Academic Programs

Faculty members and the staff of LaGrange College implement curricular and co-curricular programs that contribute to the fulfillment of the mission of the College and the quest for civility, diversity, service, and excellence. Undergirding all the academic programs at LaGrange College is a fundamental commitment to the liberal arts. The underlying philosophy of liberal learning is found in all parts of the curriculum of the college but is most obvious in the structure of the Ethos curriculum, which serves as the foundation of the academic experience at the college. Baccalaureate majors share Ethos, which represents approximately forty percent of a student’s formal study at the college. Specific courses within Ethos are designed to integrate knowledge from diverse disciplines.

Within an ethical and caring community, the total LaGrange College program is designed to challenge and support students in their search for truth. This program is centered around the liberal arts curriculum ,which provides engagement in a breadth of scholarly disciplines and a foundation for a lifetime of learning. Because of this orientation, students are given opportunities to interpret and evaluate the influence of historical, cultural, artistic , mathematical, scientific, and religious developments. They are exposed to the modes of creative expression and participate in activities that foster intellectual curiosity.Through a series of experiences allowing examination of issues involving ethical reasoning, global awareness, diversity, sustainability, personal wellness, and civic knowledge and service, students have an opportunity to reflect upon and consider their place in the world and to become successful, responsible citizens who aspire to lives of integrity and moral courage.

The curriculum of LaGrange College is designed to improve students’ creative, critical, and communicative, and connective abilities, as evidenced by the following outcomes:

  • Students will demonstrate creativity by approaching complex problems with innovation and from diverse perspectives.
  • Students will demonstrate critical thinking by acquiring, interpreting, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reason out conclusions appropriately. 
  • Students will demonstrate proficiency in communication skills that are applicable to any field of study.
  • Students will demonstrate connectivity between the Ethos curriculum and their major coursework.

 

Ethos Curriculum

To learn more about LaGrange College's recent general education curriculum, access the Ethos catalog page.

 

Global Engagement

The LaGrange College Mission Statement emphasizes that the institution, in its focus on the liberal arts, the Wesleyan tradition of truth-seeking, and the preparation of students for professional success and responsible citizenship, will provide an educational experience that contributes to the formation of graduates who are not only capable of encountering difference, in people and in cultures, but also eager to be significant contributors to a complex world.  Faculty and staff are committed to providing many opportunities for students to develop the necessary skills for informed thought and responsible decision-making. It follows naturally from this sense of mission and purpose that the college should foster the development of characteristics of globally engaged students who will one day be knowledgeable, involved citizens of the world.

The Study-Away program encourages students to participate in learning opportunities in other settings, both domestic and international. Students may do this through semester or academic year long programs or short-term, faculty-led study away courses which are offered during January in the Interim Term and during May in the May Away Term. There are specific application and enrollment periods for study away courses and programs which will operate during the upcoming academic year. Information on the application process and programs can be obtained through the Office of Global Engagement. All students who are interested in full-term Study Abroad should begin the process at least a year in advance by requesting approval from the Office of Global Engagement.  

A major commitment of the college is to provide all students with greater access for study-away opportunities.   A significant component of this commitment is the undergraduate student travel voucher program, whereby eligible students receive direct financial support of up to $2500 to participate in a for credit international or domestic study-away experience sponsored or approved by the college. The eligible student will have entered LaGrange College as a first-time, first-year student, remained continuously enrolled at the college, have attained at least junior (60 semester hours) status by the award date of the voucher, and be in good standing. The voucher may be used during the junior or senior year.

The May Away Program

May Away, an academic study away-only term, features a three-semester-hour study away course which requires 120 hours of student engagement. Pre-departure and course preparation will likely begin during the preceding spring semester, with a sufficient number of faculty/student hours to fully prepare students for the travel component. This preparation may include on-campus and on-line sessions. Even though students will begin coursework, the official start of the May Away term is the day after the last scheduled final exam day for spring semester. Graduating seniors may enroll in a May Away course. These seniors will be able to walk for graduation, but will not receive their degree until the following May after successfully completing the May Away course. Graduating seniors will have to file a graduation petition and a pre-completion request with the VPAA.

