Office of the Registrar

The Undergraduate Catalog

The provisions of the Undergraduate Catalog, also referred to as “the catalog,” are not to be regarded as an irrevocable contract. The Trustees, Faculty and/or administration reserve the right to create, modify, or revoke University regulations and other information at any time without notification. A copy of the academic Policy and Procedures manual is located in the Office of the Registrar, and is also available online at www.charlestonsouthern.edu (under Academics click Registrar).

Catalog of Record

A student’s “catalog of record” is the catalog in effect when initial matriculation occurs. Students who are later accepted into the Teacher Education Program or the Nursing Program are subject to the catalog in effect at that time. Students who are readmitted to the University after an absence of two or more consecutive semesters are subject to the catalog in effect during the term of matriculation after readmission. Students may request to change to the most current catalog subject to the review and approval of the University Registrar.

Classification of Students

A regular student is one who has met all admission requirements and is pursuing a degree at Charleston Southern University. The class status of a regular student is as follows:

Class Schedules

CSU provides class schedule information via our web site: www.charlestonsouthern.edu Visit academics from “MyCSU” on our website today for additional information.

CSU Definition of Credit Hour

All credit hours assigned by Charleston Southern University to courses comply with the Federally described definitions of credit hours in terms of appropriate time spent per credit hour on in class and out of class work. As established in the SACSCOC Policy on Credit Hours:

Federal Definition of the Credit Hour. For purposes of the application of this policy and in accord with federal regulations, a credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates:

1.    Not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time, or

2.    At least an equivalent amount of work as required outlined in item 1 above for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practicum, studio work, clinical education experiences and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

This definition also applies to online and distance education courses; departments offering these courses further verify that the total amount of coursework per credit hour complies with the above-stated SACSCOC policy and federal requirements. 

Transfer Credit

Charleston Southern University (CSU) accepts transfer credit from other institutions of higher education based on the following considerations:

1. the educational quality of the learning experience which the student transfers;
2. the comparability of the nature, content, and level of the learning experience to that offered by CSU; and
3. the appropriateness and applicability of the learning experience to the programs offered by CSU, in light of the student’s educational goals (i.e. choice of degree program).

The first of the above considerations primarily deals with accreditation. CSU will accept transfer credit from regionally accredited colleges and universities with grades of “C” or better. The second and third of the above considerations deal with comparability and applicability of the transfer credit. CSU evaluates and awards transfer credit without regard to modes of delivery. CSU will not accept transfer credit while a student is suspended or permanently expelled for academic or disciplinary reasons.

Acceptable transfer credit will be classified as being (1) equivalent to a current CSU course; or (2) acceptable as a major/minor elective; or (3) acceptable for Liberal Arts Core, or (4) acceptable as general elective credit only. No more than 30 semester credit hours may be accepted as general elective credit. The University will not accept noncredit courses as transfer credit. Certain types of nontraditional credit may be recognized as transfer credit; described under “Nontraditional Credit.”

Limitations have been set for the maximum number of transfer hours as outlined below: 

1. Regionally accredited junior, community and technical colleges where a student did not receive an associate’s degree: 68 semester credit hours maximum, including all nontraditional credit accepted.
2. Regionally accredited junior, community and technical colleges where a student did receive an associate’s degree: 89 semester credit hours maximum, including all nontraditional credit accepted.
3. Senior colleges and universities:  89 semester credit hours maximum, including any credit accepted from all other sources (including “I.” above, and all nontraditional credit accepted.)

Time Limitations on Credit

Some departments have established policies stating older courses may not be used to meet major or minor requirements, or their prerequisites. Older courses that are not required for one’s major or minor may be used to satisfy Liberal Arts Core requirements, or may be accepted as general electives.

The following majors (and minors if applicable) are subject to the above departmental limitations:

Policy application guidelines:

• The age of credit is established from the date classes begin for the term a student attends after being admitted or readmitted. The age of credit will be recalculated if the student leaves CSU for at least two consecutive semesters (fall and spring). If a student leaves the University for two consecutive semesters and later returns, the student is subject to the Undergraduate Catalog and regulations in effect at the time of matriculation.

