Mar 18, 2024  
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Academic Advisement, Progression and Support Services


 

General Information

East Carolina University offers academic programs through traditional on-campus class attendance as well as by distance education classes offered via the Internet and at other locations. Courses are offered in fall and spring semesters, each comprising fourteen weeks plus an additional week at the close of each semester for exams. Both traditional and nontraditional students may be enrolled in on-campus and/or distance education classes. (See www.ecu.edu)

Summer classes are offered for both on-campus and distance education instruction. There are two summer session schedule formats: one eleven-week session, and two five-week terms. Schedules for fall and spring semesters as well as summer school are located in the front of this catalog and are also available at www.ecu.edu. Students entering the university only for a summer session(s) must meet all admission requirements or be approved visitors from another institution. See Admission and Readmission , or contact the Office of Admissions, www.ecu.edu/admissions, for further information. Graduate students should consult the Graduate School.

The Office of Undergraduate Studies

The Office of Undergraduate Studies (OUS) is an integral part of the university’s commitment to improving undergraduate education. This office, housed in the Division of Academic Affairs, serves as an administrative and academic home for housing various programs and services that relate to the academic undergraduate experience at East Carolina. The office works in collaboration with other initiatives with specific focus on retention, persistence, and graduation.

OUS includes the Academic Advising and Support Center, oversees the Advising Collaborative and is the campus center for programs focused on retention and persistence. The office also serves as an institutional clearinghouse for nationally competitive, external fellowships, grants and scholarships relating to undergraduate students and manages the Undergraduate Assistantship program.

One of the unique programs offered by East Carolina University is a dual enrollment university credit program for high school junior and seniors via the Second Life learning platform. This early college program is in collaboration with school systems in eastern North Carolina. For more information, consult www.ecu.edu/ecslp.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is expected of every East Carolina University student.

Academic violation of the Honor Code consists of the following: cheating, the giving or receiving of any unauthorized aid or assistance, or the giving or receiving of unfair advantage on any form of academic work; plagiarism, copying the language, structure, ideas, and/or thoughts of another and adopting those as one’s original work; falsification, statement of untruth, either verbal or written, regarding any circumstances relating to academic work; and attempting any act which if completed would constitute an academic integrity violation as defined above. Procedures governing academic integrity violations are described in the East Carolina University Student Handbook and in the Faculty Manual.

No student may withdraw the involved course or withdraw from the university prior to resolving an academic integrity charge.

Academic Advisement

To assist students in their academic programs, the university has established in each college, school, and department a system of academic advising, whereby the student is assigned to a faculty member or a professional advisor who serves as his or her advisor. The advisor helps to plan the student’s academic program, particularly during registration periods; keeps a record of his or her progress; and is available throughout the year for additional advising. To obtain the name of advisors, students should go to www.ecu.edu/advising/advisors.cfm

Advisors will make every attempt to give effective guidance to students in academic matters and to refer students to those qualified to help them in other matters. However, the responsibility for meeting all academic requirements for a selected program rests with the student.

Classification of Students

In a regular semester, a student who registers for 12 or more semester hours is classified as full time. A student registered for less than 12 semester hours is classified as part-time. In order to graduate in eight semesters of attendance, a student in a typical degree program (120-128 semester hours) must average 15-16 semester hours of credit per semester. Students will be classified as to class standing as follows:

1-29 semester hours credit: Freshman
30-59 semester hours credit: Sophomore
60-89 semester hours credit: Junior
90 or more semester hours credit: Senior

Liberal Arts Foundations Program

The overarching goal of the Liberal Arts Foundations curriculum is to provide students with the fundamental knowledge and abilities essential to their living worthwhile lives both private and public. The curriculum is based on the faculty’s belief that the best way to prepare students for living worthwhile lives is to provide them with a solid foundation in the core disciplines in the liberal arts (the humanities, arts, natural sciences, and social sciences), in conjunction with a multidisciplinary education in the specific areas of health promotion and physical activity and mastery of writing and mathematics competencies. The foundations curriculum provides a common, unified knowledge and skills base to students who will major in different subjects and who come from diverse cultural backgrounds. Foundations courses give students the shared knowledge and abilities necessary to integrate their foundational education with their major. Taken from the perspective of students’ personal, private interests, this foundation and its integration with specialized learning in the students’ majors enables students to live broadly informed, responsible, worthwhile lives. From the public perspective, this integration is essential to good citizenship in an increasingly global yet culturally diverse and conflicted world.

