4.4

Program length is appropriate for each of the institution’s educational programs. (Program length)

Compliance Judgment

X In compliance Partially compliant Non-compliant

Narrative

At the baccalaureate level, Francis Marion University offers five degrees (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of General Studies, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing), all of which require at least 120 semester hours of credit that are comprised of the general education requirements as well as the hours required in the major [1]. The Registrar’s Office confirms all candidates for baccalaureate degrees have completed a minimum of 120 hours as part of its review of degree completion [2]. This minimum requirement meets the standards set by other colleges and universities in South Carolina that work together alongside Francis Marion University in the South Carolina Transfer and Articulation Center, which defines program length for bachelor’s degrees to be at least 120 semester credits [3].

The typical major in the liberal arts requires a minimum of 30 semester hours [4]. Professional education programs generally require more hours devoted to the major. For example, nursing majors are required to complete 61 required semester hours, the most of any major [5]. Undergraduate students are required to complete a minimum of 48 semester hours of general education requirements for the BS and BSN degrees and 59 semester hours of general education requirements for the BA degree. Students earning a BBA or BGS degree may complete either BS or BA general education requirements [6].

The remaining hours are comprised of discipline-specific coursework required of each specific major. Degree requirements differ according to discipline—based upon program needs, program mission, additional certification, and provisions of appropriate accrediting bodies. For example, it is not uncommon for Accounting programs to require more hours in order to prepare students for the CPA licensure examination. In the state of South Carolina, to be licensed as a CPA, the licensee must have at least 150 hours of college education and at least a baccalaureate degree with an accounting concentration or equivalent [7]. Additionally, the Chemistry with American Chemistry Society (ACS) Certification option varies significantly from the average 120 because ACS guidelines state that ACS-certified chemistry majors must complete at least 12 semester hours of in-depth courses that are beyond the basic degree courses, and which are more advanced than the introductory and foundation courses required for the basic chemistry degree [8]. Thus, Francis Marion’s undergraduate degree requirements are comprised of between 120 hours to 132 hours as seen in Table 1 below.

FMU Undergraduate Degree Requirements
Degree/Program	Required Hours	Catalog Page
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Economics	120	p. 138
English	120	p. 76
English Professional Education	126	p. 76
History	120	p. 98
Mass Communication	120	p. 102
Modern Languages, French Track	120	p. 81
Modern Languages, German Track	120	p. 82
Modern Languages, Spanish Track	120	p. 83
Sociology	120	p. 125
Theatre Arts	120	p. 94
Visual Arts	120	p. 95
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Art Education	129	p. 90
Biology	120	p. 63
Biology Medical Technology Option	120	p. 64
Biology with Secondary Education Option	127	p. 64
Chemistry	120	p. 72
Chemistry with ACS Certification Option	132	p. 72
Chemistry with Environmental Science Option	126	p. 72
Computer Science	120	p. 139
Economics	120	p. 138
Education, Early Childhood	125	p. 144
Education, Elementary	126	p. 145
Education, Middle Level	129	p. 146
Healthcare Administration HCA, General Track	120	p. 152
Healthcare Administration HCA, Clinical Track	120	p. 152
History	120	p. 98
Industrial Engineering	122	p. 114
Mathematics, Mathematical Sciences Option	120	p. 106
Mathematics, Teacher Licensure Option	121	p. 106
Music Industry	120	p. 91
Physics, Computational Physics Concentration	120	p. 112
Physics, Health Physics Concentration	124	p. 112
Physics, Environmental Science Option	131	p. 112
Political Science	120	p. 119
Psychology	120	p. 121
Sociology	120	p. 125
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
Business Administration, Accounting	129	p. 132
Business Administration, Business Economics	120	p. 133
Business Administration, Finance	123	p. 132
Business Administration, General Business	120	p. 133
Business Administration, Management	120	p. 132
Business Administration, Management Info. Systems	120	p. 133
Business Administration, Marketing	120	p. 132
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.)	120	p. 159
Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.)	120	p. 162

Table 1. FMU Undergraduate Degree Requirements

At the graduate level, Francis Marion offers seven degrees (Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, Master of Arts in Teaching , Master of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, and Specialist in School Psychology), all of which require at least 30 semester hours of credit. Specific programs may require additional hours based upon program need, program mission, additional certification, and provisions of appropriate accrediting bodies. Therefore, actual semester hours required range between 30-98 hours as seen in Table 2 below.

FMU Graduate Degree Requirements
Program	Min. Hours
Graduate Business Program (M.B.A.) [9]	30
Graduate Education Program (M.Ed. Instructional Accommodation) [10]	30
Graduate Education Program (M.Ed. Learning Disabilities) [11]	36
Graduate Education Program (M.A.T. Learning Disabilities) [12]	51
Graduate Nursing Program (M.S.N. Family Nurse Practitioner) [13]	55
Graduate Nursing Program (M.S.N. Nurse Educator) [14]	36
Graduate Physician Assistant Program (M.S. Physician Assistant Studies) [15]	98
Graduate Psychology Program (M.S. Applied Psychology) [16]	45-60
Graduate Psychology Program (S.S.P.) [17]	75

Table 2. FMU Graduate Degree Requirements

As part of its review of degree candidates prior to graduation, the Registrar’s Office confirms that all candidates for graduate degrees have completed all degree requirements, including the total number of required hours for their designated program [18].

4.4 Program Length

4.4

Compliance Judgment

Narrative

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