Nontraditional Credit

Nontraditional credit at CSU includes CLEP, DANTES Subject Standardized Tests, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, CSU Challenge Exams, and credit from military experience. Other subject examinations not included here are subject to the review and approval of the academic Department Chairperson and the Registrar.

1. CSU Challenge Exams, CLEP Subject Exams and other approved subject examinations: (30 credit hours maximum) These exams may be presented for credit any time with the exception of the term in which the student graduates  Note: Credit will not be approved for a subject exam that has already been attempted as a course, and a grade received (including grades of “F,” “FA,” “I,” “WP,” “W,” “WF,” and “AU” (audit). See complete policy on the back of the “Standardized Subject Examination Request Form.”
2. Military Credit: (30 credit hours maximum for general experience) Must be documented by submission of any of the following: DD-295 form, DD-214 form, Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript, Army/ACE Registry Transcript Service (AARTS), or other approved documentation.
3. Advanced Placement (AP): Credit for Advanced Placement will be awarded according to the current listing maintained by the Office of the Registrar. The list will be revised and updated as needed by the Registrar with the approval of the appropriate academic department chairperson(s). No limit has been set for the maximum number of hours CSU will accept from AP credit. The amount of AP credit accepted, however, falls under the limitation in provision “I.” under “Classification of Acceptable Transfer Credit” above. CSU accepts for exemption or credit the scores of 3, 4 or 5 (see listing) on tests taken in approved subject areas in the AP Program. The grade of “P” (Pass) will be assigned to all AP credit accepted for credit. No grade points will be assigned.
4. IB Credit: The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is an advanced level two-year curriculum offered to high school students at select high schools. To receive credit students must have official examination results sent to Enrollment Services at Charleston Southern University. CSU will accept IB credit from students who present scores of “5,” “6” or “7” on their Higher Level (HL) examinations according to the current listing maintained by the Registrar. All acceptable IB courses are approved by the appropriate academic chairperson. Credit is not awarded for “Standard Level” work. While there is no specific limit on the number of credit hours we will award for IB courses, this nontraditional credit is subject to our general transfer credit policy (see above). Students will not be awarded duplicate credit in the event acceptable scores for the same subject are presented from Advanced Placement or other subject examinations.
5. Credit for Certified Police Officers: Police officers who are certified by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (Class 1) and are currently employed with municipal, county, or state agencies are eligible to apply for six (6) hours of undergraduate or three (3) hours of graduate credit.  The student is required to submit documentation and application to the Registrar’s Office for approval within two semesters of enrolling as a Criminal Justice major/minor at Charleston Southern University.  Federal law enforcement officers may also be eligible to apply for Nontraditional Credit. Contact the Chair of the Criminal Justice Department for additional information and required forms.

CSU Challenge Exams

The University has a program by which a current student might be permitted to “challenge” a course listed in the current catalog unless the course description indicates otherwise. A Challenge Exam is a special final exam given by the appropriate department. Departmental chairpersons reserve the right to approve or disapprove challenge exam requests on a case by case basis.

If an acceptable standardized subject exam is available, such as a CLEP Subject exam, students should consider this alternative for possible credit rather than taking a Challenge Exam. This is because Challenge Exams must be recorded as a letter grade and will be calculated in your GPA. This includes any letter grade you may receive (“A” through “F”). This credit is subject to provision “2.” under “Nontraditional Credit” above.
For information on taking CLEP Subject Examinations, contact the Office of the Registrar or the Student Success Center.

CSU “Student of Record” Attending Another Institution

If you are a current student of record at CSU and plan to take a course at another institution during any term, you must receive prior permission. To receive permission you must complete either a “Request to Take Courses at Another Institution” form or a “Cross Registration Form.” Students may request permission to earn credit (hours only) at approved out-of-town institutions when our fall and spring semesters are not in session, and the student’s permanent address is outside the greater Charleston area. Local resident students must attend CSU unless permission is given to earn credit at a local institution due to special circumstances. See Policy R-18 for further information.

Should you fail to attain prior permission before attending another institution, the credit may not be transferred into CSU. Only courses in which credit has been earned while attending CSU may be counted toward satisfying residency requirements. See “Residency Requirements” in this catalog.