Fundamental Goal Areas

The foundations curriculum is divided into four basic, core disciplinary areas (humanities, arts, natural sciences, social sciences), one multidisciplinary area in health promotion and physical activity, and two areas of competence: writing and mathematics.

All foundations courses in the core liberal arts disciplines must meet the three fundamental goals of a foundational liberal arts education:

Students must learn the subject matter of one or more of the disciplines in each of the four core areas (humanities, arts, sciences, and social sciences).
Students must learn the fundamental concepts and research methods utilized in one or more of the disciplines in each core area.
Students must learn the relevance of scholarship in the discipline and in its core area to the student’s overall education.

All courses in the required multidisciplinary area (health promotion and physical activity) and competency areas (writing and mathematics) must meet the goals specific to each of these areas.

Goals for the humanities, arts, sciences, social sciences, health promotion and physical activity, writing, and mathematics are available at www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/fsonline/as/liberalartsfoundation.cfm.

Courses that Carry Liberal Arts Foundations Curriculum (FC) Credit

Courses that carry foundations curriculum credit are identified in the course listings using the FC designation. Many majors have specific foundation course requirements and students should check the requirements for their intended major prior to selecting foundation courses. For example, some majors may require specific science, math, social science, fine arts, and/or humanities courses. Courses in the student’s major prefix area may not count toward foundations curriculum requirements.

ENGL 1100 , ENGL 1200  or ENGL 2201  (FC:EN) - 6 semester hours

Health (FC:HL) and Exercise and Sport Science (FC:EX) - 3 semester hours 

Select at least one course in each area.

Humanities (FC: HU) and Fine Arts (FC: FA) 10 semester hours

Select at least one course in humanities and one course in fine arts from the following areas:

Humanities (FC:HU)

Literature (English or American)
Literature in a foreign language or in translation (See Departments of English and Foreign Languages and Literatures. Foreign languages 1001-1004 will not meet this requirement.)
Philosophy
Religious Studies
Selected Linguistics Courses (LING 2740 , LING 3750  only)

Fine Arts (FC:FA)

Art
Communication (COMM 2020 , COMM 2410 , COMM 2420  only)
Dance
English (ENGL 2815  only)
Music
Theatre Arts

Mathematics (FC:MA) - 3 semester hours

Three hours of mathematics with the FC: MA designation that is at least equivalent to MATH 1050  or MATH 1065  or MATH 1066  or three hours of logic at least equivalent to PHIL 1500  (If logic is used to satisfy this requirement, it may not be used to satisfy the humanities requirement for the baccalaureate degree.) Many majors have specific mathematics course requirements and students should check the requirements for their intended major degree requirements prior to selecting mathematics courses.

Science (FC:SC) - 8 semester hours

At least one course must require laboratory work. Select one or more courses with the FC: SC designation from the following departments:

Anthropology (ANTH 2015 , ANTH 2016  only)
Biology
Chemistry
Geography (ATMO 1300 , GEOG 1300  only)
Geology
Physics

Social Sciences (FC:SO) - 12 semester hours

Select courses with the FC:SO designation from at least three of the following areas:

Anthropology
Communication (COMM 1001 , COMM 3152 , COMM 3172 , COMM 3390  only)
Economics
Geography
History
Political Science
Psychology
Recreation and Leisure Studies (RCLS 2601  only)
Sociology

Certain honors and interdisciplinary courses (for example, CDFR, ETHN, HNRS, INTL, RUSI, and WOST) with the FC designation may be used to satisfy foundations curriculum requirements. For specific courses that meet the foundations curriculum requirements see course listings.

