
This course focuses on important aspects of commercial photography, including but not limited to: professional practice, workflow, advanced use of digital camera, advanced lighting techniques for shoots. Prerequisites: Photography I and II or consent of instructor. (Spring, even years)

AR 335 Design Software II

3 hours
An introduction to moving image design software, including animation techniques using Adobe After Effects.  Prerequisite: AR 130 Design Software I. (Spring)

AR 340 Web Design I (Cross-Listed with CM 340 Web Design I)

3 hours
An introduction to web design, web usability, and standards-compliant web sites built with HTML and CSS.  Prerequisite: AR 130 Design Software. AR 230 Graphic Design I recommended but not required. (Interterm)

AR 345 Art as Community & Social Practice

2 hours
A study of contemporary art that brings together community and place making. Art as activism and part of a social practice will be explored, and students will make a large-scale art project based on themes discussed in class. (Fall)

G-AR 350 Sculpture I

3 hours
This class is an introduction to creating art in the round.  Students will work with three masters in their respective fields, each for five weeks, and create works in clay, wood and metal. (Fall)

AR 358/EE 301 Methods for Teaching Art in the Elementary School

2 hours
A comprehensive study of elementary art curricula and methods relevant to today’s educator in the public schools. Topics to be covered include: current techniques and materials, issues in art, basic art and design concepts, the developmental stages of children related to age-appropriate art teaching, and curriculum implementation. (Fall)

AR 388 Internship in Graphic Design

3 hours
Students will apply to the graphic design program director for acceptance to enter an intern relationship with a local or regional business or graphic design firm for one semester, with close monitoring from the graphic design program director. Acceptance of application for the internship is determined by the art and design department faculty.  Therefore, the student must be granted acceptance prior to enrollment. Prerequisites: AR 230 Graphic Design I, AR 235 Graphic Design II, and AR 330 Graphic Design III.  An internship can be taken concurrently with Graphic Design III.  Instructor approval required. (Fall and Spring)

AR 401/CI 401 Methods for Teaching Art in the Secondary School

2 hours
A comprehensive study of secondary art curricula and methods relevant to today’s educator in the public schools. Topics to be covered include: the role of the art teacher in a public school system, developing a secondary art curriculum, exposure to Discipline Based Art Education, motivating students, developing realistic expectations, establishing criteria for grading, assessing individual needs in the classroom, and discipline in the classroom. (Spring)

AR 403 Senior Show: Photography, Part A. & B.

Part A = 1 hour and Part B = 2 hours
A course focused on preparation for the Senior Photography Exhibition.  Various photography projects will be created or updated.  Work produced will become the foundation for the students’ Senior Exhibition. A senior exhibition is required and is a component of this course. Professional practices related specifically to photography will be addressed. (Fall 1 hour and Spring 2 hours)

AR 440 Web Design II (Cross-listed with CM 440 Web Design II)

3 hours
A recap of HTML and CSS and a more detailed exploration of responsive design. Students will utilize grids for layout and explore advanced styling for building dynamic web pages. Focuses on the skills students need to competently create and maintain their work, using best practices advocated by professional web designers. Prerequisite: CM 340/AR 340 Web Design I. (Spring)

AR 470 Senior Show: Digital Design, Part A. & B.

Part A = 1 hour and Part B = 2 hours
A course focused on preparation for the Senior Design Exhibition. Various design projects will be created or updated. Graphic, digital and/or photography work produced will become the foundation for the students’ Senior Exhibition. A senior exhibition is required and is a component of this course. Can be taken concurrently with AR 475G Graphic Design IV.  Students are encouraged to take it in both fall and spring semesters of their senior year. (Fall 1 hour and Spring 2 hours)

AR 475A/B Senior Show: Studio Arts, Part A. & B.

3 hours
This course expands the knowledge of professional practices necessary for creatives. The focus is on entrepreneurship, self-management, and art administration. It also requires the senior art major to concentrate their work in a selected area of study. With the aim of this experience being to increase professional proficiency, the student will work under the close supervision of the professor. Upon completion, a senior exhibition is required and is a main component of this course. Students are required to enroll in this course in both semesters, which will allow them to focus on the preparation for their Senior Exhibition and on the development of a strong body of work. Instructor’s approval required. (Fall 2 hours and Spring 1 hour of senior year)

AR 475G Graphic Design IV

3 hours
Advanced large-scale projects will be produced as final pieces to be used as the students’ graphic portfolio. Professional development issues will be covered, including preparation for freelance work, billing clients, and constructing a personal web and print portfolio to be used for preparation of employment. Prerequisite: AR 330 Graphic Design III. (Spring)

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297 Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

2023|Art and Graphic Design, Catalog 23-24|

Business Program

Purpose Statement

The department commits itself to fostering students’ learning so that they are prepared for professional pursuits and/or graduate study.

The department achieves this purpose when its graduates are proficient in the following outcomes.

  • Students will apply and demonstrate business principles and concepts of the functional areas of business.
  • Students will research and analyze information, including data, related to one’s field of study.
  • Students will perform effectively in groups.
  • Students will communicate effectively orally, visually and in writing in a manner relevant to the field and intended audience.
  • Students will understand demands and challenges facing businesses in a global environment.

One major, two interdisciplinary majors, and a minor are available within the Department of Business Administration. Within the Business Administration major, there are four emphasis areas, and a student must choose at least one area in which to concentrate their study: Management, Marketing, Finance, and Accounting.

Core Requirement for all Business Majors: 37 hours

G-BA 130 Principles of Business Management (3 hours)
EC 201 Principles of Economics: Macro (3 hours)
EC 204 Principles of Economics: Micro (3 hours)
AC 205 Financial Accounting (3 hours)
AC 206 Managerial Accounting (3 hours)
BA 215 Business Law (3 hours)
*G-CM 218 Business and Professional Communication (3 hours)
G-BA 220 Business Applied Statistics (4 hours)
BA 221 Marketing (3 hours)
BA/AC 320 Management/Accounting Information Systems (3 hours)
BA 325 Financial Management (3 hours)
*BA 475 Business Strategy and Policy (3 hours)

Accounting Emphasis

AC 305 Intermediate Accounting I (3 hours)
AC 306 Intermediate Accounting II (3 hours)
AC 315 Cost Accounting (3 hours)
AC 316 Individual Income Tax (3 hours)
AC 437 Principles of Auditing (3 hours)

Hours in Accounting: 15 hours
Business Elective Hours: 6 hours

37 Core + 15 Accounting + 6 Elective = 58 hours

Management Emphasis

BA 324 Organizational Behavior (3 hours)
BA 339 Human Resource Management (3 hours)
BA 342 International Business (3 hours) (Student may substitute G-BA342IT for this course)
BA 490 Operations Management (3 hours)

Hours in Management: 12 hours
Business Elective Hours: 9 hours

37 Core + 12 Management + 9 Elective = 58 hours

Finance Emphasis

AC 305 Intermediate Accounting I (3 hours)
BA 451 Money and Banking (3 hours)
BA 426 Financial Analysis (3 hours)
BA 428 Investments (3 hours)

Hours in Finance: 12 hours
Business Elective Hours: 9 hours

37 Core + 12 Finance+ 9 Elective = 58 total hours

Marketing Emphasis

BA 322 Advertising and Promotion (3 hours)
BA 327 Consumer Behavior (3 hours)
BA 345 Customer Sales Management (3 hours)
BA 427 Marketing Research (3 hours)

Hours in Marketing: 12 hours
Business Elective Hours: 9 hours

37 Core + 12 Marketing + 9 Elective =58 total hours

Business Administration Minor: 

G-BA 130 Principles of Business Management (3 hours)
AC 202 Survey of Accounting (3 hours)
EC 202 Survey of Economics (3 hours)
*G-CM 218 Business and Professional Communication (3 hours)
BA 221 Marketing (3 hours)
BA 215 Business Law (3 hours)
BA 325 Financial Management (3 hours)

Total: 21 hours

Interdisciplinary Majors

The Business Department, in collaboration with other disciplines on campus, supports interdisciplinary majors in: Automotive Restoration Management, Art and Design: Graphic Design Marketing, Healthcare Management, and Sport Management.

CPA Study

Students interested in sitting for the CPA (Certified Public Accountants) exam must meet the requirements of the State Board of Accountancy. One of the requirements is 150 hours of college credit. McPherson College advises students pursuing a career in public accounting to complete their undergraduate degree at McPherson College and then complete a master’s degree in business or accounting. For additional information, contact the chair of the business department.

 

2023|Business, Catalog 23-24|

Business Course Descriptions

Economics

EC 201 Principles of Economics: Macro

3 hours
The first semester of general economics deals with these major topics: supply and demand, the market system, the role of government; unemployment, economic fluctuations; fiscal and monetary policy approaches to economic stabilization; impact of international trade issues on domestic economic problems. (Fall)

EC 202 Survey of Economics

3 hours
This course is designed to provide non-business majors with a basic understanding of key economic principles from both the “macro” and “micro” perspectives. Topics will include: supply and demand, economic goals and measures, market types, economic fluctuations, monetary and fiscal policy, and international trade. (Spring)

EC 204 Principles of Economics: Micro

3 hours
The second semester of general economics study. The course focuses on concepts of supply and demand in the context of perfect and imperfect product and resource markets. In addition, students apply economic concepts to a variety of current topics, labor unions, income distribution, and health care. It is recommended to first take EC 201 Principles of Economics: Macro. (Spring)

EC 452 International Finance (dormant)

3 hours

Accounting

AC 202 Survey of Accounting

3 hours
This course is designed for managers and personnel in organizations of all sizes who must work with, and understand, accounting and financial information. Students will learn how to read and use financial statements and financial information to make business decisions. Topics include fundamental financial accounting, fundamental cost accounting, terminology, cash and internal control, financial statement analysis, and cash flow. (Fall)

AC 205 Financial Accounting

3 hours
A study of the elements of accounting, the balance sheet, income statement, principles of double entry accounting, the process of closing books, and depreciation methods. (Fall)

AC 206 Managerial Accounting

3 hours
A continuation of Financial Accounting, with the emphasis on various entity capital structures, analysis and interpretation of financial statements, statement of cash flows, present value concepts, and introduction to cost accounting. Prerequisites: AC 205. (Spring)

AC 305 Intermediate Accounting I

3 hours
The first of two in-depth financial accounting courses. The conceptual framework, critical analysis of generally accepted accounting principles, and applications are stressed. Topics include the balance sheet, income statement, the statement of cash flows debt financing, equity financing, earnings per share, and accounting changes and error correction. Prerequisites: C or better in AC 206. (Fall)

AC 306 Intermediate Accounting II

3 hours
The second of two in-depth financial accounting courses. Continued in-depth analysis of generally accepted accounting principles and related applications are emphasized. Topics include the earnings management, revenue cycle, revenue recognition, inventory and cost of goods sold, non-current operating assets, investments, leases, income taxes, pensions, other payroll topics, derivatives, contingencies, etc. Prerequisites: AC 305.(Spring)

AC 315 Cost Accounting

3 hours
The study of standard costing, cash budgeting, process costing, job order costing and their applications to the management decision process. Prerequisite: AC 206, G-BA 130. (Fall, even years)

AC 316 Individual Income Tax

3 hours
The study of individual income tax theory, planning and application. Prerequisites: G-BA 130 and AC206. (Fall)

AC 320 Accounting Information Systems

3 hours
The concept of accounting information systems refers to all accounting procedures designed and implemented to ensure that transactions are properly recorded, processed, and disclosed. This course will use the case method of instruction to assist student skill development in evaluation and construction of accounting systems. This course also provides comprehensive understanding and practical application skills of Intuit’s Quickbooks software. Prerequisites: G-BA 130, and AC 206 concurrently. (Spring)

AC 437 Principles of Auditing

3 hours
The following topics are included in this course: theory and application of the following concepts: materiality, risk, internal control evaluation, and audit evidence (analytical and substantive). Students will learn to evaluate the risk of financial statement assertions and choose appropriate audit procedures. This course concentrates on auditing standards generally accepted in the United States as issued by the AICPA auditing standards board and PCOAB. Other items include financial statement fraud, independence, legal liability, and ethical responsibilities. Concurrent: AC 306 and AC 320. (Spring, odd years)

Business Administration

G-BA 130 Principles of Business Management

3 hours
This course introduces the student to the management process. The course takes an integrated approach to management by examining the role of the manager from a traditional and contemporary perspective while applying decision-making and critical-thinking skills to the challenges facing managers in today’s globally diverse environment. The course examines the techniques for controlling, planning, organizing resources and leading a social institution. Introductory finance and accounting principles will also be addressed. (Fall and Spring)

G-CM 218 Business and Professional Communication

3 hours (Language Intensive)
Business and Professional Communication is a course designed to expose students to strategies for effective communication in a business environment. Students will deal with both oral and written forms of communication. The course will also deal with the effective communication of information through the use of spreadsheets and graphs, as well as on-line communication skills that are essential to success in today’s business environment. Students will learn effective techniques for using technology to enhance an oral presentation as well. (Fall)

G-BA 220 Business Applied Statistics

4 hours
This course is a study of the principles of descriptive statistics, probability, sample and population relationships, estimation, and hypothesis testing. The student will receive a solid foundation in mathematical theory, practical application, and Microsoft Excel.  (Spring)

BA 221 Marketing

3 hours
A study of marketing institutions and the functions which they perform: pricing, promotion, distribution, and product development. The course will also address effects of external domestic and international environments on marketing strategy. Prerequisite: G-BA 130. (Fall)

G-BA 230 Personal Finance

3 hours
This course provides an overview of personal and family financial planning with an emphasis on financial recordkeeping, planning your spending, tax planning, consumer credit, making buying decisions, purchasing insurance, selecting investments, and retirement and estate planning. This class is recommended for non-business majors. (Fall, Interterm)

BA 235 Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management

3 hours
Focus is on the start-up and development of a small business. Topics include acquisition of capital; design of accounting systems and cash control; principles of taxation and payroll deductions; financial statement analysis; legal issues related to workers’ compensation, product liability, contracts fundamentals, and forms of business organization; election, hiring, and appraisal of employees; marketing of product; inventory control; location and facilities analysis; and regulatory impacts. Course requires preparation of a complete business plan. Concurrent: G-BA 130. (Fall)

BA 315 Business Law

3 hours
This course is designed to help students master the fundamental and legal and regulatory knowledge necessary to perform in today’s business environment. Students will develop an understanding of how to solve a legal problem and will study topics such as contracts, sales governed by the UCC, bankruptcy, principle- agent relationships and employer/employee legal issues. (Spring)

BA 320 Management Information Systems

3 hours
The concept of management information systems refers to all management procedures designed and implemented to insure that data related to the basic goals, strategies, and operations of the business entity are properly and timely collected, processed, and reported. This course will use the case method of instruction to assist student skill development in evaluation and construction of management systems.  This course also provides comprehensive understanding and practical application skills of Microsoft’s Access software. Prerequisites: G-BA 130. (Spring)

BA 322 Advertising and Promotion

3 hours
Advertising and promotion is a course that directly relates to marketing and how advertising drives the company’s’ marketing plan. The class will explore all forms of print and electronic media and learn to evaluate the effectiveness of advertising. The class will revolve around applying material from the text, to developing and executing an actual advertising plan. Client meetings will be held with the organization we will be preparing advertising. After the completion of this course, students will have a full understanding of what goes into an advertising campaign. The students will have a greater appreciation for what it takes to produce a 30-second commercial and budgeting, negotiating and persuading the client. Prerequisite: BA 221. (Fall)

BA 324 Organizational Behavior

3 hours 
In depth exploration of the management functions of organizing and leading/directing. Emphasis on individual motivation, group process and team management, leadership styles and effectiveness, organizational communication, decision-making, managing global workforces and diversity, management of change, organizational culture, and organizational design. Prerequisite: G-BA 130. (Fall)

BA 325 Financial Management 

3 hours
A study of concepts in financial management including the time-value of money, ratio analysis, cost of capital, capital budgeting, and the valuation of stocks and bonds. The course includes a term project to evaluate the performance of publicly traded companies within an industry. (Book Fee) Prerequisites: AC 206 or AC 202 (Fall)

BA 327 Consumer Behavior

3 hours
This course is designed to help students evaluate why people do what they do when they buy something. Students will examine behavioral science concepts applicable to understand the buyer’s behavior and investigate specific processes of consumer decision-making. Topics will include: purchase decisions, reference groups; and sociological, psychological, and economic aspects of consumer behavior. Additional topics will include: environmental influences on consumer evaluation, consumer attitudes, and post-purchase evaluation. Prerequisite: BA 221. (Spring)

BA 339 Human Resource Management

3 hours 
A study of the processes, problems, and opportunities associated with the human resources deployed by an organization. Major topics include planning, staffing, training and development, compensation, employee relations. Prerequisite: G-BA 130. (Spring)

BA 342 International Business

3 hours
This course is a study from the manager’s perspective in the fields of international trade and investment, balance of payments, international financial markets, monetary systems, national trade policy, and international laws. This course also addresses cultural variables in business, and examines how each of a number of basic management activities must be handled differently in the international environment. Prerequisites: EC 204, G-BA 130. (Fall)

G-BA 342IT International Business Travel Trip

3 hours
This course is designed to deliver students a holistic experience of a country other than the United States, with primary attention given to business commerce, and trade relations in a foreign country. Topics experienced will include: economic history through present day, cultural, as well as other historical attributes. The course destination can change year-by-year. Prior course destinations include: Costa Rica, Australia, Italy and Greece. (Note: This course may be substituted for BA342 International Business.)

BA 345 Customer Sales Management

3 hours
This course is designed to demystify the negative stereotypes of sales by exposing students to the sales process and how it fits into the structure of a business and specifically within marketing. Students will practice customer management tactics, negotiation, and persuasive sales techniques. Prerequisites: G-BA 130, BA 221, G-CM 218. (Spring)

BA 426 Financial Analysis

3 hours
A continuation of Financial Management examining in greater depth the topics of capital budgeting, capital structure, financial forecasting, working capital management, acquisitions, and dividend/stock repurchase policies. The primary teaching method is application utilizing case studies. Through these case studies, students will gain an intermediate to advanced proficiency level in Microsoft Excel. Prerequisites: C or better in BA 325, and AC 305 recommended. (Spring)

BA 427 Marketing Research

3 hours
This course focuses on the different types of marketing research (qualitative and quantitative) as well as the complex issues at each stage of the marketing research process, including research objectives, questionnaire construction (specifically for survey research), sampling, data collection, and statistical analysis. Accordingly, this course is appropriate for both prospective users of research results and prospective marketing researchers. Prerequisite: C or better in BA 221, BA 322, and concurrent BA 327.  (Spring)

BA 428 Investments

3 hours
A study of investment terminology, financial markets, risk, portfolio theory, and the analysis and evaluation of industries and firms. As part of this class students manage $350,000 of the college’s endowment. Prerequisite: EC 204 or EC 202, and BA 325 (Spring)

BA 451 Money and Banking

3 hours
A study of the nature and function of money, its relation to the overall economy, and the many functions of the domestic and international financial system. Prerequisite: EC 204, AC 206. (Fall)

BA 475 Business Strategy and Policy

3 hours (Senior Seminar and Language Intensive)
This is a capstone course for all Business majors. This course is an intense study of the role of strategic planning in the success of an organization. It provides a framework for such planning and the practical application of strategic planning through case studies. Prerequisites: Prior completion of or contemporaneous enrollment in all other major requirements. Students must be in their final spring semester to enroll for this course. (Spring)

BA 490 Operations Management

3 hours
Operations Management encompasses the theory and application of managing both service and manufacturing industry processes.  Topics include: value chain, supply chain, inventory, resource, quality, sequencing, as well as capacity management techniques and practices. Additional areas of emphasis include: operations strategy, goods and services design, facility design, forecasting, process selection and sequencing. Students can expect to learn both the theoretical basis and mathematical application of operations management processes. Prerequisites: G-BA 130, AC206, G-BA220 or G-MA221. (Fall)

 

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

2023|Business, Catalog 23-24|

Communication Program

Purpose Statement

The mission of the communication department is to prepare competent communicators by providing students a foundation in communication theory and practice that will enhance their personal, civic, and professional lives.

Students who complete the communication major can expect to develop

  • the ability to express audience-centered messages clearly in both speaking and writing.
  • confidence and competence in speaking encounters whether for public presentations or for building interpersonal and professional relationships.
  • strategies for overcoming communication barriers.
  • media literacy including knowledge about how media are created and how media affect how we communicate.

Students who complete the digital media major with the communication emphasis will develop competence in

  • the ability to express audience-centered messages clearly in both speaking and writing.
  • obtaining still images, audio, and video, and combining these media with text to tell stories effectively.
  • designing, laying out, and publishing content online and in print.
  • media literacy including knowledge about how media are created and how media affect how we communicate.

Communication Major

G-CM 120  Introduction to Human Communication (3 hours)
*G-CM 130 Interpersonal Communication (3 hours)
CM 135  Media Writing (3 hours) or CM 235 Magazine & Feature Writing (3 hours)
G-CM 140  Public Speaking (3 hours)
CM 210  Podcasting (3 hours)
G-AR 220  Graphic Design for non-art majors (3 hours)
*CM 220 Special Topics in Popular Culture (3 hours)
*G-CM 221  Intercultural Communication (3 hours)
G-MA 221  Elementary Applied Statistics (4 hours)
CM 240  Gender Communication (3 hours)
CM 305  Editing (3 hours)
CM 310  Public Relations and Social Media Campaigns (3 hours)
*EN 313  Advanced Expository Writing (3 hours)
CM 315  Media Production (2 hours)
CM 325  Conflict Communication (3 hours)
CM 330  Persuasion and Social Influence (3 hours)
CM 340  Web Design I (3 hours)
CM 375  Junior Seminar in Communication (1 hour)
*CM 475A  Senior Seminar in Service in the Community (2 hours)
*CM 475B Senior Seminar in Career Exploration (1 hour)

Total: 55 hours

Digital Media Major

All students completing the digital media major must complete the core courses (25 credit hours). They will then elect to complete the courses in either the communication or the visual design emphasis.

Core Courses
AR 130
Design Software (2 hours)
AR 205 Video Editing & Production (2 hours)
AR 230 Graphic Design I (3 hours)
CM 330 Persuasion and Social Influence (3 hours)
AR 335 Design Software II (3 hours)
CM 340/AR 340 Web Design I (3 hours)
CM 360 Videography I (3 hours)
CM 440/AR 440 Web Design II (3 hours)
CM 410 Videography II (3 hours)

Total: 25 hours

Choose one area of emphasis:

Communication Emphasis
G-CM 120
Introduction to Human Communications (3 hours)
CM 135 Media Writing (3 hours) or CM 235 Magazine & Feature Writing (3 hours)
CM 210 Podcasting (3 hours)
CM 220 Special Topics in Popular Culture (3 hours)
*G-CM 221 Intercultural Communication (3 hours)
CM 305 Editing (3 hours)
EN 315 Expository Writing (3 hours)
CM 315 Media Production (2 hours)
CM 310 Public Relations and Social Media Campaign (3 hours)
CM 375 Junior Seminar (1 hour)
*CM 475A  Senior Seminar in Service in the Community (2 hours)
*CM 475B Senior Seminar in Career Exploration (1 hour)

Total: 30 hours (major total is 55 hours)

OR:

Visual Design Emphasis
AR 103
Elementary Design (3 hours)
AR 203 Photography I (2 hours)
AR 235 Graphic Design II (3 hours)
AR 260 UX/UI Prototyping (2 hours)
AR 265 UX/UI Application (2 hours)
AR 303 Photography II (3 hours)
AR 320 Typography/Logo Branding (2 hours)
AR 330 Graphic Design III (3 hours)
AR 333 Commercial Photography I (3 hours)
AR 475G Graphic Design IV (3 hours)
AR 470A Graphic Design Senior Show (1 hour)
AR 470B Graphic Design Senior Show (1 hour)

Total: 28 hours (major total is 53 hours)

Suggested Supporting Courses for either emphasis
BA 221
Marketing
BA 322 Advertising and Promotion
BA 327 Consumer Behavior
BA 427 Marketing Research
ET 101 Creativity and Innovation

Competency Exam

Students who plan to major in communication, or the communication emphasis of the digital media major, must pass a writing competency exam. This exam will be offered in the spring semester, before pre-enrollment for the fall. Transfer students will take the exam early in their first semester at the college. Students who fail the exam may re-take it after participating in guided study and practice of writing.

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY

Purpose Statement

Students selecting the major in Social Justice and Advocacy are demonstrating their commitment to building stronger communities by learning how they can use communication and knowledge about social problems to help bring about social, cultural, environmental, and political changes. This is an interdisciplinary major which draws from courses that help a student learn about social issues and problems impacting those on the margins of society, and provide students with the communication tools necessary to address these issues. The major is designed to be partially completed through the general education curriculum, which allows a student to pursue additional studies through minors or another major.

Students who complete the Social Justice and Advocacy major can expect to

  • be an engaged and civic-minded member of their community.
  • identify social problems facing our communities.
  • advocate for the needs of those on the margins of society.

Social Justice and Advocacy Major

Foundation Course (3 hours)

Choose one:
   G-CM 120 Introduction to Human Communication (3 hours)
   G-SO 101 Introduction to Sociology (3 hours)

Communication and Advocacy Courses (20 hours)

*G-CM 130 Interpersonal Communication (3 hours)
G-CM 140
Public Speaking (3 hours)
CM 310 Public Relations & Social Media Campaigns (3 hours)
CM 325 Conflict Communication (3 hours)
CM 330 Persuasion and Social Influence (3 hours)
AR 345 Art as Community & Social Practice (2 hours)
Choose one:
   CM 135 Media Writing (3 hours)
   CM 235 Magazine and Feature Writing (3 hours)
  *EN 313 Expository Writing (3 hours)
    EN 420 Creative Writing (3 hours)

Social Issues Courses (12 hours)

SO 206 Social Problems (3 hours)
SO 275 Criminal Justice (3 hours)
SO 355 Juvenile Delinquency (3 hours)
SO 365 Social Work in American Society (3 hours)

Race/Ethnicity/Gender Literacy and Justice Courses (15 hours)

G-SO 202 Minorities in the U.S. (3 hours)
*G-PS 215 Global Peace Studies (3 hours)
*G-CM 221 Intercultural Communication (3 hours)
CM 240 Gender Communication (3 hours)
Choose one:
   G-EN 222 Native American Literature (3 hours)
   G-EN 225 African American Literature (3 hours)
   G-EN 235 Selected Topics in Literature: Borderland (3 hours)

Senior Capstone Courses (3 hours)

*CM 475A  Senior Seminar in Service in the Community (2 hours)
*CM 475B Senior Seminar in Career Exploration (1 hour)

Total: 53 hours

Recommended General Education Courses

G-AR 220 Graphic Design for Non-Art Majors (3 hours)
G-HI 237 Topics in Social History (3 hours)
G-HS 190 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health (3 hours)
G-ML 108 Spanish I (3 hours)
G-NS 141 Environmental Science (4 hours)
G-PR 204 Peacemaking: Religious Perspectives (3 hours)
G-PS 125 International Relations (3 hours) or
   G-PS 102 United States Government (3 hours)

Communication Minor

A minor in communication consists of G-CM 120 Introduction to Human Communication (3 hours), and any other 17 hours of communication courses.  CM 315 Media Production may make up no more than four hours of coursework in the minor.

Storytelling Minor

Students selecting the minor in Storytelling are combining courses to be able to tell the stories of individuals, organizations, and communities. Storytelling is a skill that can enhance nearly any major as it will prepare students to share the information from their major with audiences in a meaningful way. This interdisciplinary minor draws upon courses in communication, English, theatre, and art.

Student Learning Objectives

A student who completes the minor in Storytelling should be able to

  1. tell stories—regardless of the content—with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
  2. tell stories in oral, written, and visual formats.
  3. tell the stories of individuals, organizations, and communities in engaging ways.

Required Classes (19 hours total)
G-CM 140 Public Speaking (3 hours)
G-TH 160 Acting I (3 hours)
AR 203 Photography I (2 hours)
AR 205 Video Editing & Production (2 hours)
CM 210 Podcasting (3 hours)
CM 235 Magazine & Feature Writing (3 hours)
Choose one:
*EN 313 Advanced Expository Writing (3 hours)
     EN 420 Creative Writing (3 hours)

Elective Supporting Courses (not required)
G-AR 101 Drawing I (2 hours)
G-TH 125 Film and Culture (3 hours)
CM 305 Editing (3 hours)
CM 315 Media Production (1 hour)
CM 360 Videography I (3 hours)
TH 365 Stage and Technical Direction (2 hours)
TH 410 Theatre Seminar (2 hours)
CM 410 Videography II (3 hours)

2023|Catalog 23-24, Communication|

Communication Course Descriptions

 

Course Descriptions – Communication

G-CM 120 Introduction to Human Communication

3 hours
An introduction to the elements of the communication process in its personal and social aspects. Students will examine the breadth of the field of communication including intrapersonal, interpersonal, small group, mass media, intercultural, and public communication. Students will examine how humans use emerging media—websites, online channels, social media sites, etc.—to create a sense of self, express themselves to others, and to gain a fuller picture of the generalized other in society. Written communication skills will be emphasized through specific assignments. (Fall, Spring)

G-CM 130 Interpersonal Communication

3 hours (Language Intensive)
An oral communication course designed to acquaint students with the basic concepts of human communication as well as the more specialized skills needed to develop and maintain interpersonal relationships. Self-concept, self-disclosure, perception, relationship development, and mass media portrayals of interpersonal relationships are among the major units covered. (Fall)

CM 135 Media Writing

3 hours
A study of contemporary media emphasizing information media literacy and reporting and writing the news for various media including web, broadcast media, and social media. (Spring, even years)

G-CM 140 Public Speaking

3 hours
Study and practice of a wide range of formal and informal public speaking activities. Students will focus on developing an extemporaneous delivery of speeches based on experience with and research of topics. Students will practice multiple types of speeches including speeches to inform, to persuade, and for special occasions. (Fall, Interterm, Spring)

CM 210 Podcasting

3 hours
An introduction to the use of digital technology for audio podcast and video podcast production. Students will use journalistic principles for telling compelling stories that will be edited and hosted on the world wide web. Prior completion of CM135 Media Writing is strongly recommended but not required. (Fall)

G-CM 218 Business and Professional Communication

3 hours (Language Intensive)
This course is designed to expose students to strategies for effective communication in a business environment. Students will learn skills to improve both oral and written communication. Topics include using technology to enhance presentations, nonverbal communication in the workplace, and communicating about discrimination. (Fall, Spring)

CM 220 Special Topics in Popular Culture

3 hours (Language Intensive)
Students will learn about key theories, concepts, and communication research methods that will allow them to critically look at popular culture and understand how to read media at a deeper level. It will encourage students to consume media and understand the differing layers of different types of media: television, literature, video games, film photography, etc. Each course offering focuses on a different popular culture text. Students may repeat the course two times for credit. This course meets the requirements for a language intensive course. (Spring, even years)

G-CM 221 Intercultural Communication

3 hours (Language Intensive)
This course provides a broad overview of the study in communication both between and within nations, cultures, and subcultures. Students will investigate issues related to communication between people of different cultural orientations and also examine how cultural others are misperceived in interpersonal interactions and misrepresented in the media. Students will examine tensions between cultures and discuss ways to approach them by delving into specific cultural and communication rituals different from our own. Films will be used to study different cultural elements and concepts. (Spring, even years; Interterm, odd years)

CM 235 Magazine and Feature Writing

3 hours
This course is a study of contemporary journalism emphasizing information media literacy and writing long-form journalism for magazines and other types of publications. Students will learn to create content for print and online media outlets including podcasting. (Spring, odd years)

CM 240 Gender Communication

3 hours
This course examines the influence of gender on communication in interpersonal, instructional, organizational and mass mediated contexts. Topics of examination include interpersonal violence, discrimination, and other contemporary social problems. Focus will be given to understanding gender as a cultural group. (Spring, even years.)

CM 305 Editing

3 hours
An introduction to editing. Students learn how to correct, tighten and clarify texts and how to apply design principles to a variety of documents and publications. (Fall, odd years)

CM 310 Public Relations 

3 hours
A service-learning course that allows the study of the fundamental principles, strategies, and skills used in contemporary public relations. The course aims to give students practice in analyzing and responding ethically to PR issues and in researching, planning, writing, and designing a variety of PR materials. Students will examine how PR professionals use social media to send campaign messages to various publics. Students will work as a class on a PR campaign for a non-profit organization. Prerequisite of Junior standing or instructor permission. (Spring, odd years)

CM 315 Media Production

1 hour
Experience for students on the campus newspaper or other student media. Students will learn the process for creating publishable media and will participate in creating campus media. Students will attend weekly sessions to receive assignments and instruction and complete work as homework with guidance as needed. Students will negotiate with the instructor what emphasis they will take for the semester: reporting, photojournalism, editing, layout and design, advertising, multimedia, video, or audio. May be repeated each semester student is enrolled on campus. May take for zero or one credit. (Fall, spring)

CM 325 Conflict Communication

3 hours
This course examines issues related to sources of conflict in communication. Orientations to conflict and the management of conflict will be examined. A critique and synthesis of conceptual approaches and research is covered that pertains to conflict in interpersonal, organizational, and public communication settings. (Spring, odd years)

CM 330 Persuasion and Social Influence

3 hours
An examination of theories of persuasion, persuasion variables, principles of effective persuasion, and persuasion in interpersonal, small group, organizational and mediated contexts. In addition to studying verbal persuasion, students will examine the nature of visual persuasion in everyday life, discover how visual imagery influences behavior, develop strategies to protect themselves from the unwanted messages images convey, and learn how to use persuasion wisely in their own creations. (Fall)

CM 340 Web Design I (Cross-Listed with AR 340 Web Design I)

3 hours
An introduction to web design, web usability, and standards-compliant web sites built with HTML and CSS. Prerequisite: AR 130 Design Software. AR 230 Graphic Design I recommended but not required.  (Interterm)

CM 360 Videography I

3 hours
Video production for promotional videos, title sequences, and commercials, with a duration up to 2 minutes. Students will practice shooting and editing video, and producing graphics, for creative sequences that promote different subjects. Prerequisite: AR 205 Video Editing and Production. (Fall)

CM 375 Junior Seminar in Communication

1 hour
This course will cover an in-depth study of media theory and ethics. Students will consider how media impact their audiences. Case studies will be examined to enhance the understanding of ethical decision-making. (Fall)

CM 410 Videography II

3 hours
Short-form video production for news items, short films, and documentaries. Includes the use of photography, video, audio, and graphics for telling compelling video stories with a duration between 4 and 10 minutes. Students will practice shooting and editing video for various situations with a focus on creativity in film-making. Prerequisite: CM 210 Multimedia Storytelling. (Spring)

CM 440 Web Design II (Cross-Listed with AR 440)

3 hours
A recap of HTML and CSS and a more detailed exploration of responsive design. Students will utilize grids for layout and explore advanced styling for building dynamic web pages. Focuses on the skills students need to competently create and maintain their work, using best practices advocated by professional web designers. Prerequisite: CM 340 Web Design I. (Spring)

CM 475A Senior Seminar in Service in the Community

2 hours (Language Intensive)
Each student will complete a service-learning thesis project using communication skills learned throughout the program. Projects may be individual or group work in nature, depending on the semester enrolled. (Fall)

CM475B Senior Seminar in Career Exploration

1 hour (Language Intensive)
This course will be devoted to the exploration of post college plans including job searching, resume writing, cover letter creation, and interviewing practice. The goal of the course is to help students find a job placement prior to graduation. (Spring)

CM 388 Career Connections in Communication

4-8 hours
An internship in a career-related position. For communication majors and minors only.

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

 

2023|Catalog 23-24, Communication|

Teacher Education Program

The academic program offered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction is essential for achieving the college’s mission of developing whole persons through scholarship, participation, and service. It also reflects the heritage of the college and the Church of the Brethren, which includes a dedication to a liberal arts education and values that promote ethical behavior, non-violence and peace, a simple lifestyle, and a dedication to serving others.

The primary focus of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction is on the preparation of education professionals. Teacher education at McPherson College has long been one of the foundational cornerstones on which the institution was established.

Licensure Disclosure

The Teacher Education Program at McPherson College is accredited by the Kansas State Department of Education (900 SW Jackson Street, Topeka, Kansas 66612); and by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), www.caepnet.org. This accreditation covers the Teacher Education Program at McPherson College; however, the accreditation does not include individual education courses that the institution offers to P-12 educators for professional development, relicensure, or other purposes.

McPherson College prepares future teachers for licensure in the state of Kansas. The program requirements may not meet licensure requirements for other states. Students planning to seek teacher licensure outside of Kansas are strongly encouraged to meet with the McPherson College Licensure Officer to discuss future plans. McPherson College Teacher Education Program has not made a determination as to whether our program’s curriculum meets the state’s educational requirements for the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Teacher Education Program of McPherson College is to develop service-oriented educators who effectively blend the art and science of teaching.

Goals, Objectives, and Dispositions

Goal I: The candidate has the knowledge bases necessary to be an effective teacher in her/his field.

To accomplish this goal, the service-oriented educator will:

Objectives:

  1. Acquire a broad liberal arts knowledge base.
  2. Demonstrate proficiency in his/her major area of licensure.
  3. Acquire effective strategies of teaching in all appropriate content areas and for all learners.
  4. Recognize how students learn and develop.

Disposition: Appreciate the connections between various areas of knowledge and commit to continuous learning.