The travel component of May Away will begin within a few days after graduation; no on-campus housing will be provided for May Away students (faculty and students will meet at the airport or another pre-arranged place). Students eligible for May Away free tuition will be those who are full time students in the preceding spring semester. Exceptions would be those students who have already used the annual allotment for the January Interim term because of their full time status the preceding fall semester and are therefore not eligible for free tuition in May. Students are able to take advantage of the free tuition only one time during an academic year. Travel vouchers and transfer student travel scholarships may be used for May Away courses.

A student may take both a January Interim term course and a May Away course during the same academic year. May Away courses count toward the required total number of Interim courses for graduation. May Away courses will follow the same calendar path as study away courses taught during the January Interim term. These new courses are available for student application beginning in February for the upcoming academic year. In this way, all faculty-led study away courses (January and May) are offered to the current year’s students at one time.

Online Learning

Online learning at LaGrange College is an initiative that enjoys campus-wide support and participation. To remain true to the ideals of an ethical and caring community, the college focuses on improving the lives of students by continuing to offer rigorous coursework than can be taken with more consideration for their responsibilities and obligations.

Courses are offered through a variety of techniques which employ varying levels of digital delivery:

  • Hybrid courses – These courses uses a decreased number of classroom sessions and an increased amount of digital delivery of content. The classes typically replace between twenty and eighty percent of all physical meetings with electronically delivered content. Success in a hybrid course requires that students are sufficiently motivated and benefit from strong instructor guidance. Dates of required class attendance are clearly noted on the syllabus.
  • Flipped courses - This style entrusts most student learning to take place outside of the classroom but utilizes the scheduled class meetings to clarify concepts through application of the content.  Best practices for this delivery include the use of low-stakes assignments to enforce the learning of the assigned content before coming to the mechanics-focused class times.
  • Synchronously distributed courses – The instructor meets in a regularly scheduled, primary classroom along with students and also have simultaneously scheduled satellite classrooms where synchronous, web-/telecom-based interaction transpires with remote students.
  • Primarily online courses – These courses are characterized by a minimum of eighty percent of all content being delivered electronically. However, these courses may also require a very small quantity of person, synchronous meetings (classroom and off-campus). Dates of required attendance are clearly marked on the syllabus.
  • Fully online courses – These courses have no required content-driven meetings and thereby eliminate location as a limiting factor for enrollment.

Students in online courses of any type may be required to take exams which are administered and proctored by a trusted, outside source. In some courses, there may be occasional required synchronous class sessions and additional, non-required help sessions, all of which would be available to students via the internet. Instructors will hold office hours in physical (office) locations and also through a digital presence.

Students enrolling in primarily or fully online, synchronously distributed, or hybrid courses at LaGrange College are responsible for meeting all college and course prerequisites, locating and obtaining privileges to use accepted testing centers (as needed), acquiring access to modern computing tools (computer, microphones, webcams, etc.) and broadband internet, addressing any fees specific to scheduled courses or programs, and maintaining skills necessary to properly operate instructional technologies. Students with questions or concerns should contact the course instructor for clarification of any prerequisites and conditions.

For detailed information on the institutional and legal protection of students who are enrolled in distance courses at LaGrange College, please reference the Protection of Students Enrolled in Distance Education Courses policy.

The Major Programs

A major is defined as a primary program of study in which the student completes a designated number and sequence of courses within a specific discipline or subject area. A major may or may not offer concentrations for focused coursework within the major.

A student may choose to pursue one (1) of five (5) baccalaureate degrees: the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, the Bachelor of Science, the Bachelor of Music, or the Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Associate of Science

Mathematics

Bachelor of Arts
Art and Design Mathematics
Biochemistry Music
Biology Musical Theatre
Education Studies Political Science
Elementary Education Psychological Science
English Writing and Publication Studies Religion and Philosophy
Film and Media Arts Sociology
General Studies Theatre Arts
History
Bachelor of Business Administration

The Bachelor of Business Administration is offered with concentrations in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and Sports Management 

Bachelor of Science
Accountancy Exercise Science
Biochemistry Mathematics
Biology
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Music

The Bachelor of Music in Composition and Music Technologies is offered.

 

Majors and Concentrations

A major is a structured plan of study requiring a minimum of 30 credit hours, of which the lesser of 21 and half of the credit hours specified for the major must be earned at or above the 3000-level. It must be feasible for students to complete degree requirements within 120 credit hours (unless exempted as part of the standard proposal/change process).

