Download - The University of Alabama Fall 2014–Summer 2015

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Visit the Online Catalog at
courseleaf.ua.edu
undergraduate catalog
2013-2014
The University of Alabama is an equal-opportunity educational institution/employer.
T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F A L A B A M A
The University of Alabama Fall 2013–Summer 2014
Undergraduate Catalog

May 2013 NOTE: Although the publisher of this catalog has made every reasonable
effort to attain factual accuracy herein, no responsibility is assumed for
The University of Alabama Fall 2013–Summer 2014 Undergraduate Catalog was
editorial, clerical or printing errors, or error occasioned by honest mistake.
produced by the Office of the University Registrar, in conjunction with the Office
All information contained in this catalog is subject to change by the
of University Relations, a division of University Advancement, and the Office for
appropriate officials of The University of Alabama without prior notice.
Academic Affairs.

Equal Opportunity in Education and
Employment
The University of Alabama complies with applicable laws prohibiting discrimination,
including Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act, Executive Order 11246, Title IX of the Education Amendments
of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era
Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and
the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and does not discriminate
on the basis of genetic information, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual
orientation, age, disability or veteran status in admission or access to, or treatment
of employment in, its programs and services. Inquiries and concerns regarding this
policy may be directed to Ms. Gwendolyn Hood, University Compliance Officer,
171 Rose Administration Building, Box 870300, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0300;
[phone] (voice); [phone] (TDD). This notice is available in alternative
formats upon request.
The University of Alabama is committed to making its programs and services
available to individuals with disabilities and seeks to be responsive to qualified
students with disabilities. Enrolled students with disabilities are invited to contact
the Office of Disability Services, Box 870185, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0185;
[phone]. Those visiting the University for campus tours or special events
are encouraged to contact the sponsoring office or department in advance so
appropriate provisions may be made.
University of Alabama Bloodborne Pathogen
Policy
The University of Alabama bloodborne pathogen policy, approved in February 1993,
requires each administrative unit of the University to conduct a risk-appraisal survey
during October and November of each year to “identify employees and students at
risk for occupational or student academic exposure to bloodborne pathogens.” All
units in which students or employees are at risk must then develop an “exposure
control plan.” Employees and students at risk are required to receive the hepatitis
B vaccination series, submit proof of immunity to the hepatitis B virus (or proof of
vaccination), or sign a statement declining the vaccine. Employees and students
who are at risk are also required to receive training about bloodborne pathogens.
For further information about this policy, contact The University of Alabama, Office
of Environmental Health and Safety at (205-348-5905).
Campus Security Report
Each year, The University of Alabama publishes the UA Annual Campus Security
Report. It contains crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years. It
also details UA security policies and procedures. The Campus Security Report
is provided in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security
Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and is available online to view or print
at safety.ua.edu. The Alabama Department of Public Safety, a state agency,
also provides an online listing of sex offenders currently registered with the state.
This listing is available on the Alabama Department of Public Safety website at
dps.alabama.gov (click on the “National Sex Offender Registry” link). For information
regarding the enrollment or employment of registered sex offenders at The
University of Alabama, or to request a printed copy of the Campus Security Report,
write The University of Alabama, University Police, Attention: Community Services
Division, Box 870180, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0180; or email [email protected].
Academic Calendar
The University’s current academic calendar is available online at registrar.ua.edu/
academics/academic-calendars.
