Special Programs
Honors Program
The Berry College Honors Program provides students with an opportunity
to learn within an intellectually challenging community of peers and
instructors. Honors courses familiarize students with works that have
been central to our past and contemporary intellectual traditions, while
encouraging them to examine issues or themes from multiple and
conflicting perspectives. All Honors courses are taught as seminars that
provide an ideal environment for the development of effective
communication and critical-thinking skills. Class size normally is
restricted to 15 students, with primary emphasis placed upon student
initiative in discussion, research and presentations.
Any student who is accepted for admission to Berry College and whose
SAT/ACT scores and high school GPA meet admissions standards for the
Honors program will be considered. Final decisions on admission begin
in late May. Currently, the minimum scores are 1300 (out of 1600 Math
and Reading Analysis combined) for the SAT and a 29 (composite) for the
ACT. A minimum 3.5 GPA for all high school work is also required. Among
Berry applicants who meet the basic Honors criteria, a group of roughly
60 students will be admitted to the Honors program.
A student currently enrolled at Berry or a transfer student must have a
3.5+ GPA on all college work completed and must submit the name(s) of
at least one Berry College faculty in support of her or his candidacy
for the program. A student must have a 3.5+ GPA in all college course
work in order to receive an Honors diploma upon graduation. The Berry
College Honors Program does not conflict with departmental honors
programs; qualified students can complete both.
A minimum of 21 credit hours is needed to complete the degree
requirements of the Honors Program. Students in the Honors Program do
not take "extra" courses: lower-level Honors courses are used in partial
fulfillment of general-education requirements; upper-division course
requirements typically count toward the major.
Lower-division Honors course-work requirements include satisfactory completion of
- two 3-credit-hour Honors colloquia (HON 201H and HON 200H) and
- three additional 3-credit-hour Honors courses. These may include
any honors-designated sections of general-education courses, HON250H or
251H, or any HON250 cross-listed course. Student may elect to honorize
upper-division courses, with the approval of the instructor in
conjunction with the Honors director.
- Upper-division course work includes the satisfactory completion of
two 3-credit-hour Honors Senior Thesis courses in the major (HON 450H
and 451H). Departments that require a senior thesis or project will
determine whether HON 450H or HON 451H. Departments will determine
whether HON450H or HON451H may satisfy upper-level course requirements
within the major.
The Honors Senior Thesis, spread over two semesters, may take many
forms: a traditional research paper on a particular topic, an in-depth
study of specific texts, empirical research, practical applications, or a
creative/
performative effort. Students must perform satisfactorily in a defense
of the Senior Thesis, which is normally scheduled during the
next-to-last semester of their residence at Berry College.
The Honors faculty includes instructors from all schools of the
college.In addition to the Honors Committee and the director of the
program, instructors teaching the Honors colloquia, seminars,
Honors-designated upper-division classes and directing Honors senior
theses are members of the Honors faculty.
Academic Internship Program
Internships, intended to foster linkages between academic life and future career, afford the student the opportunity to
- apply theories learned in the classroom to practical, on-the-job situations;
- learn specific job skills from experienced professionals;
- develop an awareness of job responsibilities and career requirements; and
- gain valuable experience for future employment.
Eligibility: An internship is intended for a junior or
senior who is in
good academic standing and who has the recommendation of her or his
advisor. Other qualifications include potential for leadership; special
skills (e.g., computer skills); ability to communicate effectively in
both written and oral form; organizational ability; and willingness to
represent Berry in a positive fashion to a community constituency. A
grade-point average of 2.60 is required, and 3.00 is strongly
recommended prior to application.
Credit: For most internships academic credit is
available. Tuition for
internship credit is paid at prevailing Berry College rates. Most
students enroll for three to six credits in one semester, although in
exceptional cases up to 12 credits may be permitted. Internships are
generally not approved for fewer than three credits. Registration for an
internship is required with the registrar in advance of the start of
the experience. The application for an internship must be approved by
the provost prior to the beginning of the term in which the internship
is taken. In addition, all fees associated with the credit to be earned
must be paid prior to the start of the semester in which the internship
is taken. Credit may not be granted after the fact.
Length and Time Commitment: Most internships are one
semester in
length. Some internships require that the intern work virtually full
time
(40 hours per week), while others are based on fewer hours per week.
