Valley Forge ilitary ollege he ilitary ollege of ennsylvania ourse atalog 2013-2014
ontents FL 2 HY 3 4 F 5-6 U V ransfer ffice 7 ollege ransfer greements 7-8 tudent cademic ervices 9 tudent ervices 10 tudent Life 11-12 L G onsortium greements 13 rmy / 13 ervice cademy reparatory rogram 14 ophomore tudy broad rogram 14 LY G G 15-16 dmissions rocess 17 How to pply 17 U B HG 18 FL 19-21 L 22-27 G QU 28 G ore urriculum 29 rograms ffered 30 Business 31 riminal Justice 32 History and olitical cience 33 Humanities 34 Health ciences 35 Life ciences 36 hysical ciences 37 repster urriculum 38 nternational repster urriculum 39 U 40-52 1
Valley Forge ilitary ollege he ilitary ollege of ennsylvania rofile tatus: haracter: rivate wo-year transfer college, co-ed, military-educational model, boarding. Founded: 1935 Location: nrollment: 100 acre campus in Wayne, ennsylvania, suburban hiladelphia residential area 311 Full-time students Faculty: 18 Full-ime; 4 djunct tudent Faculty atio: 17:1 verage lass ize: 16.8:1 ransfer ate: ver 92% alendar: Fall, pring and Winter, ummer nline ccreditation and embership: iddle tates ommission on Higher ducation, ouncil for Higher ducation ccreditation, ssociation of ilitary olleges and chools of the United tates, ennsylvania ssociation of wo-year olleges; ssociation for ndependent olleges and Universities of ennsylvania, enior ivision; United tates rmy eserve fficer raining orps; nline onsortium of ndependent olleges and Universities. dministration: F L resident, VF& resident VF: ommandant: ean of cademic ervices: ean of tudent ervices: rofessor of ilitary cience: tacey. auchuk, h.. Kathleen nderson, d.. olonel ichard G. iscal, U olonel an Hood, VF ajor obert Wood, VF Lieutenant olonel Gene. Whitesides, U.. rmy eserves his catalog is for informational purposes only and the ollege reserves the right to make changes at any time, including, but not limited to, the right to modify the requirements for admission and graduation; to change the dates listed; to change the program of study, to amend any regulation affecting the student body; to increase tuition and fees and to dismiss from the ollege any student at any time, if it is deemed in the best interest of the ollege or the student to do so. othing in this catalog should be viewed as setting forth the terms of a contract between the student or prospective student and the ollege and holds no legally binding statements or promises. 2
VLLY FG LY LLG H LY LLG F YLV HY U Valley Forge ilitary cademy & ollege opened its doors to the first orps of adets in 1928. Founder Lieutenant General ilton G. Baker created the military academy to fill what he perceived as a crying need for the education of young mericans. end us your boy and we will return to you a man, was the cademy s promise. he cademy was so successful in its mission that in 1935 the institution expanded its curriculum to become Valley Forge ilitary cademy and Junior ollege, the new branch offering the first and second years of college to young men. n 1992, the Junior ollege was renamed Valley Forge ilitary ollege to more accurately reflect that the education offered was a full collegiate experience. n ugust 2006, VF admitted women on a full time basis, making it a co-educational institution. he breadth of the ollege academic program has evolved since those early days, and the academic requirements for successful transfer have increased significantly. VF continues to pursue its ultimate goal: the creation of educated, responsible, and self-disciplined young men and women who will become credits to society. o this end, the primary focus of the college is to prepare its graduates to transfer successfully as rising juniors to quality four-year colleges and universities. LLG he ission of Valley Forge ilitary ollege is to educate students within an academic and military environment to transfer to academically competitive four-year colleges, universities or service academies. he ollege builds leaders of character for the future, for the community, for the country, for the world FV n order to support the mission of Valley Forge ilitary ollege, the ollege uses the Five ornerstones, first articulated by our founder, Lieutenant General ilton G. Baker, as the prism through which we honor our history, embrace the challenges of today, and envision our future, enabling VF to best serve the interests of our students and society s future leaders. cademic xcellence haracter evelopment ersonal otivation hysical evelopment Leadership 3