Goal II: The candidate can apply effective teaching strategies to meet the needs of all learners.

To accomplish this goal, the service-oriented educator will:

Objectives:

  1. Use appropriate best practices for specific content areas and for diverse learners.
  2. Reflect upon his/her teaching and analyze the practices.
  3. Demonstrate understanding and use of formative and summative assessments and make modifications based on them.
  4. Provide motivational techniques based on students’ developmental and environmental needs.

Disposition: Value and respect students’ varied talents and abilities and project enthusiasm for teaching all learners.

Goal III: The candidate fosters relationships and collaborates with school constituencies. To accomplish this goal, the service-oriented educator will:

Objectives:

  1. Communicate effectively in both written and oral formats and through the use of technology
  2. Solicit input from students, parents, colleagues, and the greater community.
  3. Act on information received from stakeholders.

Disposition: Value the many ways in which people seek to communicate and encourage various modes of communication.

 

The Teacher Education Program at McPherson College focuses on three major levels of licensure. The following are lists of the levels and the programs.

6-12 Licensure Section
Biology, Chemistry, English, English for Speakers of Other Languages, History and Government, Mathematics, High-Incidence Special Education, Speech/Theatre

K-6 Licensure Section
Elementary Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages, High-Incidence Special Education

PK-12 Licensure Section
Art, Health, Music, Physical Education, Spanish

As a student at McPherson College preparing to become a teacher, you will be asked to prove your competency with the guidance of instructors in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the content area departments. Course assessments, a portfolio, and interviews are a few of the instruments developed that will help you demonstrate your abilities. McPherson College is currently collecting data on different aspects of student performance. Numerous experiences are provided as observers, aides, tutors, and as participants in student teaching experiences. Those seeking licensure at all levels begin their professional work by the sophomore year and continue with incremental and sequential scheduling of their professional growth.

Admission Procedures

Procedures for admittance into the Teacher Education Program and Student Teaching are outlined in detail in the Advisor/Advisee Handbook and/or the Policies and Procedures Manual. These handbooks are available in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. College advisors also have copies of these handbooks. The handbook is also available online. Candidates should read the handbook or consult their advisors for a detailed account of admission requirements and procedures. The student is ultimately responsible for meeting admissions protocol and enrolling in courses.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program

As a general rule, the Teacher Education Board reviews candidates for admittance into the Teacher Education Program two times during an academic year, once each semester. Requirements for acceptance into the Teacher Education Program include, but are not exclusive of,

  • Minimum of C in G-EN 110 College Composition I
  • Minimum of C in G-EN 111 College Composition I
  • Minimum of C in college level math
  • Minimum of C in G-CI 150 Introduction to Education
  • Recommendation from Student Life
  • A GPA of 2.5

Practica at McPherson College

Research has proven that multiple and varied practical experiences are of utmost importance in an effective teacher education program. For that reason, students in the Teacher Education Program have the requirement of completing a minimum of two practica prior to student teaching. However, students are encouraged to participate in more than those two. The first practicum occurs early in the student’s professional education course sequence. This practicum is primarily an observation/aide situation. The second practicum occurs later in the professional sequence and requires students to take more initiative in the actual classroom responsibilities including teaching multiple lessons.

Students are required to do one of the practicum experiences in an urban setting. Arrangements have been made for the first practicum to be completed in Wichita, Chicago, or other ethnically diverse setting. Transfer students or students with extenuating circumstances may choose to complete one of the other sessions in an urban setting. This will further enhance the program and give students a broader understanding of the entire educational enterprise. Students are placed in both grade- and content-appropriate practicum settings. It is the student’s responsibility to secure travel arrangements to the practica sites. Any expenses that are incurred are also the responsibility of the student.

All practica must be approved by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

Service Component

In keeping with the mission of the college and the Teacher Education Program, future teachers are expected to complete a service component as part of their program. During the student’s college career s/he must complete and document 100 hours of service prior to completing the program. Transfer students must complete 25 hours per year.

There are many possibilities for service-oriented activities. Opportunities will occasionally be made available through the Curriculum and Instruction Department. In addition, students are encouraged to seek out experiences that will be self- satisfying. For further explanation or clarification, contact any member of the Teacher Education Board.

Student Teaching at McPherson College

Student teaching is considered the capstone experience in the professional education sequence for future teachers. It is to be done after other professional coursework is completed. In cooperation with a K-12 school system, McPherson College strives to make this experience as beneficial as possible for all parties involved. Student teaching is a complete semester experience. It is offered for variable credit hours depending on the level and the experiential need of the student and the licensure area being sought. Being given the privilege to student teach is not automatic. The Teacher Education Board carefully screens all applicants for their suitability. As a general rule, the Department of Curriculum and Instruction begins the application for the student teaching process two times during an academic year. Deadlines are September 15 and February 15. Late applications are not accepted.

The prospective student teacher at McPherson College is expected to have:

  • the personality and character traits required of a teacher;
  • a strong liberal arts education;
  • solid professional skills;
  • successful practica experiences with practitioners in the field.

Before a student can student teach she/he must have:

  • gained full acceptance into the Teacher Education Program;
  • secured favorable recommendations from her/his major professor, professor of a language intensive course, one professor in teacher education, Student Life, and two supportive professionals in education;
  • achieved a cumulative grade point average of 2.5;
  • provided proof of liability insurance;
  • signed an Inquiry Form;
  • provided an up-to-date health form.

After all forms have been submitted, the student will present a professional portfolio to the Teacher Education Board. Ultimate decisions concerning student teaching will be made by that Board. A primary indicator of meeting the goals of the Teacher Education Program is the development of a portfolio. McPherson College students planning to become teachers develop portfolios during stages of their professional course work. These portfolios are designed to meet the overall goals of:

  1. The candidate has the knowledge bases necessary to be an effective teacher in her/his field.
  2. The candidate can apply effective teaching strategies to meet the needs of all learners
  3. The candidate fosters relationships and collaborates with school constituencies.

These portfolios include copies of units and lesson plans, reflective journals, other significant evidences of knowledge, application, and collaboration, scores of standardized assessment tools, and other documentation.

In order to defray costs, a student teaching fee will be assessed during that semester.

Student Responsibility

Students are ultimately responsible for following procedures and proper sequencing of events leading to professional development and licensure. It is important for students who plan to enter the Teacher Education Program at McPherson College to contact the chair of the program and/or the appropriate advisor.

Licensure in Kansas

According to Kansas regulations, those seeking licensure in Kansas must pass the Professional Knowledge section of the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) with a score of 160; candidates must also take a test in their particular content area. The passing scores for each content test are listed in the Advisor/Advisee Handbook. Requirements for licensure to teach in the public schools, either elementary or secondary, vary from state to state. Students who plan to certify in a state other than Kansas should, upon enrollment, consult the chair of teacher education or the state in which they plan to teach to make sure that they are enrolled in a program that is appropriate. See Licensure Disclosure statement above.

In the state of Kansas, teaching is considered to be a profession. Therefore, the Kansas State Department of Education has a Professional Practices Commission to exercise disciplinary and advisory functions over those requesting licensure or working as a certified professional. Teacher licensure can be denied, suspended, or revoked for both felony and non-felony actions.

McPherson College is in compliance with the federal Title II reporting guidelines.

ESOL Licensure Program

The ESOL Licensure Program prepares student for KSDE ESOL endorsement at the K-6 or 6-12 grade levels. This 15 credit hour program is geared to educators wishing to work with culturally and linguistically diverse students, but will also enhance the teaching skills of those in the regular classroom.

The ESOL licensure courses can be taken in conjunction with the core courses or, for those seeking licensure only, can be taken as a stand-alone program.

 

Elementary Education Major

K-6 Licensure

Requirements

Along with the General Education requirements, the following is a suggested sequence; the academic advisor and/or Curriculum and Instruction faculty will assist the individual student to develop the optimal sequencing of courses.

Freshman year:
G-PY 101 Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
G-CI 150 Introduction to Education (3 hours)
SE 210 Introduction to Infants, Children & Youth with Special Needs (3 hours)

Sophomore year:
CI 220 Principles and Strategies of Teaching (3 hours)
G-CI 251 Introduction to Education Practicum (1 hour)
G-EE 210 Children’s Literature (3 hours)
G-CI 333 Intercultural Education (2 hours)
PY 204 Child and Adolescent Development (3 hours)
CI 232 Educational Technology (2 hours)

Junior Year:
CI 426/PE 426 Methods for Teaching PE and Health in Elem. & Sec. (2 hours)
*CI 455 Teaching-Learning Process (3 hours)
EE 230 Methods for Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School I (3 hours)
EE 303 Reading/ Language Arts I (4 hours)
EE 306 Methods for Teaching Science in the Elem. School (3 hours)
EE 307
 Methods for Teaching Math in the Elementary School II (3 hours)
EE 309 Methods for Teaching Social Studies  in the Elem. School (3 hours)
EE 301/AR 358 Methods for Teaching Art in the Elem. School (1 hour)
EE 304/MU 370 Methods for Teaching Music in the Elem. School (1 hour)
EE 375 Elementary Ed. Practicum and Seminar (1-4 hours)
*EE 444 Reading/Language Arts II (3 hours)

Senior Year:
EE 465 Student Teaching in the Elementary School (6 or 12 hours)
CI 476 Professional Seminar in Education (2 hours)

Note: Courses with a * indicate Language Intensive course.

6-12 Licensure

Requirements

Along with the general education requirements and the academic requirements for the specific content area, the following is a suggested sequence; the academic advisor and Curriculum and Instruction faculty will assist the individual student to develop the optimal sequencing of courses.

Freshman year:
G-PY 101 Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
G-CI 150 Introduction to Education (3 hours)

Sophomore year:
G-CI 333 Intercultural Education (2 hours)
PY 204 Child and Adolescent Development (3 hours)
SE 210 Intro to Infants, Children and Youth with Special Needs (3 hours)
CI 220 Principles and Strategies of Teaching (3 hours)
G-CI 251 Intro to Education Practicum (1 hour)
CI 232 Educational Technology (2 hours)

Junior Year:
*CI 455 Teaching-Learning Process (3 hours)
CI 4xx Secondary Methods for Academic Majors (3 hours)
CI 315 Reading in the Content Field (2 hours)
CI 351 Secondary Education Practicum and Seminar (2 hours)

Senior year:
CI 475 Student Teaching (6 or 12 hours)
CI 476 Professional Seminar in Education (2 hours)

Note: Courses with a * indicate Language Intensive course.

PK-12 Licensure

Requirements

Along with the general education requirements and the academic requirements for the specific content area, the following is a suggested sequence; the academic advisor and Curriculum and Instruction faculty will assist the individual student to develop the optimal sequencing of courses.

Freshman year:
G-PY 101 Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
G-CI 150 Introduction to Education (3 hours)
SE 210 Intro to Infants, Children & Youth with Special Needs (3 hours)

Sophomore year:
G-CI 333 Intercultural Education (2 hours)
PY 204 Child and Adolescent Development (3 hours)
G-CI 251 Intro to Education Practicum (1 hour)
CI 220 Principles and Strategies of Teaching (3 hours)
CI 232 Educational Technology (2 hours)

Junior Year:
Methods for Teaching Art, Music or PE in Elem. Schools (2-3 hours)
(Those seeking licensure in Spanish take one Methods class (CI 404)
CI 351 Secondary Ed. Practicum and Seminar (1 hour)
EE 375 Elementary Ed. Practicum and Seminar (1 hour)
*CI 455 Teaching-Learning Process (3 hours)
Methods for Teaching Art, Music or PE in Sec. Schools (2-3 hours)
CI 315 Reading in the Content Field (2 hours)

Senior Year:
CI 475 Student Teaching in the Secondary School (6 or 12 hours)
EE 465 Student Teaching in the Elementary School (6 or 12 hours)
CI 476 Professional Seminar in Education (2 hours)

Note: Courses with a * indicate Language Intensive course.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (K-6) Licensure

Requirements

Same professional education requirements as for K-6 license, plus:

EN 230 Linguistics (2 hours)
EN 335 Advanced English Grammar (2 hours)
G-SO 202 Minorities in the U.S. (3 hours)
CI 428 Methods for Teaching ESL in the Elem. and Sec. Schools (3 hours)

English for Speakers of Other Languages (6-12) Licensure

Requirements

Same professional education requirements as for 6-12 licensure in other fields, plus:

EN 230 Linguistics (2 hours)
EN 335 Advanced English Grammar (2 hours)
G-SO 202 Minorities in the U.S. (3 hours)
CI 428 Methods for Teaching ESL in the Elem. and Sec. Schools (3 hours)

Special Education Licensure

Through a joint effort with the Kansas Independent Colleges Association (KICA), McPherson College offers an Adaptive Special Education program. Students who participate in this program will graduate with licensure in High Incidence Special Education (intellectual disability, learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and other health impairments) at the K-6 and 6-12 levels.

High Incidence Special Education: Courses Required for all levels:

SPED 310 Foundations for Special Education (4 hours)
SPED 315 General Methods for Special Education Services (4 hours)
SPED 345 Behavioral Management (2 hours)
SPED 499 Capstone Issues (1 hour)

Courses Required for Level K-6:

SPED 321 Grades K-6 Methods for Special Needs (5 hours)
SPED 431 Grades K-6 Clinical Experience (Student Teaching) (6 hours)
(OR)
*SPED 433 Grades K-6 Internship (4-6 hours)
*Those already holding special education licensure

Courses required for Level 6-12:

SPED 361 Grades 6-12 Methods for Special Needs (5 hours)
SPED 471 Grades 6-12 Clinical Experience (Student Teaching) (6 hours)
(OR)
* SPED 473 Grades 6-12 Internship (4-6 hours)
* Those already holding special education licensure

Optional:
SPED 220 Field Experience in Services for Student with Special Needs (1 hour)
SPED 320 Beginning American Sign Language (2 hours)
SPED 322 Intermediate American Sign Language (2 hours)
SPED 678 Topics in Special Education (1 hour)

2023|Catalog 23-24, Curriculum & Instruction|

Teacher Education Course Descriptions

(Course numbers listed in parentheses after McPherson College numbers are KICA course numbers.)

CI 101 (SPED 320) Beginning American Sign Language

2 hours
The purpose of this course is to learn the basics of sign language. It will provide the student with an opportunity to express and receive signed communication. (Fall and Spring)

G-CI 150 Introduction to Education

3 hours
This course provides an overview of the historical role of schools in our society, the current governance and finance structures, and the challenges schools face in this new century. It also addresses planning for a career in professional education, and becoming a successful teacher.(Fall and Spring)

CI 202 (SPED 322) Intermediate American Sign Language

2 hours
The purpose of this course is to increase conversational sign language and to introduce interpreting skills. It will provide the student with an opportunity to increase his/her ability to express and receive signed communication, expand his/ her vocabulary, and improve his/her fluency in signing.(Spring)

CI 220 Principles and Strategies of Teaching

3 hours
A general methods class required of all education students. This course must be taken before or concurrent with other EE or CI courses. If taking concurrent, must have permission from the instructor. The class provides an introduction to teaching, including defining the teaching act, developing classroom communities, classroom management, assessment and evaluation, models of teaching, integration of technology, and professional responsibilities. Pre-requisite/co-requisite: G-CI 150 with grade C or better. (Fall and Spring) A minimum grade of C in CI 220 is required as a prerequisite for ALL 300 & 400 level CI, EE or SE courses except G-CI 333.

CI 232 Educational Technology

2 hours
Educational Technology is designed to ensure that teacher education candidates understand the function of technology in schools and society, exhibit skills using instructional tools and technology to gather, analyze, and present information, improve instructional practices, facilitate professional productivity and communication, and help all students use instructional technology effectively. Pre-requisite/co-requisite: CI 220. (Fall and Spring)

G-CI 251 Introduction to Education Practicum

1 hour
This practicum is conducted in the Wichita Public Schools or another urban district. It must be completed before enrolling for EE375 or CI 351. Students are required to spend 30 contact hours in a classroom. This class is offered every semester; however, a block of time must be established to ensure a worthwhile and quality experience. Students will maintain a reflective journal with emphasis on recording observations of teaching and learning, management techniques, the diversity of the student population, and the use of technology. Prerequisite: G-CI 150 and consent of the Director of Field Experiences. To facilitate timely and efficient placements in area schools, the enrollment for this course will close on December 1. (Interterm; Fall or Spring by education department approval only) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense. Candidates are responsible for their own transportation.

CI 310 Topics in Education

2 hours
This course explores one topic relevant to education. As a general rule, students get to more deeply engage in a particular teaching strategy. Possible topics include (but are not limited to) cooperative learning, quantum learning, brain-based education, project-based learning, classroom management, education in the news, and teachers as portrayed in popular media. Prerequisite: G-CI 150 Introduction to Education or instructor’s consent. (Interterm)

CI 315 Reading in the Content Field

2 hours
This course provides students seeking licensure at the PK-12 and 6-12 level the strategies necessary for reading to learn. The strategies learned are appropriate for all content areas and all learners. Future educators will learn how to plan instruction based upon the knowledge of all students, community, subject matter, curriculum outcomes, and current methods of teaching reading. Prerequisite: CI 220. (Fall)

G-CI 333 Intercultural Education 

2 hours
A study of our diverse society and how it pertains to education and the educational setting. Students electing to participate in the related field study that adequately depicts intercultural relations in an educational setting must also enroll in CI 495 Field Experience in Education. Prerequisite: CI 220. (Fall and Spring)

CI 351 Secondary Education Practicum & Seminar

1-2 hours
A field experience and seminar for those seeking licensure at the secondary or PK-12 level. This course is offered for variable hour credit depending on the student’s past experience(s) and licensure area(s). Student should consult with her/his advisor and the chair of the Department of Curriculum & Instruction for appropriate registration. This practicum must occur between CI 251 and CI 475. It is recommended that students seeking license at the 6-12 level take this class in conjunction with the appropriate content methods class. Prerequisites: CI 220. Full acceptance to the Teacher Education Program required. If possible, concurrent with CI 455. Enrollment Deadlines–Fall: In order to facilitate efficient and timely placements at area schools, enrollment for this course will close May 1. Interterm: In order to facilitate efficient and timely placements at area schools, enrollment for this course will close December 1. Spring: In order to facilitate efficient and timely placements at area schools, enrollment for this course will close the first day of interterm.  (Fall and Spring) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

CI 370/MU 370 Methods for Teaching Instrumental Music

3 hours, by consent of Instructor
This course provides an overview of and practical applications in the basic technical aspects of organizing, administrating, teaching, and conducting instrumental ensembles at the public school level. This course is designed for music majors seeking music licensure. (Spring, even years)

CI 371/MU 371 Methods for Teaching Choral Music

3 hours, by consent of Instructor
Materials and procedures for teaching vocal music in grades 7-12. Emphasis is placed on voice production, choral literature and rehearsal, diction, and administration of the classroom. This course is designed for students seeking music licensure. (Spring, odd years)

CI 372/MU 372 Methods for Teaching General Music

3 hours, by consent of Instructor
Materials and procedures for teaching general music in grades PreK-6. Emphasis is placed on understanding the basic concepts of music as they relate to specific age levels, as well as studying the major approaches to music education. Proper vocal technique for young students and the teaching of music fundamentals is covered as well. This course is designed for music majors seeking music licensure. (Fall, odd years)

CI 401/AR 401 Methods for Teaching Art in the Secondary School

2 hours
This is a comprehensive study of secondary art curricula and instructional methods relevant to today’s art educator in the public schools. Discussions will address a multitude of current trends, issues, and “hot” topics on the national scene, including the National Art Standards. Considerable time and effort will be spent on writing and developing art curricula around the four content areas of art production, art history, art criticism, and aesthetics. Preparing and delivering a micro-teaching experience at McPherson High School is also a component of this course. Prerequisite: CI 220. (Spring)

CI 404 Methods for Teaching Modern Language

3 hours
This course is designed to prepare the prospective second language teacher for successful teaching at the PK-12 level. It provides theories of second language acquisition and second language teaching methods. Includes planning strategies, measurement/evaluations, test item construction, effective discipline, inclusionary practices, and technology media. Students become familiar with professional organizations and their publication/resources. In microteaching, including group and self-evaluation, students demonstrate current second language methodology. Prerequisite: CI 220. (As needed)

CI 406 (ED 406) Methods for Teaching Natural Science in the Secondary School

3 hours
This course is designed to provide the prospective teacher with knowledge and skill for teaching the natural sciences at the secondary level (grades 6-12). Content includes curriculum selection and design, safe laboratory management and operation, integration of curriculum, inclusionary practices, methods and modalities of teaching, assessment, classroom application of various forms of technology, and professional organizations. Microteaching, classroom observation and group and self-evaluation are included. Prerequisite: CI 220. (Spring. Offered through KICA. Course meets in person.)

CI 407 (ED 467) Methods for Teaching Mathematics in the Secondary School

3 hours
This course is designed to provide the prospective secondary level (grades 6-12) mathematics teacher the methods of teaching contemporary mathematics content. Topics include methods of presentation, awareness of national mathematics organizations, the writing of unit/daily lesson plans, microteaching of a math lesson, selecting materials, techniques of assessment, inclusionary practices, classroom application of various forms of technology, and techniques of assessment. Prerequisite: CI 220. (Spring. Offered through KICA. Course meets in person.)

CI 408 (ED 440) Methods for Teaching Social and Behavioral Science in the Secondary School

3 hours
This course is designed to prepare students for successful teaching at the secondary level (grades 6-12) in both the social and behavioral sciences. Emphasis is placed on different approaches and practices of instruction planning and classroom management, selection and classroom application of various forms of technology, evaluation and questioning techniques, state assessments, research methods, professional organizations and the inclusive classroom. Prerequisite: CI 220. (Spring. Offered through KICA. Course meets in person.)

CI 410/PE 410 Methods for Teaching Physical Education and Health in the Secondary Schools

4 hours
A study of various teaching techniques and analysis of fundamental skills of physical education activities in the secondary school setting. The course offers an opportunity to explore various teaching techniques in individual, dual, and team activities in the field of physical education and health for the secondary schools. Additionally, this course has been designed to integrate theory and conceptual learning with practical laboratory experiences. Creating an inclusive gym/classroom as well as adaptive PE are included. Prerequisites: PE 110, PE 160, PE 161, G-CI 150, G-CI 251, CI 220. (Interterm)

CI 416 (ED 416) Methods for Teaching Speech and Theatre in the Secondary School

3 hours
This course requires students to apply speech and drama content to the techniques needed for effective secondary level (grades 6-12) classroom teaching. Opportunities are provided for students to exercise their teaching skills in the areas of unit plans, daily lesson plans, teaching strategies, evaluation, assessment, classroom management, inclusion and different learning styles. Discussions of resource allocation, safety, classroom application of various forms of technology, and professional organizations are also included. Each student is encouraged to develop his/her personal philosophy of education and incorporate it in relation to integrity/ethics in the classroom and personal evaluation to maintain a sense of balance and growth. Prerequisite: CI 220. (As needed)

CI 417 (ED 415) Methods for Teaching English and Language Arts in the Secondary School

3 hours
This course is designed to assist student teachers in becoming confident, effective professional educators in secondary level English (grades 6-12). Students will become familiar with a variety of specific methods to use in teaching literature, composition, and language. Among topics to be considered will be current trends in English curriculum development, the six-trait writing process, inclusionary practices, classroom organization, assessment, classroom application of various forms of technology, and professional organizations. Each student will develop a unit of instruction suitable for a secondary level classroom. Prerequisite: CI 220. (Spring. Offered through KICA. Course meets in person.)

CI 428 Methods for Teaching English as a Second Language in the Elementary & Secondary School

3 hours
This course is designed to prepare students to teach English to non-native speakers at either the K-6 level or the 6-12 level. Students will be exposed to teaching techniques, lesson and unit planning, and language assessment. Cultural issues will also be explored. Prerequisite: CI 220. (Fall. Offered concurrently with CI628 ESOL Methods.)

CI 455 The Teaching-Learning Process

3 hours (Language Intensive)
A comprehensive course that deals primarily with the learner, the learning process, and the learning situation. Examines the role of the teacher in relationship to each of these. This class should be taken the semester before student teaching. Prerequisite: CI 220. If possible, concurrent with junior practicum  – EE 375 or CI 351. (Fall and Spring)

CI 475 Student Teaching in the Secondary School

6 or 12 hours
Student Teaching in the Secondary School at McPherson College is a capstone experience allowing students to practice the skills and talents necessary to become effective educators. McPherson College offers student teaching at the appropriate level for all licensure purposes. Student teaching occurs after students have fulfilled all the necessary requirements as outlined in the Advisor/Advisee Handbook. The student teaching experience is scheduled for a full semester, but a minimum of 14 consecutive weeks. Placement and hours may depend on the area(s) of licensure. Students enrolled in this course must have completed the student teaching application process and be concurrently enrolled in CI 476. (Fall and Spring) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

CI 476 Professional Seminar in Education

2 hours
This is a capstone seminar for teaching candidates allowing an interactive opportunity to reflect upon and share their insight, expertise, and commitment to professional education. Must be taken in conjunction with CI 475 and/or EE 465. (Fall and Spring)

CI 495/295 Field Experiences in Education

1-4 hours
An elective laboratory oriented field experience that the student elects to take, or is assigned to, in an educational setting that is designed to enrich their understanding of the profession of education. This experience may or may not be tied to requirements in another course within the department or college. Involvement may be in an educational related role or with an approved experience anywhere in the world. Arrangements must be made in advance. (Fall/Interterm/Spring. By Permission Only.) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

G-EE 210 Children’s Literature

3 hours
In this course students use the language arts of reading, writing, listening, and speaking to explore the historical development of children’s literature in English from its origins through the contemporary period, with an emphasis on contemporary works. While exploring how children’s literature artfully structures people’s experiences, values, and cultures, students will learn the elements of children’s literature, different genres, and current issues pertaining to children’s literature.  For elementary education majors, the knowledge and appreciation of children’s literature developed in the course will serve as foundational knowledge for the Reading/Language Arts methods courses. Prerequisite: Sophomore status or consent of instructor. (Spring)

EE 230 Methods for Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School I

3 hours
This course provides the knowledge base for future elementary teachers to know, understand, and use major concepts, procedures, and reasoning processes of mathematics that define numbers and operations, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability, and algebra so that all students understand relationships that can represent phenomena, solve problems, and manage data. This course focuses on assessment and evaluation and teaching strategies for grades K-2. Prerequisite: CI 220. (Fall)

EE 301/AR 358 Methods for Teaching Art in the Elementary School

1 or 4 hours (1 hour for ELED majors, 4 hours for Art majors)
This course is a comprehensive study of elementary art curricula and methods relevant to today’s educator in the public schools. Topics to be covered include: current techniques and materials, issues in art, basic design concepts, the developmental states of children in an art program, and curriculum implementation. (Fall)

EE 303 Reading and Language Arts I

4 hours 
This course delivers the knowledge base for understanding and using concepts from emerging literacy, science of reading, language, and child development to teach reading, writing, speaking, viewing, listening, and thinking skills and to help all students successfully apply their developing literacy skills to many different situation, materials, and ideas. This course focuses on literacy assessment and evaluation and methods for teaching K-3 grade levels. (Fall) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

EE 304 Methods for Teaching Music in the Elementary School

1 hour
This course is for elementary education majors. The emphasis is placed on methods for teaching elementary school children and the integration of music into the elementary school curriculum. Prerequisite: CI 220.(Fall)

EE 305/PE 409 Methods for Teaching Physical Education and Health in the Elementary School

2 hours (2 hours for ELED majors, 4 hours for PE majors)
This course is designed to introduce prospective elementary school health, physical education and classroom teachers to the fundamentals, principles, and practices of physical education at the elementary school level. Movement exploration and methods will be stressed in the variety of play activities introduced. Additionally, this course has been designed to integrate theory and concept learning with practical laboratory experiences. Prerequisites: CI 220. (Spring)

EE 306 Methods for Teaching Science in the Elementary School

3 hours
This course provides the knowledge base for future elementary teachers to understand and use fundamental concepts in science (including physical, life, and earth and space) as well as concepts in science and technology, science in personal social perspective, the history and nature of science, the unifying concepts of science, and the inquiry process scientists use in discovery of new knowledge to build a base for scientific and technological literacy for all students. Prerequisite: CI 220. (Fall) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

EE 307 Methods for Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School II

3 hours
This course provides the knowledge base for future elementary teachers to know, understand, and use the major concepts, procedures, and reasoning processes of mathematics that define numbers and operations, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability, and algebra so that all students understand relationships that can represent phenomena, solve problems, and manage data. This course focuses on assessment and evaluation and teaching strategies for grades 3-6.  Prerequisite: CI 220 and EE 230. (Spring) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

EE 309 Methods for Teaching Social Studies in the Elementary School

3 hours
A class designed for equipping elementary pre-service teachers with skills, strategies, and major concepts germane to the six social studies literacies: history, geography, socio-politics, citizenship, economics, and culture. This course includes a field experience. Prerequisite: CI 220. (Spring) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

EE 375 Elementary Education Practicum & Seminar

1-2 hours
A field experience and seminar for those seeking licensure in elementary education at the K-6 level and those seeking licensure in art, physical education, and Spanish at the PK-12 level. This course is offered for variable hour credit depending on student’s past experience(s) and licensure area(s). Student should consult with her/his advisor and the Chair of Teacher Education Program for appropriate registration. This practicum must occur between CI 251 and EE 465. Prerequisites: CI 220. Full acceptance to Teacher Education Program required. (Fall and Spring; Interterm by education department permission only) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

EE 444 Reading/Language Arts II

3 hours (Language Intensive)
This course provides a structure for providing future elementary teachers an opportunity to use concepts from emerging literacy, science of reading, language, and child development to teach reading, writing, speaking, viewing, listening, and thinking skills and to help all students successfully apply their developing literacy skills to many different situation, materials, and ideas. This course focuses on assessment and evaluation and teaching strategies for grades 4-6. This course includes a field experience. Prerequisites: EE 303 and CI 220 (Spring) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

EE 465 Student Teaching in the Elementary School

6 or 12 hours
Student Teaching in the Elementary School at McPherson College is a capstone experience allowing students to practice the skills and talents necessary to become effective educators. McPherson College offers student teaching at the appropriate level for all licensure purposes. Student teaching occurs after students have fulfilled all the necessary requirements as outlined in the Advisor/Advisee Handbook. The student teaching experience is scheduled for a full semester, a minimum of 14 consecutive weeks. Placement and hours may depend on the area(s) of licensure. Students enrolled in this course must have completed the student teaching application process and be concurrently enrolled in CI 476. (Fall and Spring) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

SE 210 Introduction to Infants, Children, and Youth with Special Needs

3 hours
This class is a survey of federal and state mandates for special education, including an overview of categorical exceptionalities delineated in the laws; service delivery systems; advocacy groups; the concept of natural environments and least restrictive environments; and the purpose and function of the IFSP and IEP. The class, which is required for all students seeking licensure in education, is designed to introduce all pre-service teachers to mild and moderate disabilities. The course also serves as a foundation for additional special education coursework. This course is a prerequisite for other special education courses. (Fall and Spring)

SE 220 Field Experience in Services for Students with Special Needs

1 hour
An early field placement for directed observation of special education teachers working with elementary- or secondary-level students with mild/moderate disabilities. (Fall, Interterm, Spring, and Summer) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

SE 310 Foundations for Special Education Services

4 hours
This course addresses historical perspectives and current practices (Module A), laws, regulations, and policies governing practice (Module B), and affects of individual differences, language, and culture on educational performance (Module C). The course includes a supervised field experience (Module D). Concurrent: Modules A-D. (Fall & Spring)

SE 315: General Methods for Special Education Services

4 hours
This course addresses assessments used for eligibility, placement and curricular decisions (Module A), the special education process from pre-identification through individual program implementation (Module B), and effective collaboration and communication skills with diverse learners, families, colleagues, and community stakeholders (Module C). The course includes a supervised field experience (Module D). Concurrent: Modules A-D Prerequisite: SPED 310 (Fall & Spring)

SE 321 Grades K-6 Methods for Special Needs and Field Experience

5 hours
This course addresses IEP implementation using evidence-based practices. Emphasis is on collaborative teaching models. Topics of study include lesson planning, basic skill and content area instruction, adapting methods and materials, positive behavior supports, and progress monitoring. SPED 331: Grades K-6 Field Experience must be taken concurrently. Prerequisites: SPED 310 & 315. (Fall & Spring)

SE 341 Grades PreK-3 Methods and Field Experience

5 hours
Grades PreK-3 Methods, addresses strategies to individual and group needs using evidence-based practices. Topics of study include learning plans, embedded instruction within a tiered framework, setting up the environment, adapting methods and materials, positive behavior supports, and progress monitoring. SPED 351, Grades PreK-3 Field Experience, must be taken concurrently. SPED 341 will involve 15 to 20 contact hours including 10 hours reading/pre-literacy and writing/pre-writing interventions with 1 child.

SE 345 Behavior Management

2 hours
This course addresses culturally sensitive methods for preventing and intervening with problem behavior. Topics include school-wide discipline systems, classroom management, social skills instruction, student support meetings (Module A) and functional analysis, non-aversive intervention, and behavior intervention plans (Module B). (Fall & Spring)

SE 361 Grades 6-12 Methods for Special Needs and Field Experience

5 hours
This course addresses IEP implementation, including transition components. Emphasis is on self-determination, self-advocacy, career awareness, and post- school options in specific outcome areas. Topics of study include curriculum standards, lesson planning, basic skills instruction, learning strategies, adapting methods, materials and assessments, positive behavior supports, and progress monitoring. SPED 371: Grades 6-12 Field Experience must be taken concurrently. Prerequisites: SPED 310 & 315. (Fall)

SE 381 Grades 4-12 Methods and Field Experience

5 hours
The SPED 381 course covers both general and specific methods used by special educators to teach students with disabilities. The course includes transition planning and IEP development, instructional planning, and selection of instructional methods to meet the needs of students with adaptive special education needs. Approaches for selecting methods and materials, for delivering instruction, and for evaluating instructional outcomes based on assessment information will also be demonstrated. (Spring)

SE 431 Grades K-6 Clinical Experience (Student Teaching)

6 hours
This course is a supervised teaching experience with a special educator who provides services for elementary level students with adaptive learning needs. The preservice teacher will work collaboratively with the cooperating special educator, families, and school team members to apply research-based knowledge of assessment, instruction aligned to IEP goals, and positive behavioral supports. Emphasis is on reflective, culturally sensitive practice. Prerequisites: SPED 210, 310, 315, 345, and 321 or 331. Concurrent or subsequent semester: SPED 499. (Fall, Spring & Summer) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

SE 433 Grades K-6 Internship

4-6 hours
This course is a supervised teaching experience with an on-site mentor who provides or supervises services for elementary level students with adaptive learning needs. Emphasis is on application of research-based content knowledge and pedagogy and reflective, culturally sensitive practice. This internship is designed for practicing teachers adding grades K-6 adaptive licensure or for students who have completed a special education clinical experience. Prerequisites: SPED 210, 310, 315, 345, and 321 or 331. Concurrent or subsequent semester: SPED 499. (Fall, Spring & Summer) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

SE 451 Grades PreK-12 Clinical Experience

5 hours
This course is a supervised teaching experience with a special educator who provides services for any of the grades PreK–12 level students with adaptive learning needs.  The pre-service teacher will work collaboratively with the cooperating special educator, families, and school team members to apply research-based knowledge of assessment, instruction aligned to IEP goals, and positive behavioral supports.  Emphasis is on reflective, culturally sensitive practice.  Prerequisites: SPED 310, 315, 345, 341, 351, 361, and 371.  Concurrent or subsequent semester: SPED 499. (Fall, Spring & Summer) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

SE 453 Grades PreK-12 Internship

5 hours
This course is a supervised teaching experience working with an on-site mentor and/or evaluator. Emphasis is on application of research-based content knowledge and pedagogy and reflective, culturally sensitive practice. This internship is designed for the student hired on a waiver teaching in his/her own classroom. The intern will apply knowledge from all coursework and learning experiences to appropriately adapt and modify learning; manage students and classroom environment being culturally-sensitive to student and family differences;  align and implement learning with IEP goals; assess learning; develop and implement academic and behavior intervention plans based on assessments and best practices; develop a case study/IEP,  plan, implement, and evaluate lessons; plan and implement appropriate transitions, education and services for the specified grade level (PreK-12)/ages of students; and practice systematic self-evaluation.  Prerequisites: SPED 310, 315, 345, 341, 351, 361, and 371.  Concurrent or subsequent semester: SPED 499. (Fall, Spring & Summer) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

SE 471 Grades 6-12 Clinical Experience (Student Teaching)

6 hours
This course is a supervised teaching experience with a special educator who provides services for secondary level students with adaptive learning needs. The pre-service teacher will work collaboratively with the cooperating special educator, families, and school team members to apply research-based knowledge of assessment, instruction aligned to IEP goals, and positive behavioral supports. Emphasis is on reflective, culturally sensitive practice. Prerequisites: SPED 210, 310, 315, 345, and 361 or 371 Concurrent or subsequent semester: SPED 499. (Fall, Spring & Summer) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

SE 473 Grades 6-12 Internship

4-6 hours
This course is a supervised teaching experience with an on-site mentor who provides or supervises services for secondary level students with adaptive learning needs. Emphasis is on application of research-based content knowledge and pedagogy and reflective, culturally sensitive practice. This internship is designed for practicing teachers adding grades 6-12 adaptive licensure or for students who have completed a special education clinical experience. Prerequisites: SPED 210, 310, 315, 345, and 361 or 371. Concurrent or subsequent semester: SPED 499. (Fall, Spring & Summer) This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) at an added expense.

