2.7.1

The institution offers one or more degree programs based on a least 60 semester credit hours or the equivalent at the associate level; at least 120 semester credit hours or the equivalent at the baccalaureate level; or at least 30 semester credit hours or the equivalent at the post-baccalaureate, graduate, or professional level. If an institution uses a unit other than semester credit hours it provides an explanation for the equivalency. The institution also provides a justification for all degrees that include fewer than the required number of semester credit hours or its equivalent unit. (Program length)

Compliance Judgment

X     In compliance     Partially compliant      Non-compliant

Narrative

Francis Marion University offers both baccalaureate degrees and master’s degrees. All baccalaureate degrees require at least 120 semester hours of undergraduate credit. All master’s degrees require 30 hours or more semester hours of graduate credit. Detailed information about program length for both undergraduate and graduate degrees are published in the annual catalog.

Baccalaureate Degrees

According to the Catalog 2016-2017, “Francis Marion University offers five baccalaureate degrees: the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Science, the Bachelor of Business Administration, the Bachelor of General Studies, and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Each of these degrees require a minimum of 120 semester hours of approved credit as shown in Table 1 below, which includes those hours required for completion of the General Education Program and those hours required for majoring in the student’s area or areas of concentration. Some majors may require more than 120 hours” [1].

FMU Undergraduate Degree Requirements
Program
Min. Hours
Catalog Page
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Economics
120
p. 138
English Liberal Arts
120
p. 76
English Professional Writing
126
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
120
p. 132
Business Administration, General Business
123
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

Graduate Degrees

The graduate academic programs at Francis Marion University are offered through the following departments and schools:

  • School of Business (M.B.A.)
  • School of Education (M.Ed., and M.A.T.)
  • School of Health Sciences (M.S.N. and M.S.P.A.S.)
  • Department of Psychology (M.S. and S.S.P.) [2]

A breakdown of the required hours for each graduate program at Francis Marion University is provided in Table 2.

FMU Graduate Degree Requirements
ProgramMin. Hours
Graduate Business Program (M.B.A.) [3]
30
Graduate Education Program (M.Ed. Instructional Accommodation) [4]
30
Graduate Education Program (M.Ed. Learning Disabilities) [5]
36
Graduate Education Program (M.A.T. Learning Disabilities) [6]
51
Graduate Nursing Program (M.S.N. Family Nurse Practitioner) [7]
55
Graduate Nursing Program (M.S.N. Nurse Educator) [8]
36
Graduate Physician Assistant Program (M.S. Physician Assistant Studies) [9]
98
Graduate Psychology Program (M.S. Applied Psychology) [10]
45-60
Graduate Psychology Program (S.S.P.) [11]
75

Table 2. Francis Marion University Graduate Degree Requirements

Documentation

  1. Catalog 2016-2017, Semester Hour Requirements, p. 61
  2. Catalog 2016-2017, Graduate Degrees, p. 171-172
  3. Catalog 2016-2017, M.B.A. Program Requirements, p. 178
  4. Catalog 2016-2017, M.Ed. Instructional Accommodation, p. 181
  5. Catalog 2016-2017, M.Ed. Learning Disabilities, p. 181
  6. Catalog 2016-2017, M.A.T. Learning Disabilities, p. 181
  7. Catalog 2016-2017, M.S.N. Family Nurse Practitioner, p. 187
  8. Catalog 2016-2017, M.S.N. Nurse Educator, p. 188
  9. Catalog 2016-2017, M.S. Physician Assistant Studies, p. 190-191
  10. Catalog 2016-2017, M.S. Applied Psychology, p. 195
  11. Catalog 2016-2017, S.S.P., p. 195