Credit Earned at CSU while in High School

Outstanding high school students have the opportunity of earning college credit at Charleston Southern University prior to graduation. Up to 15 semester hours may be earned with special permission after one’s sophomore year in high school. Contact Enrollment Services for details.

Academic Load

Fall and Spring Semesters

By academic definition, a full-time undergraduate student is one who is enrolled for twelve (12) or more credit hours during a Fall or Spring semester, and a full-time graduate student is one who is enrolled for six (6) or more graduate credit hours. 

An undergraduate student’s normal load is fifteen (15) to eighteen (18) credit hours. Students in the Bridge Program may enroll in a maximum of 17 credit hours in any given semester. For undergraduate students, permission must be obtained to enroll in 19 - 21 hours from the Academic Dean of the student’s major. The maximum undergraduate course load allowed in any semester is twenty-one (21) hours. Any exception to this must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.   

The normal load for graduate students is six (6) to twelve (12) graduate credit hours. Graduate students enrolling in more than twelve (12) hours per semester must obtain the permission of the graduate director of their program.

Summer Sessions

For regular undergraduates, students are held to no more than 2 classes (no more than 8 credit hours) at a time. Therefore, a student who takes 2 courses in Summer I and 2 in Summer 2 can take up to possibly 4 classes/16 hours (although it will be certainly fewer credit hours since it is doubtful they can take 4 lab courses); one who takes a full summer course can take a total of three courses (12 hours maximum) (a full summer, a Summer I, and a Summer II). The allowance for lab credit hours or 4 credit hour classes does not allow students to exceed the basic rule of no more than 2 classes at a time.

Attendance

1. By the act of enrollment:
   1. The student is responsible for all coursework.
   2. The student is expected to attend regularly and punctually all classes, laboratories, chapels, and assemblies in accordance with CSU requirements.
      Note: Courses delivered in part or fully online have special requirements. Consult the department and/or the instructor for details.
2. The instructor will automatically drop the student from a class with a grade of “FA” (Failure for Absences) when the student has missed 25 percent of the class meetings (excluding the Final Exam Period), as listed in the instructor’s course syllabus. This includes all classes scheduled during the “drop/add” period at the beginning of the term, and any classes missed due to late registration. The example below shows the number of absences for typical classes, except Bridge courses, during the fall and spring semesters. The following reflects the number of absences at which you will receive the grade of “FA”:

Professors in 300 and 400 level courses may suspend the Attendance Policy.

3. Bridge Program - for the courses listed below:
   MATH 099 , ENGL 099  and companion course GNED 107 , the following policy regarding absences applies:

4. An absence is defined as nonattendance for any reason, whether illness, emergency or official leave.
5. Three instances of tardiness or leaving class early are equal to one absence.
6. When the instructor’s records indicate a student has reached 25 percent, the instructor will inform the Office of the Registrar online through their MyCSU account, so that the student and appropriate CSU departments will receive notification regarding the “FA”.
7. Because there are many possible variations in the number of meeting times in a course (especially during Summer), students should check the course syllabus for specific details regarding attendance.
8. Graduate students taking undergraduate prerequisites are subject to the above attendance policy.

Confidentiality of Student Records

Annual Notification of Rights under FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students (traditional and those enrolled in distance and online courses)certain rights with respect to their educational records. They are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The appropriate University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend a record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting school officials in performing legitimate tasks including assignments while working under any College Work-Study (CWS) program agreement. A school official has a legitimate interest if the official needs to review an educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the University may disclose records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. Information may be disclosed to parents of dependent children enrolled at CSU if the student is under 23 years of age and is listed as a dependent on the parent’s federal tax return. Our procedure is to verify the student’s “dependent status” through our financial aid office or by requiring documentation before information is released.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Charleston Southern University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
   The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202

FERPA Notice of Directory Information Policy

The University has designated certain information contained in the educational records of its students as directory information pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This information is not generally considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Directory information at Charleston Southern University includes, but is not limited to:

• name, address, telephone listing, e-mail address
• date and place of birth
• field(s) of study
• participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• weight and height of student-athletes
• dates of attendance
• degrees and awards received
• photographs
• most recent previous school attended
• enrollment status (full-time, part-time, undergraduate, graduate)

Directory information cannot include a student’s social security number, student ID number, race/ethnicity or gender. Directory information may be disclosed by the University for any purpose considered legitimate without student consent. Students have the right, however, to refuse the disclosure of any or all of the information designated as directory information. Students refusing to have any or all of the designated directory information disclosed without consent must submit written notification to the Office of the Registrar. To properly enforce a refusal request, written notification should be filed no later than one week from the beginning of a term in which a student has enrolled. However, refusal notifications will be accepted, processed and enforced as soon as possible anytime they are received. Careful consideration should be given before any disclosure refusal is submitted. The University’s enforcement of a refusal notification may have unexpected or undesirable ramifications.

Academic Integrity Policy

A Community of Honor

As a liberal arts university committed to the Christian faith, Charleston Southern University seeks to develop ethical men and women of disciplined, creative minds and lives that focus on leadership, service, and learning. The Honor System of Charleston Southern University is designed to provide an academic community of trust in which students can enjoy the opportunity to grow both intellectually and personally. For these purposes, the following rules and guidelines will be applied.

Academic Dishonesty

“Academic Dishonesty” is the transfer, receipt, or use of academic information, or the attempted transfer, receipt, or use of academic information in a manner not authorized by the instructor or by university rules. It includes, but is not limited to, cheating and plagiarism as well as aiding or encouraging another to commit academic dishonesty.

“Cheating” is defined as wrongfully giving, taking, or presenting any information or material borrowed from another source, including the Internet, by a student with the intent of aiding himself or another on academic work. This includes, but is not limited to a test, examination, presentation, experiment or any written assignment, which is considered in any way in the determination of the final grade.

“Plagiarism” is the taking or attempted taking of an idea, a writing, a graphic, music composition, art or datum of another without giving proper credit and presenting or attempting to present it as one’s own. It is also taking written materials of one’s own that have been used for a previous course assignment and using it without reference to it in its original form.

Students are encouraged to ask their instructor(s) for clarification regarding their academic dishonesty standards. Instructors are encouraged to include academic dishonesty/integrity standards on their course syllabi.

For more information on procedures and violation appeals, refer to the Student Handbook. 

Final Examinations

Unless otherwise approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, it is expected that the faculty member will administer a final examination in every course. An examination schedule is published for each semester and should be strictly followed. No faculty member has the prerogative to change the schedule. Any change in the schedule must come in writing from the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs to the specific faculty member. The nature of the examination, whether comprehensive or limited, is decided by the instructor, but he or she should inform students of expectations in advance in the syllabus and indicate the weight of the examination in determining the final grade. In recognition of the amount of time required of students to study for final exams and the amount of work for faculty in preparing and grading end of semester work and final exams, no events should be scheduled during Final Exams week. See posted Academic Calendar and Final Exam Schedule for dates.

Examination exemptions based on grades of “A” are left to the discretion of each department. In a departmental meeting, each department should prepare a list of courses in which the “A” exemption rule will apply. The departmental exemption policy for each course should be clearly defined in the course syllabus distributed to the students. Challenge exams, as a rule, are not allowed unless specified in the Catalog.

Final Grades

*Note: The grade of “AU” (AUDIT) is assigned, and no grade points or credit hours are awarded for students “auditing” a class. The intent to audit a class must be indicated on a registration form and submitted to the Office of the Registrar before the end of the drop/add period for each term or session. Students who register to “audit” a course may not seek to obtain credit for that course after the last date of drop/add. Regular tuition and/or fees for the course apply.

Supplementary grade codes (not considered academic grades):

For the purpose of computing a Grade Point Average (GPA), grade points per credit hour are assigned as follows:

Note: GPA is derived from credit attempted at Charleston Southern University only. GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of quality points by the total number of applicable credit hours.

Midterm Grades

The following grades are assigned as Midterm grades:

A, B, C, D, F, FA, I, W

Note: Students in “Pass/Fail” classes may receive grades of “P” (Pass).
Midterm grades are not assigned grade points and do not affect GPA. They are used simply as a progress indicator after midterm of the fall and spring semesters.

