TRANSFER STUDENT GUIDE TO THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA

Transcription

1 TRANSFER STUDENT GUIDE TO THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA

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3 Welcome The Catholic University of America combines the resources of a major research university with the comfortable feel of a liberal arts college comprising of approximately 3,600 undergraduates. Here you will study with men and women who are at the forefront of their fields. And because most of your classes will be small, you become an essential contributor to the dialogue in each class. Your thoughts will be valued, your opinions sought. Catholic University excels in offering its students a welcoming and cooperative learning environment with personalized attention from its faculty and staff. This attention is a common reason why many students choose to attend CUA. Faculty are dedicated to nurturing the whole person, preparing students for success in life. The shared Catholic identity is an essential, binding element of the CUA community, which embraces members of other faith groups as well. While proudly a Catholic university, CUA values the spirit of inquiry and academic freedom. What you will find on campus is an inviting Catholic presence. Whenever you want the opportunity to pray, attend services, go on a retreat, or talk to a spiritual adviser, you will find the doors always open. Our location in Washington, D.C., offers you a broad educational and living experience, with access to the rich culture and diversity of this cosmopolitan city. Capitol Hill, the Smithsonian Institute, the National Zoo, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts are just minutes away on the Metrorail, a modern rapid transit system that stops at the CUA campus. The following pages will cover such topics as applying for transfer admission, transferring credits earned at other institutions, undergraduate majors and programs, opportunities at CUA, and financial assistance and scholarship information. 1

4 Application Details APPLYING FOR TRANSFER ADMISSION Who is eligible to apply to Catholic University? You can apply to CUA as a transfer candidate if you hold a high school diploma (or its equivalent) and have completed some work at an accredited college or university. Most candidates who are offered admission have earned at least 12 credits and have a minimum GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. How can I apply for transfer admission? Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, so you can apply for admission to either our fall or spring terms. Transfer applicants are encouraged to submit application materials as early as possible for the semester in which admission is sought. Transfer Admissions Deadlines Admission Type Fall Deadline Spring Deadline Transfer* July 15 Nov. 15 *Note: CUA s School of Nursing no longer accepts transfer applications. For more information, visit nursing.cua.edu. Are a campus visit and interview required? We strongly encourage you to visit our campus as part of your decisionmaking process. Personal interviews are not mandatory, but they give us a better understanding of you and the role CUA might play in your future. During the school year, campus visit sessions are held at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding major holidays). Sessions and tours are also available on selected Saturdays when school is in session. To schedule a campus visit or personal interview, visit our website at admissions.cua.edu or call What if I have questions about my major? Call in advance of your visit, and we can arrange a meeting with a faculty member and students in your intended field of study. Additional information on our academic programs can be found at academics.cua.edu. What does it take to receive a favorable admission decision? Although admission requirements vary by academic school, your application is judged primarily on the strength of your previous college work. If you have earned fewer than 24 college credits, an evaluation will be made using your SAT or ACT scores and a review of your high school transcript. The office will review your previous academic work and carefully consider any other relevant credentials or special personal circumstances. Your statement of intent as well as letters of recommendation submitted on your behalf will provide important additional background information. Applying to the University To be considered for admission, please complete Catholic University s Undergraduate Application for Admission by the appropriate deadline. The application is available online at admissions.cua.edu. Your application should include the following: A Statement of Intent outlining your interest in Catholic University, your past academic achievements, and your goals; A $55 nonrefundable application fee; Official high school transcripts (can be waived if you received an A.A.); Official college transcripts from all previous colleges attended; At least one letter of recommendation from a professor or academic adviser who can write a brief appraisal of your academic qualities and potential; Certification of Good Standing; SAT/ACT scores (can be waived if you have completed at least 24 college credits); All appropriate scholarship nomination forms (such as CUA s Parish Scholarship and Alumni Grant), available at admissions.cua.edu; Portfolio (architecture students only); Audition (music students only). Note: All paperwork for scholarships and grants should be submitted with the Undergraduate Application for Admission and must be received along with all other materials submitted in support of a complete application. Due to the rolling admission of transfer students, once an admissions decision and a scholarship recommendation have been made, adjustments are not possible. TRANSFERRING CREDITS EARNED How is transfer credit earned? In order for an academic course to transfer, it should compare in quality and scope to a similar course offered at Catholic University. Your credit evaluation is individually reviewed and determined by the office of the dean of the school to which you are applying. At CUA, only the credits from your previous courses transfer; your grade point average does not carry over. Once admitted, you ll begin building a new grade point average. Please note that transfer credit will not be awarded for: Courses for which you were awarded below a C grade; Courses that covered material considered below an introductory level course at CUA; Courses that were vocational, technical, or experiential in nature; Courses designed to provide basic or remedial skills; Courses taken via distance learning or online. Even more important than how many credits will transfer is whether or not they can be applied to your specific degree requirements. To assist us in evaluating your credits, we encourage you to send us the academic course catalog(s) and the syllabi provided by the professors from all colleges or universities that you have attended. This will enable us to process your credit evaluation more quickly and effectively. What s the maximum number of credits I can transfer toward my degree at Catholic University? Because the policies on transfer credits vary from school to school within the University, the maximum number of allowable credits also varies, depending upon your course of study and chosen major. In general, in the School of Arts and Sciences, students must complete 60 credits at CUA, while the other schools of the University require 36 of the last 40 credits to be completed at CUA. Applicants who want further information should contact the dean s office in the school to which they plan on applying. 2

