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Special Academic Arrangements

 

eCampus: Continuing & Distance Education          eCampus Website

A extensive offering of continuing & distance learning opportunities are available through Lock Haven University. There are courses available for students who are neither degree nor certification candidates. The continuing education program consists of regular University courses, offered in the classroom setting or online with admission on a space available basis.  Eligible students are high school graduates or high school juniors and seniors by special authorization of the high school principal or guidance officer. The usual fees are charged.

Many courses are now available through LHU's eCampus, an online courseware delivery system that allows individuals to train from home or work through the World Wide Web. To learn more, visit the eCampus Website.

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Honors Program                                                                      Honors Website

The Honors Program expresses LHU's continuing commitment to academic excellence.  The special honors curriculum combines a rigorous subject matter grounding in the broad sweep of human civilization with an integrated program of high-level intellectual skills development.  A spirit of inquiry in the tradition of the liberal arts inspires the program and fosters maximum realization of each student's capacity for independent learning.  The Honors Program draws on the University's strength in international education by involving international students in honors courses and by encouraging honors students to study abroad.  LHU encourages and every student to consider study abroad.  The sophomore year is the best time for this experience.

Highly talented students admitted to the program take one or two classes together each semester.  These classes share an interdisciplinary approach, a heavy reliance on classic sources, a small size, and active student involvement in discussion. Honors classes satisfy requirements either in General Education or in the student's major. The curriculum is designed to provide an enhanced educational experience and requires a serious commitment and hard work on the part of students.

Honors students also plan, organize and participate in a variety of co-curricular activities, which add a lively, more student-directed dimension to the intellectual life of the university community.  These activities are open to all members of the university community and
provide regular opportunities for informal faculty-student interaction.

Interested students, regardless of major, are encouraged to seek admission.  Incoming freshmen with combined SAT scores of 1100+, a verbal SAT of 550+ and a high school class rank of 80%+ are eligible to apply.  Students already enrolled at LHU with a grade point average of 3.2+ may seek admission as well.  In the evaluation of applications, weaknesses in one area may be offset by strengths in another.

Successful students may receive special recognition, officially noted on transcripts and diploma, in one of two categories:  University Honors and University Honors with Distinction.  The latter category requires completion of an individually designed program of study in the last two years culminating in a Capstone Project.

Honors courses are open to all students, space permitting. Non-honors students must attain permission of the instructor and the Honors Director.

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Independent Study                     

The purpose of independent study is to permit outstanding students the opportunity to undertake advanced study in a specialized area not normally provided by regularly scheduled courses.  To qualify, a student must have earned at least 30.0 sh and have a minimum grade average of 2.000.

Independent studies may not duplicate existing departmental courses, either in name or content, nor are independent studies available during the summer, except in the case of
in-service teachers or other extraordinary situations.

The procedure for applying for an independent study is to confer with the faculty sponsor, complete an independent study application packet from the dean of the college providing the independent study and submit the completed application to the department chairperson, the student's advisor, the dean of the college providing the independent study, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Evaluation of independent studies is the responsibility of the faculty sponsor and may include a written paper, an oral report, or other
project materials appropriate to the nature of the study.  Credit is variable
(one to three sh) depending upon the nature of the study.  Under normal circumstances, independent study projects will be of such length and complexity that they may be completed in one semester.  Students desiring to do additional work on the problem, or to do a problem for the period of a year or more, must submit successive applications through the
normal channels.

The final written report shall be submitted to the sponsor.  The sponsor shall file the written report with the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs at the time that the grade is submitted.

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Individualized Instruction

Under certain prescribed conditions, students may take courses, which are not being currently offered, on an individual basis.  Application is made in the same manner as independent study.

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Institute for International Studies                International Studies Website

In 1975 LHU was awarded a "special mission in international education" by the Department of Education in recognition of the University's international efforts.  LHU is the only institution of higher education in Pennsylvania to be so honored.  LHU encourages and expects every student to consider study abroad.  The sophomore year is the best time for
this experience.

LHU has a large and diverse international program and provides many opportunities for its students to study abroad for periods ranging from several weeks in a semester to a year or more, and for foreign students to complete a degree at LHU.  The University is a member of the Pennsylvania Council for International Education (PaCIE), the National Association for Foreign Student Advisors (NAFSA), the American Council on Education (ACE), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the Institute for International Education (IIE), and other similar organizations.

LHU has direct exchange programs with institutions in Australia, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Spain, and Ukraine.  These bilateral arrangements enable approximately 200 students to exchange places every year.  The large number of foreign exchange and matriculating students provides the Lock Haven campus with an international cultural atmosphere.

