Academic Programs and Curricula

General Education Learning Outcomes

Statements of General Education Learning Outcomes - These performance standards form the basis of instruction for all core course offerings at the university.  The University Curriculum Committee and University System of Georgia (USG) Council for General Education have approved the following general education learning outcomes for FVSU Core Areas A-E.

• Area A1.  Communication- Student apply the requisite skills to produce well-organized and supported written communication which meets collegiate proficiency standards.
• Area A2.  Mathematics- Given application problems requiring collegiate-level quantitative reasoning skills, students will identify the appropriate mathematical model, determine the solution or non-solution and interpret the results demonstrating content mastery at the level of College Algebra, Precalculus, Mathematical Modeling or Calculus I.
• Area B.  Institutional Options-Students develop and deliver speeches using language that is appropriate to the audience, occasion and purpose and adheres to collegiate standards of verbal and non-verbal communication conventions.  (Approved by the Council on General Education on July 31, 2015)
• Area C.  Humanities/Fine Arts- Students will demonstrate in writing an understanding of the concepts and values of a culture as revealed in a work of literature or art.
• Area D.  Natural and Computational Sciences- Students will use the scientific method to explore naturally occurring phenomena and utilize appropriate technology to analyze and interpret data.
• Area E.  Social Sciences- Students effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social, or spatial relationships develop, persist, or change.

University System Core Curriculum

Institutional Course Requirements Beyond the Core Curriculum

To meet graduation requirements, students must meet certain institutional requirements beyond the Core Curriculum requirements. The following general education requirements are needed in addition to those specified in the core curriculum.

1. Two hours of 1000 level physical education (PEDW) activity courses must be taken and completed, or two course military science (MILS) sequence of MILS 1110-MILS 1120- or MILS 2110- MILS 2220 may be substituted for the institutional requirement of physical education on a one for one basis up to the maximum of two credit hours. Only one (1) hour for each military science course taken will be credited toward the Institutional Physical Education Requirement.  

      Students presenting evidence of at least one year of active duty or completion of basic military training in any branch of the armed forces of the United States will be awarded 2 hours of institutional credit for health  

      and physical education. The two hours for health and physical education will be waived. Service members may request copies of their Joint Services Transcripts (JST) at jst.doded.mil.  

2. , is required of all students with the exception that students who transfer from another institutions with 30 or more earned hours towards their degree program, a non-traditional student (25/older) or married.

Specifically, Orientation to the University assists students in gaining an understanding of the following: (1) history, policies and services of the University; (2) college survival skills needed to foster excellent study habits and positive social adjustment at the University, and (3) techniques and skills to make realistic career choices. Students are not permitted to withdraw from or drop .

The Honors Program

The Fort Valley State University Honors Program is designed to provide students with an enriched learning experience utilizing high-impact instruction practices in a small classroom setting. Honors students will attend classes, join experiential learning activities, participate in intellectually-stimulating activities, and build relationships with one another and with honors faculty members from a number of disciplines. All these activities will integrate them into a community of like-minded, motivated, and high-achieving students that can serve as a scholarly support system to further enable their own successes.

The FVSU Honors Program has a separate admissions process from the university. Students may apply for to the Honors Program and the University simultaneously, but admission to the Honors Program is contingent upon admission to FVSU. Applications must be submitted by June 15 for the subsequent Fall Semester and November 1 for the subsequent Spring Semester.

Applicants must have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of no less than 3.50 on a 4.0 scale. Incoming freshman just joining the University may submit their cumulative high school GPA. Existing FVSU students should supply their FVSU institutional GPA, and they should have completed between 15 and 60 credit hours.

Honors Students who join the program must meet and maintain the following Honors Program qualifications:

Maintain an Institutional Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.30 or higher.

Entering freshmen must have on overall high school GPA of 3.50 or higher.

Existing FVSU students may apply after completing 15 credit hours but be-fore completing more than 60 credit hours if their institutional GPA is 3.50 or higher.

Honors students whose Institutional GPA falls below 3.30 will be placed on a one-semester probation in the program.

While on probation, honors students are be expected to continue their participation in all required Honors Program extracurricular activities, but may not register for honors courses.

If a probationary honors student’s Institutional GPA does not return to 3.30 or higher at the end of a single probationary semester, she or he will be dis-missed from the Honors Program.