FV cademic xcellence: he primary goal of the ollege is to provide a quality education that will allow each of its graduates to transfer successfully as rising juniors to competitive colleges and universities. VF faculty are dedicated to teaching students within small class settings, and the academic programs are augmented by mandatory study hours, readily available instructors, as well as peer and professional tutors. VF students aspire to careers in the military, but for all, the lessons of self-discipline, responsibility, and service to others, forged in the crucible of their years at VF, will stay with them forever. haracter evelopment: major goal of VF is individual character development. Valley Forge emphasizes character development through adherence to traditional values and moral principles, promoted by the Honor ouncil and Honor ystem. ll members of the orps of adets are governed by the Honor ode: cadet will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do. his simple code demands that students aspire to a standard of behavior seldom experienced elsewhere. ersonal otivation: t VF, faculty and staff provide an individual learning environment in which students are rewarded and recognized for personal academic achievement. VF faculty and staff ensure that individualized academic accountability is maintained. VF faculty and staff help students to design a personalized plan to foster academic improvement in keeping with individual goals. hysical evelopment: VF faculty and staff support a physical environment in which the importance of maintaining physical fitness is tied to successful classroom alertness. he tudents are encouraged to participate in athletic competition through both intramural and organized sports teams, embracing a healthy lifestyle, and physical self-confidence. Leadership: he faculty and staff at VF provide a leadership environment linked to academic learning. hrough required courses of instruction, through precept and example, and through numerous opportunities both formal and informal, students have the ability to mold their leadership skills. pportunities to learn and practice leadership are provided by staff appointments in the adet hain of ommand. he orps of adets is fundamentally a cadet-led system patterned on the military structure. adets are responsible for the administration of the orps and the implementation of the rules and regulations that govern the students daily lives. n these appointments, the students gain confidence and are given an increasing amount of responsibility, fostering poise and confidence as leaders. F V 4
H When students enter VF, they must accept the values and standards of the he Forge as their own. For the orps of adets, these values and standards are reflected in three basic declarations: the ission tatement, the adet esolution, and the Honor ode. hese declarations provide the ethical guidance and philosophical structure that give form to a student s life at Valley Forge. t is within this framework that the day-to-day academic, physical, military and moral education of the orps of adets take place. F 5 lebe ystem he word plebe designates a first year student or new person at a military college, one who is outside the total embrace of the institution and whose manners are yet unrefined by the spirit and traditions of the school. uring ollege adets first semester at Valley Forge, they are known as ew adets. his is a time of learning and preparation for the day when ew adets are recognized and can assume leadership positions in the orps. he ew adet period is divided into two phases: the lebe system phase and the ost-ecognition phase. he lebe system phase encompasses the ew adet reception, processing, training, and the first six weeks of the academic year. he plebe system is a time honored rite of passage that binds all of those who attend Valley Forge ilitary ollege into a brotherhood. ecognition of ew adets officially marks the end of the lebe ystem. he recognition of ew adets occurs six weeks after the cadets report and is marked by the awarding of the ap hield. fter adets receive their ap hields, they are considered members of the orps of adets and are able to take advantage of all the privileges of a ew adet. Before students can become leaders, they must first learn to be a loyal and effective follower. tudents must learn to discipline themselves as cadets. t is through this discipline that cadets are able to establish the self-control that they need to regulate their daily lives. uring their first year at VF, students learn the importance of developing and maintaining a positive attitude; to consider the welfare of others including, their unit and the welfare of the orps before their own personal satisfaction. eveloping a sense of duty and service will enable the cadets to take these first steps toward accepting the values that define Valley Forge ilitary ollege. Goals and bjectives of lebe ystem and raining s the first Freshman experience the foundation for ollegiate success is initiated during this period. o prepare incoming cadets for success in all programs: academic, physical, character development, leadership and personal motivation. o teach cadets to be loyal and effective followers as part of the leadership development experience o introduce cadets to the daily operations and rules and regulations of Valley Forge. o instruct and train each new cadet in the cademic and actical standards and conduct expected of a member of the Valley Forge orps of adets. o introduce cadets to the customs and traditions of Valley Forge. o instill confidence, teamwork, loyalty, respect, responsibility, selflessness, a sense of duty and service, and selfdiscipline in a standards-based, values-focused system. o begin to set the foundation for development of the cadet as a future citizen-leader of character. o inspire all cadets for excellence in all they do o provide a powerful and inspirational leadership experience through the adet hain of ommand.