Declaration or Change of Major and Minor

Students should declare the major by the time they have earned sixty (60) semester hours of credit. To earn a degree in a timely manner, it is recommended that all students declare a major as soon as possible in their academic careers. Students should consult their academic advisor regarding the process for declaring a major and/or minor.

Declaring a Major

To declare (to be admitted to) a major, a student must complete the admission requirements for the program and complete the formal admission process as specified by the program. Students may choose to earn a baccalaureate degree, two baccalaureate degrees simultaneously (dual degree), or a double major. Students who hold a baccalaureate degree and wish to pursue a second undergraduate degree will follow the requirements for a dual or second major, below. (See Academic Requirements for Degrees and Minors.)

Student athletes and pre-health/pre-law students are assigned to academic advisors in their majors. Athletics and the Pre-Professional Advising for Allied Health, Medicine, Dentistry, and Law continue to provide monitoring and support in helping these students to meet their program requirements.

Declaring a Minor

If a degree program requires a minor, the minor must be identified at the time the student declares his or her major and must be approved by the major chairperson or dean or his or her designee. All BA degrees require a minor unless the degree requirements include a concentration and/or specified cognates. (See Academic Requirements for Degrees and Minors.)

Academic Requirements for Degrees and Minors

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

The bachelor’s degree may be conferred by the university upon the student’s application when the student has earned the minimum number of semester hours of credit required for the degree by the major department or school, has met the foundations curriculum requirements, and has fulfilled all requirements of the major/minor program. (See department, school, and college listings. Also see following paragraphs for additional requirements.)

The university does not award degrees solely because a student successfully completed the required courses. Violations of the student code of conduct, including both academic and nonacademic violations, may result in a degree not being awarded. For example, when the student has disciplinary charges pending, the degree may be withheld or the awarding of the degree may be delayed.

A degree from East Carolina University comprises a minimum of 120 semester hours. A minimum of 25 percent of the credit hours required for the degree and at least 50 percent of the total hours required in the major discipline must be completed through enrollment in East Carolina University. The required resident study does not need to be accomplished in consecutive semesters. One-half of the minimum semester hours required in the student’s program must be earned through enrollment in a regionally-accredited senior college.

Double Major Requirements

The double major comprises a primary major and a secondary major. The student desiring to double major will be advised in the department offering the primary major. However, the chair, director, or dean of the unit offering the secondary major also must review the requirements for the second major and notify in writing or by email to degwrks@ecu.edu. The double major may count any number of hours from the primary major toward the secondary major. The number of hours applicable toward a second major should not be limited.

If the primary major is part of a non-BA degree program and the secondary major is identified in the curriculum for the BA degree, neither additional foundations curriculum requirements for the BA degree nor a foreign language requirement will apply. Courses taken to meet foundations curriculum requirements may be used to satisfy requirements for the secondary major or a minor, except where prohibited, but not for the primary major. (See specific major requirements for restrictions.) Double major students, however, are not required to complete additional writing-intensive course work.

Additional Requirements for all Degrees

Writing Intensive Requirement
Students enrolling at East Carolina University must fulfill the writing across the curriculum requirement prior to graduation. To do so, each student must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours of writing intensive courses, typically including ENGL 1100 , ENGL 1200  or  ENGL 2201 ; at least 3 semester hours of writing intensive courses in the major; and any other 3 semester hours writing intensive course of the student’s choice. Students entering the university with transfer credit for ENGL 1200 have satisfied the foundations curriculum requirement in the area of English. Such students are still required to complete a total of 12 semester hours of credit in writing intensive courses. All second degree students will be required to complete at least three semester hours of writing intensive course work in the major. Writing intensive courses/sections of courses are identified each semester in the course schedule listing and will be designated WI on the student’s transcript. A course will transfer into ECU as WI under two conditions. The course must either be a writing intensive course in a writing across the curriculum program at the university or college where it was taken, and/or the course must have the words “writing” or “communication” (e.g., “Writing for Business and Industry” or “Business Communications”) in the course title. Courses meeting either of these two criteria will be accepted as WI, and count as writing intensive for ECU degree requirements.