LaGrange College majors must include a senior capstone experience at the 4000-level.  Exceptions to this practice include the B.A. in General Studies and any dual-degree programs where students transfer to other institutions to complete the program. 

A concentration is a structured plan of study, dependent upon previously defined coursework, within a major. The number of credit hours for a concentration varies, but count toward the number of credit hours for the major.

The declared major(s) and concentration(s) of a student appears on their official transcript as the degree(s) earned.

Major Requirements: Time Restrictions

Coursework requirements in major programs necessarily change in response to evolving curriculum concerns and changing student needs. Students' major requirements are governed by the Bulletin in force at the time of the declaration of the major. The declaration of major is initiated with the Registrar’s Office and the chair of the respective department.

At the discretion of the department chair, students may be required to demonstrate proficiency and/or currency in the subject matter if the major coursework is older than five (5) academic years. Normally, credit hours earned in the major may not be applied to the completion of the major if the hours earned are older than eight (8) years, dated from the student's initial matriculation. Students who have been out of school longer than two (2) years must again declare their majors.

Independent Study in the Major

In certain majors, independent study courses are offered. These courses are limited to upper-class major and minor students who have completed at least two-thirds of their particular major or minor program, and who wish to pursue a special problem or course of reading beyond that taken up in any formal course and lying within the capabilities of the library and laboratories. In order to be eligible for independent study, the student must have at least a 3.0 average in major courses. Total credit which can be earned through independent study normally will not be more than six (6) semester hours. Written permission to enroll in such a course must be obtained from the instructor, the chair of the department concerned, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). A descriptive syllabus (including the method of evaluation) must be submitted with the petition.

Advice and Counseling in the Major

All students are assigned an academic advisor. Prior to the declaration of a major, a student is advised by her/his Cornerstone instructor and by a member of the faculty in a discipline related to the student’s area of interest. Subsequent to declaring a major, the student and program coordinator of that major work together in planning a program. Selecting the proper courses in order to complete the desired degree is the responsibility of the student.

Minors

Academic minors may be earned in most programs. A minor must include at least 12 semester hours, 6 of which must be in 3000-level or above courses. Some programs do not designate the courses required for the minor, but the courses selected must be approved by the coordinator of the program. 

Certificates

An academic certificate at LaGrange College is a collection of courses and/or institutionally-administered educational experiences offered to create a specialized area of study with distinct educational or occupational outcomes.

An academic certificate at LaGrange College is to be 12-17 prescribed undergraduate or graduate course credit hours offered by a LaGrange College academic department or at the intersection of multiple departments (with one department typically taking the lead).  Course transfers can count toward this total number of credit hours (up to one half of the certificate credit hours). Departments may choose to set minimum standards for student receipt of their certificate (e.g., a 2.5 minimum GPA).

Certificates are not degrees and do not require completion of the general education curriculum. However, courses in the General Education curriculum may be a component of the certificate provided that it continues to meet all requirements. For each offered certificate, the managing department should enforce all necessary prerequisite skills and courses, preserve the rigor and quality of offered courses, and continue to bestow the respect befitting a LaGrange College education. 


Majors, Minors, Concentrations, and Programs Offered at LaGrange College
 Major    Minor
Accountancy X X
Applied Finance X
Art and Design (B.A.) X X
Biology(B.A. or B.S.) X X
Biochemistry (B.A. or B.S.) X
Business (B.B.A.) X X
Chemistry X
Coaching X
Composition & Music Technologies (B.M.) X
Criminology X
Data Science X
Education Studies X
Elementary Education X
English Writing and Publication Studies X X
Entrepreneurship X
Exercise Science X X
Film and Media Arts X
History X X
International Business X
Marketing Design X
Mathematics (A.S., B.A., or B.S.) X X
Music X X
Music Technology X
Musical Theater X
Nursing X
Political Science X X
Psychological Science X X
Religion and Philosophy X X
Servant Scholar X
Sociology X X
Spanish X
Sports Management X
Teaching X
Theatre Arts X X
Internship

Offered by several major programs, these opportunities allow students to gain added applied experience and insight in approved off-campus settings. Internships (termed Shadowing in some disciplines) consist of a minimum of 120 hours (per 3 credits) of work. Assignments in addition to off-campus work may include selected readings, public presentation, and a final portfolio containing essays, weekly journal, and supporting material. The internship should first be discussed with the student’s advisor and the Career Development Center, which will provide placement. The application process is unique to each facility.  