Table of Contents
Administration ........................................................................................................... 3
About the University ................................................................................................. 4
Admission to the University ...................................................................................... 8
Academic Records and General Academic Policies ............................................... 12
Tuition and Other Expenses ................................................................................... 27
Student Financial Aid ............................................................................................. 30
Support Programs and Services for Students ........................................................ 32
Code of Student Conduct ....................................................................................... 36
Military Programs .................................................................................................... 40
College of Continuing Studies ................................................................................ 43
Honors College ....................................................................................................... 45
Special Academic Programs .................................................................................. 51
Capstone International Center ................................................................................ 53
College of Arts and Sciences ................................................................................. 57
Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration ........................ 252
College of Communication and Information Sciences .......................................... 283
College of Community Health Sciences ............................................................... 308
College of Education ............................................................................................ 311
College of Engineering ......................................................................................... 340
College of Human Environmental Sciences ......................................................... 379
Capstone College of Nursing ............................................................................... 421
School of Social Work .......................................................................................... 430
Interim Program .................................................................................................... 435
English Language Institute (ELI) .......................................................................... 436
Class Schedule Building Abbreviations ................................................................ 437
Department, Program and Course Alpha Symbols ............................................... 438
Course Descriptions ............................................................................................. 440
Index ..................................................................................................................... 541
Administration
The Honorable Robert Bentley • Karen Baldwin, Vice President for Advancement
• Governor of Alabama • Samory T. Pruitt, Vice President for Community Affairs
• Ex Officio President of the Board of Trustees
Thomas R. Bice, Ed.D. Academic Divisions of the University
• State Superintendent of Education College of Arts and Sciences (1910)
• Ex Officio Member of the Board of Trustees
• Robert F. Olin, Dean
Trustees, by Congressional District
Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration (1919)
First District • J. Michael Hardin, Dean
• Harris V. Morissette, Mobile
College of Communication and Information Sciences (1973)
• Marietta M. Urquhart, Mobile
• Loy A. Singleton, Dean
Second District
College of Community Health Sciences (1971)
• Joseph C. Espy III, Montgomery
• Richard H. Streiffer, Dean
• W. Davis Malone III, Dothan
College of Continuing Studies (1919)
Third District
• Carolyn C. Dahl, Dean
• Kenneth L. Vandervoort, M.D., Anniston
• James W. Wilson III, Montgomery College of Education (1909)
Fourth District • Peter Hlebowitsh, Dean
• Paul W. Bryant Jr., Tuscaloosa; President pro tempore of the Board College of Engineering (1909)
• Finis E. St. John IV, Cullman • Charles W. Karr, Dean
Fifth District Graduate School (1924)
• Ronald W. Gray, Huntsville • David A. Francko, Dean
• William Britt Sexton, Decator
Honors College (2003)
Sixth District
• Shane Sharpe, Dean
• Vanessa Leonard, Rockford
College of Human Environmental Sciences (1931)
• John J. McMahon Jr., Birmingham
• Milla D. Boschung, Dean
Seventh District
School of Law (1872)
• Karen P. Brooks, Tuscaloosa
• Kenneth C. Randall, Dean
• Judge John H. England Jr., Tuscaloosa
• Andria Scott Hurst, Birmingham Capstone College of Nursing (1976)
• Sara E. Barger, Dean
Trustees Emeriti School of Social Work (1965)
• Frank H. Bromberg Jr., Birmingham • Lucinda L. Roff, Interim Dean
• Angus R. Cooper II, Mobile
• Oliver H. Delchamps Jr., Mobile
• Garry Neil Drummond, Birmingham
• Jack Edwards, Mobile
• Joseph L. Fine, Montgomery
• Sandral Hullett, MD, Birmingham
• Peter L. Lowe, Huntsville
• Sidney L. McDonald, Arab
• John T. Oliver Jr., Jasper
• Joe H. Ritch, Huntsville
• Yetta G. Samford Jr., Opelika
• Cleophus Thomas Jr., Anniston
• John Russell Thomas, Alexander City
Chancellor
• Robert E. Witt, Tuscaloosa

Officers of the University
• Judith L. Bonner, President
• Mark D. Nelson, Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice Provost
• D. Joe Benson, Vice President for Research and Interim Provost
• Lynda Gilbert, Vice President for Financial Affairs and Treasurer
The University of Alabama 3
About the University
Mission and Objectives Support Units
The University of Alabama, the state of Alabama’s oldest public university, is a • Capstone International
senior comprehensive doctoral-level institution. The University was established by • Center for Communication and Educational Technology
constitutional provision under statutory mandates and authorizations. Its mission is • Center for Teaching and Learning
to advance the intellectual and social condition of the people of the state through
• College of Continuing Studies
quality programs of teaching, research and service.
• Libraries at The University of Alabama
Activities to Support the Mission • Oak Ridge Associated Universities
The University of Alabama’s activities emerge from a broad range of research • Office of Disability Services
and creative activities, many of which are recognized for their contributions to the • Office of Information Technology
economic, technological and cultural growth of the state. Research and creative • Office of Institutional Research and Assessment
activity yields continuing stimulation for the instructional programs offered by the
• Office of Undergraduate Admissions
University’s colleges and schools, supported by the Amelia Gorgas Library, a
• Office of the University Registrar
member of the Association of Research Libraries. At the undergraduate level,
the University offers a broad range of baccalaureate programs in the arts and • Paul W. Bryant Museum
humanities, science and technology, preprofessional and professional fields. • Technology and Testing
A University-wide core curriculum provides a general education component as • University of Alabama Museums
the keystone of every undergraduate program. Graduate programs, built on
• University of Alabama Press
these undergraduate foundations, concentrate on the development of original
scholarship, research and creative activity. Professional programs, including the • University Writing Center
state’s only public law school, prepare students for leadership roles with high levels
Accreditation
of competence. As one of the major residential campuses in the state, the University
enhances the academic and personal growth of its students through its on-campus The University of Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges
environment. Recognizing that education is a lifelong endeavor, the University offers and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, certificate, masters,
an array of educational opportunities for non-traditional students to study through educational specialist and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at
distance education, including 12 undergraduate programs and 32 online graduate- 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call [phone] for questions
level programs. about the accreditation of The University of Alabama.
