Oct 09, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

The Academic Program



Lipscomb University is a Christian liberal arts institution that offers degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. At the associate level, Lipscomb offers the Associate of Arts degree (available only to residents of the Tennessee Prison for Women). At the baccalaureate level, Lipscomb offers the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Bachelor of Business Administration degree, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, the Bachelor of Music degree, the Bachelor of Professional Studies, the Bachelor of Science degree, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and the Bachelor of Social Work degree.
 
At the graduate level, the following degrees are offered: Doctor of Education, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Pharmacy, Education Specialist, Master of Accountancy, Master of Arts (Conflict Management, Data Science, Film & Creative Media and Leadership & Public Service), Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Business Administration, Master of Divinity, Master of Education, Master of Fine Arts (Film & Creative Media), Master of Health Administration, Master of Management, Master of Marriage and Family Therapy, Master of Physician Assistant Studies, Master of Professional Studies, Master of Science (Applied Behavioral Analysis, Biomolecular Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Exercise & Nutrition Science, Health Care Informatics, Information Technology, Psychology, Software Engineering, and  Sustainability), Master of Theological Studies.
 
Lipscomb University also awards Certificates of Graduate Study in several areas of study. These certificates do not imply professional certification but are intended to strengthen students’ qualifications and professional portfolios in specific areas.
 
Students interested in graduate degrees or certificates should contact the respective program director or consult the Graduate Catalog for more information. All undergraduate degree programs are described in this catalog.
 
The university is dedicated to providing a broad liberal arts program which is both challenging and sound. An ideal of the university is to have the best students studying under the best teachers in the best possible Christian environment.

The academic program contains three essential parts: (1) the general education and Bible requirement, (2) the major area of study, (3) electives. These three parts are discussed in the following paragraphs.

The General Education Requirement

Total Hours Required: 47

The general education core curriculum is the heart of the Christian liberal arts education at Lipscomb University. The mission and purpose of this program is to structure academic exploration in a Christian context as a foundation for a life of learning and service in a diverse global environment. The mission and purpose of general education at Lipscomb University is accomplished by a curriculum that prepares students to engage in the tradition of conversation in the academy through course work in writing and speaking; cultivate curiosity that transcends disciplinary boundaries through multi-disciplinary integrated Explorations course work; think critically and ethically through Foundations course work, multi-disciplinary integrated Explorations course work, and through the Bible curriculum; understand and evaluate ways of knowing by making connections between academic areas through multi-disciplinary integrated Explorations course work; and live in a diverse world with integrity and compassion through Engagement course work that connects world issues to a student’s major academic area.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Music degree will also be required to complete additional hours in a foreign language; those pursuing the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree will be required to complete additional hours in math and/or science.

The specific requirements are as follows:

  1. Foundations - 26 hours

This introduction to university-level critical thinking and cultural engagement is required during the first semester at Lipscomb for all first-year students. Discussion-oriented, the Lipscomb Experience introduces students to the intellectual endeavor of liberal arts education from a Christian perspective in small group settings designed to develop mentoring relationships, to provoke important questions, and to facilitate thoughtful discussion. While Lipscomb Experience courses engage unique topics examined from multiple perspectives, each course also introduces students to a common set of transferrable skills. The course facilitates student engagement with fellow students, the university, and the local and global community; essential college-level research and information literacy skills; and the habits of rigorous study, intellectual growth, and lifelong learning. Students may not withdraw from the course unless they are withdrawing from the university. This course is a LIGHT-designated course and may satisfy the SALT Tier II requirement. Instructors may assign a grade of “NC” (no credit) to diligent student who nevertheless fail to earn a “C.” However, instructors reserve the right to assign an “F” when, in their opinion, students do not demonstrate satisfactory effort. Students who do not earn a “C” in LU 1203 must retake the course the subsequent spring semester. No AP, CLEP, or “Dual Enrollment” credit is accepted for this course.

  • Composition (EN 1313 ) - 3 hours
  • Communication (CO 1003  or other approved course*) - 3 hours
  • Wellness (PE 2012  or two different activity courses) - 2 hours
  • Science with lab (Students may satisfy this requirement with a biological (biology) or physical science (astronomy, chemistry or physics) course with lab, LUMS with lab - 3 hours
  • Math (excludes non-credit, developmental courses) - 3 hours
  1. Explorations - 12 hours

Students must satisfy the requirement by taking at least one course in each of the following four subject areas. At least six hours (two of the four subject areas) must be fulfilled by integrated course work. The prerequisites listed apply to integrated course work. Existing prerequisites apply for traditional course work used to fulfill the requirement.

(Part or all of the Explorations integrated courses requirement may be satisfied by a Lipscomb semester-long global learning program. Other global learning courses may satisfy general education requirements and/or major/minor requirements, depending on the nature and context of the course.)

  • Math/Science (LUMS 2xn3) - 3 hours

Students will choose one approved integrated course that includes math or science. Students may also satisfy this requirement by taking three hours from the following: math, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, or ESS 1024  or ESS 2014 .

  • Humanities

(Prereq: EN 1313 ) Students will choose one approved integrated course that includes literature. Students may also satisfy these requirements by taking three hours from this list of approved courses: EN 2113 , EN 2123 , EN 2133 , EN 2143 , EN 2153  or EN 2163 . Students may also satisfy this requirement by completing ML 2103 or any 3000- or 4000-level FR, GE, or SN literature course.

Students will choose one approved integrated course that includes history. Students may also satisfy these requirements by taking three hours from this list of approved courses: HI 1013 , HI 1023 , HI 1113 , HI 1123 , HI 2213  or HI 2223 .

  • Social Science (LUSS 2xn3 ) - 3 hours, Fall

Students will choose one approved integrated course that includes a social science. Students may also satisfy this requirement by taking three hours from the following: psychology, sociology, economics, political science, law, justice & society (LJS 2103 ) and philosophy (PL 1003 , PL 2013 , PL 3433 ).

  1. Engagements (LUEG 3xn3 ) - 3 hours

(Prereqs: Minimum of 60 hours earned credit)

A multidisciplinary course, co-taught by at least one faculty member and faculty or professionals from other disciplines, that investigates a particular theme, using insights, methods and habits of thought from the liberal arts (math, sciences, humanities, and the fine arts), Bible and other academic disciplines to connect a student’s major to the theme through project-based learning. This course meets an elective Bible requirement and is a LIGHT-designated course.

    4. Bible Curriculum - 6 hours (plus Tiers 1 and 3 above=18 hours total)
Bible: One of the following BI 3213  , BI 3433  , orBI 4213  ) and one elective course (or substitute listed within the major) - 6 hours

The study of the Bible is integral to a Lipscomb education. Although abundant opportunities for further study are available, all Lipscomb students examine the Bible’s overall message and the life to which it calls believers. Many students will be able to take one or more courses that specifically address the implications of Christian faith for their chosen field of study.

The general education Bible requirement consists of the following six courses: BI 1073 - The Story of Jesus (3) F , BI 1083 - The Story of the Church (3) SP , BI 1093 - The Story of Israel (3) F , and LUEG 3xn3 - Engagements: (selected topic) (3) F, SP ; one of the following three: BI 3213 - Faith and Culture (3) SP , BI 3433 - Disciplines for Christian Living (3) F, SP  or BI 4213 - Biblical Ethics (3) F, SP ; plus one elective. Students who come to Lipscomb with little exposure to the Bible may choose to take BI 1003 - Introduction to the Bible and Christianity (3) F, SU  before beginning the sequence above. If a student chooses this option, BI 1003  will count as the elective Bible class.

Course work beyond the courses listed above that satisfies a Bible requirement must be approved by the College of Bible and Ministry.

Important Note: BI 1073 , BI 1083  and BI 1093  are prerequisites for all other Bible courses (except BI 1003  and selected Bible major courses). These three courses must be taken in a student’s first three semesters at Lipscomb (excluding Wintermester, Maymester and summer).

 

  1. SALT - 2 service-learning experiences

No more than one experience can come from Tier I. At least one experience must come from Tier II or Tier III.

Transfer Students

Transfer students (excluding first-time freshmen with transfer credit earned through AP, CLEP, IB, Dual Enrollment, etc.) seeking a Lipscomb degree must satisfy the Bible requirement based on the number of credit hours they initially transfer to Lipscomb, as specified below. If the listed content is met, other approved Bible courses must be taken.

Students who transfer 67-93 credit hours to Lipscomb must complete two Bible courses at Lipscomb: BI 1073  or BI 1083   or BI 1093 ; and LUEG 3xn3 , or approved Bible credit courses as determined by program requirement (e.g., nursing and engineering).

Students who transfer 47-66 credit hours to Lipscomb must complete three Bible courses: BI 1073  or BI 1083  and BI 1093 ; and LUEG 3xn3 , or approved Bible credit courses as determined by program requirement (e.g., nursing and engineering).

Students who transfer 33-46 credit hours to Lipscomb must complete four Bible courses: BI 1073 , BI 1083 , BI 1093 , and LUEG 3xn3 , or approved Bible credit courses as determined by program requirement (e.g., nursing and engineering).

Students who transfer 32 or fewer hours to Lipscomb must complete the full Bible requirement, as described above or approved Bible credit courses as determined by the associate dean for undergraduate Bible.

Tennessee Board of Regents Transfers

An approved Bible class can be substituted for the LUEG requirement for students:

  1. who have earned an A.A. or A.S. degree from a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, or
  2. who transfer to Lipscomb without the A.A. or A.S. degree but who have satisfied the TBR general education requirements. 

Additional hours for the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Professional Studies, and Bachelor of Science degrees:

Bachelor of Arts: Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree must complete eight semester hours of a single foreign language. (For proper scheduling, it should be taken no later than the sophomore year.)

Bachelor of Music: Candidates for the Bachelor of Music degree (with concentrations in performance or composition only-i.e., not music education majors or Contemporary Music majors) must complete eight semester hours of a single foreign language. (For proper scheduling, it should be taken no later than the sophomore year.)

Bachelor of Professional Studies: Candidates for the Bachelor of Professional Studies must complete six semester hours of CORE credit.

Bachelor of Science: Candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree or the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree must complete a total of 15 semester hours of mathematics and/or science. Courses may be chosen from the following areas: biology, chemistry, computer science, information technology, integrated science, mathematics, physics and engineering.

Notes:

  1. Any student who has developed competence in any of the above areas may achieve credit by examination-CBAPE, CLEP or course examination-by taking the examination prior to taking a college course in the same area of study.
  2. Transfer students general education requirements General education requirements for students transferring to Lipscomb University will be determined by the following criteria:
    1. Transferring 1-30 hours - full program (Some accommodation may be necessary if Explorations areas have been fulfilled through traditional course work.)
    2. Transferring more than 30 hours - All subject area requirements must be met including participation in at least the Engagements course. Accommodations may be necessary if Explorations areas have been fulfilled through traditional course work. Explorations areas not met will be satisfied through integrated courses up to two integrated courses. For Bible requirements, see the Bible Requirement section of this catalog.
    3. Associate Degree Transfers (Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) institutions) - Follow criteria in the Admissions  section of undergraduate catalog. For Bible requirements, see the Bible Requirement section of this catalog.
    4. Associate Degree transfers (non-TBR institutions) - see No. 2 above.
  3. Teacher education students should see the Office of Teacher Education for special requirements in general education.

