The Undergraduate Curriculum

As an undergraduate, liberal arts college, Midland offers educational programs designed to prepare students for a future in a global and Internet-driven society. Students pursue course options in the humanities, the physical and life sciences, and the social and behavioral sciences where major programs of study prepare the student for a specific vocation and/or graduate study.

Midland emphasizes quality, personal attention, and student involvement in learning. Students partner with the faculty as co-creators of their own knowledge, integrate, and apply learning throughout the curriculum. Students are supported as they develop into independent, lifelong learners and problem solvers.

The University’s curriculum is inherently dynamic and purposely flexible. Designed around the belief that today’s students can and should embrace an active and responsible role in their education, the academic structure provides a framework within which individual needs and educational goals may be met.

Midland’s academic program is divided into three areas: core curriculum, program requirements, and electives. Dependent on the student’s choice of major, the program is designed so about one-third of the graduation requirements fall into each of these three areas.

Baccalaureate Degrees

The baccalaureate degree is an undergraduate program of liberal arts and sciences with specialized training in a variety of departmental major fields. The five baccalaureate degrees designated as degrees in course at Midland University are the culminating credential that undergraduate students will earn. In general, they consist of the common courses, the major, and any available electives. The degrees available are:

Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)
Bachelor of General Studies (BGS)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

The student’s chosen major field of study will determine which degree is earned. Students with multiple majors will declare a primary major, which will then determine the degree awarded. Students who have previously earned a baccalaureate degree at another university and wish to earn a second degree at Midland may do so by completing the degree requirements enumerated in the pages that follow and meeting Midland University Core requirements.

To be eligible for one of the baccalaureate degrees, the student must achieve the following requirements:

The successful completion of at least 120 credits or the equivalent, including all general education requirements.
Grade point averages (GPA) must be maintained as follows:
1. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00.
2. A minimum grade point average of 2.25 in work taken in the major or minor, unless otherwise specified.
The majority of course work applied to the baccalaureate degree must be graded on the A-F system:
1. A minimum of 80 credits must be graded on the A-F system;
2. A minimum of two-thirds of the credits in major and minor areas must be graded on the A-F system. Many majors require all courses to be graded on the A-F system.
Residence requirements stipulate that 30 of the final 36 credits must be completed in residence at Midland.
Certificates: at least one course must be completed in residence to earn a certificate
Minors: at least one upper-level (300/400-level) course be completed in residence to earn a minor
Majors: at least one upper-level (300/400-level) course and the Capstone be completed in residence to earn a major
At least 30 credits at the upper level (300-400-level) must be completed.
All financial obligations to the University must be fulfilled.

Programs of Study

Academic Major

A Midland Academic Major is a structured plan of study offered for credit that requires at least 36 credits of undergraduate coursework. The Academic Major represents a degree-seeking student’s primary field of study and is focused upon a specific academic discipline. Students may earn multiple majors but must declare a primary major that will determine the degree earned. An Academic Major will appear on the student’s transcript. An Academic Major may include an additional structured plan of study called a Concentration. Concentrations are embedded within the Academic Major and are included in the total credit requirements. A Concentration will also appear on the student’s transcript.

Compressed Major

A Midland Compressed Major is a structured plan of study offered for credit that requires at least 30 to 31 credits of undergraduate coursework. Compressed Majors include the most significant skills and knowledge of a particular discipline and are designed to be complements of another major. Compressed Majors must be paired together or with an Academic Major. Restrictions around Compressed Majors are detailed in the Academic Catalog.

Academic Minor

A Midland Academic Minor is a structured plan of study offered for credit that requires 15 to 29 credits of undergraduate coursework. The Academic Minor is an optional, secondary field of study focused on a particular discipline that complements or expands upon a student’s primary course of study. Students may not earn a minor in the same field as their major(s). An Academic Minor will be noted on the student’s transcript. A minor may not overlap with more than 50% of a student’s major.

