Residential Undergraduate Program General Information & Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirement for Residential Undergraduate Programs

To graduate from The University of Olivet with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree a student must complete at least 120 semester hours of academic credit, maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 on a 4.00 scale. Some majors have higher GPA requirements for graduation. Students must also complete all requirements for an academic major offered at the university and complete all required courses and coursework in the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum. Students may also choose to pursue a minor program of study. Students must maintain a 2.00 GPA in his or her major(s) as well as in his or her minor.

All degree seeking students must apply and be accepted by The University of Olivet, but this acceptance does not guarantee admission to a particular program of study. Some degree programs have secondary admissions requirements that must be met before a major and/or minor declaration can be official. See Academic Programs and Degree Requirements for more information.

Educational Goals and Learning Outcomes

The University of Olivet is committed to the following educational goals and learning outcomes for our undergraduate students.

1. Effective Communication and Collaboration - Strengthen Foundational Skills in Written Communication, Interpersonal Communication and Collaboration
   1. Written Communication. Organize and convey ideas in writing clearly and concisely, using the standards of academic writing.
   2. Interpersonal Communication and Collaboration. Effectively communicate and work with others.
2. Critical Thinking - Strengthen Foundational Skills in Critical Thinking and Quantitative Analysis
   1. Reasoning and Critical Thinking. Analyze and evaluate assumptions, claims, evidence, arguments, and forms of expression; use information critically.
   2. Quantitative Analysis. Analyze numerical information and integrate quantitative methods into problem solving.
3. Liberal Arts Knowledge - Develop a Broad Foundation of Knowledge and Experience in the Liberal Arts
   1. Foundational Liberal Arts Knowledge. Articulate basic theories, analytic methods, and content of the arts and humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.
   2. Creative Experience. Demonstrate an innovative artistic expression with original perspective through performance or creation.
4. Global Awareness - Develop Cultural Understanding and Respect for Human Diversity
   1. Knowledge of Diversity within the United States. Articulate aspects of social and/or cultural diversity within the United States; appreciate the contributions of and challenges faced by different social groups and communities.
   2. Cultural Understanding and Global Awareness. Articulate aspects of contemporary cultures or cultural traditions outside of the United States in their global context, as well as identify aspects of one’s own cultural assumptions, values and practices.
5. Ethics and Responsibility - Demonstrate Ethical Awareness, Individual Responsibility, and Social Responsibility
   1. Individual Responsibility and Ethical Awareness. Demonstrate a combination of knowledge and practices that reflect an understanding of individual responsibility and ethical behavior.
   2. Social Responsibility. Demonstrate positive contributions to the local, national, or global community through civic or environmental leadership, service, collaborative projects, or direct action.
6. Application of Knowledge - Integrate and Apply Advanced Knowledge in an Academic or Professional Discipline
   1. Integrative Knowledge. Demonstrate use of the theories, analytic methods, and content of one’s discipline in an integrated manner.
   2. Problem-Solving Skills. Apply the tools of one’s discipline to demonstrate problem-solving competency in one’s field.

Additional program-specific educational outcomes are required by the various programs of study at the university.

The Olivet Plan

Students engage with faculty and staff at The University of Olivet in an educational program called The Olivet Plan, which serves to implement the university’s academic vision of Education for Individual and Social Responsibility. The Olivet Plan is based on the university’s historical mission of offering an education to all, regardless of race or ethnicity, gender or economic status. The program seeks to help students integrate learning from the full range of their experiences, engage in active learning both inside and outside the classroom, and take genuine responsibility for their own learning. At Olivet, we emphasize engaging, challenging and supporting our students.

The Olivet Plan provides students with the breadth and depth of a traditional liberal arts education, including courses in the natural and social sciences, arts and humanities within the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum of the university. Students also actively participate in a weekly seminar in their major area of study, as well as complete courses fulfilling the university’s Senior Capstone Experience and Service Learning requirements.

Seminar - Beginning in the first year and continuing every semester until the student graduates, every student enrolls in a required, one semester hour seminar conducted by faculty advisors in his or her chosen field of study. The long-term involvement with a mentor and a cohort group allows students to establish the relationships that will help them succeed at Olivet and in the future. Students also work with their advisor and participate in career and professional preparation activities.

Liberal Arts Core Curriculum - The purpose of the Liberal Arts core curriculum is to embody the university’s academic vision of Education for Individual and Social Responsibility and to provide the foundation for a liberal arts education at the university. All courses and experiences included in the program are graduation requirements and have been derived from the principles and aspirations articulated in the vision statement.

The University of Olivet ADVANTAGE

Students who attend The University of Olivet will receive a quality education with unrivaled value. To ensure that every undergraduate student enrolled in residential programs on The University of Olivet campus will truly experience The University of Olivet ADVANTAGE, the following are four core advantages that can be expected at The University of Olivet:

1. Service learning projects, with hands-on experiences at the core of each program.
2. Global learning opportunities that provide diverse and innovative educational experiences abroad.
3. Industry-leading internship and research opportunities.
4. Graduation in four years or the fifth year is tuition-free when specific conditions are met for degree completion.
   • Service Learning - With success comes responsibility, both to one’s self and to the greater community. The University of Olivet ADVANTAGE guarantees that students will be provided with opportunities to apply the knowledge acquired in class to career interests and in diverse communities as a whole.
     
     Service learning is an educational approach that integrates meaningful, hands-on community projects with class instruction to enrich a student’s learning experience. Major disciplines offer courses that explore and address real-world problems in the classroom and beyond the boundaries of campus. Service learning projects broaden students’ perspective and aid in demonstrating how the student will ultimately fit in the overall community and the world.
      
   • Global Learning Opportunities - The University of Olivet ADVANTAGE guarantees that students will be made aware of study abroad opportunities including resources that may be available to help pay for costs associated with each program. Global learning opportunities allow students to pursue diverse and innovative educational experiences abroad. Getting the chance to travel the world to expand one’s education while also exploring cultures provides incomparable and often life-changing experiences. Through participating in education programs abroad, students immerse themselves in the cultures, identities and perspectives of countries around the world and develop global mindedness and greater acceptance, giving students a unique perspective to working and living with others.
     
     Students have traveled to many locations for unforgettable learning experiences including Antigua, Australia, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, London, Mexico, New Zealand, Oxford, Paris, Peru, Spain and many other locations.
      
   • Internship and Research Opportunities - In today’s competitive market, real-world, hands-on experience gives The University of Olivet graduates an advantage over their peers. The University of Olivet ADVANTAGE guarantees students opportunities for internships or research experience in their field of interest. This experience creates connections and provides real world experiences that assist students with their job search after graduation.
      
   • Four Year Degree Guarantee - The University of Olivet ADVANTAGE guarantees students will graduate in four years when they meet certain conditions for degree completion. These conditions include submitting an approved academic plan by specified deadlines, registering and successfully completing the courses listed in the academic plan, making Satisfactory Academic Progress each semester (see Satisfactory Academic Progress  for more information), and meeting with a designated academic advisor regularly. For more information contact the assistant dean for academic records