Academic Policies

Section V: Regulations Governing Majors

1. Established Majors
2. Student-Initiated Major
3. Minors

A. Established Majors

1. Majors require a minimum of 27 semester hours.
2. Each major must be developed and monitored by an approved program committee of the faculty; new or substantially revised majors require the approval of the Board of Trustees based on recommendations from the program committee, the appropriate school/college governance bodies, the jurisdictional dean, appropriate University governance bodies, the chief academic officer, and the president.
3. Beyond the minimum coursework requirement, the content, structure, and extent of a major are prerogatives of the individual program committees within the schools and colleges of the University, except as otherwise defined or restricted by the academic regulations.
4. No "D" grade may apply to an academic major, either on the required or selected list. Secondary Education certificate candidates must earn a "C" or better in all education courses (with an EDU prefix) required by the State of Illinois. (See Section VIII-B-5 and VI-A-5.)

B. Student-Initiated Major (e.g., Management of Psychological Services)

1. Divisional: This major is prepared jointly between the student and the program chair. Said concentration is reviewed and approved by the program chair and jurisdictional dean. Divisional Student-Initiated Major: An initial conference should be held with the appropriate program chair at which time the general plan for the major will be reviewed. Subsequent conferences with the program chair or his/her designate(s) will be concerned with developing the specific program. When completed, the program chair will present the concentration to the jurisdictional dean for approval and filed in the student's permanent academic record.
2. Interdivisional: This major is developed by the student and program chair, with appropriate consultation from the jurisdictional dean and registrar. Interdivisional Student-Initiated Major: An initial conference with the program chair should be held at which time the general plan for the major will be discussed. Subsequent conferences with the program chair, jurisdictional dean, and registrar will be concerned with developing the specific program. When completed, the program will be presented for approval by the program chair, jurisdictional dean, and registrar whereupon it will be filed in the student's advisement folder as part of his/her degree contract.
3. At least half the courses in a student-initiated major must remain to be earned at the time the concentration is presented for approval.

C. Minors

1. Minors at Aurora University are optional. They are not required for graduation.
2. A minor shall comprise a minimum of 15 semester hours.
3. At least 9 semester hours applied to a minor must be earned at AU.
4. Each minor must be developed and monitored by an approved program committee of the faculty; new or substantially revised minors require the approval of the Board of Trustees based on recommendations from the program committee, the appropriate school/college governance bodies, the jurisdictional dean, appropriate University governance bodies, the chief academic officer, and the president.
5. Beyond the minimum coursework requirement, the content, structure, and extent of a minor are prerogatives of the individual program committees within the schools and colleges of the University, except as otherwise defined or restricted by the academic regulations.
6. No "D's" will apply toward minors.
7. A maximum of 3 semester hours of Cr/NCr coursework will apply toward a minor.
8. Courses used on a minor may also be used to meet general education distribution requirements or the B.S. core requirements.

Posted: 11 March 2002