The University’s research, creative activities and instructional programs form a In addition, selected programs have been accredited by the AACSB International-
foundation for extensive service activities, establishing a number of partnerships The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business; ABET, Inc.-Accrediting
with business, nonprofit organizations and government through applications of new Board for Engineering and Technology; Accrediting Council on Education in
knowledge. These relationships often extend beyond the bounds of the state as the Journalism and Mass Communication; American Association of Family and
University assists developmental efforts at regional, national and international levels. Consumer Sciences; American Bar Association; American Library Association;
Alabama State Department of Education; Alabama State Board of Health;
Location
Accrediting Council for Graduate Medical Education; American Psychological
The University of Alabama (UA) is located in Tuscaloosa, Ala., a city with a Association; American Speech Language-Hearing Association; Association of
metropolitan population of approximately 90,000 in the west-central part of the state. University Programs in Health Administration; Commission on Accreditation of
The post office address of The University of Alabama is Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. Athletic Training Education Programs; Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics
University grounds comprise some 1,000 acres. The University maintains a center in Education; Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; Commission on English
Gadsden and a governmental relations office in Montgomery. Language Program Accreditation; Council on Social Work Education; Council for
Interior Design Accreditation; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related
Separate campuses of the University have been established in Birmingham and Education Programs; Council on Rehabilitation Education; Liaison Committee
Huntsville. These campuses are known as The University of Alabama at Birmingham for Medical Education; National Association of School Psychologists; National
(UAB) and The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). Association of Schools of Art and Design; National Association of Schools of Music;
National Association of Schools of Dance; National Association of Schools of
Divisions of the University
Theatre; and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Vice Presidents’ Offices History of the University
• Academic Affairs
1818-1820
• Community Affairs
• In 1818, the federal government authorized Alabama Territory to set aside a
• Financial Affairs
township for the establishment of a "seminary of learning." Alabama was admitted
• Research to the Union on March 2, 1819, and a second township was added to the grant.
• Student Affairs On December 18, 1820, the seminary was officially established and named "The
• University Advancement University of the State of Alabama."
Academic Units 1827
• Tuscaloosa, then the state’s capital, chosen as the University’s home.
• College of Arts and Sciences
• Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration 1831
• College of Communication and Information Sciences • On April 18, inaugural ceremonies were held and the University opened. By May
• College of Community Health Sciences 28, 52 students had enrolled. The campus consisted of seven buildings: two
faculty houses, two dormitories, the laboratory, the hotel (now Gorgas House)
• College of Education
and the Rotunda.
• College of Engineering
• Graduate School 1837
• Honors College • The University of Alabama became the first in the state to offer engineering
classes. It was one of the first five in the nation to do so and one of the few to
• College of Human Environmental Sciences
have continuously maintained accreditation since national accreditation began in
• School of Law
1936.
• Capstone College of Nursing
• School of Social Work
4 About the University
1841 1906
• President’s Mansion completed. Its first occupant, Basil Manly, was the University • At the University’s diamond jubilee celebration, President John William
president from 1837 to 1855. Abercrombie presented to the board of trustees his plans for the Greater
• Total University enrollment: 63 University fund-raising campaign, thus ensuring that the state legislature would
no longer be the primary source for financing the University’s growth.
1850
1909
• Alabama Alpha chapter of Phi Beta Kappa established.
• To meet the demands for specific training in two professions, the College of
1851 Engineering and the School of Education were established. Formerly part of the
• Total University enrollment: 126 liberal arts disciplines, these new offspring would function independently of the
now-reorganized College of Arts and Sciences.
1859
1910
• Medical College branch of the University opened in Mobile.
• The Alabama Museum of Natural History in Smith Hall was dedicated. Smith Hall
1860 served as a geological museum for the University’s growing collections and still
• The University of Alabama became a military school — martial departmental and houses the Museum today.
disciplinary systems established.
