Academic Programs General Information

Radford University offers curricula leading to seven undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Work, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Business Administration. For information about graduate programs, consult the Radford University Graduate Catalog.

In the Bachelor of Arts degree, emphasis is on work in the academic fields and the study of a foreign language is required. The Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees are offered for work in academic as well as in vocational and professional fields; the study of a foreign language is not required. Courses in professional education may be offered to satisfy a part of the requirement for the Bachelor of Science degree. The Bachelor of Business Administration degree is for students who wish to work in national or multinational businesses or prepare for graduate work in business. (See “Academic Terminology” below for additional information about degrees, majors, minors, concentrations, options, and programs.)

For the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Business Administration degree programs, the minimum requirement for graduation is at least 120 semester hours of passing course work. The Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Music degree programs place a heavy emphasis on work in the major field. In these two professional degree programs, students may have to take course work in excess of 120 hours; thus, close consultation with the advisor is recommended. (See here  and here .)

In consultation with an advisor from a chosen discipline, undergraduates plan an academic program consisting of REAL Curriculum courses, major courses, and electives. Students should choose their departmental major as soon as possible and not later than the end of the sophomore year.

Academic Terminology

Degree

A degree represents the academic level of a program and the general category into which it falls, e.g. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science. At Radford University, the term Arts in an undergraduate degree generally implies a foreign language requirement. The minimum number of semester hours for a Radford University undergraduate degree is 120.

Major

A major represents a student’s principal field of study; that is, the academic discipline he or she wishes to study intensively, for example, Psychology, Music and Accounting. The range of credits required for an undergraduate major is 30 to 90 semester hours depending upon the field of study.

Program

The term program does not have a unique definition. One use of the term involves a combination of a major and a degree, e.g., Bachelor of Science in Chemistry or Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. Occasionally, a program may consist only of a degree and not have a specific major, as in the Bachelor of Social Work. Program may also be used in a more generic sense to modify degree/major combinations, as in Teacher Education Program.

Minor

A minor represents a student’s secondary field of study and is different from the major. This distinguishes the minor from concentrations and options. The range for the number of semester hours in an undergraduate minor is 15 to 24.

Concentration

A concentration is a field of study within a major. Some examples are: Ballet within Dance and Public Relations within Communication. The number of semester hours for a concentration varies, but is always included within the semester hours for the major. This distinguishes concentrations from options, which represent semester hours beyond the major.

Option

An option is a set of related courses and/or experiences that complement the major. The principal example is in education where Elementary, Middle and other options complement the Interdisciplinary Studies major by preparing the student for a specific career path. As noted above, option semester hours are in addition to those for the major.

Courses of Study

Radford combines a traditional liberal arts education with a number of professional programs in seven undergraduate colleges: Davis College of Business and Economics, College of Education and Human Development, College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences, Artis College of Science and Technology, School of Nursing, Waldron College of Health and Human Services and College of Visual and Performing Arts. Undergraduate majors, including areas of concentration within each major, are:

Academic Programs

Radford University

Academic Minor

• •  Honors Minor in Cultural or Behavioral Analysis (A)
• •  Honors Minor in Humanistic or Artistic Expression (E)
• •  Honors Minor in Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning (R)
• •  REAL Studies Minor in Applied Learning (L)
• •  REAL Studies Minor in Cultural or Behavioral Analysis (A)
• •  REAL Studies Minor in Humanistic or Artistic Expression (E)
• •  REAL Studies Minor in Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning (R)

Academic Designation

• •  Citizen Leader
• •  Undergraduate Research Scholar

Off-Campus Courses and Degree Programs

For information about Radford University courses or Radford University degree programs based in Roanoke, contact Trisha Calhoun, RU/Roanoke Site Partnership Coordinator, at tcallhoun3@radford.edu.

Off-Campus Graduate Degree Programs

For more information about graduate degree programs in Roanoke and other locations, contact the Graduate Admissions at (540) 831-5431; or e-mail gradadmit@radford.edu.

Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center – Abingdon

Radford University is a partner in the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center located in Abingdon, Virginia. At the present time, qualified students in Southwest Virginia may apply for admission to graduate programs in Educational Leadership, Counselor Education, and Math Education.

Additional information about these programs is available by contacting each department as follows:

M.S. Counselor Education
(540) 831-6265

M.S. Educational Leadership
(540) 831-5302

M.S. Education Concentration
Math Education
(540) 831-5470

For general information about these programs and services, contact the university’s office located at the center: (276) 619-4314; or e-mail rblanken@radford.edu.

The Roanoke Higher Education Center

Radford University offers a range of graduate programs as well as other academic services in the Roanoke Higher Education Center. Currently, graduate programs are scheduled in the center in Business Administration (MBA), Educational Leadership, Nursing (upper division only), Special Education, and Math Education. For more information about each of these programs, contact:

B.S.N. in Nursing (upper division oly)
(540) 831-1995

MBA
(540) 831-6905

M.S. in Educational Leadership
(540) 831-5302

M.S. in Special Education
(540) 831-6425

M.S. Education Concentration in Math Education
(540) 831-5470

For general information about these programs and services, contact the university’s office located at the center: (540) 767-6190; or e-mail tcalhoun3@radford.edu.

Professional Programs

Pre-Law Program

Radford University provides a program of pre-law advising for students interested in attending law school. Ordinarily, students must have completed a full four years leading to a bachelor’s degree before being admitted to law school.

In keeping with the Statement on Prelegal Education of the Association of American Law Schools, Radford University does not require specific courses and extracurricular activities for students planning to attend law school. Rather, Radford’s program of pre-law advising enables students to plan an appropriate undergraduate schedule to develop the basic skills and insights necessary for legal education.

Students considering a career in law should attend the information sessions for pre-law students, which are held each spring and fall. After attending a pre-law information session, students may consult the campus pre-law advisor Mr. Don Martin for additional advice or information. Students should attend the pre-law information session early in their academic careers, preferably during their freshman year, for help in planning an appropriate undergraduate schedule.

Premedical and Predental Programs

Most students who plan to attend medical school or dental school following graduation from Radford University major in either chemistry or biology. Other majors can be chosen, however, depending on student interests.

Medical and dental schools have as minimum requirements at least one year of biology, one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one year of biochemistry, one year of physics and one year of calculus or other college math as specified by each school.

Premedical and predental students should plan to take the Medical College Admissions Test or the Dental Aptitude Test during the junior year. Dr. Mark Cline in the Biology department serves as pre-health advising committee chair.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Bachelor of Science Degree

Bachelor of Business Administration Degree

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree

Bachelor of Music Degree