SE 499 Capstone Issues

1 hour
This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their clinical experience or internship and professional role with peers, ACCK faculty, and special educators. Topics of discussion include professionalism, ethical issues, advocacy, diversity, and resources. Prerequisites: SPED 210, 310, 315, 345, 321 & 331 or 361 & 371. Concurrent or previous semester: SPED 431 or SPED 471 (or comparable Internship). (Fall, Spring & Summer)

SE 349 Communication Development and Communication Disorders

3 hours
This class offers a survey of normal and atypical language development, assessment, bilingual education, contributions of the educator to overcoming language problems, and the relationships between oral language and reading and writing. There are no prerequisites for this course. (Interterm and Summer)

SE 380/678 Topics in Special Education:

1 hour
This course will focus on bringing the students up to date on current methods, changes In the field of special education, and new information related to the characteristics of children and youth with special needs. With consent of advisor.

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

 

2023|Catalog 23-24, Curriculum & Instruction|

English Program

Purpose Statement

The English department commits itself to developing graduates who can read critically and communicate effectively and who understand the changing nature of language.

The department achieves this purpose when its graduates

    • demonstrate an ability to accomplish various purposes through effective communication–oral, written, and electronic;
    • demonstrate an understanding of ways in which aspects of culture such as history, religion and social norms are reflected in literature;
    • demonstrate an ability to analyze literary texts;
    • demonstrate a knowledge of research tools and strategies, especially in literature, and the critical and ethical use of appropriate documentation;
    • demonstrate knowledge of the structure of English, of the Standard American dialect, of both traditional and modern grammars, and of the nature of language.

English Major

Core Requirements

G-EN 222 Native American Literature (3 hours) or G-EN 225 African American Literature (3 hours) or G-EN 235 Topics in Literature: Borderland: Literature of the U.S./Mexican Border (3 hours)
EN 250 American Literature I (3 hours)
*G-EN 255 American Literature II (3 hours)
EN 300 Survey of British Literature (3 hours)
*EN 313 Advanced Expository Writing (3 hours)
EN 335 Advanced English Grammar (2 hours)
EN 355 Linguistics and History of English (2 hours)
EN 375 Junior Seminar in English (2 hours)
EN 475A Seminar in English (1 hour)
*EN 475B Seminar in English (1 hour)
*G-EN 210 Masterpieces of World Literature (3 hours) or *G-EN 220  Contemporary World Literature (3 hours)
G-EN 270 Fiction (3 hours) or G-EN 370 Poetry (3 hours) or EN 420 Creative Writing (3 hours)
EN 388 Internship (3 hours) OR an approved equivalent experience

Total: 32 hours

Complete 7 elective hours in English from the following list:

G-CM 120 Intro. to Human Communication (3 hours)
CM 135 Media Writing (3 hours) or CM 235 Feature Writing (3 hours)
G-EN 222 Native American Literature (3 hours)
G-EN 225 African American Literature (3 hours)
EN 315
Practicum in Journal Production (1-2 hours)
CM 305
Editing (3 hours)
*G-EN 210 Masterpieces of World Literature (3-4 hours)
*G-EN 220 Contemporary World Literature (3-4 hours)
G-EN 235 Topics in Literature (3 hours) (may be taken more than once if topic differs)
EN 320 Young Adult Literature (2 hours)
EN 350 Theory & Practice of Tutoring Writing (1 hour)
*G-EN 370 Poetry (3-4 hours)
*G-EN 270 Fiction (3-4 hours)
*G-TH 385 Theatre History & Dramatic Literature I or *G-TH 390  Theatre History & Dramatic Literature II (3 hours)
EN 420 Creative Writing (3 hours)
EN 445 Readings and Research in English (2-4 hours)

III. Complete the following supporting courses:

Communication course(s) (3 hours)
G-ML 109 Spanish Level II (3 hours), or the equivalent in some natural language

Major total: 45 hours

Requirements for teaching licensure (6-12) in English

I. Complete the following courses:

G-EN 222 Native American Literature (3 hours) or G-EN 225 African American Literature (3 hours) or G-EN 235 Topics in Literature: Borderland: Literature of the U.S./Mexican Border
EN 335 Advanced English Grammar (2 hours)
EN 320 Young Adult Literature (2 hours)
EN 350A Theory and Practice of Tutoring Writing (1 hours)
EN 355 Linguistics and History of English (2 hours)
*G-EN 370 Poetry (3 hours) or *G-EN 270  Fiction (3 hours) or EN 420 Creative Writing (3 hours)
*G-EN 210 Masterpieces of World Literature or *G-EN 220  Contemporary World Literature (3 hours)
EN 250 American Literature I (3 hours)
*G-EN 255 American Literature II (3 hours)
EN 300 Survey of British Literature (3 hours)
*EN 313 Advanced Expository Writing (3 hours)
EN 375 Junior Seminar in English (1 hour)
EN 475A Seminar in English (1 hour)
*EN 475B Seminar in English (1 hour)

II. Complete the following supporting courses:

CM 135 Media Writing (3 hours) or CM 235 Feature Writing (3 hours)
G-ML 109 Spanish Level II (3 hours), or the equivalent in some natural language (3 hours)
CI 417 Methods for Teaching English and Language Arts in the Secondary School (3 hours)

Other courses required by the Curriculum & Instruction Department for licensure.

Students must take the Praxis II examination: English Language, Literature, and Composition: Content Knowledge.

Competency Exam

Students who plan to major in English must pass a writing competency exam. This exam will be offered in the fall semester. Transfer students will take the exam early in their first semester at the college. Students who fail the exam may re-take it after participating in guided study and practice of writing.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (6-12) Endorsement

Requirements

Same professional education requirements as for 7-12 endorsement in other fields, plus:

G-CI 333 Intercultural Education Seminar (2 hours)
EN 335 Advanced English Grammar (2 hours)
EN 355 Linguistics and History of English (2 hours)
G-SO 202
Minorities in the U.S. (3-4 hours)
CI 428 Methods for Teaching English as a Second Language (3 hours)
CI 475 Student Teaching/Practicum (6-12 hours)
CI 476 Professional Seminar in Education (2 hours)

Student teaching/practicum is to include ESL experience; for those already certified, student teaching/practicum is four credit hours.

Note: Non-native speakers of English must contact the Department of Curriculum and Instruction regarding proficiency requirements.

English Minor

A minor in English consists of 18 hours of courses with an EN prefix chosen from the list of courses in the English major and must include courses in both literature and writing (or grammar/linguistics). G-EN 110 College Composition I and G-EN 111 College Composition II do not count as part of the 18 hours for the minor.

Minor in Writing

This minor is available to students majoring in any area. No more than six hours can be counted also as requirements for the student’s major. Senior project courses are available only to students majoring in the relevant subject. Students using the senior project to complete the minor are advised to consult with the senior project director.

Pick 18 hours from the following:

G-EE 210 Children’s Literature (3 hours)
EE 303 Reading Language Arts I (3 hours)
CI445 Teaching Learning Process (3 hours)
CM 135 Media Writing (3 hours)
CM 305 Editing (3 hours)
CM 315 Media Production (1–3 hours)
CM 475A Senior Seminar in Service in the Community (2 hours)
CM 475B Senior Seminar in Career Exploration (1 hour)
G-EN 270 Fiction (3 hours)
EN 313 Advanced Expository Writing (3 hours)
G-EN 370  Poetry (3 hours)
EN 420 Creative Writing (3 hours)
*G-PR 106L Spiritual Pathways (3 hours)
PR 431 Topics in Religious & Theological Studies (3 hours)
PR 432 Topics in Philosophy (3 hours)
EN 475 A & B Seminar in English (1 hour each)
G-HI 236 Topics in Social History (3 hours)
G-HI 237 Topics in Political History (3 hours)
HI/PS 475 Senior Thesis (3 hours)
NS 475 Senior Research (2 hours)
SO/PY 475 Senior Seminar/Thesis (2 hours)

In consultation with the course instructor, a student may propose to English faculty a course or practicum experience not listed here as an option for the writing minor. To count for the minor, the writing experience must be an individual, rather than a group, project.

 

 

 

 

 

2023|Catalog 23-24, English|

English Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions – Composition and Linguistics

G-EN 110 College Composition I

3 hours
A course designed to help students develop college-level skills in writing. Required of all entering freshmen. (Fall)

G-EN 111 College Composition II

3 hours
A continuation of G-EN 110, designed to help students develop college-level skills in writing and information literacy with an emphasis on writing from research. Required of all entering freshmen. (Spring)

EN 313 Advanced Expository Writing

3 hours (Language Intensive)
An advanced study and practice of explanatory, persuasive and creative non-fiction. (Spring)

EN 315 Practicum in Journal Production

1-2 hours (students may take the course for as many as 3 credit hours)
Provides hands-on experience with editing, publishing, and marketing a creative arts journal. Both fall and spring courses prioritize application: the making and marketing of the college’s creative arts journal. In addition and as time allows, the course focuses on history of the literary journal, genre analysis, context and markets, content editing, development of individual editorial aesthetic, and copy-editing basics (Chicago style).

EN 335 Advanced English Grammar

2 hours
Systematic study of the structure of the English language and a consideration of current theories of analysis. (Spring)

EN 350 Theory and Practice of Tutoring Writing

0-1 hour
An introduction to the theory of composition and writing pedagogy and guided practice in responding to student writing. Required of students before or during their first semester as tutors in the college’s Writing Lab. (Every semester, as needed)

EN 351 Practicum in Tutoring Writing

0-1 hour
Experience in reading and responding responsibly to student writing as a tutor in the college’s Writing Lab. Prerequisite: EN 350 Theory and Practice of Tutoring Writing. Required of students who tutor in the college’s Writing Lab (except those enrolled in EN 350). (Every semester)

EN 355 Linguistics and History of English

 2 hours
An introductory course in linguistics and the history and development of the English language. Includes some study of families of languages and fundamental differences among languages. (Fall)

EN 375 Junior Seminar

2 hours
A study of literary theory and techniques of literary analysis, both classical and contemporary, and an exploration of careers in English. (Fall)

EN 420 Creative Writing

3 hours
Study and practice in writing original poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. (Drama is an option for those who desire it.) Establishing a writing discipline is emphasized. Upper-level students only unless instructor permission is granted. (Spring, odd years)

Course Descriptions – Literature

G-EN 210 Masterpieces of World Literature

3 hours 
A study of masterworks of world literatures, from beginnings through the twentieth century. (Fall)

*G-EN 210L Masterpieces of World Literature

4 hours (Language Intensive)
A study of masterworks of world literatures, from beginnings through the twentieth century. (Fall)

G-EN 220 Contemporary World Literature

3 hours
A study of important contemporary works from various world cultures. (Spring)

*G-EN 220L Contemporary World Literature

4 hours (Language Intensive)
A study of important contemporary works from various world cultures. (Spring)

G-EN 222 Native American Literature

3 hours
A study of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction by Native American writers, with cultural and historical study of the individual tribes
represented by the authors selected. Particular emphasis is given to elements that are significant to Native American writing, including oral tradition, multi-vocal perspective, myth, language loss and the artist’s role in revitalization. (Fall, even years)

G-EN 225 African American Literature

3 hours
A study of African-American writers and works dating from 1920 to the present. (Fall, odd years)

G-EN 235 Selected Topics in Literature

3 hours
A focused study of the literature of a particular group, period, or region. Topics vary. (Interterm)

EN 250 American Literature I

3 hours
A study of writers and works (including Native American works) dating from European explorations of the New World to 1865.  (Fall, even years)

G-EN 255 American Literature II

3 hours
A study of writers and works dating from 1865 to the present. Effort is made to fairly represent works by Native Americans and American minorities.  (Spring, odd years)

*G-EN 255L American Literature II

4 hours (Language Intensive)
A study of writers and works dating from 1865 to the present. Effort is made to fairly represent works by Native Americans and American minorities. Language- intensive if taken for 4 credit hours. (Spring, odd years)

G-EN 270 Fiction

3 hours
An introduction to the elements of fiction and the historical development of the genre. Emphasis is upon development of critical reading skills. Writing of short fiction is also required. (Fall, odd years)

*G-EN 270L Fiction

4 hours (Language Intensive)
An introduction to the elements of fiction and the historical development of the genre. Emphasis is upon development of critical reading skills. Writing of short fiction is also required. Language-intensive only if taken for 4 credit hours. (Fall, odd years)

EN 300 Survey of British Literature

       3 hours
A study of major writers and works from the earliest times through the 20th century. (Spring, even years)

EN 320 Young Adult Literature

2 hours
A review of the literature and themes appealing to young adults. The course includes selection and evaluation of literature and methods of presenting literature to young adults. Designed for educators. (Spring, odd years)

G-EN 370 Poetry

3 hours
A study of poets and poetic techniques. Some writing of poetry required. (Spring, odd years)

*G-EN 370L Poetry

4 hours (Language Intensive)
A study of poets and poetic techniques. Some writing of poetry required. (Spring, odd years)

EN 375 Junior Seminar in English

1 hour
A study of literary theory and techniques of literary analysis, both classical and contemporary with some exploration of careers in English. (Fall)

EN 445 Readings and Research in English

1-4 hours
Special research and intensive reading on special topics, genres, movements. Open only to students with 12 hours of course work or more in English. (by appointment only)

EN 475A Seminar in English

1 hour
The first half of the capstone course for English majors. Students will produce a major critical project demonstrating competencies in speech, writing, and information literacy. Completing a creative thesis is an option, but requires an application and faculty approval.  Students may enroll for the course spring, interterm, or fall during the senior year, but fall is recommended.

EN 475B Seminar in English

1 hour (Language Intensive)
A continuation of the senior project; students must complete both A and B. Students may enroll for the course spring, interterm, or fall during the senior year.

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

2023|Catalog 23-24, English|

Health and Sport Studies Program

Department Mission

McPherson College students in the Department of Health and Sport Studies will develop an understanding of the multiple dimensions associated with the human body, which encompass physical, psychological, social, environmental, emotional, spiritual, and occupational realms.

By embracing this multi-dimensional approach, the department captures the essence of a liberal arts education: developing the whole person. Furthermore, the department will contribute to the fulfillment of the college’s mission as follows:

  • Scholarship – Achieving academic excellence by elevating the scholastic expectations of our students and exceeding the accreditation standards of the allied health and sport professions. The department will offer strategically designed, career-oriented degree programs to prepare students for a future beyond the McPherson College campus.
  • Participation – Utilizing the Enterprising McPherson College Student model to provide students the opportunity to explore, experience, and engage all the facets associated with our degree programs. In addition to the academic preparation, students will interact with, and be mentored by, experts in the allied health and sport professions.
  • Service – Promoting and emphasizing the importance of serving others. Instilling this altruistic nature will contribute to the development of the whole person and prepare our students to be positive, active, and responsible members of society. They will be ready to embrace inclusivity, equality, and equity to encourage diversity in the allied health and sport professions and society.

Department Goals

  1. Scholarship – Ensure students will gain the necessary content knowledge, application competence, and communication aptitude to excel in the allied health and sport professions.
  2. Practice – Connect students with pertinent and fruitful experiential learning opportunities to gain occupational skills from experts within the allied health and sport professions.
  3. Critical Thinking – Provide the techniques and skills to question, evaluate, and create positive and progressive solutions for challenging obstacles within the allied health and sport professions.
  4. Diversity – Increase students’ awareness of the value of a diverse society, the essentials to promoting a diverse community, and enhance their abilities to function in diverse allied health and sport occupational environments.
  5. Service – Develop leadership skills and sympathetic character traits to be active leaders in their allied health, sport, and personal communities.

B.S. in Health Science with Movement Emphasis

Core Requirements (43 hours)

G-BI 111 College Biology I (4 hours)
G-CH 111 College Chemistry I (5 hours)
BI 112 College Biology II (4 hours)
HS 175 Health Systems (3 hours)
HS 275 Career Exploration in Health Science/Healthcare Management (2 hours)
G-HS/PE 190 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health (3 hours)
G-PY 101 Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
G-CM 218 Business and Professional Communication (3 hours)
G-MA 221 Elementary Applied Statistics (4 hours)
PE 330 Physiology of Exercise (3 hours)
HS 375 Junior Seminar in Health Science/Healthcare Management (3 hours)
HS 395 Healthcare Administration, Leadership, and Management (3 hours)
HS 475 Senior Capstone in Health Science/Healthcare Management (6 hours)

Movement Emphasis Requirements (27 hours)

CH 112 College Chemistry II (5 hours)
G-BI 210 Principles of Nutrition (3 hours)
G-PH 215 General Physics I (4 hours)
PH 216 General Physics II (4 hours)
BI 225 Human Anatomy (4 hours)
BI 315 Human Physiology (4 hours)
PE 411 Kinesiology (3 hours)

Total: 70 hours

Recommended Courses

PY 204 Child and Adolescent Development (3 hours)
G-PR 104 Ethics (3 hours)
HS 207 Medical Terminology (2 hours)
PE 301 Human Growth and Motor Development (3 hours)
PY 305 Abnormal Psychology (3 hours)
PE 385 Care and Treatment of Athletic Injury (3 hours)
HS 388 Internship (1-4 hours)

Orthotics and Prosthetics Specific Course:

BI 310 Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)

 

B.S. in Health Science with Allied Health Emphasis

Core Requirements (43 hours)

G-BI 111 College Biology I (4 hours)
G-CH 111 College Chemistry I (5 hours)
BI 112 College Biology II (4 hours)
HS 175 Health Systems (3 hours)
HS 275 Career Exploration in Health Science/Healthcare Management (2 hours)
G-HS/PE 190 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health (3 hours)
G-PY 101 Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
G-CM 218 Business and Professional Communication (3 hours)
G-MA 221 Elementary Applied Statistics (4 hours)
PE 330 Physiology of Exercise (3 hours)
HS 375 Junior Seminar in Health Science/Healthcare Management (3 hours)
HS 395 Healthcare Administration, Leadership, and Management (3 hours)
HS 475 Senior Capstone in Health Science/Healthcare Management (6 hours)

Allied Health Emphasis Requirements (25 hours)

PY 204 Child and Adolescent Development (3 hours)
PY 305 Abnormal Psychology (3 hours)
BI 225 Human Anatomy (4 hours)
BI 315 Human Physiology (4 hours)
HS 207 Medical Terminology (2 hours)
G-SO 101 Introduction to Sociology (3 hours)
G-PR 104 Ethics (3 hours)
PE 301 Human Growth and Motor Development (3 hours)

Total: 68 hours

Recommended Courses

G-PH 215 General Physics I (4 hours)
PE 411 Kinesiology (3 hours)
HS 388 Internship (1-4 hours)

Nursing School Preparation Specific Courses:

G-BI 210 Principles of Nutrition (3 hours)
BI 234 Microbiology (5 hours)
BI 283 Genetics (4 hours)

 

B.S. in Health Science with Public and Community Health Emphasis

Core Requirements (43 hours)

G-BI 111 College Biology I (4 hours)
G-CH 111 College Chemistry I (5 hours)
BI 112 College Biology II (4 hours)
HS 175 Health Systems (3 hours)
HS 275 Career Exploration in Health Science/Healthcare Management (2 hours)
G-HS/PE 190 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health (3 hours)
G-PY 101 Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
G-CM 218 Business and Professional Communication (3 hours)
G-MA 221 Elementary Applied Statistics (4 hours)
PE 330 Physiology of Exercise (3 hours)
HS 375 Junior Seminar in Health Science/Healthcare Management (3 hours)
HS 395 Healthcare Administration, Leadership, and Management (3 hours)
HS 475 Senior Capstone in Health Science/Healthcare Management (6 hours)

Public and Community Health Emphasis Requirements (23 hours)

G-SO 101 Introduction to Sociology (3 hours)
G-MA 111 Calculus (4 hours)
HS 200 Public and Community Health (3 hours)
G-BI 210 Principles of Nutrition (3 hours)
HS 290 Health Policy (3 hours)
BI 325 Human Ecology, Epidemiology, and Public Health (4 hours)
PY 305 Abnormal Psychology (3 hours)

Total: 66 hours

Recommended Courses

G-PR 104 Ethics (3 hours)
G-NS 141 Environmental Science (4 hours)
HS 207 Medical Terminology (2 hours)
HS 388 Internship (1-4 hours)

 

B.S. in Healthcare Management

Requirements

G-BI 101 Principles of Biology (4 hours)
G-CH 101 Principles of Chemistry (4 hours)
G-BA 130 Principles of Business Management (3 hours)
G-PE 150 Concepts in Holistic Health (3 hours)
HS 175 Health Systems (3 hours)
G-HS/PE 190 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health (3 hours)
HS 200 Public and Community Health (3 hours)
EC 202 Survey of Economics (3 hours)
AC 205 Financial Accounting (3 hours)
AC 206 Managerial Accounting (3 hours)
G-CM 218 Business and Professional Communication (3 hours)
BA 221 Marketing (3 hours)
HS 275 Career Exploration in Health Science/Healthcare Management (2 hours)
HS 290 Health Policy (3 hours)
BA 215 Business Law (3 hours)
HS 325 Healthcare Finance (3 hours)
BA 325 Financial Management (3 hours)
BA 339 Human Resource Management (3 hours)
HS 375 Junior Seminar in Health Science/Healthcare Management (3 hours)
HS 395 Healthcare Administration, Leadership, and Management (3 hours)
HS 475 Senior Capstone in Health Science/Healthcare Management (3 hours)

Total: 64 hours

 

B.S. in Sport Studies

Requirements

PE 100 Introduction to Physical Education and Sport (3 hours)
G-BI 101 Principles of Biology (4 hours)
PE 105 Introduction to Sport Management (3 hours)
G-PE 150 Concepts in Holistic Health (3 hours)
G-BI 210 Principles of Nutrition (3 hours)
PE 220 Human Anatomy and Physiology (3 hours)
PE 244 Sport and Society (3 hours)
PE 289 Sport and Exercise Psychology (3 hours)
PE 301 Human Growth and Motor Behavior (3 hours)
PE 304 Theories, Principles, and Leadership of Coaching (3 hours)
PE 330 Exercise Physiology (3 hours)
PE 385 Care and Treatment of Athletic Injuries (3 hours)
PE 400 Skill Development, Physical Training, and Tactics in Coaching (3 hours)
PE 475 Senior Capstone (3 hours)

Total: 43 hours

 

Additional Requirements for Teacher Education Majors, PK-12 (46 credit  hours)

G-PY 101 Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
G-CI 150 Introduction to Education (3 hours)
PY 204 Child and Adolescent Development (3 hours)
SE 210 Introduction to Infant, Child, Youth with Special Needs (3 hours)
CI 220 Principles and Strategies of Teaching (3 hours)
CI 232 Educational Technology (2 hours)
CI 251 Introduction to Education Practicum (1 hour)
CI 315 Reading in the Content Field (2 hours)
CI 333  Intercultural Education (2 hours)
CI 351 Secondary Education Practicum (1 hour)
EE 375 
Elementary Education Practicum (1 hour)
PE 409/CI 409
Methods for Teaching Physical Education and Health in Elementary Schools (4 hours)
PE 410/CI 410 Methods for Teaching Physical Education and Health in Secondary Schools (4 hours)
CI 455 The Teaching-Learning Process (3 hours)
EE 465 Student Teaching in the Elementary School (6 hours)
CI 475 Student Teaching in the Secondary School (6 hours)
CI 476 Professional Seminar in Education (2   hours)

Total: 92 hours

 

B.S. in Sport Management

Requirements

PE 100 Introduction to Physical Education and Sport (3 credit hours)
PE 105 Introduction to Sport Management (3 credit hours)
G-BA 130 Principles in Business Management (3 credit hours)
EC 202 Survey of Economics (3 credit hours)
AC 202 Survey in Accounting (3 credit hours)
G-CM 218 Business and Personal Communication (3 credit hours)
G-BA 220 Business Applied Statistics or G-MA 221, Elementary Applied Statistics (4 credit hours)
BA 221 Marketing (3 credit hours)
PE 244 Sport and Society (3 credit hours)
PE 289 Sport and Exercise Psychology (3 credit hours)
BA 215 Business Law (3 credit hours)
BA 324 Organizational Behavior (3 credit hours)
BA 325 Financial Management (3 credit hours)
BA 339 Human Resource Management (3 credit hours)
PE 415 Sport Management (3 credit hours)
PE 420 Sport Marketing (3 credit hours)
PE 425 Sport Finance (3 credit hours)
PE 430 Governance and Policy in Sport (3 credit hours)
PE 475 Senior Capstone (3 credit hours)

Total: 58 hours

2023|Catalog 23-24, Health and Sport Studies|

Health and Sport Studies Course Descriptions

Health Science Course Descriptions

HS 175 Health Systems

3 hours
This course provides an overview of how healthcare is organized and how healthcare services are delivered in the U.S.  It explores issues such as healthcare access, cost, and quality. It will cover the roles of government, patients, health professionals, hospitals, insurers and pharmaceutical companies, as well as the interactions of these stakeholders. The course aims to provide skills in critical and analytical thinking and decision-making related to the U.S. healthcare system and the people in it. (Fall)

G-HS/PE 190 Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health

3 hours
This course considers health and health behaviors within the context of social, cultural, and environmental influences on individual behaviors. The course will also explore motivation and self-esteem theories. Health behavior programs related to communities and athletics. Theories of health promotion, health behavior change, and health education will be explored. (Spring)

HS 200 Public and Community Health

3 hours
This course offers a basic introduction to the issues of public health, major public health problems, and public health systems. The class examines core principles of public health, focusing on a community perspective. Student learn about public health approaches to health assessment, health promotion, disease prevention, and the outcomes of public health initiatives at the local, state, and national levels. Prerequisites: G-PE 150 and HS 175. (Fall)

HS 207 Medical Terminology

2 hours
An introduction to the study of medical terms that brings to life the language of medicine. This course will help students develop an understanding of how to communicate fluently in a healthcare setting. This course will explain medical terms in the context of the anatomy and physiology of different body systems as well as how the body works in health and disease. This course does not include a laboratory. (Interterm) 

HS 275 Career Exploration in Health Science/Healthcare Management

2 hours
This course educates students about the wide range of careers available in the healthcare industry. A minimum of 20 total hours of observation in a hospital setting is required. Outcomes of this course include enhanced clarity about career directions through deeper understanding of personal strengths, values, aptitude, and interest. Prerequisites: G-EN 110, G-EN 111, and HS 175. (Spring)

HS 290 Health Policy

3 hours
Students explore key health policy concepts in the U.S. health care system. They examine governmental and non-governmental policy-making processes and learn to analyze policies and evaluate policy outcomes. Students will learn how U.S. policy-making processes interact with the structure of the U.S. healthcare system and the implications of changes to these processes and the system. The effect of health policy on the health of rural communities, in particular, is analyzed along with the intersection of U.S. health policy with infectious diseases, bioethics, and globalization. Prerequisites: G-EN 110, G-EN 111, HS 175 and G-HS 190. (Spring)

HS 325 Healthcare Finance

3 hours
This course focuses on the critical issues in financing healthcare in the U.S., from supply costs to third-party reimbursement. The course addresses determinants of demand for healthcare, such as population demographics and health status, insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs, and public expectations of health professionals and technology. The course will explore the role of health professionals in guiding and shaping the allocation of resources in healthcare markets and the roles of competition in U.S. healthcare. A focus of the course is how healthcare managers use financial data to manage their organizations and inform decision-making processes. The course also introduces students to the basic principles and tools of budget and resource management. Prerequisites: HS 290. (Fall)

HS 375 Junior Seminar in Health Science/Healthcare Management

2-3 hours
This course builds on the foundation of personal development and career exploration achieved in HS 275 Career Exploration in Health Science/Healthcare Management. Students will work with experienced healthcare practitioners a minimum of 20 hours. The course also takes students through the steps of developing, writing, and submitting the proposal for their senior capstone project. Capstone proposals are reviewed by the appropriate health science/healthcare management faculty and must be approved before capstone experiences begin. Prerequisites: G-CM 218.  Fall/Spring (3 hours) Interterm (2 hours)

HS 395 Healthcare Administration, Leadership, and Management

3 hours
This course connects an overview of healthcare delivery systems with in-depth explorations of organizational theory and traditional managerial and executive leadership roles found in healthcare facilities. Leadership competencies and skills are developed through the examination of topics such as team building, strategic planning, compliance with professional standards and governmental regulations, management and development of human resources, managerial problem solving, and organizational communication, among others. Prerequisites: HS 200 and HS 325. (Spring)

HS 475 Senior Capstone in Health Science/Healthcare Management

3-6 hours
Students will complete their capstone hours over their final two semesters at McPherson College. Students will finalize their capstone proposal in consultation with a proctoring faculty member. Capstones are designed based on unique personal and professional goals. Students will record their experience and observations and reflect on their personal and professional growth throughout their capstone experience. In the final semester, students will present their capstone portfolio in a public presentation. Students seeking a degree from the 2022 or older catalog: 6 credit hours; students seeking a degree from the 2023 or newer catalog: 3 credit hours. Prerequisites: HS 375. (Fall, Spring)

 

Sport Studies Course Descriptions

PE 100 Introduction to Physical Education and Sport

3 hours
Students will explore the historical and philosophical origins of physical education and sport, which have influenced the development of these institutions in American society. (Fall, Spring)

PE 105 Introduction to Sport Management

3 hours
Students will be introduced to the intricate nature of the sport industry. This course will provide an overview of the historical aspects, managing and leading techniques, various sporting environments, functions, and challenges related to sport management. (Fall, Spring)

G-PE 150 Concepts in Holistic Health

3 hours
This course is designed to present the student with health and wellness principles and offer suggestions for their application. These principles will be examined using a traditional approach with a variety of cultural influences. Major areas of study include mind-body interrelatedness and control, stress management, individual fitness, health and health related topics, and lifestyle management. (Fall, Spring)

PE 220 Human Anatomy and Physiology

3 hours
This course is designed to introduce the student to the science of the body structure and function. Content is presented in a simple to complex pattern which includes the design and function of cells, body systems, and the interdependence of systems. Prerequisites: PE 100, G-BI 101. (Fall)

PE 244 Sport and Society

3 hours
This course will provide students with an opportunity to learn about the sociological and cultural aspects of sport. Students will acquire a broad understanding of social settings and cultural issues as they relate to sport and physical activity. Prerequisite: PE 100 and a minimum of Sophomore standing. (Fall)

PE 289 Sport and Exercise Psychology

3 hours
This course will provide insight into the theories, subject matter, and latest empirical research concerning the cognitive processes and emotional states that regulate and influence performance in sport, exercise, and other physical activities. Prerequisite: PE 100 and a minimum of Sophomore standing. (Spring)

PE 301 Human Growth and Motor Behavior

3 hours
Students will examine how the human body grows and develops and the relationships with motor control, learning, and development. Prerequisites: a minimum of Sophomore standing. (Fall)

PE 304 Theories, Principles, and Leadership of Coaching

3 hours (Language Intensive)
This course will provide students the knowledge and tools to develop a philosophical and practical foundation to their coaching styles. Students will learn how to make sound decisions that will lead to success in the coaching profession. Prerequisites: PE 100, PE 105, and a minimum of Junior standing. (Fall)

PE 330 Exercise Physiology

3 hours
Students will study the relationship between exercise and human physiology. Prerequisites: PE 100, G-BI 210, PE 220, and a minimum of Junior standing. (Fall)

PE 385 Care and Treatment of Athletic Injuries

3 hours
The purpose of this course is to provide students with a wide spectrum of information on the care and treatment of athletes and their injuries. It is designed to provide an overview of emergency procedures and immediate assessment of injured athletes. The importance of preventative measures and an overview of the responsibilities of an athletic trainer and coach will be addressed. Prerequisites: PE 301, PE 330, and a minimum of Junior standing. (Spring)

PE 400 Skill Development, Physical Training, and Tactics in Coaching

3 hours
Students will learn the proper teaching and analytical techniques and methods to develop healthy and successful athletes and teams. Some of the topics covered include athlete performance assessment and evaluation, skill acquisition, athletic conditioning techniques, development, practice and conditioning programming, and the social-psychological aspects of training and coaching. Prerequisites: PE 304, and Junior standing. (Fall)

PE 409/CI 409 Methods for Teaching Physical Education and Health in Elementary Schools

4 hours
This course is designed to introduce prospective elementary school physical education, health, and classroom teachers to the fundamentals, principles, and practices of physical education and health at the elementary school level. Movement exploration and methods, including adaptive physical education, will be learned in the variety of play and sport activities. Further, the methods and modalities for teaching school health will be explored while examining the potential health problems of the individual school child associated with school and home environments. This course includes a practical laboratory component. Prerequisites for Elementary Education majors: G-PE 150 and CI 220. Prerequisites for Sport Studies majors: G-CI 150, CI 220. (Spring)

PE 410/CI 410 Methods for Teaching Physical Education and Health in Secondary Schools

4 hours
This course is designed to acquaint the student with a variety of teaching techniques, methods, and modalities for teaching physical education and health at the secondary school level. Proper movement skills and development, and healthy habits will be stressed to encourage lifelong physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. Adaptive physical education and the impact of sociocultural and socioeconomic factors will be integrated in the course. There is a practical laboratory component. Prerequisites: G-CI 150, CI 220, and PE 385. (Fall)

PE 415 Sport Management

3 hours
Students will develop an advanced understanding of the planning, organizing, leading, and controlling aspects of a sport organization. Prerequisites: PE 105, G-CM 218, PE 244, PE 289, BA 324, BA 339, and a minimum of Junior standing. (Fall)

PE 420 Sport Marketing

3 hours
Students will explore the historical, contemporary, and future issues and trends in sport marketing. Further, students will learn and apply the marketing concepts and strategies utilized in the sport industry. Prerequisites: PE 105, G-CM 218, BA 221, PE 244, PE 289, BA 324, and a minimum of Junior standing. (Spring)

PE 425 Sport Finance

3 hours
Students will extend their financial management knowledge within the sport realm by focusing on topics such as time value of money, debt and equity financing, capital budgeting and spending earnings in the sport industry. Prerequisites: PE 105, G-BA 130, G-BA 220 or G-MA 221, PE 244, BA 325 and a minimum of Junior standing. (Spring)

PE 430 Governance and Policy in Sport

3 hours
Students will explore governance structures and processes related to policy within public, private, not-for-profit, and non-profit sport sectors in the United States. Through this examination, students will learn effective governance systems and the challenges and obstacles encountered by sport organizations. Further, it will be highlighted how sports issues revolved around specific topics such as ethnicity, national identity, sex, gender, diversity, disability, violence, deviance, health and event hosting can impact policy and governance structures. Prerequisites: PE 105, PE 244, BA 315, BA 324, and a minimum of Junior standing. (Spring)

PE 475 Senior Capstone

3 hours
This is the culminating or “capstone” course for Sport Science and Sport Management majors who do not participate in student teaching. Students are paired with a mentor in their chosen field to gain practical experience that will enhance their understanding of a potential career in the sport industry. Prerequisites for Sport Studies majors: PE 304, PE 385, and Senior standing. Prerequisites: Senior standing. (Fall, Spring)

Special Course Options

PE 295/PE 495 Field Experience (1-4 credit hours for each course)
PE 297 Study Abroad (12-16 credit hours)
PE 299/PE 499 Independent Study (1-4 credit hours for each course)
PE 388 Career Connections (3-10 credit hours)
PE 445 Readings and Research (1 credit hour–Language Intensive)

Intercollegiate Competition Credit Hours

After completing one year of intercollegiate athletic competition, students may enroll in intercollegiate competition (PE 211-21 and PE 311-21) for 1 credit hour; however, a maximum of 2 credit hours for intercollegiate competition will count toward graduation. Students who transfer credits are limited to 2 credit hours for intercollegiate competition.

PE 209/PE 309 Intercollegiate Cheerleading (1 credit hour each)
PE 211/PE 311 Intercollegiate Softball–Women (1 credit hour each)
PE 212/PE 312 Intercollegiate Tennis (1 credit hour each)
PE 213/PE 313 Intercollegiate Football–Men (1 credit hour each)
PE 214/PE 314 Intercollegiate Basketball (1 credit hour each)
PE 215/PE 315 Intercollegiate Cross Country (1 credit hour each)
PE 216/PE 316 Intercollegiate Track and Field (1 credit hour each)
PE 217/PE 317 Intercollegiate Volleyball–Women (1 credit hour each)
PE 219/PE 319 Intercollegiate Soccer (1 credit hour each)
PE 221/PE 321 Intercollegiate Baseball (1 credit hour each)

2023|Catalog 23-24, Health and Sport Studies|

History & Politics Program

Purpose Statement

The Department of History and Politics majors are designed to develop student scholarship in the study of history and political science, to nurture historical and political awareness, and to enhance critical and analytical skills. Graduates are prepared for a variety of careers where strong research, organization, and writing skills are needed, as well as for graduate and professional programs in history, political science, and law. The program also prepares graduates for careers in secondary education with a specialization in social studies. Majors at McPherson have the advantage of the college’s central Kansas location, with research access to local, state, and federal libraries and archives. The department serves this purpose for students at McPherson College by

  • providing wide access to available formal courses in the disciplines of history and politics;
  • offering opportunities for independent research and reading in the relevant fields;
  • encouraging students to study further in related graduate and professional programs;
  • supporting and encouraging students with interests in careers related to the disciplines to pursue such careers;
  • meeting State Department of Education standards for certification in the area of social studies (applies to candidates for teacher certification only)

Course Content

General Education – History: Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the historical method.” — College Catalog. Courses fulfilling the history general education requirement are either 100 – or 200 – level classes. They are designed to emphasize how historic events shape people’s lives, as well as how historic events are interpreted in different ways.