Cultural Diversity Requirement
Each academic unit will ensure that its majors complete at least one course which exposes them to cultural diversity. Courses which meet this requirement will be designated by the respective unit.

Cognate and Professional Course Requirements
Many baccalaureate programs have requirements in addition to course work in foundations curriculum, in the major field, and in the minor field. These additional requirements may be labeled cognate courses or professional courses required for teacher certification (see requirements for degree in section 8). Cognates, minor courses, and courses used for the second major may be used to satisfy foundations curriculum requirements, except where prohibited. Professional courses required for teacher certification may not be used to satisfy foundations curriculum requirements.

Additional Requirements for BA Degree

All candidates for the BA degree must demonstrate foreign language proficiency through level 1004 as part of their degree requirements. For more information about the foreign language requirement see Placement Testing, Foreign Language . The number of required credits for a major shall not be fewer than 30 semester hours or more than 36 semester hours A candidate for the BA degree must declare a minor if required. Some BA degrees require a concentration and/or specified cognates instead of a minor. However, a BA degree may require a minor and a concentration and/or specified cognates. The number of required credits for a minor shall not be fewer than 18 semester hours or more than 30 semester hours.

Special Requirements for BS Degree for Students Preparing to Teach

A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for admission to and retention in the teacher education program. Additionally, PRAXIS Core or SAT or ACT scores and computer competency requirements must be met. Students will complete an electronic portfolio, which includes signature assessments from the program. To qualify for a North Carolina teacher license, the student must complete the requirements of an approved competency-based teacher education program designed to meet the requirements for the professional studies components of programs in all teaching areas. All teacher education majors should consult their advisors to select appropriate courses which may be required as cognates in their academic discipline.

East Carolina University requires academic concentrations for all majors in elementary education, middle grades education, business and marketing education, health education, and physical education. Academic concentration requirements are listed in the College of Education subsection. Students should consult their departmental advisor for specific information about this component of their program.

Professional credits for majors in elementary education, middle grades, secondary education, business and marketing education, and special education are listed in Special Requirements for BS Degree for Students Preparing to Teach. For majors in birth through kindergarten, and K-12 programs, see BS degree curricula for students preparing to teach under appropriate department or school. Minors are required in some fields but not in others. Students should check the major requirements presented in the department and school listings to determine if a minor is required in a particular field.

Minor Requirements

Major, minor, cognate, core curriculum, and/or certification requirements are presented in the department and school listings. If the degree program requires a minor, the minor must be identified at the time the student declares his or her major and must be approved by the major chairperson or dean or his or her designee. A minor shall be 18-30 semester hours of credit. All BA degrees require a minor, unless the degree requirements include a concentration and/or specified cognates; however, some BA degrees may require a concentration or cognates in addition to a minor.

Dual or Second Degree Requirements

A student may choose to earn simultaneously two degrees (e.g., BA and BS or BS and BFA, etc.). To satisfy the requirements for dual baccalaureate degrees at East Carolina University, the student must complete the requirements for one baccalaureate degree program and also complete a minimum of an additional 30 semester hours through course enrollment at ECU for the other degree. The student will be advised by both departments and a separate degree review completed by each.

Foundations curriculum requirements for one degree may be used to satisfy the foundations curriculum requirements for the other degree, however, the required foundations curriculum courses for the second degree must be met. All other degree requirements, including a foreign language, must be met and may not be waived. All dual degree students will be required to complete at least three semester hours of writing intensive course work in each major. Students who wish to satisfy the requirements for a BS degree in teacher education may use the same major for both degrees provided the university offers a teacher certification program in that major.

A student who currently holds a baccalaureate degree may enroll in a second baccalaureate degree program. The student must meet the curriculum requirements for the second undergraduate degree in the catalog under which he or she enters or in some subsequent catalog, and must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours in enrollment at ECU. No student will be permitted to complete the second degree under a catalog issued more than three years prior to the date of completion of the second degree.