The student must show in her or his internship application a direct
relation between the amount of academic credit sought and the number of
hours per week devoted to the internship itself. For each semester hour
of credit usually sought, there is the assumption of 45 hours of
commitment per semester or term on the part of the student. A minimum of
3 credit hours will be considered. In terms of the internship, the
following applies:
| Credit Sought |
Time Commitment |
| 3 |
135 hours |
| 6 |
270 hours |
| 9 |
405 hours |
| 12 |
540 hours |
Favorable consideration is not likely for an internship request which appears to stem only
from a student's need to have a specified number of credits to complete
a semester's schedule. If the student wishes to make application for an
internship in the place of normal employment, convincing evidence must
be presented that the internship moves the experience beyond normal
duties into new and educationally profitable areas.
Academic Requirements: Students seeking internships
may attend
the internship workshop offered each term by the Career Development
Center at which the process, forms and resources for internships will be
reviewed. In consultation with the campus internship supervisor, the
student must submit a completed Internship Learning Agreement or, in the
Evans School, a copy of the course syllabus and the school's Internship
Learning Agreement, along with the "Application for Academic
Internship" form to the office of the provost. Once the internship has
been approved, the student must attend a workshop at the Career
Development Center that will help prepare the student for the
experience. Internships are graded on an
honors/satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis only, and such a grade does not
alter the Berry grade-point average.
Supervision: Each intern has both an on-site
supervisor and a campus
supervisor (perhaps the student's major advisor, though not
necessarily). The campus supervisor is responsible for the academic
content of the internship; for periodic on-site visits with the intern
(where feasible); for continuing communication with the intern and the
on-site supervisor; and, upon receipt of a written evaluation by the
on-site supervisor, for assessing student performance and assigning a
final grade.
Application: The student must complete the
"Application for Academic Internship" form (available online) and have
this form signed by all appropriate faculty and the school dean. Along
with the Internship Learning Agreement, the form is returned to the
office of the provost for forwarding to the Executive Committee of
Academic Council. The completed materials must be received in the office
of the provost no later than one month prior to the anticipated start
of the internship, or before the end of the drop/add period of the
semester in which the student is registered for the internship. Students
who intend to participate in a credit-bearing internship the following
term must submit a completed authorization form to the registrar's
office during preregistration. It is the responsibility of the student
and the campus supervisor to work out all the details regarding
placement and responsibilities with the business or agency wishing to
participate as host for the intern. While Berry College attempts to
exercise control of the academic quality of internships, it cannot be
responsible for such quality, for intern performance or for any personal
arrangements (housing, transportation, etc.) that may be called for in
connection with the internship.
For additional information about internships, students are invited to
the Career Development Center internship information page.
Dual-Degree Programs
The dual-degree program enables a student to earn a bachelor's degree
from Berry College and from another participating institution. At
present, Berry has established agreements with the Emory University
School of Nursing and the Georgia Institute of Technology School of
Engineering. After completing approximately three academic years of
study at Berry, the student will transfer to the cooperating institution
to complete the requirements for the course of study. This usually
requires an additional two or three academic years. Upon completing all
requirements, the student receives a bachelor's degree from Berry
College and a bachelor's degree from the other institution.
Berry requires 93 semester hours and completion of all
general-education requirements. Specific course requirements for
students interested in the dual-degree programs may be found in other
sections of this catalog. Berry requirements for the dual-degree nursing
program are stated in the biology section, and the requirements for the
dual-degree engineering program may be found in the physics section of
the catalog.
Further information on the dual-degree program and its opportunities
on the undergraduate or graduate level may be obtained from the office
of the dean of the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences.
Preprofessional Preparation in Health Sciences
Following their preparation at Berry College, many graduates enroll in
medical, veterinary, dental, pharmacy and optometry schools. In general,
preparation for entry into these programs does not require a particular
academic major. The professional schools often do require specific
courses and competencies for admission, however, and there are faculty
advisory groups who work to assist students in meeting these
requirements. Admission into most professional schools also requires
achieving high scores on entry exams, such as the Medical College
Admission Test (MCAT). Regardless of a student's major, faculty advisors
will seek to recommend courses that are required and/or will prepare
students for these exams. Specific information for some popular
professional tracks follows.
Premedical: A major in biology or chemistry is
common, but not required. Students should contact the premedical
advisory committee chair: Dr. Christopher Hall, department of biology
(chall@berry.edu; 706-290-2669).
Preveterinary: A major in animal science or biology is
typical, but not required. Students should contact the pre veterinary
advising coordinator: Dr. Martin Goldberg, department of animal sciences
(mgoldberg@berry.edu; 706-290-2177).
