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6GENERAL INFORMATIONHistoryGovernors State University was chartered by the IllinoisGeneral Assembly in 1969. It serves undergraduatetransfer students and those seeking master’s and doctoraldegrees.The university’s main campus is located in UniversityPark, 35 miles south of Chicago and is easily accessibleby car or commuter train. The campus is located on 760acres of wooded landscape with several lakes and naturetrails. It includes the internationally renowned NathanManilow Sculpture Park.Governance of the UniversityA seven-member board appointed by the governor ofIllinois governs this university. One student serves as amember of the Board of Trustees. The president of theuniversity is responsible to the Board of Trustees forthe operation and general welfare of the university. Theprovost/academic vice president has general responsibility in the areas of academic personnel and programs.Governors State University’s four colleges are directlyadministered by their respective deans.The curricula of the university are offered through fourcolleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the Collegeof Business and Public Administration, the Collegeof Education, and the College of Health and HumanServices.Faculty, civil service staff, and students participate inuniversity affairs through membership on the Faculty Senate, Civil Service Senate, Student Senate, andacademic and administrative committees. These groupsconsider and recommend policies and procedures to thepresident.MissionAcademic YearGovernors State University is committed to offeringan exceptional and accessible education that imbuesstudents with the knowledge, skills, and confidence tosucceed in a global society. GSU is dedicated to creatingan intellectually stimulating public square, serving as aneconomic catalyst for the region, and being a model ofdiversity and responsible citizenship.AccreditationGovernors State University is accredited by the HigherLearning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The university is also amember of the Illinois Council of Baccalaureate andHigher Degree Programs. Each program is accreditedby a professional accrediting agency in each case wherethere is a national accreditation body.The Higher Learning Commission of the North CentralAssociation of Colleges and Schools30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400,Chicago, IL 60602-2504;312.263.0456; 800.621.7440FAX: 312.263.7462;E-mail: Info@ncacihe.orgBeginning in Fall 2010, GSU will adopt a semesterbased academic calendar. The semester-basedcalendar coincides with the academic schedules of mostuniversities throughout the country. This updated schedule will ease student transition from community collegesto GSU, better serve returning students with familiesand employement, and make GSU summer courses moreaccessible to students from other institutions.The new academic calendar offers 15-week Fall andSpring semesters and an 11-week Summer session. TheFall 2010 semester begins August 30 and ends December 12, 2010. The Spring 2011 semester begins January18 and ends May 8, 2011. The Spring semester will alsoinclude a one-week break, which is new to GSU.The Summer 2011 session begins May 23 and endsAugust 7, 2011.For more information about the new semester calendar,visit www.govst.edu/semesters. This web site includesresources for communicating information about thechange to community partners such as site supervisors and community college program advisors. It alsoincludes a FAQ with answers to questions about thechange and the academic calendars for the next threeyears.

GENERAL INFORMATIONAlumni AssociationAll graduates will receive a basic membership in theAlumni Association. Recent graduates receive a oneyear free premium membership in the Alumni Association upon graduation. Thereafter, membership will beextended to alumni who donate 50 or more to the GSUFoundation earmarked for use by the Alumni Association. Lifetime memberships are also available.Below is a list of some of the premium benefits: Center for Performing Arts - 15 percent discountticket price. (Discount only applies to events sponsored and promoted by The Center for PerformingArts.) Campus Recreation and Fitness Center - almost a 50percent reduction in the membership fee. In-library use of library resources, including checkout privileges of printed materials and some mediaitems. Access to the Academic Computing Lab Services. On-campus use of GSU’s Cyber Café, with accessto Internet, e-mail, and MS Office (Access, Excel,PowerPoint, and Word). Voting privileges and the right to hold office in theassociation. Discounted admission on selected Alumni Association sponsored events. Membership in Alumni Clubs of your choice.For more information about