Mar 19, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

About Austin Peay State University


 

 

APSU Today

Austin Peay State University is one of the fastest growing universities in Tennessee that offers high quality undergraduate and graduate programs to a student body of varied ethnicities, ages, and interests. As of April 2017, APSU has a governing Board of Trustees that report to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.  Its urban campus is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, the state’s fifth largest city, just 50 miles from Nashville, the state capitol. Another campus is located at the military installation at Fort Campbell, KY. While the majority of students live in the northwest and middle areas of Tennessee and in southern Kentucky, a number of students attend from throughout the state and the nation. APSU’s vision is to create a collaborative, integrative learning community, instilling in students habits of critical inquiry as they gain knowledge, skills and values for life and work in a global society.

As one of the state’s most diverse public universities, APSU has much to offer through quality programs, convenient locations and excellent technology-supported facilities. To meet the needs of today’s students, APSU offers day, evening and weekend classes on its Clarksville campus, as well as the Fort Campbell campus. In addition, online classes have become increasingly popular as students seek more options for scheduling classes. Therefore, both traditional and non-traditional students will find that APSU offers programs that match their interests and class scheduling that suits their lifestyle.

The mission of APSU supports the goal of a quality learning environment that encourages men and women to equip themselves to use their abilities productively and wisely. Leading the efforts of a committed faculty and staff in fulfilling this mission is President Alisha White, the tenth president since Austin Peay opened it doors in 1927 as a normal school for preparing teachers. The school is named in honor of Gov. Austin Peay of Clarksville, who was serving his third term of office when the school was established.

Accreditation

Austin Peay State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and education specialist degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, or call (404) 679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Austin Peay State University. The Commission is to be contacted only if there is evidence that appears to support an institution’s significant non-compliance with a requirement or standard.

In addition, the baccalaureate degrees offered in specialized programs of the University are accredited by:

  • National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (undergraduate and graduate teacher education)
  • National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (undergraduate nursing program also approved by Tennessee Department of Health, Board of Nursing)
  • Council on Social Work Education (Social Work)
  • National Accrediting Association for Laboratory Science (Medical Technology)
  • National Association of Schools of Music (accredited institutional member)
  • National Association of Schools of Art and Design (Art)
  • American Chemical Society (Chemistry)

Institutional Mission

Austin Peay State University is a comprehensive university committed to raising the educational attainment of the citizenry, developing programs and services that address regional needs, and providing collaborative opportunities that connect university expertise with private and public resources. Collectively, these endeavors contribute significantly to the intellectual, economic, social, physical, and cultural development of the region. APSU prepares students to be engaged and productive citizens, while recognizing that society and the marketplace require global awareness and continuous learning. This mission will be accomplished by:

  • Offering undergraduate, graduate, and student support programs designed to promote critical thinking, communication skills, creativity, and leadership;
  • Expanding access opportunities and services to traditional and nontraditional students, including the use of multiple delivery systems, flexible scheduling, and satellite locations;
  • Promoting equal access, diversity, an appreciation of all cultures, and respect for all persons;
  • Serving the military community at Fort Campbell through complete academic programs;
  • Providing academic services that support student persistence to graduation;
  • Fostering a positive campus environment that encourages active participation in university life; and
  • Developing programs (credit and noncredit), conducting research, and providing services that contribute significantly to the quality of life, learning, and workforce development needs of the region.

Educational Goals

The foundation for all undergraduate majors at APSU is a comprehensive and coherent general education program that promotes the global perspective and connected learning in the liberal arts tradition. This foundation is reflected in all undergraduate baccalaureate degree programs and reinforced throughout the major. Additional professional preparation is supported by master’s degree programs offered in biology, communication arts, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, English, health and human performance, management, military history, music, nursing, psychology, and reading. A broad range of programs, services, and activities engage students outside the classroom to enrich campus life and enhance student success and personal development.

Faculty, staff, and administrators are committed to providing a challenging and creative collegiate environment that fosters high quality instruction, critical thinking, global and multicultural perspectives, effective communication and interpersonal skills, leadership and teamwork development, social responsibility, and lifelong learning. As students pursue their programs of study, each should develop the following outcomes:

BRAVO Student Learning Outcomes

Basics
Acquire concepts, skills, and knowledge
Apply mathematical, scientific, and creative methods
Communicate through reading, listening, writing, and speaking
Develop technological proficiency
Collaborate to solve problems

Reasoning
Inquire, research, and analyze
Hypothesize, experiment, and interpret
Evaluate quantitatively and critically
Create, synthesize, compose, design, and theorize

Awareness
Understand the physical, natural, and social world
Appreciate diverse cultural and creative perspectives
Recognize your local and global impact

Values
Respect diversity
Act responsibly
Practice civility
Lead ethically
Serve the common good

Outcomes
By engaging in the Basics, Reasoning, Awareness, and Values you will:
Understand yourself and others
Grow personally and professionally
Give more than you take
Achieve

By incorporating a variety of learning techniques and structured programs faculty promote the BRAVO student learning outcomes, traits today’s employers seek; such as creativity and innovation, information literacy, analytical and quantitative reasoning, ethical decision making, and knowledge of global issues in a safe educational environment.

