UIS Graduate and Undergraduate Catalog
Academic Year 2006 - 2007

Information for Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate Education

Statement of Purpose
A student with a bachelor’s degree should be able to comprehend written and spoken communications – from simple narrative to scholarly exposition, novels, and poetry – and should be able to use and apply abstractions, principles, ideas, or theories to concrete situations. Content as well as form is important to a baccalaureate education. The student should have broad familiarity with the social sciences, humanities, sciences, mathematics, and oral and written communication. Through the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience, a distinctive feature of a UIS education, a student will have the opportunity to make a difference in the world by recognizing and practicing social responsibility and ethical decision-making, respecting diversity, valuing involvement, and distinguishing the possibilities and limitations of social change. The University of Illinois at Springfield encourages a special understanding of public affairs in the broadest and most humanistic sense.

Undergraduate Admission

Undergraduate admission to the University of Illinois at Springfield includes first-time freshmen with fewer than 12 transferable semester hours; freshmen with between 12 and 29 transferable semester hours; and transfer students with more than 30 transferable semester hours at community colleges or other regionally accredited institutions of higher learning. In addition, the campus offers alternative admissions, a senior learners program, and special admission for students not seeking a degree. Each of these admission options is discussed in detail below, along with other important admission requirements. Write to the Office of Admissions, University of Illinois at Springfield, One University Plaza, MS UHB 1080, Springfield, IL 62703-5407, to request an application form, or apply online at www.uis.edu. The toll free number is (888) 977-4847.

Please note: Admission to UIS does not constitute entry into a particular degree program. Some programs have special entrance requirements; others have limited enrollments. Contact individual programs for specific information. 

Undergraduates - Freshmen
The University of Illinois at Springfield seeks to enroll as Capital Scholars an academically well-qualified first-year class of students who have pursued strong college preparatory curricula while in high school and demonstrated the ability to be successful in their pursuits, both academic and nonacademic. The best qualified of each year’s pool of applicants to UIS will be admitted as space permits. Priority consideration for admission will be given to students whose applications are completed and postmarked by the priority application date (January 15, 2006). Admissions decisions will be made, and official notifications mailed, on a rolling basis (biweekly timeline).

Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

College preparatory curricula and academic coursework
Students should pursue rigorous and challenging college preparatory curricula. Grade trends and the rigor of courses completed throughout high school will be considered. Minimum academic coursework requirements are:

* four years of academic English with emphasis on written and oral communication and literature
* three years of social studies with emphasis on history and government (additional acceptable courses include anthropology, economics, geography, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology)
* three years of college preparatory mathematics, selected from algebra, geometry, advanced algebra, pre-calculus,  trigonometry, and calculus
* two years of laboratory science, selected from biology, chemistry, geology, physical science, astronomy, and physics
* two years of one foreign language or two years of fine arts, selected from art, music, dance, and theater 

Standardized test scores, grade-point average, and class rank
The following credentials will be considered:

* class rank (if applicable)
* grade-point average
* ACT or SAT scores. UIS will consider ACT or SAT test scores that are posted on an official high school transcript (enclosed with the student’s application) or sent as a photocopy with the student’s application. To have scores reported to UIS from ACT, use UIS’ ACT institution code of 1137; for SAT, the code is 0834. 

Personal Statement
Applicants must provide written evidence of their ability to perform at a high academic level by submitting a personal statement. This statement should address any circumstances (positive or negative) that may have affected the student’s high school experience and that are not readily apparent from academic records or standardized test scores. The personal statement should be viewed as an applicant’s opportunity to speak on his or her own behalf. Generally, the personal statement should be approximately 500 to 750 words and should reflect the student’s best work – structure, accuracy, and overall quality will be considered.

The Honors Program
The Honors Program is a selective program combining high standards and an emphasis on excellence. The Program currently enrolls about 100 freshmen each year and is housed in the Lincoln Residence Hall, the locus of UIS’ living-learning community.  Honors students will participate in an interdisciplinary core curriculum designed to prepare them for their majors as well as to serve as an introduction to the intellectual skills that society expects from future leaders.