All students registering for an academic internship in an allied health field will be charged a $25 fee to provide them comprehensive liability insurance coverage. This fee will be included as part of the student bill. Students cannot begin an internship and no credit hours will be issued until the fee is paid.

Teaching Fellows Program

The Teaching Fellows Program allows faculty members to offer highly-qualified students opportunities to learn by sharing in the instructional responsibilities for particular courses. Students enrolled in the courses will have the added benefit of additional academic support.

The Teaching Fellow is given a sphere of responsibility so that learning and teaching can be experienced as two aspects of the program. The student’s role differs from that of teaching assistants utilized by many colleges and universities. Here the faculty sponsor is as involved as ever in all aspects of the course. Involvement of a student in teaching/learning participation in a particular course happens only if the faculty sponsor feels that definite benefit to both the student and the course will result.

The Teaching Fellows Program is voluntary with each faculty member determining which of his or her courses, if any, are appropriate for such individual studies in teaching/learning. The type of responsibilities and extent of involvement of the student will vary depending on the course and faculty sponsor. It may not be counted as a substitute for any of the undergraduate teacher education requirements.

Students may be approached by faculty members to serve as a Teaching Fellow or may initiate the process with approval from a sponsoring faculty member along with other required signatures. This experience should be reserved for those select few students who have demonstrated appropriate characteristics and academic excellence.

Students must be in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have attained at least junior status to serve as Teaching Fellows. Additionally, students must have successfully completed the course for which they will be serving as a Teaching Fellow. Students may earn 0-3 semester hours of credit for this experience. The experience may be repeated; a new proposal must be submitted and approved for each experience. Evaluation will be awarded on a pass/no credit basis only.

A student enrolled as a Teaching Fellow will engage in activities to fulfill 40 hours of academic endeavors per hour of credit earned in and out of the classroom. Appropriate activities may include, but are not limited to, some combination of the following: setting up and/or assisting with teaching laboratories, assisting the faculty sponsor in assessing or revising a course, developing in-class activities and oral presentations, leading or facilitating class discussions, and preparing and delivering lectures. The following policies apply to teaching experiences:

  1. The Teaching Fellows Agreement form shall be prepared by the faculty sponsor and the candidate Teaching Fellow, outlining expectations for both the student and faculty sponsor. A detailed syllabus must be attached.
  2. This statement shall be signed by the student, faculty sponsor, department chair, Academic Council, and VPAA and held on file by the faculty sponsor. A copy will be given to the student to keep.
  3. Students earning this credit shall be designated “Teaching Fellows.”
  4. Teaching Fellows’ experiences shall be evaluated only as pass/no credit.
  5. Should the participation in the “Teaching Fellows” program cause the student’s credit hour load to exceed 16 credit hours for the semester enrolled, the additional tuition cost will be waived for those hours in excess of 16.
  6. Teaching Fellows will not prepare exams or assignments and will not grade student work.
  7. Students who serve as Teaching Fellows and faculty members participating as mentors for the first time shall attend an orientation session to review the need for confidentiality, sign a confidentiality statement, and discuss other pertinent college policies.
  8. Faculty participation in the Teaching Fellows Program is voluntary and will not be considered as part of the faculty load.
  9. Each Teaching Fellow, sponsoring faculty member, and all students enrolled in the courses will evaluate the effectiveness of the program (separate from the evaluation of the teaching fellow by the sponsoring faculty) at the end of the semester, using the evaluation form developed specifically for the Teaching Fellows Program.
  10. A student shall be limited to earning no more than 6 semester hours of academic credit for serving as an assistant to faculty members. Currently these opportunities include TCHA 4001, 4010, 4492, and INTM 4010.
  11. Credit will be given only for teaching assistant experiences through the TCHA series of courses (TCHA 4010, Teaching Fellow; TCHA 4001, Cornerstone Teaching Assistant ; TCHA 4492, On-Campus Tutoring Internship), and INTM 4010, Service Learning Teaching Assistantship.
  12. A review for Honor Code or Social Code violation is at the discretion of the VPAA or his/her designee.
Graduate Programs

LaGrange College also offers graduate programs. In these programs, students may complete the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, the Master of Arts in Teaching, the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, and the Specialist in Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Please refer to the appropriate sections of the LaGrange College Bulletin for more information about these programs.

