Admissions

For admissions information for The Art Institutes Campuses, Please see The Art Institute Campuses - Admissions  section of the catalog.  Policies applying to The Art Institute Campuses may differ from those pertaining to South University campuses and South University - Online Programs.

Student Right to Know

According to regulations published by the Department of Education based on the Student Right-to-Know Act, the graduation/completion rates for first-time, full-time students who entered school and graduated/completed within 150% of the normal time to complete the program, as published in the catalog must be made available to current and prospective students. You may obtain this information in the Admissions Office or in the Student Consumer Information section of the school’s website.

General Admission

Application Procedure

South University operates on a quarter system with terms beginning in October, January, April, and June. The University also offers compressed class calendars to meet the needs of the students.

The School of Pharmacy’s quarters begin in June, September, January and March.  New students may matriculate only in June of each year.

The academic calendar for the Anesthesia Science program is 9 quarters in length, beginning in June of each year, with subsequent terms beginning in September, January and March. New students may matriculate only in June of each year.

South University’s online classes operate in a compressed format of 28-day, 5, 5.5, 10 and 11 weeks designed to meet the needs of today’s busy adults.

Applications for General Admission

The following steps must be completed before a final decision for admission may be reached and the student is allowed to register:

1. Submit the application form.
2. Submit acceptable verification of high school graduation or the equivalent within ten weeks of the class start date. Acceptable verification of high school graduation or the equivalent would include a copy of a high school diploma, high school transcript (official or unofficial), GED^®* certificate, or GED scores and state-authorized examination scores (ex. HiSET, TASC) or a state-issued certificate designated as the equivalent of a high school diploma. In states that maintain a database that serves as an official registry of high school and GED graduates, an excerpt from the official database documenting the student’s graduation or GED completion may be used. Campuses in South Carolina must be provided with official high school transcripts or GED scores or state-issued certificates designated as the equivalent of a high school diploma. Students applying to Graduate Progrmas do not need to provide verification of high school graduation.
3. Complete all tests administered by the University or submit SAT, or ACT scores to the registrar’s office.

All documents become the property of South University and will not be returned. After receipt of the application form, the University will schedule a date for the administration of tests and notify the applicant. Upon completion of the above steps, each applicant will receive written notification of the action taken by the admissions office.

Additional applications may be required by some programs at South University. Procedures and additional admission requirements related specifically to these programs can be found in this section of the catalog, in the individual handbooks for these programs, and online at www.southuniversity.edu.

Additional admissions requirements related specifically to the Anesthesia Science, Nursing, Pharmacy and Physician Assistant programs can be found in other sections of this catalog and in the handbooks for these programs.

Criminal History, Charges and Background Checks

Acceptance into a South University program or its completion does not imply or guarantee that a student will be able to obtain licensure, certification, or employment.  Students wishing to enter a program in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Health Professions, the College of Nursing and Public Health, College of Theology, or the School of Pharmacy should be aware that a prior felony conviction may restrict an individual’s ability to obtain professional licensure, certification, or employment.

In the event a student has an undisclosed criminal history or active charge prior to adjudication on a background check, the ability to matriculate, progress and complete a degree program and/or to become licensed, if applicable, may be impacted.  Active or prior criminal charges/convictions may impact the student’s ability to participate in required educational experiences and/or future eligibility for professional licensure necessitating voluntary withdrawal or administrative dismissal from the program. 

The University is not able to guarantee the eligibility for licensure or employment in his/her field of any student/graduate with (or without) any criminal history of pending charges.  Students must disclose any criminal history and active/pending charges at the time of application, and must disclose any new charges to the relevant program director, immediately, for consideration.

Applicants and students should see the Program Director (or designee) for additional information.

*GED^® is a registered mark of American Council on Education

General Admission Requirements

To be admitted to any of the programs at South University campuses, the prospective student must provide proof of high school graduation as recognized by the state of residence on the date the degree was earned, or the equivalent (e.g., GED or state-issued certificate designated as the equivalent of a High School Diploma) and must submit a minimum combined SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Math) score of 900, a combined ACT score of 19, or a satisfactory score on the university administered admissions examination (see the Admissions Office) or meet the criteria established for acceptance as a transfer student. South University accepts the International Baccalaureate Program diploma as meeting the requirement for high school graduation.  Credentials earned outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES or AICE-member credential evaluation service.  Please speak with an admissions representative for more information.

To be admitted to any South University online program, the prospective student must provide proof of high school graduation as recognized by the state of residence on the date the degree was earned, or the equivalent (e.g. GED or state-issued certificate designated as the equivalent of a High School Diploma) with a minimum CGPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. The prospective student must also complete the university administered placement test during the first session of attendance. South University accepts the International Baccalaureate Program diploma as meeting the requirement for high school graduation. 

Students with less than the minimum CGPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale may meet admissions requirements by submitting a minimum combined SAT (Reading and Math) score of 900, a combined ACT score of 19, or a satisfactory score on the university-administered admissions examination (see the Admissions Office) or meet the criteria established for acceptance as a transfer student.

A student’s failure to provide acceptable verification of proof of high school graduation within 10 weeks of his or her start date will result in the following:

• Removal from class
• Cancellation of enrollment
• No final course grades
• No transcript

NOTE: Students who do not provide proof of high school graduation within the 10-week period will not be responsible for any tuition and related fees.

South University may grant exceptions to the 10-week period for unusual situations or circumstances.  All exceptions must be submitted to the office of the University Registrar for approval.

Academic Support Admission

Applicants not meeting the testing standards for general admission can be accepted under academic support admission by submitting a minimum combined SAT ( Evidence-Based Reading and Math) score of 660, a combined ACT score of 14, or a satisfactory score on the University administered admissions examination.

Students submitting a University administered admission test, such as the Accuplacer exam, must have minimum section scores as well. The Office of Admissions can inform students of those requirements.

NOTE: Students accepted under academic support admission are limited to 12 credit hours of study during their first quarter. Students enrolled in programs that include UVC1000-Strategies for Success are required to take the course within their first two quarters of study at the University. Students must be enrolled in the appropriate developmental courses during their first two quarters of attendance. Developmental course requirements must be completed within four quarters of study at the University.

To facilitate the admissions process, unofficial documentation, such as copies of transcripts or grade reports, may be used to determine admission status. Transfer status cannot be designated, however, without some verifying documentation. Admissions test scores on university administered entrance exams will not be accepted from other universities. Prospective students must take a University administered admission exam, like the Accuplacer, at South University.

A transfer student’s overall record should not be less than the minimum academic standard required of South University students. Credit earned at an accredited technical college may not transfer unless the credit earned is equivalent to courses offered in degree programs, including the associate degree.

Transfer students will be exempted from developmental courses on the basis of grades earned in credit bearing English or math courses transferred to South University, if applicable, or SAT or ACT, or scores on the University administered entrance exam only if the exam was taken at South University.

An applicant seeking transfer admission who cannot meet the above criteria may submit SAT, ACT, or University administered admissions examination scores to achieve general admission.

Students who are citizens of countries other than the United States should refer to the section entitled International Student Admissions Policy.

Academic Placement Tests

Placement tests in Algebra and English are administered to determine if a student needs additional preparation in either of these areas. If need is determined, the student must enroll in the required course(s) in the first quarter in which scheduling the required course(s) is practical. All students who do not meet the criteria below must take placement tests during the admissions process unless they are transfer students. Note that in all cases transfer credit is not awarded for developmental courses.

Students being admitted on the basis of SAT and ACT scores will be exempt from taking the related placement test if they meet the certain criteria.

Exemption from MAT0099 Principles of Algebra, or ENG0099 Principles of Composition, is based on the following:

MAT0099

ACT Math > 14
SAT Math > 400

ENG0099

ACT Verbal > 14
SAT Evidence-Based Reading > 430

Transfer students must take the appropriate placement test(s) if they are not exempt from either MAT0099 and/or ENG0099. Transfer students may be exempted from developmental courses in one of the following ways:

• On the basis of grades earned (at a C or better) in credit-bearing, non-developmental courses taken at an acceptable accredited institution that are equivalent to (or at a higher level than) the non-developmental courses offered at South University and are considered for transfer to South University.
• If applicable, students may also be exempted from developmental courses on the basis of SAT or ACT scores as noted above.
• Students may also take the University administered admissions examination at South University campuses to seek such exemptions.
• Only original documents (such as transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, etc.) will be considered in final decisions.

Acceptable Accredited Collegiate Institution

South University requires that prior coursework taken by transfer students or transfer credit requested for review be taken at an acceptable accredited collegiate institution. An acceptable accredited collegiate institution possesses either regional or national accreditation granted by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Individual programs within South University may define additional criteria for acceptable accreditation to meet the requirements of specific programmatic accreditation.

Personal Enrichment Enrollment

Enrollment in selected subjects for personal enrichment is available under certain circumstances. Students attempting to enroll under these circumstances are classified as special subject students and are not eligible for Title IV financial aid. This status allows a term-based student to enroll in one class per quarter for  no more than three quarters without following the standard admission procedures or meeting standard admission requirements. Individuals participating in a specifically contracted workshop, seminar, or course that is not part of the pursuit of a degree are not required to meet any admissions requirements. Status as a special subject student is not available to students receiving military education benefits. Students enrolled in non-term based programs through South University, Online Programs can take a maximum of 3 courses and at the end of that period must be fully admitted to the University to continue to enroll in South University courses.

Students who wish to enroll for personal enrichment in courses in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program are limited to a total of two courses (8 credits) from the following list: PHE5001, PHE5005, PHE5010 and PHE5015.  Priority for enrollment in any of these MPH courses is given to students admitted to the program.

Students may not enroll in any nursing courses (NSG) under this Policy.

Home-Schooled Students

Home-schooled students are individuals who have completed a secondary school education in a home-school setting that is treated as a home school or a private school under state law. The student must have accomplished the following:

• Obtained a secondary school completion credential as provided by state law, or
• Completed a secondary school education in a home school setting under state law.
• Students must provide evidence that home-schooling was conducted in accordance with state laws. A certificate of attendance or completion is not sufficient.

Admission of Transient Students

Transient students are admitted only for a specified period of time - normally one quarter. Applicants for transient status must file a regular application form and submit a statement from their dean or registrar that they are in good standing and have permission to take specific courses at South University for transfer to their own institutions when satisfactorily completed. Since transient students are not admitted as regular students, transcripts of university work completed elsewhere are not usually required of such applicants. Transient students who wish to remain enrolled longer than one quarter must meet all requirements for general admission or transfer students.

Admission of Transfer Students

To be eligible for admission, transfer students must complete the application procedures and satisfy the following criteria:

1. Submit a completed application for admission.
2. Have earned 24 or more credit hours, or the equivalent (e.g. 16 semester hours), with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 from an acceptable accredited collegiate institution.
3. Submit official transcripts (including verifiable faxed transcripts) from all colleges and universities attended.
4. Submit self-certification of high school graduation or GED completion.

For transfer of credit practices refer to the applicable section under the Academic Affairs  section of this catalog.

Transfer students accepted into South University who have earned 24 or more quarter credit hours or the equivalent (e.g. 16 semester hours), with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 from an acceptable accredited collegiate institution, and who are not required to take ENG0099 and/or MAT0099,  will be exempt from taking the UVC1000 Strategies for Success. Students will select another 4 credit course in consultation with their Academic Advisor or Academic Counselor to fulfill the degree requirements.

Students who are transferring from or to a school within the University of North Carolina or the North Carolina Community College System should be aware of the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement approved by both governing Boards on March 1, 1996 and revised in September of 2008. This agreement may be found in its entirety at the following website: http://www.northcarolina.edu/sites/default/files/caa-feb_21_2014-board_approved.pdf.

Joint Enrollment for High School Students

Through this program for outstanding high school seniors, students may pursue collegiate coursework while completing their high school requirements. Students accepted into this program will be allowed to enroll part-time or full-time at the University, provided they meet course prerequisites and receive permission from their high school principal or counselor. Students may forfeit the privilege of the program if they receive a grade below a C in their collegiate coursework or if their high school average falls below a B. To be considered for this program, a student must satisfy all of the following criteria:

1. Provide a written recommendation from the principal or counselor.
2. Have the written consent of a parent or guardian.
3. Complete the eleventh grade before application.
4. Attain a satisfactory score on the ACT or SAT, or on the University entrance exam.
5. Achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in high school work completed.

Further information about this program can be obtained through the Admissions Office or Registrar’s Office.