In evaluating curriculum requirements for the second undergraduate degree, the academic unit offering the second degree will determine whether foundations curriculum requirements from the first undergraduate degree satisfy foundations curriculum requirements for the second degree. However, any foreign language requirements for the second degree must be fully met and may not be waived. All second degree students will be required to complete at least three semester hours of writing intensive course work in the major.

A student pursuing a second undergraduate degree must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. In determining the GPA, only attempted hours toward the second degree will be counted. Grade points earned in the first degree will not apply in determination of academic eligibility while a student is enrolled for a second degree. However, the GPAs from the first and second undergraduate degrees will be used in the consideration of a degree with distinction.

Graduation Requirements

Every student should confer with his or her academic advisor and/or the major department/school administrator or designee about program and degree requirements. At least two semesters prior to graduation, each student must, in consultation with the unit administrator or designee, complete a graduation requirements review in consultation with their advisor and complete the application for graduation that is available in the Office of the Registrar and departmental offices.

All graduation requirements must be met before the first day of the subsequent term, as shown below.

Graduation Term Subsequent Term
Spring First Day of Summer Term
Summer First Day of Fall Term
Fall First Day of Spring Term

A student may expect to be allowed to obtain a degree in accordance with the requirements set forth in the regulations in force when he or she enters the university or under subsequent regulations published while he or she is a student. However, a student is restricted in choice to the requirements of one specific catalog. Undergraduate students who enter the university under the regulations of a catalog have a period of five years, inclusive and continuous, in which to claim the degree requirements of that catalog.

Students pursuing a second undergraduate degree must select a catalog issued no more than three years prior to completion of the second degree program.

In order to graduate, all students must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a GPA of 2.0 in the major. If a student completes required courses in his or her major and takes other courses in that field as electives, these additional courses as well as cognate courses will be counted in computing the major GPA. Grades made on courses taken at other colleges and universities will not be considered except in the calculation of graduation with honors, but official transcripts must be on file in the Office of the Registrar.

Degrees with Distinction

Based on all work attempted at all higher education institutions throughout the students’ academic career and without regard to institutional practices which substitute or “forgive” grades, three levels of distinction are granted to graduating undergraduate students as follows:

“Summa Cum Laude” for a cumulative average of 3.90
“Magna Cum Laude” for a cumulative average of 3.60
“Cum Laude” for a cumulative average of 3.50

First Undergraduate Degree

Degrees with distinction are granted to transfer students under the following conditions.

  1. The student must complete through enrollment in East Carolina University at least one-half the minimum number of hours required for the degree.
  2. The student must have the required average on all work taken through enrollment in East Carolina University.
  3. The student must have a cumulative average that meets the requirements for the appropriate degree with distinction on all work attempted (all ECU and transfer work, including courses where the grade replacement policy has been applied). If transfer work includes grades of D or F, those grades will be included in the calculation for degrees of distinction.

Second Undergraduate Degree

Second undergraduate degrees with distinction are awarded under the following conditions.

  1. The student must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours through enrollment in East Carolina University.
  2. The student must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 on course work for the second degree and a cumulative average that meets the requirement for the degree with distinction on all course work attempted for the first degree as well as for the second degree.
  3. If transfer work includes grades of D or F, those grades will be included in the calculation for degrees of distinction.

Academic Support Services

Academic Advising and Support Center

The Academic Advising and Support Center assists students through academic referral and workshops for students on warning or probation. The office staff can provide information on academic policies and procedures and information about academic support programs provided in academic units and other areas. Students may visit the center or access the center’s Web site at www.ecu.edu/advising.

Pre-Professional Advising Center for Allied Health, Medicine, Dentistry, and Law

The Pre-Professional Advising Center for Allied Health, Medicine, Dentistry, and Law provides programs and information to students interested in pursuing careers and/or graduate studies in the allied health and law sectors. The center houses professional advisors for allied health majors. Students are encouraged to visit the center to learn about professional schools, prepare for standardized tests, attend special workshops, and receive individual assistance.

The Pirate Tutoring Center

The Pirate Tutoring Center (PTC) offers ECU students the following academic support and success services: tutoring assistance with undergraduate coursework in both face to face and digital formats, individual study skills development sessions, academic support workshops, peer academic mentoring, The Freshman Immersion Program, and Starfish-outreach.