alumni membership, call theAlumni Office at 708.534.4128.Alumni Programs and ActivitiesA wide range of programs and activities are offered toalumni throughout the year. Educational workshops andseminars are conducted. Alumni and their families arealso invited to attend several social, cultural, and recreational activities. Some of the special events includecruise outings, tickets to sporting events, and plays. TheAlumni Association’s various clubs sponsor programsand events designed to help alumni connect and networkwith fellow alumni with similar majors and/or similarprofessions. The alumni travel program offers trips toEurope and elsewhere. An alumni newsletter ispublished twice a year with special emphasis on alumniaccomplishments. Upcoming alumni events areannounced in the newsletter, as are universitynews-related updates.7

8ADMISSION INFORMATIONAdmission to the UniversityGovernors State University encourages applications fromqualified students of all cultural, racial, religious, andethnic groups. Applicants for degree programs are admitted directly into the major in which they are seeking adegree. Application forms and other information neededfor admission to the university may be obtained bywriting to:Office of Admission and Student RecruitmentGovernors State University1 University ParkwayUniversity Park, IL 60484-0975You may call 800.GSU.8GSU for information. Theadmission’s website address is www.govst.edu/admission.Admission documents sent in support of applications arenot returnable or transferable.ADMISSION POLICY FOR VETERANSVeterans who have completed 60 semester credit hours ofcollege credit may apply to Governors State University.The application fee will be waived upon receipt of anapplication accompanied by a copy of the form DD 214.Applications, transcripts, and other documentation can bemailed or dropped off in the office of the Coordinator forVeterans and Military Personnel.Admission Classifications, Deadlines,and RequirementsDEGREE-SEEKINGUndergraduate StudentsThis classification is for students who declare an undergraduate major, including those seeking a second bachelor’s degree (Note: second bachelor’s degree-seekingstudents will be assessed graduate tuition and fees.)Requirements-Applicants must:1. have earned (or will have earned by the term theywish to enroll) an associate of science or an associateof arts degree from a regionally-accredited postsecondary institution; OR have earned (or will haveearned by the term they wish to enroll) at least 60semester-hours (or 90 quarter-hours) of credit from aregionally-accredited institution of higher educationwith at least a “C” average (2.0 on a scale of 4.0) inany 60 semester (or 90 quarter) hours;2. be in good academic standing at the last institutionattended;3. have satisfied any applicable collegial and/or majoradmission criteria for undergraduate study in thespecific major to which they apply; and4. submit the non-refundable 25 application fee.To apply: Submit an application, credentials, and official transcripts from all the post-secondary institutionattended, which demonstrate meeting criteria 1-3 abovedirectly to the Office of Admission and Student Recruitment.Deadlines: Most programs are on a rolling admissionbasis. Students are strongly encouraged to apply early.UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS WITHSPECIAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTSThe majors listed below have special admission criteriabeyond the general university requirements. Requirements could include additional materials and/or application deadlines. Please refer to the specific major sectionsin this catalog for the criteria and deadlines.MAJORSArtBiology Teacher EducationBusiness and Applied ScienceCOLLEGEArts and SciencesArts and SciencesBusiness and PublicAdministrationChemistry Teacher EducationArts and SciencesCommunication DisordersHealth andHuman ServicesEarly Childhood EducationEducationElementary EducationEducationEnglish Teacher EducationArts and SciencesMathematics Teacher EducationArts and SciencesNursingHealth and Human ServicesSocial WorkHealth and Human ServicesMaster’s Degree StudentsThis classification is for students who declare a master’sdegree, including those seeking a second master’sdegree.Requirements-Applicants must:1. have earned (or will have earned by the term theywish to enroll) at least a bachelor’s degree from aregionally-accredited post-secondary institution.Those seeking a second master’s must have completed a master’s degree from a regionally-accreditedpost-secondary institution;2. be in good standing at the last institution attended;3. have satisfied any applicable collegial and/or majoradmission criteria for graduate study in the specificmajor to which they apply; and4. submit the non-refundable 50 application fee.