100 level – No prior college experience required, no prior history coursework required. Designed to provide the most direct supervision of students. Includes emphasis on introductory terms and concepts. Student work emphasizes recall and use of material delivered in the course and completion of more directly prescribed assignments.

200 level – Suitable for students with no prior history coursework, students should have prior college experience. Students develop skill locating, interpreting and applying resources beyond those specifically provided by the instructor. Increased emphasis on both written and oral presentation consistent with the standards of the discipline. Higher expectations for engagement of students in classroom. Students expected to apply course content to subject areas beyond those directly delivered in the course.

300 level – Designed for students at the sophomore level or higher with previous college history coursework. Students develop skill in independently locating, interpreting and applying resources. Increased emphasis on both written and oral presentation consistent with the standards of the discipline, including a minimum 10 page written research paper and formal oral presentation. High expectations for engagement of students in classroom.

400 level – Intended for advanced students conducting largely independent research and project development. Students will locate resources, conduct research and implement curriculum of their own design, with faculty consultation and supervision.

Methodology Core Courses

All of the Majors in the department share a three-course methodology sequence.

G-HI130 Introductory Methods for Historical Analysis (see course descriptions following this section) This course introduces the core questions, resources, and methods of  inquiry used by historians. This 100 level course should be taken as soon as possible; ideally during the first year of study at McPherson.  Students transferring to McPherson should take care that they schedule this course as early as possible. Successful completion of G-HI130 is a prerequisite for enrollment in the second methodology core course, G-HI410

G-HI410 Historiography (see course descriptions following this section) In this course students will further  develop research techniques and prepare a historiography – a survey of how historians have approached a specific historical question. Successful completion of HI410 is a prerequisite for enrolling in HI 475 or PS 475 Senior Thesis.

HI 475 or PS 475 Senior Thesis (see course descriptions following this section) – In this capstone course students will apply the lessons of earlier content and methods courses. Working with one-on-one supervision the student will prepare their own original research project.

 

Bachelor of Arts in History

Goals: To prepare graduates for careers and post graduate education in history, museum studies, law, archival work, and related fields.

Objectives:

  • Students should be able to demonstrate field specific methodology in written and oral course work.
  • Students should be able to discuss major problems in history drawing upon substantive knowledge in a field.
  • Students should be able to analyze and critique theoretical frameworks for understanding historical continuity and change in human communities.
  • Students should be able to assess and utilize materials in the media and popular culture as historians in the course of their daily lives.

Core Courses (18 hours)

G-SO 101 Introduction to Sociology (3 hours)
G-HI 101 Historical Introduction to Politics (3 hours)
G-HI 130 Introductory Methods for Historical Analysis (3 hours)
EC 202 Survey of Economics (3 hours) or EC 201 Elementary Economics: Macro (3 hours)
HI 410  Historiography (3 hours)
*HI 475  Senior Thesis (3 hours)

Foundations (6 hours – pick two classes)

G-HI 110 World Civilization to 1500 (3 hours)
G-HI 120 World Civilization since 1500 (3 hours)
G-HI 140 American History to 1877 (3 hours)
G-HI 150 American History since 1877 (3 hours)

Required supporting courses (6 hours)

G-ML 108  Level I Spanish (3 hours)
G-ML 109  Level II Spanish (3 hours)
Or two semesters in an equivalent foreign language program.

Complete 6 hours in each of the following subfields for a total of 18 hours. At least 6 of these hours must be at the 300 level.

Social History (6 hours)

G-HI 205 Social History of the Automobile (3 hours)
G-HI 236 Topics in Social History (3 hours)
*G-HI 333 Technology and Society (3 hours)
G-HI 261 Kansas History (3 hours)

Political History (6 hours)

G-HI 220 Modern Europe (3 hours)
G-HI 237 Topics in Political History (3 hours)
HI 301 Advanced Historical Topics (3 hours)
HI/PS 356 American Diplomacy (3 hours)

Cross-disciplinary History (6 hours)

G-PR 101 God and People in Ancient Israel: Hebrew Bible Foundations (3 hours)
G-PR 202 Christian Traditions (3 hours)
HI 245 History of Automotive Design (3 hours)
*G-MA 290 History of Mathematics (3 hours)
G-PR 306 World Religions (3 hours)
*G-AR 310 Art History I (4 hours)
*G-AR 311
Art History II (4 hours)
G-MU 355
Music History and Literature I (3 hours)
G-MU 360 Music History and Literature II (3 hours)
G-TH 385 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature (3 hours)

Total: 48 hours

Bachelor of Arts in History for Teaching Licensure (6-12)

Goals: To prepare graduates for careers in teaching social studies in grades 6-12.

Required curriculum: History and Government 6-12

Endorsement Number: History & Government 71599

Requirements: A minimum of 9 hours in U.S. History; 9 hours in World History; 9 hours in Political Science; plus 15 hours of supporting course work for a total of 42 hours. In addition, the candidate for teaching licensure must complete the Teacher Education Professional Education Requirements.

U.S. History Courses (9 hours)

G-HI 140 American History to 1877 (3 hours)
G-HI 150 American History since 1877 (3 hours)
G-HI 261 Kansas History (3 hours)

World History Courses (9 hours)

G-HI 110 World Civilization to 1500 (3 hours)
G-HI 120 World Civilization since 1500 (3 hours)
G-HI 101 Historical Introduction to Politics (3 hours)

Government Courses (9 hours)

G-PS 102 United States Government (3 hours)
G-PS 130 Principles of Geography (3 hours)
PS 356 American Diplomacy or *G-PS 215 Global Peace Studies

Social Studies Certification Requirements (15 hours)

G-SO 101 Introduction to Sociology (3 hours)
G-HI 130 Introductory Methods for Historical Analysis (3 hours)
EC 201 Elementary Economics-Macro (3 hours) or EC 202 Survey of Economics (3 hours)
HI 410 Historiography (3 hours)
*HI/PS 475 Senior Thesis (3 hours)

Other courses required by Curriculum and Instruction Department for licensure.

 

Bachelors of Science in Politics and History

Goals: To prepare graduates for careers and post graduate education in politics, government, law, library science and related fields.

Objectives:
Students should be able to demonstrate field specific methodology in written and oral course work.
Students should be able to discuss major problems in history drawing upon substantive knowledge in a field.
Students should be able to analyze current political problems and issues. Students should be able to assess and utilize materials in the media and popular culture as historians in the course of their daily lives.

G-HI 101 Historical Introduction to Politics (3 hours)
G-PS 102 United States Government (3 hours)
G-HI 130 Introductory Methods for Historical Analysis (3 hours)
G-PS 130 Principles of Geography (3 hours)
G-HI 120 World Civilization since 1500 (3 hours)
G-HI 150 American History since 1877 (3 hours)
G-SO 101 Introduction to Sociology (3 hours)
G-PS 125 International Relations and Globalization (3 hours) or *G-PS 215  Global Peace Studies (3 hours)
EC 201  Elementary Economics: Macro (3 hours) or EC 202  Survey of Economics (3 hours)
G-MA 221  Elementary Applied Statistics (4 hours)
PS 356  American Diplomacy (3 hours)
+ One additional History or Politics course at the 300 level or above (3 hours)
HI 410  Historiography (3 hours)
*HI 475  Senior Thesis (3 hours)

Total: 43 hours

History Minor

A minor in history consists of 18 hours of history courses chosen from the list of courses in the history department with an ‘HI’ prefix; at least two courses counting toward the history minor must be for upper level (300 and above) credit.

2023|Catalog 23-24, History & Politics|

History & Politics Course Descriptions

G-HI 101 Historical Introduction to Politics

3 hours
An introduction to the history of political ideas, and the ways in which politics and government have changed, yet in many ways stayed the same, from ancient Greece to the present. Topics include the questions of the limits of government power, when to disobey the law, conflict between church and state, political intervention in the economy, and how we balance our security needs with our desire to be free. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for History or for Social Institutions. (Fall)

G-HI 110 World Civilization to 1500

3 hours
An introductory survey of the history of world civilizations. The course starts in the beginning with the earliest agricultural communities in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China, examines the rise of the world’s great civilizations, and concludes with the European Middle Ages. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for History. (Fall)

G-HI 120 World Civilization since 1500

3 hours
An introductory survey of the history of world civilizations. The course starts with the European Age of Exploration and continues through to the present day. Special emphasis is given to the rise and dominance of the West in world history. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for History. (Spring)

G-HI 130 Introductory Methods for Historical Analysis

3 hours
An introduction to the study of history, designed for general education for non- majors and as a core course for majors. Students will acquire an understanding of the important people, events, and concepts that shape history through the use of critical thinking and analytical skills. By approaching history as a historian, students will examine historical scholarship, primary source materials and the methods used by historians to understand the past. While specific topics will vary from year to year, sample topics include Medieval Military History and the Crusades. G-HI 130 is a prerequisite for HI 410 and department majors should take this in their first year of study. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for History. (Spring)

G-HI 140 American History to 1877

3 hours
An introductory survey of selected topics in the history of the United States from the pre-Columbian period to the end of Reconstruction in 1877. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for History. (Fall)

G-HI 150 American History since 1877

3 hours
An introductory survey of selected topics in the history of the United States from the period of Reconstruction to the present day. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for History. (Spring)

G-HI 205 Social History of the Automobile

3 hours
A study of the global development of the automobile from its precursors to concept cars of the future. Extra emphasis is given to the advent of assembly lines and mass production, the development of the American mass automobile industry and its impact on daily life: how we work, play, date, go to war, and relate to one another. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for History. (Fall, Wednesday evenings and Spring, Thursday evenings)

G-HI 210 International Travel Study in History

3 hours
An opportunity to travel abroad while studying a topic in world history at historical locations. Students gain a deeper, more personal experience of history, beyond the possibilities of pure classroom content. The specific content and travel location will change from year to year. This course fulfills the General Education Foundation requirement for a Global/Intercultural Experience and may be repeated. Contact the instructor for more information. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for Global/Intercultural Experience. (Interterm)

G-HI 220 Modern Europe

3 hours
A study of the modern historical forces and events that have culminated in the creation of Europe. This course explores topics including World War I and its disastrous peace settlement, the mass destruction and atrocities of World War II, and the political, cultural, and economic processes that created the European Union of the twenty-first century.  This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for History. (Fall, even years)

G-HI 236 Topics in Social History

3 hours
An examination of a select time, subject, or related episodes in history. This course explores the chosen topic through the lens of social history; one of the single most important developments in the late 20th century expansion of historical methods. While specific topics will vary from year to year, sample topics include Historical Epidemics and the European Witch Trials. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for History. (Fall)

G-HI 237 Topics in Political History

3 hours
An examination of a select time, subject, or related episodes in history. This course emphasizes the methods of political history, one of the oldest and most respected fields among historians. While specific topics will vary from year to year, sample topics include Fascism, The Russian Revolution, and The English Civil War. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for History. (Fall, odd years)

HI 245/AR 245 The History of Automotive Design

3 hours
Discover and examine the technological and stylistic evolution of automotive design. This course will explore ways in which automobiles, by way of their design, reflect the technology and communicate the values of the culture that produced them. Prerequisites: None. (Fall)

G-HI 261 Kansas History

3 hours
A study of the history Kansas, from the earliest Indian settlements through the political history of the modern state. The course examines the contributions Kansans have made to the total stream of American development. Designed with special relevance for public school teachers. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for History. (Spring, even years)

HI 301 Advanced Historical Topics

3 hours
An advanced study of a select time, subject, or critical period in history. This course explores the chosen topic through the lens of political history, one of the most important historical methods. While specific topics will vary from year to year, sample topics include Modern Africa, Medieval Europe, and Early modern Europe. (Spring, odd years)

G-HI 333 Technology and Society

3 hours (Language Intensive)
An advanced study of the historical development of technology as part of society and culture, exploring the ways which society and culture constrain and stimulate technologies, and the ways in which technology then shapes society and culture. Does not require previous specialized technical knowledge. This course is designed for both majors and non-majors. Prerequisite: G-EN 111 or consent of the instructor. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for Global/Intercultural Experience. (Fall.)

HI 356 American Diplomacy

3 hours
A survey of the diplomatic relations of the United States, focusing on the events since 1900.  This course provides both a historical approach to interpreting American actions in the world and their consequences, as well as a political science approach to understanding the processes and decision makers that create United States Foreign Policy. Substantive topics include the role of the U.S. as the “world’s policemen” and the nature of the U.S. response to problems such as global terrorism, hunger, human rights, economic cooperation, and climate change. (Fall, odd years)

HI 410 Historiography

3 hours
An advanced study designed to train students in historical research methodology and historiography.  The seminar is designed to allow students the opportunity to become familiar with the practices and techniques of professional historians and researchers. Prerequisite: completion of G-HI 130. Open to history majors and minors or with permission of instructor. (Fall)

HI 475/PS 475 Senior Thesis

3 hours (Language Intensive)
A capstone experience in historical research, analysis, and writing. The seminar offers students experience in seeking out and evaluating both primary and secondary sources of historical information Graduation requirement of all history majors. Prerequisite: completion of HI 410 and permission of instructor. All students intending to take HI 475 must have a formal meeting with their thesis advisor in the previous semester. (Fall, Spring)

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

 

Political Science Course Descriptions

G-PS 101 Historical Introduction to Politics

3 hours
An introduction to the history of western civilization and political ideas. This course explores politics and government from ancient Greece to the present. Topics include the questions of the limits of government power, when to disobey the law, conflict between church and state, political intervention in the economy, and how we balance our security needs with our desire to be free. Expect to discuss fascism, communism, libertarianism, and other modern ideologies. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for History or for Social Institutions. (Fall)

G-PS 102 United States Government

3 hours
A critical study of systems and structure of government and politics in the United States. This course explores key issues in American politics such as the debate over gun control and the right to bear arms, prayer in public schools, abortion, and gay rights, by examining the actors and outcomes in the political process. For example, how do interest groups, mass media, and political parties shape U.S. politics? How does congress, the president, and the Supreme Court act, or fail to act, to meet the needs of society? This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for Social Institutions. (Spring, odd years)

G-PS 125 International Relations and Globalization

3 hours
An introduction to the study of international politics focusing on understanding current problems. Central topics include understanding how nations use both military action and cooperative agreements to provide for their security and well-being: how the global trade and financial system has become an engine for wealth; understanding the gap that has grown between the rich and the poor; and the challenge posed to humanity by the environmental degradation of the earth. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for Global/Intercultural Experience. (Spring)

G-PS 130 Principles of Geography

3 hours
Location, Location, Location! This course explores the physical, social, historical, and cultural landscapes of the earth from a geographic perspective, to demonstrate how location in space fundamentally shapes how the diverse peoples of the world live. Required for students seeking certification as secondary teachers in Social Studies. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for Global/Intercultural Experience. (Spring)

G-PS 215 Global Peace Studies

3 hours (Language Intensive)
An analysis of the problem of international conflict and international social problems. This course studies the economic, political, and ideological causes of international violence, and the mechanisms used to mediate and resolve modern conflicts. This course fulfills the general education distribution requirement for Global/Intercultural Experience. Prerequisite: G-EN 110 and G-EN 111 or recommendation of the instructor. (Spring, even years)

PS 356 American Diplomacy

3 hours
A survey of the diplomatic relations of the United States, focusing on the events since 1900.  This course provides a historical approach to interpreting American actions in the world and their consequences, as well as a political science approach to understanding the processes and decision makers that create United States Foreign Policy. Substantive topics include the role of the U.S. as the “world’s policemen” and the nature of the U.S. response to problems such as global terrorism, hunger, human rights, economic cooperation, and climate change. (Fall, odd years)

PS 475/HI 475 Senior Thesis

3 hours (Language Intensive)
A capstone experience in reading, research, and writing. The seminar offers students experience in seeking out and evaluating both primary and secondary sources of political information. The seminar is designed to allow students the opportunity to become familiar with the practices and techniques of professional political scientists. Prerequisite: HI 410 and permission of instructor. Students intending to take PS 475 must have a formal meeting with their thesis advisor in the previous semester. (Fall, Spring)

 

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

2023|Catalog 23-24, History & Politics|

Mathematics Program

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the mathematics program is to develop students who understand mathematics as an academic discipline, who can use mathematics as a problem-solving tool in other disciplines, and who are skilled in mathematical reasoning, problem solving, critical thinking and communication.

The mathematics program achieves this purpose when its students

  • receive a coherent, broad-based coverage of the discipline of mathematics;
  • demonstrate conceptual and procedural understanding of mathematics;
  • apply their knowledge to specific, constrained problems and produce solutions;
  • possess a foundation of theory that will enable lifelong learning and development;
  • meet State Department of Education standards for licensure in the area of mathematics (applies to education majors in mathematics only).

The department offers a major and minor in mathematics. Mathematics is a discipline essential to all facets of the employment world and an excellent background for a variety of specific professions. Secondary teaching licensure is available. Mathematics is also an excellent background for graduate studies in diverse fields.

Mathematics Major

G-MA 111 Calculus I (4 hours)
MA 112 Calculus II (4 hours)
G-MA 123 Discrete Mathematics (3 hours)
MA 211 Linear Algebra (3 hours)
MA 212 Calculus III (4 hours)
G-MA 221 Elementary Applied Statistics (4 hours)
MA 311 Introduction to Analysis (4 hours)
MA 366 Differential Equations (4 hours)
MA 411 Introduction to Algebraic Structures (4 hours)
MA 342 Modern Geometry (4 hours)
MA 375 Junior Seminar (1 hour)
*MA 475 Senior Project (2 hours)

Required Supporting courses (all mathematics majors)

G-PH 205 College Physics I (5 hours)
PH 206 College Physics II (5 hours)

Total: 51 hours

Mathematics Major for Teacher Licensure

G-MA 111 Calculus I (4 hours)
MA 112 Calculus II (4 hours)
G-MA 123 Discrete Mathematics (3 hours)
G-MA 153 Principles of Geometry (3 hours)
MA 211 Linear Algebra (3 hours)
MA 212 Calculus III (4 hours)
G-MA 221 Elementary Applied Statistics (4 hours)
MA 366 Differential Equations (4 hours)
MA 411 Introduction to Algebraic Structures (4 hours)
MA 342 Modern Geometry (4 hours)
MA 375 Junior Seminar (1 hour)
*MA 475 Senior Project (2 hours)

Total: 40 hours 

Required Supporting Courses:

G-PH 205 College Physics I (5 hours)
See Teacher Education Handbook for Curriculum and Instruction course requirements.

Mathematics Minor

Requirements

G-MA 111 Calculus I (4 hours)
MA 112 Calculus II (4 hours)
G-MA 221 Elementary Applied Statistics (4 hours)

Plus one course from the following list:
   G-MA 123 Discrete Math (3 hours)
   G-MA 153 Principles of Geometry (3 hours)
   G-MA 201 Survey of Mathematics (3 hours)
   MA 211 Linear Algebra (3 hours)

Plus one course from the following list:
   MA 212 Calculus III (4 hours)
   MA 366 Differential Equations (4 hours)
   MA 342 Modern Geometry (4 hours)
   MA 411 Algebraic Structures (4 hours)

Total: 19 hours

Mathematics Course Descriptions

G-MA 105 College Algebra

3 hours
A study of elementary concepts of sets, fundamental properties of the real number system, linear and nonlinear relations, functions and their graphical representations, matrices and determinants, permutations and combinations, and mathematical induction.  (Fall, Spring)

G-MA 106 Pre-Calculus

4 hours
A detailed study and analysis of algebraic and transcendental functions. Includes their properties, related analytic geometry, limits and continuity. This course is recommended for student who have taken College Algebra with a grade of C or better, or have successfully completed a high school Trigonometry course. (Fall)

G-MA 111 Calculus I

4 hours
Review of functions, graphs and models; introduction to limits, derivatives and integrals of algebraic and trigonometric functions; applications of differentiation and integration. Prerequisite: Pre-calculus or significant high school mathematics coursework highly recommended.  (Spring)

MA 112 Calculus II

4 hours
Limits, derivatives and integrals of exponential, logarithmic and inverse trigonometric functions; techniques of integration; calculus of parametric and polar-coordinate equations; infinite sequences and series; first-order differential equations. Prerequisite: G-MA 111 Calculus I with a grade of C or better. (Fall)

G-MA 123 Discrete Mathematics

3 hours
A study of some of the basic topics of discrete mathematics, including elementary logic, properties of sets, functions and relations, mathematical induction, counting problems using permutations and combinations, trees, elementary probability, and an introduction to graph theory.  (Fall, even years)

G-MA 153 Principles of Geometry

3 hours
A coverage of the basic principles of Euclidean geometry. Topics include points, lines, segments, rays, angles, congruence, parallel lines, polygons (special attention is given to triangles and quadrilaterals), geometric similarity, properties of right triangles, area of various plane regions, solid geometry, and an introduction to trigonometry.  (Fall)

G-MA 201 Survey of Mathematics

3 hours
A study of the philosophy, nature, significance and use of mathematics from early times to the present. Topics may include the use of graph theory to solve optimization problems in management science; conflict resolution using fair division; mathematical analysis of voting systems; applications of geometry to the size and shape of objects and to calculating inaccessible distances; geometric growth and decay; non-Euclidean geometry; number systems; logic; and probability and statistics.  (Interterm)

MA 211 Linear Algebra

3 hours
An in-depth study of vectors, matrices and vector spaces. Includes systems of equations, eigenvectors and eigenvalues, linear independence, dimension and linear transformations. (Spring)

MA 212 Calculus III

4 hours
Three-dimensional coordinate systems; vectors and vector-valued functions; partial derivatives; multiple integrals; vector calculus; second-order differential equations. Prerequisite: MA 112 Calculus II with a grade of C or better, or instructor approval. (Spring)

G-MA 221 Elementary Applied Statistics

4 hours
A study of the principles of descriptive statistics, probability, sample and population relationships, estimation, and hypothesis testing. The computer is used as an aid in problem solving. (Fall and Spring)

MA 311 Introduction to Analysis

4 hours
Fundamental concepts of analysis, functions of bounded variation, integration, sequences of functions.  Fourier series, functions of a complex variable. Prerequisite: MA 212. Also recommended: G-MA 123. (Fall)

MA 342 Modern Geometry

4 hours
A survey of selected topics in Euclidean geometry, projective geometry, non- Euclidean geometry, foundations of geometry and convex figures. Required for secondary education mathematics majors. Prerequisite: MA 112 Calculus II with a grade of C or better. (Spring, even years)

MA 366 Differential Equations

4 hours
Introduction to methods and applications of ordinary differential equations. Topics include first order differential equations and applications, higher order linear differential equations with applications, Laplace transforms and an introduction to numerical methods. Prerequisite: MA 112 Calculus II with a grade of C or better and MA 211 with a grade of C or better. (Fall, odd years)

MA 375 Junior Seminar

1 hour
A colloquium-type seminar. Junior mathematics majors prepare for an independent senior project in mathematics and select a project topic. (Fall)

MA 411 Algebraic Structures

4 hours
A survey of abstract algebra. Topics include bijections, projections, groups, rings, and fields. Prerequisite: MA 112 Calculus II with a grade of C or better (Spring, odd years)

MA 441 Combinatorics and Graph Theory

3 hours
A study of directed graphs, trees, circuits, paths, network flows, basic combinatorics, generating functions, difference equations. Emphasis on applications and on use of computer in problem solutions. Prerequisite: MA 112 Calculus II with a grade of C or better. (on demand)

MA 475 Senior Project

2 hours (Language Intensive)
Students will investigate an advanced topic in a field of mathematics outside their classroom experience. Students will work in continual consultation with their research advisor. Regular informal oral and written updates of the project are required. The project culminates with a formally written project and a formal oral presentation of the project. (Spring)

 

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

Information Technology Program – Dormant

Information Technology Major – This program is dormant at present

The department offers a major and minor in information technology. The major will prepare students for a variety of careers in computer science but emphasizes data management with web site development applications..

Requirements

39 hours of information technology courses including:

IT 100  Computers and Information Technology (3 hours)
IT 110  Web Development Tools (3 hours)
IT 200  Introduction to Programming (3 hours)
IT 201  Data Structures (3 hours)
IT 210  Information Technology Systems (3 hours)
IT 220  Programming in a Second Language (3 hours)
IT 301  Computer Systems (3 hours)
IT 360  Human Computer Interaction (3 hours)
IT 401  Operating Systems (3 hours)
IT 421  Database Management Systems (3 hours)
IT 431  Data Communications and Networks (3 hours)
IT 460  Information Security (3 hours)
IT 375  Junior Seminar (1 hour)
IT 475  Senior Project (2 hours)

Required supporting courses:

MA 123  Discrete Mathematics (3 hours)
G-MA221  Elementary Applied Statistics (4 hours)
AR340  Web-Based Design (3 hours)

Recommended supporting courses

AR230  Graphic Design I

Information Technology Minor

Requirements

21 hours of information technology including:

IT 100  Computers and Information Technology (3 hours)
IT 200  Introduction to Programming (3 hours)
IT 201  Data Structures (3 hours)
IT 210  Information Technology Systems (3 hours)
IT 301  Computer Systems (3 hours)
IT 360  Human Computer Interaction (3 hours)

Two courses at the 300 or above level (6 hours)

Required supporting courses

MA 123  Discrete Mathematics (3 hours)
G-MA221  Elementary Applied Statistics (4 hours)
AR240  Web-Based Design (3 hours)

Recommended supporting courses

AR 320  Graphic Design I

 

Information Technology Course Descriptions

IT 100 Computers and Information Technology

3 hours
An overview of computer technology and its relation to society. Through a hands-on approach, students will learn basic concepts of computer architecture, operating systems, computer communications, software engineering, programming languages, and applications software. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on the integration of computer technology and society (past/present/future).

IT 110 Web Development Tools

3 hours
This course introduces students to one or more web development tools. The specific tool(s) introduced will vary depending on the interest and needs of the students and faculty. The list of tools that may be introduced includes but is not limited to the following: Flash, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, or 3-D Studio Max. This course may be taken multiple times provided the emphasis is different for each time enrolled.

IT 200 Introduction to Programming

3 hours
An introductory course for computer science majors. A rigorous study of problem solving using a high-level procedural language. Topics covered will include simple types, expressions, structure types, fundamental control structures, simple and formatted input and output, procedures, documentation, file manipulation, design methodologies, and debugging techniques. Students will complete several programming projects. Prerequisite: Mathematics equivalent to high school algebra.

IT 201 Data Structures

3 hours
A continuation of Introduction to Programming. The improvement of design skills and programming style is emphasized through practice with increasingly complex data structures and programming projects. Students are introduced to several classic algorithms, pointers, functions, recursion, and a second programming language. Prerequisite: IT200 Introduction to Programming

IT 210 Information Technology Systems

3 hours
Information Technology (IT) is a field which includes the development of systems for educational, business, and civil use. This course provides a foundation for the student of Information Technology. Various IT systems and terminology used in the field will be introduced. The systems development lifecycle, project management, and the role of IT personnel in selecting and developing new systems will be explored.

IT 220 Programming in a Second Language

3 hours
This course introduces students to current languages used in web development. The specific language(s) or language applications introduced will vary depending on the interest and needs of the students and faculty. The list of languages that may be introduced includes but is not limited to the following: Visual BASIC .NET or Visual C++ .NET Implementing Web Applications; or Visual BASIC .NET or Visual C++ .NET developing XML Web Services; or Javascript; or PHP. This course may be taken multiple times provided the emphasis is different for each time enrolled. Prerequisite: IT 201 Data Structures in C++.

IT 301 Computer Systems

3 hours
A study of machine organization, using assembly language. Alternative architectures, instruction formats, addressing modes, logic and arithmetic operators, and appropriate programming techniques are explored through several programming projects and lectures. Prerequisite: IT 201 Data Structures.

IT 360 Human Computer Interaction

3 hours
The discipline of Information Technology (IT) requires an understanding of the user when developing IT applications and systems. This course provides a basis for learning user centered systems design and development. An introduction to the basic concepts of human-computer interaction, including human factors, performance analysis, cognitive processing, usability studies, environment, and training will be given.

IT 375 Junior Seminar

1 hour
A colloquium-type seminar studying an advanced topic or a collection of topics. Junior computer science majors prepare for an independent senior project in computer science and select a project topic.

IT 401 Operating Systems

3 hours
An introduction to the major concept areas of operating systems, including process, memory, device, and file systems management; concurrency; synchronization; historical development of operating systems; and system structure. Prerequisite: IT 301 Computer Systems.

IT 421 Database Management Systems

3 hours
Levels of abstraction found in typical database management systems. A study of various models for databases. Query processing and data manipulation. Database design theory. Implementations of various models discussed. Security and integrity of system. Role of database administration. Prerequisite: IT 201 Data Structures in C++ and IT 110 Information Technology Systems.

IT 431 Data Communications and Computer Networks

3 hours
A survey of data communications and networks. Covers practice, theory and applicable standards in the areas of transmission systems, network architectures, network controllers and virtual environments for application programs. Prerequisite: CS 301 Computer Systems.

IT 460 Information Security

3 hours
Information Security is paramount in today’s business world. This course provides an overview of the field of Information Security. Students will be exposed to security issues, practices, and tools. In addition, disaster recovery planning, security planning and threat analysis will be fully explored.

IT 475 Senior Project

2 hours (Language Intensive)
Students will investigate an advanced topic in a field of information technology outside their classroom experience. Students will work in continual consultation with their research advisor. Regular informal oral and written updates of the project are required. The project culminates with a formally written project and a formal oral presentation of the project.

 

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

Spanish Program

Purpose Statement

The Department of Modern Languages commits itself to the teaching of a second language. Equally important in second language acquisition is the development and nurturing of intercultural awareness and sensitivity.

The department achieves its goals when its graduates

  • Communicate effectively using interpersonal, interpretive, and presentation skills in Spanish.
  • Demonstrate an ability to interact effectively with Spanish-speaking cultures, showing an understanding of different cultural perspectives and products.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the nature of language and language acquisition.

Spanish Major

Requirements

Emphasis 1:

G-ML108  Level I Spanish (3 hours)
G-ML109  Level II Spanish (3 hours)
G-ML208  Level III Spanish (3 hours)
G-ML209  Level IV Spanish (3 hours)
ML350  Immersion Experience (12 hours – the equivalent of a semester abroad)
ML384  Intermediate-Level Composition and Conversation (3 hours)
*ML385  Advanced-Level Composition and Conversation (3 hours)
ML475 Senior Seminar (2 hours)

The following courses may be taken abroad:

ML308  Spanish Language Literature (3 hours or equivalent)
ML458 Structure of the Spanish Language (2 hours or equivalent, such as advanced grammar)

Total: 32 hours

Emphasis 2:

G-ML108  Level I Spanish (3 hours)
G-ML109  Level II Spanish (3 hours)
G-ML208  Level III Spanish (3 hours)
G-ML209  Level IV Spanish (3 hours)
ML350  Immersion Experience (4 hours – at least 3 weeks immersion)
ML384  Intermediate-Level Composition and Conversation (3 hours)
*ML385  Advanced-Level Composition and Conversation (3 hours)
ML475 Senior Seminar (2 hours)
ML308 Spanish Language Literature (3 hours)
ML458 Structure of the Spanish Language (2 hours or equivalent, such as advanced grammar)

A minimum of 9 credit hours approved by the department and selected from culture studies courses, such as the following:

G-ML370 Service Learning Opportunity (1-4 hours)
*G-CI333 Intercultural Education Seminar (2 hours)
G-CM221 Intercultural Communication (3 hours)
G-SO202 Minorities in the U.S. (3 hours)
*G-PS215 Global Peace Studies (3 hours)
G-PS130 Principles of Geography (3 hours)
*G-PR106 Spiritual Pathways: Transformation, Compassion, and Vocation (3 hours)
G-PR306 World Religions (3 hours)
Courses in a language other than English or Spanish (3-9 hours)

Required Supporting Courses:

EN230  Linguistics (2 hours)

Total: 40 hours

Students who can demonstrate language proficiency (via a placement exam) may be waived from enrolling in G-ML108 and G-ML109.

All students seeking a B.A. degree are required to enroll for one semester of Spanish. Students who have had zero to one year of high school Spanish will be placed in Spanish I. Students who have had two to three years of high school Spanish will be placed in Spanish II. Students who have had four to six years of high school Spanish may be waived from the Spanish language requirement if they can demonstrate language proficiency via written and oral examination.

Teaching Licensure in Spanish (PK-12)

The requirements for teaching licensure in Spanish are specified in the Curriculum and Instruction Department listing. They include the major in Spanish and professional education requirements.

Spanish Minor Requirements

A minimum of 18 semester hours, including at least 6 hours beyond G-ML209 Level IV Spanish.

Note: The following courses may be counted toward fulfillment of the 18 semester hours:

G-ML 108  Level I Spanish (3 hours)
G-ML 109  Level II Spanish (3 hours)
G-ML 208 Level III Spanish (3 hours)
G-ML 209 Level IV Spanish (3 hours)

English for Speakers of Other Languages (6-12) Licensure

Requirements

The requirements for teaching licensure in English as a Second Language are specified in the Curriculum and Instruction Department listing and in the English Department listing.

2023|Catalog 23-24, Modern Languages|

Spanish Course Descriptions

G-ML 108 Level I Spanish

3 hours
Acquisition of the four skills: hearing, speaking, reading, and writing. Latin American and Spanish cultural aspects are an integral part of this course. Classes are conducted in Spanish and English.  (Fall and Spring)

G-ML 109 Level II Spanish

3 hours
A continuation of G-ML 108 with emphasis on mastery of the verb tenses, short sentence building, and vocabulary expansion. Includes study of Latin American and Spanish culture. Classes are conducted in Spanish and English.  (Spring)

G-ML168/268 Spanish for Travelers

4 hours
Brief, intensive study of Spanish on campus, or language immersion experience in Spanish-speaking country.

G-ML 208 Level III Spanish

3 hours
A review of grammatical principles followed by readings and vocabulary expansion. Classes conducted in Spanish. Oral preparation necessary for discussion of topics, short stories, and cultural research. (Fall)

G-ML 209 Level IV Spanish

3 hours
A continuation of G-ML 208 with increased emphasis on original reading selections in Spanish and student compositions. (Spring)

EN 230 Linguistics

2 hours
An introductory course in linguistics to familiarize students with the discipline and to help them to analyze the structure, phonology, morphology, and syntax of the English language, while also learning about families of languages and some fundamental differences in languages around the world. (Fall)

ML 308 Spanish Language Literature

3 hours
A study of Spanish language literature.

ML 350 Immersion Experience

4-36 hours
Students in Emphasis 1 are required to spend the equivalent of one semester (at least 12 credit hours) abroad or in a comparable immersion program. Students may fulfill this requirement in a variety of ways, but must first seek approval from the Spanish program director. See ML350 syllabus for specific requirements. Students in Emphasis 2 are required to spend at least 3 weeks (4 credit hours) in an immersion experience.

ML 384 Intermediate-Level Composition and Conversation

3 hours
A course designed to correct weaknesses in writing skills and to develop conversational skills, with equal emphasis to both. Taught completely in Spanish. Prerequisite: G-ML209 or equivalent (such as an appropriate score on a placement exam).  (Fall)

ML 385 Advanced-Level Composition and Conversation

3 hours (Language Intensive)
A course designed to put into practice skills learned at Intermediate levels. Focuses on Idiomatic expressions, difficult grammar structures and extensive vocabulary. Taught completely in Spanish. Prerequisite: ML 384 or equivalent. (Spring)

G-ML 370 Service Learning Opportunity

4 hours
Students will travel for the purpose of a community service project wherein they are required to participate actively in disaster relief work. In addition to the on-site relief work, students are required to participate in scheduled group sessions, which are designed to assist the student in acquiring additional cultural knowledge about the said travel site.

ML 475 Senior Seminar in Spanish

2-4 hours
The individual project of the senior student in areas of literature, language, language pedagogy, or Hispanic culture. The content of this course is open to the interests of the student.  The project will be written and presented in Spanish. (Fall and Spring)

CI 404 Methods for Teaching Modern Language in the Secondary Schools

3 hours
Students will study the appropriate and most effective ways of teaching foreign language and culture. Practical applications of strategies and techniques are utilized to accomplish the objectives. Curriculum, evaluation, audio-visual materials, music, folklore, customs, gestures, and professional language organizations are included in this study.

ML 458 Structure of the Spanish Language

2 hours
The systematic analysis of the phonology, morphology and syntax of Spanish from the standpoint of structure, historical and contrastive linguistics.

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

 

2023|Catalog 23-24, Modern Languages|

Music Program

Purpose Statement

The McPherson College Music Department develops life-long musicians. The department provides an educational experience that unites the artistic standards of a professional music program and the academic breadth of the liberal arts.

The department achieves this purpose when its students successfully

  • analyze and perform music
  • develop musicianship skills through applied lessons, culminating in the senior recital
  • classify and interpret a common body of Western music literature
  • meet Kansas State Department of Education and National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education standards for licensure in the area of music (education emphasis only).

Expectations for All Music Majors

  1. Students will be required to pass the Piano Proficiency Exam upon entrance to the program or enroll in MU330 Private Lessons (Piano) until such time as the requirement is satisfied.
  2. Students will be required to enroll in one large ensemble (as assigned by the music faculty) per semester of residence.
  3. Students will be required to enroll in the Music Major Lab each semester of residence.
  4. Students must audition for entrance into any music degree program.
  5. The Junior Recital (seminar) will serve to prepare the music major for a half recital (25 minutes) at the end of two semesters of junior-level private lessons.
  6. The Senior Recital (senior project) will serve to prepare the music major for a full recital (50 minutes) at the end of two semesters of senior-level private lessons.
  7. Music majors are required to be active members in music-related professional organization student chapters, such as the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).