1911
1861 • Total University enrollment: 571
• Total University enrollment: 154
1912
1865 • Dr. George Denny became University president; the campus consisted of
• Union troops spared only seven of the buildings on the UA campus. Of the 652 students and nine principal buildings. His presidency began an era of
principal buildings remaining today, the President’s Mansion and its outbuildings unprecedented physical and enrollment growth. When he retired in 1936, there
still serve as the president’s on-campus residence. The other buildings have new were more than 5,000 students and 23 major buildings which now form the
uses. Gorgas House — at different times the dining hall, faculty residence and central core of the modern campus.
campus hotel — now serves as a museum. The Roundhouse, then a sentry box
1914-15
for cadets and later a place for records storage, is a campus historical landmark.
The Observatory, now Maxwell Hall, is home to the Computer-Based Honors • The University band was organized.
Program.
1919
1868 • The School of Commerce was founded. It became the College of Commerce and
• The Medical College reopens in Mobile. Business Administration in 1929. It was renamed the Culverhouse College of
Commerce and Business Administration in 1997.
1871
1920
• During the Reconstruction era, a reorganized University opened to students.
• The Medical College moved from Mobile to Tuscaloosa.
• Total University enrollment: 107
1921
1872
• Total University enrollment: 2,134
• The School of Law was established.
1924
1881-82
• The Graduate School was officially established.
• Antecedents of the UA College of Engineering were established with the offering
of a formal, two-year course of study in civil engineering under the aegis of 1929
applied mathematics in 1837. The College of Engineering was established in
• Denny Chimes was dedicated. Named for Dr. George H. Denny, president of the
1909 with the opening of B.B. Comer Hall.
University from 1912 to 1936.
• Total University enrollment: 154
1931
1891
• The School of Home Economics was officially established. It became the College
• Total University enrollment: 167 of Human Environmental Sciences in 1987.
1892 • Total University enrollment: 4,639
• The University’s first football team assembled — the "Thin Red Line" that later 1939
became the "Crimson Tide."
• Moundville Archaeological Park and its museum opened to the public.
1893
1941
• The first female students enrolled for the fall semester at the University. This was
• Total University enrollment: 4,921
due in large part to the successful lobbying of the UA board of trustees by Julia S.
Tutwiler. Tutwiler, then president of the Livingston Normal College for Girls, was a 1945
lifelong advocate of women’s rights to be self-supporting members of society.
• The Medical College moved from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham.
1894 • The University Press was formed.
• The student newspaper, The Crimson White, makes its first appearance.
1948
1901 • Introduction of doctoral programs was authorized; first doctorates awarded in
• Total University enrollment: 396 1952.
1903 1951
• In March, the Alabama Legislature decreed that, after 30 years of student protest, • Total University enrollment: 5,269
the military system of organization at the University be abandoned.
1956
1904 • The University of Alabama’s first African-American student, Autherine J. Lucy,
• A summer school for teachers began in response to a need for better public was admitted. She was expelled three days later "for her own safety" in response
education in Alabama, becoming the School of Education in 1909. The College of to threats from a mob. In 1992, Autherine Lucy Foster graduated from the
Education was established in 1929. University with a master’s degree in education. That same day, her daughter,
Grazia Foster, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in corporate finance.
The University of Alabama 5
1961 • Renovation of Sewell-Thomas Baseball Field to a capacity of 6,000 seats began.
• Total University enrollment: 8,257 • First freshman class accepted in Blount Undergraduate Initiative. Parker-Adams
Hall serves as its temporary headquarters.
1963
2000
• The first sustained enrollment of African-American students at UA — Vivian J.
Malone and James A. Hood — was achieved. Vivian Malone graduated in 1965. • English major Bradley Tuggle from Decatur, Ala., named UA’s 15th Rhodes
James Hood returned to campus in 1995 and received a PhD in interdisciplinary Scholar.
studies in 1997. • Historic Barnard Hall rededicated as Oliver-Barnard Hall, the first of two Blount
Undergraduate Initiative academic houses.
1965
• Construction of 1,500-seat UA Softball Complex completed.
• The School of Social Work was established.
• Blount Living-Learning Center opens to its first resident class.
1968 • Construction of Alabama Institute for Manufacturing Excellence (AIME)
• The Computer-Based Honors Program, in which undergraduate students apply completed.
computer technology to research in a wide range of fields, was established. • Morgan Auditorium reopens after $1 million renovation, the first since its
construction in 1911.
1969
2001
• The Graduate School of Library Service was established by act of the Alabama
Legislature. It became the School of Library and Information Studies in 1989. • UA alumnus Lt. Col. Jim Kelly pilots a Discovery space shuttle mission.
The School merged with the College of Communication in 1997 to become the • For the third consecutive year, the UA School of Law ranked among the best in
College of Communication and Information Sciences. the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.