Prepharmacy: A major in chemistry or biology is
typical, but not required. Students should contact the pre pharmacy
advising coordinator: Dr. Andrew Bressette, department of chemistry
(abressette@berry.edu;
706-238-5840).
Predental: A major in biology or chemistry is
typical, but not required. Students should contact the premedical
advisory committee chair: Dr. Christopher Hall, department of biology
(chall@berry.edu; 706-290-2669).
Pre-nursing: A major in Dual-Degree Nursing is
typical, but not required. (Refer to the section on "Dual-Degree
Programs" and also the Dual-Degree Nursing Program Requirements in the
Biology section of the catalog.) Students who plan to graduate in
biology or animal science also may apply to the nursing school of their
choice if they have the proper prerequisites. Inquiries about the
Dual-Degree Nursing Program should contact the nursing program
advisor/coordinator: Glenda Orloff, department of biology
(gorloff@berry.edu; 706-238-7834).
Other health-related career tracks: For programs such
as physician assistant, physical therapist and other allied health
fields, students typically major in biology, chemistry or health and
physical education, but this is not required. Some programs such as
medical technology generally involve specific undergraduate training not
offered at Berry. Students interested in pursuing any of these areas
after graduation from Berry should contact the premedical advisory
committee chair: Dr. Christopher Hall, department of biology
(chall@berry.edu; 706-290-2669).
Interdisciplinary Studies
The interdisciplinary studies program allows highly motivated and
self-directed students to pursue a course of study that falls outside of
existing majors and minors by developing an individualized
cross-disciplinary course of study. Students pursuing an
interdisciplinary-studies major integrate classes from multiple
disciplines into a unified and coherent course of study. The principles
of integration can be historical, regional, thematic or problem-focused.
The interdisciplinary-studies major is not a mechanism to avoid those
portions of an existing major that are uninteresting or difficult, nor
is it simply a mechanism to take courses in several areas of interest.
The major must be a unified program that is academically sound and will
contribute to the individual student's intellectual development. This
program requires students to actively plan their program and cultivate a
working relationship with their faculty advisor(s). The
interdisciplinary-studies major culminates in a capstone paper or
project that integrates the student's coursework. Students proposing an
interdisciplinary studies major should have a 3.0+ GPA on all college
work completed. However, students with a lower GPA may be considered and
should discuss their interests with the coordinator of
interdisciplinary studies.
The requirements of the interdisciplinary-studies major are as follows:
- Satisfactory completion of IDS 300 by the end of the junior year;
- Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 48 semester hours, to
include IDS 300, a three-hour capstone course (see d below), and 21 or
more semester hours at the 300 and 400 level;
- Satisfactory completion of at least two writing-intensive courses:
- Satisfactory completion of a 400-level capstone course or
independent study (3 semester hours) in which the student will complete
an interdisciplinary senior thesis or project that integrates the
student's course work (typically to be supervised by the student's
interdisciplinary studies advisor).
Please note: Courses of study cannot include more than 25
percent of their content or credit hours in the Campbell School of
Business, or by name or any similar means, convey a connotation of a
program of study in business administration or management.
Students interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary studies major must
first secure an appropriate academic advisor. Then, in consultation with
their advisor and the coordinator of interdisciplinary studies,
students will write a plan outlining their course of study. The plan
must consist of two elements: 1) a two- to three-page essay describing
the course of study, and 2) a list of learning objectives indicating
courses to be taken to achieve each objective. The plan must be developed and approved before the student completes 70 semester hours.
The essay describing the course of study should address the following points:
- Develop a program title that concisely describes the focus of
study, e.g., Classical Civilization, Southern Life and Culture, Area
Studies (African American, Latin American, Asian, Middle
Eastern), Religion and Personality, Law and Policy in the United States,
Women in Society, Linguistics, Cognitive Science, Biomechanics,
Educational Policy, etc.
- Describe the issue, problem or area of intellectual concern that will be the focus of the interdisciplinary major;
- Explain how courses from two or more disciplines will be integrated to create a unified, coherent program of study;
- Explain why an existing major/minor combination will not meet these needs;
- Describe any experiential-learning components of the plan, e.g., study abroad, internship, field work, independent study;
- Briefly describe a proposed senior culminating thesis or project, which will fulfill the capstone requirement;
- Describe in general terms future plans and how the individualized major will help the student succeed in these plans;
- State the intended degree, either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science, and provide a justification (see p. 42).
