Benedictine University: Open To Non-Degree Students?

does benedictine university allow non degree seeking students

Benedictine University is a private Catholic university in Lisle, Chicago, that offers a wide range of academic programs, including over 50 undergraduate majors, six Master's degree programs, and multiple pre-professional courses of study. The university welcomes students from diverse backgrounds and provides a flexible and inclusive learning environment. While the university primarily caters to degree-seeking students, it also allows non-degree-seeking students to enrol in certain programs and courses. High school students, for example, can take individual courses at Benedictine University as special students if they meet specific academic requirements. Additionally, students can request advance credit for courses by providing proof of prior learning or demonstrating proficiency through examinations. The university also offers Study Abroad programs and Programs of Distinction for students seeking additional academic growth opportunities outside of their degree programs.

Characteristics Values
Type of institution Private school
Location Lisle, Chicago
Programs Interactive program finder for all academic programs
Degrees Bachelor's, Master's
Majors Over 50 undergraduate majors
Minors Optional
General Education Required for all undergraduates
Courses Numbered 1000 and above
Credit hours 128 semester credit hours required for a bachelor's degree
Transfer students Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0
Non-degree seeking students High school juniors, seniors, or home-schooled high school students may be admitted as special students

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High school students can be admitted as special students

High school juniors, seniors, or home-schooled high school students can be admitted to Benedictine College as special students. To be considered, they must have sixteen academic units in academic/core studies or their equivalent at the high school level, as well as an above-average academic and achievement record. Typically, high school students must be at least 15 years old before requesting to take any college classes on campus.

High school students who are interested in taking college classes at Benedictine College should meet with the Senior Vice Provost to review their proposed courses and determine if there is space available. Degree-seeking students are given priority when it comes to enrolling in classes.

High school students who wish to take dual-credit high school/college courses can refer to the Advanced College Placement section in the Benedictine College catalog for more information. This option may be suitable for those who want to get a head start on their college education while still in high school.

Overall, Benedictine College offers flexibility for high school students who want to take individual courses or pursue dual-credit options as special students. This can be a great opportunity for those who are academically advanced and seeking a challenge beyond their current high school curriculum.

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Experiential learning credit cannot be applied to work experience

Benedictine University is a private school located in Lisle, Chicago. The university offers Bachelor's degrees, which require students to complete a minimum number of semester credit hours at the university itself and at a four-year regionally accredited college.

Although the university does not explicitly state that it allows non-degree-seeking students, it does offer some flexibility for non-traditional students. For example, high school juniors, seniors, or home-schooled high school students may be admitted as special students to take individual courses. These students must meet specific academic requirements and have approval from the Senior Vice Provost.

Additionally, students who have been accepted to Benedictine University may request to postpone their enrollment for one year without repeating the admission process. This indicates some flexibility in accommodating students who may not be actively pursuing a degree during a particular period.

Regarding experiential learning credits, the university has policies in place that suggest such credits are considered but with specific limitations. While Benedictine University mentions that experiential learning credit cannot be applied to work experience to complete a degree, it does acknowledge that students can request an experiential learning portfolio review for college credit. This suggests that the university recognizes experiential learning as valuable but may have specific criteria for its application.

Other universities, such as Purdue Global, Syracuse University, and Southern New Hampshire University, explicitly offer opportunities for students to earn college credit based on experiential learning or prior learning assessments. These universities often have portfolio development courses and assessments to determine the applicability of experiential learning to college credit.

Therefore, while Benedictine University does not explicitly state that experiential learning credit can be applied to work experience, it does recognize the value of experiential learning and provides some flexibility for non-degree-seeking students in specific circumstances.

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Students must complete 128 semester credit hours

While I could not find explicit information on whether Benedictine University allows non-degree-seeking students, I did find information on the requirements for degree-seeking students.