1970 • UA and Auburn University form the "Alabama-Auburn Alliance" to support fair
funding of higher education.
• New College was established to allow students to pursue individualized courses
• Tide Navigator, a Web-based registration system that is the first of its kind in the
of study while maintaining the academic standards of the University.
United States, debuts with incoming freshmen.
1971 • Total University Enrollment: 19,633
• The College of Community Health Sciences was established.
2002
• Total University enrollment: 13,055
• UA Alumni Association establishes FATE: Future Alumni for Tradition and
1973 Excellence.
• The School of Communication was established. It became the College of • Crimson Tradition Fund established with $10 million gift by Paul Bryant Jr.
Communication in 1988 and, when it merged with the School of Information • UA named one of the top 50 public universities in the nation by U.S. News &
Sciences, was renamed the College of Communication and Information Sciences World Report for 2003.
in 1997. • UA student Kana Ellis of Northport, Ala., selected as the first recipient of the
Honors Student of the Year Award by the National Collegiate Honors Council
1976
(NCHC).
• The Capstone College of Nursing was established.
• College of Community Health Sciences breaks ground for its $12.6 million facility,
1981 designed to consolidate all services and operations of the Tuscaloosa medical
campus.
• The University celebrates its sesquicentennial.
• Total University enrollment: 16,388 2003
• Greensboro East High School, in collaboration with UA, became the first high
1983
school in Alabama to establish a state-of-the-art Math Technology Learning
• The College of Continuing Studies was established. In the 1970s it was called Center.
Extended Services, then the Division of Continuing Education.
• Five students from UA named to the 2003 USA Today All-USA College Academic
1985 Team. UA students garnered the most awards of any college or university,
claiming five of 83 spots on the list.
• The MFA Program in Book Arts, with specializations in printing and binding, was
established within the School of Library and Information Studies. It was one of • UA recognized 40 "pioneers" during three days of events to commemorate the
only three in the country to offer such an MFA, and the only one do so within the 40th anniversary of Gov. George C. Wallace’s "stand in the schoolhouse door."
context of a library school. Opening Doors, 1963-2003
• UA named one of the top 50 public universities in the nation by U.S. News &
1986 World Report for 2004.
• The University Honors Program was established. • UA senior Rob Davis selected as one of three 2003 Portz Scholars in the
• The University’s computerized library card catalog, AMELIA, became available for National Collegiate Honors Council’s competition for outstanding undergraduate
use. Honors papers.
• Total University Enrollment: 20,333
1991
• Total University enrollment: 19,366 2004
• University Medical Center, UA’s new multi-specialty clinic and home of the
1994
College of Community Health Sciences, opened on May 11.
• The Stallings Center opened as the new home of the RISE Program. • UA named one of the top 50 public universities in the nation by U.S. News &
1996 World Report for 2005.
• Total University Enrollment: 20,969
• The Blount Undergraduate Initiative was established (first freshman class
accepted in 1999). 2005
1998 • Five UA students named to the 2005 USA Today All-USA College Academic
Team, the most of any school in the nation. UA’s three-year total of 14 also tops
• The Second Capital Campaign was concluded, having raised a total amount of
all other colleges and universities.
$224 million in gifts and pledges.
• International Honors Program was established. 2008
• Modeled on UA’s RISE Program, the RISE School of Dallas, Texas, opened. • Seven UA students named to the 2008 USA Today All-USA College Academic
• Renovation of Bryant-Denny Stadium was completed, increasing capacity to Team, the most of any school in the nation. UA’s total of 31 tops all other colleges
82,000. and universities.
• Total University Enrollment: 27,052
1999
• The Student Services Center was completed.
6 About the University
2009
• UA is ranked 10th in the nation among public universities in the enrollment of
National Merit Scholars for the 2009 freshman class.
• Total University enrollment: 28,807
2010
• UA is ranked 6th in the nation among public universities in the enrollment of
National Merit Scholars for the fall 2010 freshman class.
• With a record of 10 students named to USA Today’s 2010 All-USA College
Academic Team, UA leads the nation in placing students on the national team,
having placed a total of 46 students on the team since 2003.
• Total University enrollment: 30,232
2011
• UA scores a perfect four out of four with Goldwater Scholars in 2011 as all four
UA students who applied were named recipients of the elite academic award. In
all, UA has produces a total of 34 Goldwater Scholars in the past 25 years.