Expectations for All Music Minors

  1. Students are required to participate in one large ensemble (as assigned by the music faculty) per semester of residence.
  2. Students must pass a basic audition to pursue the music minor.

Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance

Musicianship
MU 136
Music Theory I (3 hours)
MU 236 Music Theory II (3 hours)
MU 336 Music Theory III (3 hours)
MU 436 Music Theory IV (3 hours)
MU 159 Sight Singing and Ear Training I (1 hour)
MU 259 Sight Singing and Ear Training II (1 hour)
MU 359 Sight Singing and Ear Training III (1 hour)
MU 459 Sight Singing and Ear Training IV (1 hour)
MU 345 Conducting (1 hour)

Performance Study
Private lessons in one’s major instrument are required for eight semesters. Additional semesters may be required to complete the Senior Recital.
MU 330
Private Lessons (1 hour)
MU 330 Private Lessons (1 hour)
MU 330 Private Lessons (1 hour)
MU 330 Private Lessons (1 hour)
MU 330 Private Lessons (1 hour)
MU 330 Private Lessons (1 hour)
MU 330 Private Lessons (1 hour)
MU 330 Private Lessons (1 hour)
G-MU 132/134 Ensemble (1 hour)
G-MU 132/134
Ensemble (1 hour)
G-MU 132/134
Ensemble (1 hour)
G-MU 132/134
Ensemble (1 hour)
G-MU 132/134
Ensemble (1 hour)
G-MU 132/134
Ensemble (1 hour)
G-MU 132/134
Ensemble (1 hour)
G-MU 132/134
Ensemble (1 hour)
MU 375
Junior Recital (1 hour)
MU 475 Senior Recital (2 hours)
MU 150 Music Major Lab (0 hours)

History and Literature of Music
G-MU 161
Music Appreciation (3 hours)
G-MU 355 Music History & Literature I (3 hours)
G-MU 360 Music History & Literature II (3 hours)

Total: 45 hours

Bachelor of Arts in Music Education

To earn the Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, students must:

  1. Meet all of the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance,
  2. Meet all of the requirements for the Teacher Education program, and
  3. Complete specific courses for music teacher licensure.

Methods for Music Teaching and Learning
MU 370
Methods for Teaching Instrumental Music (3 hours)
MU 371 Methods for Teaching Choral Music (3 hours)
MU 372 Methods for Teaching General Music (3 hours)
MU 465 Advanced Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques (1 hour)

and
Specialized Emphasis for Choral Studies
MU 274
Instrumental Techniques Lab (1 hour)
MU 378 Vocal Pedagogy and Diction (3 hours)

or
Specialized Emphasis for Instrumental Studies
MU 309
Woodwind Techniques (1 hour)
MU 310 Brass Techniques (1 hour)
MU 311 Strings Techniques (1 hour)
MU 312 Percussion Techniques (1 hour)

Total additional hours for teacher licensure: 14 hours

Music Minor

Musicianship
MU 136 Music Theory I (3 hours)

Performance Study – Private lessons are required for four semesters.
MU 330 Private Lessons (1 hour)
MU 330 Private Lessons (1 hour)
MU 330 Private Lessons (1 hour)
MU 330 Private Lessons (1 hour)

Enrollment in a large ensemble is required for six separate semesters. (Participation in one large ensemble per semester of residence is also required, even if not enrolled.)
G-MU 132 College Choir (1 hour) and/or
G-MU 134 College Band (1 hour)

History and Literature of Music
G-MU 161 Music Appreciation (3 hours)

Total: 16 hours

2023|Catalog 23-24, Music|

Music Course Descriptions

G-MU 132 College Choir
0-1 hour, by audition with the choral director
The McPherson College Choir welcomes students and members of the campus community via audition. This mixed choir performs choral works from the Renaissance to the present in various styles, genres, and languages. The choir regularly performs on campus, in the community, and on regional, national, and international tours. College Choir meets The Arts requirement of the Humanities general education distribution requirement when taken for credit. Purchase of concert attire required.  (Fall, Spring)

G-MU 134 College Band
0-1 hour, Entrance interview and informal audition with the band director.
This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to musically express themselves through the study and performance of band literature. It is open to all students with appropriate experience, regardless of major. The band and any ensembles developed from it will perform a variety of wind, band and jazz literature. College Band meets the Arts requirement of the Humanities general education distribution requirement when taken for credit. Prerequisite: Entrance interview and informal audition with the band director. (Fall, Spring)

G-MU 161 Music Appreciation
3 hours
This course is designed to introduce students to the elements, vocabulary, history, and development of music in Western civilization. Students will be introduced to major style traits, composers, significant compositions, and genres within music thereby gaining greater awareness of how being human is experienced and expressed through the creative process. Music Appreciation assumes a holistic approach and affords students the unique opportunity to study connections between the arts. This course meets the Arts requirement of the Humanities general education distribution requirement. (Interterm, even years)

G-MU 210 Introduction to World Music
3 hours
This course addresses music as a social phenomenon, inseparable from its cultural context. Therefore, students will study not only a variety of styles and repertoires of music from around the world but also the behaviors, beliefs, and histories of those who make music. Students are encouraged to use the study of music as a tool to analyze broader patterns and dynamics of human activity. This course meets the Global/Intercultural Experience requirement of the general education foundation requirement. (Spring, even years)

MU 136 Music Theory I
3 hours
This is a foundational course in harmonic concepts and their application in reading, studying and performing music. Students will learn the fundamentals of music including musical notation, major and minor scales, key and time signatures, intervals, triads, and seventh chords. This course is a core requirement for music majors and students seeking music licensure. Co­-requisite: MU 159, Sight Singing and Ear Training I. (Fall, even years)

MU 150 Music Major Lab
0 hours
This course brings together music majors for lectures, recitals, concerts, guest speakers, masterclasses, and performance labs. Topical subjects, including those related to music professions, educational practices, literature, and musicianship, will be covered. This lab is a core requirement for music majors. (Fall, Spring)

MU 159 Sight Singing and Ear Training I
I hour
A study including sight singing, rhythmic performance, improvisation exercises, dictation (melodic, harmonic, rhythmic), and related skills, all designed to develop the student’s musical ear to the highest degree possible. Co-requisite: MU 136, Music Theory I. (Fall, even years)

MU 223 Music Tour
3 hours, by consent of Instructor
Travel, lecture, and performance tour of a region of the U.S. or foreign country. Study involves the functions of music and its interaction with culture, emotion, language, dance, art, sculpture and architecture.

MU 232 Vocal Ensemble
0-1 hour (can be repeated), by consent of Instructor
Vocal ensemble is a select performance ensemble formed by audition from members of the McPherson College Choir. It is designed to give students the opportunity to sing and perform vocal chamber repertoire in a variety of settings. Prerequisite: simultaneous enrollment in college choir and consent of instructor. (Fall, Spring)

MU 234 Instrumental Ensemble
0-1 hour (can be repeated), by audition and/or consent of instructor
This course consists of select trios, quartets, quintets, jazz band or combos, and other like-instrument ensembles organized by audition according to interest and available students. Prerequisite: Simultaneous enrollment in college band and/or consent of instructor. (Fall, Spring)

MU 234A Drum Line
1 hour (can be repeated), by audition and/or consent of Instructor
This course is designed to help students further their musical skills in a drum line setting. Students will rehearse and perform with others as a percussion unit. They will be taught music reading skills, musicality, music terminology, music history, and music theory. We will work on musical exercises designed to build technique as well as music to be performed on our own as a percussion ensemble. There are no prerequisites to the class, and there is no experience necessary. Instruments are provided. An audition and/or permission of the instructor are required. (Fall, Spring)

MU 236 Music Theory II
3 hours
This course offers a foundation in analyzing and writing music that will benefit any musical endeavor and is essential for a music educator. Students will be introduced to structural elements of writing music including four-part voice writing using triads in root position, harmonic progressions and harmonic rhythm, and part writing using triads in first and second inversion. This course is designed for music majors and for students seeking music licensure. Prerequisite: Successful completion of MU 136, Music Theory I. Co-requisite: MU 259, Sight Singing and
Ear Training II. (Spring, odd years)

MU 259 Sight Singing and Ear Training II
1 hour
A continuation of MU 159, Sight Singing and Ear Training I. Prerequisite: Successful completion of MU 159 Sight Singing and Ear Training I. Co-requisite: MU 236, Music Theory II. (Spring, odd years)

MU 274 Instrumental Techniques Lab
I hour, by consent of Instructor
This course provides students with an introductory, hands-on experience in playing and teaching band instruments at the public school level. This course is designed for choral emphasis music majors seeking music licensure. (Spring, odd years)

MU 309 Woodwind Techniques
I hour, by consent of Instructor
Class instruction in flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, and bassoon, with emphasis on the development of individual performance skills and diagnostic pedagogical techniques and materials. This course is designed for instrumental emphasis music majors seeking music licensure. (Spring, even years)

MU 310 Brass Techniques
I hour, by consent of Instructor
Class instruction in trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone horn, and tuba, with emphasis on the development of individual performance skills and diagnostic pedagogical techniques and materials. This course is designed for instrumental emphasis music majors seeking music licensure. (Fall, odd years)

MU 311 Strings Techniques
I hour, by consent of Instructor
Class instruction in violin, viola, cello and bass, with emphasis on the development of individual performance skills and diagnostic pedagogical techniques and materials. This course is designed for instrumental emphasis music majors seeking music licensure. (Spring, odd years)

MU 312 Percussion Techniques
1 hour, by consent of Instructor
Class instruction in percussion instruments, with emphasis on the development of individual performance skills and diagnostic pedagogical techniques and materials. This course is designed for instrumental emphasis music majors seeking music licensure. (Fall, even years)

———-Private Lessons———-

1 hour (can be repeated)
These lessons offer an intensive learning experience through a one-on-one setting. Students will develop their musicianship and technical ability through the preparation, interpretation and performance of representative works of the past and the present.

MU 330B Brass/MU 330P Percussion/MU 330S Strings/MU 330W Woodwinds
Students will 1) address personal levels of skill and technique as appropriate for their instruments; 2) become aware of professional recordings and performances on their instruments; 3) study appropriate literature for their instruments. Instructor permission is required. Course fee is required.

MU 330G Guitar
Students will 1) address personal levels of skill and technique as appropriate for guitar; 2) become aware of professional recordings and performances on the instrument; 3) study appropriate literature for the instrument. Open to all students. Course fee is required.

MU 330K Piano-Organ
Students will have the opportunity for musical growth both in performance of keyboard literature and in knowledge of the interrelationships between performance, history, and theory. Open to all students. Course fee is required.

MU 330V Voice
Students will develop their ability to access musical and literary resources for vocal music; their understanding of appropriate vocal pedagogy; their ability to identify, through visual and aural analysis, composers and music representing diverse styles, periods, cultures, genres, and techniques of musical organization; and their ability to evaluate musical performances. Instructor permission is required. Course fee required.

 —————————————————-

MU 336 Music Theory III
3 hours
This course is a continuation of Music Theory II. Students will be introduced to cadences, phrases, periods and sentences, non-chord tones, and diatonic seventh chords as they explore the structural elements of writing music at a more advanced level. This course is designed for music majors and for those students seeking music licensure. Prerequisite: Successful completion of MU 236 Music Theory II. Co-requisite: MU 359, Sight Singing and Ear Training III. Software fee required. (Fall, odd years)

MU 345 Conducting
1 hour
A study of the fundamental conducting gestures, techniques, and score preparation. Additional focus is given to oral communication and writing related to the art of conducting and self­-evaluation. Prerequisites: MU 336 or Instructor approval. (Fall, even years)

MU 355 Music History and Literature I
3 hours
Historical survey of styles, forms, genres, and composers of Western music from antiquity to the end of the Baroque period. Course fee required. (Fall, even years)

MU 359 Sight Singing and Ear Training III
1 hour
A continuation of MU 259, Sight Singing and Ear Training II. Prerequisite: Successful completion of MU 259, Sight Singing and Ear Training II. Co-requisite: MU 336, Music Theory III. (Fall, odd years)

MU 360 Music History and Literature II
3 hours
Historical survey of styles, forms, genres, and composers of Western music from the Classical period to the present. (Spring, odd years)

MU 370/CI 370 Methods for Teaching Instrumental Music
3 hours, by consent of Instructor
This course provides an overview of and practical applications in the basic technical aspects of organizing, administrating, teaching, and conducting instrumental ensembles at the public school level. This course is designed for music majors seeking music licensure. (Spring, even years)

MU 371/CI 371 Methods for Teaching Choral Music
3 hours, by consent of Instructor
Materials and procedures for teaching vocal music in grades 7-12. Emphasis is placed on voice production, choral literature and rehearsal, diction, and administration of the classroom. This course is designed for students seeking music licensure. (Spring, odd years)

MU 372/CI 372 Methods for Teaching General Music
3 hours, by consent of Instructor
Materials and procedures for teaching general music in grades PreK-6. Emphasis is placed on understanding the basic concepts of music as they relate to specific age levels, as well as studying the major approaches to music education. Proper vocal technique for young students and the teaching of music fundamentals is covered as well. This course is designed for music majors seeking music licensure. (Fall, odd years)

MU 375 Junior Recital
1 hour, by consent of Instructor
Students at the junior level will prepare a 25 minute recital to be given in the spring semester of their junior year. Prerequisite: Private lessons.

MU 378 Vocal Pedagogy and Diction
3 hours, by consent of Instructor
A study of the mechanics of vocal production, including the physiology of the voice and methods of voice training. Also, through the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet, training in diction for French, German, And Italian languages. A teaching practicum serves as the capstone activity of the class. This course is designed for choral emphasis music majors seeking licensure. (Fall, even years)

MU 436 Music Theory IV
3 hours
This course is a continuation of Music Theory III. In this upper-level course, students will be introduced to advanced chromaticism secondary functions, modulations, and larger musical forms from major historic periods in music. Students will also explore materials and techniques used in Twentieth-Century Music. This course is designed for music majors and for students seeking music licensure. Prerequisite: Successful completion of MU 336, Music Theory III. Co- requisite: MU 459, Sight Singing and Ear Training IV. Software fee required. (Spring, even years)

MU 459 Sight Singing and Ear Training IV
1 hour
A continuation of MU 359, Sight Singing and Ear Training III. Prerequisite: Successful completion of MU 359, Sight Singing and Ear Training III. Co-requisite: MU 436 Music Theory IV. (Spring, even years) ·

MU 465 Advanced Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques
1 hour, by consent of Instructor
This course provides students an in-depth study of band or choral teaching methods and advanced study and practice in band or choral conducting. Topics will include conducting and rehearsal techniques, score study and repertoire. This course is designed for music majors seeking music licensure. Prerequisite: Successful completion of MU 345. (Spring, odd years)

MU 475 Senior Recital
2 hours, by consent of Instructor
Music majors are required to complete this capstone experience. The student will complete an intensive preparation of skills and research in conjunction with a 50 minute performance recital. Prerequisite: Private lessons.

2023|Catalog 23-24, Music|

Natural Science Program

Purpose Statement

The Department of Natural Science provides:

  • a career-oriented approach to pre-professional preparation in the health sciences
  • a liberal arts and sciences approach to environmental health and sustainability
  • a hands-on approach to education in the laboratory and through student research
  • preparation to meet the Kansas State Department of Education standards for licensure in biology and chemistry

General Education Student Learning Outcome: Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of how the natural sciences construct knowledge of the world.

General Education Performance Indicators

Students should be able to:

  1. Summarize the current consensus of the scientific community with regards to the structure and function of some aspect of the physical or biological world.
  2. Illustrate their knowledge of the changing nature of the consensus of the scientific community with regards to the structure and function of some aspect of the physical or biological world, by outlining the historical changes in that consensus.
  3. Report on their experiences with those methods and processes of the natural sciences which they conducted in the laboratory.

Biochemistry Major (Recommended for Pre-Medical Students)

Requirements (44 hours)

G-CH 111  College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112  College Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251  Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 252  Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 201  Quantitative Analysis (4 hours)
BI/CH 370  Biochemistry I (4 hours)
G-BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)
BI/CH 310  Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)
BI/CH 373  Biochemistry II (4 hours)

Select one from the following (3-4 hours)

BI 283  Genetics (4 hours)
BI 384  Advanced Genetics (4 hours)
CH 390  Instrumental Analysis (3 hours)

Required Supporting Courses (12 hours)

G-PH 215  General Physics I (4 hours)
PH 216  General Physics II (4 hours)
*NS 300  Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375  Junior Seminar (1 hour)
*NS 475  Senior Research (2 hours)

Total: 59-60 hours

Biology Major

Requirements (32 hours)

A minimum of 32 semester hours of biological science coursework, including

G-BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)
BI 283  Genetics (4 hours)
BI 310  Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)

8 credit hours chosen from among the 300 Level BI Courses
8 additional credit hours of biology electives to reach required 32 hours

Required Supporting Courses (28 hours)

G-CH 111  College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112  College Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251  Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 252  Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
G-PH 215  General Physics I (4 hours)
*NS 300  Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375  Junior Seminar (1 hour)
*NS 475  Senior Research (2 hours)

Total: 60 hours

Biology Major: Pre-Med Track

Requirements (16 hours)

G-BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)
BI 283  Genetics (4 hours)
BI 310  Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)

Additional Biology courses (8 hours)

BI 334 Immunology (4 hours)
Another 4-hour biology course

300-level Biology courses (8 hours)

BI/CH 370  Biochemistry I (4 hours)
BI/CH 373  Biochemistry II (4 hours)

Required Supporting Courses (28 hours)

G-CH 111  College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112  College Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251  Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 252  Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
G-PH 215  General Physics I (4 hours)
*NS 300  Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375  Junior Seminar (1 hour)
*NS 475  Senior Research (2 hours)

Total: 60 hours

Biology Major: PA Track

Requirements (16 hours)

G-BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)
BI 283  Genetics (4 hours)
BI 310  Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)

Additional Biology courses (8 hours)

BI 225 Human Anatomy (4 hours)
BI 315 Human Physiology (4 hours)

300-level Biology courses (8 hours)

BI/CH 370  Biochemistry I (4 hours)
BI/CH 373  Biochemistry II (4 hours)

Required Supporting Courses (28 hours)

G-CH 111  College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112  College Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251  Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 252  Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
G-PH 215  General Physics I (4 hours)
*NS 300  Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375  Junior Seminar (1 hour)
*NS 475  Senior Research (2 hours)

Total: 60 hours

Biology Major: Pre-Vet Track

Requirements (16 hours)

G-BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)
BI 283  Genetics (4 hours)
BI 310  Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)

Additional Biology courses (9 hours)

BI 234 Microbiology (5 hours)
BI 315 Human Physiology (4 hours)

300-level Biology courses (8 hours)

BI/CH 370  Biochemistry I (4 hours)
BI/CH 373  Biochemistry II (4 hours)

Required Supporting Courses (28 hours)

G-CH 111  College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112  College Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251  Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 252  Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
G-PH 215  General Physics I (4 hours)
*NS 300  Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375  Junior Seminar (1 hour)
*NS 475  Senior Research (2 hours)

Total: 61 hours

Biology Major – Teaching Licensure in Biology (6-12)

Biology Major for Teacher Licensure

A minimum of 32 semester hours, including:

G-BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)
G-BI 201  Biodiversity (4 hours)
BI 283  Genetics (4 hours)
*NS 300  Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375  Junior Seminar (1 hour)

12 credit hours chosen from among the remaining BI or NS courses numbered 200 of higher, including at least one organismal course and one population course.

Required Supporting Courses

G-CH 111  College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112  College Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251  Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CI 232  Educational Technology (2 hours)
G-MA 221  Elementary Applied Statistics (4 hours)
G-PE 150  Concepts in Holistic Health (3 hours)
G-PH 215  General Physics I (4 hours)
G-PY 101  Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)

Students pursuing this major must also meet all professional requirements for teacher licensure in the Curriculum and Instruction Department.

 

Biology Minor

Requirements

A minimum of 20 semester hours, including

G-BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)
BI 283  Genetics (4 hours)

At least eight hours of additional biology courses, numbered 200 or higher

Required Supporting Courses

G-CH 111  College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 251  Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)

 

Chemistry Major

Requirements

A minimum of 36 semester hours including

G-CH 111  Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112  Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251  Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 252  Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 201  Quantitative Analysis (4 hours)
CH 390  Instrumental Analysis (3 hours)
CH 385  Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (4 hours)
CH 400  General Physical Chemistry (5 hours)

Required Supporting Courses

G-PH 205  College Physics I (5 hour)
PH 206  College Physics II (5 hour)
*NS 300  Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375  Junior Seminar (1 hour)
*NS 475  Senior Research (2 hours)
G-MA 111  Calculus I (4 hours)
MA 112  Calculus II (4 hours)

Recommended Supporting Courses

G-BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)

 

Chemistry Major – Teaching Licensure in Chemistry (6-12)

Chemistry Major for Teacher Licensure

A minimum of 32 hours including:

G- CH 111  College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112  College Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251  Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 201  Quantitative Analysis (4 hours)
CH 310  Statistical Data Analysis (4 hours)
CH 385  Advanced Inorganic (4 hours)
CH 388  Lab Assisting Internship (2 hours)

Remaining hours must come from CH 252 Organic Chemistry II or CH courses 300 level or above.

Required Courses

G-BI 111  College Biology I (4 hours)
BI 112  College Biology II (4 hours)
CI 406 (ED 406) Methods for Teaching Natural Science in the Secondary School (3 hours)
G-PH 215  General Physics I (4 hours)
PH 216  General Physics II (4 hours)
*NS 300  Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375  Junior Seminar (1 hours)

Suggested Courses

G-NS 141  Environmental Science (4 hours)
G-PC 251  Geology (4 hours)
G-PC 275  Astronomy (4 hours)
CH 252  Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
G-MA 111  Calculus I (4 hours)
MA 112  Calculus II (4 hours)
PH 205  College Physics I (replace G-PH 215) (5 hours)
PH 206  College Physics II (replace G-PH 216) (5 hours)
*NS 475  Senior Research (2 hours)

Students pursuing this major must also meet all professional requirements for teacher licensure in the curriculum and instruction department.

 

Chemistry Minor

Requirements

A minimum of 24 hours including

G-CH 111  College Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 112  College Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 251  Organic Chemistry I (5 hours)
CH 252  Organic Chemistry II (5 hours)
CH 201  Quantitative Analysis (4 hours)

 

Environmental Stewardship Major

This program achieves its purposes when its graduates:

  • demonstrate knowledge of contemporary theories in the natural sciences
  • demonstrate skill in the application of laboratory and field experimental techniques
  • demonstrate knowledge of contemporary theories of human social systems and behavior
  • demonstrate a critical understanding of their personal roles in history, culture, and community
  • evaluate the impacts of human society and Earth’s natural systems on one another
  • differentiate between their personal belief system and societal belief systems
  • express a personal environmental ethic

Required Natural Science Courses

G-BI 101 Principles of Biology (4 hours) or G-BI 111 College Biology I (4 hours)
G-BI 201  Biodiversity (4 hours)
G-CH 101 Principles of Chemistry (4 hours) or G-CH105 GOB Chemistry for Life
G-NS 141  Environmental Science (4 hours)
G-PH 215  General Physics I (4 hours)
G-PC 251  Geology (4 hours)
G-NS 245  Climatology (4 hours)
BI 325  Human Ecology, Epidemiology and Public Health (4 hours) OR
BI 365  Evolution and Ecology (4 hours)
NS 404  Environmental Ethics (2 hours)
NS 495  Field Experience (4 hours)

Electives from Humanities, Social Science, and Technology

Select at least 27 hours from the following:

CM 325  Conflict Communication (3 hours)
EC 202  Survey of Economics (3 hours)
G-ET 201 Social Entrepreneurship (3 hours)
Up to 2 courses (G-HI or HI200+) (6 hours)
G-PE 170  Personal/Community Health (2 hours)
G-PR 104 Ethics (3 hours)
G-PR 107 Critical Thinking (3 hours)
G-PR 203 Science and Religion (3 hours)
G-PR 206 Religion and Environmental Stewardship (3 hours)
G-PS 125  International Relations (3 hours)
G-PS 130  Principles of Geography (3 hours)
G-PS 215  Global Peace Studies (3 hours)
PY/SO 303  Social Psychology (3-4 hours)
G-SO 101  Introduction to Sociology (3 hours)
SO 206  Social Problems (3-4 hours)
SO 320  Urban Sociology (3 hours)
*G-TE 333  Technology and Society (3-4 hours)

Other courses as approved by both the advisor and co-advisor.

Other Course Requirements

NS 350 Stewardship Seminar1/semester (4 required)
*NS 300  Research Methods (1 hour)
NS 375  Junior Seminar (1 hour)
*NS 475  Senior Research (2 hours)

 

Environmental Science Minor

Requirements

G-BI 101 Principles of Biology or G-BI 111 College Biology I or G-CH 101 Principles of Chemistry (4 hours) or G-CH105 GOB Chemistry for Life (4 hours)
G-NS 141  Environmental Science (4 hours)
G-PC 251  Geology (4 hours)
G-NS 245  Climatology (4 hours)
NS 495  Field Experience (4 hours)

 

Environmental Stewardship Minor

Requirements

G-NS 141 Environmental Science (4 hours)
G-PC 251  Geology or
G-PC 245  Climatology (4 hours)
NS 495  Field Experience (4 hours)
NS 350  Stewardship Seminar (2 hours)

Electives from Environmental Stewardship Major Electives list (6 hours)

2023|Catalog 23-24, Natural Science|

Natural Science Course Descriptions

 

Biology Course Descriptions

G-BI 101 Principles of Biology

4 hours
An introduction to the principles of biology, with an emphasis on the biology of humans and the sustainability of our environmental interactions. This course does not apply toward a major in biology. Laboratory is included. (Fall and Spring)

G-BI 103 Food and Fitness

3 hours
An introduction to Principles of Biology and Health through the lens of human nutrition, diet, and exercise. Special emphasis will be given to applications of this scientific knowledge of students’ daily lives, and within other majors/career paths. (Spring)

G-BI 111 College Biology I

4 hours
A rigorous introduction to the science of life. This course explores the patterns and processes occurring on the levels of biological organization from biomolecules up to individuals, including focuses on biomolecules, cell biology, metabolic pathways, and genetics. The laboratory exercises are designed to provide a variety of practical experiences, as well as to illustrate the principles discussed in lecture. (Fall)

BI 112 College Biology II

4 hours
A continuation of G-BI 111. This course explores the patterns and processes occurring on the levels of biological organization from populations up to ecosystems, including focuses on evolution, ecology, and comparative anatomy and development across the diversity of life of our planet. The laboratory exercises are designed to provide a variety of practical experiences, as well as to illustrate the principles discussed in lecture.  Prerequisite: G-BI 111 with a grade of C or better. (Spring)

G-BI 201 Biodiversity

3-4 hours
A fundamental study of biological diversity as an assessment of life on earth. This will progress from the individual to the community, focusing on biodiversity and ecology from an evolutionary perspective and also on applied environmental research. The course includes laboratory work as an option for the 4th credit hour. (Spring, even years)

G-BI 210 Principles of Nutrition

3 hours
Physiology and chemistry of digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients; nutrient functions; requirements; and effects of nutrient deficiencies and toxicities.  This course does not include a laboratory.

BI 225 Human Anatomy

4 hours
A lecture/laboratory course in the fundamentals of human anatomy, with emphasis on macroscopic structures at the tissue, organ and organ system levels of organization. Some attention will be given to the perspectives of histology and developmental biology. The course includes laboratory work, primarily dissection of a comparative mammal, the domestic cat. Prerequisite: BI 112 with a grade of C or better. (Fall)

BI 234 Microbiology

5 hours
A study of microorganisms, with emphasis on the bacteria. A consideration of their structure, metabolism, classification, identification, and human and ecological relationships. Laboratory is included. Prerequisites: BI 112, CH 251 with grades of C or better or consent of instructor. (Spring, odd years)

BI 235 Introduction to Biocomputing

4 hours
This course provides a broad overview of the tools available for bioinformatic analyses. It will focus on exposure and general solutions, rather than mastery of a specific tool, but will introduce students to a variety of tools for bioinformatic analyses, including Unix and R. This course is not intended to develop expertise in bioinformatics, but to provide enough familiarity to recognize what tools to use, perform basic analyses, and/or convey to an expert what analyses you would like performed. Prerequisites: G-BI111 and BI112. A laptop computer is required. (Spring, odd years)

BI 283 Genetics

4 hours
Basic genetic concepts including classical Mendelian inheritance, cytogenetics, population genetics, and the molecular basis of gene action. Laboratory experiences coordinated with lecture topics. Prerequisites: BI 112, with a grade of C or better. (Fall)

BI 310 Statistical Data Analysis (also cross-listed as CH 310 Statistical Data Analysis)

4 hours
A study of fundamental concepts including data types, distributions, and hypothesis testing; and of the applications of spreadsheets and other software for data manipulation and statistical analysis. This course does not include a laboratory. Prerequisite: G-MA221 or consent of instructor. (Spring, odd years; Interterm, even years)

BI 315 Human Physiology

4 hours
A rigorous introduction to the fundamentals of human neurophysiology, cardiac-physiology, muscular & circulatory physiology and excretory & respiratory physiology. Laboratory experiences include case studies of human physiological problems. Prerequisite: BI 112, with a grade of C or better. (Spring)

BI 325 Human Ecology, Epidemiology, and Public Health

4 hours
A study of the relationships between humans and their environments, including both physical and biotic environments, with special emphasis on understanding the nature of healthy relationships in comparison to the disease state. This course does not include a laboratory. Prerequisites: BI 112 with a grade of C or better. (Fall, odd years)

BI 334 Immunology

4 hours
This course will provide students with an introduction to fundamental concepts in immunology. Topics covered include: innate and adaptive immunity as well as the molecular activities and disorders of the system. The holistic function of the immune system as well as individual cells/tissues will be discussed. Upon completion of this course, students will be familiar with current immunology research, relate knowledge and application within the field, and demonstrate an understanding of current immunopathology models including cancer biology and AIDS. (Fall)

BI 341 Cancer Biology

3 hours
This course provides a broad overview of the major mechanisms, or “hallmarks”, that promote cancer development and impact cancer therapy, the contributions of the tumor microenvironment to cancer progression, and the mechanisms of action or potential limitations of a selection of cancer therapies. Prerequisites: G-BI111 and BI283 with grades of C or better. (Interterm, even years)

BI 365 Evolution and Ecology

4 hours
A study of the interactions between organisms and their environment along with the mechanisms and processes whereby these interactions result in evolutionary change. Prerequisite: G-BI 111 College Biology I or BI 112 College Biology II with a grade of C or better. (Interterm, odd years)

BI 370 Biochemistry (also cross-listed as CH 370 Biochemistry)

4 hours
A basic study of the field of biochemistry, including basic structural and functional information on biological molecules; amino acids, proteins, enzyme kinetics, carbohydrates and lipids. The course discusses how some of these biomolecules are purified and studied. Also, this course provides an understanding of how these biomolecules interact with each other in health living organisms and how they fail and cause disease. Prerequisite: G-BI 111 and CH 252 with grade C or better or consent of instructor with concurrent enrollment. Laboratory is included. (Fall, odd years)

BI 373 Biochemistry II (also cross-listed as CH 373 Biochemistry II)

4 hours
A rigorous study of the fundamentals of cell physiology, concentrating on intermediary metabolism and its regulation. Laboratory is included. Prerequisites: BI 370 with grade of C or better or consent from the instructor. (Spring, even years)

BI 380 Green Chemistry

3 hours
This upper-level chemistry course explores the 12 principles of Green Chemistry and the application of those principles in various industries through several case studies. It explores and explains how chemistry can help address global human health and environmental issues and develop  appropriate solutions. Prerequisites: G-CH 111 and CH 112. (Spring, odd years)

BI 384 Advanced Genetics

4 hours
This upper-level course will extend on topics presented in Genetics (B1283). The course will delve deeper into genetics with a specific focus on the molecular-scale processes responsible for producing our phenotype and their relationships to evolutionary change. The lab component focuses on various current lab techniques used in the field of genetics. Prerequisite: BI 283 with grade of C or better. (Spring, odd years)

BI 393 Topics in Biology

1-4 hours
One specific topic will be covered each time this course is offered. Possible topics include (but are not limited to) molecular genetics, vertebrate zoology, functional morphology, quantitative biology, and advanced ecology. Prerequisite: BI 112 with a grade of C or better and consent of the instructor.

BI 404 Biomedical Ethics

2 hours
This seminar examines both the factual and ethical dimensions of decisions regarding healthcare. Students will use a case study approach to apply the ethical principles of autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice to diverse situations. Alternative ethical systems and ethics in research are considered. This course does not include a laboratory.

BI 445 Readings and Research in Biology

1-4 hours
Enrichment of a student’s study in the discipline either by readings on a topic not covered in the above courses or by research done on or off campus. Prerequisites: 12 semester hours in the department or program with an average of C or better, and consent of the instructor. Open only to students majoring in the department or program.

BI 495 Field Experience in Biology

1-4 hours
A planned experience in one of the field-oriented or professionally related phases of biological science. The specific area and content must be agreed upon in advance by the student, faculty advisor, and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Specific examples that are offered periodically, especially during Interterm are Field Experience in Puerto Rico and observations of various health careers with practicing professionals.

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

 

Chemistry Course Descriptions

G-CH 101 Principles of Chemistry

3-4 hours
A one-semester introduction to the principles of chemistry, with an emphasis on chemical interactions in the environment and sustainability.  This course does not apply toward a major in biology, biochemistry, or chemistry. This course includes laboratory work for the 4th credit hour during Interterms of odd years. (Interterm)

G-CH 105 GOB Chemistry for Life

4 hours
A one-semester general education introductory survey course of general, organic, nuclear, and biological chemistry for the students who plan to take only one course in chemistry and for students who are expecting to major in the allied health sciences. This course satisfies the chemistry prerequisite of health career programs requiring only one semester of chemistry, but not apply toward a major in biology, biochemistry, or chemistry. Laboratory is included. (Spring)

G-CH 111 College Chemistry I

5 hours
A study of the principles, laws, and concepts of chemistry as they relate to the periodic table and systematic study of the properties of the elements. A study of modern atomic and molecular structure. Laboratory is included. (Fall)

CH 112 College Chemistry II

5 hours
A continuation of CH 111. Includes study of the chemistry of metals and nonmetals, chemistry of solutions, chemical equilibrium and qualitative analysis. Laboratory is included. Prerequisite: G-CH 111 with a grade of C or above. (Spring)

CH 201 Quantitative Analysis

4 hours
A study of the principles and methods of analytical chemistry by the methods of volumetric and gravimetric analysis, precipitimetry, acidimetry and oxidation- reduction titrations. Laboratory is included. Prerequisite: CH 112 with a grade of C or above. (Fall, even years)

CH 251 Organic Chemistry I

5 hours
A study of the principles of organic chemistry, the physical and chemical properties of carbon compounds with emphasis on the mechanisms of organic reactions, the nomenclature of the compounds, and methods of organic synthesis. The carbon compounds discussed include some of the common alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, cycloalkanes, alkyl halides, ethers and alcohols. Laboratory is included. Prerequisite: CH 112 with a grade of C or above, or consent of instructor. (Fall)

CH 252 Organic Chemistry II

5 hours
A continuation of CH 251. Includes study of basic spectroscopy as a basic tool for structural analysis and the chemistry of aromatic compounds, aldehydes, ketones, amines, carboxylic acids and their functional derivatives. Laboratory is included. Prerequisite: CH 251 with a grade of C or above. (Spring)

CH 310 Statistical Data Analysis (also cross-listed as BI 310 Statistical Data Analysis)

4 hours
A study of fundamental concepts including data types, distributions, and hypothesis testing; and of the applications of spreadsheets and other software for data manipulation and statistical analysis. This course does not include a laboratory. Prerequisite: G-MA221 or consent of instructor. (Spring, odd years; Interterm, even years)

CH 370 Biochemistry (also cross-listed as Bi 370 Biochemistry)

4 hours
A basic study of the field of biochemistry, including basic structural and functional information on biological molecules; amino acids, proteins, enzyme kinetics, carbohydrates and lipids. The course discusses how some of these biomolecules are purified and studied. Also, this course provides an understanding of how these biomolecules interact with each other in health living organisms and how they fail and cause disease. Prerequisite: G-BI 111 and CH 252 with grade C or better or consent of instructor with concurrent enrollment. Laboratory is included. (Fall, odd years)

CH 373 Biochemistry II (also cross-listed as BI 373 Biochemistry II)

4 hours
A rigorous study of the fundamentals of cell physiology, concentrating on intermediary metabolism and its regulation. Laboratory is included. Prerequisites: BI 112, CH252 and BI/CH 370 with grades of C or better or consent of instructor. (Spring, even years)

CH 380 Green Chemistry

3 hours
This upper-level chemistry course explores the 12 principles of Green Chemistry and the application of those principles in various industries through several case studies. It explores and explains how chemistry can help address global human health and environmental issues and develop  appropriate solutions. Prerequisites: G-CH 111 and CH 112. (Spring, odd years)

CH 385 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

4 hours
Further study of inorganic chemistry including structure and bonding, coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry, the chemistry of transition metals and a more detailed systematic study of the families of the periodic table. Laboratory is included. Prerequisite: CH 112, CH 252. (Spring, even years)

CH 390 Instrumental Analysis

3 hours
Advanced work in quantitative analysis with emphasis on the principles and methods of electrochemical, spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis. Laboratory is included. Prerequisite: CH 201 with a grade of C or better.  (Spring, odd years)

CH 393 Topics in Chemistry

1-4 hours
One specific topic will be covered each time this course is offered. Prerequisite: CH112 with a grade of C or better and consent of the instructor.

