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    Harding University
   
 
  May 20, 2024
 
2014-2015 Graduate and Professional Catalog 
    
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2014-2015 Graduate and Professional Catalog [Archived Catalog]

General Information


Accreditation and Program Approvals*

*The first date listed recognizes the first year of accreditation. The second date recognizes the most recent accreditation.

Location

Harding’s home community, Searcy, Arkansas, a city of more than 23,000 people, is the seat of White County. Founded in 1837, Searcy enjoyed gradual growth as the center of a chiefly agricultural area until the last 35 years, when the location of several industries in the city brought a favorable balance of economy and a more rapid growth than before. Today’s Searcians are a progressive citizenry proud of their community and dedicated to its advancement.

Located in east central Arkansas, about 50 miles northeast of Little Rock and 105 miles west of Memphis, Tenn., Searcy is reached by U.S. Highway 67 from the north and south and by U.S. Highway 64 from the east and west. The nearest commercial passenger plane service is at Little Rock, but Searcy has a small airport.

The nearness of Little Rock and Memphis gives Searcians access to the cultural and entertainment opportunities of metropolitan areas without sacrificing the special charms of small-town living. Searcy itself features recreation facilities of all types, and Greers Ferry Lake to the north of the city is famous for its fishing and water sports.

Harding occupies about 350 acres east of the downtown area of Searcy, but the impact of the University on the town is more far reaching than that caused by geography alone. Interaction and interdependence between the University and the community is great. Many Searcians serve Harding in a variety of ways, and the University contributes significantly to the civic, cultural, economic, educational, recreational and spiritual well-being of the city.

Campus Safety

The safety and security of the Harding community are the primary concern for the Public Safety Department. Information about campus security, safety programs and procedures, fire statistics, and crime statistics is available in compliance with the Jean Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. You can obtain a copy of the annual security and fire report or contact the Harding University Department of Public Safety online at: http://www.harding.edu/DPS, and select the Security Report option on that page. A copy is also available from the Public Safety Department which is located on the 1st floor of the David B. Burks American Heritage Building.
 

Facilities

The main campus buildings are located within a few blocks of downtown Searcy. The 52 buildings on the main campus with their equipment and educational facilities are valued at more than $339 million and provide an efficient and well-furnished educational plant.

Special academic facilities supplement classroom experience with practical opportunities for increased understanding of concepts and students’ own creative development. Libraries, laboratories and studios, for example, provide invaluable training and study opportunities apart from a classroom environment.

Graduate and professional classes are offered on the main Searcy campus as well as in several other locations in Arkansas, including the North Little Rock Professional Center and the Northwest Arkansas Professional Center, located in Rogers.  We also offer graduate classes at both the Harding School of Theology and the Mid-South Professional Center, located in Memphis, Tennessee.

Center for Student Success

The Center for Student Success provides an all inclusive center where students may access extensive support and advising services. A professional support team of advocates contribute resources, guidance and support to students as they pursue their academic, social and spiritual goals.  In partnership with the faculty, the staff work collaboratively to foster a culture of learning and shared expertise. The Center is comprised of the Academic Advising, ADVANCE, Career Services, Cooperative Education, First Year Experience and Academic Resources, and TRIO (McNair Scholars, Student Support Services and Upward Bound).

Brackett Library

Renovated in 1990, Brackett Library was renamed in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Brackett who underwrote much of the renovation cost. Today the physical library remains a central place on campus, and the online resources are a central part of research to all members of the Harding community. Faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students, alumni and even students who participate in International Study programs can access needed materials at any time of day or night. Though our methods have changed, our mission remains: to serve the Harding family’s research and learning needs. A staff of eight professional librarians, seven support staff and 45 student workers continue to select, acquire, describe, maintain and interpret the collection for library users.

Services include librarians who provide research assistance, teach classes and deliver individualized instruction and library tours. Other services offered are electronic and print reserves, a best seller collection including Christian Fiction, photocopiers, and audiovisual equipment. Study carrels are available for quiet study. Wireless Internet connectivity and research assistance are provided in areas with open seating and in conference rooms available for group study and presentation preparation. Fifty-four public computer stations provide access to electronic resources and Microsoft applications for papers and presentations.