Incomplete Grade

A grade of “I” is assigned when, for a reason approved by the professor of the course, a student has been unable to complete the course by the time it concludes. Responsibility for resolving the “incomplete” rests with the student. The grade must be removed before midterm the following semester. If not, the “incomplete” automatically becomes an “F” at midterm of the following semester (fall or spring).

Grade Changes/Appeals

Based on individual student circumstances, a professor may change a grade within the six-months period following the end of the course. Between six months and one year, both the professor and the department head must approve the grade change. After one year, the Vice President for Academic Affairs must also approve the grade change. A grade change after one year must be due to clerical error. If a student wishes to appeal a final grade awarded by a professor or instructor, please refer to the Student Handbook.

Repeating a Course

Students may repeat any course taken at Charleston Southern University in which they have earned a previous grade. However, the University limits the number of times students may attempt a credit-earning course to three, and the number of times students may attempt a remedial, noncredit course to two. All attempts (or repeats) count, including those with grades of “W,” “WP,” “WF” and “FA.” A course may not be repeated within the same semester (i.e., taking an accelerated course within a semester). For students accepted into The Bridge Program, the attempts to earn a passing grade in the remedial courses must be consecutive. (For more information, these students may refer to the information listed under the The Bridge Program in this catalog.)

Any requests to appeal this policy are treated on a case by case basis. Such appeals must be submitted to the University Registrar in writing, and will be heard by the Admissions Committee.

Note: Some academic departments require certain courses to be taken in numerical sequence. Taking a lower level course in the sequence (for the first time at CSU) after credit has been earned in a higher level course (at Charleston Southern University or transferred from another institution) in the sequence is not permitted in certain majors and/or minors. Refer to the information about your major and/or minor in the appropriate section of this catalog.

Transcript Fee

The fee for each transcript request is $10.00. A transcript cannot be processed and released for a student with a “hold” on their records from any CSU office.

Transcripts received from other institutions become the property of Charleston Southern University and will not be released or copied for third parties. Any exception to this must be approved by the University Registrar, with the student’s written consent.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), Academic Probation, Suspension & Expulsion

Beginning Fall 2022:

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is defined as a minimum overall GPA of 2.0. Students will be subject to the academic standing process unless they completely withdraw from the University prior to the last day to receive a grade of W, published on the Academic Calendar.

Probation
A student will be placed in a probationary status after any major term (Fall or Spring) the student’s overall GPA does not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) of 2.0 overall.

Probation will not be applied to Summer, Summer I or Summer II (minor terms). While a student cannot be placed on probation as a result of course work in a minor term, he/she can remove a probation status as a result of course work completed in a minor term. To remove a probationary status in a minor term, a student must take the courses in residence at Charleston Southern University (CSU).

Once a student has been placed on probation 1 or 2, the probation cannot be removed by taking classes at another institution. However, students serving probation may request permission to earn credit (hours only) at approved out-of-town institutions when our Fall and Spring semesters are not in session, and the student’s permanent address is 50 miles outside the greater Charleston area. Local resident students must attend CSU unless permission is given to earn credit at a local institution due to special circumstances. Appropriate forms are available in the Office of the Registrar or online.

Students on Academic Probation 1 or 2 may be enrolled in GNED 103 Strategies for Academic Success as a condition for regaining good academic standing. Students administratively placed in GNED 103 will not be permitted to drop the course without permission from either The Student Success Center or The University Registrar.

Probation 1

A student will be placed on probation 1 after any major term (Fall or Spring) the student’s overall GPA does not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) of 2.0 overall.

Probation 2

A student on probation 1 will be placed on probation 2 after any major term (Fall or Spring) the student’s overall GPA does not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) of 2.0 overall.

Suspension
A student on probation 2 will be suspended after any major term (Fall or Spring) the student’s overall GPA does not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) of 2.0 overall unless the term GPA is a 2.0 or higher. Students who maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher during the term in question will remain on probation 2.

