Innovative Degree Programs

Innovative Degree programs are designed for students in one of the following categories:

• completed an Associate Degree
• interrupted their college studies
• have taken courses at other institutions and now wish to complete an innovative degree program through Alvernia College

Mid-Degree Program

Prerequisites: Students must transfer at least 70 credits of college work or an associate’s degree from a regionally accredited college into a degree program. Up to 45 of these credits could have been previously earned at Alvernia. (Alvernia students may exercise the Mid-Degree option after an academic absence of one year.)

Requirements:

• Satisfy the standards for a major degree program.
• At least 30 credits must be at the 300/400 level at Alvernia College.
• Satisfy catalog requirements for human diversity, community service and computer proficiency.
• Complete at least 12 credits in the major at Alvernia College.
• Complete a modified core curriculum at Alvernia to include relevant transfer credits may be applied to the modified core:

  Communications 3
  Composition & Research 3
  Literature 3
  Fine Arts 3
  Mathematics 3
  Science 3
  Social Science 3
  Theology/Philosophy* 9
  Total Credits 30

Degree Completion Program

There are two degree completion options offered: Professional Studies and Arts and Science.

Prerequisites: Students must transfer at least 90 credits of applicable college work. Up to 75 credit hours may be accepted from regionally accredited community, junior, or other two-year colleges. Up to 60 credits could have previously been earned at Alvernia. Students must inform the Registrar’s Office in writing once accepted into this program.

Requirements:
Completion of 30 Alvernia credit hours under the following provisions:

• Complete 15 credits at the 300/400 level in either a Professional Studies or Arts and Science sequence as approved by the academic advisor and relevant department.
• Complete 15 Credits at the 300/400 level of a modified Alvernia core to include: 3 credits each in Social Science and Literature and 9 credits in Theology/Philosophy*
• Satisfy catalog requirements for diversity, community service and computer proficiency.
  

Plus Two Program

Prerequisites: Students who have earned an academic associate degree from a regionally-accredited college. Students earning an associate degree at Alvernia College are eligible to enter this program after the degree has been awarded.

Requirements:
Complete a total of 36 credits at Alvernia under the following provisions:

• Select a focus area of 24 credits from any one Alvernia major or minor area of study (must have written approval from the department chair of the selected area of study).
• Select a supporting area of 12 credits from any additional Alvernia major or minor area of study (must have written approval from department chair of the selected area of study).
• Complete 30 of these 36 credits at the 300/400 level at Alvernia College.
• Satisfy requirements for human diversity, community service and computer proficiency.

Complete a total of 21 credits in the modified core curriculum at Alvernia, which will include (relevant transfer credits may be applied to the modified core):

• 3 credits each: Literature, Fine Arts, Math/Science, Social Science
• 9 credits: Theology/Philosophy*

* minimum of 3 credits each in Theology and Philosophy and a minimum of 3 credits in Ethics/Morality

Alvernia College Transfer Policy

Bachelor's Degree Residency Requirements

• With the exception of the Degree Completion Program, all students must take at least 45 of the last 60 credit hours at Alvernia College.
• All transfer students must complete at least 30 credit hours at the 300/400 course level. Students must complete a minimum of 9 credits at the 300/400 level at Alvernia College in their major.
• Up to 75 credit hours may be accepted from regionally accredited community, junior or other two or colleges except under the degree completion programs as stated earlier in this section.
• Within the guidelines established above, Bachelor degree programs will require at least 123 and no more than 130 credit hours unless expressly required to satisfy all the liberal arts core requirements, major requirements, and professional degree accreditation requirements.
  

Second Baccalaureate Degree

When contemplating a second baccalaureate degree, alumni of Alvernia or other colleges should consult the Registrar for applicable policies.

Second Major

When contemplating a second major, Alvernia students should consult the Registrar for applicable policies.

Updated: March 29, 2005

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