• The 2011 entering freshman class, at 5,772 students, is the largest in UA history
and includes 1,614 students who had a 4.0 or higher high school grade point
average. The freshman class also included 181 National Merit Scholars, ranking
the University second in the nation among public universities in the enrollment of
National Merit Scholars.
• Total University enrollment: 31,747
2012
• Named among the top 50 public universities in the nation by U.S. News and
World Report’s annual college listing for more than a decade, UA ranks 31st
among public universities, its highest ranking ever, for 2012.
• The 2012 entering freshman class, at 6,397 students, is the largest and best
qualified in UA history and includes 239 National Merit Scholars.
• UA’s debate and forensics program wins its 19th national debate championship.
• Three UA students are named Goldwater Scholars and one is named a Truman
Scholar, increasing UA’s totals for the last 25 years to 37 Goldwater Scholars and
eight Truman Scholars.
• Total University enrollment: 33,602

The University of Alabama 7
Admission to the University
The admission process is accomplished by completing the appropriate application To prepare for the core curriculum, applicants are encouraged to take maximum
for admission and furnishing the required credentials. You may apply online at advantage of their high-school experiences by accumulating as many academic units
apply.ua.edu. For questions, please contact The University of Alabama, Office of as is practical.
Undergraduate Admissions, Box 870132, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0132; call (205)
Minimum Requirements for Admission
348-5666 or 1-800-933-BAMA; TDD [phone]; email [email protected]; or
visit the website at gobama.ua.edu. In terms of educational preparation, the college preparatory curriculum minimum unit
More specific requirements for freshman, undergraduate transfer, transient, requirements for regular admissions are:
special or international student admission appear in the sections that follow.
English 4 units
Some University of Alabama academic divisions may have different policies or
requirements regarding admission; see the appropriate division’s section of this Mathematics 3 units, beginning with algebra I, algebra II, and one unit of
catalog for details. either geometry, trigonometry or calculus
Social Studies 4 units, including world history or comparable course
Natural Science 3 units, including 2 units with a laboratory
General Undergraduate Admission Foreign Language 1 unit
Other academic courses 5 units (courses recommended are in fine arts or computer
Requirements
literacy, with additional courses in mathematics, science
and foreign language)
Admission to any undergraduate division of the University requires acceptable
evidence of previous academic performance and scores on a recognized admission The Advanced Academic Diploma awarded by Alabama high schools meets all
test. A medical history, including proof of current measles (MMR) and meningitis University of Alabama course requirements. The Credit Based diploma awarded by
vaccinations and TB screening, must be submitted prior to enrollment for classes. Alabama high schools is accepted; however, students must have the preparatory
The medical history form can also be downloaded from shc.ua.edu. curriculum minimum requirements as listed.
Applications for admission are accepted as early as one year prior to the anticipated These course requirements are in addition to the requirements of a ’B’ average and
date of enrollment. After an evaluation of the applicant’s credentials, admission an acceptable score on the ACT or SAT. The writing section of either the ACT or
is granted into various categories, depending on the strength of the applicant’s SAT is required.
academic background. Once admitted, a student may enroll in courses for their
The course/unit requirement also applies to transfer students who have completed
admitted term and must submit a final transcript. For this reason, prospective
fewer than 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of college-level courses.
students should ensure that their application credentials are submitted to the Office
of Undergraduate Admissions as early as possible. Also, any student whose first Home-Schooled Students
language is not English will be required to provide proof of language proficiency.
The University of Alabama welcomes applications from students who are schooled
The University of Alabama employs a competitive freshman admission process
in the home. Home-schooled applicants should meet the following requirements for
that includes reviewing and evaluating each application on an individual basis for
admission:
an applicant’s abilities as a scholar. Decisions about the potential for a student’s
academic success are based on ACT and/or SAT performance, high-school grade 1. Home-schooled applicants should meet the ACT/SAT requirement, including
point average and high-school course schedule. The writing section of either the writing essay section, grade point average (GPA) requirement of general
the ACT or SAT is required. Applicants for freshman admission must submit admission and the college preparatory curriculum minimum unit requirements
official copies of their high-school transcripts. Transfer applicants must submit if they present certified transcripts at the completion of their programs. Refer
official transcripts of all college-level work attempted. Currently, there is a $40.00 to the ’General Undergraduate Admission Requirements’ overview tab.
nonrefundable application fee for freshman and transfer students. If admission is 2. Students who do not present certified transcripts must take the GED and meet
denied, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions may suggest alternative ways to the admission requirements as outlined in The University of Alabama GED
meet admission criteria at a later time. Admission Policy. See the ’Non-graduates of High School’ section under the
More specific requirements for freshman, undergraduate transfer, transient, ’Special Programs’ tab.
special or international student admission appear in the sections that follow.