When placed on probation, a student has two consecutive major terms in which to meet the “satisfactory progress” requirements. Failure to do so results in academic suspension. A student suspended for academic reasons will not be permitted to attend CSU for one major term. Students may not appeal this decision. A student who served academic suspension may return to CSU and will be automatically placed on probation 2. All students returning to Charleston Southern University on probation 2 must be registered for classes on the first day classes begin. After returning from academic suspension, the student must maintain a 2.00 term GPA to be eligible to continue until a 2.00 overall GPA is achieved. Students will remain on probation 2 until a 2.00 overall GPA is achieved.

Once a student has been placed on suspension, he/she may not remove the suspension status by taking courses at another institution. If the student takes courses at another institution while suspended, they will not be transferred into CSU, unless approval is given by the Admissions Committee. A student wishing to return after having been suspended must complete an Application for Admission (for readmission approval), with Enrollment Services.

Expulsion
After returning from academic suspension, a student will have one major semester to achieve a 2.00 term GPA. Failure to do so results in permanent expulsion from the University

Class Cancellation

A class may be canceled if its enrollment is ruled insufficient by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Withdrawal From a Course

Once registered, a student is removed from a class role with no grade recorded, if the class is dropped before the last date to drop/add a class for that term. After the last date to add a class, grades are recorded even if one withdraws.

A student may not change the status of a course to “AUDIT” after the last date to drop/add a class. A student who drops all courses during a major semester must complete the procedure for withdrawal from the University.

See the Academic Calendar  for deadline dates in the front of this catalog.

Withdrawal From the University

A Withdrawal Form must be completed online to officially withdraw from CSU. The form is found in the “Student” section of “MyCSU” under “Forms.” Students must first login using their student ID’s and PIN’s. Students are responsible for appropriate tuition and fees for all courses attempted, regardless of grades assigned. Note that all financial and university property obligations must be satisfied to prevent “holds” from being placed against the student’s academic records. Such holds normally prevent transcript requests from being processed, and can prevent future registration for classes. Other holds may apply.

CSU wishes to have student input regarding reasons for withdrawal, including any problems that may have caused the withdrawal decision. This information is requested during the online withdrawal process. Students may be contacted as part of an effort to improve student services.

Withdrawal By Request of the University

Charleston Southern University reserves the right to require the withdrawal of a student whose conduct, general attitude, or influence is considered harmful to the University. Such administrative withdrawals or suspensions are generally handled through the Dean of Students Office.

Undergraduate Sessions

Regular

Charleston Southern University operates on the semester system with two semesters, one in the fall and one in the spring.

Summer Sessions

There are a variety of summer sessions lasting seven to fourteen weeks each. Both day, evening, and online graduate and undergraduate classes are offered.

Requirements For the Dean’s List

At the end of the fall and spring semesters the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs prepares a list of students with at least 12 credit hours (earned) who have a 3.5 Grade Point Average or above for that semester. For the purpose of calculating Grade Point Average (GPA) for the Dean’s List, all coursework taken at Charleston Southern University will be included, and the calculation will be cumulative.

Graduation Information and Requirements

Charleston Southern University maintains an academic policy that does not permit any student to participate in Commencement activities who has not completely fulfilled the requirements for a degree. All financial obligations and holds must be cleared in order for the degree to be conferred and for a student to commence. While the university confers three times a year, there is only one graduation ceremony per year held at the end of the spring semester.

Applications for Graduation and Degree Checks

It is solely and only the student’s responsibility to meet the requirements for graduation. All forms of advising are for informational purposes only. A student who intends to graduate must contact the Office of the Registrar to initiate the graduation process. Students may request one official degree audit through their MyCSU account. Audits are usually emailed to the student to their CSU email account 1-2 weeks after their request is received. Students must complete an Application for Graduation available from the Office of the Registrar.

