DIRECTORY Academic Colleges/Departments Telephone: email: College ot Arts, Letters, Graduate Studiesand Research 318-357-4330 [email protected] TheGraduate School 318-357-5851 grad_school(gnsula.edu Louisiana Scholars College 318-357-4577 [email protected] Mrs. H. D. Dear, Sr. andAlice bstelle Dear School ofCreativeand PerfomiingArts 318-357-4522 [email protected] Criminal Justice, History, and Social Sciences 318-357-6967 [email protected] Languageand Communication 318-357-6272 [email protected] Psychology 318-357-6594 [email protected] Social Work 318-357-5493 [email protected] Collegeoi Education and Human Development 318-357-6273 [email protected] Educational Leadership andTechnology 318-357-6289 [email protected] Health and Human Performance 318-357-5126 [email protected] leachingand Learning 318-357-6144 [email protected] College 01 NursingandAllied Health Cenla 318-484-2184 Natchitoches 318-357-6877 Shreveport 31118O-/6'7T7?-31\0f\0f\ [email protected] College 01 Science,Technology, and Business 318-357-6699 [email protected] School ofBusiness 318-357-5161 [email protected] EngineeringTechnology and ComputerInformation Systems 318-357-5298 [email protected] Family andConsumerSciences 318-357-5587 [email protected] Mathematicsand Physical Sciences 318-357-4308 [email protected] Military Science 318-357-5157 [email protected] Academic Records, Registration,Transcripts, Veterans Affairs University Registrar's Office 318-357-6171 [email protected] 318-357-6170 800-807-8849 Admissions OfficeofAdmissions 318-357-4078 [email protected] 800-767-8115 Business Affairs Human Resources 318-357-6152 StudentAccounting 318-357-6902 studentaccounting@nsul£ Financial Aid Natchitoches 318-357-5961 nlcloiLilfiilnlaliaHl/U^UT|l4n^^1i1idLlipliClp.H&iUiU Shreveport 318-677-3010 Recruiting, Tuition and Fees Office ofUniversity Recruiting 318-357-4503 [email protected] 800-327-1903 CenlaCampusat EnglandAirPark 318-484-2184 [email protected] CounselingandCareer Services 318-357-5621 [email protected] Electronic andContinuing Education 318-357-6355 [email protected] Fort Polk Center 337-392-3100 [email protected] Health Services 318-357-5351 [email protected] Housing 318-214-5400 [email protected] Information (Telephone) 318-357-6011 Police (University) 318-357-5431 [email protected] Small Business DevelopmentCenter 318-357-5611 [email protected] StudentActivitiesandOrganizations 318-357-6511 [email protected] StudentAffairs, DeanofStudents 318-357-5286 [email protected] Student Life 318-357-5559 [email protected] Student Services/Conduct 318-357-6703 [email protected] Student Support Services 318-357-5901 Testing 318-357-5246 [email protected] All written communications shouldbedirected to theproperUniversity officeand shouldbeaddressedto: Northwestern State University Natchitoches, LA71497-0002 NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AMember ofthe University ofLouisiana System NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA 71497-0002 http://www.nsula.edu UNIVERSITY CATALOG LXXXXVI Vol. 2011-2012 PublishedbytheUniversityRegistrar'sOfficeofNorthwesternStateUniversity,UniversityParkway,Natchitoches,Louisiana71497-0002. EnteredasperiodicalsatthepostofficeinNatchitoches,Louisiana71497-0002,undertheActofJuly 16,1904. 1 This UniversityCatalogpresentsthecurrentcurricula,educationalplans,courseofferings,requirementsandpoliciesofthisUniversity. Theprovisionsdescribedinthis Catalogdonotconstituteanofferforacontractwhichmaybeacceptedbystudentsthroughregistration andenrollment intheUniversity.TheUniversityreservestherighttochangeanycurriculum,plan,course,requirementandpolicyand anyotherprovision at anytimeduringthe student'speriodofstudyattheUniversity. 2 CONTENTS //IS O^cademic Calendar, 2011-2012 4 Glossary 7 The University 8 Admission to the University 14 FinancialAid 19 Academic Information 23 Academic Regulations 28 Student Life/Services 40 Electronic and Continuing Education 45 Academic Colleges, Departments, andCurricula CollegeofArts, Letters, Graduate StudiesandResearch 46 The Graduate School 50 Louisiana Scholars'College 56 Mrs. H. D. Dear, Sr. andAlice Estelle DearSchool ofCreativeandPerformingArts 63 Criminal Justice, History, and Social Sciences 69 Language and Communication 72 Psychology 76 Social Work 79 CollegeofEducation andHuman Development 80 Educational Leadership andTechnology 83 Health and Human Performance 86 TeachingandLearning 88 College ofNursingandAlliedHealth 98 Nursing 99 Radiologic Sciences 105 