The coordinator of interdisciplinary studies can provide sample essays and learning objectives.
Students must have their written plan approved by their advisor, the
coordinator of interdisciplinary studies, and the dean of the school in
which the advisor is assigned, who will forward the plan to the provost.
The provost will send a copy of the signed plan to the student, the
advisor, the coordinator of interdisciplinary studies and the registrar.
Any changes to the plan must be approved by the student's advisor and
the coordinator of interdisciplinary studies, who will notify the dean,
the provost and the registrar of any changes. The approval of a proposed
interdisciplinary-studies plan is not automatic, and the final decision
rests with the interdisciplinary studies coordinator in consultation
with the appropriate dean. An approved interdisciplinary-studies plan is
officially recognized by Berry College as the student's declared
academic major.
Graduate Programs at Berry
Berry College offers the Master of Business Administration, Master of
Education and Education Specialist degrees. For information regarding
these programs, consult the Graduate Catalog. The graduate hours may not
be used to satisfy undergraduate degree requirements.
Joint Graduate Enrollment
A Berry College senior with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point
average
and lacking no more than 12 semester hours toward a baccalaureate degree
may register for a maximum of 6 semester hours of graduate-level
courses, so long as the baccalaureate program is being completed during
the semester in which the graduate work is pursued. Such enrollment does
not signify acceptance into the graduate program as a degree-seeking
student.
The undergraduate student taking graduate-level courses is restricted
to a maximum load of 15 semester hours. Prior approval of the provost
and the appropriate graduate-studies director is required.
Studies in Special Topics
Under the special-studies program, a course of immediate interest
originating from a faculty member or from a group of students and
approved by a sponsoring academic program is offered for one to three
semester-hours' credit.
These credits will not fulfill any degree requirements and will count
as general-elective hours only. In a given semester, a student may take
only one special-studies course. Auditors will be allowed in
special-studies courses on a space-available basis only.
A course in special studies must be approved by the Academic Council in
advance of the semester it is to be offered. The request will be made
by the head of the sponsoring program and will include a list of those
students (at least 10) who have indicated they will take the proposed
course, the name of the professor for the proposed course and a short
rationale for giving academic credit for this particular study.
Special-studies courses are designated SPT (Special Topics) on the student's record. A specific course may be offered as a special-studies course only one time.
International Programs
To enrich the education of students and prepare them for today's world,
Berry offers a variety of study abroad options. Eligible students
wishing to apply their Berry College grants to study abroad pay Berry
College tuition and any additional costs and may participate in an
approved program for
an academic semester or year. A list of approved programs is available
at http://www.berry.edu/academics/study.
Students not dependent on Berry grants pay the study abroad program
directly and may apply to any program as transient students, with
approval from their academic advisor. All students must abide by
enrollment and withdrawal guidelines of the program and Berry College.
Students may participate in summer programs, including Berry College
faculty-led courses. Faculty-led courses include EDU 222 Exploration in
Diverse Cultures and Biology 482 Coral Reef Ecology, among others.
Student teaching abroad is also available through the college's
membership in The Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching. In addition,
students are encouraged to participate in Berry's international
internship program in Dublin, Ireland, or explore other overseas
internship opportunities.
All semester and year-long study abroad participants are required to
hold a minimum grade point average of 2.5 and must have completed at
least two semesters in residence at Berry College. Many study abroad
programs have higher GPA requirements; see website for stipulations.
Unless the program states otherwise, international internship students
should have completed 60 credit hours and possess a 2.6 GPA.
Students are encouraged to study abroad for a semester or year after the
first semester of their sophomore year but may participate in a summer
program at any point during their college career. Berry College does not
specify a minimum GPA for summer study abroad although students must
meet the individual program's GPA condition. There may be prerequisites
for faculty-led programs. Students on disciplinary probation at the time
of application may not study abroad the following semester.
Participants studying abroad through Berry must preregister for Berry
College courses using the "STA" designation. Semester and year-long
abroad students must preregister for a full-time program, enrolling for a
minimum of 12 hours. The use of STA courses for the major or minor must
be approved by the program chair or director and the school dean, prior
to the student's departure. A course used as a substitution for a
general education requirement must also have the approval of the
provost. Non-approved courses will count as hours toward graduation, but
using the courses to fulfill other requirements cannot be guaranteed.
Students studying abroad during fall or spring semesters are exempt from
Cultural Events credit requirements for each semester spent abroad.
Information on all programs is available from the Office of
International Programs.