Earn a B or higher in a minimum number of credit hours in honors courses.

Students who join the Honors Program at any point during their freshman year must complete a total of 18 credit hours in honors courses during their academic tenure at FVSU.

Students who join the Honors Program at any time after their freshman year must complete a total of 12 credit hours in honors courses during their academic tenure at FVSU.

Maintain a minimum enrollment of 15 credit hours each Fall and Spring Semester.

Abide by all policies in the most current FVSU Student Handbook.

Comport themselves in accordance by the FVSU Honor Code, as follows: “As a member of the Fort Valley State University community and the FVSU Hon-ors Program, I pledge to maintain academic integrity in all my dealings with the University’s faculty, staff, and students. Specifically, I will not give or receive unpermitted aid in any examination or assignment, in the preparation of any re-port or other work that is to be used by an instructor as the basis of a grade, and I will do my share and take an active part in holding others to both the spirit and the letter of this Honor Code.” (Submission of an application to the Honors Program constitutes an acceptance of that code and a pledge to follow both its letter and spirit throughout a student’s academic career.)

Participate in at least 4 campus intellectual activities during the regular academic year (i.e., each Fall and Spring Semester).

These activities include: FVSU speaker programs, an honors student’s presentation of her or his own research as part of the FVSU Undergraduate Research Day (or similar events sponsored by individual colleges or departments), and participation in the Honors Book Discussion program.

Honors students are required to participate in at least one Honors Book Discussion each academic year, and they are encouraged to join all of them.

Complete at least one experiential learning experience before graduation. These may include any of the following:

An internship related to their major field. Honors students seeking an intern-ship will need to arrange them with the program coordinator of their major program.

A study abroad experience. These must be conducted through the FVSU International Studies office.

A senior-level research project in their major field, which will be designated an Honors Thesis.

Honors students who wish to produce an Honors Thesis must identify an appropriate faculty mentor in their field of study and secure her or his agreement to direct the work.

Once the Honors Thesis is complete and approved by the faculty men-tor, she or he will submit it to the Honors Program Director for approval.

Honors Theses must be separate from work completed in major cap-stone classes, but major program coordinators are encouraged to accept a successfully completed Honors Thesis for 3 hours of independent study credit as a major elective.

Degree Programs

Fort Valley State University is organized into three colleges: the College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education and Professional Studies.  Academic departments within these colleges offer major degree programs of study leading to the award of the Baccalaureate, Master’s, and Specialist Degrees.

Major Degree Programs

Fort Valley State University is authorized by the Board of Regents to award the following:

Bachelor of Arts with Majors in:

Criminal Justice
History
Liberal Studies
Media Studies
Political Science
Psychology
Visual & Performing Arts
 

Bachelor of Business Administration with Majors in:

Accounting
Management
Marketing
Supply Chain & Logistics Management
 

Bachelor of Science with Majors in:

Agriculture Engineering Technology
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science

Family and Consumer Sciences

Food Sciences
Mathematics

Organizational Leadership
Veterinary Technology

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with Majors in:

Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Education
Animal Science
Plant Science

Bachelor of Science in Education with Majors in:

Elementary Education/Special Education

Health and Physical Education

Middle Grades Education

Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology

Bachelor of Social Work

Master of Science with Majors in:

Animal Science

Biotechnology
Elementary Education
Environmental Health
Middle Grades Education
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

Fully Online Degrees

Fort Valley State University is authorized by the Board of Regents to award the following:

Bachelor of Arts in

Criminal Justice
Political Science
Psychology

Bachelor of Business Administration in

Accounting
Management
Marketing

Supply Chain and Logistics Management

Bachelor of Science in

Organizational Leadership (e-major collaborative partner)

Bachelor of Social Work

Master of Science in

Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling 

Master of Science in Education

School Counselor Educatoin

Educational Specialist in

School Counselor Education  

Minors

A student has the option of selecting one or more minor areas of concentration. Minors will be recorded on the student’s transcript. Requirements for a minor are determined by the department in which the minor is taken.

Special Programs and Outreach Initiatives

Fort Valley State University responds to the busy lifestyles of today’s students through its degree programs offered through extended outreach. Regular and non-traditional students are provided flexible scheduling options to earn a college degree. Administrative, academic, and student support systems are provided to ensure students access to a quality educational experience comparable to that provided on campus.

