For the past several months H&CS faculty and staff in consultation with students, alumni, industry personnel have been developing courses and majors that will be implemented at the time of the conversion. The H&CS semester majors and courses have been proposed and are now starting the review and approval process which starts with the department’s review and approval, followed by the College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Science’s review and approval, then the University’s (course approval stops here), and ultimately the OSU Board of Trustee review and approval of majors.

The proposed majors are:

1. PROFESSIONAL GOLF MANAGEMENT (PGM)   The PGM major will look very much like the quarter version but with the semester version of courses. - Draft requirements
2. SUSTAINABLE PLANT SYSTEMS (SPS)

The SPS major will have 4 specializations that a student will select at the time of choosing the major:

• Agronomy - Draft requirements
• Horticulture - Draft requirements
• Landscape Design and Management - Draft requirements
• Turfgrass Science - Draft requirements

In planning and implementing its conversion from quarters to semesters for summer 2012, The Ohio State University is committed to protecting the academic progress of students. Students should find that the shift from quarters to semesters does not disrupt progress toward their degrees if they:

1. decide on their major and degree within a time compatible with four-year graduation;
2. meet the standards for progress defined by their academic unit and continue to complete appropriate course loads successfully; and
3. actively develop and follow academic plans in consultation with their academic advisors.

Why is this happening?

The conversion is the result of a directive from the Ohio Board of Regents and affects twenty 2 and 4 year Ohio colleges and universities that are currently on the quarter system, including: Ohio University, University of Cincinnati, Wright State University, Columbus State Community College, Sinclair Community College, Otterbein College, Clark State Community College, and others.  The reasons are many but the main benefits to students are:

• The chance to be more competitive for internships and permanent positions because of an earlier end to the academic year.
• Greater ease of transfer between institutions and academic exchange programs, with an academic calendar consistent with the majority of colleges and universities in Ohio, the United States, and around the world.

When will the semester system be implemented?

The new semester system will become effective Summer, 2012.  All of OSU will convert at the same time.