Re-entry/Readmission of Former Students

Students seeking readmission after an absence of one year or longer, may be readmitted without retesting for admission, but must apply for readmission. If they were enrolled at other colleges during their absence, transcripts of coursework taken must be sent to South University. A candidate for readmission must either demonstrate that they already meet the entrance test requirement for admission in effect at the time of readmission or retest to achieve that minimum entrance score.

Students seeking re-entry after an absence of less than a year may resume their previous program curriculum, or if a curriculum change has occurred since their original start date, they may opt to move to the new program curriculum. Students seeking readmission after an absence of one year or longer must enroll in the new program curriculum. Requests for exceptions to the program enrollment requirement may be submitted to the Dean of Academic Affairs and Operations for campus programs or Program Director or designee for online programs.

Students in the partially online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies or Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies Programs may withdraw from South University Online Programs  for one period of up to 24 consecutive months in order to complete the traditional classroom format Legal Studies specialty courses required as part of their program. Partially online Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies and Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies students who withdraw from the University due to personal or emergency circumstances may not re-enter the partially online program after an absence of nine months or more.

English Language Proficiency

As the lectures, seminars, materials, and discourse which comprise programs of study at South University are presented in English, South University requires that all students possess and demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency required to substantially benefit from the programs offered.

A student is deemed proficient in the English language if he or she presents proof of the following:

• Holds a U.S. high school diploma or U.S. General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or international high school diploma, e.g., U.S. military base, business/diplomat expat community, etc., in which instruction is delivered primarily in English
• Holds the equivalent (evidenced by credential evaluation) of a U.S. high school diploma from overseas institution in which instruction is delivered primarily in English
• Completes (with passing grades in all courses) a minimum of two (2) academic terms at a regionally or nationally accredited U.S. post-secondary institution in which instruction is delivered primarily in English
• Completes (with passing grades in all courses) English 101 and 102 at a regionally or nationally accredited U.S. post-secondary institution in which instruction is delivered primarily in English
• Presents acceptable English Language Proficiency test scores meeting the minimum required levels set forth below.

English Language Proficiency Chart: Minimum Acceptable Proof of English Language Proficiency Standard

*The scale for The Prueba Aptitud Academica has changed and now closely reflects the SAT.
**As of April 2005, the SAT verbal test is replaced with the SAT critical reading test.

International Student Admissions Policy

All international students must meet the same admissions standards as all other students when seeking to enroll in South University (Please refer to the General Admissions Requirements.) Those international students applying to SEVP-certified schools and requiring the school’s sponsorship for international student visa status (Form I-20) must meet the additional requirements listed below.

South University requires nonimmigrant students present in Visa Waiver, B-1, and B-2 status to change visa to F-1 or other qualifying status prior to enrolling in programs of study (other than avocational or recreational courses). Students in F-2 or M-2 status may enroll on a part-time basis where available.  Please note that some programs may not be eligible for international students requiring Form I-20 sponsorship. Please ask to speak with South University’s International Admissions Representative for more detail.

Admissions Requirements for Students Requiring Form I-20 Sponsorship

International students requiring South University’s Form I-20 must submit the following items in addition to the standard documents required for admission:

• A completed and signed South University Application and the International Supplemental Application(electronic application is acceptable)
• A completed and signed Enrollment Agreement (electronic agreement is acceptable)
• Original or official copies of all educational transcripts and diplomas (secondary and post-secondary if applicable)
• English language translation(s) of education transcripts and diplomas, if applicable
• Official credential evaluation of non-U.S. transcripts and diplomas required for admission. NOTE: evaluations must be prepared by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE)-member organization
• Proof of English Language Proficiency (see English Language Proficiency Policy)
• Proof of financial responsibility to cover costs of tuition and fees and living expenses (and dependent costs if applicable) for at least one academic year (official bank statements, Sponsor’s Statement of Support, if required)
• Photocopy of student’s “bio-info” page of passport to provide proof of birth date and citizenship
• For all non-immigrant applicants residing in the United States, provide a copy of passport visa page and Entry Record or Form I-94 card
• For all non-immigrant applicants currently in F, M, or J status, provide a copy of all Forms I-20 or Forms DS-2019
• Transfer Clearance Form for students currently in F, M, or J status at another institution

All international applicants to South University, High Point must meet the same admissions standards as all other students. South University, High Point is not currently authorized to sponsor international student (F-1) visas. Other qualifying nonimmigrant (temporary) visa status may enroll. In addition the Admissions Requirements above, students presenting transcripts or credentials earned outside the United States are required to provide a credential evaluation prepared by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE)-member credential evaluation service and an English translation (if applicable). Please speak with an Admissions Representative to determine eligibility and learn more.

Important International Student Disclosure - International students attending South University locations under F-1 visas (Form I-20) are required to maintain a “full course of study” during each academic term of their programs of study. For undergraduate (non-degree, Diploma, Associates, and Bachelors-level programs) students, this is defined as a minimum of 12 credits per academic term. Graduate programs will vary by program of study. Not more than 1 online course or 3 online credits per academic term may be counted toward meeting the “full course of study” requirement. Please note that not all South University locations offer online courses.  Speak with an admissions representative for more information.  Program and course offerings are subject to change and international students may be required to take additional courses to meet the full course of study requirement. International students should work closely with the International Student Advisor to verify all requirements of their visas statuses are met. THIS SCHOOL IS AUTHORIZED UNDER FEDERAL LAW TO ENROLL NONIMMIGRANT ALIEN STUDENTS.

Notice Concerning Transferability of Credits Earned at South University

In the U.S. higher education system, transferability of credit is determined by the receiving institution taking into account such factors as course content, grades, accreditation and licensing.  For this reason South University does not imply, promise, or guarantee that credits earned at South University will be accepted by another college or university. If the credits or degree, diploma, or certificate that you earn at this institution are not accepted at the institution to which you seek to transfer, you may be required to repeat some or all of your coursework at that institution. Students considering transferring to another college or university are responsible for determining whether that school will accept South University credits. South University encourages students to initiate discussions with the potential transfer school as early as possible.

The Associate of Applied Science programs are considered by some educational institutions and state agencies to be “terminal” and/or “occupational” programs. Credits earned in terminal and/or occupational programs are generally not applicable to other degrees; however, the acceptance of transfer credit remains at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Specialized Program Admission

Enrollment in the some programs is limited; therefore, to be considered for selection, applicants must meet the minimum criteria as detailed in the individual application packets for these programs.

Criminal History, Charges and Background Checks

Acceptance into a South University program or its completion does not imply or guarantee that a student will be able to obtain licensure, certification, or employment.  Students wishing to enter a program in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Health Professions, the College of Nursing and Public Health, College of Theology, or the School of Pharmacy should be aware that a prior felony conviction may restrict an individual’s ability to obtain professional licensure, certification, or employment..

In the event a student has an undisclosed criminal history or active charge prior to adjudication on a background check, the ability to matriculate, progress and complete a degree program and/or to become licensed, if applicable, may be impacted.  Active or prior criminal charges/convictions may impact the student’s ability to participate in required educational experiences and/or future eligibility for professional licensure necessitating voluntary withdrawal or administrative dismissal from the program. 

The University is not able to guarantee the eligibility for licensure or employment in his/her field of any student/graduate with (or without) any criminal history of pending charges.  Students must disclose any criminal history and active/pending charges at the time of application, and must disclose any new charges to the relevant program director, immediately, for consideration.

Applicants and students should see the Program Director (or designee) for additional information.

College of Arts and Sciences

Procedure for Admission to the Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) Program

In addition to the general requirements of the University, specific requirements for admission to classified graduate status are:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Completion of application for admission.
• A 2.7 overall grade point average or higher on completed requirements for the baccalaureate degree, or, GRE minimum test scores, 150 verbal, 159 quantitative, or Millers Analogies Test (MAT): achieve a minimum overall scaled score of 402, or, an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher.

The following foundation undergraduate course must have been satisfactorily completed from an accredited institution or be satisfactorily completed (grade of C or better) within the first two quarters after acceptance into the Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) program.

• MAT2058 Statistics (or completion of MAT5001) OR an appropriate Statistics course offered in a related field such as Psychology or Business.

Foundation undergraduate course credits do not count towards the total number of credits for graduation nor do they count in the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA); however, they do count in determining the maximum time frame (MTF) and the Incremental Completion Rate (ICR). MSCJ students enrolled in foundation undergraduate course must successfully complete the course within their first three attempts or the student will be academically dismissed from the University.

Procedure for Admission to the Master of Science in Public Relations Program

The criteria used in determining admission to the Master of Science in Public Relations program include:

Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an acceptable accredited institution.

• A cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.70 (on a scale of 4.0). OR
• An earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher.
   
• A minimum score on a South University preapproved English language proficiency test is required for all applicants whose “first” language is not English as specified in the English Language Proficiency Policy.
• Completion of an application for admission.
• Submission (within 10 weeks of class start date) of official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended.
• Completion of an undergraduate statistics course from an acceptable accredited institution or complete MAT5001 (4) (with a grade of B or better) within the first quarter (for on-campus students) or first two course sessions (for online students) after acceptance into the program.

Exceptions to the Minimum CGPA for College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Programs

Applicants with CGPAs lower than the stated program minimum may be considered for admission with significant evidence of academic and professional potential demonstrated by the career and/or personal accomplishments indicated in the career résumé (including a personal statement of academic and professional goals), academic or professional letters of recommendation, and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Although GRE scores are optional, submission of scores may improve an applicant’s application. Exceptions must be recommended by the Program Director, Department Chair, or College Dean. Students admitted on an exception basis will be admitted as regular students on a probationary status for the first quarter (for on-campus students) or two course sessions (for online students) of enrollment. In order to remain enrolled in the program and remove the probationary status, a student must achieve a CGPA of at least 3.0 in this coursework.

Applicants should review the published general graduate requirements listed in the South University Academic Catalog. Students who are citizens of countries other than the United States should also refer to the section in the South University Academic Catalog entitled International Student Admissions Policy.

Transfer of Credit for College of Arts and Sciences

The majority of credits toward any graduate or post-graduate degree program must be earned at South University. Credit for transfer work will be given if the courses were taken at an accredited collegiate institution, the course is equivalent to courses offered at South University, and the course carries a grade of “B” or better. All transfer credit will be reviewed and approved by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Department Chair of the respective academic department. Students may transfer up to three courses.

Admission to the Legal Studies (BS) and Paralegal Studies (AS) Degree Programs

Students seeking admission into these degree programs must meet all requirements for admission into the University. Students seeking admission as transfer students must meet additional standards stated in this section of the catalog as well as those required of all transfer students seeking to enroll in South University.

Students seeking to move between South University campuses are considered transfer students. This includes transfer between a ground campus and the partially online program offered through the Savannah campus. Students wishing to transfer to the partially online program from a South University campus are required to transfer enrollment to the Savannah campus and through that campus to the partially online program.

Those seeking admission as a transfer student into the Legal Studies (BS) or Paralegal Studies (AS) program must provide additional documentation to aid in evaluation for admission and acceptance of transfer credit.  Legal specialty courses (e.g., those with “LGS” prefixes at South University) transferred into a South University campus will not count in the student’s GPA calculation. This includes legal specialty courses taken at another South University campus or online.

Students may transfer up to 75 percent of the total work required for a degree in these programs but no more than 50 percent of the work to be applied toward the legal specialty course requirements for the degree. All courses to be applied toward the legal specialty course requirements must be evaluated (using the procedure found in the subsequent paragraph) and found to be essentially comparable to the course for which the student would receive credit in the South University program.

For legal specialty transfer courses, including courses taken from other South University campuses, the student should present the catalog description of the course from the source campus, college, or university. A syllabus or comparable document describing the course requirements, learning outcomes of the course, textbook and related materials used in the course, samples of work completed in the course, and grading criteria may also be required at the discretion of the Registrar or the Program Director making the evaluation. These materials will be referred to the appropriate Program Director or qualified faculty member for a final decision after the Registrar has reviewed the courses to assure the work meets the general transfer admission standards.

All students enrolling in the partially online program offered through the Savannah campus must document that at least four (4) legal specialty courses comprising at least sixteen (16) credit hours of credit were completed in a traditional classroom format. The program requires that LGS1005 Legal Research and Writing I be completed in a traditional classroom format. The student can complete any other three (3) legal specialty courses in a traditional classroom format with the approval of the Program Director in consultation with the Registrar.

Students already enrolled in the partially online program seeking to meet the requirement that at least sixteen (16) credit hours of coursework must be completed in a traditional classroom format, including LGS1005 Legal Research and Writing I, will work with their online Academic Counselor and the online Program Chair or Program Director to identify an acceptable college or university where such work may be completed. Targeted courses will be identified and pre-approved by the online Program Chair or Program Director working with the Academic Counselor and Registrar using the criteria listed above as applicable.

