Section 2: Core Requirements
2.7.1 The institution offers one or more degree programs based on at least 60 semester credit hours or the equivalent at the associate level; at least 120 semester credit hours or the equivalent at the baccalaureate level; or at least 30 semester credit hours or the equivalent at the post-baccalaureate, graduate, or professional level. The institution provides a written justification and rationale for program equivalency.
Judgment of Compliance:
Compliance
Narrative/Justification for Judgment of Compliance:
Christopher Newport University is in compliance with this comprehensive standard. CNU offers degree programs at the baccalaureate level and at the master's level. No academic unit other than semester hours is used. All baccalaureate degree programs require a minimum of 120 academic semester hours and a grade point average of 2.00 or higher. This requirement appears in “General Requirements for Graduation” in the CNU Undergraduate Catalog . All new degree programs conform to this policy.
Three degree programs are offered at the master's level: Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Science in Applied Physics and Computer Science, and Master of Science in Environmental Science. The Master of Arts in Teaching program requires 36 semester hours to graduate. CNU undergraduate students may seek admission to the special Bachelor's to Master's degree program, called a five-year MAT program. These students may take 9 semester hours of graduate-level credit as part of the undergraduate degree. Nine semester hours of graduate credit are then waived at the graduate level. These students go through the Master's program in cohorts, taking 9 semester hours in the summer term following commencement, 9 semester hours the following fall, and 9 semester hours the following spring. This group must complete 27 semester hours to graduate, with nine hours of graduate level credit appearing on their undergraduate transcripts. These students receive the same course coverage and semester hours required of students entering the traditional Master of Arts in Teaching program. The semester hour requirements for each area of teacher licensure and for the traditional and five-year MAT programs appear in the CNU Graduate Catalog.
The Master of Science in Applied Physics and Computer Science program requires successful completion of 30 semester hours under the thesis option and 36 semester hours under the non-thesis option. The Master of Science in Environmental Science requires 33 semester hours for the thesis option or 36 hours for the non-thesis option. A Bachelor's to Master's option, or 5 year program, is offered for the M.S. in Applied Physics and Computer Science and the M.S. in Environmental Science. Undergraduate students who apply for this program may apply 9 semester hours of graduate credit toward the undergraduate degree. These nine hours are then waived at the graduate level. The five–year M.S. in Applied Physics and Computer Science students must take an additional 21 semester hours for the thesis track and an additional 27 hours for the non-thesis track. The five-year M.S. in Environmental Science students must complete 24 semester hours for the thesis track. As with the MAT five-year program, the 9 additional hours of graduate level credit appear on the undergraduate transcript. These students receive the same course coverage and semester hours required by students entering the traditional Master of Science programs. The requirements for both degree programs appear in the CNU Graduate Catalog.
Support Documentation:
Undergraduate Catalog 06-07
Graduate Catalog 06-07
Master of Arts in Teaching
Master of Science in Applied Physics and Computer Science
Master of Science in Environmental Science
Additional Live Web Resources:
None