Sep 22, 2023  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Undergraduate Degree and Program Information



In compliance with Board of Trustees policy, this Catalog is intended as a description of the educational programs and activities offered by Peru State. Information in the Catalog is intended to be correct according to information available at the time of publication. The Catalog is explanatory in nature and is a contract between the student and the College. The College reserves the right to withdraw courses, change or terminate programs, change the rules and requirements regulating admission and graduation, and change other regulations affecting the student body at any time.

New students admitted to Peru State under this Catalog may graduate under its program requirements if they graduate within seven (7) years of continuous enrollment. However, should a candidate fail to remain consistently enrolled in his/her program and defer taking courses for more than one semester, he/she will be required to meet current requirements of an academic program. Unless otherwise noted, all academic policies in this Catalog that do not pertain to specific academic programs are effective immediately for all enrolled students.

Degrees

Peru State is authorized by law and the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges to issue the Master of Science in Education, the Master of Science in Organizational Management, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and the Bachelor of Applied Science degrees. Minors, certificates, and pre-professional curricula are also available. Information on graduate program requirements can be found in the Graduate Catalog.

General Program Information

Each undergraduate program at the College consists of general studies courses and specialized courses in the major. The general studies courses are designed to enhance the capacity for continued life-long learning and effective citizenship by encouraging breadth of perspective for everyone regardless of vocation. Specialized courses for the major prepare an individual for a specific occupation or satisfy a particular vocational or intellectual interest.

Upon enrolling, each student selects a program and degree objective that determines the student’s curriculum and academic advisor. This choice may be tentative and changed later. Students who desire special assistance in selecting a program may discuss alternatives with academic advisors or staff in the Center for Achievement and Transition Services (CATS).

Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), and Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.)

The following are the minimum requirements for the B.A., B.S., and B.A.S. degrees:

  • Total Hours - Degree candidates must earn a minimum of 120 semester credit hours.
  • Grade Point Average - A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 is required for all degrees in teacher education; the minimum cumulative average for other degrees is 2.0.
  • General Studies and Major - Degree candidates must complete the General Studies Program appropriate for their degree, a major (teacher education candidates must complete one field endorsement or one subject endorsement), and other courses in support of their educational objectives. Courses may satisfy both major and general studies program requirements simultaneously. All students must complete a minimum of 50% of the hours required for the major/endorsement requirements (excluding General Studies) at Peru State.
  • College 101 - College Success (2 hours) - This introductory course helps students begin to define the role of collegiate education in their personal and professional lives. Within a learning community composed of those who have similar disciplinary interests, students have the opportunity to participate in engaging and tailored activities designed to support the successful development of skills necessary for college level work. Students are automatically re-enrolled until they successfully complete the course. Although the course is a requirement for all degree seeking students with fewer than 24 credit hours at the time of admission, it may be waived by the appropriate Academic Dean for those with a combination of significant work and academic experiences. This course is not required for BAS students.
  • Major Grade Point Average - A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required for all courses listed or selected to fulfill the major hour requirements. No grade lower than a “C-” may be used to fulfill course requirements in an academic major. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 is required for all Education majors to fulfill the major hour requirement.
  • Resident (Institutional) Credits - A minimum of 30 semester hours must be earned from Peru State College. A minimum of 24 of the last 30 semester hours must be earned in residence. This requirement may be waived in cases where any of the required residence credit is earned at another Nebraska State College or where official cooperative agreements with other institutions exist. Internet and off-campus courses conducted by Peru State College are considered resident credits.
  • Upper Division Credit - B.A. and B.S. degree candidates must earn at least 40 semester hours of upper-division credit (300 and 400 level courses). B.A.S. degree candidates must earn 20 semester hours of upper division credit.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Additional Degree Requirements

This degree is awarded to Liberal Arts majors, but is also available for those majoring in other areas. In addition to general undergraduate degree requirements, candidates must complete the following requirements:

  • Nine (9) semester hours of a modern foreign language or upper division credit outside of the student’s major
  • Six (6) semester hours of Mathematics or Psychology;
  • Nine (9) semester hours from HIST 113 HIST 114 HIST 201 HIST 202 , or SOC 201 .
  • PSCI 201  

Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) - Additional Degree Requirements

This degree is available to candidates whose complementary area of emphasis is Management and who transfer from other institutions after having completed a technical associate degree program or have the equivalent in credits and life experience.