By completion of the LGS1001 course, partially online students must have pre-approvals for the four traditional-format classes in their file. Students may complete no more than three online legal specialty courses with South University before taking the four required traditional-format courses. Exceptions can be approved at the discretion of the Program Chair.

College of Business

Procedures for Admission to the Doctor of Business Administration Program

The criteria used in determining admission to the doctoral program include:

• Completion of a master’s degree or an MBA degree from an acceptable accredited institution. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) on graduate coursework. Additional coursework may be required before beginning the doctoral program. Refer to section on Required Knowledge Base for further information.
• Applicants for whom English is a Second Language (ESL) must meet a minimum score on a South University preapproved English language proficiency test is required for all applicants whose “first” language is not English as specified in the English Language Proficiency Policy.
• Completion of an application for admission.
• Submission (within 10 weeks of class start date) of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
• Personal interview with  a representative from the College of Business graduate faculty as designated by the Dean of the College of Business (may be conducted over the phone).
   

Submission of the following:

• A 1,000-word Statement of Purpose Essay that presents the candidate’s  academic and professional goals. This statement should detail how the applicant will benefit from earning a DBA and how the degree will be integrated into future career goals.
• Career résumé or curriculum vitae.
• Three current academic/professional letters of recommendation submitted directly to South University. These letters should discuss the applicant’s ability to successfully matriculate the program and how the applicant will contribute to the overall quality of the program. Additionally, the recommendation should include an assessment of the student’s ability to be successful as a professional in teaching, service and research.

Once all required admissions documents and information are submitted, the candidate’s application will be reviewed and evaluated by a faculty committee. Applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis and applicants will be notified immediately.

Transfer of Credit

The majority of credits toward the DBA degree program must be earned at South University. Credit for transfer work will be given if the courses were taken at an accredited collegiate institution, the course is equivalent to courses offered at South University, and the course carries a grade of “B” or better.

All transfer credit will be reviewed and approved by the Dean, College of Business, or designee, and the Department Chair of the respective academic department and Program Director. The maximum number of classes to transfer is four courses or 16 quarter hours. NOTE: Dissertation courses may not be transferred from another institution.

Required Knowledge Base

Applicants to the DBA degree program must demonstrate a master’s level ability to integrate knowledge within critical foundation competencies with a grade of B or better. These foundation areas must have been taken at an acceptable accredited institution.

Students not having met these prerequisites will be admitted into the program; however, these graduate level foundation competencies must be successfully completed within the first full quarter of enrollment:

The prerequisite foundation course credits do not count towards the total number of credits for graduation nor do they count in the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA); however, they do count in determining the maximum time frame (MTF) and the Incremental Completion Rate (ICR).

Residency Requirement for Online Students

The doctoral residencies are a requirement for online students in the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program.  These are a time for faculty, staff, and cohorts to meet in a collegial learning opportunity. Residencies are designed as a time for students and faculty to work together collaboratively and to support the creation of a community of scholars.  Students will spend class time in faculty and staff led presentations and will have the opportunity to network and share their experiences in the program. They will also be able to work collaboratively on their scholarship during the residencies, and opportunities to provide service to the academic community will be discussed.

The South University DBA has two residencies.  All DBA students in the online program are required to participate in these two residencies; these residencies are part of the completion requirements for the program.

The residencies are held over a weekend in the Fall of Spring depending upon the date of enrollment for the student. Students arrive on Friday for hotel check-in and a “Meet and Greet.” Classes are held Saturday from 8am to 5 pm.

Students attend Residencies I and II with their cohort group in either the fall or spring depending upon the enrollment date for the student. Residency I is expected to be completed before or during the MGT7110 course in the online program.  Students will be charged for Residency I at the start of BUS7000 and will be expected to complete the residency within approximately 90 days of that date. Residency II is expected to be completed before or during the MGT7205 course in the online program. Students will be charged for Residency II at the start of MGT7200 and will be expected to complete the residency within approximately 90 days of that date.  Students who do not attend and complete Residencies I or II with their cohort, must drop back to the next cohort group and attend with the new cohort. The student then completes the program with the new cohort group.

If a student fails to attend Residency I or II, he/she will not be able to progress beyond the course for which the residency is a prerequisite or co-requisite (MGT7110 for Residency I and MGT7205 for Residency II).

Attendance

Students are made aware of the requirement of attending those residencies upon admission into the doctoral program and given a schedule of residencies offered within a reasonable amount of time to schedule travel. Attendance is required in order to progress in the program.  Should an emergency arise that prevents the student from attending the residency, the student must immediately contact the DBA Program Director to receive instructions on how to proceed.

Special accommodations can be made for students who cannot attend a portion of the residency due to medical reasons, religious reasons, active military deployment, and flight delays. Students who arrive late or fall ill during a residency should immediately contact the Program Director. Students who cannot attend a portion of the residency due to religious reasons, medical reasons, or active military deployment should contact the Program Director at least ten days in advance of the residency.

All students register at the residency either at Friday evening’s “Meet and Greet” or during the breakfast hour on Saturday morning.  Students are required to attend all sessions for the full hours of instruction.  Because airline schedules can easily vary, students are encouraged to arrive on Friday so that they will not miss any of the Saturday sessions.  Similarly, students should plan their flights on Sunday so that there is sufficient time to check out of the hotel, and to check in at the airport.

Cancellation Policy

Students who cancel their residency attendance within 30 days prior of the residency will be charged 50% of the residency fee.  Students who do not attend without cancellation notice to the Program Director will be charged the full residency fee.

This fee is refundable in accordance with the cancellation refund policies outlined in the Refund of Tuition section of the catalog and for students withdrawing from their course(s) who are residents of Iowa and Wisconsin, per the applicable state refund policy outlined in the Refund of Tuition section of the catalog.

Exceptions

All sessions of the residency are recorded in case an exception occurs.  Additionally, all presentations are loaded on jump drives that are given to the students.

Late transportation arrivals - Students who arrive after sessions begin on Saturday must immediately report to the DBA Program Director with documentation of their transportation arrangements.  The Program Director will then verify that the transportation was late.  If the transportation was late, the student will be allowed to watch the recorded sessions and/or review the presentations at the discretion of the Program Director.

Student illness - Students who become ill must notify the DBA Program Director as quickly as possible.  If the student requires medical attention, a South University representative will be appointed to assist the student in getting medical care and in reaching the student’s emergency contact.  At no time does South University accept responsibility for the health or well-being of the student.

If the student is able to return to the residency and has only missed up to four hours of sessions, at the Program Director’s discretion, the student will be allowed to watch the recorded sessions and/or review the presentations.  If the student misses more than four hours of sessions, the student will be required to withdraw from the residency course and retake the residency at the next available date. 

Other exceptions - There may be additional exceptions that are presented from time to time.  How these exceptions will be handled is at the discretion of the DBA Program Director based upon the guidelines set forth in this document.

Documenting exceptions - The Program Director will notify the Academic Counselor regarding any student being granted an exception. Documentation of the exception will need to be placed in the student’s academic file in Image Now.  The Program Director will then notify the Academic Counselor of the result of each exception granted. The Academic Counselor will need to adjust the student’s schedule for future quarters if the student cannot progress in the program due to the residency requirement. Students who will need to sit out to wait for the next residency will be processed as “Active not attending” for the applicable timeframe.

Procedure for Admission to the College of Business Masters Programs

Admissions Criteria for the Accelerated Master of Business Administration (MBA, accelerated) and the Accelerated Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration (MBA-HCA, accelerated) are as follows:

• Completion of an application for admission
• An earned undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 2.7 or better on a 4.0 scale OR
• An earned undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 2.7 or better on a 4.0 scale during the applicant’s last 60 semester or 90 quarter hours earned on the bachelor’s degree or subsequent graduate work OR
• An earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0)

In addition, applicants must submit:

• Career resume
• A 1,000 word personal statement of academic and career goals highlighting interest in and readiness for this unique and challenging program

Admissions criteria for the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration (MBA), Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Science in Information Systems (MS), and Master of Science in Leadership (MSL), are as follows:

Completion of application for admission, and:

• An earned undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 2.7 or better on a 4.0 scale OR
• An earned undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 2.7 or better on a 4.0 scale during the applicant’s last 60 semester or 90 quarter hours earned on the bachelor’s degree or subsequent graduate work OR
• An earned undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum combined GMAT score of 400 or GRE scores of 150 Verbal and 150 Reasoning OR
• An earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0)

Admissions criteria for the Master of Science in Accounting (MS) Program are as follows:

Completion of an application for admission, and:

• An earned undergraduate accounting degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 2.7 or better on a 4.0 scale OR
• An earned undergraduate accounting degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 2.7 or better on a 4.0 scale during the applicant’s last 60 semester or 90 quarter hours earned on the bachelor’s degree or subsequent accounting graduate work

Master of Public Administration Program

For admission to the Master of Public Administration degree program, applications with grade point averages lower than the stated program minimum may be considered for admission with significant evidence of academic and professional potential demonstrated by the career and/or personal accomplishments indicated in a personal statement of academic and professional goals, the career resume, academic or professional letters of matriculation recommendation, and/or GMAT scores. Exceptions must be recommended by the department chair or program director and approved by the College Dean.

Students admitted on an exception basis will be admitted as regular students on a provisional basis. To remain enrolled, the student must achieve a GPA of at least 3.0 after completing 8 credit hours. If these conditions of provisional admission are not met, the student will be dismissed from the university.  Dismissal from the University as a result of failure to meet the conditions of provisional admission cannot be appealed.

Master of Science in Information Systems Program

As determined by the Program Director or Chair, students with a non-technical degree or lacking IT-related experience are required to successfully complete MIS5010 Information Technology Infrastructure, with a “C” or better. Students must enroll in the course within the first two quarters (for term-based students) or first four sessions (for non-term based students) of their admission to the University. The course is designed to provide students with a required knowledge base of emerging trends in information systems, how information systems work, and how to manage IT infrastructures. 

Required knowledge base course credits do not count towards the total number of credits for graduation nor do they count in the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA); however, they do count in determining the maximum time frame (MTF) and the Incremental Completion Rate (ICR). Student must achieve a “C” or better within three attempts or will be academically dismissed from the University.

Exceptions to the minimum GPA: Applicants to the MSIS program with grade point averages lower than the stated program minimum may be considered for admission with significant evidence of academic and professional potential demonstrated by the career and/or personal accomplishments indicated in a personal statement of academic and professional goals, the career resume, or academic or professional letters of recommendation documenting the applicant’s potential for success. Exceptions must be recommended by the Program Director and approved by the Department Chair and the Dean of the College of Business. Students admitted on an exception basis will be admitted as regular students on a provisional basis for the first quarter of enrollment. In order to remain enrolled after the first quarter (for term-based students) or first two sessions (for non-term based students) of enrollment. In order to remain after the first quarter, the student must achieve a GPA of at least 3.0.

In the event that the student does not meet either the knowledge base or the GPA requirement upon admission, the minimum GPA requirement must still be met after the first quarter.

Transfer of Credit Guidelines for the College of Business Master’s Programs

The majority of credits toward any graduate or post-graduate degree program must be earned at South University. Credit for transfer work will be given if the courses were taken at an accredited collegiate institution, the course is equivalent to courses offered at South University, and the course carries a grade of “B” or better.

All transfer credit will be reviewed and approved by the Dean, College of Business or designee, and the Department Chair of the respective academic department and Program Director. The maximum number of classes to transfer is four courses or 16 quarter hours. NOTE: Capstone courses may not be transferred from another institution.

Credits earned at any South University campus will be accepted at all campuses. These credits will not be considered transfer credit; they will be included as credits earned at South University. If a campus should close a program in any state, students in good standing will be accepted at any South University campus having the same or a similar authorized degree program. The credits earned in the students’ original degree program will be applied to the degree program at the new location.

Students may transfer a total of 12 credit hours into the Master of Public Administration degree program. The specific courses for which transfer credit is available are MPA5001 Foundations of Public Administration, MPA5005 Public and Nonprofit Organizational Behavior, and MBA6501 Strategic Human Resource Management. The evaluation of transfer of credit follows South University’s applicable policies and procedures that pertain to accredited institutions.

College of Creative Art and Design

Please see specific admissions policies for The Art Institute Campuses - Admissions  .