The Major Area of Study

All candidates for a degree at Lipscomb University must complete a major as a part of their academic program. Requirements for these majors are prepared by the department involved and are approved by the appropriate college and by the Academic Leadership Team.
 
Requirements for majors are listed within the departmental sections of this catalog. For the page number of a specific major, check the index.
 
A grade-point average of 2.0 must be maintained on all Lipscomb courses required for the major. Transfer work to be counted toward a major must be accepted by the registrar’s office and approved by the  academic chair or dean involved. At least three courses (minimum of nine hours) in the major field must be taken at Lipscomb.  If students choose to double major and the majors have different degree requirements (i.e. one is a B.A. degree major and the other is a B.S. degree major), the degree requirements for both majors must be met (i.e. the foreign language requirement for the B.A. degree and the math/science requirement for the B.S. degree).
 
Students should choose their major area of study as early as possible. The major must be chosen and “declared” by filing the Major-Minor Form in the registrar’s office when 57 hours have been earned. (Students will normally not be allowed to register for further work until the Major-Minor Form is properly filed.) Some departments have prepared summary lists of all requirements for the different majors within each department. Students should contact the academic chair involved as soon as a possible major is selected.
 
Curricular details of any specific student’s major must be finalized under the direction of the particular office or department to which that major has been assigned. This normally takes place when the Major-Minor Form is completed and officially filed in the registrar’s office.
 
In the case of a general studies interdisciplinary non-teaching major, final details must be approved by the director of teacher education and the registrar.

Majors Offered:

 

The Minor Area of Study - Optional

In addition to the major area of study described above, a student may complete one of the minors listed below. The requirements for these minors are prepared by the department involved and are approved by the appropriate college and by the Academic Leadership Team.
 
Requirements for minors are listed within the departmental sections of this catalog.

Minors Offered:

 
In lieu of one of the minors listed above, students may elect to create their own minor (based on the approval and under the direction of the academic chair of their major field). This diversified minor is composed of at least 15 approved hours of additional 3000 and/or 4000 level courses outside the student’s major field of study. (Other regulations applicable to traditional minors also apply.)
 
A grade-point average of 2.0 must be maintained in all Lipscomb courses required for the minor. Transfer work to be counted toward a minor must be accepted by the registrar’s office and approved by the academic chair involved. At least two courses (minimum of six hours) in the minor field must be taken at Lipscomb.
 
Students taking a major and a minor from the same department must complete all requirements as listed in the catalog for the major and the minor. Since some courses may be required in both the major and the minor, there must be at least 30 distinct hours in the major and at least 15 distinct hours in the minor with no overlap in these hours.
 
The requirements for the different minors given in this section are under the control of the academic departments involved. The details for a minor are to be arranged with the academic chair when the Major-Minor Form is completed and officially filed in the registrar’s office when 57 hours have been earned.

Electives

Each student must complete a minimum of 126 semester hours to be considered for graduation. Many of these hours will be specified by the Bible requirement, the general education requirement, and the major requirement. The student is then free to choose courses from any departmental listing in this catalog to complete the requirements for graduation. Students are advised to consult with their academic advisor and possibly the academic chair involved to make sure they have all prerequisite requirements for any elective courses they choose.

Academic Success Center

The Academic Success Center (ASC) resides in Room 141 of the Beaman Library. Within the ASC, students may take advantage of individual tutoring, collaborative study groups, athletic study hall, academic workshops, student advocacy consultation and limited academic coaching. The ASC houses the university math lab, Lipscomb University Writing Studio, Office of ACCESS Ability, Cohort Coaches, and the Office of Academic Advising. Within the ASC, students are able to take advantage of various means of technology, such as a printer, desktop computers, and mounted LED monitors. The ASC facilitates themed academic workshops which are built around components shown to increase academic success. The ASC is designed to serve the undergraduate student population in the area of academic support and enrichment and assist students in reaching their highest academic potential.  Personalized attention is given to each student, and unique learning styles are considered when planning academic programming. A major focus of the ASC is to be available to accommodate the needs and academic support services that are requested by the students and faculty. If you have questions regarding the ASC, please call 615.966.1400.

Academic Advising

The mission of academic advising at Lipscomb is to assist students in making progress toward achieving their educational, career and personal goals. Utilizing faculty and selected staff as academic advisors, the university seeks to support and promote intellectual and personal growth for students in a Christian community. Although the university will make available to its students a wide range of institutional and community resources, academic progress from entry into the university through graduation is ultimately the responsibility of each student. For information concerning academic advising, contact the director of academic advising, Mr. Rob Mossack, by calling (615) 966-6297.
 
A degree audit tool called myDegreePlan has been created for the student and advisor to run online at myLipscomb to track progress toward graduation.  For questions regarding the use of myDegreePlan, contact the Registrar’s Office.

Three-Year Degree Plan

For students interested in accelerating their path to graduation, Lipscomb offers the opportunity to graduate in three years in several major programs in various academic departments.  Graduating on a three year fast-track provides students with the opportunity to enter the workforce or graduate quicker, potentially increasing career opportunities and upward mobility.

Following a three-year plan is a challenging academic endeavor, and will likely require students to commit to a choice of major at the beginning of their freshman year.  Students who are interested in pursuing a three-year graduation track are encouraged to contact Mr. Rob Mossack, Director of Academic Advising at 615-966-6297.  Students may also email academicadvising@lipscomb.edu for further information.

If the academic interest area has areas where a three-year track is possible, the student will be given contact information for that department’s three-year advisor.  The student will be able to consult with the advisor and map out an appropriate “pathway” that is unique to the individual student’s situation.  For example, bringing in credit from dual enrollment, Advance Placement, or previous classes taken may have a significant (positive) impact on a student’s ability to graduate in three years.  On the other hand, work commitments, desire to do mission work, etc., may make it more difficult to finish early.

The following factors should be considered when discussing the three-year option:

  1. ACT/SAT scores
  2. High school grade point average and rank
  3. Outside employment commitments and needs
  4. Recommended credits to take each semester
  5. Lipscomb University GPA
  6. Academic commitment and motivation of the individual student

Because course scheduling/timing is critical to being able to complete a three-year track, it is imperative that the student consult regularly with his/her advisor regarding classes taken in each semester.  In addition, the timing/sequence of classes may make it difficult for students who enter the university in a winter or summer semester to be able to follow a three-year track to graduation.  However, a student entering during one of those semesters can discuss with the departmental advisor the feasibility of a three-year track upon matriculation.

Dual Enrollment Programs

Lipscomb University has partnered with select high schools in the area to provide college-level course work on their campuses. We also work with individual students who want to take courses on our campus as a dual-enrolled student. Students interested in participating in dual enrollment courses must meet the admission requirements of the university and be admitted to the university prior to the start of classes the semester in which they plan to enroll in dual enrollment courses. For fall semester, students must be admitted (not just apply) by August 1st.  For spring semester, the deadline is December 1st. To be considered for admission into the dual enrollment program, the student must submit the following items: an application for admission, ACT/SAT scores, an official high school transcript and a reference from the school’s guidance counselor. (Home schooled students may provide a reference from an educational source other than a parent.)

In addition to meeting the university admission requirements, the student must also meet all course prerequisites, such as specific sub-scores on the math and English portions of the ACT/SAT, to be allowed to register for those courses. Exceptions will not be made for students who do not meet course prerequisites.

The student is also responsible for submitting the dual enrollment grant application by the state-mandated deadline (Sept. 15 for the fall semester, Feb. 1 for the spring semester). Students who do not submit the grant application by the specified deadline are responsible for payment in full of the charges incurred by participation in the dual enrollment program.

Additional information about the dual enrollment program, including approved class lists for each semester, can be found at dualenrollment.lipscomb.edu.

Services for Students with Disabilities

Lipscomb University is committed to providing equal access to education, housing, facilities and all school sponsored events through a dedicated effort to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and state and local regulations regarding individuals with disabilities. Pursuant to these laws, no qualified individual shall unlawfully be denied access to or participation in any services, programs, or activities of Lipscomb University on the basis of their disability. Lipscomb University will provide reasonable accommodations for the needs of qualified students as they pursue post-secondary education.

An individual with a disability is a person who: (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; OR (2) has a record of such impairment; OR (3) is regarded as having such impairment.

Lipscomb University recognizes that disabilities come in all shapes and sizes, and can include physical, mental, social, and learning disabilities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals, as outlined by the above regulations. Any accommodation request, however, that is unduly burdensome to the university or fundamentally alters the nature of the service, program, course, or activity cannot be fulfilled.

Please contact the Director of the ACCESS Ability Program, Mrs. Leslie Beach, with any questions, requests, or concerns regarding services and accommodations provided for individuals with disabilities.  You can reach her at 615.966.6301 or 1.800.333.4358, ext. 6301 or fax at 615.966.5079.

Testing Services

The Academic Success Center supervises the administration of educational tests (MAT, CLEP). It also oversees the SAT and ACT national testing programs on designated Saturdays. Any questions regarding these should be directed to 615.966.6021.

Beaman Library

Beaman Library connects researchers to scholarly material and resources. Visit the library’s website at library.lipscomb.edu to search through more than 372,000 e-books, 150,000 print books, and more than 100 electronic databases providing access to thousands of journals. In addition to e-journals, Beaman Library has print journals that you may browse. Beaman houses bound volumes, current periodicals, microforms, the University Archives and Special Collections, primary sources, and non-print materials in various formats. 

As a Lipscomb student, you have access to bibliographic citation tools including Academic Writer (formerly APA Style CENTRAL) and EndNote. These tools assist with managing bibliographies, citations, and references. Learn more about Academic Writer at https://libguides.lipscomb.edu/academicwriter and EndNote at http://libguides.lipscomb.edu/endnote.

Research can be daunting and overwhelming. Knowing where to begin can make all the difference. Beaman Library’s Research Guides are a great starting place. The Research Guides, also known as LibGuides, give information on locating books, journals, and databases as well as research guidelines related to a particular field of study. They serve as a type of subject guide of carefully selected resources that will help you as you locate the most appropriate sources and information that you need. Check out all of Beaman Library’s LibGuides at http://libguides.lipscomb.edu/.

Beaman Library features group study rooms and casual seating areas for quiet study, leisure reading, and research. Access library holdings through the online catalog at library.lipscomb.edu . The Library website contains information for accessing materials, library hours, policies, services, and staff. Face to face research instruction still matters at Lipscomb University. Librarians seek to serve and are available for one-on-one research instruction. Appointments can be made on the Beaman Library homepage.

Beyond electronic resources, Beaman Library offers a multitude of services, such as Interlibrary Loan for books and articles, color copying, color printing, fax machine, electronic device charging stations, and scanning. Beaman Library awaits you whatever your research needs may be. Go anywhere; learn anything, and find it in Beaman Library.