Bachelor’s Degree

A student will be eligible for graduation upon successful completion of at least 125 credit hours (some programs require more), including all liberal arts core, major and minor requirements, with a minimum of a 2.0 overall Grade Point Average (GPA), a 2.0 GPA in the major and a 2.0 in the minor. Only credit earned with grade points will be included in these calculations. Courses included in this calculation are those which are listed in the catalog as Major/Minor Studies, Major/Minor Electives, or Professional Education. Required and/or suggested courses listed as Prerequisites, Liberal Arts Core, Required Supporting Studies, and Suggested or Recommended Electives will not be calculated in the Major or Minor GPA for graduation purposes. However, in the event the Major/Minor requirements state that certain Liberal Arts Core courses are considered a part of the Major/Minor, those courses will be included in the GPA calculation.

Residency Requirements must also be met (see below). Some departments have a requirement that all credit earned in one’s major and/or minor must have minimum grades of “C.” Refer to the appropriate section of this catalog for specific major/minor requirements.

Residency Requirements

Baccalaureate Degrees: All Baccalaureate Degree programs, including the Bachelor of Technology, require that 36 of the last 46 credit hours must be earned at Charleston Southern University to satisfy residency. All students must take at least 12 credit hours of upper level (300-400) courses in the major, or 15 upper level credit hours in the cognate for the Bachelor of Technology Degree program. At least six credit hours of upper level courses are required in the minor (when a minor is required), and 18 additional credit hours in major, minor, liberal arts core or electives at Charleston Southern University.

Graduation with Honors

Students who earn a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.9 - 4.0 will graduate Summa Cum Laude. Students who earn a GPA of 3.75 - 3.89 will graduate Magna Cum Laude. Students who earn a GPA of 3.50 - 3.74 will graduate Cum Laude.

To be eligible for graduation with honors, at least 60 hours of the coursework to be applied to the degree must have been earned at Charleston Southern University. For the purpose of calculating Grade Point Average (GPA) for graduation with honors, all coursework taken at Charleston Southern University will be included, and the calculation will be cumulative.

Chapel

All full-time day students are required to attend Chapel as a requirement for graduation. See the Student Development/Activities section in this catalog.

Commencement Awards

Each year at the Commencement Ceremony, these awards are made to outstanding graduates who meet the requirements.

The John Barry Christian Scholar Award

Presented each spring to the graduating senior who has achieved the highest scholastic ratio and who, in the judgment of the faculty, evidences the greatest promise for future scholarship.

The Myrtle E. Hamrick Award

A medal is awarded annually to the Charleston Southern University female graduate who possesses the highest virtues of Christian womanhood.

The Hunter Cup

The Hunter Cup is presented to a member of the graduating class who has best served the university and whose character, scholarship and athletic ability are deemed outstanding.

Special Courses

Internships

Some of the academic programs at CSU offer special internship opportunities. Check the upper-level course descriptions for your major and/or minor in the appropriate section of this catalog for more information.

Special Topic Courses

Undergraduate offerings:

180.* Introductory Topic (1-4). Course topics and prerequisites announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topic changes, with the consent of the department chairperson.

280.* Special Topic (1-4). Course topics and prerequisites announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topic changes, with the consent of the department chairperson.

480.* Advanced Special Topic (1-4). Course topic and prerequisites announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topics change, with consent of department chairperson.

*Note: The Registrar reserves the right to assign course numbers 180 185, 280- 285 for Special Topic courses, and 480 - 485 for Advanced Special Topic courses as needed on a case by case basis.

Intellectual Property Policy

All faculty members, staff and students are expected to observe federal copyright law when carrying out their academic and extracurricular duties.  Guidelines have been established for Classroom Copying in Not-For-Profit Educational Institutions, Educational Uses of Music, and Off-Air Recording of Broadcast Programming for Education Purposes. Copies of these guidelines are available to the university community at http://www.csuniv.edu/libary/copyright.html.

The following summary of the CSU Intellectual Property Policy is based upon the five questions required by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) as components to be included when negotiating a policy on ownership of intellectual property.

What is “intellectual property”?

“Intellectual Property” consists of creative ideas and expressions of the human mind that receive the legal protection of a property right.  The primary legal tools for protecting intellectual property rights are copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets.  These legal tools enable owners to choose who may use their property.  Note that in most cases student work for academic credit does not constitute intellectual property (exceptions may apply as noted below).

Who owns the intellectual property?

