The Academic Program

Academic Objectives

Course work at North Central College is divided into three components: general education, exploration and the major. Each occupies about one-third of the student’s college experience.

• General Education - The core complements the majors by introducing students to the liberal arts, giving particular attention to writing, communication and critical thinking. All-college requirements enhance the integrative and interdisciplinary aspects of the core by making connections across areas of study and by addressing problem-solving from a variety of perspectives. Students complete 42.5 to 48.5 credit hours within general education.
• Major - Each North Central graduate must complete a major. The major provides depth and focus in a subject which may relate to the student’s career choice. Requirements for majors are listed under department, division or interdisciplinary program headings; most require 30 to 51 credit hours. Some students are able to complete two majors. A few develop individualized majors.
• Minor - A student may decide to complete a minor as an optional part of their curriculum (some students may be required to complete a minor as part of their major course of study). Requirements are listed under the various department and interdisciplinary program headings.
• Exploration - Although credit hours completed to fulfill general education and the major account for between two-thirds and three-quarters of the student’s academic program, for most students some 35 credit hours may be selected virtually without restriction except where prerequisites are required. Exploration studies may come early or late in a student’s education. Those which come early may help the student choose a major. Those which come later, such as international study, Washington Term, internships or independent studies, may help the student make useful connections between a chosen major and other interests. Many students use the exploration component to develop a second major or a minor.

The General Education Curriculum

General education at North Central College offers an interdisciplinary and integrative approach to education over the course of a student’s academic career. Core courses from across the curriculum introduce students to the liberal arts and sciences, giving particular attention to writing, oral communication and critical thinking. Interdisciplinary components of the core make connections among areas of study to enrich insight and to reveal alternative ways of seeing.

Emphasizing interdisciplinary themes, collaborative learning, and problem solving from multiple perspectives, all-college requirements build upon the core. Pursued concurrently with studies in the majors, they prepare students for entering a world in which communication across specializations and the ability to place subjects in multiple contexts play as significant a role as professional expertise. All-college requirements emphasize three themes and contexts that prepare students for a lifetime of learning: religion and ethics; intercultural and global studies; and leadership, ethics and values.

The Core

The core courses provide a foundation of skills and approaches to learning that are integral to a liberal arts education and to a lifetime of learning. Students are introduced to:

Composition: the study and practice of writing with an emphasis on planning, drafting, analysis, argument and research methods within multiple contexts

Speech Communication: study which promotes an understanding of the nature of the speech communication process through emphasis on and practice in public, interpersonal and/or small group communication

Mathematics: study and practice which cultivate the ability to engage in mathematical reasoning and problem-solving

Life and Physical Sciences: investigation of the process and/or products of the scientific method in the life and physical sciences

Humanities and Fine Arts: study of intellectual and cultural expression as approached through historical, cultural and aesthetic contexts

Social Sciences: study in the social and behavioral sciences leading to an appreciation of human continuity and change

Integrative and Interdisciplinary Study: Inquiry and practice which cultivate the ability to analyze, integrate and apply different disciplinary perspectives to an area of study.

Integrative Components of the Core

Interdisciplinary First-Year Seminar - IDS 125 (or ENG 125) is the gateway seminar for an integrative academic program that promotes reading, writing, critical thinking and integrative inquiry across the curriculum. These seminars emphasize the study of topics that benefit from multi-disciplinary perspectives. Topics vary from section to section, reflecting themes from across academic programs.

All-College Requirements

The College’s commitment to interdisciplinary and integrative themes continues into the junior and senior years at North Central, when students’ development in the major course of study allows for more advanced consideration of topics that benefit from increased attention to context and interdisciplinary approaches to inquiry. All graduating students complete the following requirements:

Religion and Ethics: Students are asked to examine ethical and religious ideas, traditions, and issues through one of a variety of courses that meet the requirement, including designated courses in the departments of Philosophy, Religion and History of Ideas. Courses in the core, ACR seminars or electives may be used to fulfill this requirement.

Intercultural Seminar*: Incorporating an interdisciplinary approach, varying topics are addressed from global, international or multi-cultural perspectives. These seminars invite students to explore problems that benefit from a multi-national solution, to examine the world-view of a culture outside the United States or to examine the multicultural heritage and contemporary multicultural experience of North America. The intercultural requirement may also be fulfilled through participation in an approved study abroad program.