LIGHT

The LIGHT Program: Illuminating Cultural Engagement

The mission of the LIGHT program is to prepare students for a lifetime of collaborative engagement with the world’s cultures through curricular and experiential learning that guides them in developing respectful attentiveness to diversity and responsive awareness of neighboring as a moral imperative. This mission will include general-education coursework that prepares students for a diverse world through a cohesive, globally focused curriculum; a campus environment that celebrates cultures both near and far; and the spiritual growth from caring for one’s neighbor as for oneself.

The LIGHT program’s goals are to increase students’ understanding of various cultural practices, systems and institutional structures; to improve students’ ability to explore various cultural practices, systems and institutional structures in relation to their own; and to expand engagement with diverse communities locally, interculturally, and globally.

The heart of the LIGHT Program is found in the General Education curriculum, embedded in the cornerstone and capstone general education courses, Lipscomb Experience and Engagements. However, many students may choose to seek further opportunities for intercultural learning, especially in connecting their liberal arts foundation to their pre-professional development in their majors, or to specialized, focused experiential learning. These students may elect to take LIGHT courses developed within their major or minor, or to participate in extracurricular LIGHT-designated events. Students choosing to be recognized as a LIGHT Scholar will experience a combination of curricular and extracurricular learning environments throughout their time at Lipscomb.

LIGHT Courses:

This introduction to university-level critical thinking is required during the first semester at Lipscomb for all first-year students. Discussion-oriented, the Lipscomb Experience introduces students to the intellectual endeavor of liberal arts education from a Christian perspective in small group settings designed to develop mentoring relationships, to provoke important questions, and to facilitate thoughtful discussion. While Lipscomb Experience courses engage unique topics examined from multiple perspectives, each course also introduces students to a common set of transferrable skills. The course facilitates student engagement with fellow students, the university, the community; essential college-level research and information literacy skills; and the habits of rigorous study, intellectual growth, and lifelong learning. Students may not withdraw from the course unless they are withdrawing from the university. This course is a LIGHT-designated course and may satisfy the SALT Tier II requirement. Instructors may assign a grade of “NC” (no credit) to diligent student who nevertheless fail to earn a “C.” However, instructors reserve the right to assign an “F” when, in their opinion, students do not demonstrate satisfactory effort. Students who do not earn a “C” in LU 1203 must retake the course the subsequent spring semester. No AP, CLEP, or Dual Enrollment credit is accepted for this course.

A multidisciplinary course, co-taught by at least one faculty member and faculty or professionals from other disciplines, that investigates a particular theme, using insights, methods and habits of thought from the liberal arts (math, sciences, humanities, and the fine arts), Bible and other academic disciplines to connect a student’s major to the theme through project-based learning. This course meets an elective Bible requirement and is a LIGHT-designated course.

  • LIGHT in the Major/Minor Curriculum

Students may elect to take LIGHT courses developed within their major or minor. For students in academic areas that do not adapt or create LIGHT courses in their majors, the option of creating a contract in a major course for a special additional project will be available. Students will work with a faculty member and the LIGHT director to design a project that meets the outcomes required for LIGHT courses in the major.

LIGHT Lipscomb, LIGHT Nashville, and LIGHT Away:

Lipscomb creates numerous co- and extracurricular occasions for students to hear and see people who differ from them and to learn about others’ experiences. The directors and sponsors of various on-campus organizations, such as those sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Development, offer many LIGHT-designated events. In addition to the diverse perspectives offered by these experiences, LIGHT Here events offer easy accessibility for students who are not able to travel far from campus. LIGHT Away is an off-campus experience, such as an approved Mission trip, a Global Learning semester, or approved intercultural internship.

The LIGHT Scholar

To achieve the LIGHT Scholar distinction, students must submit an application to the director of LIGHT and participate in a variety of intercultural activities, both curricular and extracurricular. To receive credit towards LIGHT Scholarship for extracurricular activities, students must submit responses to prompts provided by the LIGHT office. For more information, contact Dr. Cori Mathis, Assistant Director of LIGHT and the Writing Studio, at cemathis@lipscomb.edu; to download the LIGHT Scholar tracks, application form and response prompts, go to LIGHT.Lipscomb.edu.

LIGHT Scholars will be recognized at graduation exercises and the distinction will be recorded on their transcript. This designation should appeal to a variety of students across disciplines who will take advantage of the opportunity to bring together disparate intercultural experiences into a cohesive model of global learning.

The SALT Program: Serving and Learning Together

The SALT Program is a comprehensive plan to integrate service-learning into the educational experience of traditional undergraduate students at Lipscomb University. A strategy for developmentally enhancing student learning, the SALT Program allows students to connect their academic experience and spiritual development with significant engagement in the community.

Service-learning through the SALT Program is an academic enterprise in which a service activity acts as a vehicle or “textbook” for understanding an academic concept. In service-learning, the academic credit is given for learning, not for the service completed.

Because Lipscomb expects its students to engage in innovative and rigorous academic experiences and because of the shared belief that a Christ-like attitude calls for service to others, traditional undergraduate students are expected to complete two service-learning experiences before graduation. These experiences will contribute to the student’s development academically, personally/spiritually and civically.

Adult Degree and second degree students are not subject to the SALT graduation requirement. Additionally, students enrolled at Lipscomb University prior to fall 2008 are not subject to the SALT graduation requirement.

The service-learning graduation requirement is intended to ensure that students participate in meaningful service-learning experiences. The requirement is flexible in that it can be accomplished by participating in SALT experiences in a variety of combinations. These experiences include SALT enhanced service projects, academic courses, mission trips, internships or cooperatives. This chart displays the types of SALT experiences that students may participate in to satisfy the graduation requirement:

Developmental level SALT experience Length of service engagement
Tier I SALT-enhanced service projects (Only offered through the SALT Center) 3-5 hours
Tier II SALT-enhanced university courses 10-25+ hours
Tier III SALT-enhanced mission trips, internships, SALT cooperatives, Federal Work-Study-Placement 40+ hours
Tier IV SALT capstone project 40+ hours (for SALT Scholars only) 40+ hours

To satisfy the graduation requirement, students must complete two SALT experiences. No more than one experience can come from Tier I. At least one experience must come from Tier II or Tier III. Tier I experiences are not required.

SALT credit is awarded for learning demonstrated, not service completed. Because these experiences do not include a learning and reflection component, SALT credit is not offered for campus-wide days of service like Service Day or service during QuestWeek.

Students interested in going beyond the basic service-learning graduation requirement will be given the opportunity to attain the distinction of SALT Scholar. The SALT Scholar is a student who has become an expert in service-learning in the context of Lipscomb University, and whose investment in service-learning reflects a significant level of engagement. SALT Scholars will receive special distinction at graduation and on their academic transcript.

Transfer students entering Lipscomb University with 90 or more hours will be required to complete one SALT-enhanced course, mission trip, internship or cooperative before graduation. Transfer students entering Lipscomb with less than 90 hours will be responsible for completing two SALT experiences. It may be possible to transfer credit for SALT experiences. Contact Christin Shatzer, Director of Service-Learning, for more information.

Students will learn about other SALT-enhanced experiences through the SALT Center, campus-wide communication, the student missions office, academic departments, the career development center, campus life and the federal work-study program. It is the student’s responsibility to identify and complete two SALT experiences before graduating. Questions can be directed to Christin Shatzer, director of service-learning, at christin.shatzer@lipscomb.edu or 615.966.7225. More information is available at lipscomb.edu/salt.

Check the program website and myLipscomb for officially designated SALT course offerings.

Requirements for Graduation

This catalog is prepared as a comprehensive statement of the requirements for attendance and graduation at Lipscomb University. Students must meet all of the requirements covered in this catalog prior to the appropriate conferral dates in May, August, and December, to qualify for graduation. While academic advisors are assigned to counsel students and help plan schedules, each student is ultimately responsible for monitoring his/her own progress and completing all requirements. The following list is only intended as a summary of general requirements.

  1. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree at Lipscomb University must complete a minimum of 126 semester hours of work with a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 overall, 2.0 in the major, and 2.0 in the minor (if applicable) on all work taken at Lipscomb University. These 126 hours will include:
    1. The Bible requirement.
    2. The general education requirements.
    3. A major area of study.
    4. Electives

Notes:

  1. Lipscomb University will allow a maximum of 33 semester hours of credit toward graduation based on a combination of correspondence courses, extension courses, special examinations, advanced placement credits and equivalency credits. (See paragraphs below on each of these areas.) The university does not guarantee the transferability of any of these credits to other institutions. Students should investigate these possibilities as the need arises. In the case of students planning to enter professional schools, such as schools of medicine or law, investigation should be made at the professional school under consideration prior to using such credits to replace requirements for admission to these schools.
  2. While remedial or developmental courses are designed to move a student toward graduation by bringing him/her up to a level of preparedness to do college work, they do not apply toward graduation credit. See section entitled “Developmental Non-Credit Courses” concerning developmental non-credit courses.
  3. At least 25 percent of the credit hours required for any degree program must be earned in course work at Lipscomb University. In addition, the last 30 hours of work on a degree must be done in residence at Lipscomb except upon written approval of the associate provost for student academic support. A student will not be allowed to take a correspondence course, a special examination or CLEP examination during the last 30 hours of residency without petitioning the registrar. Special permission of the dean of the appropriate college will be required.
  4. A candidate for a degree must successfully complete the senior seminar and/or special standardized examinations and respond to institutional surveys where these are specified by the university or the department in which the candidate is majoring.
  5. All incomplete grades must be completed, all transfer of credit made, and all correspondence and extension course grades must be received in the registrar’s office by Friday prior to graduation.
  6. No candidate will be recommended for a degree without having fulfilled the SALT requirements. For details, see guidelines in the section above.
  7. No candidate who is placed on academic probation or who remains on academic probation during his/her final semester of work at Lipscomb will be allowed to graduate. In addition, the university may withhold issuing a degree until any disciplinary sanctions are fulfilled in accordance with the terms of the Student Handbook.
  8. All candidates for degrees must be of good moral character.
  9. A candidate for a degree must have his/her account paid in full before a degree can be granted, including the graduation fee which is paid by all graduating students.
  10. Students must register for GN 999X the semester all course work will be completed for graduation. Students who do not file their intent to graduate form in the registrar’s office by the end of the first week may be delayed in graduating. (Students who miss this deadline may not qualify for graduation honors.)
  11. All December and May undergraduate candidates must participate in the formal graduation exercises. August graduates may petition to “walk early” with the May class or participate later in the December exercise. For the petition to be considered, the graduate cannot be on academic probation and must have an overall GPA of 2.2 as well as a 2.2 GPA in his/her major and minor. Petitions are due in the registrar’s office by Feb. 15.

Although some students change career goals, leave school or transfer, 65 percent of first-time freshmen graduated from Lipscomb within six years of beginning university work for the 2012 cohort year. The collective average for Tennessee Board of Regents universities is about 48 percent.