Fort Valley State University in Warner Robins

Undergraduate courses are scheduled daily, including evening hours and on Saturdays in Warner Robins. Courses are selected in collaboration with academic Department Heads and faculty within the colleges in which the given major degree program is offered. Comprehensive student support services are provided on site, including advisement, registration, fee payment, and textbook sales.

Evening Classes

Evening classes are scheduled to provide working adults with the opportunity and advantage of entering or completing degree programs, or taking individual courses for personal enrichment. The objectives of evening courses are identical to those of courses taught during the day. The instructors are regular University faculty. Academic standards are maintained at the same level as in day courses. Admission and registration procedures are identical to those of day programs.

Online (Web-based) Offerings

Through the offering of online or web-based courses of study, Fort Valley State University provides quality educational programs of study to students independent of their geographic locations. Students who are situation bound, that is, students who are unable to attend college because of family, work, and other responsibilities can pursue a college degree via the Internet. Online courses are facilitated using the learning management system Brightspace by Desire2Learn (see http:// www.fvsu.edu for additional information).

FVSU’s online courses are designed for the highly motivated and independent student who is willing to devote as much time and effort to web-based learning as to traditional classroom offerings. The student should be comfortable using technology and have time management and organizational skills. As part of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) Fort Valley State University’s online courses are authorized for delivery throughout the U.S. and are listed with Georgia OnMyLine.

Nine programs are available online. The nine undergraduate programs offered fully online include

• B.A., Criminal Justice
• B.S., Organizational Leadership (e-major collaborative partner)
• B.A., Political Science
• B.A., Psychology
• B.B.A., Accounting
• B.B.A., Management
• B.B.A., Marketing
• B.B.A., Supply Chain and Logistics Management
• Bachelor of Social Work 

External Degree Programs

Fort Valley State University is authorized by the Board of Regents to provide designated resident degree (External Degree) programs in Warner Robins, Georgia. The academic quality of these programs and the support services provided are equivalent to programs and courses offered on the Fort Valley State University campus. Additionally, students have access to the library, computer labs and other facilities located on the main campus in Fort Valley. Approved degree programs include:

Non-Credit Programs

Non-credit activities follow broader and more flexible guidelines than credit classes, and are designed to provide occupational development, personal enrichment, and leisure courses for residents of Middle Georgia. Courses are scheduled according to instructional need and vary from three hours to one year. Costs are determined on a contract basis, and vary according to content, instructional needs and operational expenses. Admission is open to the public, regardless of age.

Student records are maintained by the Graduate Studies Office and are permanent, thereby allowing transcripts to be generated. Many activities are offered for certification through the award of Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Certification Programs

Certification programs are designed to assist participants in preparing for new careers, professions, or occupations, or to upgrade one’s existing career, professional or occupational skills. Participants are enabled to function effectively in the community or in the workplace.

Fort Valley State University’s CEU programs are accredited by the University System of Georgia and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Continuing education credits (CEUs) are provided based on clock hours and student performance. Nationally used criteria for CEUs are subscribed to by the University. (Ten clock hours of successful student performance equals one CEU.) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are not equivalent to academic credits, and the two may not be interchanged.

Community Services

Fort Valley State University strives to use its many resources to help enhance and develop the regional community that it serves. The physical and human resources of the University are available to assist individuals and groups in the development of educationally related programs and to assist in resolving community problems. Fort Valley State University personnel are available as resource persons, consultants, speakers, and as representatives of the University to serve on community-based projects. Under certain conditions, the facilities of the University may be used by local organizations to present educational programs to community audiences.

Contract Programs

Special educational programs, both non-credit and academic credit, are available to local businesses and organizations. These programs are based upon organizational needs, and are contracted on an individual organizational basis. They may be delivered at the organization’s location, on the Fort Valley State University campus, or at some other designated site. They are further designed to meet employer specifications and blend state-of-the-art knowledge with on-the-job needs.

Institutional Assessment and Effectiveness

Fort Valley State University, in a commitment to ensure excellence in its educational and academic programs, has implemented a continuous program of institutional effectiveness and student assessment. These assessment activities are used to assess academic programs and student achievement, perceptions, and attitudes. This information plays an important role in the determination of college policies and academic requirements. All students are required to participate in various assessment activities to determine how well the institution is achieving its mission of preparing students for careers and advanced study.