Leadership, Ethics and Values Seminar*: Offered within majors as well as in divisional or interdisciplinary courses, the LEV seminars examine varying topics with an emphasis on how leadership, ethics and values interact. The seminars offer students a context for analyzing one or more social, political or cultural problems and for considering the nature of leadership, ethics and values themes in relation to their majors or other areas of special interest. These LEV seminars offer an integrative capstone experience that links general education perspectives and skills to advanced studies.

*The courses used to fulfill the two ACR seminars must be drawn from two different disciplines and must be taken at North Central.

First-Year Experience Program (FYE)

FYE is North Central’s first-year experience program. This program is designed to encourage a successful transition from high school to college. Continuing throughout the first year, FYE connects students with the information, the people and the resources needed for a rewarding and successful North Central College education.

FYE has several interrelated parts. It begins with summer orientation-a one day introduction to North Central’s curriculum, technologies and campus. During this time, students will meet their faculty advisors and be introduced to the central question for this course. At the end of the day, students will receive this year’s summer reading.

When students return to campus in September, Welcome Week provides a more thorough opportunity to become familiar with the campus, meet fellow students and prepare for the academic and social opportunities of college life. During this week, students also begin the Fall FYE 100  course-a course taught by their faculty advisor and organized around the central question for the year.

During the Winter and Spring terms, students will meet with their faculty advisors to explore curricular options, discuss career plans and to consider opportunities (study abroad, academic clubs, athletic teams, community engagement) that a North Central College education can provide.

History of Ideas

The History of Ideas option provides motivated students with an opportunity to meet many of their general education requirements in an alternate manner. The program gives students the opportunity to read and discuss primary texts in a seminar format. An interdisciplinary approach is emphasized, drawing upon the fine arts, history, literature, philosophy, political science, religion and the social sciences. The five-course sequence, HOI 102 -HOI 203 , is divided as follows: Greek and Hebrew Thought, Roman and Christian Thought, Medieval Thought, Early Modern Thought and 19th and 20th Century Thought. Each course is designed as an honors class, open to College Scholars and to other students who seek a stimulating interdisciplinary experience. For students interested in pursuing advanced work in the History of Ideas, the sequence also provides a foundation for the History of Ideas minor.

College Scholars

The College Scholars Honors Program was created at North Central College in order to 1) attract students capable of superior work and invite them to be part of a “community of excellence,” with increased opportunity for challenging and broadening intellectual experiences; 2) develop a coherent set of academic experiences emphasizing interdisciplinary study, individualized research, global learning and the cultivation of leadership and teamwork skills within a community of highly-motivated peers; and 3) provide a range of social and academic activities that encourages honors students to build relationships with each other, professors and honors students from other institutions (through state, regional and national honors conferences). The College Scholars Program is open to students from all academic disciplines, and its curriculum can fit with any of North Central’s majors or minors.

Based upon high school records, test scores and academic interests, some students are invited to apply to College Scholars as incoming first-year students. For other interested students, including transfer students, admission can be granted by submitting an application and letter of faculty recommendation to the College Scholars Committee at any point during the year. Once admitted, a student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and a cumulative honors GPA of 3.0, in order to remain in the program.

The title of College Scholar is bestowed upon graduating students who have completed all the specified program requirements. Each student in the program who completes the curriculum is recognized as a “College Scholar” at Commencement and on all official transcripts distributed by the Office of the Registrar. For further information about the program specifics, see the Honors  section.

Interdisciplinary Studies

North Central has long maintained a commitment to interdisciplinary study. Interdisciplinary courses, drawn from two or more academic departments, express the College’s conviction that knowledge flows across disciplinary boundaries. These courses promote the mutual enrichment of fields of inquiry and encourage an integrative and holistic approach to research and problem solving. Courses with an interdisciplinary focus can be found co-listed under two departments, listed under a divisional designation or, when they involve courses from more than one division, listed under Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS). North Central’s general education curriculum features team-taught courses, interdisciplinary seminars and course clusters that promote interdisciplinary and integrative inquiry. Interdisciplinary majors or minors are offered as fully developed multi-disciplinary programs in such areas as East Asian Studies; Environmental Studies; Gender and Women’s Studies; Global Studies; History of Ideas; Interactive Media; Leadership, Ethics and Values; and Urban and Suburban Studies. Students may also choose to develop an individualized major with an integrative emphasis in consultation with the Director of Integrative Programs and the Academic Standing Committee.