Second Bachelor’s Degree

It is not generally in the best interest of a student to complete a second bachelor’s degree. In those cases, however, where a student chooses to do so, the following information is pertinent:

  1. The student must declare the intent to pursue a second degree to the registrar and have an approved plan on file in that office. (Graduation honors are not applicable to students completing a second bachelor’s degree.)
  2. The plan for a second degree must include a minimum of 32 hours (earned above the hours for the first bachelor’s degree) in residence at Lipscomb University with a minimum of 24 upper division hours in the major in residence, in addition to general education degree requirements. (No minor is required.)
  3. All general education credits earned while completing a bachelor’s degree at another institution must be approved by the university credentials analyst and the registrar before such credit will be given toward a second bachelor’s degree at Lipscomb. This approval is waived (except Bible) if the first degree was earned at a regionally accredited institution.
  4. The SALT requirement is waived.
  5. In no case is the completion of two or more majors or other degree requirements in the course of completing the first bachelor’s degree to be confused or equated with the completion of two degrees.

Statute of Limitations

Curriculum requirements often change and academic programs are frequently enhanced. Students should review the statement concerning modifications found on the title page of this bulletin.

A student is permitted to satisfy requirements for a bachelor’s degree under any curriculum in effect during the student’s attendance at Lipscomb University, provided the curriculum has been in effect within 10 years of the date of graduation. All requirements for major, minor and general education must come from the same catalog. Discontinued courses or programs may necessitate substitutions or additions by the academic chair in consultation with the registrar.

Correspondence Courses

Any correspondence work must be approved by the university. This approval will usually include the academic chair involved, the registrar and the College of Education if the course is required for teacher certification. Forms for these approvals are available in the Office of the Registrar.

Independent Studies

Independent studies are intended to be guided independent educational experiences which are initiated primarily by the student.

The following minimum guidelines apply to all independent studies/readings courses taken at Lipscomb. Academic departments may maintain additional requirements and issue instructions to faculty and students to implement the requirements stated here. Additionally, academic departments must determine which candidates are suitable for independent studies, which activities are appropriate for such credit, the schedule of meeting times, and performance criteria, among other considerations.

  1. A student desiring an independent study must submit a proposal to the academic chair. Registration cannot occur without the prior approval of the academic chair. The academic chair will coordinate procedures with the registrar to prevent unapproved special studies.
  2. Proposals for independent studies must address each of the following topics:
    1. Material to be covered, research to be performed and credit to be awarded.
    2. Schedule of meeting times.
    3. Performance criteria and method of evaluation.

Normally, the student who desires to undertake an independent study will approach the directing professor and together they will prepare a proposal for the study. After they have both signed the proposal, they will seek the academic chair’s approval. When that approval is granted, the proposal becomes a contract between the student and the department. Any deviations from the approved proposal must be approved by the directing professor and the academic chair.

Special Examinations (Challenge Procedure)

Although the university does not encourage the use of special examinations, there are situations (e.g., extraordinary experience) in which it seems advisable to allow a student to challenge a course by special examination. This may be either for credit or without credit. In no case should a student expect to challenge a lower-level course in a discipline for which he/she has previously earned advanced level credit. Further information concerning special examinations is available in the registrar’s office. A fee is charged. A student may challenge a particular course only once and cannot challenge a course which he/she has failed or a course in which he/she has been officially enrolled, i.e., it appears on his or her transcript.

Advanced Standing Credit

Advanced standing examinations such as CBAPE, IB, EB, CLEP, TN Statewide Dual Credit, and Straighterline may be used to establish maximum credit of 30-semester hours. In establishing credit for these examinations, attention will be given not only to the score but to the scholastic record of the student, any special merits of the examination paper and perhaps a personal interview. Such credit will be granted in an area only if no college work in that area has been taken (enrolled in or attempted). No letter grades will be assigned to the credit earned by examination. Students interested in taking CLEP examinations should check in the registrar’s office for guidelines prior to taking the tests. A fee is charged. The CLEP examination in each individual subject can only be taken once.

AP Credit at Lipscomb

Advanced Placement
Subjects/Tests
Score of 3 Score of 4 Score of 5 Max.
Credit
American Gov./Pol. PO 1023 Same as 3 Same as 3 & 4 3
Comparative Gov./Pol. PO 3133 Same as 3 Same as 3 & 4 3
American History HI 2213 HI 2213, HI 2223 Same as 4 6
European History HI 1113 HI 1113, HI 1123 Same as 4 6
World History HI 1013 HI 1013, HI 1023 Same as 4 6
Macroeconomics EC 2403 Same as 3 Same as 3 & 4 3
Microeconomics EC 2413 Same as 3 Same as 3 & 4 3
English Lang. and Comp.* EN 1113 EN 1113, EN 1313 Same as 4 6
English Lit. and Comp.* EN 1113 EN 1113, EN 1313 Same as 4 6
Art History AR 1813 Same as 3 Same as 3 & 4 3
Studio Art- 2-D Design* AR 1033 Same as 3 Same as 3 & 4 3
Studio Art- 3-D Design* AR 1033 Same as 3 Same as 3 & 4 3
Studio Art-Drawing* AR 1033 Same as 3 Same as 3 & 4 3
Music Theory No credit MU 1111, MU 1133 MU 1111, MU 1121
MU 1133, MU 1143
8
French Language FR 1114, FR 1124 FR 2114 FR 2124 16
German Language GE 1114, GE 1124 GE 2114 GE 2124 16
Spanish Language SN 1114, SN 1124 SN 2114, SN 2124 16
Statistics MA 2183 Same as 3 Same as 3 3
Calculus AB* MA 1314 Same as 3 Same as 3 4
Calculus BC* MA 1314 Same as 3 MA 1314, MA 2314 8
Computer Science AB CS 1213 Same as 3 CS 1233 6
Computer Science Principles CS 1122 Same as 3 Same as 3 2
Biology* BY 1003 BY 1003 See Dept. Academic Chair 3
Environmental Science* BY 1003 BY 1003, or BY 1013,
or ESS 1013
Same as 4 3
Chemistry CM 1113, 1211 CM 1113, 1211
CM 1123, 1221
Same as 4 8
Physics I PH 1013 PH 1214 PH 1214  
Physics II PH 1013 PH 1224 PH 1224  
Physics B* PH 1013 PH 1013, PH 1214 PH1214, PH1224 8
Physics C- Mech.* PH 1013 See Dept. Academic Chair See Dept. Academic Chair 3-4
Physics C- Elec./Mag.* PH 1013 See Dept. Academic Chair See Dept. Academic Chair 3-4
Psychology PS 1113 Same as 3 Same as 3 and 4 3
Human Geography HI 3323 Same as 3 Same as 3 3

*Only one test will be used to grant credit when the same course credit is associated with different tests.

CLEP Credit in General Exams

  1. English Composition (No. 1 in CLEP Manual)-No credit.
  2. Humanities-No credit will be granted if prior college work has been taken in any of the test areas.
  3. Mathematics-credit general education requirement in Mathematics (3 sem. hrs.).
  4. Natural Sciences (3 sem. hrs. maximum)
    1. Credit BY 1003, Fundamentals of Biology or
    2. Credit 3 hours of physical science
  5. Social Science and History (meets social science requirement, not history requirement).

On B-E above, maximum credit of one entry level course will be awarded if a score of 50 is attained. No credit will be granted if prior college work has been taken in any of the test areas.

CLEP Credit in the Subject Examinations

Area/CLEP Subject Exam University Course Req. Min.
Scaled Score
Composition and Literature    
American Literature Survey of American Literature 50
English Literature Survey of English Literature 50
College Composition EN 1113   Freshman Comp. & Reading I or 3 hours elective credit 55
     
Foreign Languages    
College French (Level I) FR 1114   48
College French (Level I) FR 1124   52
College French (Level II) FR 2114   56
College French (Level II) FR 2124   62
College German (Level I) GE 1114   48
College German (Level I) GE 1124   52
College German (Level II) GE 2114   56
College German (Level II) GE 2124   63
College Spanish (Level I) SN 1114   48
College Spanish (Level I) SN 1124   54
College Spanish (Level II) SN 2114   60
College Spanish (Level II) SN 2124   66
     
History and Social Sciences    
American Government PO 1023   Introduction to American Government 50
History of US I: to 1877 HI 2213   History of U.S. I 50
History of US II: 1865 to present HI 2223   History of U.S. II 50
Human Growth and Develop. PS 2423   Life Span Development 50
Intro. to Educational Psychology PS 3243   Human Development and Learning 50
Principles of Macroeconomics EC 2403   Principles of Macroeconomics 50
Principles of Microeconomics EC 2413   Principles of Microeconomics 50
Introductory Psychology PS 1113   Introduction to Psychology 50
Introductory Sociology SO 1123   Introduction to Sociology 50
Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 HI 1113   Foundations of Western Civilization to 1600 50
Western Civilization II: -1648 to present HI 1123   Foundations Western Civilization since 1600 50
     
Mathematics and Science    
Calculus with Elem. Func. MA 1314   Calculus I 50
College Algebra MA 1113   College Algebra 50
Pre-Calculus MA 1123   Trigonometry 50
General Biology BY 1003   Fundamentals of Biology 50
General Chemistry I CM 1113   General Chemistry I 50
  CM 1211   General Chemistry I Lab 50
General Chemistry II CM 1123   General Chemistry II 75
  CM 1221   General Chemistry II Lab 75
     
Business (see Dean of College of Business)  
Principles of Management MG 3503   Principles of Management 50
Financial Accounting AC 2503   Financial Accounting 50
Intro. Business Law MG 3613   Legal Aspects of Business I 50
Principles of Marketing MK 3503   Principles of Marketing 50

Note: As specified in the section “Requirements for Graduation,” a maximum of 33 semester hours of credit will be allowed on a combination of correspondence courses, extension courses, special examinations, Straighterline credits, advanced placement credits and equivalency credits.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit Policy

The Office of Admissions in consultation with the provost awards IB credit, generally, according to the following policy:

  • Some of the examinations must be the higher level. A score of 4 or 5 is awarded credit.
  • A score of 5 is awarded credit at the standard level.
  • Other factors are to be considered when awarding IB credit.

European Baccalaureate (EB)

Credit for EB will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Note: Although there are several ways of earning credit by the non-traditional route (IB, AP, CLEP, Special Examination, Equivalency Credit and correspondence course), credit received from one source may not be duplicated by another. The maximum credit for any combination of credit by examination, such as IB, Cambridge Exams, AP, CLEP, and Straighterline is 30 hours, whereas the maximum credit for credit by the non-traditional route is 33 semester hours.

Cambridge Exams

Credit for Cambridge Exams will be awarded according to the following policy:

  • Exams must be at the A level.
  • A grade of B or higher must be earned.

The maximum credit for any combination of credit by examination, such as IB, Cambridge Exams, AP, CLEP, and Straighterline is 30 hours.  As with other credit by exam, a posting fee is charged for each Cambridge Exam for which credit is granted.

Equivalency Credits

Equivalency credits (such as credit for formal military courses as recommended by the American Council on Education) will be evaluated on their individual merits according to the nature and extent of the experience and the recommending department, institution or accrediting agency. 

Credit can be earned from Straighterline for the following courses:  Developmental English (EN 0110), Intermediate Algebra (MA 1030), College Algebra (MA 1113), Freshman Composition I (EN 1113), and Environmental Biology (ESS 1013).  These credits are included in the 30 credits that can be earned via AP, CLEP, IB, EB, and Straighterline.  Approval to take these courses must be given prior to the student starting the work.

