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Alternative Credit Programs

Belmont International Studies Abroad

Through a wide variety of Studies Abroad Programs, Belmont offers students the opportunity to broaden and deepen their education while earning credit hours toward their degrees. These programs, which range in duration from two weeks to a full year, can be taken for core, major, and/or elective credit at the undergraduate and graduate level. Hours earned in these programs are not affected by transfer and off-campus credit hour restrictions. All such programs qualify for financial aid for eligible students; scholarship money is also available for a limited number of students yearly. See http://www.belmont.edu/catalog/undergrad2004/int.htm for more details.

Belmont West

Belmont offers students the opportunity to broaden their education while earning credit hours toward their degree. Juniors and seniors may apply for the Belmont West program which allows students to gain access to job opportunities in the Los Angeles area. In the fall, students are selected on a competitive basis for the following spring semester. Students will take a full course load while interning in the entertainment industry. Although this program is administered by the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, it is open to all Belmont University students who have successfully completed MBU 1110, Survey of Music Business and MBU 1380, Survey of Recording Technology.

Honors Program

The Honors Program at Belmont University was created to provide an enrichment opportunity for students who have potential for superior academic performance, and who seek added challenge and breadth in their studies. The program is designed to allow students to advance as fast as their ability permits, and yet to encourage in their study a range and depth of learning in keeping with the faculty’s expectations of excellence for Honors students.

Students are offered a creative curriculum, flexibility and individualization in the formation of their degree plans, the collegiality of like-minded and equally dedicated peers, and academic and personal support from a private tutor, who is also a distinguished honors faculty member.

Participation in the Honors Program supplements, but does not replace, a baccalaureate major. The Honors Program has an alternative General Education Curriculum core which substitutes for the regular B.A.; B.B.A; B.F.A.; B.M.; B.S.; B.S.N.; or B.S.W. General Education core shown elsewhere in the catalog.

The Honors Program is administered by the Honors Council composed of one Honors faculty member from each of the university’s colleges, the Director of the Honors Program, and one student representative from each Honors Program class.

Washington Center Program

Belmont University affiliates with The Washington Center, a Washington, D.C. organization that provides academic and intern programs to students across the United States. Participants spend a semester in our nation’s capital working with governmental agencies, corporations, the media, or other uniquely Washington organizations for academic credits. Intern possibilities exist for students from generally any academic background. While in the program, participants perform intern responsibilities and attend seminars/lectures taught or presented by representatives of major governmental agencies, interest groups, media, and corporations.

To be considered for participation in this program, a student must possess a grade point average of at least 2.5 and junior or senior standing. All applications must be approved by the department granting credits and the university’s campus liaison. Each department decides whether it wishes to participate in the program and also determines the amount and type of credit it will grant. Any student attending these internships shall be considered a full-time Belmont student and will be responsible for tuition charges accordingly. However, since program fees are paid by the university, the total cost of the program to students may be comparable to a normal semester as a Belmont resident.

Students who successfully complete the fall or spring semester internship programs shall receive twelve (12) hours or credit from Belmont University. Students who complete the summer term shall be granted nine (9) hours of credit. Departments who participate in the program shall be responsible for determining how many of these hours may apply toward a major or minor in that particular program. Hours above this number up to the nine or twelve hours shall be granted as PSC 2010 which will count only as general elective hours. Major/minor hours shall be evaluated by the specific department’s representative. PSC 2010 hours will be evaluated by the campus liaison. All hours will be evaluated on a “Pass/Fail” basis, unless the department pre-approves an alternative method. PSC 2010 hours will always be granted “Pass/Fail.” A “Pass” grade shall require an evaluation of “C” (70%) or above.

For additional information concerning the program, contact the Department of Political Science.