Each of the courses in the core curriculum is integrated with the rest so that together they provide a broad understanding of the world. Many courses are interdisciplinary, exposing students to the views of scholars from several disciplines. Each course includes topics and draws on authors that reflect the ethnic, racial, and gender diversity of America, and also the broader cultural diversity that exists in the world. Honors students participate in learning teams for many course assignments, learning not only the assigned material, but also how to participate effectively as a member of a team. The curriculum-wide focus on collaborative learning emphasizes leadership an as integral aspect of collaboration.

Admission to the Honors Program is competitive and selective and is based on an overall evaluation of high school coursework and grade-point average, class rank, SAT or ACT scores, personal statement, and two letters of recommendation from teachers acquainted with the student’s academic work.  The personal statement and the reference letters should address reasons for interest in the Honors Program, intellectual and career interests, creative and leadership potential.  A personal or telephone interview with a member of the admissions committee (made up of faculty and program administrators) may also be a component of the admission process. Students interested in applying to the Honors Program should express this interest during the application process.  Specific information on the Capital Scholars Honors Program is available at www.uis.edu/capitalscholars, or contact the program directly at cap@uis.edu or (217) 206-7246. 

Undergraduate Transfer Admission
Students other than Capital Scholars may be considered for admission to UIS as transfer students if they have earned at least 30 transferable semester hours (remedial or developmental courses are not accepted) from a regionally accredited institution. Those who have earned an associate of arts or associate of science degree from a regionally accredited Illinois community college or other regionally accredited institution may be admitted to UIS as a junior if they have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale.

Advanced standing as a senior may be granted to those who transfer with 30 semester hours of upper-division credit beyond the 60 hours required for junior status. Only transfer credit hours with a grade of C or better are acceptable for advanced standing. Students entering as seniors must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours at UIS and must complete all program and campus degree requirements to graduate.

Please contact the Office of Admissions regarding materials and criteria that are required for consideration for admission.  The toll free number is (888) 977-4847.  Check the Admissions website at www.uis.edu/admissions/ for additional information.  

General Education Requirements
To ensure educational breadth, accredited U.S. institutions generally require completion of courses in several disciplines or areas - usually oral and written communication, mathematics, natural science, social science, and humanities. This constitutes the institution’s general education requirements.

General education is an important part of the distinctive UIS degree and consists of more than a series of distribution requirements.  The new UIS general education curriculum that will begin in fall 2006 extends throughout the baccalaureate degree, providing structure for the whole baccalaureate experience while allowing the flexibility transfer students need to enter the institution and the curriculum with ease.  In the UIS model, students meet general education requirements through 

*  Discipline-specific lower division courses, offered out of particular programs and designed to teach basic skills such as writing, critical thinking, oral communication, quantitative literacy, scientific literacy, information literacy and others;
*  An Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE), a set of categories that specifically address the “engaged citizenship” principle; through these categories, students will have a common experience that is distinctive, mission-driven, and institution-specific. 

The combination of distribution coursework and the common experiences provides coherence for the general education curriculum.    

The new UIS general education curriculum will take the place of the current general education offerings at UIS and the University Requirements (consisting of Liberal Studies Colloquia, Public Affairs Colloquia, and Applied Studies Terms). Implementation of the new curriculum will occur in two phases: 

*  Lower-division general education courses and the comparative societies courses from the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience will be offered for the first time in fall 2006.
*  The remaining components of the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience will be implemented in fall 2007. 

The following chart explains the stages of implementation for the new curriculum and identifies the specific coursework various types of students should complete:

Lower-Division General Education Requirements
Lower-division general education courses help students achieve several life-long learning outcomes. 