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6 Additional Information OPPORTUNITIES AT CUA Can I live on campus? Learn here. Live here. Love it here! According to University policy, all students (including transfer) must live on campus during their freshman and sophomore year of study. Students can commute only if they live with their parents within 25 miles of campus. Transfer students, in particular, prefer to spend their first year in residence at CUA in one of the University residence halls. University residence halls offer various housing options, including single or double rooms, suite-style, and apartment-style living arrangements. There are also many off-campus housing options within a few miles of campus. There is a Metrorail stop adjacent to campus, making it easy for students to commute to CUA. Information on apartments and houses for rent can be obtained from CUA s Offices of Housing Services and Residence Life. You can also visit housing.cua.edu. Can I participate in the University Honors Program? If you re an academically talented transfer student, you ll be encouraged to participate in CUA s outstanding University Honors Program. The University Honors Program features a required series of challenging courses that must be completed for a student to be designated as a University Scholar upon graduation. Our honors program brings students and faculty together from all areas of the University in the pursuit of knowledge. It explores the great ideas and issues of civilization from ancient to modern times, hones critical thinking skills, and lays a solid foundation in the classical liberal arts. For more information, visit honors.cua.edu. Can I study abroad? The University encourages all students to participate in an international learning experience. Whether or not you elect to participate is your choice, based on your personal goals, time of entry into the University, and graduation plan. Among the options available at the University are several education-abroad programs offered in partnership with other universities in countries such as England, Ireland, Australia, Italy, Greece, and Venezuela, to name just a few. For more information, visit cuabroad.cua.edu. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SCHOLARSHIPS CUA offers a wide variety of academic- and need-based financial assistance to all students, including transfer applicants. CUA requires completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE Application to determine federal and institutional need-based assistance. Please note that your FAFSA cannot be processed if you do not include your Social Security Number and birth date in your application. Additionally, funding becomes more limited the later a student submits the FAFSA. CUA s FAFSA code is and can be filed online at CUA s PROFILE code is 5104 and can be filed online at profileonline.collegeboard.com. The priority deadline for completing the FAFSA for the fall semester is Feb. 15. For the spring semester, the deadline is Nov. 15. Funding becomes more limited for students filing after the deadlines. The CSS PROFILE may be completed as early as Oct. 1 for the upcoming fall semester. What kind of assistance is available?* The average CUA need-based package typically includes University, state, and federal grants; college work-study; and federal loans. Universityfunded programs include: University Scholarships Applicants are considered for these scholarships based on the materials they submit as part of their application for admission. These scholarships are awarded to students who have a proven academic profile as evidenced by past academic work. Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships Available to transfer applicants who are active members of Phi Theta Kappa at their current two-year colleges. To qualify for this award, applicants must provide a copy of their PTK certificate with their application for admission. Parish Scholarships These $3,000, annually renewable awards are available to parishioners of U.S. Catholic churches who are admitted to CUA. A Parish Scholarship application is included the following pages or can be obtained online at admissions.cua.edu. The applicant completes the top portion of the form and the pastor or his designee completes the lower portion. The form should be submitted with the Undergraduate Application for Admission. Alumni Grants Awarded to applicants who have been nominated for this $1,000 yearly award by graduates of Catholic University. A completed recommendation form should be submitted with the Undergraduate Application for Admission. CUA graduates (who may or may be be related to the applicants) can obtain a form on the following pages online at admissions.cua.edu. Family Grants Available if two or more children of the same family are concurrently registered as full-time dependent undergraduate students pursuing their first B.A. or B.S. degrees at Catholic University. The first child to enroll at CUA receives a grant of $2,000 per year, provided that one other child from the same family is simultaneously enrolled and meets the above criteria. * Please Note: Adjustments to scholarship awards cannot be made after admission and scholarship decisions have been rendered. Since decisions are made on a rolling basis, students are advised to submit scholarship nomination and/or qualifying certificates along with their completed application. 4