The Leadership, Ethics and Values Program (LEV)

Leadership, ethics and values are hallmarks of a North Central College education. Recognizing the need for responsible, values-sensitive leaders in business, government, the professions and service organizations, North Central has developed a distinctive, comprehensive program of courses and co-curricular activities designed to help students develop their own leadership capabilities. It is the College’s conviction that students who develop skills in leadership enhance their prospects for meaningful work, rewarding careers and the personal satisfaction that comes from taking the initiative and engaging others in the pursuit of worthy goals.

The Leadership, Ethics and Values Program is successful if it touches each student in some way that advances our institutional mission of creating “productive, principled and involved citizens and leaders over a lifetime.” The College has created a rich variety of LEV options for students including academic coursework, Leadership and Ethics Concentrations, academic degree options and co-curricular activities with depth and meaning. Students complete an advanced level seminar that focuses on LEV themes. LEV courses at the introductory and advanced levels offer opportunities to study the emergence and exercise of effective, moral leadership under various complex conditions which characterize our society and our world (see Course Descriptions  for descriptions). The LEV program also offers students three minors concerned with leadership, social change and conflict resolution. Non-credit workshops help students develop leadership skills which can be practiced in campus and community activities. The program also sponsors-frequently in association with other campus groups-a range of conferences, speakers and seminars which bring to the campus academic experts on values and applied ethics, as well as recognized leaders in the professions, business and government.

Please see the Leadership, Ethics and Values Program section of the catalog for further details on academic opportunities.

Individualized Instruction and Off-Campus Study

Directed Study is the study of a course listed in the catalog on a tutorial basis. With the approval of the department chair and the division chair, a directed study is limited to rare cases for juniors and seniors.

Independent Study is the study, on a tutorial basis, of a topic not covered in course offerings listed in the catalog. With the approval of the department chair, the student and the faculty member agree upon the subject, but the responsibility for developing and completing the independent study lies primarily with the student.

Independent study opportunities are listed as course numbers 299, 399 and 499. They are normally available to juniors and seniors and require a 3.0 cumulative grade point average or a 3.0 grade point average in the major.

The first draft of the completed independent study form must be submitted to the supervising faculty member no later than the seventh week of the term prior to the term in which the independent study is to be completed. Application forms must be received in the Office of the Registrar no later than the first day of the term in which the student plans to do the independent study.

Richter Independent Study Fellowships provide North Central students an opportunity which is truly distinctive among undergraduate institutions. Grants up to $5,000 are awarded for independent study projects of unusual merit and scope. These projects normally require fieldwork, first-hand observation, interviews or access to primary information sources. Recent projects have involved travel abroad to Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. In addition, small grants are available for faculty-led group projects and travel grants are available for participation in academic conferences. Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program and must be in good academic standing. Selection is competitive and is made by the Richter Independent Study Committee on the basis of an evaluation of proposals submitted by interested students. Detailed information as to the proposal process and the selection criteria is available in the Office of Academic Opportunities.

Internships give students an opportunity to apply their general liberal arts background to the professional work environment. The corporate and scientific communities in the area near North Central provide excellent opportunities for students to enrich their classroom experiences in this manner. Students may participate in an internship experience either for academic credit or on a non-credit basis.

Through credited department-based internships-courses numbered 297, 397 and 497-the student, in conjunction with a faculty supervisor and an on-site supervisor, designs a course of study that explores a particular subject in the context of the work environment. Each credit hour of internship requires a minimum of 50 hours on-site field experience and 10 hours of academic research and writing. Concurrent registration in a non-credit section, graded pass/no pass, is used to denote that all hours of the field experience are complete. Students must complete and submit the Internship Agreement Form prior to beginning the on-site experience. The internship must be completed by the end of the term in which the student receives academic credit. If the required hours are not verified by the on-site supervisor, the non-credit section receives a no pass grade and a failing grade is assigned to the credited section. Similarly, if the student receives a failing grade in the credited section, a grade of NP is assigned to the noncredit section.

Non-credited internships are also available through Career Development. A minimum of 150 hours of on-site field experience is required for notation of the non-credited internship on the academic transcript.

SIROL (Student-in-Residence-on-Leave) status allows a student to attend a special program at another accredited institution in the United States while remaining officially enrolled at North Central. The student may participate in a Study Abroad program sponsored by another American college or university (arrangements are made through the study abroad advisor) or attend such programs as the Washington Term at American University in Washington, D.C. (arrangements are made through the chair of the department of political science and the study abroad advisor). SIROL status is normally granted for a maximum of one academic year.