The Felix G. Woodward Library offers a print collection of more than 360,000 volumes and an electronic collection that includes 33,000 full-text periodicals, 55,000 e-books, 6,000 audio-visuals, and 670,000 microforms. Onsite and remote access to numerous Internet and other electronic resources and databases is readily available to students.

The University’s Chairs of Excellence include the Roy Acuff Chair in the Creative Arts, APSU Foundation Chair in Free Enterprise, Harper-Bourne Chair in Business, and Lenora C. Reuther Chair in Nursing.

The Center of Excellence for Field Biology

College of Science & Mathematics
phone: (931) 221-7019
website: www.apsu.edu/field-biology/

To identify, study and preserve biodiversity.

The Center of Excellence for Field Biology at Austin Peay State University brings together scholars from various biological disciplines to conduct research on biotic communities in Tennessee-Kentucky and adjacent eco-regions including experimental ecology, general ecological theory, definition of biodiversity, evolution and systematics, applied biological science, and community outreach through focused and regional environmental education programs; field-based observations and methodologies are an integral component of these research endeavors.

The Center provides research assistantships to undergraduate and graduate students that provides them with hands-on experience in various areas of field biology under the mentorship of practicing scholars. For more information visit our website at www.apsu.edu/field-biology/

The Honors Program, which is under the supervision of the College of Arts and Letters, provides individualized studies designed to challenge students and provides opportunities for creative exploration and intellectual development.

Art Galleries—All Art Galleries on campus are open to the pubic with no admission charge. For more information on any of the Art Galleries, contact the Art Department at (931) 221-7333.

The Trahern Gallery is located in the Margaret Fort Trahern Art and Drama complex. Each year (August-May) the gallery hosts regional, national, and international exhibits, as well as the Annual Student Art Exhibition. Gallery hours: 9:00 am-4:00 pm, Monday through Friday; 10:00 am-2:00 pm, Saturday; and 1:00-4:00 pm, Sunday (closed on holidays).

Gallery 108 is located on the ground floor of the Trahern Building. Each semester this gallery hosts the senior exhibits, featuring works by graduating art majors. Hours vary with each exhibit.

The Mabel Larson Fine Arts Gallery is located on the first floor of Harned Hall. Opened officially in 1994, this gallery features selections from APSU permanent art collection. Gallery hours: 8:00 am-4:00pm, Monday through Friday.

CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS 
College of Arts and Letters
Location: Clement
Building, Room 114
Phone: (931) 221-7876
Website: http://www.apsu.edu/ceca/index.php

The Center for the Creative Arts offers students unique experiences in music, theatre, dance, creative writing, and visual arts— experiences that challenge the imagination and spur artistic creativity; experiences that last a lifetime.

Established in 1985 as a Center of Excellence, the Center for the Creative Arts is the only program of its kind in the state, offering students rare opportunities to work with nationally acclaimed faculty and guest artists in the preparation and study of the arts in a one-on-one environment.

The Center’s primary goal is to sponsor quality arts programs emphasizing collaboration between recognized artists and university students, resulting in the highest possible standards of artistic achievement. The Center annually produces more than 100 quality arts activities by faculty, regional, national, and internationally acclaimed guest artists.

The Center for the Creative Arts is symbolic of the University’s commitment to the enrichment of life, which can be realized only through an understanding and appreciation of the arts.

The Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts coordinates with the departments of Art, Languages and Literature, Music, and Theatre/Dance to sponsor a wide variety of activities and study programs to promote APSU’s mission. The Center supports new works and other works of artistic value in the form of musical productions, recitals, concerts, theatre performances, literary readings, and visual arts exhibitions. Curricular activities sponsored by the Center include classes, lectures, workshops, seminars, master classes, public school outreach, and symposia focusing on the various arts disciplines and interdisciplinary nature of the arts for undergraduates, graduate students, and members of the community. The Center sponsors the Roy Acuff Chair of Excellence which brings regionally, nationally, and internationally recognized authors, musicians, artists, actors, and teachers to campus to work with students and the community in a dynamic atmosphere of unrestricted experimentation. The Center funds undergraduate scholarships and graduate assistantships for students in the creative arts.

The Division of Student Affairs

Austin Peay State University believes the collegiate experience of students is enhanced through involvement in educationally purposeful programs and activities outside the classroom environment. The vision of the Division of Student Affairs is to shape a student-focused environment for success. Specifically, the mission of the Division of Student Affairs is to promote student success through collaborative, holistic, and inclusive experiences.

The Division of Student Affairs is represented in its mission by the following departments: Assessment; Career Services; Child Learning Center; Student Counseling and Health Services; Dean of Students; Student Conduct/Case Management; Disability Services; Fraternity and Sorority Affairs; Housing, Residence Life, and Dining Services; University Recreation; Student Life and Engagement; Student Publications; Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement; African American Cultural Center; Hispanic Cultural Center; Adult and Nontraditional Student Center; Military Student Center and VetSuccess on Campus. Each of these departments incorporates human and student development philosophies in their programs and services.