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In the fall of 1998, East Georgia College, as
directed by the Board of Regents of the University System of
Georgia, will begin the academic year on the semester system.
This student guide addresses some of the questions that you, as a
student, may have about the transition and its effects on you.
Please note that it is the policy of East Georgia College and the
University System that semester conversion will not cause you to
lose credits toward graduation, assuming you do not change
majors.
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A1: A quarter system divides the academic year into four 10-week periods. A typical class schedule has 3 five credit hour classes meeting daily. A semester system divides the academic year into fall and spring semesters, each 15 weeks, plus a 9-week summer session. A typical class schedule has 5 three or four credit hour classes meeting on either Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 50 minutes each or Tuesday, and Thursday for 75 minutes each.
Q2: Why is the University System of Georgia changing from the quarter system to the semester system? A2: The conversion to the semester system provides an opportunity for East Georgia College to reexamine, redefine, and remodel its core curriculum such that the core truly is the foundation on which all other learning will build. Core curriculum courses have been selected for their breadth of information, their depth of insight, and their utility to other courses in the curriculum and to modern life. The new core curriculum places greater emphasis on innovative topics and methods such as information technology, global perspectives, wellness, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary approaches without sacrificing traditional areas of learning, such as science, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. Q3: What are the advantages of a semester system? A3: The conversion to semesters will enhance learning because the pace is less hectic. Students will have more time to absorb the material of a course and to work on projects. Transferring within the University System of Georgia will be easier than ever due to the semester conversion. To aid in transferring, many developmental and lower division courses (0000-2999) share common numbering, titles, and course descriptions across the University System. Any area of the core curriculum that a student has completed at a sending System institution will be accepted by the receiving System institution as being complete, although the receiving institution's required courses in that area may differ. Transferring to colleges outside of the University System should also be easier since approximately 70% of colleges nationwide are on the semester system. Q4: What adjustments will students have to make to manage five academic courses instead of three? A4: Although some adjustment will be necessary and time management will be critical, there will actually be no additional classroom hours per week for most students. A student who would have taken three five-hour classes under the quarter system will likely take five three-hour classes under the semester system. Workloads should be comparable. While there will be more time to complete long-term assignments under the semester system (15 weeks versus the 10 weeks of the quarter system), students must avoid procrastination which could result in four or five major projects due at the same time. Students also need to be prepared to take as many as five final exams in the same week. Q5: How will my quarter hours convert into semester hours? A5: Multiply your quarter hours by 2/3 to obtain your semester hours. Example: 45 quarter hours x 2/3 = 30 semester hours. Q6: How many credit hours will be required for graduation with an associate degree? A6: You will need to complete 60 semester hours plus 3 hours of physical education courses. Q7: How will the number of credit hours determine class rankings on the semester system? A7: A freshman classification will include up to 30 hours. A sophomore classification will include up to 60 hours. Q8: How will the change to semesters affect grade point average? A8: Since both credits and hours will be multiplied by 2/3, your GPA will not change due to semester conversion. Q9: How many hours will be required for full-time status? A9: Full-time status will remain at 12 hours for undergraduate students. Q10: How will the change to semesters affect tuition? A10: The yearly tuition will not change due to semester conversion. You must take care to plan to pay for your education in two semesters instead of three quarters. Q11: How will the change to semesters affect my financial aid? A11: Financial aid recipients should notice no change in the yearly amount of financial aid awarded. Cost of attendance figures and yearly award amounts should remain the same, but will be divided into two semesters instead of three quarters. Q12: If I am enrolled during the transition, how will I know what my graduation requirements will be? A12: Consult with your adviser for assistance. You will have to take semester courses equivalent to the quarter courses that were required but not completed. Q13: If I am close to graduating, will I have to satisfy all requirements in the catalog under the semester system? A13: In general, students should work with their advisors to plan a program that will meet graduation requirements. If you are more than halfway through your program of study, it will be your choice as to which catalog you will graduate under. Q14: How can I retake a course in the semester system after failing it in the quarter system? A14: Each quarter system course will have a semester system course that is equivalent to it for this purpose. Please consult with your academic advisor if you are taking a course for this purpose. Q15: Will class size increase as a result of semester conversion? A15: Courses that will be offered each semester should not increase in size because of conversion. Courses which will be offered once each year or once every two years may experience an increase in size. Q16: If I am in the middle of a two or three quarter sequence course, how will I complete it on the semester system? A16: Whenever possible, you should complete all sequences on the quarter system before semester conversion. Q17: Are the days at school going to be longer? A17: No. They should be the same if you take 3 classes on MWF and 2 classes on TTH. Q18: Will it take longer to graduate under the semester system? A18: No. If you take at least fifteen hours a semester, you should graduate in two academic years. Under the quarter system, you have 7 quarters, including summer quarter, to complete all of your requirements in two years. Under the semester system, you have 5 semesters, including summer semester, to complete all your requirements in two years. You must plan your academic schedule very carefully under the semester system to avoid conflicts and meet all prerequisites. Q19: What can I do to plan for semester conversion? A19: If you can finish all requirements for graduation prior to semester 5conversion, it is to your advantage to do so. Remember, summer session of 1998 will be the last session under the quarter system. If at all possible, you should take all course sequences either under the quarter system or under the semester system. Do not take Calculus I under the quarter system and Calculus II under the semester system. Under the quarter system, one year of calculus is a three course sequence; but, under the semester system, one year of calculus is a two course sequence. Plan your entire academic career class schedule before you start classes. You must plan your academic schedule very carefully under the semester system to avoid conflicts and meet all prerequisites. Q20: How can I obtain more information about semester conversion? A20: Contact the Registrar's office or the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs at East Georgia College.
Committee Members:
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Copyright© 2008 East Georgia College For technical issues concerning this web site send email to Webmaster This page was last edited: 04/30/2008 |
You may also submit a question
via e-mail to any member of the Semester Conversion Information
Committee by clicking on one of the email addresses below.