Total Hours - B.A.S. candidates must earn a minimum of 120 semester credit hours. A minimum of 30 semester hours must be earned through Peru State. A minimum of 54 semester hours are to be completed through accredited institutions authorized to grant a baccalaureate or higher degree. Exceptions:

  1. Documented basic or recruit military training may be counted toward the degree;
  2. a maximum of 30 hours of standardized subject examinations is acceptable; and
  3. other prior learning/life experience credit may be awarded according to the College’s policy.

Upper Division Credit - B.A.S. candidates must earn at least 20 semester hours of upper division credit (300 and 400 level courses).

General Studies - Thirty (30) semester credit hours are required. Courses must be selected from each of the following general studies topic areas:

Collegiate Skills
Technology and its Application
Perspectives on Values, Thought, and Aesthetics Methods of Inquiry and Explanatory Schema
Cultural Literacy, Diversity and Equity

Technical Transfer Credits - Sixty-six (66) semester hours of credit from the technical associate degree or its equivalent in college credit and life experience is the maximum applicable toward the 120 hours required for the Bachelor of Applied Science degree.

Additional Degree Regulations

In addition to the above degree requirements, the following regulations apply to Peru State’s bachelor degrees:

Pre-Professional Programs Resident Credits - Pre-professional students who have successfully completed three (3) years in a specifically approved program may transfer to an accredited professional school during their fourth year and qualify for bachelor’s degrees provided they meet all other graduation requirements.

Varsity/Junior Varsity Sports Credits - A maximum of four (4) credit hours of HPER 190 Varsity/Junior Varsity Sports is allowed toward a degree. Varsity/Junior Varsity sports credits may be earned for football, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, baseball, softball, cheerleading, women’s golf, dance, men’s and women’s bowling and men’s and women’s cross country. HPER 190 is graded CR/NC and may not be used to fulfill General Studies requirements.

Directed Study - A maximum of eight (8) hours or two (2) courses of Directed Study is allowed toward a degree. The student’s Academic Dean may approve an exception. Additional information is provided later in this Catalog.

Independent Study - A maximum of six (6) hours of Independent Study is allowed toward a degree. The student’s Academic Dean may approve an exception. Additional information is provided later in this Catalog.

Internship - A maximum of 12 hours of internship credit is allowed toward a degree. Generally, the hours earned are noted as general electives. There are limitations on the number of hours that may be applied to certain majors. More information is available online at www.peru.edu/internships

Second Undergraduate Degree - Students apply for only (1) undergraduate degree. If it appears that the student can qualify for more than one (1) degree, the student must determine for which he/she will apply.
An additional undergraduate degree may be obtained by completed at least thirty (30) semester hours of credit beyond the total hours recorded when qualifying for the previous baccalaureate degree. All prescribed requirements for the degree must be successfully completed.

Individuals will follow the academic requirements of the College Catalog in effect at the time of their readmission to pursue an additional degree.

Application for Degree

Peru State has graduation dates: December, May, and August (end of summer). Upon beginning the next to last semester, a degree candidate must complete a degree application through the Student Records Office. Students are expected to have completed all degree requirements on or before the planned date of graduation.

  • December Graduates - Students who expect to graduate in December should apply for graduation by April 15. December graduates may participate in the May commencement following the actual completion of the degree.
  • May Graduates - Students who expect to graduate in May should apply for graduation by November 15 of the preceding year.
  • August Graduates - Students who expect to graduate at the end of the summer should apply for graduation by November 15 of the preceding year. August graduates may participate in the May commencement prior to or following the actual degree completion.