BULLETIN OF
PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY
PRAIRIE VIEW, TEXAS
Established by the Texas State Legislature in the Year 1876
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VOLUME 81
NO.1
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWELFTH
GENERAL CATALOG ISSUED WITH
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE ACADEMIC YEARS
2002 – 2003
UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG
PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY IS A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
AND IS ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION ON COLLEGES OF THE SOUTHERN
ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS TO AWARD BACCALAUREATE, MASTER’S
AND DOCTORATE DEGREES
A copy of the catalog can be purchased at PVAMU’s bookstore.
WWW.PVAMU.EDU/index.php?page=catalog
EFFECTIVE 08/20/02
Provisions of this Catalog
Provisions of this Catalog
The provisions of this catalog do not constitute a contract, expressed or implied, between any applicant,
student, or faculty member and Prairie View A&M University or The Texas A&M University System.
Prairie View A&M University and The Texas A&M University System reserve the right to withdraw
courses at any time and to change fees, calendars, curricula, graduation procedures, or other requirements
affecting students. Changes will become effective whenever the proper authorities so determine and will
apply both to prospective students and to those already enrolled.
While every effort is made to assure that information is accurate, Prairie View A&M University does not
assume responsibility for any misrepresentation which might arise through error in the preparation of this
or any other of its catalogs, or through failure to give notice of changes in its requirements, policies, tuition
and fees, course offerings, and other matters affecting students or applicants. To be assured of accuracy of
information, students must regularly consult current publications and academic advisors.
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Accreditation
Accreditation
Area/Program
Agency
University (Regional Accreditation)
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools, Inc.
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, GA 30033-4097
(404) 679-4501
Architecture
National Architectural Accreditation Board
1735 New York Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
Computer Science
Computing Accreditation Commission of the
Accreditation Board for Engineering and
Technology, Inc.
111 Market Place, Suite 1050
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 347-7700
Dietetics
Commission on Accreditation of Dietetics Education
The American Dietetics Association
216 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
(312) 899-4876
Engineering
Engineering Accreditation Commission of the
Accreditation Board for Engineering and
Technology, Inc.
111 Market Place, Suite 1050
Baltimore, MD 21202-4012
(410) 347-7700
Engineering Technology
Technology Accreditation Commission of the
Accreditation Board for Engineering and
Technology, Inc.
111 Market Place, Suite 1050
Baltimore, MD 21202-4012
(410) 347-7700
Social Work
Division of Standards and Accreditation
Council on Social Work Education
1725 Duke Street-Suite 500
Alexandria, VA 22314-3457
Teacher Education
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher
Education (NCATE)
2010 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20036-1023
State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)
1001 Trinity Street
Austin, TX 78701
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Accreditation
Nursing
National League For Nursing Accrediting
Commission (NLNAC)
61 Broadway
New York, NY 10006
Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas
33 Guadalupe, Suite 3460
Austin, TX 78701-3942
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Provisions of this Catalog ..............................................................................................................................i
Accreditation................................................................................................................................................. ii
Academic Calendars......................................................................................................................................1
General University Information...................................................................................................................7
History .......................................................................................................................................................7
Administrative Organization......................................................................................................................8
Mission ......................................................................................................................................................8
Rules and Procedures on Discrimination, Harassment, and Privacy .........................................................9
Equal Opportunity Policy Statement....................................................................................................9
Policy Against Discrimination .............................................................................................................9
Title IX of The Education Amendment Act of 1972............................................................................9
Title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ............................................................................................9
Right to Privacy .................................................................................................................................10
Student Services Information .....................................................................................................................11
Library and Instructional Services ...........................................................................................................11
Information Technology Services............................................................................................................11
Career Services ........................................................................................................................................12
Judicial Services ......................................................................................................................................13
Health and Counseling Services ..............................................................................................................13
Disability Services ...................................................................................................................................13
Safety and Security Services....................................................................................................................14
Summer and International Enrichment Programs ..................................................................................15
Pre-College Success Programs ................................................................................................................15
Academy for Collegiate Excellence and Student Success (ACCESS)...............................................15
Architectural Enrichment Concepts (ARTEC)...................................................................................15
Business Advantages for Scholastically Inclined Students (BASIS) .................................................15
Minority Introduction to Engineering (MITE)...................................................................................16
Research Apprentice Program (RAP) ................................................................................................16
College Level Success Programs .............................................................................................................17
Architectural Concepts Institute (ACI) ..............................................................................................17
Premedical Concepts Institute (PCI) ..................................................................................................17
The Engineering and Science Concepts Institute (ESCI)...................................................................18
The Science Mathematics, Engineering and Technology (SMET) Enhancement Program...............18
The International Study and Work Abroad Program .........................................................................19
Tuition and Fees ..........................................................................................................................................20
Fee Payment Plans...................................................................................................................................20
Unpaid Obligations..................................................................................................................................20
Fee and Financial Aid Refunds................................................................................................................20
Fee Refund Schedule .........................................................................................................................20
Financial Aid Refund Schedule .........................................................................................................21
Schedule of Tuition and Fees...................................................................................................................22
Tuition and Fee Exemptions ....................................................................................................................25
Tuition Waivers .......................................................................................................................................26
Tuition Rebate .........................................................................................................................................26
Undergraduate Semester Credit Hour Limit ......................................................................................26
Admissions Information and Requirements .............................................................................................27
Freshman Admission ...............................................................................................................................27
Application.........................................................................................................................................27
Types of Undergraduate Admission ........................................................................................................27
Honors Admission (Apply separately for scholarship assistance.) ....................................................27
Automatic Unconditional Admission.................................................................................................28
Regular Unconditional Admission.....................................................................................................28
Provisional Admission .......................................................................................................................28
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Table of Contents
Updating of Admissions Application.......................................................................................................28
Admission Appeal Procedure ..................................................................................................................29
Special Admissions..................................................................................................................................29