Enhanced by an automated library system with periodical indexes, abstracts and full-text availability, access is provided for more than 75,000 online, full-text journal titles and e-books covering all areas of the curriculum, and over 135,000 online Government Documents. Its collections also include 400,000 print volumes and other media and 500 print periodicals and newspapers. Materials not available at Brackett Library are provided through a computerized inter library loan service that provides access to 2,000,000,000 items held in libraries worldwide. The music library, housed in the Reynolds Center, contains tapes, records, CDs and scores. An extensive juvenile and young adult literature collection is maintained as a teaching resource.

Harding history Digital Archives include all Petit Jean yearbooks, The Bison, many social club scrapbooks, sermons of Jim Bill McInteer, theater posters and programs including Spring Sing, and other Harding memorabilia. Special Collections houses most Harding University professors’ Ph.D. dissertations, the G.C. Brewer Library, and some church history. In 1996 the Library’s Williams-Miles History of Chemistry Collection was recognized by the American Chemical Society as a National Historic Chemical Landmark.

Information Services & Technology (IS&T)

The information services and technology infrastructure at Harding provides comprehensive and reliable services that cover such things as secure and safe Internet access, Intranet services, computer laboratories (PC and Mac), a cyber café, storage space for data, accounts accessible on and off campus, online admission and registration services, telephone services, and library catalog access.

Wireless network access is available in most buildings and their surrounds. Those buildings include Brackett Library, the Heritage building lobby, the Farrar Center for Health Sciences, the Honors House, the ground floor of the student center, the Pryor-England Center for Science and Engineering, the Mabee Business Building, the Reynolds Center, Olen Hendrix Building, and the Thornton Education. Wired connections are also provided in cafeteria booths and on benches next to Java City in the student center.

Each user has a user name and password to provide authentication to the Harding network and information.

Harding utilizes the fastest and most up-to-date servers to run its management information systems. Each student is allocated 1 GB of storage space on the central servers to use for the personal storage of their data. This storage is backed up as a part of the University’s backup procedures, thus providing students, faculty and staff a safe place to store their data.

Campus Pipeline, Harding’s portal, provides access to secure e-mail and calendar services. It also provides access to course, financial and social information for students.

Harding uses Canvas as its course management tool. Canvas provides a Web-based tool that is employed by faculty to deliver Web-enhanced courses, designed to enrich the student’s learning.

Multimedia Production

The Multimedia Production Center, located in Brackett Library, contains printing, binding, and other equipment to aid students, faculty, and staff with documents, posters and presentations related to instructional materials. Self-service video editing software, scanning and faxing equipment are also available.

Audio Visual Production

The Audio Visual Production Center, located in the Brackett Library, has various audio/visual equipment for Harding faculty, staff and students to check out or rent for on-campus use.

Laboratories

The ACADEMIC RESOURCES CENTER COMPUTER AND TUTORING LABORATORY is located in the American Studies Building, Room 206.

The ART AND DESIGN COMPUTER LABORATORY for students in art, graphic design, interior design and communication is located in the Stevens Art Center, Room 212.

The BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE COMPUTER LABORATORY is located in the Ezell Building, Room 102.

The BIOLOGY AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE COMPUTER LABORATORIES are located in the Pryor-England Center for Science and Engineering, Room 147.

The CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY is located in the Henry and Grace Farrar Center for Health Sciences, room 232.  It is utilized by faculty members engaged in research and contracts related to pharmacogenomics and infectious diseases and contains equipment for incubating and storing cell cultures, handling infectious organisms, and evaluating cell reproduction.

The CENTER FOR WORLD MISSIONS LABORATORY is located in the McInteer Center.

 The CHEMISTRY LABORATORY is located in the Henry and Grace Farrar Center for Health Sciences, room 204.  It is utilized by faculty members engaged in research and contracts related to analytical chemistry analyses and contains equipment for performing LC/MS and HPLC assays.

 The CLINICAL PRACTICE LABORATORY is located in the Henry and Grace Farrar Center for Health Sciences, room 104.  It is utilized by pharmacy and physician assistant students for completion of anatomy dissections, pharmaceutical compounding, and hands-on practice of patient assessment techniques and other clinical procedures and skills.