ADMISSIONTo apply: Submit an application, the application fee, credentials, and official transcripts from the post-secondaryinstitution, which demonstrate meeting criteria 1-3 aboveto the Office of Admission and Student Recruitment.Deadlines: Most programs are on a rolling admissionbasis. However, the following programs have admissiondeadlines or limited admission periods: CommunicationDisorders, Counseling, Independent Film and DigitalImaging, Occupational Therapy, and Social Work.Please refer to the specific major sections in this catalogfor criteria and deadlines.MASTER’S PROGRAMS WITH SPECIALADMISSION REQUIREMENTSThe majors listed below have special admission criteriabeyond the general university requirements. This couldinclude additional materials and/or application deadlines. Please refer to the specific major sections in thiscatalog for criteria and deadlines.MASTER’SAccountingCOLLEGEBusiness and PublicAdministrationAddictions StudiesHealth and Human ServicesAnalytical ChemistryArts and SciencesArtArts and SciencesBusiness AdministrationBusiness and PublicAdministrationCommunication Disorders Health and Human ServicesComputer ScienceArts and SciencesCounselingEducationCriminal JusticeArts and SciencesEarly Childhood EducationEducationEducationEducationEducational AdministrationEducationEnglishArts and SciencesEnvironmental BiologyArts and SciencesHealth AdministrationHealth and Human ServicesIndependent Film andDigital ImagingArts and SciencesManagement Information Systems Business and PublicAdministrationMulticategorical Special EducationEducationNursingHealth and Human ServicesOccupational TherapyHealth and Human ServicesPsychologyEducationPublic AdministrationBusiness and PublicAdministrationReadingEducationSocial WorkHealth and Human Services9Doctoral StudentsThis classification is for students who declare a doctoraldegree.Requirements-Applicants must:1. have earned (or will have earned by the term theywish to enroll) at least a bachelor’s degree from aregionally-accredited post-secondary institution;2. be in good standing at the last institution attended;3. have satisfied any applicable collegial and/or majoradmission criteria for doctoral study in the specificmajor to which they apply; and4. submit the non-refundable 75 application fee.To apply: Submit an application, the application fee,credentials, program application fees, and officialtranscripts from each post-secondary institution to theOffice of Admission and Student Recruitment.Deadlines: Please refer to the specific major sections inthis catalog for criteria and deadlines.DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAMS WITHSPECIAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTSThe programs listed below have special admissioncriteria beyond the general university requirements.This could include additional materials and/or application deadlines. Please refer to the specific major sectionsin this catalog for criteria and deadlines.DOCTORALCOLLEGECounseling andSupervisionEducationNursing PracticeHealth and Human ServicesOccupational TherapyHealth and Human ServicesPhysical TherapyHealth and Human ServicesTransitional Physical TherapyHealth andHuman ServicesUNDECLARED/NON-DEGREE SEEKINGUndergraduate Undeclared StudentsStudents who have not completed a bachelor’s degreefrom any college or university and who have not declared an undergraduate major may fit in this category.Students in this classification: are not eligible for university administered financialaid; will be assigned a counselor in the Academic Resource Center. Undeclared students who have notdecided on a career path will receive career counseling from their counselors and develop a program ofcourse work that will facilitate the career decisionmaking process. Once a career decision is made, thestudent will apply to a degree program. Upon admis-

10ADMISSIONsion, an academic/faculty advisor will be assignedand a study plan completed; must participate in New Student Online Orientation/Directed Self-Placement before registration; who choose not to seek a degree at GSU must changetheir status to a non-degree seeking student; and if after registering for 18 credit-hours and have notbeen admitted to a major will automatically beconverted to non-degree seeking.Course work completed in this status may or may not beapplicable to a major, subject to approval by the advisorand appropriate dean.Requirements-Applicants must:1. have earned (or will have earned by the term theywish to enroll) an associate of science or an associateof arts degree from a regionally-accredited postsecondary institution; OR have earned (or will haveearned by the term they wish to enroll) at least 60semester-hours (or 90 quarter-hours) of credit from aregionally-accredited institution of higher educationwith at least a “C” average (2.0 on a scale of 4.0) inany 60 semester (or 90 quarter) hours;2. be in good academic standing at the last institutionattended; and3. submit the non-refundable 25 application fee.To apply: Submit an application, the application fee,credentials, and official transcripts from the post-secondary institution, which demonstrate meeting criteria1-2 above directly to the Office of Admission andStudent Recruitment.Deadlines: Most programs are on a rolling admissionbasis. Students are strongly encouraged to apply early.Undergraduate Non-Degree Seeking StudentsStudents who have not completed a bachelor’s degreefrom any college or university and who do not intend toearn a degree may fit into this category.Course work completed as a non-degree seeking studentis not applicable to any degree offered by GSU, exceptby written exception by the dean of the appropriatecollege.Students