CollegeofScience,Technology, and Business 109 School ofBusiness 110 Biological Sciences 112 EngineeringTechnologyandComputerInformation Systems 116 FamilyandConsumer Sciences 119 Mathematics andPhysical Sciences 121 Military Science 123 CoursesofInstruction 125 The Louisiana BoardofRegents 215 University ofLouisianaBoardofSupervisors 215 Administration ofthe University 216 Faculty 218 Index 230 3 11111 ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2011-2012 FALL 2011 AUGUST 15 Monday semesterbegins/faculty on call TBA faculty institute 15-21 Monday-Sunday regularregistration Internet 15 Monday advising/registration ENGLANDAIR PARK/CENLA 16 Tuesday advising/registration FT. POLK 17 Wednesday advising/registration SHREVEPORT 18 Thursday New StudentOrientation Meeting(9:00AM) 18-19 Thursday-Friday advising/registrationNATCHITOCHES 20 Saturday residencehalls open forall students 21 Sunday Freshman Convocation 22 Monday firstday ofclassesALLCAMPUSES 22-30 Monday-Tuesday lateregistration (fee applies) 30 Tuesday final day to register, addcourses, ormake sectionchanges 30 Tuesday finaldaytodrop aclassandberefunded orhave fees adjusted(16-week&A-term) SEPTEMBER 5 Monday LaborDay Holiday 6 Tuesday final dayto appeal agrade from spring201 6 Tuesday final daytoremove "I"gradewithapproved60-daywaiverfi-om spring201 9 Friday final dayforgraduatestudentstoapply forfall 2011 graduation OCTOBER 1 Saturday finalday forundergraduate studentstoapply forfall 2011 graduation 3-4 Monday-Tuesday Fall Break AM 5 Wednesday classesresumeat 8:00 7 Friday final dayforremoval of"I"grades from summer201 16 Sunday mid-termgrades tobeenteredviaWeb forFaculty Systemby 8:00p.m. 21 Friday final day toresign anddrop courses withagrade of"W" orchange from creditto audit(16-weekcourses) NOVEMBER 18 Friday final daytoresign fromall classeswithw+mid-termgrades(16-weekcourses) 21-26 Monday-Saturday Thanksgiving Holiday 28 Monday classes resume (8 a.m.) DECEMBER 6 Tuesday final dayto appeal a grade fi^om summer201 6 Tuesday final daytoremove"I"gradewithapproved60-day waiverfromsummer201 7 Wednesday lastdayofclasses 7-14 WednesdayEvening-Wednesday final examinations 9 Friday candidategrades duetobeenteredby 10:00 a.m. viaWeb forFaculty System 15 Thursday all gradesdue tobeenteredbynoon viaWeb forFaculty System residencehalls closeatnoon 16 Friday 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. commencement exercises/semesterends 2011 AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 5 M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 1 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 30 31 4 111 ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2011-2012 SPRING 2012 JANUARY 2 Monday semesterbegins/faculty on call 2-8 Monday-Sunday regularregistration Internet 2 Monday advising/registration ENGLANDAIR PARK/CENLA 3 Tuesday advising/registration FT. POLK 4 Wednesday advising/registration SHREVEPORT 5-6 Thursday-Friday advising/registration NATCHITOCHES 5 Thursday new student orientation meeting(9:00a.m.) 7 Saturday residence halls open forall students 9 Monday firstday ofclassesALLCAMPUSES 9-18 Monday-Wednesday late registration (fee applies) 16 Monday Martin LutherKing Holiday 18 Wednesday finaldayto register, addcourses, ormake sectionchanges 18 Wednesday final daytodropa class andbe refunded orhave fees adjusted (16-wk&A-term) 20 Friday final day forgraduate students to apply forspring2012 graduation FEBRUARY 13 Monday final dayforremovalof"I"grades fi-om fall 201 20-21 Monday-Tuesday Mardi Gras Holidays 22 Wednesday classesresume at 12:00noon MARCH 1 Thursday finalday forundergraduate students to apply forspring2012 graduation 4 Sunday mid-termgradesduetobeenteredviaWeb forFaculty Systemby 8:00p.m. 9 Friday final daytoresign fromallclasseswithagradeof"W,"dropcourseswith agrade of "W," orchange from credittoaudit in 16-week courses APRIL 6-14 Friday-Saturday EasterHoliday/SpringBreak 16 Monday classesresume(8 a.m.) 16 Monday final daytoappeal agradefrom fall 201 16 Monday final day to remove"I"gradewith approved 60-daywaiverfrom fall 201 20 Friday final dayto resign fi^om all classeswith w+mid-term grades (16-weekonly) 27 Friday lastday ofclasses, candidategrades due to be enteredby 10:00a.m. viaWeb forFaculty System 27-May4 FridayEvening-Friday final examinations MAY 4 Friday 10:00 a.m. and3:00p.m. commencementexercises 5 Saturday residencehalls close 7 Monday all gradesdue tobeenteredby noonviaWeb forFaculty System/semesterends 2012 JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 5 M T W T F S 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 29 30 31 26 27 28 29 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 30 27 28 29 30 31 5 ) ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2011-2012 SUMMER 2012 MAY 10 Thursday residence halls open 10-11 Thursday - Friday advising/registration 14 Monday session onebegins 15 Tuesday final day to register, addcourses, make schedulechanges forsessionone 28 Monday Memorial Day Holiday 29 Tuesday final day to drop courseswith grade ofW, change from creditto audit forsession one 31 -June 1 Thursday- Friday advising/registration forsessiontwo JUNE 1 Friday sessionone ends 4 Monday sessiontwobegins 5 Tuesday allgrades forsessiononeduetobe enteredbynoon viaWeb forFaculty System 5 Tuesday final daytoregister, add courses, make schedulechanges forsession two 18 Monday final dayto dropcourses with agrade ofW, change from credit to audit forsessiontwo 21-22 Thursday-Friday advising/registration forsession three 22 Friday sessiontwo ends 25 Monday sessionthreebegins 26 Tuesday allgrades forsessiontwoduetobeenteredby noon viaWeb forFacultySystem 26 Tuesday final daytoregister, addcourses, makeschedulechanges forsessionthree JULY 4 Wednesday Independence DayHoliday 6 Friday final day forremoval of"I"grades from spring 2012 9 Monday final daytodropcourseswithagradeofW, change from creditto audit forsessionthree 12-13 Thursday-Friday advising/registration forsession four 13 Friday sessionthree ends 16 Monday session fourbegins 17 Tuesday all grades forsessionthreedue to be enteredbynoon viaWeb forFaculty System 17 Tuesday final daytoregister, add courses, make schedulechanges forsession four 30 Monday final day to dropcourseswith agrade ofW, change from credittoaudit forsession four AUGUST 3 Friday session fourends, residence hallsclose 6 Monday allgradesareduetobeenteredbynoonviaWeb forFaculty System/semesterends TheAcademicCalendar,withimportantdatesanddeadlines,isalsopublishedeachsemesterintheScheduleofClasses.The Schedule ofClasses is available online via the University Registrar's web page (http://www.nsula.edu/registrar or via the Web for Students homepage (http://www2.nsula.edu). 2012 MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST S M T1W23T4F5S S M T W T F S S1M23T 4W5T6F7S S M T W12T 3F4S 12 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 29 30 31 26 27 28 29 30 31 6 GLOSSARY — — Academic(Scholastic)load thetotalsofsemesterhoursof Major that part ofa Degree Program which consists ofa course work forwhich a student is registered in a semesteror specified group of courses in a particular disciplinc(s) or summersession. field(s). The name ofthe Major is usually consistent with the — DegreeSubjectArea.AMajorusuallyconsistsof25 percentor Academic CatalogYear catalogs are in effect beginning moreoftotal hoursrequired in an undergraduatecurriculum. with the fall semester and remain in effect for the following — spring and summersemesters. Minor that part ofa Degree Program which consists ofa — specified group of courses in a particular discipline(s) or Auditor one who pays fees and registers for a class or field(s),consistingusuallyof15 percentormoreoftotal hours classesasan observeronly and receives no credit for it. required inanundergraduatecurriculum. — — Cancellation aprocesswhereallcoursesareremovedfrom Overall Cumulative Grade Point Average obtained by astudent'sacademic record. dividingthetotalnumberofqualitypointsbythetotalnumber — ofquality hours. Concentration an alternative track of courses within a — MajororOption, account forat least 30 percentofthe Major Prerequisite a requirement that must be satisfied, often requirements. registration in another course, before a student can take a — course. Corequisite concurrent requirement; usually a course or — some other condition that must be taken or met at the same Quality Hours thecredithourvalueofthe course. timeasanothercourse. — — Quality Point a numerical value assigned to each ofthe Curriculum anofficiallyapprovedcombinationofcourses, letter grades A through F. The grade ofA is valued at four satisfactorycompletionofwhichmayleadtoadegreeorother qualitypointsforeachsemesterhourofcreditinthecourse. B goal. isthreepointsperhour,Cistwo,andDisone.AgradeofFhas — a quality point value of zero. These values are used in Degree the title ofthe award conferred on students upon calculating a student's "grade point average" and academic completion ofa