Upon completion of the general education curriculum at UIS, students should be able to:

1. Communicate effectively by applying skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening and through appropriate use of information technology and computer applications.
2. Use appropriate methods of critical thinking and quantitative reasoning to solve problems and engage in informed, rational decision-making.
3. Construct intellectual projects independently and in collaboration with others.
4. Distinguish the methods that underlie the search for knowledge in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, history, and social and behavioral sciences.
5. Analyze the historical and social contexts of cultural, economic, political, religious, and scientific developments.
6. Analyze the social and behavioral influences that explain how people relate to each other, to institutions, and to communities.
7. Analyze the fundamental natural processes of the world and the interactions of humans and their environment.
8. Analyze the values, cultural context, and aesthetic qualities of creative expression and engage in the creative art-making process. 

Lower division general education courses are usually 100- and 200-level offerings, and consist of the following categories:

Written Communication (2 courses, 4 hours each; courses must be passed with a grade of C or better)
Oral Communication (1 course, 3 hours)
Math (2 courses, 3 hours each)
Life and Physical Science (2 courses, 3 or 4 hours each, one in physical science and one in life science; one course must include a laboratory)
Humanities (2 courses, 3 hours each; one course must from the visual or performing arts and one from other humanities)
Social Sciences (2 courses, 3 hours each; courses must be taken in at least two disciplines)

In addition to the categories listed above, new students entering UIS with 0-30 hours of college credit will take two comparative societies courses at the 100 level, one in the humanities and one in the social and behavioral sciences.  The comparative societies courses are part of the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience, which is described more fully below. 

Courses fulfilling lower-division general education requirements may be used as prerequisites or requirements in the majors. Students may fulfill lower-division general education requirements through placement tests, AP credit, CLEP credit, transfer credit, and other approved substitutes, provided the credit meets UIS criteria for college-level work. The fourth semester of a modern language may be used to meet a humanities requirement, provided it meets the standards of the IAI General Education Core Curriculum (H1 900 Foreign Language IV).

Transfer students may satisfy lower division general education requirements in one of three ways:

* Complete the requirements of the Illinois Articulation Initiative Core Curriculum. (See below.)
* Graduates of Illinois community colleges holding an associate of arts, an associate of science, or an associate of arts in teaching degree are considered to have met all UIS lower division general education requirements.
* Complete the requirements at UIS based on UIS’ general education requirements. Transfer students who have at least one general education deficiency in the humanities or social sciences must meet that deficiency by taking the appropriate comparative societies course.

Engaged Citizenship Common Experience
All undergraduate students are required to take a minimum of 13 hours in the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE), a set of courses tied to UIS’ heritage, mission, vision, and values.  These courses provide a distinctive element to the baccalaureate education at UIS, and encourage a commitment to making a difference in the world.  Most of the coursework in this category is interdisciplinary and is designed to help students recognize the value of multiple perspectives.  ECCE categories help students meet a number of learning outcomes.

Upon completion of the general education curriculum at UIS, students should be able to:

1. Recognize the social responsibility of the individual within a larger community.
2. Practice awareness of and respect for the diversity of cultures and peoples in this country and in the world.
3. Reflect on the ways involvement, leadership, and respect for community occur at the local, regional, national, or international levels.
4. Identify how economic, political, and social systems operate now and have operated in the past.
5. Engage in open-minded and ethical decision-making and action.
6. Distinguish the possibilities and limitations of social change.

The Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) consists of the following categories:

Comparative Societies (2 courses, 3 hours each)
Courses in this category are designed to give students an idea of the historical complexity as well as the diversity of beliefs and practices in the human social experience.  Students take one comparative societies course in the humanities and one in the social and behavioral sciences.  These interdisciplinary courses are taken at the 100 level by all new UIS undergraduates and transfer students with at least one general education deficiency in the humanities or social sciences. 

U.S. Communities (1 course, 3 hours)
Courses in this category aim to broaden students’ knowledge about substantial, distinctive, and complex aspects of the history, society, politics, and culture of United States communities. One of these interdisciplinary courses is taken at the 200-, 300-, or 400-level by all new undergraduate students with less than 30 hours of college credit who enroll in Fall 2006 and transfer students who enroll in Fall 2007. 