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8 Undergraduate Majors and Programs SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING Four-Year Bachelor of Science in Architecture Dual Degree Program in Architecture/Civil Engineering SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Anthropology Art History Art: Studio* Biochemistry Biology Chemical Physics Chemistry Classical Civilization Classical Humanities Classics Greek and Latin Drama* Education Early Childhood Elementary Secondary Education Studies (nonteaching) English Language and Literature* Environmental Chemistry French* German* History* Italian Studies Mathematics* Mathematics/Physics Media Studies (Communications) Medical Technology Medieval and Byzantine Studies Philosophy Philosophy/Pre-Law Physics Politics Psychology Sociology Spanish* Spanish for International Service Theology and Religious Studies Undecided/Arts and Sciences * Majors are also offered as Secondary Education minors. SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS Accounting Economics Finance International Business International Economics and Finance Management Marketing Undecided/Business SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING Biomedical Engineering Civil Engineering Construction Engineering Dual Degree Program in Civil Engineering/Architecture Computer Science Electrical Engineering Alternative and Renewable Energy Mechanical Engineering Environmental Engineering Undecided/Engineering BENJAMIN T. ROME SCHOOL OF MUSIC Bachelor of Arts, Music General, Performance, Music, History, and Literature Bachelor of Music Collaborative Piano Composition Music Education General Choral Music Education Instrumental Music Education Combined General Choral and Instrumental Music Education (dual degrees) Musical Theatre Performance Orchestral Instruments Organ Piano Voice Piano Pedagogy SCHOOL OF NURSING Bachelor of Science in Nursing SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY Bachelor of Philosophy NATIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SERVICE Bachelor of Social Work PRE-PROFESSIONAL STUDIES Pre-Dental Pre-Law Pre-Medicine Pre-Veterinary UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM An Aristotelian Studium The Christian Tradition Critical Exploration of Social Reality The Environment, Energy, and Policy Tradition and Renewal in Contemporary Catholicism Liberal Studies Visit academics.cua.edu to learn more about majors and programs. 6

9 Certification of Good Standing Transfer applicants should complete the top portion of this form and then give it to a college official or dean who has access to both your academic and disciplinary records. If one college official does not have access to all of this information, please have an official who has access to your academic records first complete the academic portion and then securely forward it to an official who will be able to complete the disciplinary portion. Once both portions have been completed, this form must be forwarded directly to The Catholic University of America. TRANSFER APPLICATION DEADLINES Transfer (Except Nursing): FALL July 15; SPRING Nov. 15 *Note: CUA s School of Nursing no longer accepts transfer applications. For more information, visit nursing.cua.edu. TRANSFER APPLICANT (please print) Legal Name (As it appears on legal documents) Last First Full Middle Birth Date / / mm dd yyyy Home Address Number and Street City State Zip Code Official Name of School City State Country Zip Code At the time of application submission, how many college credits have you earned overall? WAIVER OF ACCESS I have requested that this report be filed by school officials for use in the admissions process and in counseling by officials of The Catholic University of America. In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, I have indicated my intention regarding access to this report by checking one of the following options: n I waive access to this report, which shall therefore be considered confidential. n I do not waive access to this report. Student s Signature Date Note: If the student has agreed to the waiver printed above, we will preserve strict confidentiality of this document, and it will be made available only to University officials. If the student has not agreed, this report will be made available to the student upon request, if the student matriculates at The Catholic University of America. TO THE COLLEGE OFFICIAL The above student is applying to The Catholic University of America as a transfer candidate. Please complete this form in its entirety by the application deadline (above) and mail it directly to The Catholic University of America. The information you provide regarding this student will be used as we evaluate the candidate for admission to CUA. Cumulative GPA on a scale Time Period / / to / / mm dd yyyy mm dd yyyy 7 (over)

10 Is this student in good standing? (If no, please provide an explanation.) Is this student eligible to return to your institution? (If no, please provide an explanation.) Has this student ever been subject to disciplinary action, whether academic or behavioral misconduct? (If yes, please provide an explanation.) To your knowledge, has this student ever been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor, or other crime? (If yes, please explain.) How long have you known this student and in what context? This report is based on: n personal observation and contact n faculty comments n observations of other faculty n written records only n Other If you prefer to discuss this applicant over the phone with an admissions counselor at The Catholic University of America, please call the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at I recommend this student: n enthusiastically n strongly n fairly strongly n with reservation n no basis Signature Date Name (please print) Title University Name Address Phone Number ( ) - Questions? Please contact: The Catholic University of America, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Washington, DC Telephone: Toll-Free: Fax: cua-admissions@cua.edu Web: admissions.cua.edu/transfer