College of Health Professions

Procedure for Admission to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Admissions criteria for the OTD program are:

• Baccalaureate degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale on all Occupational Therapy programmatic courses. OR
  • Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale on the degree earned.
    • Note: Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy and a master’s degree in Health Sciences (e.g. Public Health, Nursing, Health Sciences, etc…) may qualify for placement into the advanced track.
• Submission of official transcripts from all collegiate institutions attended before the student’s start date.
• Holds an Occupational Therapy license within the state the student practices and is in good standing with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
• Minimum of two years of experience as an Occupational Therapist.
• Completion of application for admission.
• Holds a current American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers CPR Card (two year certification).
• Three recommendations using the OTD Recommendation for Admission Form. Two recommendations must be from an Occupational Therapist.
• Submission of a typed essay, not to exceed 750 words (Refer to the OTD Student Essay form.)
• Interview with the Program Director or designee.

Transfer of Credit Guidelines for the Doctor in Occupational Therapy

Graduate work completed at another institution will be reviewed for possible credit based on the following criteria/procedure:

1. The course was taken at an acceptable accredited collegiate institution.
2. The transferred course must be determined to be equivalent to the course listed in the South University catalog. 

Note: Students may be required to provide additional supporting documentation such as a course description or a syllabus for a class to be considered for Transfer of Credit.

3. Courses that may be transferred are subject to the following conditions:
   • A course may be transferred if the student has earned a grade of “B” or better
   • No more than 12 credit hours may be transferred from another institution to the OTD program and used to fulfill the completion/graduation requirements of the program. The majority of credits earned toward a graduate degree in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program must be earned at South University.
   • No course may be transferred if it was taken more than seven (7) years prior to the transfer request.
   • Transfer credits being applied towards the OTD Program will be reviewed by the OTD Program Director with collaborative assistance from the Campus Registrars’ office. Formal authentication of the transfer student’s transcripts will be vetted through the Registrar’s office.
4. South University reserves the right to reject any and all transfer credits from other institutions when it is determined that the quality of instruction is deficient or unsatisfactory as deemed by South University.
    
5. The University reserves the right to disallow transfer credit for courses if the student’s subsequent grades in required courses in the same subject fall below average.

Procedure for Admission to the Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science (Anesthesiologist Assistant) Program

Application Process

South University has partnered with the Central Application Service for Anesthesiologist Assistant (CASAA) to collect and manage applications to the Anesthesiologist Assistant Program. To apply, please follow the instructions outlined below.

• Visit the South University page on the CASAA website for details about our program and application requirements.
• Visit http://casaa.liaisoncas.com to complete an online application for admission through CASAA.
• Please follow the instructions on the CASAA site regarding the submission of documents.

The application process is open from June 1- February 1for admission to the class entering for summer quarter of the following year. Early decision interviews occur in October and November. All parts of the CASAA application must be completed and verified no later than October 1st to be considered for the early decision interview sessions and before February 1 for the regular admission deadline.

After the October 1st deadline, the most qualified applicants will be assigned to an interview group based upon when the application was completed and verified in CASAA.

The applicant is solely responsible for completion of his/her application. The program is not responsible for deficiencies due to US mail or failure of third parties to complete an applicant’s request for transcripts, scores, letters of reference, et cetera.

The most qualified candidates for admission will be invited for an on-campus interview. During the interview process, candidates will have the opportunity to meet faculty, visit clinical training sites, attend a brief orientation to South University Anesthesiologist Assistant program, and receive financial aid information. Interviews are by request of the admission committee only.

Eligible applicants will receive a request for an interview from the program via email at least two weeks prior to the interview date. All interviews are scheduled at Savannah campus between October and February. The interview, which is a mandatory part of the application process, are held on Saturdays and typically begin at 8:00 AM and ending by 5:00 PM. The program provides information about transportation, lodging, and on-campus parking at the time the interview is scheduled. It is important that the program office have an applicant’s current, daytime phone number so that he/she can be contacted in a timely manner about any last-minute interview changes.

Please note that for all components of the application, failure to provide complete and accurate information or to knowingly provide false information will result in (a) during the application process immediate withdrawal of the application and denial of admission to an applicant and (b) following admission immediate dismissal of the student from the program.

Completion of Application

Prior to matriculation, each person accepted into the Anesthesiologist Assistant program must provide an official transcript indicating degree conferred and show completion of all required course work. Complete transcripts and an official record of undergraduate degree must be on file with the program before registration will be permitted for the first quarter.

Admission Requirements

Familiarity with Practice of Anesthesia

Applicants to the program must be familiar with the practice of anesthesia, including related activities in the operating room. Individuals who are not familiar with the practice of anesthesia and have had no exposure to an operating room environment must spend at least 8 hours with an anesthetist or an anesthesiologist in an operating room observing the conduct of anesthetics. In addition, the applicant is required to summarize an article of their choice from current anesthesia literature.

General Admission Requirements

Students wishing to enter the Anesthesiologist Assistant program in the College of Health Professions should be aware that a prior felony conviction may restrict an individual’s ability to obtain professional licensure or certification. Acceptance into a South University program or its completion does not imply or guarantee that a student will be able to obtain such licensure or certification.

• Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university, including above average performance in courses required in a premed curriculum. All prerequisite coursework must be taken within seven years from the date of application.
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work.
• Entrance Exams
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Medical College Admission Test or taken within 5 years prior to the completion of the application.
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The program must receive official score reports directly from the Educational Testing Service. The Code for South University is 7450.
  • Medical College Admission Test scores may be submitted for consideration if completed within five years of the application. The applicant may submit official MCAT scores through CASAA.
• The South University Anesthesiologist Assistant Program accepts credit for Advanced Placement courses.  AP courses taken and successfully completed will be counted as one course credit toward completion of the respective pre-requisite subject.  Grades earned in AP courses are not used in the calculation of the applicant’s overall or pre-requisite GPA.
• In the applicant’s own words, he/she must write a summary of an article of her/his choice that appears in a current anesthesia journal via the South University, CASAA application.
• Familiarity with the practice of anesthesia, including the environment in which day-to- day work occurs.  The required form is located on the admissions page of the South University Anesthesiologist Assistant program website, https://www.southuniversity.edu/savannah/areas-of-study/anesthesia-science/anesthesiologist-assistant-master-of-medical-science-mmsc/admissions
• Three letters of recommendation are required to be submitted as part of the CASAA application. No more than one letter may be a personal/character reference.

Required Undergraduate Courses

(substitutions are not permitted and survey courses or courses for non-science majors are not acceptable)

Technical Standards

To undertake and successfully complete the Anesthesiologist Assistant program, as well as to function as an anesthetist after graduation, requires that an individual meet certain fundamental physical, cognitive, and behavioral standards. The requisite technical skills include, but are not limited to the following:

• Effectively communicating verbally with patients and their family members and with other healthcare professionals.
• Interacting with patients, including obtaining a history and performing a physical examination.
• Effectively communicating in writing, and by record keeping, those data and information essential to the practice of anesthesia and the care of patients.
• Reading and comprehending written parts of the medical record and other patient care documents in order to safely and effectively participate in the practice of anesthesia.
• Having sufficient knowledge, motor skill, and coordination to perform diagnostic and therapeutic tasks, including invasive procedures, on patients in a timely manner so as to insure the safety and well-being of the patients. These tasks include but are not limited to peripheral and central venous catheterization, arterial puncture and cannulation, breathing bag-and-mask ventilation, laryngeal mask airway insertion and management, endotracheal intubation.
• Having sufficient strength, motor skill, and coordination to lift, move, and position patients as required for administration of anesthesia and performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Having sufficient speed and coordination to quickly and safely react to emergent conditions throughout the hospital in order to assure patient safety.
• Recognizing and differentiating colors of signals displayed on monitors; being able to work in both light and dark conditions as exist in patient care areas (e.g., operating room, radiology suite, endoscopy suite); being able to recognize details of objects both near and far.
• Hearing, processing, and interpreting multiple conversations, monitor signals, alarms, and patient sounds simultaneously in fast-paced patient care settings (e.g., operating room, intensive care unit, emergency room).
• Having no impairment that would preclude continuous performance of all of the above activities or any and all of the other activities that are an integral part of an anesthesiologist assistant’s participation in the anesthesia care team.

Guidelines for Graduates of Colleges and Universities outside the United States

Please note that no exemptions will be made for required course work regardless of degrees or certification received outside the United States, experience, work background, or education.

In addition to the General Admission Requirements (above), the applicant who has graduated from a college or university outside the United States regardless of United States’ residency status must do the following (not necessary for United States Territories):

• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work taken outside the United States must be submitted to the program, along with the report from a credentialing organization (e.g., Educational Credential Evaluators, Incorporated) demonstrating equivalency to a bachelor’s degree received at an American college or university, and evaluating the transcript course-by-course for equivalency to required pre-requisites for admission to the Anesthesiologist Assistant program.
• A statement from a responsible person certifying that the applicant’s financial resources are sufficient to meet necessary expenses (International Students only).
• Deficiencies in required course work must be made up by taking appropriate courses in a college or university in the United States.
• A statement from a qualified physician describing any emotional or physical illnesses suffered by the applicant during the preceding five years, or certifying freedom from such illnesses (International Students only). In addition to the General Admission Requirements (above) and the first three requirements of this section, the applicant who has been graduated from a college or university of a country for which English is not the primary language regardless of United States’ residency status  must do the following:

Student must obtain minimum listed below for each section. Scores must be from exam taken within 7 years of application to the program. The program must receive an official score report directly from Educational Testing Services, Princeton, NJ.

Medical History and Immunizations

A recent medical history, physical examination, and all immunization records required must be maintained in the individual student’s MedWise portal from the time of matriculation until graduation.  It is the student’s responsibility to keep these records complete and up to date. Students who do not maintain these records as required will be referred to the Progress and Promotions committee for a professionalism standard violation.

Students entering senior year may be required to obtain an updated current history and physical examination depending on the rotation site.

Policy on Experiential Learning

No course credit is awarded for experiential learning to applicants of the Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science program.

Transfer of Credits Policy

No transfer credit is accepted for the Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science program.

All students must complete each course in the curriculum.

Policy on Advanced Placement Courses

The South University Anesthesiologist Assistant program accepts credit for Advanced Placement courses.  AP courses taken and successfully completed will be counted as one course credit toward completion of the respective pre-requisite subject.  Grades earned in AP courses are not used in the calculation of the applicant’s overall or pre-requisite GPA.

Insurance Requirements

Students in the Anesthesiologist Assistant program in the South University, Savannah College of Health Professions are required to have continuous health insurance coverage in force for the duration of their enrollment.  Documentation of this insurance coverage must be stored and maintained in the student’s MedWise account.  If at any time a students does not have insurance in force and current documentation listed in their MedWise account they will cease participation in clinical education and be referred to the Progress and Promotions committee for a violation of the standards of Professionalism for the Anesthesiologist Assistant program.

Students using private health insurance must ensure that their plan covers treatment and monitoring for needle stick injuries and other documented exposure to blood borne pathogens for all clinical rotation locations. For example, a student from Michigan who is part of parental family coverage HMO may not be eligible for coverage in Savannah or at other remote sites while on clinical rotations. For the student’s own personal safety it is imperative that they have an adequate health plan or the resources to pay for necessary medical care in the event of a needle stick or exposure to pathogenic organisms.

Payment for all medical and psychiatric services, elective and emergent; are the responsibility of the student regardless of the source of an illness or injury are the responsibility of the student regardless of what the source of an illness or injury may be.  The student is responsible for payment of medical services including all laboratory and other diagnostic and therapeutic services rendered as part of a protocol into which a student is entered in the event of exposure to known or suspected pathogenic organisms. Each clinical site has a specific established protocol for exposure that the student must follow.

Background Checks

In addition to the requirement for applicants to submit a certified background as part of the admission process, the program will require the students to submit another background check to the program office during their fifth quarter in the program prior to the start of their senior year clinical rotations.

This confirms that students have no current record of criminal activity and this information may be relayed to clinical sites for verification during their senior year. Any new activity found as a result of such background checks will be submitted to the Progress and Promotions committee and may affect the student’s status in the program.  Any violations that involve felony convictions or constitute a significant breach of moral or ethical conduct may result in immediate dismissal from the educational program. Students may appeal this decision based on verification of factual information according to the appeals process outlined in this document.

Applicants with Disabilities

In accordance with policies of South University- Savannah, the program does not discriminate against any individual because of disability. Applicants must meet the requirements for technical standards as printed above. Students with disabilities should consult with the Dean of Student Affairs, who coordinates disability services.

