Implementation Guidelines for Student Pursuing Secondary Professional Specialties at Soochow University

Approved on 16 May 2018 at the Academic Affairs Meeting
Revised Article 5 by the Council on Academic Affairs, 27th November 2024

I. The Guidelines are established to implement teaching innovation, develop the characteristics of each college, and encourage students in bachelor's programs of the University to pursue interdisciplinary learning and cultivate diverse areas of expertise.

II. Each college may integrate department, college, cross college or cross school courses, plan college based interdisciplinary secondary professional specialties, and stipulate required subjects and credits for secondary professional specialties. The total required credits shall in principle be 16 credits.

III. Without influencing the learning of majors, students of the University may plan of their own initiative to pursue secondary professional specialties offered by each college during their study periods. However, when taking cross college or cross department courses, relevant course election regulations of the University shall nonetheless be complied with.

IV. Measures of prior registration or post certification shall be adopted when students pursue secondary professional specialties offered by each college. Relevant operation procedures shall be published by the Office of Academic Affairs.

V. When the subject of a secondary professional specialty is identical to the title or nature of a professional subject of the student's (double) major department, repetitive study will not be permitted. If a subject of the same title or nature has been taken in the major department or other departments, said subject can be applied for credit transfer or exemption as a subject of the secondary professional specialty after review by the college offering the secondary professional specialty; however, credits of the said subject may only be listed once in the required graduation credits. Credits taken by the student shall be calculated in accordance with graduation requirements of the major department and the subjects and credits required by the secondary professional specialty.

VI. When a student completes subjects and credits required by the secondary professional specialty, a certification application form may be filled in and submitted for review of the secondary professional specialty by the Academic Affairs Unit during the period from week 6 to week 10 on the school calendar of his/her graduating semester.

VII. The review of completion of secondary professional specialty by the student shall be performed by the Academic Affairs Unit based on the list of secondary professional specialty subjects provided by each college. When there is any change in the list of subjects, each college shall assist in the credit recognition of professional subjects.

VIII. Upon graduation, if the student has completed and passed the required subjects for the secondary professional specialty, the name of the secondary professional specialty shall be remarked on his/her diploma, full academic transcript and other relevant certificates.

IX. Student shall graduate upon meeting the graduation qualifications of the (double) major department and shall not apply to extend his/her study period for pursuing secondary professional specialties.

X. Any matters that are not addressed in the Guidelines shall be governed by the relevant regulations of the University.

XI. The Guidelines shall take effect after they are approved at the Academic Affairs Meeting and announced by the President. The same shall apply to all subsequent amendments.