The Pirate Tutoring Center is located in the 2300 wing of the Old Cafeteria Complex. Students can make appointments by calling 252-737-3009 or in person. More information is available about PTC services and tutoring sessions at www.ecu.edu/piratetutoringcenter or by e-mail at tutoring@ecu.edu. All services are free to ECU enrolled students.

Academic Appeals and Exceptions

Assistance to students at East Carolina University dealing with academic appeals and exceptions to academic policies, course re-evaluations, graduation issues and concerns, over hour approvals, permission to take courses at other colleges and/or universities, residency for in-state tuition (initial undergraduate classification), residency appeals, schedule reinstatements, special adds, transfer student services, transfer course equivalencies, and withdrawals from the university are handled through the Office of Enrollment Services.

Office of Student Transitions

The Office of Student Transitions (OST) provides a coordinated, comprehensive approach to enhancing success for all students; provides services and supports required for improving student satisfaction, academic success and student retention; and provides services that enhance in and out of classroom student engagement and career readiness.  The work of the Office of Student Transitions is grounded in student development theory and encompasses the following areas: New Student Orientation, Transfer Student Orientation, Freshman Seminar (COAD 1000), Plunge Into Purple, New Student Welcome and Convocation, Pirate Read, Pirate to Pirate Mentoring (P2P), Camp P.I.R.A.T.E.S., Student Veteran Services, Transfer Student Services, and Career Services.

New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation assists students and family members with the transition to the university. With the assistance of departments within the university community, the office provides academic and student life information for all new students and family.

The purpose of orientation is to inform students about the academic requirements of the university and to prepare them for the transition into the university classroom. During orientation, students may take a placement test in mathematics so that they may register for the appropriate course. Students will also meet with an advisor and register for classes. In addition, orientation provides the opportunity for family and students to become knowledgeable about student life programs offered at East Carolina University. Participants will become acquainted with faculty, staff, student leaders, and other new students and family members.

For more information about New Student Orientation, telephone 252-328-4173, or access the Web site at www.ecu.edu/orientation.

Entering transfer students should contact the assistant director of Student Transfer Services at 252-328-6077 or access the Web page at www.ecu.edu/transfer.

Freshman Seminar (COAD 1000)

The Office of Student Transitions offers COAD 1000 (Student Development and Learning in Higher Education) to first year students including transfer students. The course meets twice weekly and helps students transition to college life. While in the course, students focus on the development of academic skills, learning processes, and career decision-making skills. Students who successfully complete the course earn one semester hours of graduation credit. Special topic sessions are available for student veterans, GLBT, African American males, transfer students and first generation students. 

Pirate to Pirate (P2P) Mentoring

The Peer Mentoring Program provides support that optimizes the transition of first-year students at East Carolina University and provides opportunities for students to develop leadership skills. To be successfully retained, incoming students need formal and informal academic and social connections. Through this informal social network, students gain the confidence and communication skills to properly develop informal academic connections with their professors and peers. Programming includes topics on leadership, career services, diversity as well as social events such as bowling.

Pirate Read (First Year Common Read)

The Pirate Read aims to orient students to the academic community, to prepare students for the college-level environment, to allow students to share a common reading experience with fellow classmates, faculty, and staff and to enable students and faculty to discuss ideas from the book across the curriculum. The Pirate Read committee brings together faculty from across the campus along with Student Affairs educators to select the book and coordinate various educational and co-curricular activities.

Student Veteran Services

Student Veteran Services provides a seamless transition for student veterans both academically and socially by assisting them in becoming fully integrated into the East Carolina University community by educating, preparing, and engaging. Student Veteran Services provides supportive services necessary to ensure that student veterans are successful in their academic pursuits, adjust to the campus environment, and eventually transition to civilian employment.