Undergraduate Certificate

A Midland Undergraduate Certificate is a structured plan of study offered for credit that requires 12-18 credits of undergraduate coursework. Undergraduate Certificates emphasize a specific skill set, applied, or practical knowledge and supplement a student’s curricular and/or career goals. A Midland Undergraduate Certificate will be noted on the student’s academic transcript. An undergraduate certificate may not overlap with more than 50% of a student’s major.

Emphasis/Suggested Courses of Study/Track

An Emphasis or Course of Study is an optional set of undergraduate courses within or supplementing an Academic major around a specific topic, often in preparation for professional or graduate study. An Emphasis or Course of Study will be detailed in the Academic Catalog, but does not appear on the student’s transcript.

Major Requirements

The second part of the three areas of the academic program offers specialized preparation in various fields of interest. A number of these fields are pre-professional in nature. Other majors prepare students for professional work in a field, which they may enter upon graduation. Still, others prepare students for graduate work in their field of choice. The flexibility of the curriculum provides many opportunities for a program, which meets the educational and vocational objectives of the individual.

Each student must successfully complete a major field of study. Course work taken in the major subject permits the student to inquire in-depth and to pursue a coordinated and intensive study within the field. Credit-hour requirements, capstone experience requirements, and other details differ from major to major, as noted in this catalog. All students must earn a GPA of 2.25 or higher to complete a major unless specified.

Students will also meet DRIVE requirements as listed in this catalog. Where choices are given in a particular major, students must ensure that they have met all five of the required options. Up to two (2) courses from a student’s primary major can overlap with the “Common Courses” credit requirements.

Electives

Electives the final portion of the academic program, complement and supplement the student’s institutional requirement and major course work. Through the use of electives, the student may choose courses in an exploratory manner to give additional breadth to the program or add a second major, minors, or undergraduate certificates. Students are encouraged to take courses from a variety of disciplines and departments and to use electives to broaden their exposure and interests.

Assessment

Assessment activities at Midland University offer evidence of academic achievement while also providing the University with invaluable data to help inform academic change. Collectively, this assessment data is used to help shape modifications in the curriculum, identify strengths, and set standards of excellence for all facets of the campus to strive towards. A continuing process, assessment looks at student achievement within and across courses while also evaluating the attainment of cumulative learning outcomes via measurement of general education, major and co-curricular goals, and objectives. Midland’s assessment initiatives include direct measures of student learning, such as the ETS Proficiency Profile exam and Major Field Tests in particular programs; indirect measures of student learning such as course surveys conducted in each class; and other internal measures like the data collected by the Writing Center and Academic Program Support.

Writing and Math Course Placement

Each student's ACT score, cumulative high school or transfer GPA and performance on a designated placement test are reviewed to determine placement in appropriate writing and math courses.

If a student has taken the ACT, the corresponding subscores will be evaluated, in addition to, the student's performance on the designated placement test to determine writing and math course placement. If a student has not taken the ACT, the student's cumulative high school or transfer GPA will be evaluated, in addition to, the student's performance on the designated placement test to determine writing and math course placement. The following sections provide specific details on the placement process.

ACT Score on File - Math Placement

Each incoming student's ACT math subscore will be evaluated to determine math course placement.

Students earning a 22 or higher on the math portion of the ACT will be exempt from MTH101: College Mathematics. These students will then select a math course of their choosing or the first math course that is required for their major. Students with an ACT math score of 19-21 will enroll in the 3 credit hour MTH101: College Mathematics. Students with an ACT math score of 18 or lower will enroll in the 3 credit hour MTH101: College Mathematics and a 2 credit hour co-requisite MTH101L: College Mathematics Lab.

For students placed in either the 3 credit hour MTH101: College Mathematics or the 3 credit hour MTH101: College Mathematics + 2 credit hour co-requisite MTH101L: College Mathematics Lab, their ETS Proficiency Profile (ETSPP) score will be reviewed to see if this placement is consistent with the students most recent math performance. If they scored higher on the ETSPP they will be moved to the appropriate placement. The ETSPP will only be used to improve a student’s math placement.