Adult Degree Program students and those with at least four years of military or work experience may be eligible to seek Lipscomb University credit hours for college-level learning experienced outside the classroom. Interested students should contact the College of Professional Studies (Ezell 265) to begin the process.

Developmental Non-Credit Courses

Remedial or developmental courses are designed to move a student toward graduation by bringing him/her up to a level of preparedness to do college work. They do not apply toward the graduation GPA or graduation credit. Developmental courses benefit the student by being officially counted as part of the load and determining eligibility for financial aid and/or scholarships.

Transfer Credit from Other Colleges or Universities

Students transferring to Lipscomb University from other colleges or universities must have an official transcript of their work from each school mailed to the admissions office. Courses are generally accepted in transfer if earned at a regionally accredited college or university and if they are comparable to courses offered at Lipscomb or commonly regarded as study in the liberal arts. All other course credits (earned in a non-traditional manner) are subject to evaluation by the registrar and/or academic chair on a course-by-course basis. Moreover, the grade of “C” or higher must have been earned on each course in transfer. Evaluation of these transcripts is made in the admissions office with final approval made by the registrar. Transferred work to be counted toward a major or minor must be approved by the academic chair involved and the registrar. Transferred courses accepted to meet part of the general education requirement must be approved by the registrar. Courses taken at a two-year school which have 3000 or 4000 course numbers at Lipscomb generally will not transfer as equivalency credit.

No more than 63 semester hours may be transferred from a two-year school. Some two-year colleges offer a third year of work in special areas. Ninety-four semester hours is the maximum number of hours that may be transferred to Lipscomb.

Work taken by a student at another college or university after the student’s initial enrollment at Lipscomb University may not be accepted unless the student has received approval to transfer this work before the work is begun. Forms for this approval are available in the registrar’s office. For minimum credit hour requirements of transfer students toward graduation, see II under section entitled “Requirements for Graduation.”

Limitations of Transfer Credit

  1. Students will not be allowed to transfer more credits per term than they would have been permitted to earn at Lipscomb.
  2. Credit must be from a regionally accredited institution.
  3. Only courses with the grade equivalent of “C” or higher are candidates for transfer credit.
  4. Technical or vocational credits are not eligible for transfer and may not, therefore, be used to satisfy degree requirements.
  5. All credits from Lipscomb University may not be transferable to every educational institution. Students wishing to transfer credit to another college or university should contact that institution.

Credit by Examination for Transfer Students

Credit awarded by other institutions for International Baccalaureate (IB), European Baccalaureate (EB), Advanced Placement (AP) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) must be reevaluated to determine if (and how much) credit will be awarded by Lipscomb policy. Students desiring credit by exam should have the official IB, EB, AP or CLEP credit transcript sent directly to the Office of Admissions, Lipscomb University, One University Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37204-3951.

Letter Grading System and Quality Points

All work in the university is graded by letters. Each letter is in turn assigned a quality-point value according to the list provided below. For example, a letter grade of “A” carries a quality-point value of four quality points per semester hour. If the student makes an “A” in a three-hour course, the total number of quality points earned for this course would be twelve quality points.

The overall grade-point average for each student is determined by dividing the number of quality-points earned by the total number of hours attempted. Only work taken at Lipscomb University is included in the computation. Neither advanced placement nor transfer credit may be used to raise the grade-point average.

In the case of courses repeated at Lipscomb, only the highest grade will be used in determining the grade-point average. The hours attempted will be used only once. For duplicated work, that is, for any course taken both at Lipscomb and another school, the grade of the Lipscomb course will always be used in computing the student’s GPA.

Thirteen different letter grades are used to record a student’s progress toward graduation. Some of the letter grades do not count for credit toward graduation, and some are used in computing the necessary grade-point averages for graduation. The following matrix summarizes these grades, and a brief description of each grade follows.

A: Superior work, exceptional quality; earns 4 quality points per hour.

B: Good, above the average expectation; earns 3 quality points per hour.

C: Average, about the quality expected of most students; earns 2 quality points per hour.

D: Barely passing, earns 1 quality point per hour. (Courses with a letter grade of “D” normally do not transfer from one institution to another.)

F: Failing, no credit; earns no quality points.

I: Incomplete, no credit unless completed later with passing grade; computed as “F” in grade-point average until the grade is made up. (See paragraph on incomplete grades.)

IP: IP grades are given only on approved courses, such as master’s theses, honors theses and certain practicums. A grade must be established by the end of the next full semester after the IP grade has been given. A student who does not return to Lipscomb University will automatically receive an “F” on all IP grades after one year. Any variation of these policies must be approved by the Academic Leadership Team.

NC: No credit; used in EN 0110  and EN 1113 , MA 1020  and MA 1030  when the grade is below a “C” and is not computed in student’s average. The faculty reserves the right to assign an “F” if, in the opinion of the teacher, the student has put forth little, if any, effort.

P: Passing-A, B, C or D; used when a course is completed successfully but without any credit. Examples: all zero credit courses.

S: Satisfactory-A, B, C; used when credit is earned in nontraditional ways, such as credit by examination or in special cases where a course is not included in computation of grade-point average. (See paragraph below on audits and non-credit repeats.)

U: Unsatisfactory-D or F, used when credit is not earned in a course not to be included in computation of grade-point average.

W: Withdrew officially; not computed in grade-point average. Used whenever official withdrawal occurs: 1) from specific course(s) at the initiative of the student anytime during the designated withdrawal period of a term (see Calendar ); 2) from all course work in the event that a student is unable to complete a term due to reasons of personal choice, health problems, disciplinary actions or other reasons approved by the university such that the student is formally dissociated from the institution via processing in the registrar’s office; and also may be assigned by the registrar or the provost after the official last day to drop where there are extenuating circumstances, such as an extended illness.

X: Audit, not computed in grade-point average. There is a tuition charge but no credit is earned. (See paragraph on audits and non-credit repeats.)

Mid-term “D” and “F” grades are available on the Web to students during the fall and spring semesters. Final grades are available on the web at the end of each semester. Once grades have been posted to the student’s record in the registrar’s office they are considered permanent.

  Used in Computation of Grade-Point Average
Yes No
Credit Yes A, B, C, D S
No F, I IP, NC, P, U, W, X

Student Grievance/Complaint Process

A student wishing to lodge a complaint about any university office or service is invited to follow the procedures outlined in the Student Handbook, available on the Lipscomb website. If the complaint or grievance is related to a specific course or instructor, the matter should be addressed first with the instructor. If that interaction is unsatisfactory, the student should take the complaint to the academic chair. Should the concern remain unresolved, the student may directly contact the office of the associate dean of the college in which the department resides. Any further appeal must be made in writing to the dean of the college and the associate provost for academic support services.
 
After completing the above procedure, any appeal of a course grade must be filed in the provost’s office within 60 days following posting of the grade to the student’s record. This includes any appeal of an “I” grade that automatically becomes an “F” after the six week incomplete grade completion period.  In no case may a student appeal a grade that has been recorded on the transcript for as long as twelve months, including “F” grades that result from the automatic changing of an “I” grade to an “F.”
 
In accordance with the university’s commitment to academic freedom, students are encouraged to examine all pertinent data, question assumptions, and guided by the evidence of research, freely study the substance of each academic discipline. Any student who perceives that this right has been violated may file a formal written grievance through the provost’s office.

In addition, if the university does not appropriately resolve the student complaint, the student has the right to contact the State of Tennessee to determine the course of action.  Complaints can be filed as follows in Tennessee:

  • Complaints related to the application of state laws, rules or regulations related to approval to operate or licensure of a particular professional program within a postsecondary institution shall be referred to the appropriate state licensing board or agency (e.g., State Boards of Health, State Board of Education) and will be reviewed and handled by such board or agency;
  • Complaints related to state consumer protection laws (e.g., laws related to fraud or false advertising) shall be referred to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs and will be reviewed and handled by that agency.

Allegations regarding noncompliance with accreditation standards, policies, and procedures may be made to SACSCOC, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097.  SACSCOC’s complaint policy, procedure and complaint form may be found on its website (www.sacscoc.org).

Incomplete Grades

Incomplete grades should be assigned only if the final exam (or some work of equivalent significance) was missed for a good reason. Students who fail to complete other (routine) assignments should not receive incomplete grades but should be assigned letter grades that reflect the quality and quantity of their work completed during the regular semester.
 
In cases where the grade “I” is given, a grade must be established within six weeks (42 calendar days) of the grade being assigned, or the “I” grade will automatically become an “F.” The six week period begins when the grade is assigned not at the end of the term.  For example, if a student takes a short-term class that ends during the semester (i.e. a term I course) and receives an “I” grade, the six week timeframe for completing the work begins at the end of the short-term class when the grade was assigned.

Audits and Non-Credit Repeats

In addition to the usual registration for credit and regular grade computation, a student may wish under some circumstances to register as an auditor. In this case, regular tuition is charged but no credit is earned. The student may participate in the course to whatever extent he/she wishes insofar as tests, reports, papers and other assignments are concerned. With permission of the instructor, a student may change his/her registration in a course from credit to audit or from audit to credit during the first four weeks of the semester. After this time his/her only options are to continue as registered or to withdraw from the course. Repeated courses are counted the same as regular courses in determining maximum student loads and in determining full-time student classification. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will not allow audits or non-required repeats to be counted in determining load for pay purposes.

Academic Probation and Suspension

To graduate from Lipscomb University a student must have a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 overall as well as a 2.0 in the major and a 2.0 in the minor (if applicable).

Academic Warning

First-time freshmen whose grade-point average for the first semester is below 2.0 will be placed on academic warning. This is a one-time warning available only to first-time freshmen. Students on academic warning who do not raise their grade-point average to 2.0 by the end of their next semester in school will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic warning will be required to participate in Turning Point, a program designed to assist students attempting to recover from difficult academic situations.

Academic Probation

All students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0, including incomplete grades. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 will be placed on academic probation for the following semester.
 
Students on academic probation should contact their academic chair (or associate provost for student academic support if the major is undeclared) for a meeting before classes start in order to complete a probation contract.

Students who do not sign a contract may return. However, students who are academically suspended at the end of that semester may lose the right to appeal their academic suspension if they have not completed a contract. The academic probation contract is a useful way to address the academic problems the student has encountered.

Students on academic probation who earn a term grade-point average of 2.0 or higher but fail to raise their cumulative grade-point average to 2.0 or higher may be considered for a one- semester extension of their probation.

Students on academic probation because of incomplete work can be removed from academic probation at any time the work is made up and a satisfactory GPA is recorded on the permanent record.

Students who are admitted on academic probation (transfers and returning students) will fall under the same guidelines.

Academic Suspension

When a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters, or the student fails three-fourths or more of his/her work in a semester or is on two or more probations (academic, chapel, or disciplinary), the student will be automatically suspended. Academically suspended students may not enroll at Lipscomb the semester following their academic suspension. Students academically suspended at the end of the spring semester may not attend during summer and fall semesters.

Students may appeal their academic suspension by writing to the associate provost for student academic support. These requests should be mailed to the Office of the Associate Provost for Student Academic Support and received no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Monday of the week before classes begin for the term during which the student wishes to be readmitted.