The CARR COLLEGE OF NURSING LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER, including the Martha Ruth Simmons Memorial Audiovisual and Computer Laboratory, and skills laboratories are located in the Olen Hendrix Building.

The COMMUNICATION COMPUTER LABORATORY is located in the Reynolds Center, Room 131, and contains software for students in communication and interactive media. This lab also is a public lab for students when not in use by department majors or classes.

The COMPUTER ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE LABORATORIES are located in the Pryor-England Center for Science and Engineering, Room 213.

The FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES LABORATORIES in the Olen Hendrix Building include food science; clothing, textiles and design; and a computer laboratory on the second floor.

The FORMULATION LABORATORY is located in the Henry and Grace Farrar Center for Health Sciences, room 231.  It is utilized by faculty members engaged in research and contracts related to pharmaceutical product formulation and contains equipment for creating novel drug delivery systems.

The HUMAN PERFORMANCE LABORATORY, located in the Ganus Athletic Center, is equipped with treadmills, bicycle ergo meters, an underwater weighing tank for body composition measurements, electronic equipment for measuring strength, an electrocardiograph, an echo cardiograph, gas analysis equipment, and other biochemical and hematological equipment for evaluation of physical fitness levels and human performance.

The KINESIOLOGY COMPUTER LABORATORY is located in the Ganus Athletic Center, Room 153.

The LIBRARY PUBLIC LABORATORIES in Brackett Library provide students with a quiet area in which they may research and receive assistance from Library Reference staff.

The MATHEMATICS COMPUTER LABORATORY is located in the Pryor-England Science Building, Room 101

The PATIENT SKILLS CENTER is located in the Henry and Grace Farrar Center for Health Sciences, room 103.  It contains 10 patient examination rooms outfitted with basic diagnostic equipment, examination tables, laptop computers, and digital recording equipment for use in conducting patient scenario simulations for health sciences and other students.  The facility can also serve as a site for primary patient care visits in the provision of health care or clinical research studies.

The PAUL R. CARTER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMPUTER LABORATORY is located in the Mabee Business Building, Room 245.

The PAUL R. CARTER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS LABORATORY is located in the Mabee Business Building, Room 109.

The PUBLIC STUDENT COMPUTER LABORATORY is located in the Mabee Business Building, Room 108.

The WRITING LAB/EDUCATION COMPUTER LABORATORY in American Studies 325, provides tutoring services in writing and computer facilities for students in English and education courses.

The YOUTH AND FAMILY EDUCATION LABORATORY is located in the McInteer Center.

Studios

ART STUDIOS AND GALLERY: The Stevens Art Center has studio facilities for many different media. The gallery of the Art Center hosts student and guest exhibits throughout the year.

MUSIC STUDIOS: The Reynolds Center houses a recital hall, choral and instrumental rehearsal halls, and an omni hall for multi-purpose use. The center also contains listening, electronic keyboard, and computer labs, all for music applications. These, as well as the classrooms and practice rooms, are reserved primarily for use by music faculty and students.

Communication Facilities

More than 40 students a semester serve as announcers for Harding’s two radio stations. A full-power commercial FM station, KVHU 95.3, serves 10 Central Arkansas counties as the “voice of Harding University.” Students have the opportunity to serve as announcers, news anchors, and producers. Scholarships and student work may be available to qualified students. In addition to the FM station, a low-power AM station, AM1660, provides hands-on training for beginning students. Students can use the the AM station to experiment with various formats, including talk and sports. Both stations provide live streaming.

Harding University operates its own 24/7 cable channel serving the local community. The channel is also streamed live on the Internet. TV16 provides students with opportunities to produce news, sports, entertainment, and special-event programming. A staff of students produce a live 30-minute newscast, “Live At Five,” each afternoon. This daily newscast requires student producers, writers reporters, anchors, directors, and production personnel. Many of the students working on the newscast receive scholarships. TV16 also produces and broadcasts all the intercollegiate athletic events on campus. A number of students receive scholarship or hourly pay for working with our single-camera and multi-camera sports productions. Students also have the opportunity to produce sports and entertainment shows, including short films.