CH 400 General Physical Chemistry

5 hours
A study of the physical-chemical properties of matter. Topics covered include thermodynamics, the kinetic theory of gases, chemical kinetics, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics. Laboratory is included. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in CH 252 and G-MA 111. PH 206 concurrent or grade of C or better. (Fall, odd years)

CH 445 Readings and Research in Chemistry

1-4 hours
Enrichment of a student’s study in the discipline either by reading on the topic not covered in the above courses or by research done on or off campus. Prerequisite: 12 semester hours in the department or program with an average of C or better, and consent of instructor. Open only to students majoring in the department or program.

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

 

Natural Science Course Descriptions

G-NS 100 Science in Society

3 hours
The goals of this course are to build scientific literacy and to increase awareness of what Science has to offer to individuals and to Society. Classes will include lectures, faculty-led discussions of assigned readings, student-led discussions of “Science in the News” topics, and student presentations of semester projects/term papers. This course does not include a laboratory. (Interterm, odd years)

G-NS106 Sensational! The Physics, Chemistry, and Biology of the Senses

3 hours
An introduction to how humans sense and respond to conditions in the world around us, including light, sound, chemical concentrations, pressure, temperature, etc. Special emphasis will be given to applications of the scientific knowledge on students’ daily lives, and within other majors/career paths. (Spring)

G-NS 141 Environmental Science

4 hours
A study of the environmental issues that arise from the complex relationships between humans and the earth. Emphasis will be placed on a scientific understanding and a search for solutions to environmental problems. Laboratory is included. (Fall)

G-NS230 Travel Experience

3 hours
This course will engage students in topics relating to environmental and social justice. We will explore socioenvironmental issues related to various regions of our planet in the classroom and then gain a deeper and broader understanding of the causes and implications of these issues in relation to human societies through an immersive travel experience to that region. The specific content and travel destination may change from year to year.

G-NS 245 Climatology

3 hours
This study of the Earth’s climate system will emphasize the physical and biological processes that determine climate: e.g. radiative transfer, atmospheric and oceanic energy transfer, energy balance, the hydrologic cycle, and related geological, biological, and anthropogenic influences; and will consider their interactive effects on climate change. This course does not include a laboratory. (Spring, odd years)

NS 300 Research Methods

1 hour (Language Intensive)
Preparation for participation in an independent laboratory research project in the natural sciences. Topics covered include scientific literature searches, research design, data handling, research evaluation, scientific writing, and reporting. To be taken during the sophomore or junior year. (Fall)

NS 350 Stewardship Seminar

1 hour
A weekly discussion of the interrelationships among the current contents of the student’s other courses, in light of their relationships to the goals of the Environmental Stewardship major.

NS 375 Junior Seminar

1 hour
Preparation for participation in an independent laboratory research project in the natural sciences. Topics covered include literature searches, research design, data handling, research evaluation, scientific writing and reporting, career exploration, and scientific ethics. (Spring)

NS 404 Environmental Ethics

2 hours
This seminar examines both the factual and ethical dimensions of our current and possible future environments. Students will use a case study approach to apply different ethical frameworks to choices that arise from human interaction with the natural order. This course does not include a laboratory.

NS 475 Senior Research

2 hours (Language Intensive)
Experience in the planning, conducting, and reporting of scientific research. The student research works in continual consultation with the research advisor. Selection of the research topic and consent of the advisor must be obtained in advance of enrollment. Prerequisite: Grade of D or above in NS 375 and a grade of C or above in NS 300.

NS 495 Field experience in the Natural Sciences

1-4 hours
A planned experience in a field-oriented aspect of both the biological and physical sciences.

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

 

Physical Science Course Descriptions

G-PC 251 Geology

3-4 hours
An introductory course that focuses on the scientific study of the earth. The course emphasizes the study of earth materials, changes in the surface and interior of the earth, and the dynamic forces that cause those changes. Environmental Stewardship majors may earn the fourth credit hour by completing a laboratory/field geology project that employs some of the standard methods and processes of geology. (Interterm, odd years)

G-PC 275 Astronomy

4 hours
The structure and evolution of the universe, from nearby planets to distant quasars, are examined. Topics include recent discoveries concerning planets, stars, galaxies, pulsars, and black holes as well as their evolution, the structure of the universe today and how it will be in the future. The emphasis is descriptive rather than mathematical. Laboratory is included. (Interterm, even years)

PC 445 Readings and Research in Physical Science

1-4 hours
Enrichment of a student’s study in the discipline either by reading on a topic not covered in the above courses or by research done on or off campus. Prerequisite: 12 semester hours in the department or program and the consent of the instructor. Open only to students majoring in the department or program.

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

 

Physics Course Descriptions

G-PH 201 Principles of Physics

3 hours
A first course in physics designed for students with no previous background in physics and who can benefit from a one-semester introduction to basic principles. Physics topics will be treated more conceptually than mathematically, although basic algebra skills are required. This course does not include a laboratory. (Interterm, odd years)

G-PH 205 College Physics I

5 hours
A first course for chemistry and mathematics majors with a calculus background. Topics covered are Newton’s Laws, energy, momentum, gravity, torque and angular momentum with emphasis placed on the use of mathematics to formulate problems and to explain physical phenomena. Prerequisite: G-MA 111. Laboratory is included. (Fall)

PH 206 College Physics II

5 hours
A continuation of PH 205. Topics covered are electricity, magnetism, optics, fluids, waves, and thermodynamics. Prerequisite: PH 205. Laboratory is included. (Spring)

G-PH 215 General Physics I

4 hours
A first course for premed, biology, and other science majors with a college algebra background. Topics covered are Newton’s Laws, energy, momentum, gravity, torque and angular momentum with emphasis placed on the understanding of physical concepts to formulate problems and to explain physical phenomena. Lab is included. Prerequisite: MA 105 College Algebra. (Fall)

PH 216 General Physics II

4 hours
A continuation of G-PH 215. Topics covered are electricity, magnetism, optics, fluids, waves, and thermodynamics. Lab is included. Prerequisite: G-PH 215. (Spring)

 

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

2023|Catalog 23-24, Natural Science|

Philosophy & Religion Program

Purpose Statement

The Department of Philosophy and Religion offers courses that train students to think logically, grapple with the most important ethical issues facing humanity, and critically reflect upon philosophical and religious traditions that for millennia have deeply shaped how human beings have understood their lives as a whole in relationship to all that exists. In so doing, students will rationally analyze their own worldviews, while at the same time understanding more deeply and with greater empathy the worldviews of others. Travel courses offered through the program superbly complement the rest of the curriculum for this purpose. The department offers a Philosophy and Religion: Pre-Law major and a traditional Philosophy and Religion major. It also offers a Philosophy and Religion minor and a Peace Studies minor.

Philosophy and Religion: Pre-Law Major

Data indicate that students of philosophy and religion consistently score highly on the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) and possess high rates of admission to law school. By combining the study of philosophy, religion, and law, this unique major furnishes students with outstanding preparation for law school. The major teaches skills in logical reasoning, analysis and synthesis of texts, inference to the best explanation from a set of data, persuasive public speaking, and constructive writing—skills whose practice constitute the core of what lawyers do. The major explores highly provocative, hot-button philosophical and religious issues at the heart of current legal discourse in the United States.

Students who complete the Philosophy and Religion: Pre-Law major should demonstrate the ability to:

  • Critically engage the Western philosophical tradition as it addresses fundamental questions about the nature of reality, the meaning of our experience, and the purpose of life.
  • Understand the world’s major religious traditions and the diverse ways each is interpreted, with a special emphasis on how these traditions help shape both the human experience of the world around us and our response to it.
  • Engage in logical reasoning: deductive, inductive, and abductive.
  • Articulate how the American legal system works.
  • Score well on the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test).

Required Philosophy and Religion Courses (39 hours)

G-PR 101 God and People in Ancient Israel: Hebrew Bible Foundations (3 hours) or G-PR 102 Jesus: New Testament Foundations (3 hours)
G-PR 104L Ethics (4 hours)
G-PR 107 Critical Thinking (3 hours)
G-PR 201 Introduction to Philosophy (3 hours)
G-PR 203 Science and Religion (3 hours)
G-PR 215 History of Philosophy (3 hours)
G-PR 302 Religion and Politics (3 hours)
G-PR 306 World Religions (3 hours)
G-PR 310 Religion and Law (3 hours)
G-PR 360 Modern Logic (3 hours)
PR 375B
 Junior Seminar: LSAT Prep (3 hours)
PR 432 Philosophy of Law (3 hours)
PR 475 Senior Seminar/Thesis (2 hours)

Required Supporting Courses (15 hours)
G-CM 140 Public Speaking (3 hours)
BA 215 Business Law (3 hours)
SO 275
Criminal Justice (3 hours)
CM 325 Conflict Communication (3 hours)
CM 330 Persuasion and Social Influence (3 hours)

Total: 54 hours

Philosophy and Religion Major

The practical benefits of the Philosophy and Religion major are many. It provides students with an ultimate set of transferable skills that they can apply to nearly any profession. These skills include critical thinking and reasoning, solid oral and written communication, and understanding and empathy across widely diverse cultures. This major enables students to move directly into the job market after graduation, taking positions in writing, publishing, event planning, humanitarian assistance, government, management, museums, the arts, hospitality, the service industry, and many other fields. The major prepares students to pursue graduate study/professional school in philosophy, religious studies, theology, ministry, business (particularly international business), counseling, social work, education, journalism, and several other disciplines. Whatever their career path, students will find their study of philosophy and religion empowering them to live with a deeper sense of purpose, a surer sense of their vocation, and greater appreciation for values such as peacemaking, stewardship, and service that contribute to the well-being of the world.

Students who complete the Philosophy and Religion major should demonstrate the ability to:

  • Critically engage the Western philosophical tradition as it addresses fundamental questions about the nature of reality, the meaning of our experience, and the purpose of life.
  • Understand the world’s major religious traditions and the diverse ways each is interpreted, with a special emphasis on how these traditions help shape both the human experience of the world around us and our response to it.
  • Engage in logical reasoning: deductive, inductive, and abductive.
  • Bring the study of philosophy and religion to bear on their quest to understand the meaning and purpose of their own lives.

Core Courses (33 hours)

G-PR 101 God and People in Ancient Israel: Hebrew Bible Foundations (3 hours) or G-PR 102 Jesus: New Testament Foundations (3 hours)
G-PR 106L Spiritual Pathways (3 hours)
G-PR 107 Critical Thinking (3 hours)
G-PR 201 Introduction to Philosophy (3 hours)
G-PR 215 History of Philosophy (3 hours)
G-PR 302 Religion and Politics (3 hours) or G-PR 310 Religion and Law (3 hours)
G-PR 306 World Religions (3 hours)
G-PR 350 Philosophy of Religion (3 hours)
G-PR 360 Modern Logic (3 hours)
PR 375A Junior Seminar: Philosophy and Religion (1 hour)
PR 431 Islamic Traditions (3 hours) or PR 432 Philosophy of Law (3 hours)
PR 475 Senior Seminar/Thesis (2 hours)

Electives (9-10 hours from the following)

G-PR 102 Jesus: New Testament Foundations (3 hours) or G-PR 101 God and People in Ancient Israel: Hebrew Bible Foundations (3 hours)
G-PR 104 or G-PR 104L Ethics (3 hours if G-PR 104; 4 hours if G-PR 104L)
G-PR 202 Christian Traditions (3 hours)
G-PR 203 Science and Religion (3 hours)
G-PR 204 Peacemaking: Religious Perspectives (3 hours)
G-PR 302 Religion and Politics (3 hours)
G-PR 310 Religion and Law (3 hours) or G-PR 302 Religion and Politics (3 hours)
PR 432 Philosophy of Law (3 hours) or PR 431 Islamic Traditions (3 hours)

Total: 42-43 hours

Philosophy and Religion Minor

The minor comprises 18 hours of coursework.

Requirements

G-PR 106L Spiritual Pathways (3 hours)
G-PR 201 Introduction to Philosophy (3 hours)
plus a minimum of 12 more hours of any courses with a PR prefix.

Peace Studies Minor

Peace Studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that seeks understanding of the causes of human conflict and violence. It then strives to develop methods for resolving conflicts nonviolently and for promoting peace through justice at all levels of human society and in human relationships with the natural environment. The minor can complement any number of majors, for example, Political Science, History, or Environmental Stewardship, especially for those students seeking to couple their major field and professional training to values of social justice and peacemaking.

Students who complete a minor in Peace Studies should demonstrate the ability to:

  • Understand some of the most important causes and consequences of interpersonal, societal, and international conflict and violence.
  • Understand a variety of methods for conflict resolution and peacemaking that address these causes and promote the well-being of human communities and of the planet on which we live.

The minor comprises 18 hours of coursework.

Core Courses (12 hours)

G-PS 125 International Relations (3 hours)
G-PR 204 Peacemaking: Religious Perspectives (3 hours)
G-PS 215 Global Peace Studies (3 hours)
CM 325 Conflict Communication (3 hours)

Electives (at least 6 hours from the following)

G-PR 104 Ethics or G-PR 104L Ethics (3 hours if G-PR104; 4 hours if G-PR104L)
G-NS 141 Environmental Science (4 hours)
G-ET 201 Social Entrepreneurship (3 hours)
G-SO 202 Minorities in the U.S. (3-4 hours)
SO 206 Social Problems (3-4 hours)
G-CM 221 Intercultural Communication (3 hours)
CM 240 Gender Communication (3 hours)
G-PR 302 Religion and Politics (3 hours)
NS 404 Environmental Ethics (2 hours)

2023|Catalog 23-24, Philosophy & Religion|

Philosophy & Religion Course Descriptions

G-PR 101 God and People in Ancient Israel: Hebrew Bible Foundations

3 hours
An exploration of the history, literature, and religion of ancient Israel using selected portions of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) as primary sources. The course focuses on major themes that have shaped the life and faith of both Jewish and Christian religious communities to this day, and will provide students opportunities to consider how these themes might inform their thinking about their own lives. (Fall, even years)

G-PR 102 Jesus: New Testament Foundations

3 hours
An introduction to the New Testament that focuses on understanding the life and teachings of Jesus in his first-century context. The course will also explore how these foundational texts continue to inform Christian life and faith, and will provide students opportunities to ponder the potential impact of these reflections on their own lives. (Spring, odd years)

G-PR 104 or *G-PR 104L Ethics

3 hours (not Language Intensive) or 4 hours (Language Intensive)
This course enables students to think critically about moral values and the process of ethical decision-making. Students will be challenged, both to understand how and why others think about the moral life as they do, and to evaluate critically their own moral values and the ways they resolve ethical problems. (Fall, Interterm, and Spring)

*G-PR 106L Spiritual Pathways

3 hours (Language Intensive)
An introduction to religion that considers (1) how different religious traditions understand life as a journey in search of spiritual awakening and transformation and (2) how these different traditions in turn see compassion for others and devotion to service as two keys to living an authentic human life. In view of the preceding, the course culminates with a reflection on the meaning of personal vocation and offers students an opportunity to consider their own individual life callings. (Fall, odd years)

G-PR 107 Critical Thinking

3 hours
This course will help students understand how we draw conclusions about what is true in any and all aspects of life. The goal of the course is for students to develop their skill at evaluating the quality of their thinking, especially by becoming aware of common ways in which our reasoning goes wrong. The course will encourage students to consider both how critical thinking can become a way of life, and the positive impact that critical thinking can have on our world. (Spring, even years)

G-PR 201 Introduction to Philosophy

3 hours
This course will introduce students to the activity of philosophy. In dialogue with the Western philosophical tradition, students will practice systematic, critical, and deep reflection on some of the most fundamental questions that can be asked, for example, What can we know, and how? What does it mean to be human? Does life have ultimate meaning, and what might that meaning be? Students will be introduced to the concept of a “life philosophy” and provided the opportunity to develop their own personal philosophies of life. (Fall, even years)

G-PR 202 Christian Traditions

3 hours
An exploration of different, contemporary traditions of Christian faith and practice that will help students grasp some of the diverse ways that Christians today understand the meaning of following Jesus. The course will consider important texts from these diverse traditions, as well as biographies of some of their key representatives, and then ponder their significance for Christians and non-Christians alike who seek to live lives of meaning and purpose. (Fall, odd years)

G-PR 203 Science and Religion

3 hours
Especially in the United States, science and religion are typically presupposed to be in conflict with each other. This course starts from a different presupposition. It begins by exploring in some detail the story of the universe told by contemporary cosmology and evolutionary biology, and in the process invites students to consider how a dialogue between science and faith might lead to a rich, coherent, and personally meaningful understanding of humanity and of humanity’s place in the universe. (Spring, even years)

G-PR 204 Peacemaking: Religious Perspectives

3 hours
This course critically engages diverse religious perspectives on peacemaking. It begins by exploring the various positions on non-resistance, non-violence, and humanitarian service taken by the historic peace churches: Mennonite, Quaker, and Brethren. It then seeks precedents for these positions in Christianity’s past, and finally moves forward into the present, with special attention to conversations within and between different world religions about the religious roots of violence, and about the vital contribution that religious believers and communities can make to world peace. (Spring, odd years)

G-PR 215 History of Philosophy

3 hours
A survey of Western philosophy from its origins in ancient Greece to the present. Key figures include the Pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Anselm, Maimonides, Thomas Aquinas, William of Ockham, Descartes, Locke, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Kierkegaard, Mill, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, and Heidegger. (Fall, odd years)

G-PR 302 Religion and Politics

3 hours
This course considers how religion and politics have influenced each other in the United States, as well as the ways that Americans have understood those influences. Topics include the interplay between church and state, the politics of sexuality, gender, and race, and the relation between religion and democracy. (Spring, even years)

G-PR 306 World Religions

3 hours
An introduction to major world religions, including but not limited to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The goal is for students to understand key teachings and practices of each, and thereby to develop an understanding of and empathy for how adherents of these traditions experience life and the world around them. Finally, students will consider how their study of these traditions might contribute to their own life and thought. (Fall, even years)

G-PR 310 Religion and Law

3 hours
An exploration of the proper relationship between religion and government. The Supreme Court has dealt with church-state matters since the 1940s. Issues concerning religion and law dominate many contemporary debates, including abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, race, contraception, prayer in public schools, and evolution and intelligent design in public schools. This course examines the aforementioned topics from theological and constitutional perspectives. (Spring, odd years)

G-PR 350 Philosophy of Religion

3 hours
An investigation of religion from the perspective of analytic philosophy, in which students are exposed to the best of cutting-edge work on key topics. Such topics include religious epistemology, the existence of God, the coherence of theism, the problem of evil, the soul and immortality, and theological issues. (Spring, even years)

G-PR 360 Modern Logic

3 hours
An introduction to symbolic logic. Key topics include symbolizing English arguments, truth tables, logically significant categories and relationships, statement logic, constructing proofs, predicate logic, the logic of relations, and probabilistic reasoning. (Spring, odd years)

PR 375A Junior Seminar: Philosophy and Religion

1 hour
Philosophy and Religion majors during their junior year learn the essential methods and theories in the academic study of philosophy and religion. These methods and theories are the fundamental “tools” majors need in their proverbial toolbox to successfully undertake original research in philosophy and religion. (Fall, as needed)

PR 375B Junior Seminar: LSAT Prep

3 hours
This course prepares pre-law students to perform well on the LSAT. It teaches students formal logic, logic games, logical reasoning, and reading comprehension. It uses timed sample LSAT sections to test each skill and a times complete sample LSAT as the final exam. (Spring, as needed)

PR 411 Travel

3-4 hours (Can be repeated)
Students from all majors have the unique opportunity to experience firsthand the religions and philosophies of different cultures and environments through international or domestic travel. (Interterm)

PR 431 Islamic Traditions

3 hours
A historical and theological overview of Islam in its diverse forms from the seventh century CE to the present. Special attention is given to the Prophet Muhammad, the Qur’an, the Sunna, the development of the Muslim community, Islamic schools of thought, and Islamic law. (Fall, even years)

PR 432 Philosophy of Law

3 hours
This course explores a number of philosophical themes bearing on the nature of the law and its relationship to morality: e.g., What is the law—is it a necessarily moral phenomenon or merely a social phenomenon? Do we have an obligation to obey the law? What are the moral limits of legal punishment? This course also acquaints students with fundamental concepts, structures, and functions of the American legal system. It examines the “evolving” nature of law as it relates to our society, especially how the law affects each of our lives on a daily basis. The course looks at the legal system as a framework for the avoidance of problems in the future and for resolving problems that inevitably arise in a complex society. In addition to engaging these and other substantive issues, the course attempts to sharpen students’ skills in practical reasoning through the analysis of logical argument. (Fall, odd years)

PR 475 Senior Seminar/Thesis

2 hours
Senior Philosophy and Religion majors are required to do a senior thesis with the topic approved by their departmental advisor no later than midterm of the fall semester. Students may enroll for the course fall, interterm, or spring during their senior year, but are expected to work on their project throughout the year in consultation with their departmental advisor, and to meet periodically with other Philosophy and Religion seniors as they do so.

Special Course Options
PR 295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
PR 297 Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
PR 299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
PR 388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
PR 445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

 

2023|Catalog 23-24, Philosophy & Religion|

Psychology Program

Purpose Statement

The psychology program commits itself to developing majors with pre- professional training and non-majors with basic knowledge of and skills in psychology. The program achieves this purpose when its students:

  • have acquired knowledge and skills requisite for entry into selected professions, especially pre-professional careers in the behavioral sciences
  • have acquired knowledge and skills requisite for entry into graduate programs in psychology and related fields
  • have bridged the gap between theory and practice through internships
  • can critically analyze human and nonhuman behavior through exposure to psychological theories and research methods
  • have enhanced their sensitivity and appreciation of diversity and inclusion issues by studying cultural expectations and approaches to psychological adjustment different from their own

In addition to preparing its majors, psychology contributes to the general education program and serves other majors.

Students who wish to double major in psychology and sociology need have only one emphasis.

Psychology Major

Core Requirements (41 hours)

G-PY 101  Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
PY 204  Child and Adolescent Development (3 hours)
PY/SO 303  Social Psychology (3 hours)
PY 305  Abnormal Psychology (3 hours)
PY/SO 308  Counseling (3 hours)
PY/SO 335  Research Methods I (4 hours)
PY 336  Research Methods II (4 hours)
PY/SO 375  Junior Seminar (1 hour)
PY 405  Personality Theories (3 hours)
PY 415  Learning, Memory, and Cognition (3 hours)
*PY 450  History and Systems of Psychology (3 hours)
PY/SO 474  Scientific Writing for the Behavioral Sciences (2 hours)
*PY/SO 475  Senior Seminar/Thesis (2 hours)
G-MA 221  Elementary Applied Statistics (4 hours)

Child Development Emphasis (12 hours)

PY 254  Parent-Child Relations (3 hours)
PY 354  Child Development and Social Policy (3 hours)
PY 454  Applied Behavior Analysis and Youth (3 hours)
PY 470  Developmental Psychopathology (3 hours)

Health and Human Services Emphasis (12 hours)

SO 260  Introduction to Human Services (3 hours)
SO 365  Social Work in American Society (3 hours)
PY 430  Health Psychology (3 hours)
SO 470  Social Gerontology (3 hours)

Total: 53 hours

Recommended courses for Students interested in Human Services careers

PY/SO 210  Human Sexuality (3 hours)
G-SO 101  Introduction to Sociology (3 hours)
G-SO 202  Minorities in the U.S. (3-4 hours)
SO 206  Social Problems (3-4 hours)
G-SO 246  Marriage and Family (3-4 hours)

As much practical experience in human service placements as possible.

Psychology Minor

Requirements  (12 hours + 6 elective hours)

G-PY 101  Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
PY 204  Child and Adolescent Development (3 hours)
PY/SO 303  Social Psychology (3 hours)
PY 305  Abnormal Psychology (3 hours)

Additional Psychology elective to total 18 hours

 

2023|Catalog 23-24, Psychology|

Psychology Course Descriptions

G-PY 101 Introduction to Psychology

3 hours
A survey of psychology emphasizing applications to the life of the student. Assumptions of psychological scientists are examined and scientific methods of investigating and reasoning about human behavior are introduced. (Fall, Spring)

PY 204 Child and Adolescent Development

3-4 hours
A basic course dealing with the various processes of child and adolescent development. The overarching goal or mission of the course is to present the basic knowledge of child development in an applied context in which the established knowledge base of child psychology is used to suggest solutions to social problems of children in this society and in the world community. Prerequisite: G-PY 101 Introduction to Psychology. (Spring)

PY 254 Parent-Child Relations

3 hours
A study of parenting across the lifespan. Topics include parenting styles, parenting strategies, and parenting in different family systems. (Spring)

PY 295 Field Experience in Psychology

1-4 hours
Various types of placements are available for practical experience relevant to the psychology major. Examples: institutions for people with developmental disabilities, adolescent group-homes, the Big Brother/Big Sister program, and others.

PY/SO 303 Social Psychology

3 hours
A study of the individual as he/she is affected by other persons. Topics covered include: interpersonal relations, social learning, conformity and individuality, attitudes, groups and organizations, and others. Discussion and involvement methods are emphasized. Prerequisite: G-PY 101 and PY 204 or G-SO 101 and G-SO 202. (Spring)

PY 305 Abnormal Psychology

3-4 hours
A study of behaviors variously classified as abnormal, psychopathic, sociopathic, disordered, mentally ill, retarded, neurotic, psychotic, deviant and others. Prerequisite: 6 hours in psychology and junior standing. (Fall, odd years)

PY/SO 308 Counseling

3 hours
A study of the theory and practice of counseling including a survey of the various systems of psychotherapy (person-centered therapy, psychoanalysis, behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, etc.) and learning, through role-play, of skills needed to be a helper. Prerequisite: PY 405 or instructor consent. (Spring)

PY/SO 335 Research Methods I

4 hours
The basic research methods course for behavioral science majors. Correlational, survey, and case study techniques, basic experimental design, research ethics, and general professional conduct of empirical investigation are studied. Lecture, laboratory, and practical field exercises are used as learning methods. Prerequisite: G-MA221. Concurrent enrollment is acceptable. (Fall)

PY/SO/PE 336 Research Methods II

4 hours
The second of the two basic research methods courses for behavioral science majors. Relatively advanced scientific research designs and statistical analyses are studied. SPSS, a statistical package, is used for most of the work in the course. Prerequisites: G-MA 221 and PY/SO 335. (Interterm)

PY 354 Child Development and Social Policy

3 hours
A study of the relation between children and government. The course considers the interrelations between social policy and research findings from the field of child and adolescent psychology. (Interterm)

PY/SO 375 Junior Seminar

1 hour
Several topics and issues are examined in a seminar format. These include ethical practices and concerns as they relate to research and clinical work, the development and execution of basic and applied research, and career development and related matters. Students work toward developing appropriate research topics for their senior theses and may explore internship opportunities. (Spring)

PY 405 Personality Theories

3 hours
Personality is the field within psychology that specializes in how individuals think, feel, and behave with an emphasis on the person as a whole. The course covers the five basic approaches to personality: the trait approach, the biological approach, the psychoanalytic approach, the phenomenological approach, and the behaviorist/learning theory/cognitive approach. Junior or Senior standing or permission of the instructor required. (Fall)

PY 415 Learning, Memory, Cognition

3 hours
An advanced survey course dealing specifically with current research findings in the areas of behavioral and cognitive psychology. The course will focus on what psychological science has discovered about human learning, memory, and forgetting. Prerequisite: G-PY 101, PY 303, PY/SO 335 or instructor consent. (Spring, odd years)

PY 430 Health Psychology

3 hours
A study of the fundamentals of human psychological and biomedical factors in the areas of health, wellness, and physical/mental illness. The course presents clinical applications of personality and social psychological theories, as they relate to cultural beliefs, human development, and different diseases; introduces key determinants of behavior, such as personality, family, ethnicity, and religion; and explores behavioral/motivational research in the emerging field of alternative and complementary medicine. Health care prevention, intervention, and maintenance issues and strategies are presented within the context of the community health support system. Career opportunities in health psychology are also explored. (Fall, odd years)

PY 445 Readings and Research in Psychology

1-4 hours
An opportunity to take a course by readings that is not offered in the regular curriculum. Prerequisite: consent of the instructor. (By appointment)

PY 450 History and Systems of Psychology

3 hours (Language Intensive)
A study of psychology’s origins, development as a field, and current status, examined in a seminar format. Prerequisite: Upper division majors/minors only or instructor consent. (Spring, even years)

PY 454 Applied Behavior Analysis and Youth

3 hours
A study of the field of applied behavior analysis and its use in solving the behavior problems of children and adolescents. The course explores fundamental issues related to behavior change, including assessment, measurement, and ethics. Prerequisite: G-PY 101 or instructor consent. (Fall, even years)

PY 470 Developmental Psychopathology

3 hours
A study of psychopathology as it relates to children and adolescents. The course explores the causes of and treatments for various psychological disorders and considers issues related to assessment and diagnosis. (Spring)

PY/SO 474 Scientific Writing for the Behavioral Sciences

2 hours
This course is intended to help students develop the skills needed for writing research reports in the social sciences. It is a research-based course in which students learn to synthesize what they have read and present it as a scientific review of the literature; these are the primary goals. Thus, it focuses on how to apply social science theories and research methods to the writing of the senior research proposal. This course also provides students with the opportunity to prepare papers for regional conferences in psychology and sociology. Research manual required. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing in the Behavioral Sciences. (Fall)

PY/SO 475 Senior Seminar/Thesis

2 hours (Language Intensive)
This is the culminating or capstone course for behavioral science majors. Coordinated guidance is given on the preparation of the Senior Thesis. Discussion of current topics in sociology and psychology is combined with guidance on practical matters such as application to graduate study, developing a career, and so on. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing in the Behavioral Sciences. (Spring)

PY 495 Field Experience in Psychology

1-4 hours
More advanced placements and arrangements in applied psychology. See PY 295. NOTE: PY 495 requires permission of the instructor before enrollment.

 

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

2023|Catalog 23-24, Psychology|

Sociology Program

Purpose Statement

The sociology program commits itself to developing majors with pre-professional training and non-majors with basic knowledge of and skills in sociology. The program achieves its purpose when its students:

  • have acquired knowledge and skills requisite for entry into selected professions, especially pre-professional careers in the behavioral sciences
  • have acquired knowledge and skills requisite for entry into graduate programs in sociology and related fields
  • can critically analyze their society through exposure to sociological theories and research methods
  • have bridged the gap between theory and practice through internships
  • have enhanced their sensitivity to others by studying customs, beliefs, and practices that are different from their own

In addition to preparing its majors, sociology contributes to the general education program and serves other majors. Students who wish to double major in sociology and psychology need have only one emphasis.

Sociology Major

Core Requirements (39 hours)

G-SO 101  Introduction to Sociology (3 hours)
SO 206  Social Problems (3 hours)
G-SO 202  Minorities in the U.S. (3 hours)
SO/PY 303  Social Psychology (3 hours)
SO 320  Urban Sociology (3 hours)
SO/PY 335  Research Methods I (4 hours)
SO/PY 336  Research Methods II (4 hours)
SO/PY 375  Junior Seminar (1 hour)
SO 401  Sociological Theory (4 hours)
SO 450  Sociology Proseminar (3 hours)
SO/PY 474  Scientific Writing for the Behavioral Sciences (2 hours)
*SO/PY 475  Senior Seminar/Thesis (2 hours)
G-MA 221  Elementary Applied Statistics (4 hours)

Criminal Justice Emphasis (12 hours)

SO 275  Criminal Justice (3 hours)
SO 355  Juvenile Delinquency (3 hours)
SO 455  Police and Law Enforcement (3 hours)
SO 460  Correctional Institutions (3 hours)

Health and Human Services Emphasis (12 hours)

SO 260  Introduction to Human Services (3 hours)
SO 365  Social Work in American Society (3 hours)
PY 430  Health Psychology (3 hours)
SO 470  Social Gerontology (3 hours)

Total: 51 hours

Recommended supporting courses

PY/SO 308  Counseling (3 hours)
G-BI 101  Principles of Biology (4 hours)
EC 201  Elementary Economics: Macro (3 hours)
G-PS 101  Historical Introduction to Politics (3 hours)
G-PS 102  U.S. Government (3 hours)
G-PY 101  Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
*G-TE 333  Technology and Society (3 hours)
Foreign Language

Recommended courses for Students interested in Human Services careers

PY/SO 210  Human Sexuality (3 hours)
PY/SO 308  Counseling (3 hours)
G-SO 246  Marriage and Family (3-4 hours)
As much practical experience in human service placements as possible

Sociology Minor

Requirements

G-SO 101  Introduction to Sociology (3 hours)
SO 206  Social Problems (3-4 hours)
SO 401  Sociological Theory (4 hours) or SO 450  Sociology Proseminar (3 hours)
SO/PY 303  Social Psychology (3 hours)
SO/PY 335  Research Methods I (4 hours)

Total: 18 hours 

Social Work

McPherson College has well prepared its students majoring in the Behavioral Sciences for entrance into the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree programs. The pre-professional program at McPherson College commits itself to fostering student learning in career-oriented liberal arts so that students are prepared for community service and/or graduate study in social work. Students who have acquired knowledge and skills requisite for entry into the field of social services and graduate social work education demonstrate proficient knowledge, understanding, and application of psychological and sociological theories and concepts.

All accredited graduate programs in social work require a four-year bachelor’s degree for admission. The pre-social work student should plan the liberal arts program to include courses in arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and biological sciences. Although the pre-social work student may choose a major in any field, a strong knowledge of human services, personality theory, counseling, and social problems is strongly recommended. The B.S. in psychology or sociology, with the health and human services emphasis, is recommended.

M.S.W. programs require evidence of relevant paid/volunteer work experience related to human services organizations. The pre-social work student should therefore be prepared to complete at least one internship or field experience related to community/social services. (The College’s Career Connections program is highly recommended.)

The M.S.W. Degree prepares graduates for advanced social work practices in one of three areas—clinical social practice with individuals, families, and groups; social work administration/community practice aimed at social service administration and social policy development; and school social work. With such diverse professional practice concentrations, it is difficult to outline a generic program to prepare all pre-social work students for admission to these practice areas. Students should counsel with the pre-social work advisor to help them identify the type of professional program they are considering, and to assist them in developing a plan for completing the graduate admission requirements of that program or field.

Although M.S.W. programs differ in admissions requirements, the following courses, in addition to the major, are recommended for students interested in entering the social work profession at the graduate level:

PY 405  Personality Theories (3 hours)
PY/SO 308  Counseling (3 hours)
SO 206  Social Problems (3-4 hours)

Courses in the Health & Human Services Emphasis:

SO 260  Introduction to Human Services (3 hours)
SO 365  Social Work in American Society (3 hours)
PY 430  Health Psychology (3 hours)
SO 470  Social Gerontology (3 hours)
PY/SO 388  Career Connections (1-12 hours)
PY/SO 295/495  Field Experience (1-4 hours)

2023|Catalog 23-24, Sociology|

Sociology Course Descriptions

G-SO 101 Introduction to Sociology

3 hours
An introduction to the general field of sociology and its principle subdivisions; the nature of culture; the socialization of the individual; the character and behavior of social groups; social organization and institutions; social interaction, deviant behavior and social change. (Fall, Interterm)

G-SO 202 Minorities in the U.S.