Study Abroad is encouraged by North Central to enrich the academic and personal experiences of students. The College currently sponsors the following study abroad opportunities: student exchanges in Melbourne, Australia; Birmingham, Canterbury and Leicester,  England; Angers, France; Athens, Greece; Chiba, Iwate, Kameoka, Nagoya and Tokyo, Japan; Nairobi, Kenya; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Seoul, South Korea; Seville, Spain; Växjö, Sweden; Taichung, Taiwan; and Istanbul, Turkey; term study abroad/internship programs in Melbourne, Australia; Beijing and Shanghai, China; San José, Costa Rica; Athens, Greece; Kameoka, Nagoya and Tokyo, Japan; Nairobi, Kenya; Heidelberg, Germany; Pune, India; Milan, Italy; Amman, Jordan; and Barcelona, Spain; and direct enrollment programs in Australia, China, England, Germany, Ghana, India, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Peru, Scotland, Singapore, and Spain. In addition, programs are available through NAC&U (New American Colleges and Universities Study Abroad Programs) consortium, EAST (Educators Abroad Student Teaching) and SIROL.

Study abroad must be planned and arranged in consultation with the study abroad advisor by the end of the winter term of the year preceding the academic year in which the student plans to study abroad. Such study, undertaken without prior approval of the study abroad advisor, may not be accepted for credit at North Central.

Consortium Exchange coursework is available to North Central students through the College’s membership in the Council of West Suburban Colleges (CWSC). North Central degree candidates may cross-register for courses at Aurora University or Benedictine University as part of their regular course load without additional tuition. Information is available in the Office of the Registrar.

A Botany Program in which North Central students may enroll in a variety of courses for credit is available at the Morton Arboretum in nearby Lisle, Illinois. A number of the courses in the program are repeated in a two-year cycle. Information is available from the Department of Biology.

A Marine Science option is available to North Central students through the College’s affiliation with the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Students may arrange to study for credit at the laboratory which offers courses, research facilities, and field trips primarily in the summer. Room and board are available there. Information is available upon request from the Department of Biology and registration can be arranged through the Office of the Registrar.

Pre-Professional Programs

Pre-Health - The Pre-Professional Health Program provides support and guidance to students planning for careers in healthcare. Students work toward a B.A. or B.S. degree at North Central in a major of their choosing based on their interests, skills and abilities. They apply for admission to a health professions program, typically in the junior or senior year of college, and begin that program following graduation from North Central. Pre-health areas include dentistry, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, podiatry and veterinary medicine.

Admission to health professions programs (masters or doctoral) is a competitive process based on academics and activities achieved prior to applying for the program. North Central’s designated Pre-Professional Health Program Coordinator serves as a critical resource in identifying the academics and activities needed to be a competitive applicant, provides guidance and support during the application process and arranges for mock interviews as students prepare for the final steps prior to acceptance to their preferred programs. Prerequisite coursework varies for individual health professions programs, with common courses required in biology, chemistry, physics, math and psychology.

A wide range of support services is available to students preparing for careers in healthcare. The Pre-Health Organization (PHO), a student-led branch of the Student Government Association (SGA), was created to instill cooperation, education and a sense of community among pre-health students. The PHO sponsors a health professions speakers series, makes recommendations for healthcare related volunteer opportunities and identifies research opportunities for current students. In addition, the PHO reaches out to alumni that have achieved success in various health professions and encourages them to serve as mentors for North Central students.

Interested students should contact the Pre-Professional Health Program Coordinator or a member of the PHO executive board for more information.

Affiliate Program in Nursing - North Central College students are eligible for preferential admission to the Graduate Entry Master’s (GEM) program at Rush University College of Nursing.

North Central students select a major of their choosing and complete specific prerequisite courses for the GEM program. Interested students apply to the GEM program during their senior year at North Central and begin the program in the Fall, Spring or Summer following graduation from North Central. Contact North Central College’s Pre-Professional Health Program Coordinator for information about the program and prerequisite course work.

Podiatry - North Central College has developed an articulation agreement with the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine program. This intercollegiate program seeks to identify prospective students from North Central with an interest in earning the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree from the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. Under this agreement, students will have the opportunity to participate in an accelerated 3+4 program receiving both the B.S. degree in Biology from North Central and the DPM degree from the Dr. William M. School College of Podiatric Medicine. For more information about the program, contact North Central’s Pre-Professional Health Program Coordinator.