Global Awareness (1 course, 3 hours)
Courses in this category help students to understand and function in an increasingly interdependent and globalizing environment and to develop an appreciation of other cultural perspectives. They foster awareness of other cultures, polities, or natural environments, past or present. One of these interdisciplinary courses is taken at the 200-, 300-, or 400-level by all new undergraduate students with less than 30 hours of college credit who enroll in Fall 2006 and transfer students who enroll in Fall 2007. 

Engagement Experience (3 hours)
This category offers students structured opportunities to integrate knowledge, practice, and reflection in the context of an engaged citizenship experience.  A three-hour experience may be taken at the 200-, 300-, or 400-level, and is a required category for all new undergraduate students with less than 30 hours of college credit who enroll in Fall 2006 and transfer students who enroll in Fall 2007.  Students may fulfill this part of the ECCE curriculum through an Applied Studies Term, Credit for Prior Learning, a service-learning course, a research project, a group project course, or study abroad, among others.

ECCE Elective (3 hours)
This category is designed to provide flexibility in the ECCE curriculum by offering students various opportunities to expand their Engaged Citizenship Common Experience. A three-hour experience may be taken at the 200-, 300-, or 400-level, and is a required category for all new undergraduate students with less than 30 hours of college credit who enroll in Fall 2006 and transfer students who enroll in Fall 2007. 

Electives fall into two areas:
1. Experiential Learning, which includes Applied Study Terms, service learning, study abroad, and Credit for Prior Learning
2.  Additional coursework related to engaged citizenship, which includes a second ECCE course in U.S. communities or global awareness, an “On-Going Controversies” course, and modern languages (third or fourth semester only).  On-going Controversies courses address complex issues of significance to society in a local, national, or global context. They include a range of interdisciplinary perspectives and require students to examine controversial topics, including ethics and values, from scholarly points of view. 

ECCE Speakers Series (1-2 hours)
For one semester, students will be required to participate in a series of campus-sponsored lectures by speakers who will exemplify engaged citizenship.  The Speakers Series is a required category for all new undergraduate students with less than 30 hours of college credit who enroll in Fall 2006 and transfer students who enroll in Fall 2007.  Students must take one hour of Speakers Series, but may take an additional hour in a different semester if desired.

Some degree programs may require students to take particular ECCE courses.  Students should consult with advisors in the major for further guidance.

Students who desire or are required to complete a 6-hour Applied Study Term may do so by combining 3 hours of Engagement Experience and 3 hours of ECCE elective.

Courses taken to meet ECCE categories other than comparative societies cannot be used to meet lower-division general education requirements, but they may count toward requirements or prerequisites in the major and minor.

Remedial or developmental courses do not count towards general education requirements.

UIS Requirements
NOTE:  Applicable only for students enrolled at UIS prior to fall 2006 and for transfer students who enroll in UIS during the 2006-2007 academic year.

Undergraduates in the two categories above must complete a minimum of 12 hours in the areas of liberal studies colloquia, public affairs colloquia, and/or applied study. Since one intent of this requirement is to ensure that students receive a broad, well-rounded education, students must take at least four hours of course work in at least two areas. Academic programs may determine which areas are appropriate for their students. Students in programs that do not specify should work with their adviser to decide how to distribute the 12 hours.

Liberal Studies Colloquia (LSC) are multidisciplinary courses that engage important issues using points of view and value systems that extend beyond the usual cultural and disciplinary boundaries and contexts. Each LSC emphasizes the enhancement of writing skills; none have prerequisites. Students are encouraged to select LSCs with focuses outside their major program.

Public Affairs Colloquia (PAC) are designed to increase awareness of contemporary public issues and to provide a wider understanding through a multidisciplinary approach to these issues. There are no prerequisites for any PAC. Students are encouraged to select PACs with focuses outside their major program.

Applied Study and Experiential Learning Term (AST) stresses practical experience, professional development, and self-directed learning by providing an academically sponsored learning experience (internship) that is an opportunity to learn from the community. Many internships are paid; others are voluntary. Only degree-seeking UIS students can participate.

