The institution demonstrates that program length is appropriate for each of the degrees offered.
[Compliance]
Narrative:
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is in compliance with Principle 4.4 because UAH engages in an ongoing process of internal and external program review. This process is meant to ensure, among other things, that curricular design and program length are appropriate for the degrees the University offers. In all cases, degree requirements are inspected with care in the attempt to be sure that students are provided with the depth and breadth of knowledge appropriate to each program of study and that they are able to complete degrees in a timely fashion.
The College of Administrative Science was reviewed by AACSB, the national accrediting body, in 2003-2004. The College of Engineering was also reviewed in that year by ABET, Inc. the national engineering accrediting agency. The College of Liberal Arts conducted internal reviews of all but two departments (currently under review or recently reviewed by national accrediting agencies) in 2003-2004. The College of Nursing was reviewed by CCNE in 1999 and is scheduled to be reviewed again in 2009-2010. The College of Science has one department (Computer Science) reviewed by ABET in 2004-2005, two departments that are currently engaged in a review, and three departments scheduled for review 2005-2006. All undergraduate and graduate programs undergo a comprehensive review process according to the Academic Program Review Schedule, and those departments that undergo a professional accreditation may use those results for part of their comprehensive review.
With the exception of Teacher Education certification programs, undergraduate programs vary in length from 128 to 137 semester hours. Further general information concerning program length is available in the UAH Undergraduate Catalog 2003-2005, pp. 69-70. Detailed descriptions of specific programs are to be found listed in the various college sections. The Teacher Education certification programs may range as high as 172 hours in the number of semester credit hours required to complete the degree. This number reflects the requirement of a student receiving a BA in General Science with grades 6-12 teaching certification. Master's degree programs require a minimum of 30 semester hours (UAH Graduate Catalog 2003-2005, pp. 51-52) and doctoral degree programs require a minimum of 48 semester hours of coursework and 18 semester hours of dissertation research (UAH Graduate Catalog 2003-2005, pp. 53-54).