H orps of adets teeped in tradition, student life at VF centers on the challenging rigors of life in the orps of adets. he common experience of living closely together in a highly disciplined and challenging environment creates a unit esprit and camaraderie that remains with the student long after graduation from VF. he orps of adets is fundamentally a cadet-led system administered through the military structure. Under the supervision of the ommandant of adets and the ompany fficers, the cadets are responsible for the administration of the orps and the implementation of the rules and regulations that govern the cadets daily lives. his delegation of authority directly descends from the ommandant and fficers through the hain of ommand. pportunities to learn and practice leadership are provided through leadership and staff appointments in the hain of ommand. embership in the famed ontinental Line is characterized by a commitment to excellence and a daily life that is precise, structured, and demanding. With these appointments into the hain of ommand, cadets gain confidence and are given an increasing amount of responsibility, fostering poise as leaders. When students enter VF, they must accept the values and standards of he Forge as their own if they are to succeed. For the orps of adets these values and standards are reflected in three basic declarations: the ission tatement, the adet esolution and the Honor ode. he majority of ollege students live in college companies, with the exception of those students who are members of the VF& Band. he companies live together, eat meals together in the egimental ess, and wear the unique uniform that identifies them as Valley Forge ilitary ollege students. he adet organization is the ideal vehicle by which each student can develop leadership and management skills. adet training teaches students to think clearly, to keep their minds alert and active, and to form habits of neatness and correctness. t prepares them for greater responsibilities by teaching respect and obedience to authority and by developing habits of self discipline. haracter evelopment and Honor major goal of VF is for adets to grow into ethically minded citizen leaders of character. Valley Forge emphasizes character development through adherence to traditional values and moral principles promoted by the Honor ode and Honor ystem. adets receive instruction in core virtues during presentations throughout the academic year presented by faculty, staff and outside speakers. n addition, they participate in a series of peer-led discussions on ethical decision making and moral discernment. ivic responsibility and service learning are emphasized through community service projects. he overall character program is designed to equip adets to do the right thing, without being told, even when no one is looking. ll members of the orps of adets are governed by the Honor ode: adet will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do. his simple code, demands that cadets aspire to a standard of behavior seldom experienced elsewhere. nstruction in the meaning and expectations of the ode begins during lebe training and continues throughout the year. he Honor ode and Honor ystem are administered by the Honor ouncil, appointed by the resident of the VF Foundation, which is comprised of tudents in key leadership positions. Governance hain of ommand he egimental ommander, also known as the First aptain, commands the orps. He or she is assisted by a adet egimental taff, two adet Battalion ommanders and taffs, the adet ompany ommanders, and the adet hain of ommand. number of institutional committees with adet membership exist to ensure adet participation and input into the governance of the orps. ncluded among these bodies are the adet Life ommittee, an institutional level committee appointed by the resident, and the ommandant s and adet dvisory ommittee. hain of ommand members also serve on the cadet disciplinary board, the egimental Board. F tudent Government embers of the ollege elect class officers in the fall of their first year. hese officers serve as the elected class representatives until graduation. lass officers do not become involved in the administration of the cadet military system, but represent the ollege in class activities. he lass residents and First aptain are invited to meet with the ean on a regular basis as part of the ean s dvisory ouncil. adet Honor ouncil he Honor ouncil meets to hear all cases involving alleged violations of the adet Honor ode. cademic misconduct, plagiarism, and cheating are serious violations and a breach of the integrity of both the orps of adets and the academic community. cademic honor violations are referred to the cademic tandards ommittee and the adet Honor ommittee for disposition as a violation of the adet Honor ode. he hairman of the adet Honor ouncil is the egimental ommander. 6