Special Programs
Some University of Alabama academic divisions may have different policies or
requirements regarding admission; see the appropriate division’s section of this
Early Admission
catalog for details.
Students who have exceptionally high grades (B+ or higher grade point average)
Freshman Admission
and at least a 28 ACT or a 1250 SAT (math and critical reading only) and who have
strong endorsements from their high-school principal, guidance counselor, and
Freshman Orientation and Registration
parents or legal guardians may be considered for admission without completing the
An orientation/registration program (Bama Bound) is provided for all new freshman senior year of high school.
students to assist them with the transition to college. Information about orientation
Concurrent Enrollment
and registration is sent to admitted students.
Students who meet the necessary requirements may attend The University of
For all new undergraduate students, initial math placement will be based on ACT or
Alabama while still in high school. Students in area high schools may enroll as
SAT math score or previous college mathematics credit. If a student does not have
concurrent high-school students/University freshmen. Typical students admitted to
one of these or wishes to try and improve his/her placement, he/she may take the
this program have a ’B+’ grade point average, at least a 26 ACT or 1170 SAT (math
online math assessment. This should be completed one week prior to Bama Bound.
and critical reading only) and the recommendation of their high-school principal or
Math Assessment is no longer offered during Bama Bound.
guidance counselor and parents or legal guardians. Students take coursework in
Each orientation session gives students the opportunity to learn about the University, areas for which they have adequate preparation and the approval of their principal
services offered to students and academic programs, along with enrolling in classes and/or counselor.
for their first term at the University. Several orientation sessions are provided each
Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Agreement
year. For more information, visit orientation.ua.edu.
Preparation for College-level Work The University of Alabama participates in dual enrollment/dual credit programs
with local boards of secondary education. Through these programs, certain high-
The University of Alabama Core Curriculum, required of all graduates, provides the school students are allowed to enroll in college-level courses in order to earn credits
foundation of every undergraduate degree program at the University. In addition that apply to both undergraduate degrees and high-school diplomas. Students are
to providing a solid understanding of the subjects covered, the core curriculum eligible under the following conditions:
acquaints students with the ways knowledge is created.
1. The student must be in grade 11 or 12 or have an exception granted by UA
The core curriculum includes academic courses in writing, the humanities, the fine based on the written recommendation of the student’s principal and the local
arts, the social sciences, the natural sciences (including laboratory experience) superintendent of education and in accordance with Alabama administrative
and mathematics; it also requires knowledge of a language other than English. code regarding gifted and talented students.
8 Admission to the University
2. The student must have a ’B+’ average, as defined by local board policy, in Transfers within the University
completed high-school courses.
3. The student must meet the entrance requirements established by UA. Procedures governing transfers between academic divisions of the University are
administered by the Office of the University Registrar. For further information, please
Students who are currently in high school and have concurrent college credit, or refer to the section ’Academic Records and General Academic Policies’ section of
dual enrollment or concurrent college credit, are not considered transfer students. this catalog.
Students must have one official transcript sent to the Office of the University
Registrar directly from each college or university previously attended. Admission of Special Category Students
Non-graduates of High School Adult
Admission may be granted to non-graduates of high school who are 18 years of Applicants who graduated from high school at least four years prior to the date of
age and have been out of high school for a minimum of one year. Applicants must anticipated enrollment may be admitted to the University without the ACT or SAT,
score at least 510 on the General Educational Development (GED) Test and submit provided their high-school grade point average is 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
acceptable ACT or SAT scores. Applicants 23 years of age and older are required to However, for placement purposes, the ACT or SAT may be required of all students
score at least 510 on the GED test. In addition, they may be required to submit ACT who are enrolled.
or SAT scores for advising purposes.
Auditor
Undergraduate Transfer Admission
Applicants who wish to attend credit courses as auditors must follow standard
Applicants who have attended other colleges or universities are considered transfer admission procedures. They must be registered for the courses, must pay all
students, regardless of the period of enrollment or amount of credit earned. Students required fees, are expected to attend all class meetings and must conform to all
who are currently in high school and have dual enrollment or concurrent college requirements of the instructor of the course. In certain cases, admission as an
credit are not considered transfer students. Students seeking to transfer to The auditor may be granted without satisfaction of normal admission requirements;
University of Alabama must meet the following requirements: however, the University reserves the right to establish appropriate standards for
such enrollment. Auditors may not receive credit applicable to the requirements for
• Students must have one official transcript sent directly to the Office of the
degrees.