Students seeking a second bachelor's degree are only required to take one IDS 2000-level seminar. The Interdisciplinary Seminars provide an integrated, coherent experience to prepare students for a life of flexible learning and responsible inquiry. These seminars address important general questions and unstructured problems that engage the themes of the Catholic and Benedictine Intellectual Traditions and of Human Dignity or the Common Good. Sections designated as "S" and/or "G" place these questions in the context of sustainability and/or global society, respectively, and meet the associated co-curricular requirements.

In addition to the Interdisciplinary Seminars, students must complete one course or graded co-curricular experience with a Global designation and one with a Sustainability designation. These courses are designed to prepare students for active and responsible participation in global citizenship and stewardship of the earth and its resources.

To complete the 128 semester credit hours, students can also take independent study courses, which are normally only open to juniors and seniors with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. Only four independent study courses with a maximum of 12 credit hours will be counted toward the 128-hour degree requirement.

Internships are another option for students, but they carry 0 credit hours and are only open to those making satisfactory academic progress. A maximum of four hours may be counted toward the 128 hours required for graduation, although more hours may be recorded on the transcript.

Students who have completed a minimum of 110 credit hours and can outline a plan of study approved by the major department chair and Senior Vice Provost may be allowed to participate in commencement exercises in May of the current year. Final approval is left to the discretion of the Provost.

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Students can take classes while studying abroad

Benedictine University allows non-degree-seeking students to take classes, provided they meet certain requirements. High school juniors, seniors, or home-schooled high school students may be admitted as special students to take individual courses. They must have sixteen academic units in academic/core studies or their equivalent and an above-average academic and achievement record.

Benedictine University offers its students a wide range of opportunities to study abroad and take classes in foreign institutions. The university has developed exchange programs with institutions worldwide, allowing students to participate in a semester, year-long, or summer program abroad while paying their regular tuition.

Students can choose from various programs in different countries, including Italy, England, Beijing, Spain, France, Mexico, Australia, Poland, South Korea, and many more. These programs offer courses in a variety of disciplines, such as liberal studies, theology, business, economics, political science, journalism, mass communication, and international relations.

Students can also take language courses through the Department of Modern Foreign and Classical Languages, which sponsors language-based programs in Seville, Spain, and Lyon, France. Additionally, the Catholic University of Valencia offers American students the opportunity to study Spanish and take classes in English and Spanish.

The university encourages students to take advantage of these opportunities, as studying abroad enriches their college experience, allowing them to gain personal independence, intercultural competence, language skills, and unique memories. Students can transfer credits from foreign institutions back to Benedictine University to meet requirements for their major, minor, or general education curriculum.

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Students can request advance credit for courses

Benedictine University is a private school located in Lisle, Chicago. The university allows non-degree-seeking students to enrol in courses under certain conditions.

Benedictine University allows students to request advance credit for courses by providing proof that the material has already been mastered. This can be done through examinations like the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and the General and Subject Matter Examinations. A maximum of 28 hours can be accepted through CLEP examinations. Students must achieve a minimum score of 50 to be considered for credit.

High school students who have completed eligible Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses and submitted test scores may also be considered for college credits. The awarding of credit is based on the official end-of-course assessment score from PLTW.

Additionally, students can request advance credit through external credit programs, which include post-secondary education programs, professional development, industry-based training, and non-degree certificate programs. Credit awards are determined through faculty review and must be approved by the relevant department.

Benedictine University also offers an electronic transcript request process, providing improved efficiency and advanced security features for students and alumni. Official transcripts cannot be forwarded via email and must be sent directly to the recipient or through mail.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, Benedictine University does allow non-degree-seeking students. High school juniors, seniors, or home-schooled high school students can take individual courses at Benedictine College as special students. Additionally, students can request advance credit for courses by providing proof of prior learning.

Non-degree-seeking students must have 16 academic units in academic/core studies or their equivalent and an above-average academic and achievement record. They must be at least 15 years old to take on-campus college classes.

For admission as a degree-seeking student, applicants must submit official final college transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities. They must also have a grade point average of at least 2.0 in all college-level work and demonstrate satisfactory academic progress.

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