3-4 hours
An exploration of the problems faced by physical, cultural, economic, and behavioral minority groups in American society; the causes and consequences of prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination; the nature of minority-majority group interaction; current crises and possible solutions; and some comparison with similar situations in other countries. (Fall, Spring)

SO 206 Social Problems

3-4 hours
A study of contemporary American and world social problems, including prostitution, drug addiction, poverty, sexism, racism, and war. (Spring)

G-SO 246 Marriage and Family

3-4 hours
This course explores the institution of marriage and family in American society from a sociological perspective. Topics covered include socialization, dating, courtship, marriage, parenting, dysfunctions, divorce and remarriage. Family dynamics and major social changes affecting the family are discussed. The course allows the individual to explore her/his own marriage and family attitudes and experiences. (Interterm)

SO 260 Introduction to Human Services

3 hours
An introduction to the history, theory, practice, and trends in human services. The goals, functions, and organization of human services are examined in the context of contemporary social problems; a historical survey of human services is presented as a background against which current efforts can be viewed; major theories, techniques, and methods that govern helping efforts are covered; a description of consumers of human services, and the strategies both consumers and service providers initiate to overcome barriers to effective service delivery, are discussed. Career opportunities in the human services field are also explored. (Spring)

SO 275 Criminal Justice

3 hours
An introduction to the field of criminology and the American criminal justice system. Emphasis is placed upon the nature of crime, and trends and theories of crime along with components and functions of the criminal justice system including police, courts, and corrections. (Spring)

SO/PY 303 Social Psychology

3 hours
A study of the individual as he/she is affected by other persons. Topics covered include: interpersonal relations, social learning, conformity and individuality, attitudes, groups and organizations, and others. Discussion and involvement methods are emphasized. Prerequisite: G-PY 101 and PY 204 or G-SO 101 and G-SO 202. (Spring)

SO/PY 308 Counseling

3 hours
A study of the theory and practice of counseling including a survey of the various systems of psychotherapy (person-centered therapy, psychoanalysis, behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, etc.) and learning, through role-play, of skills needed to be a helper. Prerequisite: PY 405 or instructor consent. (Spring)

SO 320 Urban Sociology

3 hours
A study of the development of modern cities, theories of urban growth, and urban problems and policies. Topics include urbanization, urban renewal, economic restructuring and globalization, international migration, culture and politics of urban places, gentrification, crime and poverty, and ecological patterns of land use. Prerequisite: G-SO 101 or instructor consent. (Fall)

SO/PY 335 Research Methods I

4 hours
The basic research methods course for behavioral science majors. Correlational, survey, and case study techniques, basic experimental design, research ethics, and general professional conduct of empirical investigation are studied. Lecture, laboratory, and practical field exercises are used as learning methods. Prerequisite: G-MA 221. Concurrent enrollment is acceptable. (Fall)

SO/PY 336 Research Methods II

4 hours
The second of the two basic research methods courses for behavioral science majors. Relatively advanced scientific research designs and statistical analyses are studied. SPSS, a statistical package, is used for most of the work in the course. Prerequisites: G-MA 221 and SO/PY 335. (Interterm)

SO 355 Juvenile Delinquency

3 hours
A comprehensive examination of juvenile delinquency and the juvenile justice system. An emphasis on the causes of juvenile delinquency; its relation to family, school, peers, and society; treatment of juvenile delinquents; and criminal proceedings and the family court. (Fall)

SO 365 Social Work in American Society

3 hours
An introduction to the social work movement, profession, and practice in the United States. The course examines the social welfare policies and client populations that engage social workers, and explores the social work practice settings that range from child maltreatment and health care to work with older adults and corrections. Social issues are raised and case examples are presented to give insight into the clients and issues for which social workers initiate advocacy and social change through leadership positions in American society. Career opportunities in the social work profession are also explored. (Fall)

SO/PY 375 Junior Seminar

1 hour
Several topics and issues are examined in a seminar format. These include ethical practices and concerns as they relate to research and clinical work, the development and execution of basic and applied research, and career development and related matters. Students work toward developing appropriate research topics for their senior theses and may explore internship opportunities. (Spring)

SO 401 Sociological Theory

4 hours
A review and analysis of historical sociological theory including the masters of sociology: Durkheim, Weber, Marx, Pareto, Veblen, and others. Prerequisite: Six hours in sociology. (Spring, even years)

SO 425 Deviant Behavior

3 hours
This course exposes the student to the perspectives, principles, issues and research findings of the deviant behavior field. Topics covered include: poverty, substance abuse, prostitution, violent behavior, family violence, mental disorders, crime and social control. Prerequisite: SO 206, SO/PY 335 or instructor consent. (Fall)

SO 435 Special Topics in Behavioral Sciences

3 hours
This course explores topics not normally found in regular offerings allowing students the opportunity to explore and grow their sociological imagination as well as their knowledge of theory and research methods.

SO 450 Proseminar in Sociology

3 hours
An advanced-level seminar to integrate the information learned in earlier sociology courses. The goal is to bring full circle the sociological knowledge of students who are about to graduate. The course will explore a number of enduring sociological issues, including the meaning of sociology, the purpose of sociology and the effect sociology has on the world. Prerequisite: Upper division majors/minors only or instructor consent. (Spring, odd years)

SO 455 Police and Law Enforcement

3 hours
An analysis of the evolution of police, the police system, and the police role. Organization and jurisdiction of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies along with philosophical and ethical issues surrounding their role are discussed. (Fall, even years)

SO 460 Correctional Institutions

3 hours
An exploration of the historical and philosophical development of correctional systems with an emphasis on categories of inmates, treatment policies and their effectiveness, staff organization and training and their relation to the criminal justice system, and problems associated with correctional practices and procedures. (Fall, odd years)

SO 470 Social Gerontology

3 hours
A comprehensive introduction to an emerging field dealing with the social aspects of human aging. The course covers major areas of theory, research, social policy, and practice that impact older adults, and discusses the strengths and contributions that elders bring to their peers, families, and communities. The historical overview of aging in the United States, as well as the human and social meanings behind longevity population shift, is also explored. Also examined are social issues and psychological perspectives and strategies, as well as political and economic situations that produce undesirable outcomes as well as promote well-being in later life. Career options in the field of social gerontology are also explored. (Fall, even years)

SO/PY 474 Scientific Writing for the Behavioral Sciences

2 hours
This course is intended to help students develop the skills needed for writing research reports in the social sciences. It is a research-based course in which students learn to synthesize what they have read and present it as a scientific review of the literature; these are the primary goals. Thus, it focuses on how to apply social science theories and research methods to the writing of the senior research proposal. This course also provides students with the opportunity to prepare papers for regional conferences in sociology and psychology. Research manual required. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing in the Behavioral Sciences. (Fall)

SO/PY 475 Senior Seminar/Thesis

2 hours (Language Intensive)
This is the culminating or capstone course for behavioral science majors. Coordinated guidance is given on the preparation of the Senior Thesis. Discussion of current topics in sociology and psychology is combined with guidance on practical matters such as application to graduate study, developing a career, and so on. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing in the Behavioral Sciences. (Spring)

SO 495 Field Placement

1-4 hours
Practical experience working in an established social agency, mental health clinic, or correctional institution. Supervision and direction given on the job by the agency personnel. College personnel visit and give consultation.

 

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

2023|Catalog 23-24, Sociology|

Automotive Restoration Technology Program

 

Program Purpose Statement & Goals

The department of technology commits itself to developing whole persons through experiential problem solving and the systematic study of automotive restoration technology.

The department achieves this purpose when its students:

  • Demonstrate awareness of how automotive and industrial technology changes and interacts with society.
  • Are prepared for a professional orientation for employment or advanced programs within the automotive field.
  • Acquire technical skills and craftsmanship through systematic study, experiences with technological artifacts, and the solving of technical problems.

Program Core Outcomes

Within the core classes of the Automotive Restoration Program, the department achieves its purposes when graduates:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the major technological systems of the automobile.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of authentic antique automobile restoration materials, methods and techniques.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in the use of the materials and tools necessary to complete historically authentic automobile restoration work.

Technology Major

McPherson College offers a unique degree program of authentic automotive restoration technology emphasizing hands-on skills and historical research. This program results in a unique departmental blend of contemporary technology and traditional craftsmanship. The Bachelor of Science in Automotive Restoration Technology major has five different emphases from which to choose.

Program Requirements

In order for a student to enroll in an Automotive Restoration (technology) course, they must be a full-time (at least 12 hours) student at McPherson College in the Automotive Restoration Program.

 

Automotive Restoration Technology: History Emphasis

The goal of the Automotive Restoration Technology: History emphasis is to develop graduates who are prepared for professional pursuits in the area of automotive history and/or graduate study.

Emphasis Outcomes

This program achieves its purposes when graduates:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of historical automotive research material sources, methods and techniques necessary to complete historically accurate automotive restorations.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the historical role of the automobile in society.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the role of the automobile in the history of transportation, technology and science.

Requirements

Automotive Restoration Technology Core Courses

TE 100  Intro to Restoration (2 hours)
TE 141  Engine Rebuilding (4 hours)
TE 145  Drivetrain Restoration (3 hours)
TE 152  Sheet Metal Restoration (4 hours)
TE 162  Fundamentals of Woodworking (4 hours) (OR)
TE 262  Machining Technology (3 hours)
TE 200 AR Career Exploration (2 hours)
TE 202  Research & Documentation (2 hours)
TE 271  Chassis Restoration (4 hours)
TE 275  Automotive Paint Restoration (4 hours)
TE 281  Automotive Trim (4 hours)
TE 385  Restoration Assembly Processes (4 hours)
36 hours of core courses (or 37)

History Core Courses

G-HI 130  Introductory Methods for Historical Analysis (3 hours)
G-HI 205  Social History of the Automobile (3 hours)
*G-HI/TE 333  Technology & Society (3 hours)
*HI 410  Colloquium in Historiography (3 hours)
*HI 475  Senior Thesis (3 hours)
15 hours

History Electives

At least 6 credit hours drawn from the following list:
AR/HI 245  The History of Automotive Design (3 hours)
G-HI 150  American History since 1877 (3 hours)
G-HI 220  Modern Europe (3 hours)
G-HI 236  Topics in Social History (3 hours)
G-HI 237  Topics in Political History (3 hours)
HI 301 Advanced Topics in History (3 hours)
6 hours minimum

57 hours in major (or 58)

Automotive Restoration Technology: Management Emphasis

The goal of the Automotive Restoration Technology: Management emphasis is to develop graduates who are prepared for professional pursuits and/or graduate study.

Emphasis Outcomes

This emphasis achieves its purposes when its graduates:

  • Demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and application of the principles, concepts, and tools taught within the Management emphasis.
  • Perform research, analysis, and critical thinking necessary to integrate key content from various business disciplines.
  • Perform effectively in groups.
  • Persuasively communicate business-related ideas of a variety of media and settings.

Requirements

Automotive Restoration Technology Core Courses

G-HI 205  Social History of the Automobile (3 hours)
TE 100  Intro to Restoration (2 hours)
TE 162  Fundamentals of Woodworking (4 hours) (OR)
TE 262  Machining Technology (3 hours)
TE 141  Engine Rebuilding (4 hours)
TE 145  Drivetrain Restoration (3 hours)
TE 152  Sheet Metal Restoration (4 hours)
TE 200 AR Career Exploration (2 hours)
TE 202  Research & Documentation (2 hours)
TE 271  Chassis Restoration (4 hours)
TE 275  Automotive Paint Restoration (4 hours)
TE 281  Automotive Trim (4 hours)
TE 385  Restoration Assembly Processes (4 hours)
39 hours (or 40 hours)

Business Management Courses

G-BA 130 Principles of Business Management (3 hours)
EC 202  Survey of Economics (3 hours)
AC 202  Survey of Accounting (3 hours)
BA 215  Business Law (3 hours)
BA 221  Marketing (3 hours)
BA 235  Small Business Management (3 hours)
BA 325  Financial Management I (3 hours)
BA 339  Human Resources Management (3 hours)
*BA 475  Business Strategy and Policy (3 hours)
27 hours

66 hours in major (or 67 hours)

Automotive Restoration Technology: Communication Emphasis

The goal of the Automotive Restoration Technology: Communication emphasis is to develop graduates who have the skills and technical knowledge to communicate effectively in a variety of media to an audience focused on automotive issues.

Emphasis Outcomes

This emphasis achieves its purposes when its graduates:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of methods and techniques necessary to complete and document historically accurate automotive restorations.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the historical role of the automobile in society and historical automotive research material sources.
  • Demonstrate visual, oral and written communication skills necessary to pursue a career in automotive communication, publishing or other media.
  • Understand the media of communication, including mass media and computer technologies.

Requirements

Automotive Restoration Technology Core Courses

G-HI 205  Social History of the Automobile (3 hours)
TE 100  Intro to Restoration (2 hours)
TE 162  Fundamentals of Woodworking (4 hours) (OR)
TE 262  Machining Technology (3 hours)
TE 141  Engine Rebuilding (4 hours)
TE 145  Drivetrain Restoration (3 hours)
TE 152  Sheet Metal Restoration (4 hours)
TE 200 AR Career Exploration (2 hours)
TE 202  Research & Documentation (2 hours)
TE 271  Chassis Restoration (4 hours)
TE 275  Automotive Paint Restoration (4 hours)
TE 281  Automotive Trim (4 hours)
TE 385  Restoration Assembly Processes (4 hours)
39 hours (or 40 hours)

Communication Core

G-CM 120  Intro to Human Communication (3 hours)
CM 135  Media Writing (3 hours)
G-CM 140  Public Speaking (3 hours)
CM 210  Podcasting (3 hours)
*G-CM 221  Intercultural Communication (3 hours)
CM 305  Editing, OR
CM 310  Public Relations and Social Media Campaigns (3 hours)
CM 315  Media Production (3 hours)
CM 375  Junior Seminar in Communication (1 hour)
CM 388  Career Conn. in Communication (OR)
TE 388  Career Conn. In Technology (3 hours)
*CM 475A  Senior Seminar in Service in the Community (2 hours)
*CM 475B Senior Seminar in Career Exploration (1 hour)
*EN 313  Expository Writing (OR)
EN 420  Creative Writing (3 hours)
31 hours

70 hours in major (or 71)

Automotive Restoration Technology: Art and Design Emphasis

The Automotive Restoration Technology: Art and Design emphasis is for the student who wishes to pursue a career in automotive art. This option will develop majors who possess the technical knowledge and artistic abilities necessary to execute a variety of art skills sensitively and intelligently, analyze and critique art, and relate the creative process to life in personally meaningful ways.

This degree option within the technology and art departments is oriented to meet the needs of students who (1) wish to develop and refine their aesthetic values (2) plan for careers as automotive artists (3) plan to further their art education in graduate school.

Emphasis Outcomes

This emphasis achieves its purposes when its graduates:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of history in automotive design.
  • Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to produce automotive art.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of design principles and elements.
  • Demonstrate a completed body of work in a senior exhibition.

Requirements

Automotive Restoration Technology Core Courses

G-HI 205  Social History of the Automobile (3 hours)
TE 100  Intro to Restoration (2 hours)
TE 110  Technical Drawing/CAD (3 hours)
TE 141  Engine Rebuilding (4 hours)
TE 145  Drivetrain Restoration (3 hours)
TE 152  Sheet Metal Restoration (4 hours)
TE 162  Fundamentals of Woodworking (4 hours) (OR)
TE 262  Machining Technology (3 hours)
TE 200 AR Career Exploration (2 hours)
TE 202  Research & Documentation (2 hours)
TE 271  Chassis Restoration (4 hours)
TE 275  Automotive Paint Restoration (4 hours)
TE 281  Automotive Trim (4 hours)
TE 385  Restoration Assembly Processes (4 hours)
42 hours (or 43 hours)

Art Core Courses

G-AR 101  Drawing I (2 hours)
G-AR 102  Painting I (3 hours)
AR 103  Elementary Design (3 hours)
AR 202  Painting II (2 hours)
AR 203  Photography I (2 hours)
G-AR 220  Graphic Design for Non-Art Majors (3 hours)
AR/HI 245  The History of Automotive Design (3 hours)
G-AR 311  Art History II (4 hours)
AR 312 Contemporary Themes in Art (3 hours)
AR 335  Design Software II (3 hours)
AR 475A/B  Senior Show: Studio Arts (3 hours–2 hours in fall, 1 hour in spring)
31 hours

73 hours in major (or 74)

Automotive Restoration Design Major Internship/Field experience (recommended):

TE 295/495  Field Experience (work experience in automotive Art/Design) (OR) (1 – 4 hours)
TE 388  Career Connections (Internship in automotive Art/Design) (1 – 10 hours)
1-12 hours total

Automotive Restoration Technology Emphasis

The Automotive Restoration Technology emphasis is for the student who intends to pursue the authentic restoration of vintage and classic vehicles and develop values of craftsmanship, with attention to detail and an emphasis on authenticity. Graduates will be able to reference a wide variety of processes, methods and will have research capabilities. Graduates will be able to understand the automobile as a technological system and understand its development and role in society.

Emphasis Outcomes

This emphasis achieves its purposes when its graduates:

  • Possess knowledge of historical automotive research material sources, methods and techniques necessary to complete and document historically accurate automotive restorations.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in the use of the materials and tools necessary to complete authentic automobile restoration work.
  • Demonstrate the attitudes, knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a business career in antique automobile restoration.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the historical role of the automobile in society.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of related and supporting scientific fields.

Requirements

Automotive Restoration Technology Core Courses

G-HI 205  Social History of the Automobile (3 hours)
TE 100  Intro to Restoration (2 hours)
TE 141  Engine Rebuilding (4 hours)
TE 145  Drive Train Restoration (3 hours)
TE 152  Sheet Metal Restoration (4 hours)
TE 162  Fundamentals of Woodworking (4 hours)
TE 200 AR Career Exploration (2 hours)
TE 202  Research & Documentation (2 hours)
TE 262  Machining Technology (3 hours)
TE 271  Chassis Restoration (4 hours)
TE 275  Automotive Paint Restoration (4 hours)
TE 281  Automotive Trim (4 hours)
TE 301  Materials and Processes (3 hours)
TE 360  Electrical & Electronic Systems (4 hours)
TE 385  Restoration Assembly Processes (4 hours)
TE 475A  Technology Senior Project (2 hours)
TE475B  Technology Senior Project (2 hours)
54 hours

6 credit hours from the following upper-level courses:

TE 341  Advanced Engine Rebuilding (3 hours)
TE 406 Woodworking in Automotive Coachwork (3 hours)
TE 414
Advanced Topics in Electrical and Electronic Systems (3 hours)
TE 452  Advanced Sheet Metal Restoration (3 hours)
TE 462 Advanced Manual Machining (3 hours)
TE 480  Advanced Automotive Paint Restoration (3 hours)
TE 481  Advanced Automotive Trim (3 hours)

3 credit hours from the following courses:

TE 252  Vintage Panel Restoration (3 hours)
TE 242  Re-Babbitting (spring – on demand) (3 hours)
TE 353  Finishing Touches (3 hours)
TE 380  Applied Diagnostics (3 hours)
TE 388  Internship (3 hours)

63 hours in major

Recommended Supporting Courses:

AR/HI 245  The History of Automotive Design (3 hours)
G-CH 101  Principles of General Chemistry (4 hours)
G-PH 215  General Physics (4 hours)
TE 110  Engineering Drawing/CAD (3 hours)

Special Course Options:

295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297 Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

 

2023|Catalog 23-24, Technology|

Auto Restoration Technology Course Descriptions

TE 100 Intro To Restoration

2 hours
A course designed to provide an overview of the restoration core courses, elective courses, general safety and shop knowledge. This course will provide historical information about the automotive industry, information about research, documentation and planning a restoration project. Prerequisites: None. Students must pass this course with a “C” or better to continue taking courses with TE 100 as a prerequisite. (Fall)  Students in the Automotive Restoration Program will have a maximum of two attempts at TE 100.  After failing to reach a “C” or better for the second time, they will no longer be allowed to continue in the program. 

TE 110 Engineering Drawing/CAD

3 hours
This course blends the art and science of freehand sketching and technical drafting as students are introduced to the graphic languages as a medium of technical communication. Topics include freehand (isometric) sketching and traditional (orthographic) drafting as well as an introduction to two and three dimensional CAD (Computer Assisted Drawing) tools and processes. Prerequisites: TE100. (Fall, even years)

TE 141 Engine Rebuilding

4 hours
A course designed to teach students the basics of automotive engine restoration. This course includes work in basic engine and related systems, operational theory, disassembly procedures, diagnosis of mechanical faults, evaluating engine condition, engine rebuilding techniques and engine machining processes. Students will work on vintage automobile engines, rebuilding engine components as determined by the instructor. Lab Fee. Prerequisite: TE 100, TE 262 taken concurrently or consent of the instructor. TE100 may be taken concurrently (Fall, Spring) Students must pass this course with a “C” or better in order to take TE 341.

TE 145 Drivetrain Restoration

3 hours
A course designed to teach students the basics of automotive drive train restoration. This course includes work in basic transmission and differential operational theory, disassembly procedures, diagnosis of mechanical faults and evaluating transmission and final drive condition, transmission and differential rebuilding techniques and procedures. Students will work on vintage automobile transmissions and differential assemblies as determined by the instructor. Lab Fee. TE 100 may be taken concurrently. (Fall, Spring)

TE 152 Sheet Metal Restoration

4 hours
A course designed to teach students the basics of welding and auto body panel fabrication as used in automobile restoration. This course includes work in basic welding processes, techniques, operational theory and related systems and basic auto body panel fabricating processes, techniques, tool operational theory and related fabrication systems, assembly procedures for auto body panels, and evaluating metal body component condition. Lab Fee. TE 100 may be taken concurrently. (Fall, Spring) Students must pass this course with a “C” or better in order to take TE 452.

TE 162 Fundamentals of Woodworking

4 hours
This course will introduce students to the concepts and practices of basic woodworking, including planning, fabrication and finishing, while stressing the safe operation of power tools used in basic woodworking. The course will also examine the history and evolution of the American automobile in general and automotive coach building in particular. TE 100 may be taken concurrently. Lab Fee. (Fall, Spring) Students must pass this course with a “C” or better in order to take TE 406.

TE 200 Automotive Restoration Career Exploration

2 hours
A career exploration course specifically designed for Automotive Restoration students. Students will learn about their individual strengths and how those strengths can be utilized to make the most of their abilities in the automotive restoration industry. Instruction will be given in the professional preparation of cover letters, resumes, and portfolios. A key focus will also be placed on using connections with automotive restoration industry leaders and using their expertise as guidance for students when preparing for job interviews and careers in the industry. Prerequisite: TE100 (Fall)

TE 202 Research & Documentation

2 hours
This course will introduce students to practical research, documentation and planning related to restoring antique automobiles. Prerequisite: TE100 (Spring)

TE 242 Re-Babbitting

3 hours
An intensive, lab-based course in the restoration and re-Babbitting of antique automotive engines and mechanical components. Lab Fee. Prerequisites: TE 100, TE 141, TE 262 (On Demand)

AR/HI 245 The History of Automotive Design

3 hours
Discover and examine the technological and stylistic evolution of automotive design. This course will explore ways in which automobiles, by way of their design, reflect the technology and communicate the values of the culture that produced them. Prerequisites: TE100 (Fall)

TE 252 Vintage Panel Restoration

3 hours
An intensive, lab-based course in the restoration or fabrication of antique auto body panel components (not applicable as an advanced course). Lab Fee. Prerequisites: TE 100, TE 152. (Interterm)

TE 262 Machining Technology

3 hours
An introduction to machining technology. Students are introduced to blueprint reading, precision measurement, the theory and operation of machine tools, layout techniques and the use of layout tools, the characteristics of common industrial metals used in machining processes, machine maintenance, and nontraditional machining processes. Lab work required. Lab Fee. TE 100 may be taken concurrently (Fall, Spring) Students must pass this course with a “C” or better in order to take TE 462.

TE 271 Chassis Restoration

4 hours
A course designed to teach students the basics of automotive chassis restoration. This course includes restoration work in basic frame, suspension, wheel, brake and drive train components. Operational theory and other related chassis systems, disassembly procedures, diagnosis of mechanical faults, component condition, and brake systems machining processes are also included. Students will work on vintage automobile chassis and related components. Lab Fee. Prerequisite: TE 100, TE 141, TE 145. (Fall, Spring)

TE 275 Automotive Paint Restoration

4 hours
A course designed to teach students the basics of automotive paint restoration. This course emphasizes panel preparation, paint systems and paint application, disassembly and documentation procedures, diagnosis of auto body and interior painted surface faults and evaluating the auto body condition. Students will work on vintage automobile bodies and related components. Lab Fee. TE 100 may be taken concurrently (Fall, Spring) Students must pass this course with a “C” or better in order to take TE 480

TE 281 Automotive Trim

4 hours
A course designed to teach students the basics of automotive trim (upholstery) restoration. This course includes restoration work in basic automotive seats, interior panels, convertible and other top covering restoration. Also included are disassembly procedures, diagnosis of upholstery and trim and interior faults and evaluating the interior condition. Students will work on vintage automobile interiors and related components. Lab Fee. TE 100 may be taken concurrently (Fall, Spring) Students must pass this course with a “C” or better in order to take TE 481.

TE 301 Materials and Processes

3 hours
This course will explore the history and cultural impacts of the development of engineering materials and processes. Students will gain a working knowledge of the properties and strengths of materials and gain a working knowledge of classic industrial processes and be able to apply that knowledge to the restoration and preservation of antique automotive systems and structures. This class will include field trips to various industrial facilities.. Lab Fee. Prerequisites: TE 100 (Interterm)

TE 311 Advanced Topics in Engineering Drawing/CAD

4 hours
A continuation of TE 110. Includes revolutions, tolerance dimensioning, threads and fasteners, sections, working drawings, surface and solid generation. Prerequisite: TE 110 (On Demand)

G-TE/HI 333 Technology and Society

3 hours (Language Intensive)
An introduction to the historical development of technology as part of society and culture, exploring how society and culture constrain and stimulate technologies, and how technology then shapes society and culture. Does not require previous specialized technical knowledge. This course is designed for both majors and non-majors. Prerequisite: G-EN 111 or consent of the instructor. (Fall)

TE 341 Advanced Engine Rebuilding

3 hours
This course is designed to build on the skills and knowledge gained in TE 141. This class will focus on designs and construction techniques that apply specifically to vintage engines. This class will also explore the practical application of techniques gained in TE 141 to more complex and vintage engines. Repairing damaged or severely worn components will be the focus. Rebuilt engines will then be tested on a dynamometer to assess the rebuild. Lab Fee. Prerequisites: TE 100, TE 141, TE 262 with a C or better. (Fall, Spring)

TE 353 Finishing Touches

3 hours
A course designed to teach three skills needed for the restoration of early era vehicles. Students will learn to restore and polish hard trim moldings, restore wood grained interior moldings and the art of pinstriping. Lab Fee. Prerequisites: TE 100, TE 152, TE 275 or consent of the instructor. (On Demand)

TE 360 Electrical and Electronic Systems

4 hours
This course will address the characteristics and operations of electrical and electronic systems with special emphasis on their practical application in automotive systems. The course will introduce Ohm’s Law, electrical power, circuit elements and magnetism and induction in electrical circuits. Special emphasis is given to the use of this knowledge in the repair, restoration, and preservation of classic and antique automotive electrical systems. Prerequisite: TE 100. (Fall, Spring). Students must pass this course with a “C” or better in order to take TE 414.

TE 380 Applied Diagnostics

3 hours
An exploration of vintage automotive diagnostics, including a basic overview of automotive electrical systems, fuel and ignition systems, drive train and chassis systems. Basic failure modes of these systems will be explored and will be experienced in the laboratory. Integration of the theory and practice of diagnostics will be explored in a classroom and lab setting. Proper use of diagnostic tools, diagnostic literature and methodology will be taught. Students will work with vintage automobiles and related components. Lab Fee. Prerequisites: TE 100, TE 141, TE 145, TE 271, TE 360. (Fall, Spring)

TE 385 Restoration Assembly Processes

4 hours
A course designed to allow students to refine their skills from other courses in a comprehensive format. Students will work on vintage automobiles and their components, rebuilding and reassembling these components. Hard metal trim restoration and other specialized restoration processes may also be explored depending on project vehicles available. Lab Fee. Prerequisite: TE 100, TE 141, TE 145, TE 152, TE 162, TE 262, TE 271, TE 275, TE 281 or consent of the instructor. (Fall, Spring)

TE 406 Woodworking in Automotive Coachwork

3 hours
A course designed to allow students to study intermediate woodworking techniques and processes, project planning, parts fabrication, wood finishing, and safety in the wood shop. This course covers materials and processes used in industry, both now and historically. It is the goal of this course that upon completion, students will have a working knowledge of various woodworking materials and processes and will be able to apply that knowledge to the field of automotive restoration. Prerequisites: TE 100, TE 162 with a C or better. Lab fee. (Spring, odd years)

TE 414 Advanced Electrical & Electronic Systems

3 hours
A student-guided study of the design, operation, and characteristics of specialized automotive electrical systems including gauges and instruments, clocks and radios, lighting and accessory systems, and specialized ignition systems. This course will address reading and interpreting automotive wiring diagrams and will include design and construction of authentic wiring looms and harnesses. Special emphasis is given in this course to the repair, restoration and preservation of classic and antique automobile electrical systems. Lab Fee. Prerequisites: TE 360 with a C or better. (Spring)

TE 452 Advanced Sheet Metal Restoration

3 hours
A study of special sheet metal restoration techniques, including the use of power tools in fabrication, creating complex compound curves, repairing extremely damaged components and the craft of creating custom tooling. Students will build experience and confidence in their skills in the laboratory. Lab Fee. Prerequisites: TE 100, TE 152 with a C or better. (Spring)

TE 462 Advanced Manual Machining

3 hours
This course provides the next level in blueprint reading, precision measurement, and most importantly the operation and theory of manual machine tools. There will be several specific processes that will be introduced in this course that are new and more advanced than the content of skills covered in TE262. The main topics/skills introduced in this course will include: boring on a vertical milling machine, cutting left-hand threads on a lathe, heat treating, honing, and precision measuring with Jo blocks. Prerequisites: TE100, TE262. (Fall, odd years)

*TE 475A & TE475B Technology Senior Project (Automotive Restoration Technology emphasis only)

2 hours each (Language Intensive)
Seniors have a maximum of two semesters to complete TE475A and TE475B. This course is designed to be an intensive experience combining the implementation of technical skills, research techniques, and learning to manage restoration work on one of many college-owned vintage cars or projects related to their study. The scope of each project would be described as “a significant body of work” or “a capstone experience.”  Prerequisite: TE 100, TE141, TE145, TE152, TE200. (Fall, Spring)

TE 476 Automotive Restoration Comprehensive Exam

1 hour
This course will provide a review of the foundational material covered within the core courses of the Automotive Restoration Program. Every student in the AR Program, regardless of emphasis, will take TE476 during their senior year. Assessment of the review material provided in the course will be administered by a written comprehensive exam. Hands-on assessment of the skills taught within the core classes will also be included via performance evaluations.

TE 480 Advanced Automotive Paint Restoration

3 hours
This course will build on concepts introduced in TE 275. Safety issues related to painting, paint history, special painting techniques and proper documentation of vehicle components will be a major emphasis. Students will work to increase their painting skills through practical experience. Lab Fee. Prerequisites: TE 100, TE 275 with a C or better. (Fall, Spring)

TE 481 Advanced Automotive Trim

3 hours
This course builds on the concepts introduced in TE 281. Deeper instruction will be given in automotive trim areas such as organization and setup, button tufting, leather, pattern making, and custom seat construction. Measuring, documenting, and estimating of materials to replace/restore an automotive interior will also be emphasized. Lab Fee. Prerequisites: TE 100, TE 281 with a C or better. (Fall, Spring)

Special Course Options
295/495 Field Experience (1-4 hours)
297  Study Abroad (12-16 hours)
*299/499 Independent Study (1-4 hours)
388 Career Connections (3-10 hours)
*445 Readings and Research (1-4 hours)

* Prerequisite Policy: (TE 299/499 and TE 445)
The student must submit to the appropriate instructor a written proposal of study, prior to enrollment in the course, including the following components:

  1. statement of the student’s acceptance of the goals of topics courses: to provide the opportunity for specialized unit shop teaching endorsements, the study of advanced content, and the development of teaching and training skills;
  2. goals, project plans, and a detailed weekly schedule, consistent with the course syllabus;
  3. evidence of academic maturity, self-motivation, and desire to serve as an appropriate role model for students in lower-level classes in similar content area;
  4. agreement to schedule the lab time of the topics course at the same time the lower-level course is offered; and
  5. evidence that the student has completed all lower-level course(s) in the corresponding content area with a minimum B (3.0) average and a minimum B (3.0) overall college grade point average; or permission of the instructor to waive the grade

Upon instructor approval of the proposal, an interview will be scheduled with the student to discuss the arrangement and any further details prior to granting final permission for the student to enroll in the course.

2023|Catalog 23-24, Technology|

Theatre Program

Purpose Statement

The Department of Theatre produces theatrical artists through academic instruction and a professional-based production approach. Students cultivate artistic creativity, collaboration, ethics, scholarship and professionalism.

The department achieves this purpose when its students

  • Demonstrate an understanding of theatre fundamentals, theory and history;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the components of performance skills and technical theatre;
  • Participate actively in performance and production experiences;
  • Demonstrate readiness to enter the professional world of the theatre through the completion of a senior project; and
  • Meet Kansas State Department of Education and National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education standards for licensure in the area of music or theatre (education track only).

Expectations of All Theatre Majors

  • All theatre  majors will support the production season.
  • All theatre majors will complete a review evaluation at the end of the production season.

Expectations of All Theatre Scholarship Recipients

  • All theatre scholarship recipients will participate in a majority of the department production season.
  • All recipients will complete a review evaluation to maintain the scholarship for the following year.

Theatre: Generalist Major (44 credit hours)

Theatre Licensure (46 credit hours plus required licensure courses in Curriculum and Instruction department)

Theatre Minor (19 credit hours)

Core Courses for All Theatre Majors (16 hours)

G-TH 100 Theatre as a Social Art (3 hours)
G-TH 160 Acting I (3 hours)
G-TH 170 or G-TH 270
Technical Theatre I OR Technical Theatre II (3 hours)
G-TH 160 Acting I (3 hours)
TH 375 Professional Preparation (1 hour)
TH 400 Dramaturgy (3 hours)
TH 475 Senior Project (2 hours)

Additional Courses for the Theatre Generalist (24 additional credits)

ET 101 Creativity and Innovation (3 hours)
G-TH 170 or G-TH 270 Technical Theatre I or Technical Theatre II (3 hours)
G-TH 265 Topics in Dramatic Literature (3 hours)
TH 285 Theatrical Design (3 hours)
TH 365 Stage and Technical Direction (2 hours)
G-TH 385 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature I (3-4 hours)
G-TH 390 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature II (3-4 hours)
TH 150, 250, 350, 450 Performance and Production Lab (choose 4)

Plus 3 Elective Hours from the Following List:

G-TH 110 The Business of Professional Entertainment (3 hours)
G-TH 125 Film and Culture (3 hours)
TH 336 International Theatre Tour (4 hours)
TH 410 Special Topics in Theatre (2 hours)
TH 445 Readings and Research in Theatre (1-2 hours)

Core Theatre courses plus additional curriculum for Theatre Licensure (29-31 hours, plus required licensure courses from Curriculum & Instruction department)

Theatre Courses (17-19 hours)

G-TH 170 or G-TH 270 Technical Theatre I or Technical Theatre II (3  hours)
G-TH 265 Topics in Dramatic Literature (3 hours)
TH 285 Theatrical Design (3 hours)
TH 365 Stage and Technical Direction (2 hours)
G-TH 385 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature I (3-4 hours)
G-TH 390 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature II (3-4 hours)

Communication Courses (12 hours)

G-CM 120 Introduction to Human Communication (3 hours)
G-CM 130 Interpersonal Communication (3 hours)
G-CM 140 Public Speaking (3 hours)
CM 330 Persuasion and Social Influence (3 hours)

Plus Courses from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Minor in Theatre (19 hours)

3 Hours from List A

G-TH 160 Acting I (3 hours)
G-TH 170
Technical Theatre I: Setting the Stage (3 hours)
G-TH 270 Technical Theatre II: Dressing the Stage (3 hours)

3 Hours from List B

G-TH 385 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature I (3-4 hours)
G-TH 390 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature II (3-4 hours)
G-TH 265 Topics in Dramatic Literature (A, B, C or D) (3 hours)

4 Hours from List C

TH 150 Performance and Production Lab (1 hour)
A. 
Acting
B.  Set Construction
C.  Properties
D. Sound

TH 250 Performance and Production Lab (1 hour)
A.  Box Office/Publicity and House Management
B.  Stage Management
C.  Dinner Theatre
D.  Event Planning

TH 350 Performance and Production Lab (1 hour)
A.  Design
B.  Costuming
C.  Makeup
D.  Lighting

TH 450 Performance and Production Lab (1 hour)
A.  Musical Theatre
B.  Stage Direction
C.  Choreography
D.  Technical Direction

9 Hours of Theatre Electives

2023|Catalog 23-24, Theatre|

Theatre Course Descriptions

G-TH 100 Theatre as a Social Art

3 hours
An introduction to the various aspects of performing arts, this course is designed for both the major and non-major. Students discover the art of collaboration as the element binding all productions together. Major sections covered include structure, setting, style, genre, and audience analysis. Students will attend area productions to observe the various levels of presentation, i.e. educational, professional, community, etc. (Fall, odd years)

G-TH 110 The Business of Professional Entertainment

3 hours
For this travel course, students experience a cultural theatre center such as Times Square in New York City. Students will study professional theatre from the audience, as well as different areas of the professional theatre industry that work together to produce high-quality productions. Travel costs required. (Interterm, even years)

G-TH 125 Film and Culture

3 hours
This course is designed to give students analytical tools to study film and the cinema. Students will study narrative styles, genres, history, theory, and film analysis. Students will also learn to analyze the philosophy behind the content and how it applies to modern culture.(Fall, odd years)

G-TH 136 Theatre Tour

3 hours, by consent of Instructor
Travel, lecture, and performance tour of a region of the U.S.  Study involves the functions of performing art and its interaction with culture, emotion, language, dance, art, sculpture and architecture. Travel costs required. (Offered occasionally)

TH 150 Performance and Production Lab

1 hour (can be repeated), by consent of Instructor
These practica are designed to give students a hands-on approach to learning and experiencing the various areas of performing arts. Each practica will be supervised by a member of the departmental faculty, and the student will need to complete a journal or portfolio of the work accomplished. (Offered every term)

A.  Acting
The student will earn credit for rehearsing and performing in a departmental production.

B.  Set Construction
The student will assume the position of master carpenter/crew  head for the construction of a departmental production. Student could assist the designer in drafting, supervise the scene shop during the construction period, and be a member of the production staff, attending appropriate meetings in the pre-production aspects of the show.

C.  Properties
The student will accept the responsibilities of prop master for a departmental production. This may include some property design. The student will be a member of the production staff, attending appropriate meetings in the pre-production aspects of the show.