U V ransfer ffice Valley Forge ilitary ollege is dedicated to maintaining its strong academic reputation and insuring that its graduates continue their education at quality colleges and universities. ach year, graduates of VF s ssociate degree programs transfer successfully to a college of their choice. he process of preparing to transfer to a competitive college or university at the completion of the sophomore year at VF begins with the student s first semester commitment to academic achievement. U V he transfer advisor is a vital link in the transfer preparation program. tudents are advised to pursue programs and select courses that will support their academic and transfer goals. he ean of cademic ervices and the ollege ransfer ffice are responsible for assisting students in identifying and selecting colleges and universities that are compatible with their academic objectives and capabilities. he student-advisor relationship is meant to be informative, supportive, concerned, and one in which effective decision making and academic planning can occur. nformation is provided to each student throughout the academic year via individual and group counseling sessions. his information is supplemented with added individual advising sessions, campus visits with admissions representatives, and orientations to assist students the transfer admissions application and for the admissions interviews. ollege ransfer greements abrini ollege ual dmissions n ugust 2010, VF and abrini ollege signed an agreement which offers guaranteed admission to ssociate degree recipients from VF into a Bachelor s degree program with third year (junior) status at abrini ollege. he ual dmission and ore to ore ransfer greements are designed to facilitate VF students ease of transfer into abrini ollege. t abrini, students will benefit from an outstanding faculty committed to their success and a wide variety of educational opportunities in over thirty academic programs. n addition, abrini ollege will award scholarships to students with a 2.5 or higher VF cumulative G who attend abrini full-time, and will provide on-going advising while students are attending VF. abrini ollege is conveniently located adjacent to the VF campus in Wayne,. UY aritime ollege ual dmissions ption tarting in Fall 2008 through pring 2011, all students who begin their studies at Valley Forge ilitary ollege will be eligible to be considered for the ual dmissions program. tudents may apply for UY aritime ollege admission either when they submit their application for Valley Forge or at any time before the completion of their second semester, or 30 credit hours at VF, provided the courses follow the requirements for the aforementioned transfer programs. andidates who are selected for the dual admissions program will receive concurrent letters of acceptance from the dmissions ffices at both UY aritime ollege and Valley Forge ilitary ollege. emple University ual dmissions ption tudents who sign an ntent Form before completing 30 credits, may apply for the ual dmissions rogram. Upon graduation with an associate degree and 2.3 G, Valley Forge graduates may enroll at emple University. hestnut Hill ollege n July 2007, VF signed an agreement with hestnut Hill ollege to facilitate the transfer of ollege associate degree recipients to the chool of ontinuing tudies and the chool of Undergraduate tudies. Valley Forge graduates who earn an ssociate in cience () or an ssociate in rts () degree will be granted junior status, after completing the hestnut Hill transfer process. Under the dual admissions and core-to-core agreements, all core and basic requirements, except 6 credits in religious studies, will be satisfied in the hestnut Hill programs. hestnut Hill ollege is located in hestnut Hill, ennsylvania. cademic cholarships are based on transfer G. rexel University n 2010, VF formalized a cooperative relationship with rexel University s B o-p rogram. ince all applicants must meet highly competitive admissions requirements, no formal articulation is required. However, all prospective students who are considering pursuing their nursing degree at rexel will be assigned to a B o-p cademic dvisor who will assist in all aspects of planning, the application process, and matriculation. 7 rexel -Learning partnership n ugust 2007, VF signed Letters of Understanding with rexel e-learning, nc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of rexel University, in order to initiate a new online partnership exclusively targeted for VF associate degree recipients who elect to complete a bachelor s degree online. VF associate degree holders may select from seven Bachelor of cience programs: ommunications and pplied echnology, ommunications, omputing echnology, ducation, sychology, /B and General tudies with a minor is Business. n addition to the new e-learning partnership, rexel University has granted access to current freshmen and sophomores at VF to take individual summer courses online, with the approval of the ffice of the ean.
