Undergraduate Program Policies and Procedures

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In keeping with its Mission, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for traditional and nontraditional students with diverse academic needs. Saint Joseph’s College offers the adult learner an opportunity to integrate formal education in the liberal arts tradition with professional experience. The Online Division provides academic programs in a variety of disciplines leading to undergraduate certificates, associate and baccalaureate degrees. Each option is designed to reflect the special nature of Saint Joseph’s commitment to its students.

Saint Joseph’s College is committed to the development of all its students into lifelong learners through its educational programs. The College thus, in all its programs, pursues the following teaching and learning goals:

• Pursue knowledge and understanding of the arts and sciences through disciplined learning and discourse in the search for permanent truths;
• Develop a sense of self and a capacity for independent action, based on universal human values;
• Promote an understanding of individual, social, civic and environmental responsibilities;
• Develop critical thinking by focusing on organization, synthesis and analysis, maintaining intellectual independence and an attitude of healthy criticism;
• Develop interactive oral and written communication skills.

All undergraduate students in SJC’s online division who are enrolling in a degree program and meet any of the criteria described below will take a brief writing assessment prior to signing up for courses. The writing placement process, also referred to as our English Placement Exam, is designed so that individuals enroll in a writing course or sequence of writing courses that match their current skills and will help them reach their potential. It is important to know that students cannot fail this assessment and their admissions status in their program will not change as a result of their score. The placement scores reflect the writing course(s) in which students will have the most successful experiences.

Students will take the writing placement assessment if they meet any of the following criteria:

• They have not completed a college-level writing course (equivalent to English Composition I);
• They have taken a college writing course but earned below a C grade;
• Their GPA is under 2.0.

The placement assessment has three parts - (1) grammar, usage, mechanics, and effectiveness of expression, (2) reading comprehension, and (3) essay writing.  Students should be notified of their placement status within 3-5 business days after completion.

Independent study places significant emphasis on written communications. All baccalaureate and associate degree candidates in the Online College are required to complete six semester-hour credits of English Composition. For most students, these six semester-hour credits will be Composition I and II (EH 106/107). Credit for these two courses may be granted to entrants who have previously taken and completed equivalent courses of six semester-hour credits with a grade of “C” or better. Credit may also be awarded in lieu of EH 106/107 for the CLEP College Composition. A student must achieve a minimum score of 50 on the General Exam for waiver of EH 106/107.

Those students who have partially fulfilled the English requirement may complete the necessary credits in one of the following ways:

• with the CLEP College Composition;
• by providing acceptable transfer credit for English Composition from an accredited college or university;
• by completing EH 107, English Composition.

Those who do not transfer credit must complete the English requirement no later than their third enrollment. A satisfactory TOEFL score submitted by applicants from non-English-speaking nations does NOT fulfill the English requirement.

Baccalaureate and associate degree candidates within the Online Division must maintain a cumulative quality-point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (2.0 = C, 4.0 = A), and an average of at least 2.0 or higher in their specialization, major, and minor to qualify for graduation. All required courses must be passed. Otherwise, the course must be taken again. When students have a choice of several courses within a requirement area (e.g., must take two courses from a list of six), and fails one of those courses, they may choose another course from the list of applicable courses instead of repeating the one previously failed.

If a student fails a course at SJC, successfully retakes the course at another accredited institution, and then transfers in the credit, the initial course grade appears on the transcript but the grade is not calculated into the quality-point average.

Students enrolled in a certificate program must maintain at least a 2.0 (2.0 = C) cumulative quality-point average to receive a certificate of completion.

Students who do not maintain at least a 2.0 (2.0 = C) quality-point average incur academic probation, which is both a warning and an opportunity to improve. Students on probation are encouraged to work closely with their Academic Advisor to improve their academic standing. The probationary period will extend for the duration of one additional term, and the student’s status will be re-evaluated upon its completion. If the student still does not attain a cumulative quality-point average of 2.0 or shows no sign of improvement, s/he is subject to academic dismissal from the College.

In keeping with its liberal arts tradition, Saint Joseph’s College requires its students to complete foundation courses through a general education component. Minimum requirements may vary slightly according to program and are listed under the specific program requirements.

The general education requirement provides students with exposure to the humanities, which may include art, music, history, literature, philosophy and theology; the social sciences, including psychology and sociology; and the natural sciences. Refer to the particular program of studies page for the general education requirements specific to that degree.

A total of 120 semester-hour credits is required for completion of all Baccalaureate degrees. Each student must earn a minimum of 25% of the course requirements at Saint Joseph’s College to meet degree requirements. Eighteen (18) or Twenty-Four (24) semester-hour credits within the major/specialization must be earned through Saint Joseph’s College. See specific programs for additional requirements.

A total of 66 semester-hour credits is required for completion of an Associate of Science degree. Each student must earn a minimum of 25% of the course requirements at Saint Joseph’s College to meet degree requirements. Fifteen (15) semester-hour credits within the major must be earned through Saint Joseph’s College.

A total of 18 semester-hour credits is required for completion of most certificate programs. Those credits are earned by taking a combination of required core courses and student-selected electives. Each student must earn a minimum of 12 semester-hour credits through Saint Joseph’s College. There are no general education requirements in the certificate programs.

Students who choose to participate in our hybrid On-campus/Online Summer Session courses find it a rewarding on-campus learning experience. Course offerings for the upcoming Summer Session are announced in late winter or early spring. Students should inquire about Summer Session programming through their Academic Advisor or Online Admissions.