Recreational Facilities

The Clifton L. Ganus Jr. Athletic Center is the campus’ largest indoor recreational facility, housing a swimming pool, handball and racquetball courts, track, aerobics area and weight/aerobic room, and a 5,200-seat arena for basketball, volleyball, track and field sports, and tennis. Rhodes Memorial Field House, which seats 3,000, is used for intercollegiate basketball and volleyball.

Outdoor recreational facilities include an intercollegiate football field and nine-lane track, an intercollegiate baseball field, an intercollegiate soccer field, a 12-court lighted tennis center, an outdoor jogging trail, and intramural fields for softball, football and other sports. All facilities are available for student use at designated times.

Speech Clinic

The Speech Clinic is located in the Swaid Center for Health Sciences on Park Street. It is the site where nationally-certified and state-licensed speech-language pathologists work alongside students pursuing a degree in communication sciences and disorders, articulation and language assessment and therapy services, and hearing screenings and referrals.

Theatre Facilities

Four auditoriums (Benson Auditorium, Administration Auditorium, the Ulrey Performing Arts Center and the Reynolds Auditorium) are available for stage productions. Lighting and sound equipment is available for musicals, dramas, comedies, solo performances, children’s shows, student directed productions and other types of presentations.

Legal Statements

Lack of knowledge or incorrect interpretation of University policies and regulations does not remove the student from the obligation to satisfy all requirements for a degree.  Oral advice which differs from the catalog should be submitted in writing to the Registrar by the appropriate administrative officer(s) for review and approval. The student bears the ultimate responsibility for completing a degree program.

Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990

Harding affords persons with disabilities equal opportunity and full participation in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act

The safety and security of the Harding community are a major concern for the Public Safety Department. Information about campus security, safety programs and procedures, fire statistics, and crime statistics is available in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. You may obtain a copy of the annual security and fire report or contact the Harding University Department of Public Safety online at http://harding.edu/DPS/.

Catalog Revision

Harding revises the catalog annually and reserves the right to modify its programs of study accordingly. When such cases occur, the University makes every effort to provide alternative solutions that are fair to both the University and its students.

Catalog/Student Handbook Relationship

The Harding Catalog sets forth academic policy. The Student Handbook sets forth policies regarding student conduct. The Undergraduate Student Handbook is found here. The Graduate and Professional Student Handbook is found here.

All students are required to read and follow the rules and regulations as presented in the appropriate Student Handbook. Each student is required to follow the rules and regulations and be subject to those rules and regulations as presented in the Student Handbook in effect during the period of his or her attendance. The handbook contains the Student Code of Conduct, penalties for failure to comply, grievance procedures, and a statement on student rights. Failure to follow the Code of Conduct contained in the handbook can result in suspension from the University. The Student Handbook, as amended from time to time, is incorporated in this Catalog by inference for all purposes.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (called FERPA) provides, with certain exceptions, (1) that students shall have a right of access to their education records and (2) that education institutions shall not release education records to non-school employees without the consent of the student.  “Students” as used in this notice includes former students.

Right of Access.  With few exceptions provided by law, students at Harding may see their education records upon request.  Access will generally be granted immediately upon request to the record custodian, but if delay is necessary, the student may sign a “Request for Access to Student Records” and be allowed access sometime within 45 days of the request.  Students are entitled to copies (at the student’s expense) of records to which they have access.  Students further have the right, under established procedures, to challenge the accuracy of the records and to enter their viewpoints in the records.  A list of all education records maintained by Harding and a copy of the University FERPA Policy are kept in the Harding Office of Student Life.

The University may not require students to sign a waiver of their right to access, but students should be aware that recommendations and evaluations may not be very helpful or candid without a signed waiver.

A student’s home address and phone number will be made available to a roommate assigned to that person.

Harding/Student Agreement

The agreement for educational services, room and board, and any other incidental goods and services involved in the education process between Harding and its students is made at Searcy, White County, Ark., and is construed as a contract in accordance with the laws of Arkansas.

Nondiscrimination Statement

Harding is committed to the policy of providing equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate in admissions, programs, or any other educational functions and services on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, religion or disability to those who meet its admission criteria and are willing to uphold its values as stated in the Code of Conduct. In the area of employment, Harding does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, veteran status or disability. Harding, under federal guidelines and as reflected in its Articles of Incorporation, may discriminate as to religion and may adhere to religious tenets regarding the limitation of employment of women in certain preaching and minister roles.