University Registrar from each college or university previously attended. Faxed
transcripts are not considered official transcripts. Dean’s Admission
• Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester hours (or 36 quarter
The deans of the University may, upon appeal, waive or modify conditions of
hours) of collegiate work must also have official copies of their ACT or SAT
admission for individual freshman and transfer applicants.
scores and final high-school transcript submitted directly to the Office of
Undergraduate Admissions. Crimson EDGE (Education Guarantees Excellence)
• An average of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) or higher for all college-level work attempted
is required for admission. College-level work does not include vocational, This two-semester program helps students manage the transition to a university
technical or remedial/developmental course work. Some divisions may set academic environment. Students in this category are not on probation but are limited
slightly higher admissions standards. Students must be able to return to the last to 12-14 credit hours during their first semester and must enroll in an academic
collegiate institution they attended. support class. A Crimson Edge adviser in each college will help students determine
appropriate course selection for the fall and spring semesters.
Transferring from Two-year Colleges in Alabama
Irregular Postgraduate
Students transferring from two-year colleges in the Alabama College System may
contract with The University of Alabama under STARS (Statewide Articulation Applicants with baccalaureate or advanced degrees may be admitted on the basis of
Reporting System). The STARS program will guarantee the transfer and applicability the appropriate degree. Standard admission procedures are followed.
of the two-year college credit under the following restrictions: Special Student
• This agreement will be honored for a period of four years from the date of the
Special student enrollment is a non-degree status. Special students may apply
agreement. The student will be required to satisfy the requirements for graduation
for admission as degree-seeking students by requesting a change of status and
as described in the undergraduate catalog in effect at the time of execution of
by meeting regular admission requirements. Students who have never enrolled in
this agreement, provided, however, that UA may change such requirements
college are generally expected to have been out of high school for two or more years
if the student is given a reasonable opportunity to comply with the changed
before enrollment at the University as special students. Students who are currently
requirements. The student may choose to comply with the requirements in effect
on academic probation or under academic suspension imposed by another college
at the time of transfer.
and who have not been enrolled in school for two years may be admitted with special
• Under this agreement, the student must be officially admitted and enrolled at permission. Enrollment in specific courses will be on a space-available basis. If
UA immediately following his or her tenure at the two-year college at which a course has prerequisites, permission must be granted by the instructor before
the contract was initiated. Should the student enroll in another post-secondary enrollment in the course. To continue as a special student beyond one academic
institution during the interim, this agreement is void. year of continuous enrollment, after a break in enrollment, or beyond 12 semester
This agreement is subject to termination should changes in UA requirements be hours of earned credit, permission must be granted by the dean of the school or
initiated by any agency outside University control. Such agencies include, but are not college in which the special student is enrolled.
limited to, the State Department of Education, ACHE, SACS, NCATE, CLN, AACSB, Transient Student
ABET and other accreditation agencies.
Admission as a transient (visiting) student may be granted for any term. Standard
Conversion of Credits
application procedures must be followed. Approval may be given on the basis of an
The University of Alabama is on the semester system. Credits earned as quarter official statement of good standing from the last institution attended. Transient status
hours will be evaluated as semester hours. One quarter hour is equal to two-thirds of may be granted for only one term.
one semester hour; for example, a five-quarter-hours course equals three and one-
Admission of International Students
third semester hours. However, when a student is seeking to transfer credit that will
be applied toward degree requirements, final authority for evaluating that credit rests Undergraduate applicants who are not American citizens should address all inquiries
with the academic division, which may use a different formula. to The University of Alabama, Undergraduate International Admissions, Box 870132,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0132; or email [email protected]. Applicants
Transfer Student Orientation and Registration
who need to learn English or improve their English proficiency should write for
Attendance at an orientation/registration session (Bama Bound) is required of information to The University of Alabama, English Language Institute (ELI), Box
each newly admitted transfer student. Considerable assistance is available at each 870250, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0250; or email [email protected]. Correspondence
session, and the groups are kept small to encourage individual attention. For more concerning undergraduate admission should be initiated at least six months in
information, visit orientation.ua.edu. advance of the anticipated date of enrollment.
Distance Learning students are not required to attend orientation/registration. Complete, properly translated official credentials are required. Applicants with post-
Distance Learning students should contact Academic Outreach at secondary study completed outside the United States are encouraged to submit
academicoutreach.ua.edu. those credentials for a course-by-course evaluation to World Education Services
(WES), Bowling Green Station, P.O. Box 5087, New York, NY 10274-5087; or
contact WES at wes.org. This evaluation along with a course syllabus may expedite
The University of Alabama 9