Concurrent Enrollment for High School Students .............................................................................29
Home Schooled and Non-Accredited High School Graduates...........................................................29
Dual Credit Programs.........................................................................................................................29
Former Students .................................................................................................................................29
Transient Students..............................................................................................................................30
Academic Fresh Start Admission.............................................................................................................30
Admission of International Students........................................................................................................30
General Transfer Admission....................................................................................................................31
Regular Unconditional Admission.....................................................................................................31
Academic Information and Regulations....................................................................................................32
Credit from Sources Other Than Prairie View A&M University Courses...............................................32
Correspondence and Extension Courses ............................................................................................32
Military School Credit .......................................................................................................................32
Credit Available Through Testing .....................................................................................................33
Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) ................................................................................................34
TASP Exemptions..............................................................................................................................35
General Academic Information................................................................................................................37
Courses and Credits ...........................................................................................................................37
Registration and Advising..................................................................................................................38
Leaving the University after Registering ...........................................................................................38
Grading System..................................................................................................................................39
Grade Reports ....................................................................................................................................40
Grading/Class Related Appeals..........................................................................................................40
Course Changes and Withdrawals .....................................................................................................42
Voluntary Withdrawal From a Course ...............................................................................................42
Voluntary Withdrawal from the University .......................................................................................42
Withdrawal of Students Ordered to Military Active Duty .................................................................42
Administrative Withdrawal................................................................................................................43
General University Probation/Suspension Policy ..............................................................................43
Class Attendance Policy.....................................................................................................................43
Academic Honesty Policy ..................................................................................................................44
Graduation Requirements ........................................................................................................................44
Application for Graduation ................................................................................................................46
Ordering Transcripts................................................................................................................................46
In person at the main campus.............................................................................................................47
By Mail ..............................................................................................................................................47
Honors Standards.....................................................................................................................................47
Honor Roll .........................................................................................................................................47
Dean’s Honors ...................................................................................................................................47
Graduating with Honors.....................................................................................................................47
Degree Majors and Minors ......................................................................................................................47
The Core Curriculum...............................................................................................................................49
University College ...................................................................................................................................52
The University Scholars Program ......................................................................................................52
Academic Programs and Degree Plans......................................................................................................54
College of Agriculture and Human Sciences...........................................................................................54
Department of Agriculture, Nutrition and Human Ecology...............................................................57
School of Architecture .............................................................................................................................64
College of Arts and Sciences ...................................................................................................................70
Department of Biology.......................................................................................................................72
Department of Chemistry...................................................................................................................79
Department of Languages and Communications ...............................................................................82
Department of Mathematics...............................................................................................................88
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Table of Contents
Department of Music and Drama .......................................................................................................91
Department of Physics .....................................................................................................................104
Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Sciences ...........................................................107
Army Reserve Officers Training Corps ...........................................................................................119
Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps ...........................................................................................123
College of Business ...............................................................................................................................126
Department of Accounting, Finance and Management Information Systems..................................129
Department of Management and Marketing ....................................................................................135
College of Education .............................................................................................................................139
Department of Curriculum and Instruction ......................................................................................143
Department of Health and Human Performance ..............................................................................163
College of Engineering ..........................................................................................................................170
Department of Chemical Engineering..............................................................................................174
Department of Civil Engineering .....................................................................................................179
Department of Computer Science ....................................................................................................183
Department of Electrical Engineering..............................................................................................186
Department of Engineering Technology ..........................................................................................190
Department of Mechanical Engineering ..........................................................................................199
School of Juvenile Justice and Psychology............................................................................................203
College of Nursing.................................................................................................................................210
Distance Education Programs ................................................................................................................218
University Courses.....................................................................................................................................219
Academic Enhancement ........................................................................................................................219
College of Agriculture and Human Sciences.........................................................................................221
School of Architecture ...........................................................................................................................230
College of Arts and Sciences .................................................................................................................236
College of Business ...............................................................................................................................269
College of Education .............................................................................................................................277
College of Engineering ..........................................................................................................................285
School of Juvenile Justice and Psychology............................................................................................310
College of Nursing.................................................................................................................................315
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