Full-Time Student
A full-time undergraduate student is one who has been accepted by the University and who is enrolled for 12 or more semester credit hours in the Fall, Spring, and/or Summer semester. Full-time academic loads in Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters may not exceed 18 total semester hours without submitting an academic appeal. Full-time status is determined by summing all semester hours during the grading periods assigned to the appropriate semester.
Part-Time Student
A part-time student is enrolled in fewer than 12 total undergraduate hours in the Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters.
Special Student
A special student is a non-degree seeking person who has been given permission to enroll by the Admissions Committee.
Transient Student
A transient student is defined as a student who seeks:
- To enroll at another college/university for credit to be transferred to Cumberland University, or
- To enroll at Cumberland University to have academic course work transferred to another college/university.
Cumberland University students requesting transient permission at other institutions must file the request in writing stating the desired transient institution, the specific courses at the transient institution, the calendar term the course will be taken, and the equivalent Cumberland University courses. If permission is granted, a “Letter of Transient Permission” becomes part of the permanent record file of the student and a copy of the letter will be provided to the student as proof of transient permission. Any course work completed without first having prior written approval may not be used as academic credit toward a degree. All course work grades approved by the Dean of the appropriate School for transient permission will be calculated as part of the cumulative grade point average. The calculation will not be figured in until the final GPA for graduation is determined. The student is responsible for completing all admissions and/or other enrollment requirements at the transient institution and for having the transient institution forward an official transcript to Cumberland University upon completion of the approved coursework.
Students temporarily enrolling at Cumberland University for the purpose of taking course work to be transferred to their permanent (home) institution must present an official Letter of Transient Permission. This document must arrive on or prior to regular registration day of the term for which the student is seeking admission and be signed by the Official from the home institution. Specific classes for which the student is being given permission to register must be listed. The transient student must be eligible to enter as determined by the admission standards published in this catalog. This institution will not provide academic counseling to transient students nor guarantee the appropriateness of course work taken here to the degree being sought by the student elsewhere.
Regular Term
Cumberland University has three regular terms that are used to determine the academic calendar. They are Fall semester, Spring semester, and Summer semester. All students must conform to the deadlines and procedures outlined in the Cumberland University Register.
Non-Regular Term
Non-regular terms, off-campus classes, or accelerated terms may be deemed appropriate by the administration. In certain programs courses are offered in two eight-week terms offered within regular terms. In isolated circumstances, financial assistance may not be available due to federal or state guidelines. Students should check with the Office of Student Financial Services before registering for a non-regular term class. Course fees, other charges, and regulations will be published before the beginning of each of the non-regular terms.
Lower Division Courses
Courses numbered at the 100 or 200 level are lower division courses.
Upper Division Courses
Courses numbered at the 300 or 400 level are upper division courses.
Graduate Division Course Numbering
Courses numbered at the 5000 and 6000 level are graduate division courses. Information on graduate degree programs is located in the Graduate catalog.
Definitions
Emphasis - A sequence of classes, within a discipline, major, or recognized area of study that allows a student to focus coursework in a specific academic subset of the chosen discipline, major, or area of study.
Major - A major field of study should be selected as early as possible. A major must be declared before the senior year. Each major consists of a minimum of 30 semester hours in a chosen area of specialization. The total number of hours may vary with the specialization area chosen.
Minor - Some students choose to complement a major program with a minor in a related field. All minors require a minimum of at least 18 semester hours, at least 9 of which must be upper division courses. Specific requirements for majors and minors are listed in the respective disciplines.
Face-to-Face (in-seat) Course - A Face-to-Face (in-seat) course is a traditional academic course interface in which the faculty and students primarily meet, engage and interact at the scheduled course time in each other’s presence. This type of course interface can be enhanced by web based content, electronic course management systems or other electronic based technology, but such technology does not exceed 24% of the faculty-student contact for the course.
Hybrid Course - A Hybrid (blended) course is an academic course interface in which some traditional face-to-face (in-seat) time has been replaced by a mode of distance learning (i.e. course management system, web based content, online learning activity, or other electronic based technology). A hybrid course is designed to integrate face-to-face and distance learning activities so that they reinforce, complement and enrich one another to best engage the students in learning. This course interface has 25% - 49% of the course time dedicated to distance learning and 51% of the course time in the traditional face-to-face mode.
Distance Learning Course - A Distance Learning course is an academic course interface in which the course interactions between faculty and students are primarily at a distance from one another, rather than in each other’s presence. A distance learning course utilizes a means of distance learning as the principal mode of interaction between faculty to students and student to student. It may utilize course management systems, web based content, online learning activity, video conferencing, chat room and/or other electronic based technology. This course interface has 50% - 100% of the course time dedicated to distance learning.