The exchange programs also serve to promote faculty professional development and allow our faculty the opportunity for teaching and study at partner universities around the world.  Many foreign faculty visit LHU every year to participate in classroom lectures and activities, to offer public presentations and to meet with Pennsylvania business and professional leaders and government officials.  Faculty exchange programs in the past have allowed our students to be exposed to introductory courses in Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Polish, and Russian languages prior to participation in an exchange, thus minimizing cultural shock and maximizing the potential academic experience.

The on-campus presence of a sizable contingent of faculty and students gives LHU a distinctive international flavor.  The International Students Association is one of the largest campus organizations and holds an International Ball and fashion show every year, and also participates in athletic, theatre, orchestra, and dance presentations.

The broad range of international partners enables university athletic teams to engage in "goodwill missions" by traveling abroad and inviting foreign teams to Lock Haven.  In recent years our basketball team toured Taiwan and the soccer team was the first American university club to engage Chinese teams in a series of matches from Shanghai to the
Great Wall.

The attractions of the exchange program can be seen in the fact that many students take advantage of available opportunities and during their four-year academic career, they spend one, two, three, and even four semesters studying in foreign lands.  The international program also offers prospective teachers the chance to do student teaching around the
world through the Overseas Student Teaching Program.

The Institute for International Studies annually publishes the Lock Haven International Review which solicits manuscripts from writers around the world and distributes the Review on a global basis.  LHU also boasts of the presence of the Alpha Omega Chapter of Phi Beta Delta (an honorary society of international scholars).  In 1994, Alpha Omega was honored
by receiving the National Outstanding Chapter Award.  Each spring a number of Lock Haven and partner university faculty are elected to membership, and students exhibiting high academic performance as well as participation in and contributions to the international program are inducted into the society.

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Academic Passport

An Academic Passport, which will assure the holder entry into LHU, will be awarded to students who have earned either an associate of arts or an associate of science degree from any Pennsylvania public community college, or who have earned at least 12 credits from another State System school.  To be eligible for the passport, a community college student must have a grade point average of at least 2.0 and earned at least 30 of their credits in liberal arts courses at a Pennsylvania public community college.  State System students must have at least 12 credits with a 2.0 GPA to qualify for the passport.  Students seeking detailed information about transferring to LHU are urged to contact the transfer coordinator at
their community college or the LHU Office of Admissions.

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Army Reserve Officers Training Corps                          ROTC Website

The Army Reserve Officers Training Program provides the world’s best leadership training while preparing qualified young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the United States Army.  Army ROTC attains this objective by providing leadership training to students while they pursue their college academic studies.  The program offers a no obligation basic course to qualified freshman and sophomore students and an advanced course to eligible students during their junior and senior years.  Advanced course students also receive $350-400 per month tax free subsistence for 10 months per school year.

Graduation from LHU and completion of the advanced course leads to a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Active Duty, National Guard or Reserves.  Scholarships which pay tuition, mandatory fees, $300 per semester for books, and $250-400 per month subsistence allowances are available to select qualified students.

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Service Members Opportunity Colleges

LHU has been designated as an institutional member of Service Members Opportunity Colleges (SOC).  SOC is a consortium of national higher education associations with more than 1,250 institutional members that function in cooperation with the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Military Services, including the National Guard and the Coast Guard, to help meet the higher education needs of service members.  As an SOC member, LHU recognizes the unique nature of the military lifestyle and has committed itself to easing the transfer of relevant course credits and credit learning from appropriate military training.  SOC is sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and
the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

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Summer Sessions                                                    Summer Sessions Website

Summer sessions are maintained for the benefit of regular University students, visiting students from other colleges, and teachers in-service.  Courses are offered in both the College of Arts and Science and the College of Education and Human Services.  Sessions are planned to enable a student to elect 12 sh of work.  Summer sessions bulletins,
giving a listing of the courses to be offered, are usually available by late January. 
A copy may be obtained upon request from the Registrar's Office.

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Clearfield Campus                                                                Clearfield Website

The University also has a branch campus in Clearfield, Pa. where lower level general education courses are available.  Students are able to complete courses toward a baccalaureate degree, usually 30 credits, and then attend LHU Main Campus (or another university) for the remainder of their degree programs.

The Clearfield campus offers the following associate degrees:

  • Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice

  • Associate of Arts in Healthcare Professions

  • Associate of Applied Science in Management

  • Associate of Applied Science in Management Information Systems

  • Associate of Science in Nursing

  • Associate of Science in Surgical Technology

Clearfield Campus students, other than those in the nursing program, pay tuition and educational services fees.  Students in the nursing program at the Clearfield Branch pay a nursing fee of 10% of tuition (up to $230.00), but do not pay the educational services fee. They are also required to pay the student activity fee.

NOTE:  All fees are for PA residents and subject to change without notice.

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Updated as of  07/01/2009

 

 


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Lock Haven University
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LHU is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE)     

 
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