2001/2003 Undergraduate Catalog
ship logo ship image

Shippensburg University >Catalog> 2001/2003 Undergraduate Catalog

Introduction

Contents

Mission of the University

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a regional state-supported institution. It is part of the State System of Higher Education of Pennsylvania, which is made up of 14 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.

Up Contents

Brief History

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.

Up Contents

Accreditation

Shippensburg University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; the AACSB International; the American Chemical Society; the Council on Social Work Education; the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; the International Association of Counseling Services; and by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teachers (NCATE).

Up Contents

The Campus

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.

Travel Times

The interstate highway system puts Shippensburg within reasonable travel time of numerous East Coast cities:

Harrisburg 1 hr.
Frederick 1 hr.
Baltimore 2 hrs.
Washington, D.C. 2 hrs.
Philadelphia 3 hrs.
Pittsburgh 4 hrs.
New York City 4 hrs.

Directions

If your point of departure is:

East of Shippensburg:
Use Pennsylvania Turnpike Exit 16 (Carlisle) to I-81 south. Take I-81 to Exit 29 (formerly exit 10).
West of Shippensburg:
Use Pennsylvania Turnpike Exit 15 (Blue Mountain) to Route 696 south.
North of Shippensburg:
Take I-81 south to Exit 29 (formerly exit 10).
South of Shippensburg:
Take I-81 north to Exit 24 (formerly exit 9).

Up Contents

Academic Programs

Shippensburg University offers 50 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 1991 to 1993.

College of Arts and Sciences
Program* Number Average Years
Art 19 4.50
Biology 97 4.45
Chemistry 16 4.22
Communication/Journalism 141 4.30
English 124 4.38
Geography/Earth Science 142 4.36
History 58 4.37
Math/Computer Science 117 4.30
Modern Languages 23 4.48
Physics 12 4.62
Political Science 64 4.23
Psychology 174 4.19
Sociology 58 4.32
Speech Communications 55 4.41
John L. Grove College of Business
Program* Number Average Years
Accounting 77 4.32
Business Education 31 4.27
Economics 6 4.43
Finance, Information Management & Analysis, Information Technology for Business Education, and Management Information Systems 129 4.35
Management/Marketing 220 4.23
College of Education and Human Services
Program* Number Average Years
Criminal Justice 140 4.29
Social Work 75 4.22
Teacher Education 310 4.36
University Total
Program* Number Average Years
All Programs 2091 4.32
* Four year programs only

Up Contents

Statements of Compliance

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.

Equal Opportunity

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.

Sexual Harassment

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.

People with Disabilities

Shippensburg University in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, makes every effort to ensure that reasonable accommodations are made to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.

Access to Educational Records

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.

Drug-Free Campus

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.

Campus Safety

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.

Right-To-Know

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.

Consumerism

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.

Veteran's Benefits

Shippensburg University complies with the requirements of Title 38, U. S. Code, Veteran’s Benefits.

Nonimmigrant Alien Students

Shippensburg University is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.

Up Contents

Diversity

Current Diversity policy can be found at http://www.ship.edu/about/diversity.html

Nondiscriminatory Language

Occasionally all of us need to be reminded of the continuing presence of unconscious attitudes toward individuals which surface through the use of discriminatory semantics. These attitudes often belie long-standing presumptions which contribute to historically preferred views of people. These attitudes are the roots of racism, sexism, ageism, and classism, and when perpetuated through presumptive statements, lend unwarranted support to social inequities in the treatment of an individual.

Unwittingly, many stock references appear in verbal and written communications in the absence of careful evaluation of the implications of word choices. Often these are unintentional or stereotypical judgments which have been in existence for many years and have directly contributed to controlling the direction, attitudes, actions, and decisions affecting individuals from minority groups.

To the end that the language employed in a university pledged to enlightenment shall be free of “semantics which imply the second class citizenship of some of its members,” the American Psychological Association Guidelines for Nondiscriminatory Language are hereby recommended as a model reference for verbal and written language to be used by all employees.

Up Contents

Catalog Provisions

This catalog is intended to be a description of the policies, academic programs, degree requirements, and course offerings in effect for the 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 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.

Up Contents
Back to Catalog Contents
Back to Home Page

This page is an official publication of Shippensburg University: A proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

Shippensburg University
1871 Old Main Drive
Shippensburg, PA 17257
(717)-477-7447

This page last updated: Tuesday, 04-Sep-2007 14:15:55 EDT