Students academically suspended after the spring semester are not required to appeal their academic suspension before Maymester classes begin but must appeal their academic suspension before the start of other summer terms following the procedure previously stated.

Academically suspended students who miss the deadline for appealing will not be eligible to return that semester. Students whose appeals are approved will be required to sign an academic probation contract during the first week of classes.

Students who have been academically suspended only once may apply for readmission after being out of school for at least one fall or spring semester.

Students who are academically suspended a second time for academic reasons may not be readmitted until at least two full semesters (not counting summer session) have elapsed.

The above regulations are established to guarantee that a student is making satisfactory progress toward completing his/her college program of study. Exceptions to these regulations can be made only upon appeal in writing to the associate provost for student academic support. All academic probation and suspension policy guidelines are established by the provost and the Academic Leadership Team.

Transitions Program

The Transitions Program is designed to provide support for first-semester freshmen who have been admitted to the university on a conditional basis.  Freshmen admitted conditionally will complete a contract in which they agree to participate in a structured program that will include enrollment in a designated section of LU 1203 (Lipscomb Experience), along with participation in academic seminars and office visits with Academic Success Center staff.
 
Transfer students admitted on a probationary status may be required to enter a contractual arrangement tailored to specific needs and circumstances, and may be considered for admission in any semester. In both cases, the student’s performance will be evaluated after one semester, and based on performance, the student may be released from the conditional status, required to continue under a contract arrangement, or be suspended from the university.

Turning Point

The Turning Point program is designed to assist freshmen who are attempting to recover from difficult academic situations after their first semester.  Participants will be expected to fulfill all program requirements, including supervisory office visits with the program director, participation in tutoring and other academic support offerings, monitoring of class attendance and performance, and enrollment in UN1101 (Strategies of an Effective Learner).

Early Warning System

The early warning system provides instructors an avenue for warning students who are approaching class absence limits or whose academic performance is deficient. Students may receive notification of such situations and may be encouraged to immediately contact the instructor. When students reach the maximum number of absences allowed in a course, they may be notified that the instructor has determined that they will receive a failing grade in that course, and they may be given an opportunity to appeal this decision.

Student Load-Credit Hours

Definition of credit hour: A credit hour (one) is defined as student/teacher interaction of not less than one hour and a minimum of two hours out of class work for 15 weeks (one hour/2/15).

Application: Since several courses and some programs are delivered in a variety of formats, including distance learning, the driving force for delivering a credit hour commences with identifying learning objectives that can be delivered in the one hour/2/15 formula as noted in the definition. Using the definition and formula as noted above, granting more than one hour of credit for a course requires using the formula and increasing the student/teacher interaction, etc., via the learning objectives for the equivalent amount of credit hours desired for the course.

In the fall and spring semesters, students may normally register for 12 to 18 hours, including repeats, non-credit courses and/ or audits, without special permission. A student must take 12 hours to be considered full time. Students registering for more than 18 hours must have a 3.0 grade-point average, either overall or on the preceding semester. Any student attempting to register for more than 18 hours must contact the registrar’s office to receive an override in the computer before registration is possible. No more than 21 hours will be credited for work done (including work at another institution) within one semester. It is recommended that students on academic probation register for 12 hours or less during the semester of probation. Fifteen hours is the maximum load for such students.
 
Because the summer session (10 weeks) is shorter and thus more intensified than a typical semester, it is necessary to place further restrictions upon the number of hours for which a student may register during that time. Specifically, a student may register for as many as 17 hours during summer session without special permission. Beyond that, the registrar’s permission is required, and no student’s load may exceed 19 hours during the summer session (including work at another institution). (Total number of hours is calculated by adding all summer course work, i.e., single-term [five-week] courses, three- or four-week terms, and/or entire session [ten-week] courses.)
 
A student may repeat a course for the purpose of improving his/her grade. Only the higher grade will be used in computing the grade-point average. The grade earned in any previous attempt of the course at Lipscomb will remain on the permanent record. For courses duplicated at Lipscomb and another college, the “transfer” grade may not be used to replace a lower grade made at Lipscomb.
 
A student with a failing grade in a class can remove the effects of the “F” only by repeating the course and earning a higher grade on a course taken at Lipscomb. Demonstration of additional experience or improved proficiency may not be used to alter prior grade records. The university reserves the right to change an instructor listed on a proposed schedule or to eliminate any course from the schedule due to inadequate enrollment.

Dropping Courses

Any course dropped within the first week of the semester will not appear on the permanent record. Any course dropped after the first week and until the last day to drop classes (see calendar) will be given a grade of “W.” Any course dropped at any time without proper notification (Web drop or completed Drop/Add Form) to the registrar’s office will be assigned the grade of “F.”
 
During the official drop/add period, students will be able to drop or add on the Web. After that time, a drop/add form must be completed and accepted in the registrar’s office in order to be official. The official drop date will be the transaction date indicated from the Web drop or the date the Drop/Add Form is accepted in the registrar’s office.

Class Standing

The completion of 30 semester hours classifies a student as a sophomore; 60 hours classifies one as a junior; and 90 hours classifies one as a senior.

Class Attendance

Classroom and/or participation experiences are an integral part of the learning process at Lipscomb University.  Regular class attendance and/or participation, as appropriate to the content delivery method, is expected of all students.  Students should be present for class unless hindered by unavoidable circumstances.  In all cases of absence, students should notify the professor of the class about the reason for the absence.  With the exception of authorized absences (see definition below), based on the reason for the absence, faculty may use reasonable discretion regarding the make-up of missed work or the applying of academic consequences for absences as stipulated in the course syllabus. However, absences that are authorized absences should always be viewed as non-consequential to the student. 

Any student who misses the equivalent of three weeks of any course may be dismissed from the course: further class attendance will be prohibited and a failing grade will be assigned. (Individual departments and/or faculty have the prerogative to establish a tolerance limit of less than three weeks.) Readmission to the class is by approval of the academic chair. A copy of the letter of dismissal to the student may be sent to the payer of the student’s bill where approval has been given according to the student’s FERPA rights. The appeal for readmission must be made within one week from the day the notice is mailed to the student. During the appeal interim, the student may not resume class attendance unless the instructor determines that unusual circumstances warrant it. If the appeal is not approved, further class attendance is prohibited and a failing grade will be assigned. 

Students who are removed from classes due to excessive absences and who do not appeal for readmission will be assigned a failing grade at the end of the semester.

An authorized absence is an absence resulting from a university-sponsored and university-funded activity that promotes the institution (i.e., admissions events, athletic events, student ambassador events).  This does not include events such as mission experiences, athletic practice, service-learning activities, and activities affiliated with courses, academic departments, or academic programs of study.  Therefore, an absence may qualify as an excused absence by the professor, but does not qualify as an authorized absence as determined by this definition.

If students miss class due to an authorized absence they are expected to consult with their professor in advance of the absence and arrange to complete any assignments that may be required to compensate for the classes missed.

Students who miss class due to an authorized absence and who have notified the professor before the absence occurs should not be academically penalized in any way for the authorized absence.  Failure by the student to notify the professor of the authorized absence prior to its occurrence could void the authorized absence and the associated non-consequential benefits.

Missed work includes, but is not limited to, submitting assignments due on the dates of absence (e.g., papers and projects) and completing assignments associated with in-class activities (e.g., quizzes, tests, labs, discussions, presentations, performances).  Additionally, academic benefits afforded to students who have zero absences should not be denied to students who miss class due to an authorized absence.  Make-up work should be completed either prior to the absence or within a reasonable time frame after the absence as determined by the professor.

Study Day and Last Week of Classes

For full semester courses, no test or major assignment is to be given within one week of the final examination. For example, for a class that has a final on Tuesday, the last day a test could be given or a major project due would be the Tuesday of the last week of classes. (It is suggested that when possible, the last week of classes be left free of any exams or major projects.) During the fall and spring semesters, the Thursday before final examinations begin is a study day-no classes will meet. Full-time faculty are requested to be available to students on this day. Adjunct faculty should be as accessible as possible on this day.

Final Examinations

A schedule of final examinations will be determined by the registrar. This schedule is to be followed unless prior approval for change is obtained from the registrar. Under no circumstances may examinations be given earlier than the beginning of the regular testing period as designated by the registrar. Missed final examinations may be made up only when arrangements have been made with the instructor in advance or when illness can be verified with a physician’s excuse.

Graduation Honors

Students who have accumulated a grade-point average (GPA) of 3.90 or above will graduate summa cum laude. Students who have accumulated a grade-point average between 3.70 and 3.89 will graduate magna cum laude, and students whose accumulated grade-point average is between 3.50 and 3.69 will graduate cum laude. Honors are calculated at the end of the student’s last semester. The following criteria will be used to establish eligibility to receive graduation Latin honors of cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude:
a. Graduation Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude) are based only on grades earned at Lipscomb University.
b. A student must complete a minimum of 63 hours of graded course work (toward the degree being conferred) at Lipscomb University in order to be eligible to receive Latin honors designation.
 
Second degree students are not eligible for graduation honors.  Students who expect to qualify for graduation honors may want to check with the registrar’s office during the beginning of their senior year.

Provost’s List and Honor Roll

To qualify for the Provost’s List, a student must be classified as full time (twelve earned hours minimum) and achieve a 4.0 grade-point average for the semester. To qualify for the Honor Roll, a student must be classified as full time and achieve a 3.5 or higher grade-point average for the semester.

Teacher Education

The teacher education program at Lipscomb University is approved by the Tennessee State Board of Education and is nationally accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which has become the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Programs are offered leading to licensure in grades Pre K-3, K-6, 4-8, 7-12 and K-12.
 
The teacher education program at Lipscomb University utilizes a variety of methods for assuring excellence in teacher preparation. Collaboration with local public and private school systems assures that Lipscomb students have practical, hands-on experiences as they acquire knowledge and skills, and study educational theories, current research and sound professional practice. The teacher education program is a campus-wide program that involves all departments in an integrated approach that prepares a well-rounded student. Students are supervised and evaluated on an on-going basis to assure a quality program.
 
The teacher education conceptual framework, C.A.R.E., is explained and illustrated in the Teacher Education Handbook. Specific admission standards, program objectives, and evaluation procedures are also listed in the handbook.
 
For information concerning requirements, admission to teacher education and a list of approved programs, contact the College of Education. All requirements are subject to change as mandated by the state of Tennessee.

Global Learning

Globalization requires an education that cultivates global competencies among our students. We are no longer just citizens of a city, state or nation, but of a world that is much larger and more connected than at any other time in our civilization. To equip our students to be global citizens, we encourage participation in a global learning program as a significant experience in their education.
 
Nowhere on our campus will students find an experiential classroom that compares to the adventure of studying abroad. Through these international experiences, students broaden their worldview, experience different cultures and expand how they engage the global community. In support of these goals, Lipscomb University offers several meaningful programs that are spiritually formative, community engaging and experiential in nature. Students may select from the following programs:
Global Scholars - semester-long immersion with a general education focus.
Global Apprentice - experiential summer sessions concentrating on courses that are major and vocation specific.
Global Ambassador - missional and humanitarian in nature, not for academic credit, but take place during the spring, winter or summer breaks.
 