11 Parish Scholarship Nomination Form Parishioners of Catholic churches are eligible for this $3,000 scholarship, renewable for up to four years. The pastor may nominate any number of parishioners (new freshmen or transfers) for this award, as funding is provided by The Catholic University of America. Receipt of the grant is not automatic. Limited funding is available and will be awarded based on a strong personal profile shown through leadership experience and extracurricular activities. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Must be a U.S. citizen and a parishioner of a Catholic church in the United States. (Pastors may nominate more than one parishioner.) Must be applying for full-time undergraduate study at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. May not be a currently enrolled student at Catholic University. (Note: If this scholarship is not requested prior to enrolling as a new first-time freshman or transfer student, subsequent application is not permitted.) DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION Completed Parish Scholarship Application should be submitted with the Undergraduate Application for Admission by: Freshman Early Action: Nov. 15 Freshman Regular Decision: Feb. 15 Transfer: Must be submitted with Undergraduate Application Adjustments to scholarship awards cannot be made after admission and scholarship decisions have been rendered. PART I: TO BE COMPLETED BY THE STUDENT APPLICANT (please print) Student s Name Student s Address Last First Middle Number and Street City State Zip Code Student s Home Phone Number ( ) - Student s Address PART II: TO BE COMPLETED BY PASTOR OR DESIGNATED CHURCH REPRESENTATIVE (please print) Parish Name Address Number and Street City State Zip Code Daytime Phone Number ( ) - Fax Number ( ) - Pastor or Parish Address Website I nominate the above-named applicant for the Parish Scholarship Program at The Catholic University of America. Pastor or Designated Representative Name (please print) Signature Date Questions? Please contact: The Catholic University of America, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Washington, DC Telephone: Toll-Free: Fax: cua-admissions@cua.edu

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13 Alumni Grant Nomination Form Graduates of Catholic University s undergraduate, graduate, or law school programs may nominate new freshmen or transfers for this $1,000 award, renewable for up to four years. Receipt of the grant is not automatic. Limited funding is available and will be awarded based on a strong personal profile, shown through leadership experience and extracurricular activities. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Must be a U.S. citizen applying for full-time undergraduate study at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. May not be a currently enrolled student at Catholic University. (Note: If this scholarship is not requested prior to enrolling as a new first-time freshman or transfer student, subsequent application is not permitted.) DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION Completed Alumni Grant Recommendation Form should be submitted with the Undergraduate Application for Admission by: Freshman Early Action: Nov. 15 Freshman Regular Decision: Feb. 15 Transfer: Must be submitted with Undergraduate Application Adjustments to scholarship awards cannot be made after admission and scholarship decisions have been rendered. PART I: TO BE COMPLETED BY THE STUDENT APPLICANT (please print) Student s Name Student s Address Last First Middle Number and Street City State Zip Code Student s Home Phone Number ( ) - Student s Address PART II: TO BE COMPLETED BY THE ALUMNA/ALUMNUS (please print) n Mr. n Ms. n Miss n Mrs. n Rev. n Sr. n Bro. n Dr. n Other Name Last First Middle Name used at CUA (if different) Address Number and Street City State Zip Code Daytime Phone Number ( ) - Evening Phone ( ) - Address Class Year(s) Degree(s) Major(s) Occupation Relationship to Student Signature Date Questions? Please contact: The Catholic University of America, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Washington, DC Telephone: Toll-Free: Fax: cua-admissions@cua.edu

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15 CUA at a Glance LOCATION Washington, D.C. Three miles north of the U.S. Capitol in the residential Brookland neighborhood Brookland-CUA Metrorail stop adjacent to campus The Library of Congress, Union Station, Smithsonian Institute, Supreme Court, White House, and other national landmarks just minutes away BEYOND GRADUATION 91 percent of recent CUA graduates received jobs within six months of commencement 33 percent of recent graduates went on to full- or part-time graduate school ATHLETICS 21 NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics Extensive club sports and intramural program FACILITIES With 180 acres, CUA s campus encompasses 17 residence halls, 25 modular housing units, two dining facilities, the Raymond A. DuFour Athletic Center, a convenience store, and the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center CHARACTER Four-year, private University with a comprehensive liberal arts and professional curriculum in nine undergraduate schools: architecture and planning, arts and sciences, business and economics, engineering, music, nursing, philosophy, professional studies, and social work INTERNSHIPS Approximately 2,000 governmental, private sector, and nonprofit internships and part-time jobs available each year to CUA students in Washington, D.C., and throughout the United States ACTIVITIES More than 90 student clubs and organizations on campus focusing on a wide array of interests 13

16 Office of University Admissions Washington, DC (fax) The Catholic University of America admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, or disability to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the University. It does not discriminate against students or applicants for admission, or employees or applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or on the basis of sex, age, or disability, in the administration of its educational or admissions policies or in any aspect of its operations.