2.7.2

The institution offers degree programs that embody a coherent course of study that is compatible with its stated mission and is based upon fields of study appropriate to higher education. (Program content)

Compliance Judgment

X In compliance Partially compliant Non-compliant

Narrative

Evidence in regard to the compatibility of academic programs at Francis Marion University with the overall purpose of the university can be found in the alignment of the university mission with college and school missions. Sample four-year plans illustrate how degree programs encourage an evolution of knowledge among students. Internal and external review processes ensure that these programs meet higher education standards. Details about programs and their content are published in the University’s annual catalog, which is available both online and in-print.

Mission

The mission of the University can be found in the Catalog 2016-2017 [1]. Francis Marion is divided into four schools or colleges: business, education, health sciences, and liberal arts. Each school or college has a mission statement aligned with the threefold university purpose “to provide students with an excellent education, stimulate inquiry and research, and serve the Pee Dee region and the state of South Carolina [2].” Key phrases of mission statements for the School of Business, the School of Education, the School of Health Sciences, and the College of Liberal Arts are provided in Table 1 below. Furthermore, a breakdown of the Liberal Arts mission statement is provided in Table 2.

University Mission	Business	Education	Health Sciences	Liberal Arts
Provide students with an excellent education	Teach students to think logically, communicate effectively, develop an understanding and appreciation of the global business environment	Teaching and learning are highest priorities	Become lifelong learners and competent and caring healthcare professional leaders	Provide students with skills and knowledge need for personal and professional success* [6]
Stimulate inquiry and research	Develop conceptual and analytical skills	Acquisition of professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions	Evidence based practice	*
Serve the Pee Dee region and the state of South Carolina	Enhance the region’s economic and industrial development; seeks students locally [3]	Prepares educators in the Pee Dee region and beyond [4]	Targeted clinical experiences [5]	*

Table 1. Key Phrases Indicating Alignment of Mission Statements

*Each program within the college of liberal arts has a more specific mission statement.

University Mission	Department of Chemistry	Department of Physics and Astronomy	Department of Psychology
Provide students with an excellent education	Expose [students] to scientific thought	Fundamental natural laws of the physical universe….are part of the liberal arts education	Understanding of psychology as the science of behavior and experience
Stimulate inquiry and research	Laboratory experience is required….to illustrate the importance of experimentation to the scientific endeavor.	Opportunity to undertake undergraduate research is offered	Develop competence with methods of scientific research and data analysis
Serve the Pee Dee region and the state of South Carolina.	Prepared to enter work in local, regional, and national industries [7].	Prepared for careers in industry and scientific research [8].	Provides opportunities for internships in applied settings [9].

Table 2. Key Phrases Indicating Alignment of Mission Statements within the College of Liberal Arts

Coherence of Programs

All programs at Francis Marion are coherent in sequencing, increasing complex, and linked within the program. Programs provide a projected four-year plan to students to ensure this sequence is followed. A representative sample of programs from across campus, specifically the departments of Mathematics, Sociology and Nursing are provided below in Table 3.

Program	Four Year Plan (Coherent)	Increasing Complexity	Linkages Between and Among Program Components
Mathematics	Freshmen/Sophomore Years Include General Education [10]	Courses increase by level/number. Number of prerequisites increase [11]	Grade must be C or higher in prior math courses to get into upper level course, with some requiring junior/senior status and/or permission of the department [12]
Sociology	Freshmen/Sophomore Years Include General Education [13]	Courses increase by level/number. Number of prerequisites increase [14]	Minimum number of sociology hours to get into upper level course, with some requiring junior/senior status and/or permission of the department [15]
Nursing	Freshmen/Sophomore Years Include General Education [16]	Courses increase by level/number. Number of prerequisites increase [17]	Admission to the program to get into upper level course and/or permission of the department [18]

Table 3. Examples of Coherent, Complex, and Linked Programs

Appropriate for Higher Education

Francis Marion ensures programs are appropriate to higher education through internal and external approval processes. The internal process consists of faculty governance, as seen below in Figure 1, and the external process consists of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education as well as various national accrediting bodies, which is shown below in Table 4 and available on the university’s website.

Figure 1. Internal Approval Process

FMU Programs and Accrediting Organizations
Program	Accrediting Organization
Business Administration	AACSB	Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business – International
Early Childhood Education	NCATE (now CAEP)	National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (now Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation)
Elementary Education	NCATE (now CAEP)	National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (now Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation)
Secondary Education	NCATE (now CAEP)	National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (now Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation)
Art Education	NASAD	National Association of Schools of Art and Design
Visual Arts	NASAD	National Association of Schools of Art and Design
Theatre Arts	NAST	National Association of Schools of Theatre
Chemistry	ACS	American Chemical Society
Psychology Specialist –School Psychology	NASP	National Association of School Psychologists
Psychology M.S.	MPAC	Master’s in Psychology Accreditation Council
Nursing	ACEN	Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Nurse Practitioner, M.S.N.	ACEN	Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
Physician Assistant Studies	ARC-PA	Accreditation Review Commission for Physician Assistants

Table 4. External Approval/Accrediting Bodies

2.7.2 Program Content

2.7.2

Compliance Judgment

Narrative

Mission

Coherence of Programs

Appropriate for Higher Education

Documentation

APPLY

CONTACT

VISIT

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