in this classification are not eligible for university administered financial aid. Applicants must submitthe non-refundable 25 application fee.Requirements-Applicants must have earned an associate of arts or an associate of science degree from aregionally-accredited institution or have earned at least60 semester (or 90 quarter) hours of credit with at least a“C” average (2.0 on a scale of 4.0) from a regionallyaccredited institution.Graduate Non-Degree Seeking StudentsStudents with bachelor’s or higher degrees from aregionally-accredited institution who do not intend toearn a degree at Governors State may fit this category.Course work completed as a non-degree seeking studentcan only transfer six (6) hours to any degree offered byGSU, except by written exception from the dean of theappropriate college.Students in this classification are not eligible for university administered financial aid.Requirements-Applicants must:1. have at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionallyaccredited institution; and2. submit a 50 application fee.CERTIFICATE STUDENTSStudents not currently enrolled at GSU, who want toearn a certificate fit this category. Applicants must:1. provide evidence of 60 hours of college credit, or abachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally-accredited post-secondary institution based on the certificate classification;2. be in good academic standing at the last institutionattended;3. have satisfied any applicable collegial and/or majoradmission criteria for the certificate program forwhich they are applying. Please refer to the information related to specific major areas of interest in thiscatalog for special collegial and/or major admissioncriteria and additional credentials which may berequired; and4. if a bachelor’s level student, must submit the nonrefundable 25 application fee and if a graduate levelstudent, must submit the non-refundable 50 application fee.To apply: Submit an application, the appropriate application fee, credentials, and official transcripts from thepost-secondary institution, which demonstrate meetingcriteria 1-3, to the Office of Admission and StudentRecruitment.

ADMISSION — INTERNATIONAL STUDENTSCERTIFICATE PROGRAMS WITHSPECIAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTSThe certificates listed below have special admissioncriteria beyond the general university requirements. Thiscould include additional materials and/or applicationdeadlines. Please refer to the specific certificate sectionsin this catalog for the criteria and deadlines.CERTIFICATESAddictions Screening,Assessment, and ReferralAlternative Teacher CertificateBiology EducationChemistry EducationEarly Childhood Educationfor Certified Teachers currentlyEnglish EducationHealth Care InformaticsCOLLEGEHealth andHuman ServicesEducationArts and SciencesArts and SciencesEducationArts and SciencesHealth andHuman ServicesHealth Services ResearchHealth andHuman ServicesInformation SecurityArts and Sciences andLong-Term CareHealth andAdministrationHuman ServicesNurse EducatorHealth andHuman ServicesOnline TeachingCenter for Online Teaching andLearning and Health and Human ServicesPost Master’s in School CounselingEducationCertificationPrinciples of Conductive EducationHealth andHuman ServicesReading Teacher EndorsementEducationSubstance Abuse InterventionHealth andin HealthcareHuman ServicesSupervisory Endorsement in ReadingEducationUNDERGRADUATE SPECIALNON-DEGREE SEEKING STUDENTSThis applies to students who have not earned 60 credithours and intend to enroll at for a workshop, seminar, orother university activity.Course work completed as a special non-degree seeking student cannot be used for the purposes of meetingadmission criteria, but may be applied to the degreerequirements once admitted to the university. Studentsmay earn no more than 15 semester-hours in thisclassification.To apply: Submit an application to the Office of Admission and Student Recruitment; complete the specialnon-degree seeking petition form and send it to theOffice of Admission and Student Recruitment with theappropriate signatures; abd submit the non-refundable 25 application fee.11INTERNATIONAL STUDENTSAn international student or applicant is a citizen of acountry other than the United States:1. who is authorized to stay in the United States for atemporary period as a non-immigrant, or2. who has applied for a change of status to become apermanent resident of the United States but has notbeen issued an alien registration card effective as ofthe date classes begin for the semester in which theyare enrolled. Please see page 13 foradditional information.International students are eligible for admission todegree programs but may only be admitted as nondegree seeking students if pursuing a degree at anotherinstitution. That institution must provide written verification of enrollment in a degree program.GSU is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students studying under an F-1 visa. Although applicants on J-1 visas may enroll, the universitydoes not participate in the exchange visitor programand is not authorized to issue form DS-2019, which isrequired to extend the J-1 visa status.Applicants on F-1 visas, or any other temporary visas,are not eligible to be classified as residents of the Stateof Illinois for tuition purposes, regardless of

This catalog is for the 2009-2011 academic years. Students should keep the catalog for referral throughout their academic career. Students who first enroll at Governors State University during the 2009-2011 academic years must fulfill the requirements stated in this catalog and its updates published each academic year online, as applicable, or