The Lipscomb faculty and Office of Global Learning are working to add new opportunities and destinations every school year.
 
Acceptance into Lipscomb’s Global Learning programs is a very competitive process with high student demand. You may not be admitted to your program of choice as acceptance is based upon a variety of factors, including: GPA, academic record and interests, references, university standing, and suitability for inclusion into the program. Please apply early! Students should also consult with the Office of Global Learning to verify which course credits they will earn during the program they select.

Lipscomb’s Global Scholar Programs

  • Lipscomb in Vienna (fall/spring)
  • Lipscomb in London (fall)
  • Lipscomb in Florence (fall/spring)
  • Lipscomb in Costa Rica (fall/spring)

Here is a list of where our students have traveled over the last two years and where they are headed next!

Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Moldova, Nevis, Peru, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland and Uganda.

Criteria for Participation in International Programs

All Lipscomb campus rules and policies apply to participants in global learning programs. Additional policies may apply as expressed in paperwork applicants will receive. Deviations from rules and policies may result in disciplinary action, including dismissal from the program without refund.
 

Students who wish to participate in a mid-length or short-term Global Apprentice Program should work with the college sponsoring the program and must complete an application, pay the required deposits by the due dates, and attend the required orientation meetings. Some programs require other criteria to be met. For a complete listing of current mid- length and short-term global programs, visit the web at globallearning.lipscomb.edu and click on “undergraduate programs.”

Students who wish to participate in a semester-long global learning program must meet the following criteria:
  1. They must have completed at least one full-time semester by the beginning of the semester of participation.
  2. They must have at least a 2.5 GPA at the time of the application and maintain a 2.5 GPA for the two semesters preceding their participation in the global learning program.
  3. They must not have an academic or behavioral infraction with the University. Acceptance to Lipscomb’s Global Programs is highly competitive. Applicants will receive a score based upon the following factors:
    • GPA
    • References
    • Date of Application
    • Suitability for inclusion in the program
    If the GPA is still below 2.5 at the end of the second semester, the student may not be admitted to the program.
  4. They must be approved by the Global Programs Committee, whose approval is based on the application, two letters of recommendation, and a demonstrated willingness to abide by Lipscomb rules and policies regarding academics and behavior.

Curriculum for Global Learning Semester-Long Programs

In semester-long programs, students take a total of 12-18 hours. Required core courses include the following 6-7 hours:

  • GL 110V The Cross Cultural Experience, 3 hours (counts as integrated social science credit for general education)
  • Foreign Language, 3-4 hours of language of program location (counts toward B.A. language requirement) - Not applicable for London program

Optional courses, consistent with global learning objectives, vary by site from year to year. A list for any specific program is available from the Office of Global Programs or on the web at globallearning.lipscomb.edu.

Sample optional courses:

  • World Literature I (EN 2153), 3 hours
  • Faith and Culture (BI 3213), 3 hours
  • History course (specific to the program location), 3 hours
  • Discipline-specific course offered abroad by Lipscomb University faculty member (course content varies), 3 hours
  • Students may also take up to one online course or independent study offered by Lipscomb University (course offerings vary by semester), 3 hours

Curriculum for Global Learning Mid-length and Short-length Programs

The courses offered during the mid-length and short-term programs vary from year to year and are available from the Office of Global Learning.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Lipscomb University institutional financial aid may be applied to Lipscomb University’s institutional semester-long programs. Other financial aid such as Pell Grants or loans may be applied to most programs listed here. For mid-length and short-term Global Apprentice Programs, please talk to Financial Aid and the Office of Global Learning to see if your existing financial aid will apply. Presidential, Provost, and Bison Scholar Weekend vouchers may be applied in full to Lipscomb University’s Global Study Abroad Programs of 12 hours or more. The Presidential, Provost and Bison Scholar Vouchers have a one-time use and must be presented prior to the semester start in which the student will study abroad

First Year Program-Liberal Arts

The following list of a first-year program is provided as an example only. Each student entering Lipscomb University is assigned a special advisor from the university faculty. Individual programs for students are then developed at the beginning of each semester. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange appointments to meet with the advisor. Bachelor of Arts candidates and undecided students are strongly encouraged to enroll in a foreign language during their first two semesters.1

General Liberal Arts

  Fall   Spring  
Lipscomb Experience LU 1203   3      
Bible BI 1073 , BI 1083   3   3  
English EN 1313       3  
Foundations Science/Math 3-4   3-4  
Wellness 2 or 2  
Communication CO 1003 /Electives2 3 or 3  
Integrated History/Social Science 3   3  
  15-18   15-18  

1. Those who earned A’s or B’s in a high school foreign language course should consider continuing language study while those skills remain current. Check with the Department of Foreign Languages about CLEP testing, credit and placement.
2. Should be selected from general education requirements or from the major field. Students who are pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree are encouraged to take the foreign language sequence (1114, 1124) during the freshman year.

Preprofessional Curricula

Lipscomb University offers several preprofessional programs and partnerships. See below for information about specific programs.
 
Students pursuing professional degrees beyond the bachelor’s degree should consult with the program they wish to attend for specific prerequisites.

Medically-Related Preprofessional Programs

Detailed lists of prerequisite courses for each of the health care professional areas are available in the Health Professions Advisory Office (Ward 327-330) and the offices of the chairs of biology and chemistry.  Find additional information in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics section under Medically-Related Preprofessional Programs . Students interested in specific admissions requirements to the Lipscomb College of Pharmacy should refer to the College of Pharmacy  section.

Nursing

Lipscomb University offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree. This program prepares the student for a career in the health care field as a registered nurse upon successfully passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), in accordance with applicable state licensing requirements. Lipscomb’s B.S.N. degree is explained in the departmental section for the School of Nursing . For questions or more information about the nursing program, please call 615.966.6650. Information is also available at lipscomb.edu/nursing.

Degrees Conferred for Work Completed in Other Institutions

Certain three-year programs can qualify a student for the baccalaureate degree at Lipscomb University upon the satisfactory completion of the first year of professional school. A student must complete all general education requirements for the B.A. or B.S. degree, a minimum of 18 hours toward a major and approximately 90 semester hours during the three years at Lipscomb.

Three-One Programs in Medically-Related Areas

The three-one program in medicine and medically-related studies applies to students who wish to receive a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree from Lipscomb and to receive professional training in one of the medical professions such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractics, nursing, veterinary medicine and others where the level of instruction is at the bachelor’s level or higher. (Junior college level or other two-year programs do not qualify.) In order to receive the Bachelor of Science degree from Lipscomb the student must:
1. Complete all general education requirements for a bachelor’s degree listed in the Lipscomb catalog.
2. Complete 18 semester hours toward a major.
3. Complete approximately 90 semester hours at Lipscomb. (Transfer students must complete 33 semester hours at Lipscomb in addition to the work transferred to Lipscomb.) A total of 126 semester hours  (Lipscomb plus professional school) is required for graduation.
4. Successfully complete (“C” average or higher) one full year of work at a medically related professional school. This work will be transferred back to Lipscomb as the senior year work.
5. Complete all surveys and standardized examinations required by the university. To avoid returning to campus after transferring, these exams and surveys should be taken during the student’s last semester in attendance at Lipscomb.
 
No student may graduate until Lipscomb receives all necessary transfer work or official verification of the completed work from the cooperating institution. Students should keep this in mind when making plans to graduate from Lipscomb in a particular semester.
 
Should a student in any of the three-year programs fail to satisfactorily complete the work at the professional school, he/she must return to the Lipscomb campus for the completion of degree requirements. In such cases, the registrar’s office should be consulted.

Summer and Wintermester Academic Programs

Lipscomb University provides academic programs throughout the year. In addition to the fall and spring semesters, academic courses are offered during summer months and between fall and spring semesters. During the summer students can take academic courses in a variety of schedule options, including Maymester (three weeks), Junemester and Julymester (four weeks), Term I and Term II (five weeks) and full term (ten weeks). Lipscomb also offers courses during Wintermester, a compressed term offered between the end of the fall semester and the beginning of the spring semester. The specific class meeting schedules for Wintermester courses will vary based on course requirements. Wintermester courses can begin as early as the Friday before fall graduation and end the Sunday before the spring semester begins.
 
These additional terms offer students various academic opportunities, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, to catch up or get ahead in their curriculum. Because of the unique course scheduling opportunities during these additional academic terms, Lipscomb is able to offer innovative courses that are not available during the regular fall and spring semesters. In addition, some courses offered in summer and Wintermester are not available at other universities in the Nashville area during these terms. Course selection options typically include general education courses, core course requirements for majors, online courses, and both domestic and international travel courses.
 
Rising high school seniors may apply to enroll in Summer Scholars, a 10-day residential summer program designed for high-achieving students, for which they receive college credit in one of the academic areas offered. For more information about this program, contact Johnathan Akin, assistant vice president of undergraduate admissions, at 615.966.6150 or johnathan.akin@lipscomb.edu.

More detailed information about Lipscomb’s summer and Wintermester programs may be viewed on the Web:
summerprograms.lipscomb.edu
wintermester.lipscomb.edu

Transcripts

Requests for transcripts should be made through the registrar’s homepage via the Lipscomb website (www.lipscomb.edu). Such requests should be submitted at least a week before the transcript is needed. All final decisions on the issuance of transcripts will be made by the registrar. No transcripts will be issued until all financial obligations to the university have been satisfactorily paid or settled. There is a $5.00 fee per official transcript.
 

Lipscomb Initiative for Education (LIFE) program, A.A.

This A.A. degree program is offered exclusively for students residing at Tennessee Prison for Women.

Total hours required: 63
General Education Requirement: 36 hours required
  • Composition (EN 1113 and EN 1313 ) - 6 hours
  • Communication (CO 1003  or other approved course*) - 3 hours
  • Biological and Physical Science with lab- 6 hours 
  • Literature-  3 hours
  • Math (excludes non-credit, developmental courses)- 3 hours
  • Social Science- 3 hours
  • Bible- 9 hours
  • History- 3 hours
Civic Engagement: 27 hours required

Specific course requirements are listed in the College of Professional Studies’ portion of the catalog.

 

Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Participation

Currently there is no charge for tuition to take Air Force ROTC. The grade and credit can transfer back for graduation.

The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) provides pre-commission training for college men and women who desire to serve as commissioned officers in the United States Air Force. When combined with the academic disciplines offered at the college level, the program provides the student a broad-based knowledge of management, leadership, and technical skills required for a commission and subsequent active-duty service in the Air Force. Graduates are commissioned as Second Lieutenants and will enter active duty. The main objectives of producing officers through the AFROTC program are (1) to procure officers with a broad educational base; (2) to provide a basic military education for college students; (3) to teach fundamentals and techniques of leadership, management, and decision making; and (4) to develop, in conjunction with other academic disciplines, individual character and attributes required of a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force.

Enrolling in AFROTC

For application deadlines go to www.tnstate.edu/afrotc. Students may participate in the Air Force ROTC program in cooperation with Tennessee State University. Call Detachment 790, (615) 963-5980, and ask for a Cross-Town Application. The program provides training and education that will develop skills and attitudes vital to the professional Air Force officer. In this program students are eligible to compete for scholarships (2.5+ GPA) that cover the cost of tuition and textbooks, and provide scholarship cadets with a monthly stipend.