unified program ofstudy (e.g.. Associate of standing. Arts, BachelorofArts). — — Registrar theUniversityofficialresponsibleforcompiling Degree Designation each authorized program at public and keeping secure the official records of each student's institutions of higher education is listed in the Board of scholastic achievement.Theoffice, in Roy Hall, is aprincipal Regents' InventoryofDegree andCertificate Programsunder source of information and advisement on matters such as thecategory"DegreeDesignation"(e.g..BachelorofScience, registration, scheduling, andacademic standing. BachelorofArts). — — Residence Requirement a requirement that students DanedgrreeequPirroegmernatms (e.gg.r,oumpiinnigmoufmcaGmPpuAs-raepqupirroevde,dccoomuprrsee-s pausrpseuciinfgieudndneurmgbreadruaotfesoermegsrtaedruahtoeudresgrineersegautlNarSlUy smcuhsetduelaerdn hensive examinations, English and Math proficiency) which, coursework. Forthe baccalaureate degree, students must also when satisfactorily completedby a studentwill entitle himor earnatleast 12 semesterhoursinthemajorfieldinupper-level herto adegree. courses(numbered3000 orabove) inresidence atNSU. — Degree Subject Area a primary discipline which — constitutes the focus ofa Degree Program. When a student Resignation astudent'svoluntaryterminationofenrollment inallclasseswhichiscarriedoutinaccordancewithUniversity satisfactorilycompletesaDegreeProgram,thestudentwillbe procedures. entitled to a degree in the appropriate subject area (e.g.. — Biology, History,Nursing). Scholastic probation status ofa student who is not doing — satisfactory work in classes as specified elsewhere in this Degree Title the complete label of a Degree Program, catalog. consisting ofa Degree Designation (e.g., Associate ofArts) — andthe Degree SubjectArea(e.g. CriminalJustice). SemesterAverage a student's grade-point average based — on the total number ofquality points earned divided by total Dismissal final termination,byproperUniversityauthority, numberofqualityhours in agiven semester. ofastudent's enrollment in the University. — — Semester hour the numerical value ofa course usually Elective acourserequired inacurriculumwithoutspecific basedon the numberofhours spent in the class perweek ina identification; the student"elects"thecoursetobetaken. The regularsession.Acreditorsemesterhourgenerallyrepresents area in which the elective must be chosen is sometimes one hourofclass workaweek. specified. — Good Standing — the status ofa student who is eligible to SUnuisvpeernssiityonauthortiteym,poorfapreyrmdiesnsiiaolnttoo aregsitsutdeerntf,orbcylaspsreospeart continue in orreturn tothe University. NSU. — — Graduate Student a student who has received a Transferstudent onewho hasattendedanothercollegeor baccalaureate degree and has been officially admitted to university priorto enteringNSU. Graduate Studies. 7 THE UNIVERSITY HISTORY in 1714 as an outpost of their New World empire facing Northwestern State University of Louisiana stands on Spanish Texas to the west. The city today takes pride in its ground that has been dedicated to learning ibr well over a standing as the oldest permanent settlement in the entire hundred years. Priorto the Civil Wara portion ofthe present Louisiana Purchase Territory. Although the fires ofCivil War campuswasthepropertyofthe BullardfamilyofNatchitoches. scarred the Cane River Country, Natchitoches escaped As early as 1856 the Bullard mansion was in useas aconvent relatively unharmed, and many traces of its colonial and by the Religious Society ofthe Sacred Heart. The following antebellum heritage remain. ytheearparsocpheorotlybwuialsdinpgurwcahsaseeredctbeydatthtehetcoownnvenatn,danpdariins1h88o4f systeNmoowfapucbiltiycofscahboooults,25n,u0m0e0,roNuastcchhiutrocchheess,haaslaarngeexmcoeldleenmt Natchitoches. Threeofthe fourgreat whitecolumnsthatonce hospital,andaprogressivemunicipalgovernment. Situatedon supported the east gable ofthe Bullard mansion still stand on the banks ofthe beaufiful Cane River, Chaplin's, and Sibley '"The Hill" and often serve as the unofficial symbol ofthe lakes, and lying in the heart of Louisiana's lake and forest country, the citymaybe described as colorful andunique. University. The State Legislature by Act 51 of 1884 created a The Nursing Education Center at 1800 Line Avenue in LouisianaStateNormal School forthepreparationofteachers. Shreveport is the residential campus for the Department of A member ofthe Legislature, Leopold Caspari, offered the Undergraduate