Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a regional state-supported institution. It is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, which is made up of fourteen universities located in various geographic regions throughout the Commonwealth. Founded in 1871, Shippensburg University serves the educational, social and cultural needs of students primarily from southcentral Pennsylvania. The university enrolls students from throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Mid-Atlantic region, the United States and various foreign countries as well.
Shippensburg is a comprehensive university offering bachelor's and master's degree programs in the colleges of arts and sciences, business and education and human services. The curricula are organized to enable students both to develop their intellectual abilities and to obtain professional training in a variety of fields. The foundation of the undergraduate curriculum is a required core of courses in the arts and sciences. These courses prepare students to think logically, read critically, write clearly and verbalize ideas in a succinct and articulate manner; they also broaden students' knowledge of the world, past and present.
The university's primary commitment is to student learning and personal development through effective and innovative teaching and a wide variety of high-quality, out-of-class experiences. The ultimate goal is to have students develop to their utmost the intellectual, personal and social capabilities they need to perform as competent citizens prepared to embark on a career immediately upon graduation or after advanced study. The personal attention given each student at Shippensburg is reflective of the strong sense of community that exists on campus and the centrality of students within it. The university encourages and supports activities which give students many opportunities to apply the theories and methods learned in the classroom to real or practical situations, such as faculty-student research and student internships. Student life programs and activities complement the academic mission and further assist students in their personal, social and ethical development.
Committed to public service and community-centered in its relationships to the region, the university works closely and collaboratively with other organizations at institutional, programmatic and individual levels to develop common goals, share resources and invest cooperatively in the future of the region.
Shippensburg University was established in 1871 as the Cumberland Valley State Normal School. The school received official approval by the state on February 21, 1873 and admitted its first class of 217 students on April 15, 1873. In 1917 the school was purchased by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
On June 4, 1926, the school was authorized to grant the bachelor of science in education degree in elementary and junior high education. The school received a charter on October 12, 1926, making it the first normal school in Pennsylvania to become a state teachers college. On June 3, 1927, the State Council of Education authorized the school to change its name to the State Teachers College at Shippensburg.
The business education curriculum was approved on December 3, 1937. On December 8, 1939, Shippensburg State Teachers College became the first teachers college in Pennsylvania and the fourth in the United States to be accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and (Secondary) Schools.
The State Council of Education approved graduate work leading to the master of education degree on January 7, 1959. On January 8, 1960, the name change to Shippensburg State College was authorized.
The arts and sciences curriculum was authorized by the State Council of Education on April 18, 1962 and the bachelor of science in business administration degree program was initiated on September 1, 1967.
On November 12, 1982, the governor of the Commonwealth signed Senate Bill 506 establishing the State System of Higher Education. Shippensburg State College was designated Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania effective July 1, 1983.
Shippensburg University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International; ABET, Inc. (Computer Science); the American Chemical Society (ACS); the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS); the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC); the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE); and by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teachers (NCATE), with conditions.
Shippensburg University is located in the Cumberland Valley of southcentral Pennsylvania, overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. The campus itself is situated on 200 acres of rolling land and is surrounded by a vast array of cultural and recreational sites.
The interstate highway system puts Shippensburg within reasonable travel time of numerous East Coast cities:
Harrisburg |
1 hour |
Frederick |
1 hour |
Baltimore |
2 hours |
Washington, D.C. |
2 hours |
Philadelphia |
3 hours |
Pittsburgh |
4 hours |
New York City |
4 hours |
If your point of departure is …
East of Shippensburg: Use Pennsylvania Turnpike Exit 226 (Carlisle) to I-81 south. Take I-81 to Exit 29.
West of Shippensburg: Use Pennsylvania Turnpike Exit 201 (Blue Mountain) to Route 696 south.
North of Shippensburg: Take I-81 south to Exit 29.
South of Shippensburg: Take I-81 north to Exit 24.
Shippensburg University offers 47 different undergraduate programs in three colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the John L. Grove College of Business and the College of Education and Human Services.
The following table shows the number of students earning degrees and the average number of years taken to finish. These figures include students who entered as first-time freshmen from 1998 to 2000.
Program* |
No. |
Avg. Years |
College of Arts and Sciences |
||
Art |
34 |
4.29 |
Biology |
115 |
4.25 |
Chemistry |
25 |
4.35 |
Communication/ Journalism |
190 |
4.20 |
Computer Science |
108 |
4.21 |
Economics |
7 |
4.12 |
English |
96 |
4.30 |
Geography/Earth Science |
114 |
4.36 |
History |
102 |
4.37 |
Interdisciplinary Arts |
1 |
4.00 |
Mathematics |
67 |
4.31 |
Modern Languages |
19 |
4.41 |
Physics |
13 |
4.96 |
Political Science |
45 |
4.38 |
Psychology |
181 |
4.28 |
Sociology |
50 |
4.40 |
Human Communication Studies |
73 |
4.39 |
John L. Grove College of Business
Accounting/Management Information Systems/ Information Technology for Business Education |
209 |
4.30 |
Finance/Supply Chain Management |
139 |
4.17 |
Management/Marketing |
329 |
4.28 |
College of Education and Human Services
Criminal Justice |
165 |
4.27 |
Social Work |
95 |
4.33 |
Teacher Education |
371 |
4.32 |
University Total |
2548 |
4.29 |
* Four-year programs only
The Office of Social Equity, located in Old Main 200, coordinates the university's compliance with laws and regulations relating to equal opportunity, sexual harassment and disability accommodations. Any questions or complaints should be directed to the Director of Social Equity at 717-477-1161.