Procedure for Admission to the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

Admissions criteria for the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program are consistent with those required in other master’s degree level programs at South University. As the admissions process also takes into consideration the characteristics deemed essential to becoming a professional counselor, material is also required which will enable a determination to be made of the applicant’s personal integrity, maturity, interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate effectively. The criteria used in determining admission to the graduate program include:

1. Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
2. A grade point average of at least 2.7 (on an Admissions scale of 4.0) for the last 60 semester hours/90 quarter hours of coursework (including relevant graduate work), or, a bachelor’s degree with an overll CGPA of 2.7, or, an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher.
3. A minimum score on a South University preapproved English language proficiency test is required for all applicants whose “first” language is not English as specified in the English Language Proficiency Policy.
4. Interview with the Clinical Mental Health Counseling department chair/program director or designated faculty member.
5. Approval of the campus program admissions committee.
6. Completion of an application for admission.
7. Submission of a personal/professional statement addressing the applicant’s interest in counseling, professional goals, along with a self-appraisal of academic and professional qualifications.
8. Submission (within 10 weeks of class start dates) of official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended.
9. Current résumé (or career summary).
10. Background Check

All required admissions documentation and criteria will be reviewed and evaluated. Applicants will be notified regarding acceptance. Applicants should review the published general graduate requirements listed in the South University catalog. Students who are citizens of countries other than the United States should also refer to the section in the South University catalog entitled International Student Admissions Policy.

Procedure for Admission to the Master in Science Physician Assistant Program

Entrance to the Physician Assistant (PA) program is gained through a formal application review and on campus interview. Application to the program is made through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Additional information on the application process can be obtained through the PA program web site or by calling the Richmond campus at 804-727-6894, the Savannah campus at 912-201-8025, the Tampa campus at 813-393-3720 or the West Palm Beach campus at 866-629-2902. Because entrance into the program is highly competitive, only applications meeting the admission requirements listed below will be considered for admission.

The application process requires submission of scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). All applications must be complete by August 1st of the calendar year before matriculation.

Admission Criteria

The following criteria are established for students interested in applying to the South University Master of Science in Physician Assistant degree program.

• Applicants must have an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
• Applicants must have an overall GPA as calculated by the CASPA service of 3.0 or greater (on a 4.0 scale) (including undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate coursework)
• Applicants should have a Biology-Chemistry-Physics (BCP) science GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) as calculated by the CASPA service.
• Applicants must submit scores from the GRE general exam directly to the CASPA service using the South University PA program code 0467.
• At least one reference on the CASPA application must be from a physician (MD/DO), Physician Assistant, or Nurse Practitioner with whom the applicant has worked or shadowed and to whom the applicant is not related.
• Preference will be given to those with GRE scores at the 50th percentile or above.

Students must complete all prerequisite courses listed below with a grade of C or better at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university before matriculation.

• Human Anatomy 1 course¹
• Human Physiology 1 course^{1, 2}
• General Biology 2 courses^{2, 3}
• General Chemistry 2 courses^{2, 3}
• Biochemistry -or-
• Organic Chemistry 1 course²
• Microbiology 1 course^{2, 4}

Prerequisite coursework which is obtained from a four-year college or university and which is designed for science majors is considered more competitive.

In general, prerequisite coursework inclusive of titles such as Essentials of, Survey of, or Introductory to, unless specifically designed for science majors are considered less competitive.

*Human Anatomy and Physiology may be taken as standalone courses or as part of a sequence. In the event that the courses are taken as part of a sequence, only a completed sequence of A and P I and II will be accepted.

+Basic science courses should be those for science majors. Only courses (excluding general biology and biochemistry) with an associated lab will be given credit for fulfilling prerequisite requirements. In the event that a laboratory is not offered with a prerequisite course, applicants may request the lab requirement for that course be waived.

# Labs recommended but not required for general biology courses.

% Microbiology course must be 200/2000 level courses or higher.

No transfer credit is accepted for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program. All students must complete each course in the curriculum.

The South University Physician Assistant program accepts credit for Advanced Placement courses. AP courses taken and successfully completed will be counted as one course credit towards completion of the respective prerequisite subject. Grades earned in AP courses are not used in calculation of the applicants overall or prerequisite GPA.

The South University Physician Assistant program does not accept College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit for any prerequisite requirements.

Master of Science Physician Assistant Technical Standards

In order to ensure that patients receive the best medical care possible, the faculty of the South University Physician Assistant program has identified certain skills and professional behaviors that are essential for successful progression of physician assistant students in the program. A student must possess skills and behaviors at a level of capability to perform a variety of duties required of a physician assistant as a health care professional.

Students with disabilities who can perform these skills and successfully execute professional behavior either unassisted, with dependable use of assistive devices, or by employing other reasonable accommodations are eligible to apply for enrollment in the program. Minimum performance standards include critical thinking, communication skills, observation skills, motor skills, and interpersonal abilities. Interested parties may contact the Physician Assistant program office for additional information about South University performance standards. These skills and behaviors include, but are not limited to:

Critical Thinking: All students must possess the intellectual, ethical, physical and emotional capabilities required to undertake the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the faculty. The ability to solve problems, a skill that is critical to the practice of medicine, requires the intellectual abilities of measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis and synthesis. Candidates for the program must be able to perform demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences.

Communication Skills: A candidate should also be able to speak, to hear, and to observe patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and to perceive nonverbal communications. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written forms.

Observation Skills: Candidates must be able to observe a patient accurately, both at a distance and close at hand. This ability requires the functional use of vision and somatic sensation.

Motor Skills: Candidates should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion and other diagnostic techniques. A candidate should be able to execute movements reasonably required to move from area to area, maneuver in small places, calibrate and use large and small equipment, position and move patients, and provide patients with general care and emergency treatment.

Interpersonal Abilities: A candidate for the Physician Assistant program must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities required for the diagnosis and care of patients and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients, families and colleagues.

Clinical Experience

Clinical experience that includes direct patient care is strongly recommended for application and selection into the program; however, there is no requirement for a predetermined number of hours (or months) of health care experience to be earned by an applicant. Clinical experiences should provide the applicant with a knowledge of and orientation to the presentation, signs, and symptoms of a variety of ill or injured patients. Such experiences are evaluated on an individual basis with regard to time spent with physician assistants or physicians observing or caring for patients.

Procedure for Admission to the Associate of Science in Medical Assisting Program

Technical standards describe the physical abilities and behavioral characteristics required of students for full participation, and successful completion of the Medical Assisting program, as well as to function as a fully qualified medical assistant after graduation. Prospective Medical Assisting students should carefully look over these standards and determine if they have any limitations that may interfere with their ability to satisfy any of these requirements. The requisite standards include, but are not limited to:

Sensory

Medical Assisting students must be able to read charts, graphs, instrument scales and medication orders, prepare and maintain medical records, and use their senses of hearing and touch to recognize emergencies and to assess the patient’s physical condition.

Communication

The Medical Assisting student must be able to read and write effectively in order to transmit information to all members of the healthcare team. The student must also be able to assess nonverbal communication and respond appropriately.
Additional requirements include the ability to interview and record patient histories, provide patient care instructions, use correct telephone technique, collect, prioritize and convey information.

Fine Motor Skills

The Medical Assisting student must manifest all the fine motor skills necessary to safely and accurately use medical instruments and perform diagnostic and clinical procedures (e.g. obtaining the patient’s blood pressure, heart rate and temperature, drawing blood and administering non-intravenous injections). The student must be able to perform basic secretarial skills, including using a keyboard and the operation of common office equipment.

Gross Motor Skills

The Medical Assisting student must be able to support patients when ambulating, assist patients in and out of a wheelchair, and on and off an examination table. Students must be able to reach equipment and supplies, and respond appropriately to emergency situations in a timely manner.

Psychological Stability

The Medical Assisting student must demonstrate the ability to handle difficult interpersonal situations in a calm and tactful manner. The student must also be able to maintain a composed, competent, and confident demeanor during emergency situations.

Transfer of Credit Guidelines for the Associate of Science in Medical Assisting

For students in the Associate of Science in Medical Assisting degree program transfer of credit will not be accepted for the following courses:

• AHS2005 Clinical Competencies I 
• AHS2006 Clinical Competencies II 
• AHS2007 Clinical Laboratory Competencies 
• AHS2087 Medical Office Procedures 
• AHS2090 Medical Insurance and Coding 
• AHS2092 Computers in the Medical Office 

Transfer of credit will be accepted for AHS1001 Medical Terminology.

Procedure for Admission to the Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Students intending to enter the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program will be admitted to South University as candidates for the OTA program. Only after completing prerequisite coursework and achieving the requirements outlined below will students be admitted into advanced standing in the OTA Program. Students may transfer prerequisite courses into the program before entering advanced standing if approved by the OTA Program Director and the Registrar. Transfer credit will not be accepted for courses in the South University OTA Professional Phase Curriculum.

Note: This does not apply to South University OTA students (in good standing) transferring between campuses.

Admission Requirements for the Professional Phase

1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.85.
2. Minimum of 24 hours of observation, volunteer, or employment in at least one occupational therapy clinic, in at least two practice areas of occupational therapy (e.g., pediatrics, physical disabilities, mental health, geriatrics) attested to by an occupational therapist on the form provided.
3. Completion of the Self-assessment Inventory (available from the OTA Program Office).
4. Completed OTA Application Packet.

Ranking of applicants for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Ranking applicants for admission into the Occupational Therapy Assistant program will be done during the second quarter of coursework in general education requirements based on coursework taken in the first quarter. Ranking will be done comprised of the following five elements, listed in descending order of importance:

• Self-Assessment Inventory (SAI)
• Cumulative GPA for prerequisites (i.e., UVC1000Strategies for Success, AHS1001 Medical Terminology, PSY1001General Psychology, ENG1100 Composition I, BIO1012 Anatomy and Physiology I Lecture and BIO1012 ANatomy and Physiology I Lab, ENG1200 Composition II, MAT1001 College Algebra I or MAT1005 College Algebra II)
• ENG1100 English Composition I
• PSY1001 General Psychology
• AHS1001 Medical Terminology

Equal weight will be assigned to the cumulative GPA for prerequisite courses, ENG1100 English Composition I and PSY1001 General Psychology.

Additional requirements for admission into the OTA Program include the following:

1. Completion of the OTA Application, available from OTA faculty (or, on some campuses, the Receptionist)
2. Copies of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, including South University
3. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.85 on all prerequisite courses, which does not guarantee admission into the OTA Program
4. Completion of prerequisites courses, passing each course with a minimum grade of C
5. Understand that a felony conviction may affect ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure
6. Completion of a minimum of 24 hours of observation or volunteering in at least two occupational therapy practice areas, as documented on the approved form
7. Completion of the Self-Assessment Inventory
8. Signed the Acknowledgment of Risk and Release of Liability Form
9. Signed the Student Medical Insurance Verification Form and provided a copy of the front and back of student’s medical insurance card
10. Students must have initiated and/or completed a background check submitted through Certified Profile; The fee to the company is the responsibility of the student
11. Students must have initiated and/or completed a drug test, submitted through Certified Profile; The fee to the company is the responsibility of the student.
12. Students must have initiated and/or completed all required immunizations, submitting all original lab results and exams through Certified Profile. All fees are the responsibility of the student.
13. Provided documented proof of a physical exam. All fees are the responsibility of the student.
14. Completion of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers or have arranged for certification before the application deadline
15. Completed all requirements for Financial Aid (as applicable)
16. Notify the OTA Program if there are changes to student’s name, address, phone or email
17. Notify the OTA Program, when selected, of student’s decision to attend or not

Procedure for Admission to the Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant Program

Students intending to enter the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program will be admitted to South University as candidates for the Physical Therapist Assistant program. Only after completing prerequisite coursework and achieving the requirements outlined below will students be admitted into the technical phase of in the PTA program. Students may transfer prerequisite courses into the program before entering the technical phase if approved by the Program Director and the registrar.

Transfer credit will not be accepted for courses in the South University PTA Technical Phase Curriculum.

Note: This does not apply to South University PTA students (in good standing) transferring between campuses.

All applicants to the South University PTA program must submit standardized test scores using Accuplacer, SAT or ACT. For the University administered test, students must meet the general admissions standards for the Reading, Sentence Skills and Mathematics portions of the test. Applicants who require developmental coursework in English (ENG0099) based upon scores of the standardized tests will not be permitted to enroll in the PTA program even if they have taken coursework at another institution. Standardized test scores (Accuplacer) must not be older than five (5) years. Applicants who take, or have taken, standardized entrance tests at a site outside of South University campuses, must provide official test scores to the South University campus to which they are applying.