Students earning an ETSPP Level 1 "marginal" proficiency (1 in SIS) will be placed in MTH101: College Mathematics. Students earning an ETSPP Level 1 "not proficient" (0 in SIS) will be placed as indicated by their ACT score (detailed above). Regardless of ACT score, a student earning Level 1 “proficiency” (2 in SIS) on the ETSPP is exempt from MTH101: College Mathematics (will take math of their choice or what is required for major).

Not all freshmen are required to take math in their first year. Students can always opt into more support (Ex: a student tests out of the math lab, but would feel more comfortable taking it with MTH101: College Mathematics).

ACT Score on File - Writing Placement

Each incoming student's ACT English subscore will be evaluated to determine Writing course placement.

Students earning an 18 or higher on the English portion of the ACT will enroll in WRI101: Composition I. After successful completion of WRI101: Composition I, students will move on to WRI102: Composition II. Students with an ACT English score of 17 or lower will enroll in WRI099: College Reading and Writing. After successful completion of WRI099: College Reading and Writing, students will move on to WRI101: Composition I and, once successfully completed, enroll in WRI102: Composition II.

For students placed in WRI099: College Reading and Writing, their ETSPP score will be reviewed to see if this placement is consistent with the student’s most recent English performance. If they scored higher on the ETSPP they will be moved to WRI101: Composition I. The ETSPP will only be used to improve a student’s English placement.

Students earning an ETSPP Level 1 "marginal" proficiency (1 in SIS) or an ETSPP Level 1 "not proficient" (0 in SIS) will be placed as indicated by their ACT score (detailed above). Regardless of ACT score, a student earning Level 1 “proficiency” (2 in SIS) on the ETSPP will be placed in WRI101: Composition I.

Students placed in WRI099: College Reading and Writing must be enrolled in the course during their first semester. Students that are unsuccessful in WRI099 will be required to repeat the course the following semester and will be placed on Academic Probation. Students who do not successfully complete the course after two attempts are placed on academic suspension.

WRI099 is a developmental course, so it is eligible for financial aid funding and determining full-time status for a student, but it does not count towards degree completion requirements (120 credit hours).

NO ACT Score on File - Math Placement

Students with a cumulative high school GPA of 2.75 or higher, will enroll in the 3 credit hour MTH101: College Mathematics. Students with a cumulative high school GPA of 2.74 or lower, will enroll in the 3 credit hour MTH101: College Mathematics + a 2 credit hour co-requisite MTH101L: College Mathematics Lab.

Students earning an ETSPP Level 1 "marginal" proficiency (1 in SIS) will be placed in MTH101: College Mathematics. Students earning an ETSPP Level 1 "not proficient" (0 in SIS) will be placed as indicated by their cumulative GPA (detailed above). Regardless of GPA, a student earning Level 1 “proficiency” (2 in SIS) on the ETSPP is exempt from MTH101: College Mathematics (will take math of their choice or what is required for major).

NO ACT Score on File - Writing Placement:

Students with a cumulative high school GPA of 2.75 or higher, will enroll in WRI101: Composition I. After successful completion of WRI101: Composition I, students will move on to WRI102: Composition II. Students with a cumulative high school GPA of 2.74 or lower, will enroll in WRI099: College Reading and Writing. After successful completion of WRI099: College Reading and Writing, students will move on to WRI101: Composition I and, once successfully completed, enroll in WRI102: Composition II.

Students earning an ETSPP Level 1 "marginal" proficiency (1 in SIS) or an ETSPP Level 1 "not proficient" (0 in SIS) will be placed as indicated by their cumulative GPA (detailed above). Regardless of cumulative GPA, a student earning Level 1 “proficiency” (2 in SIS) on the ETSPP will be placed in WRI101: Composition I.

Re-Admission Process

Any student who has previously completed the ETS Proficiency Profile (ETSPP) at Midland, has left the institution and subsequently returns for further study, can utilize their original ETSPP scores for writing and math placement, if needed. The aforementioned student also has the option to retake the ETSPP and utilize the new scores for writing and math placement. This decision should be made in partnership with the student’s Student Success Advisor.