Curriculum

The General Military Course (GMC) is 1 credit hour and is composed of the first four semesters of aerospace studies and is for freshmen and sophomores. The Professional Officer Course (POC) is 3 credit hours and constitutes the final four semesters of AFROTC study for juniors and seniors. The Leadership Lab is also 1 credit hour. Students who participate in Air Force ROTC are jointly enrolled as a TSU student and participate in Aerospace Studies (Air Force ROTC) at TSU. For more information, contact the unit admissions officer at (615) 963-5931/5979 or check our website at www.tnstate.edu/afrotc.

General Benefits

All students enrolled in the AFROTC program are provided textbooks and uniforms at no expense. Professional Officer Course (POC) students (juniors and seniors) and all scholarship students receive a monthly subsistence allowance of up to $500 tax-free.

Sponsored Activities
  • Arnold Air Society is a national society of AFROTC cadets who excel in character and academics and exhibit interest in the study of aerospace technology. The group meets at TSU.
  • Professional Development Training is provided during the summers to cadets interested in enhancing their knowledge of Air Force leadership and management opportunities, increasing their cultural awareness, and learning about specific career specialties.
  • AFROTC Flight Orientation Program is designed to allow all cadets, regardless of intended career field, the chance to fly in Civil Air Patrol aircraft. Everyone can experience the joy of flight.
AFROTC Academic Courses
  • Freshman Year: AS 100 - Heritage and Values of the United States Air Force is a survey course designed to introduce students to the United States Air Force and provides an overview of the basic characteristics, missions, and organization of the Air Force.
  • Sophomore Year: AS 200 - Team and Leadership Fundamentals focuses on laying the foundation for teams and leadership. The topics include skills that will allow cadets to improve their leadership on a personal level and within a team. The courses will prepare cadets for their field training experience where they will be able to put the concepts learned into practice. The purpose is to instill a leadership mindset and to motivate sophomore students to transition from AFROTC cadet to
    AFROTC officer candidate.
  • Junior Year: AS 300 - Leading People and Effective Communication teaches cadets advanced skills and knowledge in management and leadership. Special emphasis is placed on enhancing leadership skills and communication. Cadets have an opportunity to try out these leadership and management techniques in a supervised environment as juniors and seniors.
  • Senior Year: AS 400 - National Security Affairs/Preparation for Active Duty is designed for college seniors and gives them the foundation to understand their roles as military officers in American society. It is an overview of the complex social and political issues facing the military profession and requires a measure of sophistication commensurate with the senior college level.
 
Elective credit toward graduation will be granted by Lipscomb University for these courses to a maximum of 20 semester hours for a complete program.
 
For more information, visit www.AFROTC.com or call the Det 790 Unit Admissions Officer at 615.963.5979. Also visit the Det 790 website at www.tnstate.edu/afrotc.
 
For further information write to:
AFROTC - Air Force
Detachment 790
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN 37209-1561
615.963.5979

Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Officer Education Program

The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) provides pre-commission training for college-educated men and women who desire to serve as commissioned officers in the active Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard. As the Army’s largest commissioning source, it fulfills a vital role in providing mature young men and women for leadership and management positions in an increasingly technological Army. Admission is open to both men and women who meet mental, moral and physical qualifications.
 
Training goes beyond the typical college classroom and is designed to build individual confidence and self-discipline, instill values and ethics, develop leadership skills and increase physical endurance. The course load consists of one course per semester.
 
Graduates are commissioned as Second Lieutenants and will enter active duty within 60 days. Educational delays may be granted for graduates who desire to pursue advanced degrees prior to entry on active duty.
 
All University students in the Nashville area may participate in the Army ROTC Program at Vanderbilt University. While Vanderbilt serves as the host university, students at partnership schools are not charged additional tuition to take Army ROTC. Courses are transferred back to each university and added to the students’ transcripts.
 
Scholarship students receive full-tuition scholarships each year, an annual $900 book allowance, all uniforms and a monthly tax-free stipend beginning at $300 for freshmen and increasing to $500 for seniors. Vanderbilt University also provides Vanderbilt ROTC scholarship students an additional $3,000 tuition grant each year for room and board. Students who are not on scholarship receive the monthly stipend during their junior and senior years. All students enrolled in the Army ROTC program are provided textbooks and uniforms at no expense. Contracted non-scholarship students also receive the monthly stipend from $300 to $500 depending on the MS level.
Scholarships
Students can earn merit scholarships in several ways. High school seniors and graduates compete for four-year scholarships that are determined by local competition among Vanderbilt applicants. Although determined locally, the application process is centrally managed. For more information, visit www.armyrotc.com.
 
College sophomores not enrolled in military science may enter the program by attending four weeks of summer training after their sophomore year at Fort Knox, Ky. These students are then eligible to compete at the national level for two-year scholarships.
 
Enlisted members of the U.S. Army are eligible for Green-to-Gold scholarships that are determined by national competition or by the commanding generals of Army divisions and corps.
 
Enlisted members of the Army Reserve or Army National Guard or outstanding students who are interested in joining the Army Reserve or Army National Guard may be eligible for two-year scholarships. They must have successfully completed two years of college to apply.
Summer Training
The five-week leadership exercise at Fort Lewis, Wash., is a commissioning requirement. This is normally done between the junior and senior years. Travel, room and board are provided free, and cadets are paid approximately $700. Other training opportunities exist for qualified applicants who volunteer.
Commissioning and Career Opportunities
A commission in the U.S. Army is a distinctive honor earned through hard work, demonstrated commitment and a desire to serve the nation. Post-graduate military education, usually starting within six months of graduation and commissioning and continuing through the officer’s service career, begins with the basic officer leadership course followed by officer basic courses that qualify new lieutenants in their specialties. Afterwards they are usually assigned as platoon leaders, typically responsible for every aspect of training, supervising, and caring for sixteen to thirty soldiers and millions of dollars’ worth of equipment. Education delays are available for critical specialties requiring post-graduate civilian education such as law and medical degrees.
Service Obligations
After the freshman year, scholarship students incur a service obligation of four years active duty and four years in the Inactive Ready Reserve. There are also opportunities to serve all eight years in the Guard or Reserves.
Course Credit
During the four-year program, Army ROTC students complete eight courses of military science. Academic credit varies by school.
Tuition
Tuition is waived for any military science course that is not applied toward the degree.
Military Science Courses
During the four-year program, Army ROTC students complete eight courses of military science. Academic credit varies by school.

Freshman Year
MS 101. Leadership and Personal Development
MS 102. Introduction to Tactical Leadership

Sophomore Year
MS 201. Innovative Team Leadership
MS 202. Foundations of Tactical Leadership

Junior Year
MS 301. Adaptive Tactical Leadership *
MS 302. Leadership in Changing Environments *

Senior Year
MS 401. Developing Adaptive Leaders *
MS 402. Leadership in a Complex World*

* Prerequisite required to enroll

Military Science Department Staff

Commanding Officer: Michael J. Slocum; Military Instructors: Johnny C. Simon, James C. Fournier, Victor M. Sanchez

Information

Inquiries regarding enrollment in the Army ROTC program should be made to the Army ROTC Admissions Officer at 615-322-8550 or 800-288-7682 (1-800-VUROTC) or at the address below. Also see www.vanderbilt.edu/army.

Army Officer Education
Box 326, Peabody Campus
Nashville, TN 37203
615.322.8550 • 800.288.ROTC

Academic Departments and Course Descriptions

The following section includes a brief description of each of the academic departments at Lipscomb University along with descriptions of all courses offered by each department. As students choose electives from this section to complete their academic program, they should check with their advisor and possibly the academic chair involved to make sure they have the required prerequisites to enter a particular course. Courses are represented by a four-character designation. The first digit indicates the class level: 1-freshman, 2-sophomore, 3-junior, 4-senior. The two middle characters are for departmental use and usually indicate a sequence of courses or categories of courses. The last character indicates the course credit.


The semester that courses are normally offered is indicated by: F-fall, SP-spring, SU-summer and W-wintermester. * Indicates the course is normally offered in alternate years. See academic chair for details.

Graduation

GN 999X Graduation Course  

Lipscomb Seminar

LU 1203 Lipscomb Experience  

Development Non-Credit Courses

While remedial or developmental courses are designed to move a student toward graduation by bringing him/her up to a level of preparedness to do college work, they do not apply toward graduation credit. Developmental courses benefit the student by being officially counted as part of the load and determining eligibility for financial aid and/or scholarships.

LS 0020 Learning Skills and Reading Improvement  

MA 1020 Introductory Algebra  

MA 1030 Intermediate Algebra  

TP 0110 Turning Point  


English for Academic Purposes

The EAP (English for Academic Purposes) program is an intensive English program to support international speakers of other languages with the development of academic English language skills through specialized, non-credit bearing courses. It is a full-time, non-degree program that allows students to improve academic English for the purposes of entering a degree program. Conditional admission is granted to Lipscomb University through the EAP program to allow students to fully participate in student life while studying English. At the end of their first term, students must meet the requirements of conditional admission as stated in the catalog.

The EAP program is approved by the Student and Visa Exchange Program (SEVP). Lipscomb University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Lipscomb University.  The EAP program is included in this accreditation.

Students are considered full-time based on 20-24 clock hours per week. Each 16-week semester will consist of the following:

  • non-degree coursework per semester
    • 20 hours intensive English class per week
    • 2-4 hours labs or service/culture (out-of-class)

To qualify for the program, students must score within the following ranges on an English language proficiency exam:

  • TOEFL: 45-78 (iBT), 450-547 (PBT)
  • IELTS (Academic): 4.5-6.0

To complete the EAP program, students must maintain a grade of “C” in EAP courses and 2.5 cumulative GPA whilst maintaining a course load of 12 hours. Students who successfully complete the program’s requirements are granted full admission to the university (see International Students). The program adheres to the university’s Academic Probation and Suspension Policy (See Academic Probation).

Information about the EAP program can be found online at LearnEnglish.lipscomb.edu or contact us via e-mail at eap@lipscomb.edu.

Prospective students must submit an international student application and meet the admission requirements. For admissions information, contact the Office of Admissions by telephone at 615.966.1776 or 877.582.4766, by email at admissions@lipscomb.edu, by visiting lipscomb.edu/international, or by mail at One University Park Drive, Nashville TN 37204-3951, USA.

EAP Courses

General Education Integrated Courses (Explorations and Engagements)

The following courses refer to the Explorations and Engagements requirements for Lipscomb’s general education program. Students should consult the general education section of this catalog for specific requirements that include these courses.

LUMS 2xn3 Explorations in Math/Science: (selected topic)  

LULT 2xn3 Explorations in Literature: (selected topic)  

LUHI 2xn3 Explorations in History: (selected topic)  

LUSS 2xn3 Explorations in Social Science: (selected topic)  

LUEG 3xn3  

Global Learning

GL 110V The Cross-Cultural Experience  

Humanities

HU 2003 World Humanities I  

HU 2013  

Elective Internship

INTR 100V   

University Orientation

UN 1101 Strategies of an Effective Learner  

UN 13nV Special Topics