Engineering - North Central’s dual-degree engineering program allows a student to earn both a bachelor of arts degree from North Central after four years of study and a bachelor of science degree from an engineering school after five years of study. The typical program involves three years of study at North Central, followed by two years of intensive course work in engineering at a school of engineering. During the first three years the student takes courses in chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics-the foundation of engineering-as well as all the liberal arts courses needed for both degrees. Upon successful completion of North Central’s portion of the program, the student is recommended for admission to a cooperating school of engineering where two more years of study lead to the B.S. degree in engineering. Formal agreements exist between North Central and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Minnesota. However, a student may complete the final two years of the program at any accredited school of engineering, subject to the approval of the chair of the Department of Physics. Students should note that completion of North Central’s requirements does not automatically result in admission to the final two years of the program. Interested students should contact a member of the faculty in the Department of Physics for more information.

Pre-Law - The pre-law program at North Central College prepares students for admission to and success in law school. In coordination with the NCC Pre-law Club, an atmosphere of intellectual exchange and challenge is provided through courses, programs and individual consultation among students and pre-law faculty advisors.

Following the recommendations of the American Bar Association’s statement on pre-law education (http://www.abanet.org/legaled/prelaw/prep.html), students are encouraged to take the most demanding courses they can find to prepare for their careers. Specifically, preparation for law school involves striving for excellence in the following skills and areas of knowledge: problem solving, critical reading, writing, oral communication and listening, research, task organization and management and a value for helping others and striving for justice.

There is no curricular track for pre-law at NCC: students matriculate into reading- and writing-intensive majors. While students of nearly any major can be admitted to and are successful in law school, the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences are recommended areas of study. Many pre-law students participate in NCC’s excellent co-curricular programs, acquiring leadership experience crucial in a legal career. Some of the many relevant opportunities available are: The Mock Trial and Model UN teams, the Dispute Resolution program, internships and opportunities for service and travel in the U.S. and abroad.

Interested students should contact the current student president of NCC’s Prelaw club, or one of NCC’s pre-law advisors.

Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC)

North Central students are eligible to participate in two- and four-year ROTC programs leading to a commission in the U.S. Army or the U.S. Air Force. The four-year programs are open to entering freshmen, while the two-year programs are intended for junior-level transfer students or students with prior military service. ROTC classes are taught at Wheaton College (Army) and the Illinois Institute of Technology (Air Force). Students should contact the ROTC office at the appropriate institution to register for ROTC classes and to inquire about financial aid.

A maximum of ten North Central College credit hours (ten semester hours) of military science course work is accepted in transfer toward a North Central College degree. Prior to registering for ROTC course work, students should consult with the Office of the Registrar at North Central to verify which course work will be accepted in transfer. The student must also request that a transcript be sent to the North Central College Registrar after each term in which military science course work is completed.

Academic Support Services

Advising and Faculty Advisors - Academic advising by qualified faculty members and close rapport between the student and the faculty advisor are part of North Central’s supportive atmosphere. Upon entering the College, each student is assigned a faculty advisor, although the student may later make a personal choice of a faculty advisor. With help from the advisor, each student plans an individualized academic and co-curricular program, normally a year at a time. Later adjustments to the program are made as needed or desired. However, students are expected to assume the responsibility for planning their academic programs in accordance with College regulations, policies and requirements.

Academic Support Center - The ASC offers free peer tutoring programs to students who need additional academic assistance. Study Group is a weekly drop-in session for students in select 100- and 200- level courses. Tutors are trained to aid with questions, review concepts and assist students in studying for upcoming tests. EDGE: Structured Study is open to all students, Sunday- Thursday evenings (7:30-10:30 p.m.) in Geiger Lounge and Kaufman Dining Hall. Tutors are available in Kaufman to help with particular subject areas. Individualized tutoring is also available; students needing assistance contact tutors directly to arrange appointment times. Help with study skills, test taking or other academic skills is available on a referral basis. The Center is located on the second floor of the Larrance Academic Center.

Disability Support Services - A wide range of support services is tailored to meet individual student needs. The following services are offered to students with documented learning disorders, attention deficit disorder and chronic medical or psychological conditions: individualized support and consultation, academic advising, college counseling staff support and consultation, exam accommodations, tutorial support, library research assistance, student self-advocacy training and study skills/strategies classes, as well as study skill tutoring, liaison and coordination with faculty and other college/community services, referral to private diagnostic evaluation services, referral to DORS and information on disability related events. Disability Support Services is part of the Academic Support Center.

