To help maintain an atmosphere conducive to education, the student is expected to read this academic catalog to understand and comply with the academic procedures and regulations of the university. Finlandia University course offerings, degree requirements, and academic policies are under continual examination and revision.
This catalog is not a contract; its purpose is to present the university offerings, requirements, and policies in effect at the time of publication. In no way does this academic catalog guarantee that the offerings, requirements, and policies herein will not change. Questions about academic policies should be addressed to the Office of the University Registrar.
Privacy and Access to Student Records
Finlandia University designates the following categories of student information as public or “directory information.” The institution may disclose such information for any university-related purpose, at its discretion.
Public Directory Information
| Category | Type |
|---|---|
| I. | Name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, dates of attendance, class status, part-time or full-time status, class schedule/roster, photos. |
| II. | Previous institution(s) attended, degree(s) and major(s), awards, honors (includes dean’s and honors lists), degree(s) conferred (including date). |
| III. | Past and present participation in officially-recognized sports and school activities, physical factors (height, weight) of athletes, date and place of birth. |
Students have the right to inspect their personal records.
The University Registrar will respond within five working days to written requests to inspect personal records. Students also have the right to prevent release of information from personal files. Currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of any of the above categories of information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended. To withhold disclosure, written permission (valid for one year only) must be submitted in person to the University Registrar prior to September 30 of the fall semester, January 30 of the spring semester, and May 30 of the summer semester. Forms to request the withholding of directory information are available from the University Registrar. Finlandia University assumes that the failure of any student to specifically request the withholding of any category of directory information indicates individual approval for disclosure. Students have the right to file a complaint with the Department of Education for alleged institutional failure to comply with FERPA requirements. If a student would like other information, such as transcripts or instructor evaluations, released to a third party from their personal file, the student must submit written permission to the University Registrar. Forms are available from the University Registrar. Transcript requests can be completed by going online to www.finlandia.edu/transcripts. Please note: Finlandia University does not release transcripts from other institutions. Students will need to request academic information pertaining to their time attending another institution from that respective institution.
Course Prefixes
| Prefix | Discipline |
|---|---|
| ANT | Anthropology |
| ARD | Art & Design |
| ATR | Art Therapy |
| BIO | Biology |
| BUS | Business Administration |
| CHM | Chemistry |
| COM | Communication |
| CPT | Computer Technology |
| CRJ | Criminal Justice |
| DRM | Drama |
| ECN | Economics |
| ENG | English |
| ENV | Environmental Studies |
| FNS | Finnish and Nordic Studies |
| FRN | French |
| GEO | Geography |
| GRM | German |
| GSS | Gender & Sexuality Studies |
| HCM | Healthcare Management |
| HIS | History |
| HSC | Health Sciences |
| HUM | Humanities |
| LBS | Liberal Studies |
| MAT | Mathematics |
| MIL | Military Science |
| MUS | Music |
| NUR | Nursing |
| PHL | Philosophy |
| PHS | Physical Science |
| PLS | Political Science |
| PSY | Psychology |
| PTA | Physical Therapist Assistant |
| REL | Religion |
| SOC | Sociology |
| SPN | Spanish |
| WEL | Wellness |
| UNS | University Studies |
Course Levels
| Level | Description |
|---|---|
| 001-099 | Grades in courses below the 100-level are included in GPA calculations but the credits do not count toward degree requirements. |
| 100-198 | Freshman-level courses |
| 200-299 | Sophomore-level courses |
| 300-399 | Junior-level courses |
| 400-499 | Senior-level courses |
Designated course numbers
| Course Number | Description |
|---|---|
| 000 | Undesignated transfer electives that count toward degree requirements |
| 199 | General Education requirements fulfilled by transfer credit |
| 150, 250, 350, 450 | Topics courses. Topics courses may be repeated for credit if the topic is different. |
| 296-299, 396-399 | Directed study courses. |
Definition of the Credit Hour
Finlandia University uses the Federal definition of a credit hour to determine its credit hour assignment.
A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:
- One hour* of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of student work outside of the class weekly for approximately 15 weeks plus 2 hours during final exam week for one semester, or the equivalent amount of work over a specified amount of time; or
- At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, online or hybrid courses, internships, clinical practicals, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.
*A class hour at Finlandia University is typically 50 minutes to allow students and faculty time to transition between classes and buildings.
Independent and Directed Studies
Two individualized study courses are available.
- Independent Study: If it is necessary for graduation or if a special need is demonstrated, students with a GPA of 2.0 or better may take a course listed in the catalog in a semester in which it is not scheduled. The independent study instructor prepares the course syllabus, offers assistance, reviews student progress weekly, and evaluates the student’s work at the end of the semester. Independent study requirements may include term papers, examinations, and critical journals. Regular credit is awarded for completed courses. For each independent study request, the student must submit to the University Registrar an independent study form and a letter explaining the need for special scheduling.
- Directed Study: Students with a GPA of 2.0 or better may request that a faculty member develop a directed study course to explore a special aspect of a particular area of study. Course credit is established by the faculty member and may range from one (1) to five (5) credits. For each directed study request, the student must submit to the University Registrar’s office a directed study form, a letter explaining the need for a specialized course of study, and an individualized syllabus, prepared by the faculty member, that includes course title, objectives, general description, methods, and evaluation method. Independent study and directed study permission forms are available from the University Registrar’s office. All requests require approval from the course instructor, the academic dean, and the university registrar. Completed, signed forms must be submitted to the University Registrar prior to registration.
Field Experiences, Practicums, and Internships
Field experiences, practicums, and internships are a required component of many Finlandia academic degree programs. They complement classroom study with planned, supervised off-campus learning experiences at community and government agencies, local schools, health care providers, and businesses of many kinds. Prerequisites include a 2.00 GPA or higher, faculty recommendation, and approval of the academic dean. Students must make arrangements through the appropriate academic dean or department chair and obtain the dean’s or chair’s signature prior to registration. A copy of the student internship contract is placed in the student’s permanent academic file.
Online Learning
Finlandia University offers three levels of online courses:
- eCourse (fully online);
- Hybrid (no more than 50% online); and
- eCompanion (regularly scheduled classes with an online component).
Online courses are offered through the Canvas Learning Management System (finlandia.instructure.com).
Class Attendance
The university expects every student to attend all class sessions of scheduled courses and complete all assignments. The class attendance policies follow.
- Each student is expected to attend all class periods, but individual instructors decide whether an absence is excused or unexcused and how class absences affect the student’s grade.
- Students who anticipate missing a class session (whether excused or unexcused) must inform their instructor(s) prior to the absence. An excused absence may include: a university-approved event, bereavement, military obligation, jury duty, severe weather, or other urgent personal matters. Types of absences not listed above are considered unexcused.
- In the event that absences significantly affect a student’s grade, instructors should inform the student’s academic advisor and the Dean of Students.
- In-class assignments, quizzes, and/or exams missed on the day of an unexcused absence cannot be made up.
Office of Registrar Staff