In compliance with state and federal laws, including Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Shippensburg University provides equal educational, employment and economic opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex or disability. This policy extends to disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam era.
Shippensburg University prohibits behaviors which inappropriately assert sexuality in the work or learning environment. Such behaviors are prohibited by federal and state regulations, which state unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature can constitute sexual harassment. Shippensburg University is committed to civil rights and will promptly investigate allegations of sexual harassment and take appropriate corrective action.
Shippensburg University is committed to serving all students, including students with disabilities. In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the State System of Higher Education, and Shippensburg University's Equity Plans, the Office of Disability Services coordinates and provides reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities who present adequate documentation. The office also works in coordination with the Human Resource Office to provide accommodations to faculty and staff with documented disabilities. The Office of Disability Services is located at 120 Horton Hall.
It shall be the position of Shippensburg University to respect the principle of the separation of church and state, while promoting and encouraging a climate of dignity where individuals are not discriminated against or treated differently because of their religion or national origin.
To foster and advance the precepts of an inclusive environment, students desiring to participate in the religious observances of their particular faiths, creeds or beliefs will be granted an excused absence from scheduled classes. Faculty will make appropriate accommodations for the excused absence(s), and students will be accountable for the material covered in class. Each academic semester students will be required (in writing) to provide their faculty with the dates of scheduled religious observances.
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (commonly known as the Buckley Amendment), Shippensburg University provides its students with privacy safeguards of their educational records. The university issues reports of progress including grades, written evaluations and letters of warning, directly to the student. A student may have access to all information pertaining to his or her educational records and academic status.
Parents may have access to information pertaining to their son's or daughter's educational records and academic status without prior written consent of the student if the student is a dependent as defined under Section 152 of the IRS Code of 1954. If the student is not a dependent, as defined by the IRS code, then the university must receive prior written consent from the student in order to release such information to his or her parents.
Under the provisions of the Buckley Amendment, the university may release directory information about current students without violating privacy rights. Directory information includes name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, enrollment status, major, degree and honors. Individual students may request this directory information not be released by notifying the Registrar's Office.
Shippensburg University complies with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendment of 1989 and has adopted a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by both its students and employees.
In accordance with Pennsylvania's College and University Security Information Act of 1988, Shippensburg University provides information relating to crime statistics and security measures to prospective students, matriculated students and employees. The university will also comply with all campus safety provisions of the Student Right-To-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990.
Shippensburg University will compile graduation and completion rates for all undergraduate students as well as for undergraduate students receiving athletically-related student aid. These rates will be reported to the U.S. Secretary of Education and will be disclosed to prospective students as required by the Student Right-To-Know Act.
Shippensburg University complies with consumer information requirements set forth in Section 493A of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and its amendments.
Shippensburg University complies with the requirements of Title 38, U.S. Code, Veterans' Benefits.
Shippensburg University is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.
As part of a public system of higher education, Shippensburg University is responsible for educating students to face the challenges of our ever-changing global society. Shippensburg University aims to create a campus culture that offers opportunities for increasing knowledge, awareness and understanding of diversity and inclusiveness and promotes a climate which builds upon values that welcome and nurture all members of the university community. Creating an inclusive campus environment helps to prepare students to be productive public citizens in a society comprised of people with differing national, racial, religious, and cultural backgrounds.
Shippensburg University seeks to attain these goals by offering academic and co-curricular activities that address the differences that have historically divided people and have led to unjust and discriminatory practices based on race, sex, religion, national origin, and sexual lifestyle. The university also remains committed to the recruitment and retention of a broad, inclusive student body, faculty, staff, and administration who represent a diverse range of interests, talent, and cultures. By working to accomplish these goals, Shippensburg University will ensure students receive an education that prepares them for the challenges of a global society with its diverse beliefs, attitudes, and ways of thinking.
This catalog is intended to be a description of the policies, academic programs, degree requirements and course offerings in effect for the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 academic years. It should not be construed as an irrevocable contract between the student and the university. Shippensburg University reserves the right to change any of the policies, procedures, or fees described in this catalog and to apply these changes to any or all of its students as it sees fit. The university may also choose to add or delete course offerings or degree programs at any time.