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In addition to its regular academic programs, the university also offers an academic achievement program for students who need special assistance prior to entering the rigors of the general curriculum and an honors program designed to challenge the academically superior student.

The Bachelor of Applied Science degree and the Associate of Applied Science are additional degree programs offered by the university

Information relative to these other programs follows.

Academic Achievement

Director and Assistant Professor Sherrie King

Assistant Professor Libby Cleveland, Dann Wigner

The academic achievement program is designed to assist students who need to sharpen their skills in the following areas: Study skills, reading comprehension, writing, spelling, mathematics, English proficiency and academic and/or personal confidence.

Students admitted to the University with an ACT English score of 16 or lower, or an SAT writing score of 409 or lower will be required to take the WritePlacer Accuplacer placement assessment. Students with an ACT math score of 17 or lower or an SAT math score of 410 or lower will be required to take the Elementary Algebra Accuplacer Placement Assessment. Students with an ACT reading score of 17 or lower or an SAT critical reading score of 410 or lower will be required to take the Reading Accuplacer Placement Assessment. The highest available ACT/SAT in math, English, and reading will be used for placement decisions.

Transfer students may be required to take additional placement testing as deemed necessary by the admissions committee.

The Accuplacer Placement Assessment will be given to incoming freshmen based on ACT and/or SAT scores, and to transfer students if recommended by the admissions committee. Placement of students in English, math and reading will be based on the following Accuplacer scores:

A student must reach these scores and/or obtain the consent of the director of academic achievement before being exempt from taking an ACAC course. Students placed in academic achievement courses may not withdraw from these courses unless withdrawing from the University. Students enrolled in two or more courses must also enroll in ACAC 0320 - Study Skills . Students placed in Academic Achievement courses are required to take those courses during the first semester of enrollment. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better to pass Academic Achievement courses, and meet the exit exam scores required to advance to the next course. Students enrolled in ACAC 0330 , ACAC 0331 , ACAC 0321 , or ACAC 0322  will not be allowed to enroll in ENGL 1301  concurrently.

Students enrolled in the same academic achievement courses for two complete semesters will be reviewed by the admissions committee. A student who is not progressing satisfactorily, earning a “C” or better, will be suspended from the university. ACAC courses do not count as credit toward a degree but count as additional GPA hours on the transcript.

Honors Program

Dr. D. Niler Pyeatt, Honors Program Director

Purpose

The Honors Program offered by Wayland is designed to challenge the academically superior student to develop initiative and abilities beyond what is expected in a normal course of study. Electing an Honors program offers breadth and depth of content through independent study and research, aiding the student in preparation for entering a career upon graduation or attending graduate school in a field of choice. Honors work represents the highest level of academic work available at Wayland on the undergraduate level.

Honors Programs, Awards and Recognition

Students admitted to the Honors Program are eligible for scholarship assistance. The Honors Council bases individual awards on information furnished by each candidate. These awards continue provided the student maintains the proper grade point average and makes steady progress in completing seminar, tutorial, and thesis hours. Honors students on scholarship receive half-tuition remission for each of three Honors seminars they complete and full-tuition remission for twelve hours of tutorial and thesis courses.

Upon the student’s successful completion of Honors work, the Honors Council awards the student a certificate and medallion. The medallion is to be worn with academic regalia. In addition, the bachelor’s diploma will read “With Honors in (major field),” the transcript will read “Completed Honors Curriculum,” and the Honors student will be given special recognition during the graduation ceremony.

Admission to the Honors Program

The Honors Program is designed for the student whose entering test scores and personal essay indicate capability, high academic potential, and the desire for a more demanding course of study than the regular one. The requirements for admission to Honors are:

1. First-year or freshman standing,
2. Top quarter of high school graduating class,
3. Minimum B average in high school work,
4. Minimum ACT/SAT scores to qualify for Pioneer Scholarship at 1/3 level,
5. Approval of Honors Council.

To continue in Honors, a grade point average (GPA) of 3.6 must be maintained.

Admission to the Honors Program for students who, within their first two years of college work, discover an interest in a particular discipline that they desire to pursue in more depth than regular curriculum demands, are:

1. Sophomore or advanced standing,
2. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.6,
3. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.65 within the major or specific discipline, 
4. A letter of application by the student to the Honors Council Chairperson that sets forth reasons for desiring entry into the program and a proposed outline for a thesis. This letter must have the signature of the professor willing to direct two tutorials and two or three thesis courses, the dean of the school, and the vice president for academic services and graduate services. This application must be approved by the Honors
   Advisory Council.

Application for admission should occur during the sophomore year, or no later than the first six weeks of the first long term as a junior.

Successful Completion of the Honors Program

Any major field of study coupled with the Honors program will be considered a composite major. Honors courses in the research/tutorial and thesis areas will be added to the major to complete the composite classification. During the freshman and sophomore years, students must complete 9 hours in the Honors seminar courses (HONO 1395 , HONO 1396 , HONO 1397 , HONO 3394 ). All seminar work must be completed before beginning the thesis.

In the junior and senior years, all Honors students are required to work closely with a professor in their major field of choice to complete the following courses that lead to the finalization of the thesis. Depending on the major field of study, the Honors Student will take the tutorial courses of HONO 3395  and HONO 3396  or take the research courses of HONO 3397  and HONO 3398  during the junior year. HONO 4395 , HONO 4396 , and if necessary HONO 4397  are thesis courses which are required during the senior year.

Bachelor of Applied Science Degree

Daniel Brown, Director of BAS/BCM office

The Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) is an inverted degree program which allows individuals to apply a vocational/technical field (i.e., courses, training, or work experience) as credit toward an applied associate’s degree and, in turn, to apply the associate’s degree toward a B.A.S. degree. Students in this degree program desire to enhance their knowledge, analytical abilities and critical thinking skills for upward mobility in their field. The B.A.S. exists to provide a seamless transition from technical fields to an appropriate baccalaureate program while enhancing the liberal arts component of the student’s education.

The B.A.S. degree is designed for individuals who have completed occupational/technical degrees and certificates at community, vocational, and technical colleges and schools; individuals who have completed occupational/vocational training in U. S. Armed Services Schools, the workplace, and career training centers; occupational and technical faculty at regional and local public schools; individuals who have received several years of on-the-job training; and individuals entering these technical/career paths.

The Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) degree is a minimum 124-semester hour program. A minimum of 36 semester hours must be in upper-level (junior/senior level) credit. Major fields of study included in the degree have specific upper-level requirements. The student may select from seven majors which combine non-traditional credit with a traditional liberal arts background. Majors include applied science, business administration, human services, justice administration, management, environmental studies, early child development, and career and technology education. Each major consists of 36 semester hours, of which 18 must be in upper-level credit. The degree also requires a 24-semester hour professional development block designed to provide academic depth or breadth to the major and to provide substantive developmental knowledge for the student’s career or personal goals. The degree also includes a 12-semester hour experiential professional development block designed to provide practical experience as an integral part of the student’s career development. Finally, the degree includes electives to complete the 124-semester hour requirement.

Major

The B.A.S. degree requires a 36-semester hour major, of which 18 semester hours must be in upper-level credit. All students are required to take RSWR 3345 - Research Writing Methods  as a part of the major requirements. The major may be selected from applied science, business administration, human services, justice administration, management, environmental studies, early child development, or career and technology education. See programs for more information.

Programs

• Applied Science, A.A.S.
• Applied Sciences, B.A.S.
• Business Administration, A.A.S.
• Human Services, A.A.S.
• Justice Administration, A.A.S.
• Religion, A.A.S.

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