All applicants must satisfy technical standards for the PTA program in order to be admitted. Students who attempt to transfer into the South University PTA program must submit, in addition to the standard application for admission, official scores from acceptable standardized tests (SAT or ACT) or take the university’s Accuplacer entrance test. The coursework that is transferred to South University must permit the student to obtain a 2.85 CGPA by the time the student applies for admission into the PTA technical phase. Students who transfer coursework into South University, but cannot mathematically attain a CGPA of 2.85 by the time they would enter the technical phase, will not be admitted to the PTA program.

Students from South University who are in another major will be permitted to transfer into the general education phase of the PTA program if they achieve satisfactory scores on the Accuplacer, SAT or ACT for general admission at the time of original enrollment. Students requiring developmental course work in algebra (MAT0099) will be eligble for transfer to the program. Applicants must satisfy technical standards for the PTA program in order to be admitted.

Admission Requirements for the Technical Phase of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program

Students must apply for admission into the technical phase of the PTA program.

1. Application must be submitted seven (7) weeks before the start of the technical phase of the program.
2. Applicants must meet the Essential Functions and Technical Standards (listed in the application for admission and the program student handbook) of the program in order to enter the ranking process.
3. Background check - Applicants will not be permitted to enter the ranking process if they have been convicted of a felony, or any of the following disqualifying misdemeanors: 1) rape or sexual abuse or 2) molestation, abuse, endangerment, or neglect of a child, disabled person, or elderly person. The student is responsible for completing the background check at his/her own cost using the agency identified by the PTA Program Director. The student is responsible for providing the results of the background check to the PTA program at the time of application.
4. Drug test - The student is responsible for completing a drug test at his/her own cost using the agency identified by the PTA Program Director. The student is responsible for providing the results of the drug test to the PTA program at the time of application.
5. Students must complete an American Heart Association Basic Life Support /Cardiovascular Life Support (BLS CPR)  certification course and provide a copy of a valid card at the time of application. The card must remain valid throughout all clinical rotations
6. Students must submit proof of appropriate immunizations before participating in the ranking process.
7. Applicants must complete 25 hours of observation in a physical therapy setting documented by a licensed PT or PTA on the appropriate form provided in the admissions packet. The completed form must be submitted at the time of application.
8.  Ranking will be based upon:
   1. Cumulative GPA (based on required prerequisite courses) at the time of entry into the ranking process.
   2. Science GPA (required to score a B or higher in these courses; science coursework will not be accepted if greater than 7 years old).
      1. AHS1001 Medical Terminology
      2. BIO1011 Anatomy and Physiology I
      3. BIO1012 Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
      4. BIO1013 Anatomy and Physiology II
      5. BIO1014 Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
   3. ATI TEAS (score will not be accepted if greater than 5 years old)  A score of 59 or higher is preferred.  A total score below 59 will result in a lower score for this component.)
9. Students must achieve a 2.85 CGPA in prerequisite courseswork or greater at the time they enter the ranking process.
10. Repeating a course to achieve a higher grade is associated with penalty point deductions from the ranking score.
11. Students must successfully complete the general education phase of the program before entering the technical phase.
12. The number of students entering the technical phase will be determined by the Campus President in conjunction with the PTA Program Director and the ACCE/DCE.

Technical Standards for Physical Therapist Assistant Students

The following standards reflect expectations of a student in the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program for the performance of common physical therapy functions. In adopting these standards the PTA Program is mindful of the patient’s right to safe function in a broad variety of clinical situations while receiving physical therapy interventions. The PTA student must be able to apply the knowledge and skills necessary to function in a broad variety of clinical situations while administering physical therapy interventions. These standards do not encompass all that may be required for employment of the PTA Program graduate. In order to verify the students’ ability to perform these essential functions, students are required to demonstrate the following technical standards throughout the curriculum.

The faculty is the sole judge of a student’s ability to meet these standards through successful completion of the requirements of the program and individual courses.

1. Critical Thinking/Problem Solving Skills. Ability to collect, interpret and integrate information and use that information to make appropriate decisions.
2. Interpersonal Skills. Ability to collaboratively work with all PTA students and with program faculty and patients in the classroom, lab, and clinical setting.
3. Coping Skills. Ability to respond appropriately to stressful environments or during impending deadlines.
4. Communication Skills. Ability to communicate effectively in English using verbal, nonverbal and written formats with faculty, other students, patients, families, and healthcare workers.
5. Mobility/Motor Skills. Sufficient motor ability to execute the movement and skills required for safe and effective physical therapy treatment in various clinical settings.
6. Sensory Abilities. Sufficient visual, auditory, and tactile ability to monitor and assess health needs.
7. Behavioral Skills. Ability to demonstrate professional behaviors and a strong work ethic.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program fully supports the provision of reasonable accommodations to students with special needs. Program requirements will not be altered. Instead, it is the policy of South University to provide reasonable accommodations to students with special needs who request them so that they can meet the program requirements. It is the students’ responsibility to contact the Dean of Student Affairs with documentation to support their need for accommodations. Students are encouraged to contact the Dean of Student Affairs and/or Program Director as early as possible to discuss their particular situation.

Both Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C.A. Section 794, and the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibit discrimination against “otherwise qualified” persons with a disability. If an applicant can perform the Technical Standards listed above, he or she is “otherwise qualified” under the law and must be treated the same as a person without a disability. A person who cannot perform the Technical Standards is not “otherwise qualified” and may be denied access to the program without discrimination.

College of Nursing and Public Health

Procedure for Admission to the Doctor of Nursing Practice** Program

** South University, Online Program offerings may not be available to residents of all states.  Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

Admissions criteria for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program are consistent with those required in South University College of Nursing and Public Health’s advanced practice programs. The criteria used in determining admission to the Doctor of Nursing degree program include:

• Completion of an application for admission.
• Completion of a master’s degree in nursing (or be a pending graduate) from an acceptable accredited collegiate institution and a CGPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Official documentation of the actual number of verified clinical hours completed during the master’s program of study within 10 weeks after the initial start date. This requirement may come in the form of the credentialing documents used to verify the hours for certification examination or a statement from the graduate degree-granting institution verifying the actual number of hours completed during the master’s program.
• Completion of a three semester credit hour undergraduate or graduate course (or equivalent) in statistics with a grade of C (undergraduate)/B (graduate) or better within the last 7 years
• Completion of a three semester credit hour graduate nursing research course (or equivalent) with a grade of B or better.
• Submission of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended within 10 weeks after the initial start date.
• A valid unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the U.S. state or territory in which the student completes all assignments for the program. (Note that military, federal, and foreign educated nurses must meet this state requirement for nursing licensure).  An unencumbered license must be maintained throughout the program.
• Applicants for whom English is a Second Language (ESL) must submit a minimum paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 600 or the electronic-based score of 250 to be considered for the program.
• Meet Core Performance Standards for nursing professionals as described in the academic catalog.
• Interview with Chair/Program Director or designated faculty for campus based students.
• Submission of the following:
  • Three references using the appropriate appraisal form. At least two of the individuals submitting references should hold a doctoral degree in any field.
  • An essay (i.e. goal statement) explaining career goals, reasons for your choice of program electives, and reasons to pursue a doctor of nursing practice degree.
  • A resume or curriculum vitae describing relevant work, professional, and volunteer experiences.

Once all required admissions documents and information are submitted, the application will be reviewed and evaluated for an admission decision.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Transfer of Credit

1. Students may transfer up to four (4) courses.
2. Doctoral/Graduate credit earned at another institution is evaluated at the written request of the student by the program for an assessment of currency, equivalence and acceptability for transfer. 
3. Such request will include a course description and syllabus and must be received before the student matriculates into the program.
4. The courses must have been completed at an accredited college or university with an acceptable grade of B- or better.
5. The courses must be comparable in content to the South University course in all its requirements.
6. The majority of the credits toward the degree must be obtained at South University.
7. Due to the unique nature of the courses within the South University DNP program, transfer of credit is not accepted for the clinical courses (including field experiences and Capstone courses).  Students with documented clinical hours from previous graduate education programs may subtract those documented hours from the 1,000 hours of practice for a maximum of 640 hours.  A minimum of 360 hours must be completed within the DNP program of study.
8. Eligibility for course transfer credit is made by the Program Director/Chair. In cases of disputes regarding transferability of courses the final determination on the transferability of any particular course is made by the Dean of the College of Nursingand Public Heath.

Procedure for Admission to the Post Graduate Certificate Programs**

** South University, Online Program offerings may not be available to residents of all states.  Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

Consistent with the requirement for admission to the MSN program, the requirements for admission to the Post Graduate Certificate programs are as follows:

• Completion of the application for admission.
• An official transcript documenting the award of a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program with a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.
• Official transcripts from every college or university attended within 10 weeks of starting the program.
• Holds a valid and unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the state in which the student completes all assignments for the program. (Note that military, federal, and foreign educated nurses must meet this state requirement for nursing licensure). An unencumbered license must be maintained throughout the program.
• Submission of the following:
  • Three references using the Nursing Graduate School Appraisal Form. At least two of your references should hold a master’s degree in Nursing.
  • A resume describing relevant work, professional, and volunteer experiences.

Once all required admissions documents and information are submitted, the application will be reviewed and evaluated for an admission decision.

Procedure for Admission to Master of Science in Nursing Programs**

** South University, Online Program offerings may not be available to residents of all states.  Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

The criteria used in determining admission to the Master of Science in Nursing degree program include:

• Completion of the application for admission
• A baccalaureate degree in nursing (or be a pending graduate) from an accredited U.S. collegiate institution
• A CGPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 or at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester hours (or 90 quarter credits) undertaken.
• Completion of a three semester credit hour undergraduate course (or equivalent) in statistics with a grade of C or better.
• Completion of an undergraduate nursing research course or equivalent with a grade of C or better.
• Submission of official transcripts from every college or university attended within 10 weeks after the initial start date).
• A valid unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the US state or territory in which the student completes all assignments for the program. (Note that military, federal and foreign educated nurses must meet this state requirement for nursing licensure). An unencumbered license must be maintained throughout the program.
• Meet the Core Performance Standards and essential function related to the profession of nursing as described in this catalog.
• An interview with the Chair/Program Director or designated faculty for campus based students.
• Submission of the following:
• Three references using the Nursing Graduate School Appraisal Form. At least one of your references should hold a master’s or higher degree in nursing.
  • An essay (goal statement) of 1-2 pages (typed, double-spaced) explaining your career goals, reasons for your choice of specialization, and why you want to pursue an advanced degree in nursing.
  • A resume describing relevant work, professional, and volunteer experiences

Once all required admissions documents and information are submitted, the application will be reviewed and evaluated for an admission decision.

Provisional admission to the Master of Science in Nursing programs can be granted for any of the following:

• Completion of the statistics and nursing research requirement
• Final admission requires completion of the undergraduate statistics and undergraduate nursing research course with a grade of C or better.
• These courses can only be taken once.  There will be no appeal granted to provisional admission. 
• Failure to meet requirements of provisional admission results in dismissal from the graduate program

International Applicants

Students enrolled in the RN to BSN degree program, the RN to MSN degree program or the MSN degree program must have a valid unencumbered license  as a registered nurse in the US state or territory in which the student completes all assignments for the program.

Core Performance Standards

• Students must demonstrate essential functions related to the profession of nursing, including the ability to perform specific cognitive functions and psychomotor skills in order to work in the profession of nursing. Nursing students must possess the ability to perform all functions that are necessary components of the nursing program.
• Students must be able to reason, analyze, integrate, synthesize, and evaluate in the context of their nursing activities within each course in the program.
• Students must be able to communicate effectively orally and in writing, with faculty, other students, staff, and others relevant to their course of study.
• Expression of ideas and feelings must be clear and appropriate.
• Students must be able to maintain mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients, students, faculty, staff, and other professionals.
• Students must possess good emotional health consistent with the use of intellectual abilities and be able to employ sound judgment.
• Students must demonstrate a willingness and ability to give and receive criticism and positive feedback.
• Students must possess the ability to reason morally and practice nursing in an ethical manner.
• Students must not have any impairment that would preclude continuous performance of all of the above activities, or any and all other activities that are integral to the success of a nursing student.