Service-Learning

Certain courses have an SL designation indicating that the course includes a significant service-learning component. Service-learning is an instructional method that deepens students’ understanding of course content through organized service in the community along with purposeful reflection about their learning experiences. Students apply the skills and theories they have learned in the classroom in a variety of community settings to learn from local partners. Participation in courses with the service-learning (SL) designation affords students opportunities to learn from the community while at the same time gaining a deeper understanding of the academic material, their own abilities, and local concerns. 

University Writing Center

The University Writing Center provides support for all writing in the university except for that in ENGL 1100 and 1200, which is supported by assistance offered through the Department of English’s First-Year Writing Studio. The main site of the University Writing Center is on the first floor of Joyner Library (1015); however, a satellite location is available in the Health Sciences Building (1504). Students are encouraged to visit the University Writing Center at least twenty-four hours before an assignment is due to discuss a piece of writing with a trained writing consultant. Students may access additional resources, including the online writing lab for students enrolled in distance education courses, through the University Writing Program Web site, www.ecu.edu/writing.

Career Center

The primary mission of the Career Center at East Carolina University is to support and empower students in their career development to succeed as professionals in a global community. The Career Center provides a variety of programs and services designed to help students explore career options, identify effective career-decision-making steps, gain experience in potential work environments, learn effective job-search strategies, plan for graduate and/or profession school, and make connections with employers.

Within the context of exploring career options, students have the opportunity to first assess their personal values, interests, and skills – a foundational process often referred to as self-exploration. To support students in this self-exploration process, the Career Center offers individual career counseling to help students identify connections between their academic major and potential career paths with the goal of determining next action steps in their unique process. To ensure students gain an accurate perspective on specific career paths, the Career Center manages extensive on-line career resources.

The Career Center offers several programs that allow students to experience future work environments as they continue to clarify their career goals. Many students use the Career Center resources to seek internships to gain experience in a career field they wish to explore or intend to pursue after graduation. A number of programs and services support internships and co-op experiences, including job/internship fairs in the fall and spring. Approximately 1000 employers from a variety of fields annually visit ECU to meet students who may be invited to work for their organizations.

As students complete their academic programs and prepare to embark on the next phase of their future, some pursue graduate or professional schools, while others seek employment opportunities. The Career Center provides services and programs to support both. Students pursuing admission into graduate or professional schools often take advantage of the programs to determine appropriate graduate school options and others choose to focus on the personal statement for graduate school applications. Students pursuing employment after graduation participate in programs such as on campus Interviewing,fall and spring semester career fairs, a graduate career fair, an education career fair, and a health careers fair, as well as on-line job posting services which averages approximately 3000 internship, co-op or full time career opportunities each year. They also attend numerous workshops covering topics from writing professional resumes to conducting effective job and graduate school interviews. Each academic college throughout ECU has a career counselor who is a liaison dedicated to providing services to the students and faculty within each college.

Information about the East Carolina University Career Center is available on the Career Center website. This site also connects students to worldwide career and job search information and employment listings. To connect with the Career Center please log onto www.ecu.edu/career. Our phone number is 252-328-6050.

Testing Center

East Carolina University’s Testing Center is a member of the National College Testing Association’s (NCTA) Consortium of College Testing Centers. The Testing Center administers national college entrance, credentialing, licensure, and certification exams. Some of the major testing programs administered by the Testing Center include: Scholastic Assessment Tests (SAT), the American College Tests (ACT), College-Level Examination Program Exams (CLEP), Graduate Record Exams (GRE), PRAXIS Teacher Licensure Exams, Law School Admission Tests (LSAT), Miller Analogies Tests (MAT), Certified Health Educators Exams (CHES), National Board of Certified Counselors Exams (NBCC), Pharmacy College Admission Tests (PCAT), National League of Nursing Pre-Admission Exams, and Pearson VUE Exams. The Testing Center does offer exit exam proctoring services for academic departments upon request. Additionally, pre-employment and promotion exams for local municipalities are administered by the Testing Center. Upon request, the Testing Center will proctor individually arranged exams such as correspondence tests for individuals taking courses outside of the University of North Carolina System. The Testing Center is located in D-102 of the Brewster Building. Further information is available by calling 252-328-6811.