Alternative Admission
Alternative admission at the junior level is available for students who have a minimum of 12-15 years of life/work learning experience (beyond high school) that may be considered in lieu of traditional classroom learning acquired during the first and second years of college. The admissions committee provides individual assessments of an applicant’s eligibility based on 1) a written narrative; 2) three letters of recommendation; and 3) demonstration of competency in the areas of general education plus 12 elective hours of general education. These 12 hours can be earned by either completing required courses or by receiving an appropriate score on the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. Official transcripts from all colleges or universities where credit was attempted or earned are required and students will be expected to participate in undergraduate assessment activities. Contact the Office of Admissions for additional information.

Admission for International Students seeking Bachelor’s Degrees
International students must meet all requirements for undergraduate admission. Additionally, international students will need to submit official TOEFL scores and documentation required for issuance of an I-20.

Students who are not U.S. citizens must have a tuberculin skin test done at the Campus Health Service before registering. Those who test positive must also have a chest x-ray. Students who have been treated for tuberculosis disease or infection elsewhere must provide medical records, which must be accompanied by a certified English translation. There are no exemptions from this requirement. Tuberculin skin tests or chest x-rays done out of the U.S. will not be accepted.

International students seeking admission to the University of Illinois at Springfield are encouraged to apply as early as possible.   

Non-degree Admission
Undergraduate non-degree seeking students are not required to file all documents necessary for admission to a degree program, but will be asked for clarification of their educational intent before exceeding 16 semester hours. Non-degree students are subject to the same probation and suspension policies as degree-seeking students.

Students who later choose to become degree candidates will be required to meet all admission requirements of their program. With the degree program’s approval, up to 16 semester hours taken as an undergraduate non-degree student may count toward the degree. Non-degree students are not eligible for financial assistance. 

Online Student Admission
Students who choose to pursue some or all of their studies online should contact the program for information concerning admission requirements. Interested students are encouraged to visit the UIS website at www.uis.edu for more information. A list of online course offerings is available on the website. 

Senior Learner Admission
The senior learners program is open to those who are at least 62 by the relevant registration day. There are two options.

For non-degree credit, senior learners can audit courses of special interest and enjoy campus library privileges for $40 per term, plus parking fees. Senior learners are also responsible for all course-related fees, including online fees. This option does not offer academic credit and does not require graded tests or papers. To register, contact the Office of Records and Registration.

For degree credit, a tuition waiver program is available for persons 65 or older with incomes of less than $12,000 per year. Students must meet regular class expectations to earn academic credit, though they pay only UIS fees; tuition is waived. This program must be arranged through the Office of Financial Assistance. 

Community College Articulation and Transfer
Loss of credit that may occur when students transfer from lower-division schools to UIS can extend the time needed to complete the baccalaureate degree. By participation in the Illinois Articulation Initiative and development of two-plus-two agreements and other articulation agreements with community colleges and lower-division schools, UIS has made considerable efforts to ensure that students have the best chance of transferring all their credit hours. 

Illinois Articulation Initiative
The Illinois Articulation Initiative is a statewide agreement designed to allow students to transfer general education credit, as well as credit earned in select majors, between participating institutions. UIS has participated in IAI since the summer of 1998.

The IAI General Education Core Curriculum is a package of lower-division general education courses that can transfer from one participating school to another to fulfill the lower-division general education requirements. The core curriculum package consists of at least 12 to 13 courses (37 to 41 semester credits) in five fields or categories. Completion of the entire IAI General Education Core Curriculum satisfies lower-division general education requirement for a bachelor’s degree at UIS, including courses in Comparative Societies Humanities and Social Sciences (see above for General Education requirements at UIS). Students may use one performing arts course to meet humanities lower division requirements, even though performance courses are not accepted by IAI.

UIS also participates in certain IAI Baccalaureate Majors Recommendations, which means that students may be able to transfer courses in the major between participating institutions without loss of credit. Contact an academic adviser for additional information or go to www.iTransfer.org. 