D.  Sound
The student will be responsible for securing all sound effects, underscoring, and setting up all amplification for a departmental production. Student will also run sound for the production and be a member of the production staff, attending appropriate meetings in the pre-production aspects of the show.

G-TH 160 Acting I

3 hours
Students develop confidence and leadership skills as they pertain to aural performance. Students will practice and perform basic ideas through theatre monologues, poems, song lyrics or prose. Diction, enunciation, dialect, and a basic introduction to the International Phonetic Alphabet will be covered as well as charisma, charm, professionalism and marketability. (Spring)

TH 161 Yoga

1 hour (can be repeated once for credit)
Introductory class for students. Students will utilize their own body instrument and increase flexibility while strengthening their muscle core and breath capacity. (Spring)

G-TH 170 Technical Theatre I: Setting the Stage

3 hours
The study of a wide variety of “craft/skills” used when preparing a script for performance. The student work will focus on basic set construction practices and scene painting techniques. Other areas covered include the hanging and focusing of lighting instruments, basic costume stitching, the creation of sound effects and the creation of stage properties. The student will work on productions to be staged by the department during the current season. Course has $30 lab and equipment fee. (Fall, Spring)

TH 250 Performance and Production Lab

1 hour (can be repeated), by consent of Instructor
These practica are designed to give students a hands-on approach to learning and experiencing the various areas of performing arts. Each practica will be supervised by a member of the departmental faculty, and the student will need to complete a journal or portfolio of the work accomplished. (Offered every term)

A.  Box Office/Publicity/House Management
Student will take charge of the front-of-house responsibilities for a departmental production. This includes press releases, First-Nighters information, lobby displays, program copy, securing ushers and coordinating with dinner staff. The student will be a member of the production staff, attending appropriate meetings in the pre-production aspects of the show.

B.  Stage Management
Production experience in the professional duties of stage manager, including participation as stage manager in pre-production, rehearsal, and performance phases of a production. The student will be a senior member of the production staff, attending meetings in the pre-production aspects of the show. This practicum is required for all majors.

C.  Dinner Theatre
The student will work with the director of First-Nighters in establishing a menu, creating shopping lists, organizing the kitchen, supervising workers, creating décor for dining space and overseeing clean-up of the kitchen and dining space. The student will be a member of the production staff, attending appropriate meetings in the pre-production aspects of the show.

D.  Event Planning
The student will work with building supervisors and organizing leaders to plan and execute events in the Brown, Friendship and Mingenback complex. The student will be responsible for coordinating the events and planning the set-ups and tear-downs.

G-TH 265 Topics in Dramatic Literature

3 hours (Language Intensive)
This course will explore the structure of dramatic works. Emphasis will be placed on the process of interpreting a text and translating it to the performing arts. Students will strengthen skills in reading, listening, writing, script and other character interpretation as they develop an appreciation of dramatic literature and the author’s art and craft. These topics are offered on a rotating basis: Banned and Censored Scripts; LGBTQ Theatre; African-American Theatre; and Women’s Studies Theatre. (Spring)

G-TH 270 Technical Theatre II: Dressing the Stage

3 hours
The study of a wide variety of “craft/skills” used when preparing a script for performance. The student work will focus on basic costume construction. Other areas covered include makeup and prop-making techniques. The student will work on productions to be staged by the department during the current season. The course carries a $30 lab and equipment fee. (Spring, odd years)

TH 285 Theatrical Design

3 hours
Students will study the basic concepts for design as it applies to scenery, costumes, lighting, and sound. Students will be working as a team of designers, moving from area to area but also allowing for concentration in at least one of the above areas of the theatrical design. Students will focus on designs for the department’s season of concerts, plays, musicals, senior recitals or musical reviews. (Fall, even years)

TH 336 International Theatre Tour

4 hours, by consent of Instructor
Travel, lecture, and performance tour of a region outside the U.S.  Study involves the functions of performing art and its interaction with culture, emotion, language, dance, art, sculpture and architecture. Travel costs required. (Offered occasionally)

TH 350 Performance and Production Lab

2 hours
These practica are designed to give students a hands-on approach to learning and experiencing the various areas of performing arts. Each practica will be supervised by a member of the departmental faculty, and the student will need to complete a journal or portfolio of the work accomplished. (Offered every term)

A.  Design
The student will serve as either scenic or costume designer for a departmental production. The student will work with the director from the early stages of the pre-production meetings, present the designs at the first production meeting and will be a member of the production staff, attending appropriate meetings in the pre-production aspects of the show.

B.  Costuming
The student will assume the responsibilities of the costume shop supervisor for a departmental show. This will include assisting the designer in shopping for fabric, patterning, cutting, and supervising crew members in the construction of the garments. The student will be a member of the production staff, attending appropriate meetings in the pre-production aspects of the show.

C.  Makeup
The student will be responsible for designing and realizing the makeup designs for a departmental production. The student will be a member of the production staff, attending appropriate meetings in the pre-production aspects of the show.

D.  Lighting
The student will act as lighting designer for a departmental production. This will also include the supervision of hanging the design and running lights for the production. The student will be a member of the production staff, attending appropriate meetings in the pre-production aspects of the show.

TH 365 Stage and Technical Direction

2 hours
Students will learn the ins and outs of directing and leadership for productions. The course will cover budget-making, scheduling and calendar organization, and best practices for time management as well as stage directing basics like blocking, staging pictures, and tips for working with actors. Emphasis is given to the collaborative model practiced in our theatre season. (Fall, even years)

TH 375 Professional Preparation

1 hour
Students at the Junior level will meet bi-monthly throughout their Junior year in a seminar setting and will:

  • clarify and focus their major goals–academic and vocational
  • formulate their Senior project proposal
  • further develop their career résumés and/or portfolios
  • discuss internships

G-TH 385 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature I

3-4 hours (Language Intensive)
This course will allow students to study music and theatre in relationships, thereby gaining greater awareness of how being human is experienced and expressed through the creative process. This course assumes a holistic approach and affords students the unique opportunity to study connections between the performing arts. Students will be introduced to selected major characteristics and issues in American, Western European, ethnic, and world music and theatre from Greek to the mid-19th century. Students seeking licensure in music will enroll in the additional credit hour to prepare for the Praxis. (Fall, odd years)

TH 388 Career Connections in Theatre

1-4 hours (repeatable)
Students who have arranged for an internship may earn college credit for their  hours worked at an approved placement. Coordination between the theatre department and the Office of Career Services must be approved prior to the beginning of placement. (Offered every term)

G-TH 390 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature II

3-4 hours (Language Intensive)
Part two is a continued study of the music and theatre relationship. This course surveys the performing arts in the last 200 years, highlighting the most important changes and challenges to the field in that time. Students pursuing licensure in music will enroll in the additional credit to prepare for the Praxis. (Fall, even years)

TH 400 Dramaturgy

3 hours
An examination of the major historic period styles in acting, design, and directing. Students will practice the research-based approach of theatrical production. (Spring, even years)

TH 410 Special Topics in Theatre

2 hours, by Instructor approval
This course is designed to give students the opportunity to experience a variety of topics in the performing arts that could be linked to the production calendar or topics that are not covered in the regular series of courses. Examples might include a seminar covering a specific playwright to be produced, an acting style being used in the staging of a production, or rendering skills needed to prepare a portfolio. (Offered every term)

TH 445 Readings and Research in Theatre

1-2 hours, by Instructor approval
This course is designed to give students a chance to research a specific area of theatre. The topic is agreed upon by the instructor and the student together in the hopes of giving students a depth of research knowledge for a particular area. Examples might include a seminar covering specific designer works, all of the plays by Caryl Churchill, or the acting and writing styles of the 1880s. (Offered every term)

TH 450 Performance and Production Lab

1 hour (can be repeated), by consent of Instructor
These practica are designed to give students a hands-on approach to learning and experiencing the various areas of performing arts. Each practica will be supervised by a member of the departmental faculty, and the student will  need to complete a journal of the work accomplished. (Offered every term)

A.  Musical Theatre
The student will be given credit for rehearsing and performing in a departmental production of a musical or musical revue.

B.  Directing
The student will take responsibility for directing a show not connected to another class. Student will be in charge of all aspects, from budget through supervision and selection of cast and crews.

C.  Choreography
The student will receive credit for planning, teaching and rehearsing the movement for a performance. Student will be in charge of integrating the blocking with the movement and support the piece as part of the directing team.

D.  Technical Direction
The student will take responsibility for directing the technical aspects of a show not connected to another class. Student will be in charge of all aspects, from budget through supervision of crews and designs.

TH 475 Senior Project

2 hours
Each performing arts major is required to complete this capstone experience. Four of the more popular projects are listed, but each student is allowed to create a project to match his/her interests and expertise in theatre. Students seeking licensure in music or speech/theatre may use student teaching as their senior project. (Offered every term)

Directing Project
Intensive development of directing skills and process, including text analysis and exploration of craft fundamentals as a basis for director/actor/designer collaboration and effective staging, with particular emphasis on challenges of style in text and production. Examination of process of conceptualization in dramatic production; centrality of theatric conceptualization in interpretation of dramatic text. Students direct a full-length play under observation, with discussion and critique of work in progress with faculty advisor. Prerequisite: PA 365 Directing and Conducting.

Acting Project. The student will be involved in the selection of the role in one of the department’s productions for a culminating acting experience. Student will be involved with the director in examining the script, creating the approach to the show, and setting goals for the production. An intensive rehearsal process as the student prepares the role, in collaboration with the entire production team and cast. Prerequisite: G-PA 160 Performing for the Stage.

Design Project
Complete responsibility for the design of one of the following elements for a departmental production, depending on the student’s primary area of interest: sets, costumes, lighting, makeup, or sound. Student will be working in collaboration with the director and other designers assigned to the production. Prerequisite: PA 370 Theatrical Design.

2023|Catalog 23-24, Theatre|

Master of Education Degree

The graduate level courses offered by the Curriculum and Instruction Department prepare candidates to grow professionally as service-oriented educators. Choose any of the following options: an ESOL licensure only, SPED licensure only or combine those programs with the core graduate courses in education to earn the M.Ed.

These three programs (ESOL licensure, SPED licensure, and the core) are provided by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and, like the undergraduate Teacher Education Program, are governed by the Teacher Education Board.

Teacher Education Program

The Teacher Education Program at McPherson College is accredited by the Kansas State Department of Education (900 SW Jackson Street, Topeka, Kansas 66612); and by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), www.ncate.org (now known as Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP), www.caepnet.org). This accreditation covers the Teacher Education Program at McPherson College; however, the accreditation does not include individual education courses that the institution offers to P-12 educators for professional development, re-licensure, or other purposes.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Teacher Education Program of McPherson College is to develop service-oriented educators who effectively blend the art and science of teaching.

Goals, Objectives, and Dispositions

Goal I: The candidate has the knowledge bases necessary to be an effective teacher in her/his field.

To accomplish this goal, the service-oriented educator will:

Objectives:

  1. Acquire a broad liberal arts knowledge base.
  2. Demonstrate proficiency in his/her major area of licensure.
  3. Acquire effective strategies of teaching in all appropriate content areas and for all learners.
  4. Recognize how students learn and develop.

Disposition: Appreciate the connections between various areas of knowledge and commit to continuous learning.

Goal II: The candidate can apply effective teaching strategies to meet the needs of all learners.

To accomplish this goal, the service-oriented educator will:

Objectives:

  1. Use appropriate best practices for specific content areas and for diverse learners.
  2. Reflect upon his/her teaching and analyze the practices.
  3. Demonstrate understanding and use of formative and summative assessments and make modifications based on them.
  4. Provide motivational techniques based on students’ developmental and environmental needs.

Disposition: Value and respect students’ varied talents and abilities and project enthusiasm for teaching all learners.

Goal III: The candidate fosters relationships and collaborates with school constituencies. To accomplish this goal, the service-oriented educator will:

Objectives:

  1. Communicate effectively in both written and oral formats and through the use of technology
  2. Solicit input from students, parents, colleagues, and the greater community.
  3. Act on information received from stakeholders.

Disposition: Value the many ways in which people seek to communicate and encourage various modes of communication.

In addition to meeting the Goals, Objectives, and Dispositions of The Teacher Education Program, the graduate-level program must also meet the additional graduate-level Student Learning Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate graduate-level problems solving and analytical skills.
  2. (Re)Establish a personal philosophy of education.
  3. Develop graduate-level action research and writing skills.
  4. Develop an understanding of current research, best practices, and new approaches to teaching and/or learning.

Graduate Admission Procedures

Procedures for admittance into the Teacher Education Program and Student Teaching are outlined in detail in the Advisor/Advisee Handbook and/or the Policies and Procedure Manual. These handbooks are available in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. College advisors also have copies of these handbooks. The handbook is also available online. Students should read the handbook or consult their advisors for a detailed account of admission requirements and procedures.

Graduate Admission Requirements and Process

Required of all applicants:

  1. Application (no fee required)
  2. Proof of bachelor’s degree in the form of an official transcript from an accredited institution indicating the date the degree was awarded
  3. GPA of 3.0

Required for those seeking M.Ed. degree:

  1. Essay stating professional goals (approximately 300 words)
  2. Two letters of recommendation

All materials are reviewed by a subcommittee of the Teacher Education Board. The subcommittee’s recommendation is forwarded to Teacher Education Board for final approval.

Conditional Admission

Candidates not meeting the GPA requirement identified above may be admitted to the program on a conditional status assuming there is reasonable evidence of candidate success. Conditionally admitted candidates must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their first six hours in order to remain in the program.

Licensure Requirements

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is the licensing authority in Kansas. According to Kansas regulations, the ESOL and SPED endorsements are considered added endorsements and require a teacher to already hold a license in another endorsement area prior to obtaining these endorsements.

Those teachers choosing to add the ESOL endorsement must pass Praxis licensure exam 5361 with a minimum score of 138.

As a general rule, the ESOL endorsement will be added at the level (k-6, 6-12, or pk-12) at which the regular license is held. It is possible, in some cases, to add the endorsement at another level. Please consult the licensure officer (Dr. Kirchner) for details.

It is possible to seek the licensure-only option for the ESOL endorsement for candidates who do not desire the graduate courses or who already hold a master’s degree.

A provisional license is available for candidates who have been hired to teach ESOL classes while simultaneously completing the licensure coursework. A provisional license is good for two years and may be renewed once with proof of successful completion of coursework. In order to obtain the provisional license a candidate must 1) already hold a valid teaching license, 2) have completed at least 50 percent of the ESOL program, 3) complete a plan of study, and 4) show proof of employment in the area.

Those students seeking the SPED endorsement must complete the special education content area test, Praxis II. Students will complete the 5543 Special Education Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications test with a minimum score of 155.

It is possible to seek the licensure-only option for the SPED endorsement for candidates who do not desire the graduate courses or who already hold a master’s degree.

Licensure in Kansas

In the state of Kansas, teaching is considered to be a profession. Therefore, the Kansas State Department of Education has a Professional Practices Commission to exercise disciplinary and advisory functions over those requesting licensure or working as a certified professional. Teacher licensure can be denied, suspended, or revoked for both felony and non-felony actions.

McPherson College is in compliance with the federal Title II reporting guidelines.

Student Responsibility

Students are ultimately responsible for following procedures and proper sequencing of events leading to professional development and licensure. It is important for students who plan to enter the Teacher Education Program at McPherson College to contact the chair of the program and/or the appropriate advisor.

ESOL Licensure Program

The ESOL Graduate Licensure Program will prepare you for KSDE ESOL endorsement at the k-6, 6-12, or pk-12 levels. This 15 credit hour program is geared to educators wishing to work with culturally and linguistically diverse students, but will also enhance the teaching skills for those in the regular classroom.

The ESOL licensure courses can be taken in conjunction with the core courses or, for those seeking licensure only, can be taken as a stand-alone program. Although most candidates taking courses will be licensed teachers, the ESOL graduate certificate has open enrollment for anyone wishing to learn more about this field, such as those working with adult English language learners.

Required courses: (all courses are 3 credit hours)

      • CI 628 Methods for Teaching ESOL
      • CI 638 Language Assessment
      • CI 648 Applied Linguistics
      • CI 658 Cultural Diversity
      • CI 668 Practicum

To receive the KSDE ESOL endorsement, candidates must be already hold an active Kansas teaching license and pass the English to Speakers of Other Languages Praxis exam 5361 with a minimum score of 138. See more information under Licensure Requirements.

SPED Licensure Program

The SPED Licensure Program will prepare you for KSDE high-incidence (formerly adaptive) Special Education endorsement at the k-6, pk-12, or 6-12 levels. This program is designed for educators wishing to work with students who have mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbances, high functioning autism spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD, and learning disabilities, but will also enhance the skills of those who chose to remain in the regular classroom.

The SPED licensure courses can be taken in conjunction with the core courses or, for those seeking licensure only, can be taken as a stand-alone licensure program.

Required courses for k-6

      • CI 610 Foundations for Special Education Services (4 credit hours)
        CI 615 General Methods for Special Education Services (4 credit hours)
      • SE 731 or SE 733 k-6 Clinical Experience or Internship (Fall, Spring)

Required courses for 6-12

      • SE 661 and SE 671 6-12 Methods and Field Experience (Fall, Spring)
      • SE 771 or SE 773 6-12 Clinical Experience or Internship (Fall, Spring)

Required courses for pk-12

      • SE 641 and SE 651 pk-3 Methods and Field Experience (Fall, Spring)
      • SE 681 and SE 691 4-12 Methods and Field Experience (Fall, Spring)
      • SE 751 or SE 753 pk-12 Clinical Experience or Internship (Fall, Spring)

This program is designed to be completed in two academic years, including one summer.

To receive the KSDE High-Incidence SPED endorsement, candidates must already hold an active Kansas teaching license and pass the Special Education: Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications Praxis exam 5543 with a minimum score of 155. See more information under Licensure Requirements.

Graduate Courses

The core graduate courses are designed around a project-based model in which students identify an area of interest, explore possibilities for change, implement the change, and report the results. Students focus on a perceived problem in their local environment or experiment with a new teaching technique. The courses are sequenced to walk students step-by-step through the project while simultaneously providing the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to make wise decisions.

A sub-thread running through the courses is that of the teacher as leader. Activities built into the courses will help students gain confidence to become better advocates for their students, colleagues, and district.

Required courses: (all courses are 3 credit hours)

      • CI 615 Foundations in Education (Fall)
      • CI 620 Fundamentals of Action Research (Spring)
      • CI 625 Curriculum and Instruction (Summer)
      • CI 640 Teacher as Leader (Fall)
      • CI 675 Master’s Research Project and Capstone Experience (Spring)

The 15 credit hours of core courses along with the 15 credit hours in the ESOL graduate licensureprogram comprise the needed courses for the M.Ed.

 

 

2023|04 Degree Programs, Catalog 23-24|

Graduate Program and Courses in Education

The graduate level courses offered by the Curriculum and Instruction Department prepare candidates to grow professionally as service-oriented educators. Choose any of the following options:  ESOL licensure only, SPED licensure only, or combine one of those programs with the core graduate courses in education to earn the M.Ed.

These three programs (ESOL licensure, SPED licensure, and the core) are provided by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and, like the undergraduate Teacher Education Program, are governed by the Teacher Education Board.

Teacher Education Program

The Teacher Education Program at McPherson College is accredited by the Kansas State Department of Education (900 SW Jackson Street, Topeka, Kansas 66612); and by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), www.ncate.org (now known as Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), www.caepnet.org). This accreditation covers the Teacher Education Program at McPherson College; however, the accreditation does not include individual education courses that the institution offers to P-12 educators for professional development, relicensure, or other purposes.

Licensure Disclosure

McPherson College prepares future teachers for licensure in the state of Kansas. The program requirements may not meet licensure requirements for other states. Students planning to seek teacher licensure outside of Kansas are strongly encouraged to meet with the McPherson College Licensure Officer to discuss future plans. McPherson College Teacher Education Program has not made a determination as to whether our program’s curriculum meets the state’s educational requirements for the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Teacher Education Program of McPherson College is to develop service-oriented educators who effectively blend the art and science of teaching.

Goals, Objectives, and Dispositions

Goal I: The candidate has the knowledge bases necessary to be an effective teacher in her/his field.

To accomplish this goal, the service-oriented educator will:

Objectives:

  1. Acquire a broad liberal arts knowledge base.
  2. Demonstrate proficiency in his/her major area of licensure.
  3. Acquire effective strategies of teaching in all appropriate content areas and for all learners.
  4. Recognize how students learn and develop.

Disposition: Appreciate the connections among various areas of knowledge and commit to continuous learning.

Goal II: The candidate can apply effective teaching strategies to meet the needs of all learners.

To accomplish this goal, the service-oriented educator will:

Objectives:

  1. Use appropriate best practices for specific content areas and for diverse learners.
  2. Reflect upon his/her teaching and analyze the practices.
  3. Demonstrate understanding and use of formative and summative assessments and make modifications based on them.
  4. Provide motivational techniques based on students’ developmental and environmental needs.

Disposition: Value and respect students’ varied talents and abilities and project enthusiasm for teaching all learners.

Goal III: The candidate fosters relationships and collaborates with school constituencies. To accomplish this goal, the service-oriented educator will:

Objectives:

  1. Communicate effectively in both written and oral formats and through the use of technology.
  2. Solicit input from students, parents, colleagues, and the greater community.
  3. Act on information received from stakeholders.

Disposition: Value the many ways in which people seek to communicate and encourage various modes of communication.

In addition to meeting the Goals, Objectives, and Dispositions of the Teacher Education Program, the graduate-level program must also meet the additional graduate-level Student Learning Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate graduate-level problem solving and analytical skills.
  2. (Re-)Establish a personal philosophy of education.
  3. Develop graduate-level action research and writing skills.
  4. Develop an understanding of current research, best practices, and new approaches to teaching and/or learning.

Licensure Requirements

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is the licensing authority in Kansas. According to Kansas regulations, the ESOL and SPED endorsements are considered added endorsements and require a teacher to already hold a license in another endorsement area prior to getting these endorsements. Those teachers choosing to add the ESOL endorsement must pass Praxis licensure exam 5361 with a minimum score of 138.

As a general rule, the ESOL endorsement will be added at the level (k-6, 6-12, or pk-12) at which the regular license is held. It is possible in some cases to add the endorsement at another level. Please consult the licensure officer (Dr. Kirchner) for details.

It is possible to seek the licensure-only option for the ESOL endorsement for candidates who do not desire the graduate courses or who already hold a master’s degree.

A provisional license is available for candidates who have been hired to teach ESOL classes while simultaneously completing the licensure coursework. A provisional license is good for two years and may be renewed once with proof of successful completion of coursework. In order to obtain the provisional license a candidate must 1) already hold a valid teaching license, 2) have completed at least 50 percent of the ESOL program, 3) complete a plan of study, and 4) show proof of employment in the area.

Those students seeking the SPED endorsement must complete the special education content area test, Praxis II. Students will complete the 5543 Special Education Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications test with a minimum score of 155.

It is possible to seek the licensure-only option for the SPED endorsement for candidates who do not desire the graduate courses or who already hold a master’s degree.

Student Responsibility

Students are ultimately responsible for following procedures and proper sequencing of events leading to professional development and licensure. It is important for students who plan to enter the Teacher Education Program at McPherson College to contact the chair of the program and/or the appropriate advisor.

Licensure in Kansas

In the state of Kansas, teaching is considered to be a profession. Therefore, the Kansas State Department of Education has a Professional Practices Commission to exercise disciplinary and advisory functions over those requesting licensure or working as a certified professional. Teacher licensure can be denied, suspended, or revoked for both felony and non-felony actions.

McPherson College is in compliance with the federal Title II reporting guidelines.

See Licensure Disclosure statement above.

ESOL Licensure Program

The ESOL Licensure Program prepares students for KSDE ESOL endorsement at the k-6, 6-12, or pk-12 levels. This 15-credit-hour program is geared to educators wishing to work with culturally and linguistically diverse students but will also enhance the teaching skills for those in the regular classroom.

The ESOL licensure courses can be taken in conjunction with the core courses or, for those seeking licensure only, can be taken as a stand-alone program.

Required courses:

  • CI 628 Methods for Teaching ESOL (3 hours)
  • CI 638 Language Assessment(3 hours)
  • CI 648 Applied Linguistics (3 hours)
  • CI 658 Cultural Diversity(3 hours)
  • CI 668 Practicum(3 hours)

To receive the KSDE ESOL endorsement, candidates must already hold an active Kansas teaching license and pass the English to Speakers of Other Languages Praxis exam 5361 with a minimum score of 138. See more information below under Licensure Requirements.

SPED Licensure Program

SPED Licensure Program prepares students for KSDE SPED endorsement at the k-6, 6-12, or pk-12 levels. This 15-credit-hour program is geared to educators wishing to work with culturally and linguistically diverse students but will also enhance the teaching skills for those in the regular classroom.

The SPED licensure courses can be taken in conjunction with the core courses or, for those seeking licensure only, can be taken as a stand-alone licensure program.

Required courses: K-6

  • SE 610 Foundations for Special Education Services (4 hours)
  • SE 615 General Methods for Special Education Services (4 hours)
  • SE 645 Behavior Management (2 hours)
  • SE 621 K-6 Methods for SPED and Field Experience (5 hours)
  • SE 731 K-6 Clinical Experience (6 hours) OR SE 733 Grades K-6 Internship (6 hours)
  • ELA and math methods courses are also required

Required courses: 6-12

  • SE 610 Foundations for Special Education Services (4 hours)
  • SE 615 General Methods for Special Education Services (4 hours)
  • SE 645 Behavior Management (2 hours)
  • SE 661 Grades 6-12 Methods for Special Needs and Field Experience (5 hours)
  • SE 771 Grades 6-12 Clinical Experience (6 hours) OR SE 773 Grades 6-12 Internship (4-6 hours)

Required Courses: Pk-12

  • SE 610 Foundations for Special Education Services (4 hours)
  • SE 615 General Methods for Special Education Services (4 hours)
  • SE 645 Behavior Management (2 hours)
  • SE 641 Grades PreK-3 Methods for Special Needs and Field Experience (4-5 hours)
  • SE 681 Grades 4-12 Methods for Special Needs and Field Experience (4-5 hours)
  • SE 751 PreK-12 Clinical Experience (4-6 hours) OR SE 753 PreK-12 Internship (4-6 hours)
  • ELA and math methods courses are also required

Graduate Courses

The core graduate courses are designed around a project-based model in which students identify an area of interest, explore possibilities for change, implement the change, and report the results. Students can focus on what they perceive to be a problem in their local environment or experiment with a new teaching technique. The courses are sequenced to walk students step by step through the project while simultaneously providing the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to make wise decisions.

A sub-thread running through the courses is that of the teacher as leader. Activities built into the courses help students gain confidence to become a better advocate for their students, colleagues, and district.

Required courses:

  • CI 615 Foundations in Education (3 hours)
  • CI 620 Fundamentals of Action Research (3 hours)
  • CI 625 Curriculum and Instruction (3 hours)
  • CI 640 Teacher as Leader (3 hours)
  • CI 675 Master’s Project and Capstone (3 hours)

The 15 credit hours of core courses along with the 15 credit hours in the ESOL graduate licensure program or the approximately 21 credit hours in SPED constitute the needed courses for the M.Ed.

Applicants for M.Ed. or Graduate Courses in Education

Students may choose any of the following options when applying to the graduate program: ESOL licensure courses, SPED licensure courses, or combine those courses with the core graduate courses to pursue a M.Ed. degree.

Applying for ESOL licensure and/or SPED licensure:

  • Application for Admission
  • Official college transcript showing bachelor’s degree earned and any graduate level coursework

Applying to M.Ed. Program with ESOL or SPED licensure:

  • Application for Admission
  • Official transcripts for all colleges attended and showing bachelor’s degree earned
  • College GPA of 3.0
  • Essay stating professional goals (300 words); please email to [email protected]
  • Two letters of recommendation

All materials are reviewed by a subcommittee of the Teacher Education Board. The subcommittee’s recommendation is forwarded to Teacher Education Board for final approval.

Conditional Admission

Candidates not meeting the GPA requirement identified above may be admitted to the program on a conditional status assuming there is reasonable evidence of candidate success. Conditionally admitted candidates must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their first six hours in order to remain in the program.

Transfer of Graduate Credits

After acceptance into the M.Ed. program, students who have previously completed graduate credit hours at another accredited institution may apply to have up to 15 graduate credit hours accepted toward the M.Ed. degree, as long as those credits have been earned in the last 10 years at the time of entry into the master’s program.

To request that previously-earned credits be considered for transfer, the student must submit a final official graduate transcript along with a formal request listing the credits from the transcript the student wants considered for transfer. The formal request should include descriptions of the coursework and how it meets the requirements of the M.Ed. program at McPherson College.

Only courses in which a grade of B or better has been earned will be accepted for credit toward the M.Ed. degree. Consequently, a student’s grade point average depends upon courses attempted at McPherson College only. The director of the M.Ed. program at McPherson College evaluates which courses qualify for transfer. The program director may request further information from the student–for example, course descriptions or syllabi–before making a recommendation to the registrar. With the program director’s recommendation in hand, the registrar makes the final decision about the transfer credits. The registrar’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.

Master of Education Course Descriptions

CI 615 Foundations of Education

3 cr hrs
This course explores the philosophical underpinnings and historical influences that shaped American education. The legal framework of our nation’s diverse, multicultural schools will be studied. Students will construct a well-informed, fully-developed personal philosophy of education statement.

CI 620 Fundamentals of Action Research

3 cr hrs
This course provides a structured approach to the practice of action research. Educators learn how to identify relevant issues, become involved in collaborative inquiry, and use data and research to inform their practice, improve student academic success, and contribute to positive change in their schools. Students will begin to apply action-research methodologies in their own environments.

CI 625 Curriculum and Instruction

3 cr hrs
This course begins with a historical look at the development of the curriculum in American schools followed by a review of current curricular trends. After exploring what is taught, attention is turned to how it is taught. Multiple approaches of instructions will be explored; each based on a different philosophical theory.

CI 628 Methods for Teaching ESOL

3 cr hrs
This course is designed to prepare candidates to teach English to non-native speakers at either the K-6 level or the 6-12 level. Students will be exposed to ESOL specific teaching techniques and lesson and unit planning. Candidates will research current teaching trends and compile a resource file.

CI 638 Language Assessment

3 cr hrs
This graduate level course is designed to prepare candidates to assess and evaluate language focusing on English language learners. Candidates will select, design, and implement a variety of formal and informal assessments based on appropriate assessment theory (reliability, validity, and practicality). Legal issues, state testing protocol, evaluation of district level assessment systems, and the multiple purposes of assessment (placement, exit, etc.) will be reviewed.

CI 640 Teacher as Leader

3 cr hrs
Teacher as Leader is a graduate course designed to explore several roles that instructional leaders engage in, such as classroom leader, team leader, school leader, organization leader, and/or professional leader. Theoretical perspectives and research examining issues related to group dynamics, motivation, communication, and human relations are explored. Students will look at organizational change, ethical decision-making, team building and adult learning theory.

CI 648 Applied Linguistics

3 cr hrs
This graduate level course introduces candidates to language as a system with a focus on English language learners. Candidates will learn the branches of linguistics; phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics and review first- and second-language acquisition theory.

CI 658 Cultural Diversity

3 cr hrs
This graduate level course introduces candidates to the diverse racial, cultural and ethnic make-up of the country and region. Candidates will be challenged to explore and confront biases found in education and in their personal life. School policies and procedures, curriculum and activities will be analyzed. Candidates will draft a multicultural stance they could implement to promote change.

CI 668 ESOL Practicum

3 cr hrs
A field experience and seminar for those seeking licensure in ESOL as part of the advanced program. In this culminating course, candidates will have the opportunity to apply knowledge learned in previous courses.  Emphasis is placed on teaching, assessing, and evaluating English learners. Application to the teacher education program is required.

CI 675 M.Ed. Project and Capstone

3 cr hrs
In this course, educators will use collected data to enact change. At the end of the implementation period, students will engage in reflective assessment of themselves and their program.

SE 610 Foundations for Special Education Services

4 cr hrs
Our ultimate goal is to create classrooms in which future citizens can learn to respect individual differences, value diversity, and get along with one another. This course provides a safe environment in which to explore the history and philosophy of special education, policies and procedures in special education, and diversity in the classroom. (Fall & Spring)

SE 615 General Methods for Special Education Services

4 cr hrs
This course addresses assessments used for eligibility, placement and curricular decisions (Module A), the special education process from pre-identification through individual program implementation (Module B), and effective collaboration and communication skills with diverse learners, families, colleagues, and community stakeholders (Module C). The course includes a supervised field experience (Module D) including a mandatory observation of the SPED 615 student’s teaching completed by the ACCK instructor. Prerequisite:  SPED 610. (Fall & Spring)

SE 621 Grades K-6 Methods for Special Needs and Field Experience

5 cr hrs
This course addresses IEP implementation using evidence-based practices.  Emphasis is on collaborative teaching models.  Topics of study include lesson planning, basic skill and content area instruction, adapting methods and materials, and progress monitoring.  SPED 631:  Grades K-6 Field Experience must be taken concurrently.  SPED 631 will involve 15 to 20 contact hours with school aged children including 10+ intervention sessions with one student with high-incidence special education needs. Prerequisites: SPED 610 & 615 (Fall & Spring)

SE 641 Grades PreK-3 Methods for Special Needs and Field Experience

5 cr hrs
Grades PreK-3 Methods addresses matching strategies to individual and group needs using evidence-based practices.  Topics of study include learning plans, embedded instruction within a tiered framework, setting up the environment, adapting methods and materials, positive behavior supports, and progress monitoring. (Fall & Spring)

SE 645 Behavior Management

2 cr hrs
This course addresses culturally sensitive methods for preventing and intervening with problem behavior. Topics include positive behavior intervention and supports, classroom management, social skills instruction, student support meetings, and functional behavioral analysis, non-averse intervention, and behavior intervention plans. (Fall, Interterm, & Spring)

SE 661 Grades 6 – 12 Methods for Special Needs and Field Experience

5 cr hrs
This course covers both general and specific methods used by special educators to teach students with disabilities.  The course includes transition planning and IEP development, instructional planning, and selection of instructional methods to meet the needs of students with high-incidence special education needs. Approaches for selecting methods and materials, for delivering instruction, and for evaluating instructional outcomes based on assessment information will also be demonstrated. (Fall)

SE 681  Grades 4-12 Methods for Special Needs and Field Experience

5 cr hrs
This course covers both general and specific methods used by special educators to teach students with disabilities.  The course includes transition planning and IEP development, instructional planning, and selection of instructional methods to meet the needs of students with high-incidence special education needs. Approaches for selecting methods and materials, for delivering instruction, and for evaluating instructional outcomes based on assessment information will also be demonstrated. (Fall & Spring)

SE 731 Grades K-6 Clinical Experience

4 – 6 cr hrs
This course is a supervised teaching experience with a special educator who provides services for elementary level students with high-incidence learning needs. The pre-service teacher will work collaboratively with the cooperating special educator, families, and school team members to apply research-based knowledge of assessment, instruction aligned to IEP goals, and positive behavioral supports. Emphasis is on reflective, culturally sensitive practice. This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) an an added expense. (Fall & Spring)

SE 733  Grades K-6 Internship

4 – 6 cr hrs
This course is a supervised teaching experience with a special educator who provides services for elementary level students with high-incidence learning needs.  The pre-service teacher will work collaboratively with the cooperating special educator, families, and school team members to apply research-based knowledge of assessment, instruction aligned to IEP goals, and positive behavioral supports.  Emphasis is on reflective, culturally sensitive practice. This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) an an added expense. (Fall & Spring)

SE 771 Grades 6-12 Clinical Experience

4 – 6 cr hrs
This course is a supervised teaching experience with a special educator who provides services for secondary level students with high-incidence learning needs.  The pre-service teacher will work collaboratively with the cooperating special educator, families, and school team members to apply research-based knowledge of assessment, instruction aligned to IEP goals, and positive behavioral supports.  Emphasis is on reflective, culturally sensitive practice. This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) an an added expense.  (Fall & Spring)

SE 773 Grades 6-12 Internship

4 – 6 cr hrs
This course is a supervised teaching experience with a special educator who provides services for secondary level students with high-incidence learning needs.  The pre-service teacher will work collaboratively with the cooperating special educator, families, and school team members to apply research-based knowledge of assessment, instruction aligned to IEP goals, and positive behavioral supports.  Emphasis is on reflective, culturally sensitive practice.This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) an an added expense.  (Fall & Spring)

SE 751 PreK-12 Clinical Experience

4 – 6 cr hrs
This course is a supervised teaching experience with a special educator who provides services for elementary level students with high-incidence learning needs.  The pre-service teacher will work collaboratively with the cooperating special educator, families, and school team members to apply research-based knowledge of assessment, instruction aligned to IEP goals, and positive behavioral supports.  Emphasis is on reflective, culturally sensitive practice. This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) an an added expense. (Fall & Spring)

SE 753 PreK-12 Internship

4 – 6 cr hrs
This course is a supervised teaching experience with a special educator who provides services for elementary level students with high-incidence learning needs.  The pre-service teacher will work collaboratively with the cooperating special educator, families, and school team members to apply research-based knowledge of assessment, instruction aligned to IEP goals, and positive behavioral supports.  Emphasis is on reflective, culturally sensitive practice. This course requires proof of negative TB test, completion of liability and felony forms, and may require a fingerprint background check (depending on placement) an an added expense.  (Fall & Spring)