Applicants with Disabilities

South University does not discriminate against any individual because of disability. Applicants must meet the requirements for core performance standards as printed below. Students with disabilities should consult with the Dean of Student Affairs, who coordinates disability services. To assist students in the determination of need for accommodations in admission and progression, the following Core Performance Standards are provided.  (Reprinted from the Southern Regional Educational Board Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing (SREB) website: http://www.sreb.org/publication/americans-disabilities-act:

• Critical Thinking: Students must demonstrate judgment in the clinical setting. Students must also be able to develop and utilize nursing care plans.
• The ability to effectively interact with clients and colleagues and maintain a professional demeanor in stressful and non-stressful situations.
• Communication skills: Students must demonstrate effective communication skills while interacting in the classroom, lab, or clinical settings.
• Motor skills: Students must demonstrate the physical ability to assess clients, perform technical skills involving gross and fine muscular movements and motor strength.
• Sensory Integrity: Students must be able to rely on their senses of sight, hearing, smell and touch to effectively assess and care for clients.

Procedure for Admission to the RN to Master of Science in Nursing** Degree Program

** South University, Online Program offerings may not be available to residents of all states.  Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

The criteria used in determining admission to the Master of Science in Nursing degree program include:

• Completion of the application for admission.
• An associate’s degree in nursing from an accredited collegiate institution, or a diploma in nursing from an accredited institution, with a minimum cumulative CGPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.
• Submission of official transcripts from every college or university attended within 10 weeks after the initial start date).
• A valid unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the US state or territory in which the student completes all assignments for the program. (Note that military, federal and foreign educated nurses must meet this state requirement for nursing licensure). An unencumbered license must be maintained throughout the program.
• Meet the Core Performance Standards and essential function related to the profession of nursing as described in this catalog
• An interview with Chair/Program Director or designated faculty for campus based students.
• Submission of the following:
  • Three references using the Nursing Graduate School Appraisal Form. At least one of your references should hold a master’s in Nursing or higher degree in nursing.
  • An essay (goal statement) of 1-2 pages (typed, double-spaced) explaining your career goals, reasons for your choice of specialization, and why you want to pursue an advanced degree in nursing.
  • A resume describing relevant work, professional, and volunteer experiences.

Once all required admissions documents and information are submitted, the application will be reviewed and evaluated for admission decision.

Provisional admission status is not available for the RN to Master of Science in Nursing degree program. Students not meeting admission requirements for the RN to Master of Science in Nursing program may be considered for the RN to BSN degree program and apply to the MSN degree program when the  admission requirements for the MSN degree program are met

Procedure for Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program

The criteria used in determining admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program include:

• Completion of the application for admission.
• Completion of 90 quarter hours (QH) of science and general education courses as required for admission to BSN degree program with a grade of C or better. Science courses are not accepted for transfer if they are older than 7 years at the time of application to South University.
• A cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale in the nursing pre-requisite courses
• A GPA of 2.5 or better in the following science courses or course sequences: BIO1011 Anatomy and Physiology I; BIO2070 Microbiology; CHM1010 General Chemistry; BIO2015 Human Pathophysiology
• A grade of “C” or better in all general education courses
• Entrance test results
• Completed application for admission to the BSN degree program form.
• Official transcripts from every college or university attended, including courses taken at South University. 
• Meet the Core Performance Standards and essential functions related to the profession of nursing as described in this catalog

Provisional admission may be granted if the student is completing prerequisites in the term before matriculation into the nursing program. On the day of matriculation to the nursing major all general education courses required for admission to the BSN program must be completed with  a CGPA of 2.5 or higher. Failure to meet requirements of provisional admission will result in rescinding the provisional admission status.

Procedure for Admission to the RN to BSN Program

The criteria used in determining admission to the RN to BSN degree program include:

• Completion of the application for admission.
• An associate’s degree in nursing from an accredited collegiate institution, or a diploma in nursing from an accredited institution, with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale.
• Submission of official transcripts from every college or university attended within 10 weeks after the initial start date).
• An unencumbered license as a registered nurse in the US state or territory in which the student completes all assignments for the program. (Note that military, federal and foreign educated nurses must meet this state requirement for nursing licensure).  An unencumbered license must be maintained throughout the program.
• Meet the CORE Performance Standards and essential function related to the profession of nursing as described in this catalog.
• All general education prerequisites must be completed before the student takes any professional nursing courses beyond the 3000 level.

Provisional admission may be granted for an overall GPA of 2.0 to 2.49 on a 4.0 scale. Final admission requires the completion of the first four courses with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in those four courses. Failure to meet requirements of provisional admission will result in rescinding the provisional admission status. There is no appeal for rescinding provisional status.

** South University, Online Program offerings may not be available to residents of all states.  Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

Acceptance into the Undergraduate Nursing Program

Upon acceptance into the Nursing Program, the student must submit:

• Acceptance fee (nonrefundable one -time fee) to business office for student enrolling in the BSN degree program. This fee will be applied to the student’s first quarter tuition payment. Students enrolling in the RN to BSN degree program are not required to pay the registration/acceptance fee.
• Completed current physical examination record with required immunizations, titers, lab results, and tuberculosis assessment.
• Comprehensive background check
• Urine Drug Screen
• Evidence of health insurance

Comprehensive Background Check

Nurses are entrusted with the health, safety and welfare of patients. The nursing curriculum contains a didactic and clinical component. Clinical facilities where student nurses practice are required by accreditation agencies to obtain background checks for security purposes on individuals that render patient care.

All students applying for the South University nursing program are required to obtain a criminal background investigation (Level 1 and/or Level 2) prior to starting the first day of class. Any student who fails to provide a background check prior to the first day of the term when their enrollment begins will be unregistered from class and will not be allowed to attend class until the background check is provided.   A student’s failure to provide a criminal background check prior to their start date will result in the following:

• Removal from class
• Cancellation of enrollment
• No final course grades
• No transcript

Students are responsible for the cost of the criminal background investigation. Certification of a clear criminal/background history is required to place students in clinical environments. A student whose investigation shows a felony conviction or findings/misdemeanors that constitute a significant breach of moral or ethical conduct cannot be cleared for clinical and thus will be withdrawn from consideration or if accepted must withdraw or cancel from the nursing program. During the nursing program, an enrolled student must notify the program director or clinical coordinator of a criminal conviction and/or of behaviors that constitute a significant breach of moral or ethical standards. Annual updates will be required during the program of study.  A felony conviction and/or behaviors/misdemeanor conviction that constitute a significant breach of moral or ethical standards will result in immediate dismissal from the nursing program. 

Acceptance into a South University educational program, or its completion, does not imply or guarantee that a student will be able to obtain such licensure or certification.

The Nursing Program Director may be required to submit written documentation regarding the student status to boards of nursing and clinical agencies as early as upon receipt of the student’s CON application. Students may be required to obtain additional background checks as requested by clinical agencies or boards of nursing.

Nursing Programs Transfer of Credit

BSN, RN to BSN, and RN to Master of Science in Nursing Degree** Program Guidelines

** This online program may not be available to residents of all states.  Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

1. General education courses may be accepted in the generic BSN, RN to BSN, and RN to Master of Science in Nursing Degree programs if the courses meet the requirements in the South University Transfer Credit policy in the South University Catalog.
   1. All arts and sciences coursework requested for transfer will be evaluated by the local registrar for equivalency with South University requirements.
   2. Course content must be equivalent and sufficient hours for award of transfer credit. The final determination on the transferability of any particular course is made by the Dean of the College of Nursing and Public Health.
   3. Any questions raised on appropriateness of equivalence will be directed to the appropriate college dean, program chair or program director for consultation.
2. For BSN (pre-licensure) students only, science courses are not accepted for transfer credit if they are older than seven years.
3. No nursing courses may be accepted for transfer credit in the generic BSN, RN to BSN, or RN to Master of Science in Nursing degree programs.
4. No graduate courses may be accepted for transfer credit in the RN to Master of Science in Nursing Degree program.
5. Eligibility for course transfer credit is made by the Program Director/Chair/  In cases of disputes regarding treansferability of courses, the final determination will be made by the Dean of the College of Nursing and Public Health.
6. The majority of the credits toward the degree must be obtained at South University.
7. Students applying to the RN to BSN degree program and the RN to MSN Program, who have earned an associate’s degree in nursing from an acceptable accredited institution, may receive up to 90 transfer of credits for the General Education and Foundation course requirements. For students to receive block transfer credit for General Education courses, they must meet the standards outlined in the General Education Transfer Credit policy.

MSN** Program Guidelines

** This online program may not be available to residents of all states.  Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

1. Graduate credit earned at another institution is evaluated at the written request of the student by the program director for an assessment of currency, equivalence and acceptability for transfer.
2. Such request should include a course description and syllabus and must be received before the student matriculates into the program.
3. The courses must have been completed at an accredited college or university with a grade of B or better.
4. The courses must have been completed within the five year period before the date of application.
5. The courses must be comparable in content to the South University course, including lab or clinical requirements.
6. Up to 4 courses (with a maximum of 16 quarter hours or 12 semester hours,) may be accepted toward the nursing graduate curriculum.
   1. A combination of core and specialization courses may be transferred up to the limits in #6 above, except that only 2 specialization courses may be transferred so that greater than 50 percent of the specialization coursework is completed at South University.
   2. Transfer credits are limited to the following courses in the graduate curriculum
      1. Core: NSG5000 Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse: Transformational Leadership in Advanced Practice; NSG5002 Advanced Theoretical Perspectives for Nursing; NSG5003 Advanced Pathophysiology; NSG6101 Nursing Research Methods 
      2. Specializations (limited to a maximum of 2 courses): NSG6005 Pharmacology; NSG6020 Advanced Health and Physical Assessment - must include 60 hours of clinical experience; NSG6003 Teaching and Learning Strategies in Nursing; NSG6102 Evaluation of Educational Outcomes in Nursing; NSG6103 Curriculum Design and Evaluation in Nursing Education 
7. NSG6001, NSG6002, NSG6999 and practicum courses are not eligible for transfer credit.

The majority of credits toward the degree must be obtained at South University.  The final determination on the transferability of any particular course is made by the Dean of the College of Nursing and Public Health.

Eligibility for course transfer credit is made by the Program Director/Chair/  In cases of disputes regarding treansferability of courses, the final determination will be made by the Dean of the College of Nursing and Public Health.

Procedure for Admission to the Master of Public Health Program

The criteria used in determining admissions to the Master of Public Health degree program include::

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.7 (on a scale of 4.0), OR
• Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, with minimum GRE scores (GRE scores may not be older than 5 years) in the 45th percentile for Verbal, and 32nd percentile for Quantitative, OR
• An earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Completion of a statistics course with a grade of C or better
• Completion of an application for admission.
• Submission of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended within 10 weeks after the initial start date.
• Applicants for whom English is a Second Language (ESL) must submit a minimum paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 600 or the electronic-based score of 250 to be considered for the program

Submission of the following:

• Submit an essay (goal statement) of 1-2 pages (typed, double-spaced) explaining your career goals and why you want to pursue an advanced degree in public health.
• A résumé describing relevant work, professional, and volunteer experiences.

Once all required admissions documents and information are submitted, the application will be reviewed and evaluated for admission decision.

Required Program Foundation Courses

The following undergraduate course must be completed with a grade of C or better at an accredited college or university and prior to enrollment into the Master of Public Health. Students accepted into the program without having completed this course must do so within two sessions of their acceptance date.

• Statistics (1 course)

Foundation undergraduate course credits do not count towards the total number of credits for graduation nor do they count in the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA); however, they do count in determining the maximum time frame (MTF) and the Incremental Completion Rate (ICR). Students enrolled in foundation undergraduate courses must successfully complete the course within their first three attempts or the student will be academically dismissed from the University.

Transfer of Credit

The majority of credits toward any graduate or post-graduate degree program must be earned at South University. Credit for transfer work will be given if the courses were taken at an acceptable accredited collegiate institution, the course is equivalent to courses offered at South University, and the course carries a grade of B or better. All transfer credit will be reviewed and approved by the College Dean or his/her designee. For the Master of Public Health program, a maximum of 12 quarter hours may be transferred for any course in the program, with the exception of the Practicum or Applied Research Proposal course requirements.

Transfer to Another South Campus

The student may only transfer to another campus while they are enrolled in didactic courses. Campus based students may not enroll in a practicum course on another campus or online, and online students may not enroll in a campus based practicum course without transfer to those campuses. Once the practicum course is begun, the student cannot transfer unless there are documented and approved mitigating circumstances.  If a transfer is approved at the time of the practicum, it may delay progress while a new practicum site and preceptor is identified and approved. 