U V ary Baldwin ollege and Virginia Women s nstitute for Leadership n Fall 2008, VF and ary Baldwin ollege (B) signed an agreement which offers guaranteed admission to graduates of VF to B and to the Virginia Women s nstitute for Leadership. Based on the VF student s academic goals, B will develop an individualized graduation plan for every VF student considering transfer to B, following completion of one semester of good standing at VF. Upon request, B will also provide transfer counseling to the student as she progresses through VF. n addition, this agreement includes scholarship opportunities based on cumulative grade point average at the time of graduation from VF and a waiver of the B application fee. ary Baldwin ollege and the Virginia nstitute for Leadership are located in taunton, Virginia. isericordia University Valley Forge ilitary ollege, he ilitary ollege of ennsylvania, and isericordia University signed a formal articulation agreement in ugust 2009 that will enable prospective nursing students to matriculate to isericordia University and complete their Bachelor of cience in ursing (B) degree. ligible students at Valley Forge ilitary ollege may also receive scholarship benefits for up to four years, which pays for tuition and mandatory fees or room and board. dditional benefits include book, meal, and uniform allowances. he scholarship benefits are eligible to be transferred to isericordia University. tudents who earn an ssociate of cience degree in Health ciences, meet grade point average requirements and other prerequisite course requirements will be eligible to transfer to isericordia University for completion of the enior rmy rogram and earn a Bachelor of cience in ursing degree from isericordia University. UY aritime ollege he tate University of ew York aritime ollege offers three transfer options to VF ssociate degree recipients who achieve a minimum 2.5 G: First option: ssociate in cience degree recipients, with a concentration in Life ciences, will be granted junior status in the Bachelor of cience in arine and nvironmental cience ajor with a arine Biology minor. econd option: ssociate in cience degree recipients, with a concentration in hysical ciences, will be admitted to the Bachelor of cience in arine nvironmental cience major with a eteorology and ceanography minor. hird option: ssociate in rts in Business degree recipients can earn a Bachelor of cience degree in nternational ransportation and rade. tudents who transfer to UY aritime may pursue commissioning opportunities with the United tates rmed Forces; UY aritime hosts a avy and arine program. UY aritime ollege is located in hrogg s eck, Y. emple University n 2011, emple University signed a Gen d-to-gen d greement to accept the General ducation (VF ) embedded in the ollege associate degrees: ssociate in rts, ssociate in cience, and ssociate in Business dministration as meeting all the requirements of its undergraduate University General ducation urriculum (Gen d). ligible VF graduates will be identified upon admission to emple, and satisfaction of emple s Gen d requirements pursuant to the agreement will be noted on all pertinent student records. he agreement does not alter requirements of the student s major field of study or requirements of the student s emple school or college. homas Jefferson University Jefferson chool of ursing & Jefferson chool of Health rofessions n 2010, homas Jefferson University Jefferson chool of ursing and Jefferson chool of Health rofessions signed a emorandum of greement to facilitate the transfer of ollege students into the following programs: adiologic ciences, Biotechnology, ytotechnology, edical Laboratory cience, ccupational herapy, and ursing. ll prerequisite course work must be completed with a grade of or better, and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and 3.0 cumulative in science courses on a 4.0 scale. program coordinator recommends the candidate in a narrative describing academic performance, character, and ability to perform in a health care setting U V Widener University chool of Hospitality anagement VF ssociate in rts in Business dministration graduates will be granted junior status in the Widener University chool of Hospitality anagement and will be given the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of cience degree in Hospitality anagement. H majors select from 9 concentrations: Hospitality anagement, Hotel and esort anagement, estaurant anagement, asino Hotel and Gaming perations, rivate lub anagement, ontract ervices, ourism and Leisure, and ccounting and re-b. Widener University is located in hester, ennsylvania. cademic cholarships are based on transfer G. 8