Writing Center - The Writing Center offers peer support for writing, reading and critical thinking across all courses. Peer tutors work with students on every aspect of writing, from interpreting assignments and brainstorming, to initial drafting and revising. Your peers will ask questions, assist with organization and help you better understand style, grammar and proofreading The Writing Center is located on the main floor of the Larrance Academic Center.

Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies

Continuing Studies - North Central College offers the opportunity for adult learners to complete their undergraduate educational goals through courses offered in the evenings or during the day. Adults may earn their first degree, add a second degree, complete elementary or secondary teacher certification requirements or enjoy a class as a student at-large. Students may complete all requirements for a B.A. or B.S. degree in nine majors through evening classes. This format, designed to maximize learning and facilitate efficient use of students’ time, is taught by distinguished faculty members and is available each term. Additional majors are available for adult learners, but may require daytime classes to be included in the scheduling process.

For continuing studies students planning to attend classes primarily in the evening, degree programs are offered in accounting, business management, computer science, entrepreneurship and small business management, finance, human resource management, management information systems, marketing and psychology. In addition to minors in the areas mentioned above, minors in English writing, history and leadership are also offered in the evening.

The evening course format is designed primarily for continuing studies students whose career and personal responsibilities make it difficult for them to pursue a North Central degree during the day. Evening classes meet either two nights per week or in a “jumbo” format one night per week. A special emphasis on assignments completed outside of class supplements class time and ensures that students taking courses in the jumbo format receive the same high quality education as students taking courses in other formats. Students taking evening classes are also eligible to enroll during the day as their schedule permits.

North Central College is committed to meeting the needs of all students in both traditional and non-traditional formats. This commitment ensures that all continuing studies students receive individualized academic advising and access to other college services and facilities.

Graduate Programs - North Central College offers seven graduate programs that complement and enhance the College’s distinctive educational mission and liberal arts heritage by providing opportunities for advanced scholarly work and professional development:

• Master of Arts Degree in Education
  • Curriculum and Instruction
    • Teacher Leader or Reading Endorsements
  • Educational Leadership and Administration Track
• Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies
  • Writing, Editing and Publishing
  • Ethics and Public Policy
  • Culture and Society
• Master of International Business Administration Degree
• Master of Business Administration Degree
• Master of Leadership Studies Degree
  • Professional Leadership
  • Higher Education Leadership
  • Sports Leadership
  • Social Entrepreneurship
• Master of Science Degree in Web and Internet Applications
• Master of Science Degree in Management Information Systems

North Central also offers graduate certificates for individuals who have earned an undergraduate degree or a graduate degree, and now seek short, more focused programs of study. Certificates are offered in

Administered by the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies and faculty program coordinators, the graduate degrees and certificates are designed specifically for working adult students. Classes are offered in the evening, enabling students to balance work and family responsibilities with their graduate education. Most importantly, these programs are characterized by the same attributes which distinguish North Central’s undergraduate programs, especially;

• Faculty recognized for their expertise in and commitment to teaching, as well as their ability to bridge academic theory with current and future professional practices
• Cross-curricular focus on the interrelatedness of knowledge among academic disciplines and professions
• Emphasis on high-level critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills
• Small classes providing optimal student-faculty interaction and creating a learning environment which fosters both collaborative learning and individual inquiry
• Personalized academic and career advising by program faculty, counselors and administrative staff
• A “rolling” admissions process allowing for multiple program entry points throughout the academic year

Integrated Five-Year Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs - The College offers four integrated programs leading to both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree: B.A. or B.S. in Accounting: CPA Track/M.B.A.; B.A. or B.S. in any discipline and M.S. in Web and Internet Applications; B.A. or B.S. in any discipline and M.A. in Liberal Studies; and B.A. or B.S. in any discipline and Master of Leadership Studies. Refer to Integrated Five-Year Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs  or contact the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies for additional details.

Learning Outcomes Assessment

In order to provide for continual improvement in the quality of a North Central education, the College has developed an Outcomes Assessment Program, not just to find out how much and how well students learn, but also how and where they learn. What is discovered through the assessment program is used to make decisions about everything the College does, from curriculum planning to student activities to support services.

While not all students participate in every aspect of the assessment program, each student at North Central is expected to participate as needed in this important effort. Student contributions provide a clearer picture of what it means to be a North Central graduate. Consequently, the College can communicate to employers and others the qualities which they can expect in a North Central graduate.