Joint Admission Program and Partnership Agreements
The Joint Admission Program is limited to students who are pursuing the associate of arts or the associate of science or the associate of arts in teaching degree, in compliance with the Illinois Articulation Agreement, and is not intended to replace the normal articulation agreements already existing between UIS and community colleges. Instead, it focuses on advising and socializing students to ease the transition between the two-year and four-year college. Students who choose to enter into a Joint Admission program with UIS are entitled to receive academic advising each semester from UIS, invitations to social and cultural activities, financial assistance newsletters, and an advanced registration date.

UIS currently has joint admission agreements with many Illinois community colleges and partnership agreements for UIS online programs with community colleges across the United States. 

Transfer Articulation
Students in most programs at UIS can earn a baccalaureate degree in two years beyond the A.A. or A.S. degree with no loss of credit earned in an associate degree program. About one-third of UIS’ bachelor’s degree programs have no specific course requirements for entry. The remaining degree programs, however, do have certain prerequisites in place. Transfer guides for all Illinois community colleges are available in UIS’ Office of Admissions to help students plan their courses of study.

Many UIS undergraduate programs have also entered into articulation agreements (two plus two agreements) with academic programs at community colleges, making it easier for students to plan an entire four-year course of study while still enrolled at the lower-division. Interested students should contact the transfer center at their community college for additional information. 

Financial Assistance for Undergraduate Students

The UIS Office of Financial Assistance coordinates federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs for all students. Assistance is available in the form of grants, tuition waivers, assistantships, scholarships, loans, part-time employment, and veterans benefits. For detailed information, see the “Financial Aid” section of this catalog. 

Bachelor’s Degree General Information

Undergraduate Degree Programs and Areas of Study

UIS awards the following baccalaureate degrees:
Accountancy (B.A.)
Biology (B.S.)
Business Administration (B.B.A.)
Chemistry (B.S.)
Clinical Laboratory Science (B.S.)
Communication (B.A.)
Computer Science (B.S.)
Criminal Justice (B.A.)
Economics (B.A.)
English (B.A.)
History (B.A.)
Legal Studies (B.A.)
Liberal Studies (B.A.)
Management (B.A.)
Mathematical Sciences (B.A.)
Philosophy (B.A.)
Political Studies (B.A.)
Psychology (B.A.)
Social Work (B.S.W.)
Sociology/Anthropology (B.A.)
Visual Arts (B.A.)

Note: Students may pursue certification as an elementary or secondary teacher by enrolling in one of UIS’ teacher education minors, which is taken in combination with an appropriate academic major. 

Minors  UIS offers 25 minors that allow students to study outside major degree programs. Approved minors currently are:
Accountancy
African-American Studies
Anthropology
Biology
Business (general)
Chemistry
Communication
Computer Science
Criminal Justice
Economics
English
Environmental Studies
History
International Studies
Labor Relations
Management Information Systems
Mathematical Sciences
Philosophy
Political Studies
Psychology
Sociology
Teacher Education – Elementary
Teacher Education – Secondary
Visual Arts
Women’s Studies      

Other Academic Opportunities
Thematic Activities explore current issues and problems through multidisciplinary courses, research, conferences, experiential learning opportunities, and community outreach. UIS currently offers a thematic option in astronomy/physics.
Modern Languages offer elementary and intermediate courses in French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, and Spanish that emphasize understanding and speaking skills. Courses are taught by native speakers and, as a rule, are limited to six students per section to ensure individual attention. Students must obtain permission to register for a course section, and should contact the secretary for the Modern Languages Program at (217) 206-7246. Online assessment tests may be required to determine placement at the most appropriate level.
University Courses are a variety of courses, for example Library Research (UNI 401), that provide knowledge and skills in academic areas that are not established components of the curriculum. UNI courses, with descriptions, are published in the course schedule each semester. Credit earned in some UNI courses may not count toward degree requirements.   

Assessment of General Education
Assessment of general education will involve both direct and indirect measures of student learning based on established outcomes for life-long learning and engaged citizenship and on the established criteria for courses in the curriculum.  Students are required to participate in general education assessment.   

Assessment in the Major
Most academic programs assess their students’ ability to meet program learning outcomes. As these outcomes will differ, so will the means of assessment. Students are required to participate in program assessment. 

General Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree
To earn a bachelor’s degree from UIS, students must fulfill the following requirements:

* Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours, including 48 hours earned at the upper-division level.
* Earn a minimum of 30 semester hours credit in residence at UIS.
* Satisfy general education requirements through completion of the lower division UIS General Education Curriculum (see above), the Capital Scholars Honors Program curriculum, completion of the Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education requirements, or completion of an Associate of Arts or Associate of Sciences or Associate of Arts in Teaching degree.
* Earn at least 13 semester hours in the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience. (See above.)
* Complete course work with a cumulative UIS grade-point average of at least 2.00.
* Fulfill all requirements in a major.
* Complete a graduation contract.
* Pay a graduation fee ($20). 

Applied Study and Experiential Learning Term
(AST) stresses practical experience, professional development, and self-directed learning by providing an academically sponsored learning experience (internship) that is an opportunity to learn from the community. Many internships are paid; others are voluntary. Only degree-seeking UIS students can participate.

Internships are available at local businesses, nonprofit organizations, health service organizations, state agencies and legislative offices, and educational institutions. Some programs have their own experiential component integrated into the curriculum. The variety of curricular options is described more fully in the AST section of the catalog.

ASTs fulfill portions of the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience. (See above.) Students may combine the Engagement Experience and the ECCE Elective to create a single 6-hour AST opportunity.

The AST faculty will assist students in securing a placement. Consultations should be scheduled at least one semester in advance. 

Credit for Prior Learning
Credit for Prior Learning enables qualified students to receive academic credit for college-level learning acquired outside the classroom and is particularly valuable to those with an extensive background in a profession, in workshops or seminars, in community service and volunteer work, in relevant travel or hobbies, and/or in independent research. Interested students should contact the CPL office as early as possible or visit www.uis.edu/cpl/.

Double Major
To earn a bachelor’s degree in two major areas of study, all requirements for each major must be completed. Courses from one program may be used as electives in the other if prior approval is obtained. All UIS requirements for the bachelor’s degree must be met. 

Lower-division Courses Used for Degree Credit
Community college students can transfer up to 60 semester hours of credit to UIS. However, community college transfer students may include an additional 12 semester hours of lower-division credit toward a bachelor’s degree if their adviser, a program representative, and the appropriate dean approve. A grade of C or better must have been earned. 

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses
Undergraduate students who wish to enroll in 500-level courses for credit toward the bachelor’s degree must get the approval of their faculty advisers and have the course instructors submit an electronic approval. The student will be evaluated at the graduate level. Credits earned by undergraduates permitted to enroll in graduate courses can be counted toward the upper-division requirement. 

Undergraduate/Graduate Concurrent Enrollment
An undergraduate student within 16 hours of completing all bachelor’s degree requirements may enroll in undergraduate and graduate courses concurrently. Undergraduate students taking courses for graduate credit will be evaluated at the graduate level. Students must complete a student petition form and have it signed by the instructor of the graduate course, the graduate adviser, program administrator, and dean. Graduate courses will be so designated when the bachelor’s degree is granted, but this does not imply admission to the graduate program in which the course was taken. 

Undergraduate Honors
Academic honors are bestowed as a means of recognizing and encouraging superior academic achievement among baccalaureate candidates. Only grades obtained at UIS will be considered. The grade-point average will be calculated on all graded, undergraduate credit received at UIS. At least 30 hours of graded credit must be accumulated at UIS to be considered for honors.

* Final grade-point average of 3.75-3.86 will receive a cum laude designation.
* Final grade-point average of 3.87-3.94 will receive a magna cum laude designation.
* Final grade-point average of 3.95-4.00 will receive a summa cum laude designation.

Honor recipients will be recognized at commencement based on work completed at the end of the semester immediately preceding graduation. Honor statements will appear on the diploma and transcript based on the final GPA. 

Dean’s List
UIS recognizes superior academic achievement of undergraduate students at the end of each fall and spring semester. Students placed on the dean’s list must have a semester grade-point average of 3.75 or higher and be enrolled in at least eight graded semester hours with no incompletes for the semester.