Based upon this commitment, Harding follows the principle of nondiscrimination and operates within applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination. As a recipient of federal financial assistance, Harding is required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, as amended, not to discriminate on the basis of gender in its admission policies, treatment of students, employment practices or educational programs except as required by religious tenets of the churches of Christ. Harding has a nondiscrimination policy available upon request in the offices of Student Life and Human Resources. Inquiries concerning the application of federal and state laws or regulations may be referred to the Office of Human Resources, Box 12257, 915 E. Market Avenue, Searcy, AR 72149-2257; telephone (501) 279-4380. The person to ensure compliance with the nondiscrimination policy and discrimination laws and regulations is the chief financial officer of the University.

Student Right-To-Know Act of 1990


Harding complies with the Student Right to Know Act of 1990 which requires the disclosure of graduation and completion rates.

 

Board of Trustees

JOHN O. SIMMONS, Columbia, Tennessee, Chairman

HARRELL FREEMAN, Metairie, Louisiana., Vice Chairman

HARRY B. RISINGER, JR., Millington, Tennessee, Past Chairman

GERALD G. MORGAN JR., Amarillo, Texas, Secretary

ROBERT G. DILES, Searcy, Arkansas, Treasurer

D. BRUCE BINKLEY, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

JAMES H. CONE JR., Little Rock, Arkansas

CHARLES A. GANUS, Searcy, Arkansas

RICHARD H. GIBSON, Longview, Texas

ROOSEVELT HARRIS, Hampton, Georgia

DANNY J. HAWK, Richardson, Texas

JAMES D. HOLSOMBAKE, Panama City, Florida

BRUCE D. McLARTY, Ex-Officio, Searcy, Arkansas

LUNDY NEELY, Vandalia, Ohio

ROY  REAVES, Russellville, Arkansas

HAROLD R. REDD, Memphis, Tennessee

JOHN REESE, Austin, Texas

REBECCA R. TUBB, Sparta, Tennessee

DAVID WALDRON, LaVergne, Tennessee

ROBERT C. WALKER, Decatur, Alabama

L. SUZANNE HOLLAND WALLER, Arlington, Texas

JOE WILD, Vero Beach, Florida

Senior Status

ROBERT L. BRACKETT, Vero Beach, Florida

JAMES R. BURCHAM JR., Kennett, Missouri

W. MELVIN GARDNER, Fort Worth, Texas

DONALD L. SHORES, Cave Springs, Arkansas

Officers of Administration

BRUCE D. McLARTY, D.Min., President

DAVID B. BURKS, Ph.D., C.P.A., Chancellor

CLIFTON L. GANUS, JR., Ph.D., Chancellor Emeritus

DAVID COLLINS, Ed.D., Executive Vice President

JAMES W. CARR, Ph.D., Senior Vice President

LARRY R. LONG, Ph.D., Provost

MICHAEL D. WILLIAMS, Ed.D., Vice President for Advancement

DAN WILLIAMS, Ph.D., Vice President for Church Relations

MEL SANSOM, Ed.D., Vice President for Finance

JAMES SIMMONS, M.Ed., Vice President for Harding Academy

KEITH CRONK, M.Litt., Vice President for Information Systems and Technology

JIM MARTIN, D.Min., Vice President for Harding School of Theology

MARTY SPEARS, Ph.D., Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies

CHERI PIERSON YECKE, Ph.D., Assistant Provost for Graduate Studies and Special Projects

JULIE HIXSON-WALLACE, Pharm.D., Assistant Provost for Health Sciences

GLENN DILLARD, B.B.A., Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management

TAMMY HALL, M.B.A., Assistant Vice President for Finance

MIKE CHALENBURG, B.A., Assistant Vice President for Information Systems and Technology

ZACH NEAL, M.Ed., Assistant Vice President for Student Life

GREG HARNDEN, M.A., Athletic Director

TOD MARTIN, M.B.A., Registrar

Faculty

Click here to view Faculty listings.