This policy delineates ten types of intellectual property and ownership may accrue to any of the four different entities.  To understand intellectual property ownership, three terms need to be defined: (1) externally sponsored work; (2) internally sponsored work; and (3) substantial use of University facilities.  Externally sponsored work is work conducted under an agreement between an external sponsor and the University.  Internally sponsored work is work for which the University provides funds or facilities that rise to the level of substantial use.  Substantial use of University facilities means the unreimbursed use of University laboratory, studio, computational facilities, or human resources that are worth more than $15,000 (in 2004 dollars).

The creator generally retains ownership of intellectual property in the following instances: (1) traditional intellectual property such as books and artistic creations; (2) creations that do not result from substantial use of University facilities; and (3) creations made with substantial use of University facilities but without external or internal sponsorship.  However, if the creator chooses not to develop this type of intellectual property or is not diligent in its development, the University may acquire ownership of it.  It should be noted that the University is entitled to a perpetual, non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty free license to use educational course ware.

The University generally owns intellectual property in the following instances: (1) internally sponsored work; (2) creations by employees specifically employed to produce such intellectual property within the normal scope of their employment; an (3) creations made with substantial use of University facilities provided by an external agreement or internal University sponsorship.  However, if the University chooses not to develop this type of intellectual property or is not diligent in its development, the creator may acquire ownership of it.

Negotiated agreements generally control the ownership of intellectual property in the following instances:  (1) externally sponsored work between an external sponsor and the University; (2) individual agreements between the University and creator; and (3) consulting agreements between individuals and outside firms.

Finally, if no other entity has ownership rights except for the creator, the creator may choose to place his or her creation in the public domain.

Who may use the intellectual property

The owner or negotiated agreements generally make this determination.

How are any funds to be distributed?

Funds generally accrue to the owner with the exception of three types of intellectual property:(1) public domain; (2) creations made with substantial use of University facilities but without internal or external sponsorship; and (3) creations make with substantial use of University facilities and internal or external sponsorship but without ownership being specified.  It should also be noted that is the case of both internally sponsored work and externally sponsored work, if the University fails to notify the creator effectively and in advance of limitations imposed on his intellectual property rights, then the creator received 50% of the net proceeds that go to the University.

Works placed in the public domain are owned by the public and there are not funds to be distributed.

The general distribution of funds for intellectual property created with substantial use of University facilities but without internal or external sponsorship is as follows: (1) if the creator chooses to commercially develop the intellectual property then, (a) the creator receives 50% of the net proceeds, (b) the University receives 25% of the net proceeds, and (c) the creator’s department receives 25% of the net proceeds; however, (2) if the creator decided not to commercially develop the intellectual property or fails to show diligence in development, the University can acquire ownership and the creator receives 50% of the net proceeds that go to the University.

The general distribution of funds for intellectual property created with substantial use of University facilities and internal or external sponsorship but without ownership being specified is as follows: (1) if the University chooses to commercially develop the intellectual property, the creator receives 50% of the net proceeds; however, (2) if the University decides not to commercially develop the intellectual property or fails to show diligence in development, the creator can acquire the property and funds are distributed as outlined above for intellectual property created with substantial use of University facilities but without internal or external sponsorship (i.e. 50% creator, 25% University, 25% creator’s department).

How are emerging issues and disputes resolved?

An Intellectual Property Committee maintains and administers the Intellectual Property Policy of the University.  The committee is chaired by a member of the Deans Council appointed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.  The remaining committee members are two faculty members and one staff member appointed by the President and one representative from the university business office appointed by the Vice President of Business Affairs.  Committee members serve three year terms renewable for one additional term.

Emerging issues are handled by negotiating agreements between interested entities or by making amendment to the policy.  Amendments may be proposed by any member of the University.  Amendments deemed by the committee to be reasonable, appropriate to the Intellectual Property Policy, and consonant with existing intellectual property law may be recommended to the President of the University.  Any proposed changes to the Intellectual Property Policy must be approved by the University trustees.

Disputes are resolved by submitting a grievance letter to the Intellectual Property Committee who issues a decision within 60 days.  If any party to the dispute is not satisfied with the committee’s decision, the party may seek binding arbitration in Charleston, South Carolina.