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College of Theology

South University, Online Program offerings may not be available to residents of all states.  Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

Procedures for Admission to the Doctor of Ministry Program

The criteria used in determining admission to the doctoral program include:

• An earned undergraduate degree from an accepted accredited institution with a CGPA of 2.7 or better on a 4.0 scale OR
• An earned undergraduate degree from an accepted accredited institution with a CGPA of 2.7 or better on a 4.0 scale during the applicant’s last 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours earned on the bachelor’s degree and/or subsequent graduate work OR
• An earned graduate degree from an accepted accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.
• Interview with the Program Director/Chair or Dean of the College.
• Submission of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, with submission due within 10 weeks of initial start date.
• Applicants for whom English is a Second Language (ESL) must submit a minimum paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 or the electronic-based score of 79-80 to be considered for the program.
• Completion of an application for admission.
• Applicants who are not citizens of the United States should refer to the section in the South University catalog entitled International Student Admissions Policy.

Exceptions to the Minimum GPA

Applications with CGPA lower than the stated program minimum (2.7 for the bachelor’s degree and 3.0 for a graduate degree/coursework) may be considered for admission on the basis of evidence of academic and professional potential demonstrated by career and/or personal accomplishments indicated in a personal statement of academic and professional goals, a career resume or curriculum vita, and two letters of academic and/or professional recommendation.  The Program Director/Chair in consultation with the Dean of the College or designee must approve exceptions.

Students admitted on an exception basis will be admitted as regular students on provisional status for the first quarter of enrollment.  In order to remain enrolled after completion of the first quarter the student must achieve a CGPA of at least 3.0.

Transfer of Credit and Advanced Standing

Forty (40) credits of the Doctor of Ministry degree program must be earned at South University. Credit for transfer work and advanced standing will be given if the courses were taken at an accepted accredited institution, the course is equivalent to courses offered at South University, and the course carries a grade of “B” or better (a grade of B - is not acceptable). All transfer credit will be reviewed and approved by the Program Director/Chair or the Dean of the College or designee.  Students wishing to transfer credit from other graduate or postgraduate programs request a transcript evaluation to determine which courses may be transferred.

Advanced Standing Without Credit

Students who have completed a previous degree in Bible and/or theology at the undergraduate level may be eligible for up to 16 quarter credit hours of advanced standing without credit, meaning some program requirements may be considered fulfilled by previous coursework. Students complete the corresponding number of units with elective courses.  Students should request a transcript evaluation to determine which courses qualify the student for advanced standing without credit. Only courses with a grade of B- or better can be accepted.  The following courses may be waived:

• MIN7010 Biblical Interpretation
• MIN7011 Old Testament Context and Theology
• MIN7012 New Testament Context and Theology
• MIN7020 Theology Survey
• MIN7040 World Religions

Advanced Standing with Credit

Students who have completed course work at the graduate or postgraduate level may receive advanced standing with credit, meaning the total number of credit hours to complete is reduced. Students who have completed a Masters in Divinity (M.Div.) or its educational equivalent (M.A. in biblical, theological, and/or ministry studies with at least 108 quarter credit hours/72 semester credits) may qualify for the Advanced Track, which is the maximum allowable advanced standing of 56 quarter credit hours.  Only work completed at an accepted accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 can be considered in determining eligibility for the Advanced Track.

Transfer of Credit

Students who have completed an M.A. with less than 108 quarter credit hours (72 semester credits), or a non-theological masters or postgraduate degree, or who have some graduate level coursework totaling less than 108 quarter credit hours (72 semester credits) may transfer up to 56 quarter credit hours into the program, subject to the University’s transfer of credit policies.  The following courses may not be awarded transfer of credit:

• MIN7000 Learning Skills for Ministry
• MIN7060 Diversity in Ministry
• MIN7063 Conflict Mediation and Reconciliation
• MIN7500 Theology and Research in Ministry
• MIN8000 Dissertation I and MIN8010 Dissertation II OR MIN8001 Ministry Project I and MIN8011 Ministry Project II OR MIN8002 Supervisory Clinical Pastoral Education I and MIN8012 Supervisory Clinical Pastoral Education II

graduate level internship or practicum courses with a grade of P (or an eqivalent passing grade) may be accepted for transfer. 

Requests for advanced standing without credit and transfer of credit are handled on a case-by-case basis by the Registrar and approved by the Program Director and the Chair or the Dean of the College or designee. Only coursework completed at an accepted accredited institution can be considered for advanced standing and/or transfer of credit.

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School of Pharmacy

Procedure for Admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy Program

South University School of Pharmacy will accept only applications that are submitted through PharmCAS at: www.pharmcas.org.

Admission Cycle

Students are accepted into the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program once each June.

General Admission

For optimum consideration during an admissions cycle, prospective students are encouraged to submit a completed application to PharmCAS as early as possible. Direct applications to South University will not be processed.  Admission to the program is competitive and will be granted on a rolling basis for applications postmarked no later than February 1 of each year.

Admission Criteria

Consideration for admission will be based on the applicant’s potential for academic and professional achievement and an assessment of written and verbal communication skills, critical thinking skills, integrity, dedication, motivation, character and maturity. To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program a prospective student must:

1. Complete or be in the process of completing a minimum of two years of pre-pharmacy course requirements (65-67 semester hours) at an acceptable accredited collegiate institution. The student must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in each prerequisite course. All pre-pharmacy coursework presented in the table below must be completed before matriculation to Doctor of Pharmacy degree program on or before May 25th of the program entrance year.

Pre-pharmacy Requirements*

English Composition^a
3 sem. hrs.1 (1 sem. or 5-qtr. hrs.)

English Literature^b
3 sem. hrs.1 (1 sem. or 5-qtr. hrs.)

History or American Government
3 sem. hrs. (1 sem. or 5 qtr. hrs.)

Psychology
3 sem. hrs. (1 sem. or 5 qtr. hrs.)

Economics (Macro, micro or general)
3 sem. hrs. (1 sem. or 5 qtr hrs.)

Public Speaking
3 sem. hrs. (1 sem. or 5 qtr. hrs.)

Electives^c
9 sem. hrs. ( 3 sem. or 13.5 qtr. hrs.)

General Biology I^d
4 sem. hrs. 4 (1 sem. or 6 qtr. hrs.)

General Biology II^d
4 sem. hrs. 4 (1 sem. or 6 qtr. hrs.

General Chemistry I^d
4 sem. hrs. 4 (1 sem. or 6 qtr. hrs.)

General Chemistry II^d
4 sem. hrs. 4 (1 sem. or 6 qtr. hrs.)

Organic Chemistry I^d
4 sem. hrs. 4 (1 sem. or 6 qtr. hrs.)

Organic Chemistry II^d
4 sem. hrs. 4 (1 sem. or 6 qtr. hrs.)

Human Anatomy/Physiology I^e
4 sem hrs. 5 (1 sem or 6 qtr. hrs.)

Human Anatomy/Physiology II^e
4 sem hrs. 5 (1 sem or 6 qtr. hrs.)

Physics I^e
3 sem. hrs. 5 (1 sem. or 5 qtr. hrs.)

Calculus I
3 sem. hrs. (1 sem. or 5 qtr. hrs.)

1. One English Composition course is required.
2. English, American or World Literature. A second English Composition course may be accepted at the discretion of the Assistant Dean for Admissions of the School of Pharmacy.
3. A minimum of three semester hours should be in the humanities and the remainder should be in the social sciences, arts, or humanities.
4. These courses will include a live laboratory. Students with science courses taken greater than 7 years prior to the entrance date will be required to retake one modern Biology course and one modern Chemistry course to meet the prerequisite requirements.
5. For these courses a lab component is not required and appropriate three credit hour courses in Human Anatomy and Physiology that do not have a lab component will be accepted.

Notes:

• It is recommended that the student take two science courses and at least five courses (a minimum of 17 semester hours of credit) each semester to ensure appropriate preparation for the academic challenge of the School of Pharmacy.
• Course substitutions may be considered at the discretion of the Assistant Dean for Admissions of the School of Pharmacy. 

2. Earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.80 on a 4.0 scale. (A science GPA of 3.0 or better is recommended.)
3. Submit a completed Pharmacy application through www.pharmcas.org.
4. Submit a minimum of two letters of recommendation directly to PharmCas; however, three letters are preferred.
5. Demonstrate the oral and written communication skills required to interact with patients and professional colleagues, and expected of a professional doctoral level student.
6. Complete the South University School of Pharmacy’s on campus personal interview with members of the Faculty and the Admissions Committee (by invitation only).
7. Provide directly to PharmCAS all transcripts. Transcripts for all college coursework must be submitted since academic performance for all college coursework undertaken by the student will be evaluated.
8. International students: This program is not currently available for international students requiring Student Visa (F-1) Status. All prerequisite coursework must be completed in the U.S. at an accredited institution.
9. Applications mailed directly to South University will not be accepted. Admissions decisions for students admitted to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program shall be based on a broad range of considerations, including academic and nonacademic factors. Academic factors will include the performance of applicants in their previous educational experiences. Non-academic factors include information presented through letters of recommendation, and information provided by applicants through personal interviews with the admissions staff and faculty. Such factors as motivation, commitment to service, knowledge of the pharmacy profession, communication skills, and perceived potential are considered in the admissions decision-making process.

Exceptions to the Minimum CGPA

Applicants with CGPAs lower than the stated program minimum may be considered for admission with significant evidence of academic and professional potential demonstrated by the career and/or personal accomplishments indicated in the career résumé (including a personal statement of academic and professional goals), and academic or professional letters of recommendation. Exceptions must be recommended by the School of Pharmacy Assistant Dean for Admissions, Chair of the Admissions Committee, or School Dean.

Technical Standards for Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Program Admission

The educational mission of the South University School of Pharmacy is to prepare pharmacists for life-long learning in the practice of collaborative patient-centered care, and promote excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. Students admitted to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program must also meet the technical standards for admissions. These technical standards outline the essential functions that candidates for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree must be able to perform. These essential functions reside in the following categories: Observation, Communication, Sensory/Motor, Intellectual, and Behavior/Social. However, it is recognized that degrees of ability vary among individuals. The South University School of Pharmacy is committed to supporting its students by any reasonable means to complete the course of study leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

• Observation: A candidate must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences, including, but not limited to, physiological and pharmacological demonstrations in animals, evaluation of microbiological cultures, and microscopic studies of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathological states. A candidate must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand. In detail, observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and other sensory modalities.
• Communication: A candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients. The focus of this communication is to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and perceive nonverbal communication. Communication includes speech, reading, writing, and computer literacy. A candidate must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written forms with all members of the healthcare team in a timely manner.
• Sensory/Motor: A candidate must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by physically touching patients, e.g. assessing range of motion of a joint, taking blood pressure readings, taking a pulse reading. A candidate must be able to execute motor movements to provide general care and emergency treatments to patients, e.g. first aid treatments, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A candidate must be able to execute motor movements required in the compounding of medications inclusive of using techniques for preparing sterile solutions, e.g., parenteral or ophthalmic solutions. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.
• Intellectual (Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities): A candidate must have the ability to measure, calculate, reason, and analyze. A candidate must be able to synthesize and apply complex information in a timely manner. A candidate must be fully alert and attentive at all times in clinical settings.
• Behavioral/Social Attributes: A candidate must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the interaction with patients. A candidate must possess the ability to develop mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients. A candidate must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. A candidate must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. A candidate must possess compassion, integrity, interpersonal skills, and motivation to excel in pharmacy practice.

Requirements for Matriculation Applicants who have been accepted into the Doctor of Pharmacy program must fulfill the following before they can officially enter the program:

• Remit the $1,000 acceptance feeby the date designated in the acceptance agreement. The entire acceptance fee is credited to the first quarter’s tuition.
• Submit a college transcript after each term completed following acceptance.
• Submit self-certification of high school graduation or GED completion.
• Submit proof of immunization or for immunity to Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR), Varicella (Chickenpox), Tetanus/Diphtheria, and Hepatitis B. In addition, students must complete the annual Tuberculin Test (PPD). An Immunization Clearance Form provided as part of the acceptance package must be completed and returned along with other immunization documentation.
• Present a Basic Adult Life Support certificate.
• Submit proof of medical insurance coverage.
• Satisfactorily complete a Background check.
• Complete additional coursework if required by the Admissions Committee and submit additional documents as requested by the Office of Admissions.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in forfeiture of your acceptance.

Laptop Computer Requirement

Laptop computers are required for use in the multimedia classroom. All students are required to have a laptop computer with Internet access and CD Rom which meets university specifications. Purchase of a new laptop is not recommended until just before matriculation into the program so that performance vs. cost can be optimized. Students may buy any laptop that meets the minimum computer specifications which are set by the school in the spring of each year.