Regulations

Specific Regulations

Students should be familiar with the General Information section of the Drake University catalog, which covers academic requirements that affect all Drake University students. Although assigned an academic adviser, the student is responsible for being familiar with academic regulations and for selecting appropriate courses in the proper sequence to complete degree requirements. Special attention is directed to information concerning advanced placement and college credit by examination, the credit/no credit program, the President’s and Deans’ lists, international education opportunities, general graduation requirements and academic regulations.

Students also should be familiar with the Drake University Code of Conduct and specific policies relating to academic dishonesty, cheating and plagiarism. Cheating, plagiarism or dishonesty in academic work is considered cause for expulsion.

SJMC Academic Regulations

A student is placed on probation if either the cumulative grade-point average or the average in journalism-mass communication courses falls below 2.00 (a "C" average) during any semester in which a student has earned less than 60 total credit hours. A student may be placed on probation for failing to meet the University’s standards for satisfactory progress toward completion of degree requirements. (See Probation, Suspension and Satisfactory Progress in the General Information section of the Drake University catalog.)

To remain in the school and to continue progress toward a B.A.J.M.C. degree, a student must have at least a 2.25 cumulative grade-point average and a 2.25 GPA in SJMC courses at the end of the academic term in which the student completes the 60th credit hour. For transfer students, the 60th-hour GPA must be based either upon at least 15 credit hours earned at Drake. Students who achieve the 2.25 GPA at the 60th-hour level are placed on probation if their GPAs fall below 2.25 in a subsequent semester. If the GPA is not raised to 2.25 or better after the probationary semester, the student may not continue in SJMC or re-enroll later.

Students need to complete 15 to 18 credit hours per semester to graduate in four years. An academic load over 18 credit hours in a semester requires a 3.00 cumulative grade-point average, or a 2.75 average and permission of the faculty Academic Adjustment Committee. Students employed full-time or part-time should consider carrying lighter class loads.

At least 40 of the 124 credit hours required for graduation must be in courses numbered 100 or above. The last 30 hours of a student’s program must be taken at Drake University. Twelve hours of credit may be earned on a credit-no credit (no letter grade) basis in courses that are not part of the basic requirements or part of the major and related courses, including courses in the area of concentration. (See the Credit-No Credit Program in the General Information section of the Drake University catalog.) A SJMC student may not take a SJMC course on a credit-no credit or audit basis, unless the course is only offered credit/no credit. To enroll for any SJMC course requiring a prerequisite, the student must have earned a grade of "C" or higher in the prerequisite course(s). To enroll in any SJMC senior-level writing, production or capstone course, a student must have a declared SJMC major. Students without appropriate prerequisite courses may be admitted to classes, if there are compelling reasons, by obtaining the consent of the instructor and/or the approval of the Academic Adjustment Committee.

Double Majors and Dual Degrees

With careful planning, SJMC majors can earn a double major or dual degree at the University. If the second major is in the College of Arts and Sciences, requirements for both majors can usually be satisfied within the 124 hours required to earn a bachelor’s degree. A second major in the schools or colleges other than the College of Arts and Sciences — including a second major in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication — usually requires SJMC students to complete more than 124 credit hours. Students interested in completing two majors or two degrees should consult with the associate dean and their SJMC faculty adviser as early as possible.

Proficiency in computer word processing is expected of all majors and is prerequisite for success in many SJMC courses. For further information about the academic requirements of the school, students may contact the dean or associate dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Student Internship Credit Regulations

added 12/9/2007

All internships for credit should be added before the semester's add period, when possible.

Students registered for fewer than 12 credits at the end of the add period cannot add an internship after the add period has expired. In other words, if adding internship credit changes a student's status from part time to full time, the internship cannot be added. These students may add their internship credits to the next semester. If the next semester is summer, students are required to pay the summer rate for each credit hour. If, in any semester, the internship hours, along with the student's other coursework exceeds 18 credit hours, the over-hours fee will apply. Students may not hold internship credit past the next semester.

Students registered for 12 credits or more at the end of the add period, may add the internship credits at the time the internship becomes available. The deadline will be the Friday before finals of each semester. Students who exceed 18 credit hours allowed in a semester, due to the internship credits, will be charged the over-hours fee.

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