Studies in Nursing and Graduate Studies and convent site as a campus for the School with the anticipated Research in Nursing. The Nursing Education Center is approval of the citizens of Natchitoches. The offer was composedofinstitutional facilitiesincludinginstructionalareas accepted, and from 1885 to 1918 the Normal School offered andadministrative/facultyoffices.TheCollegeofNursingand two years ofsmdy forthe training ofteachers. Baccalaureate Allied Health also provides academic and staff services to programs were then inaugurated, and the State Constitution support clinical experiences and degree offerings at the NSU adopted in 1921 changedthe name ofthe school to Louisiana campus centers inAlexandriaand Leesville. StateNormal College. TheNorthwestern StateUniversityCenteratFort Polk is Theresourcesandcurriculaof"Normal"grewsteadilyto on LA Highway 467, approximately midway between meet the increasingly diverse requirements of Louisiana's LeesvilleandthemaingateofFortPolk. Itoccupies 160acres expanding population. In 1944, the Institution's excellent ofland deededtoNSUbythe United StatesArmy. service in its broaderrolewas accorded formal recognition in The Northwestern State University CENLA Campus Act 326 of the Legislature, which changed its name to Center serves the central Louisiana area with select degree Northwestern State CollegeofLouisiana. programs through the Learning Center for Rapides Parish (LCRP). The LCRP, managed by the Louisiana Board of Northwestern maintained and strengthened its long traditionofleadershipinpublicserviceandacademicendeavor Regents, is a consortium of postsecondary institufions andbecame, in 1954,the firstcollegeunderthejurisdictionof partnering to expand educational offerings in the area. The tdheegrLeoeu.iTshiaenEadSutcaatteioBnoaalrdSpeocfiaEldiusctadteigorneetowoafsfefrirtshteofMfaesrteedr'isn Aaicrapdaermki&c CfaocmilmiutyniitsylioncaAtleedxawnidtrhiianantdheisEenagsillaynadccIensdsuisbtlreiatlo major highways connecting the various parishes ofcentral 1966. On June 18, 1970, Governor John J. McKeithen signed Louisiana. the legislative act which brought the old school its greatest MISSION distinction by changing its title to Northwestern State University ofLouisiana. Northwestern State University is a responsive, student- In 1980 the old campus quadrangle where the columns oriented institution that is committed to the creation, standwasenteredintotheNational RegisterofHistoricPlaces dissemination,andacquisifionofknowledgethroughteaching, underthe title "Nonnal Hill Historic District." research, and service. The University maintains as its highest In 1984, Northwestern State University celebrated its priority excellence in teaching in graduate and undergraduate Centennial with lectures, concerts, social events, and an programs. effective fund-raising effort that established the Centennial Northwestern State University prepares its students to Development Fund. In addition to the main campus in become productive members of society and promotes Natchitoches, the University maintains full-service campus economicdevelopmentandimprovementsinthequalityoflife centers in Shreveport, Leesville, and Alexandria and offers ofthecitizens in its region. instructionateightcontinuingeducationsitesinthecentraland northwestareasofthe State. VISION LOCATION Northwestern State University strives for educational qualitythroughexcellenceinteachingandresearch,innovative Themain Universitycampuscoversanareaofsome 916 useoftechnology,andexceptionalservicetostudentsandother acres immediately west ofNatchitoches, Louisiana. The city constituencies. isinthenorthwesternpartofthestateabout50milesnorthwest The University seeks to attract and develop outstanding of Alexandria and 75 miles southeast of Shreveport, students and faculty and to provide them with the resources Louisiana's third largest city. needed topromote optimal learningand service. Thecampus,encompassingrollingpinehillsandrichriver By maintaining a student-oriented environment, bottom land, is one ofthe most spacious and attractive in the Northwestern will offer challenging and rewarding academic South. The natural beauty ofthe sitedrew peopleto it even in experiences augmented and enriched with opportunities for prehistoric times. Long the home ofa major Indian tribe for cultural,social,athletic,andotherextracurricularactivities.The which itwasnamed, Natchitocheswas fortifiedbytheFrench essence of this student-oriented environment will be the 8