Academic Program Resources

The following academic resources are available to all students regardless of program of study (undergraduate or graduate), the delivery of that program (traditional or online), and nature of enrollment (degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking).

Tutoring Center

The LaGrange College Tutoring Center serves LaGrange College students who could benefit from additional help in many general education courses through peer tutoring. The tutors have been nominated by professors in their respective disciplines, typically including Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Psychology, Accounting, Spanish, Statistics, and in other fields as the needs arise.

Located in the Moshell Tutoring Lab, adjacent to the 24-hour study area on the main floor of the Lewis Library, the walk-in hours are in the evenings during traditional spring and fall semesters. Students may also schedule appointments through the Tutoring Center website or by e-mailing Dr. Stacey Ernstberger, the director of the Tutoring Center.

Although the tutorials are typically held in person, the tutors can also meet with students virtually. The tutoring schedule is available on the Tutoring Center website.

Writing Center

The LaGrange College Writing Center gives writers of all levels, in all disciplines, at any stage of the writing process a space to explore the potential of their ideas. The peer consultants in the Writing Center endeavor to ensure each student's writing is focused, organized, and supported with sufficient content. Students are encouraged to visit with all of their writing from any class, specifically the early drafts.

For the fall semester, the Writing Center will be conducting consultations virtually. Scheduling information is updated regularly and distributed to LaGrange College student email accounts. 

Any questions may be sent to Dr. Justin Thurman, director of the LaGrange College Writing Center, at   jthurman@lagrange.edu.

Pace - Panther Academic Center for Excellence

Located on the 1 st  floor of the Callaway Academic Building, PACE offers a variety of collaborative academic support services aimed at promoting academic success, student retention, and degree completion. PACE serves all LaGrange College’s faculty and currently enrolled students, with the following initiatives:

Faculty Led Study Halls

First-Year Experience Activities

Academic Coaching

Faculty Development Events

Testing Center for Students Needing Accommodations

 

PACE is open Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00pm with some evening events as well. More information regarding services in PACE can be found by e-mailing PACE@lagrange.edu .

 
The Frank and Laura Lewis Library

The library’s resources support the curriculum and general information needs of students, faculty, and staff. The library houses approximately 80,000 print resources including an extensive reference collection, and a large DVD and CD collection. The library provides virtual access to over 500,000 eBooks, 325 databases including ERIC, SPORTDiscus, JSTOR, JOVE, PsycArticles, MathSciNet, ATLAS Religion Database, CINAHL, Credo, Access World News, and many more. In addition to research resources, the Library houses individual and group study rooms, an auditorium, a multi-media classroom, a makerspace, a collaborative study floor, and research study carrels. In addition, the Library is home to the Suber Archives and Special Collections; Moshell Learning Center, a 24-hour space for individual and group study; the Panther Cafe; and the Moshell Tutoring Lab.

The library provides many services to the students, faculty, and staff including one-on-one and course-specific library instruction, chat reference, book recommendations, and research workshops. The library staff is service oriented and ready to assist students, faculty, and staff with all their library needs.

Endowed Lectureships

The Jennie Lee Epps Memorial Lectureship was revived in 1997 by a gift from Dr. Grace Hadaway Boswell '49 and her husband, Dr. R. Dean Boswell. Ms. Kate Howard Cross, professor of Latin, donated the originating gift for the Epps Lecture in memory of her friend and colleague, who was a professor of English for 28 years. The lecture is usually delivered toward the end of the Spring semester.

The Waights G. Henry, Jr., Endowed Lectureship was established by a gift from the Neighbors Fund, Inc. in memory of Dr. Henry, president and chancellor of LaGrange College for a period of 42 years. Income from the endowment is used to fund the Waights G. Henry, Jr., lecture.

Each Fall at the Opening Convocation, the Arthur H. Thompson Lectureship sponsors an award-winning faculty member to address the college community. The endowment was established by Ms. Mary Will Thompson, Class of 1898, in memory of her husband, who served as chair of the Board of Trustees of the College. He expressed his philosophy in this statement: "The greatest thing in life is the simple faith of an honest man."