Course Content
Do I really need to sit through some of these courses
if I already had one like it at the community college or do this everyday
in my job? This is a sensitive issue, especially when students want
to complete their degrees quickly. At the main campus of Ferris State University,
articulation officers are continuously working with community colleges to
evaluate courses to determine how similar they might be to a course offered
by Ferris. In more than half the cases, community college courses match up
directly with Ferris courses. In the other cases, however, the evaluators
have determined there are sufficient differences in the courses that they
are not the same. If this is the case, then the student will need to take
the Ferris version of the course with the same title, but they can rest assured
that the coverage will not be the same and their Ferris course will go deeper
into a topic, which is necessary for full proficiency in any given topic.
Students should also be aware there are requirements for a Bachelor’s degree
in any subject that state a minimum number of 300-400 level credit hours
need to be completed. Our degree programs fall within these limits, but with
this in mind, options for substitutions become limited. Top
My advisor told me about a “CLEP” test. What is this and why should
I care about it? CLEP stands for College Level Examination Proficiency, and it represents a series of standardized tests in a number of subjects. These tests are developed and administered by the same organization that gives the SAT tests to high school students. Passing an examination of this nature is the same as passing certain courses in your degree plan. There are common subjects offered as a CLEP exam, such as English composition, and mathematics, as well as other topics like business management, psychology, and some sciences. These tests are offered on a regular basis at community college sites for 2-3 hours, depending on the subject, and the fee is generally less than $100. Taking an exam of this nature will allow you to bypass taking certain courses where you have expertise in a topic, but not the specific course required in your degree plan.Top
What if I do not have the prerequisite course listed
(such as math) and without out this I may miss this course in the regular
sequence? Can I just take the course and pick up the prerequisite later?
How do I go about resolving this? Students need to complete the prerequisite requirements for any given course. This will mean either the listed course, or passing a CLEP examination for the course equivalent. This may mean it is possible you will miss a course in the sequence. Your advisor generally will give students warning for important prerequisites for upcoming courses.Top
Are any classes held on-line? How many classes can I
expect to take on-line? Currently, there are a number of options
for on-line courses. Typically, the following courses are offered in an on-line
format: EHSM 330, MGMT 370, and ENGL 311 or 325. In addition, a number of
courses are offered in a blended format where students will meet in a face-to-face
environment, supplemented with on-line delivery.Top
Is there a residency requirement with Ferris? How many
Ferris classes must I take in order to graduate with a Bachelor’s from the
University? The residency requirement states that students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of Ferris courses to receive a Bachelor’s degree. Our programs are within these limits, but if students have taken courses at other 4-year institutions that fill certain degree requirements, there may be a danger of not having sufficient Ferris credit hours to make this limit. In any case, students are notified of these situations by their advisors and given options to fulfill the residency requirements.Top
I work full-time and do not have a lot of extra time
to commit to lots of courses. I also work a lot of overtime on a regular
basis. How much studying am I expected to do? Students need to understand
that completing a Bachelor’s degree is a substantial commitment of time and
financial resources. While our program provides the easiest path possible
for students to attain their goals they need to understand there will be
a substantial investment of time and effort to complete this program. The
general guideline for academic courses is that students are expected to allow
a MINIMUM of 2-3 hours of studying for each hour spent in-class per week.
For a 6 credit hour course load, this translates to about 6 hours per week
in-class and an additional 14-15 hours of studying per week. This amounts
to a substantial part-time job in addition to your full-time position. Top
I am having an “issue” with an instructor. Where do I go to address
the matter to my satisfaction? First, you need to approach your instructor in an attempt to resolve your issue. Having sufficient documentation to support your case is a minimum expectation, but there are times when the matter is not resolved to your satisfaction. In these cases, you need to contact your advisor, (or the regional office, if the instructor IS your advisor) to address the issue. Generally, you will need to provide a detailed explanation of your version of the situation, and the steps you have taken personally to resolve the issue. Depending on the severity of the complaint, a hearing may be scheduled with the Dean’s office, the instructor and the student. If the matter is still unresolved to your satisfaction, the Dean’s office may give you options for further appeals.Top
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