U V Learning ssessment and upport enter he Learning ssessment and upport enter supports the mission of the ollege and nstitution by providing coordination and implementation of initiatives to promote the academic success, retention, and persistence to graduation of all students. stablished in 2009, the L grew out of the former ollege Writing enter, which had traditionally been staffed by members of the ollege nglish department. complete renovation of the existing facility, housed on the ground floor of Baker Library, occurred during summer 2009. ince its creation, the L has become an important location for all student academic support services. U V he L facility is outfitted with computers, martboard technology, and a printer/copier/scanner for student use. n addition to peer and professional tutoring, students can take advantage of assistive technology like ragon aturally peaking to word process assignments and search academic databases and the web. upplemental computerbased instruction is also available to students struggling with reading, writing, and mathematics. dditionally, the L works with students with diagnosed learning disabilities to provide academic services and accommodations to those students to ensure equal access to the institution. he L assists a diverse population of students achieve academic success and to provide opportunities for leadership, collaboration, and intellectual growth for all members of the VF community. he L facilitates a variety of student success initiatives including tutorial services, disability services, testing services, educational seminars, and the provision of educational resources at no additional cost to students enrolled in the college. he center also offers resources, professional development opportunities, and support for faculty and staff to enhance student learning. ollege Library he ay H. Baker emorial Library of the Valley Forge ilitary ollege contributes to the philosophy and objectives of the institution by serving as the information center for the school and as a vital instructional center. Located in the center of campus, Baker Library is dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant General Baker s Wife. Librarians interact with students and faculty in meeting information needs and achieving instructional goals. he library staff and college faculty collaborate in the instructional design of library resource-based learning activities for students. he library contains: ver 80,000 print volumes nline subscription research databases eriodical and newspaper subscriptions ccess through interlibrary loan to 5,000,000 + volumes in over 3000 ccess ennsylvania libraries and regional consortiums otable collection strengths include merican and World History, ilitary History, Geopolitics, Fine rts and Literature. cademic dvising Upon enrollment to VF students are assigned an cademic dvisor. he cademic dvisor assists the student in developing a course of study to achieve their desired degree. t VF the cademic dvisors are the full-time ollege faculty members. tudents are encouraged to meet with their dvisors on a regular basis, throughout the semester, to discuss academic performance, grades, tutoring and academic support services available to them. 9
U V ounseling ervices he ounseling enter is available to all students in the ollege. tudents may refer themselves for counseling by contacting the ounseling enter via phone, email irector uth onboy rconboy@vfmac.edu, or ounselor Joe Kelly jkelly@vfmac.edu or dropping by our offices in the library. eferrals may also be made by the ommandant, Faculty, Health enter or fficers. arents and guardians who are concerned about their students behavior are welcome to contact the ounseling enter 610-989-1225 or 610-989-1226. n addition to short term individual counseling, the following services are offered by the ounseling enter: group counseling, referrals to local off-campus specialists, consultation to concernec family members and students, trainings on H related topics, educational programming (e.g. ating isorders wareness Week, ational uicide revention ay, ational epression creening ay, etc.), biofeedback equipment, animal assisted therapy and leadership opportunities (eer ducator, committee involvement and work study positions). Health ervices tudents with health or wellness needs receive treatment through the epartment of Health ervices Health enter. tudents may be seen by nursing staff or a school physician either by an appointment, clinic hours, or through daily sick call. he Health enter provides a modern inpatient facility for those students who may require it. n case of serious illness or injury, students are referred to nearby Bryn awr Hospital. long with routine clinical services, the Health enter will also arrange appointments and transportation to local physicians. nsurance coordination, to include referrals, is the responsibility of the individual student and or parent. ll tudents must submit the results of an annual physical examination on VF& forms, meet all epartment of Health immunization requirements including meningitis vaccination, and show evidence of active health insurance before the will be admitted to classes. X WLL B UHZ. eligious ervices VF welcomes tudents of all faiths. tudents are required to attend weekly unday hapel services on campus; either the non-denominational hristian worship service, or services for Jewish and uslim and atholic tudents. he hapel services are an integral part of the character development program. he unday worship service is a blending of religious, patriotic, and military traditions, which are conceived to inspire and motivate. peakers include prominent members of the clergy, distinguished leaders of business and industry, an member of the faculty and staff. U V 10