Academics
-- Campus Catalog --Registration PriorityLimitations*Nursing is limited. *Audition or portfolio is required for admissions to some fine arts classes. *Education and communication disorders programs open only to sophomores. *Business courses may require additional vetting by the Associate Chairperson.
*FOR ALL STUDENTS: To attend in the summer, you must participate in programs beginning 6/1 and ending 7/24 or 7/25. This can be a single eight-week period, or two two-week periods combined with one four-week period.
Notable Academic Programs- Asian Studies - EIU offers an 18-hour interdisciplinary minor in Asian studies that can be tailored to meet individual students' needs. Courses may be drawn from Art, Economics, English, Introductory Chinese, Geography, History, Philosophy, Political Science, and Women's Studies. Beyond this, many faculty teaching in the minor are visiting faculty originating from an Asian country, immigrants to the U.S. from an Asian country, or descendants of immigrants from Asia. Active faculty have connections to: China; India; Indonesia; Korea; Vietnam. NSE students may take a few select courses, or approximate the minor (should scheduling permit).
- Biology/Life Science - Faculty research, and opportunities for undergraduate majors to assist those projects. Cancer and neurodegenerative diseases are among the broad areas investigated. Pre-Med students utilizing Honors Access may take Anatomy and Physiology I and II in an MCAT preparation format. So long as they meet all other admission criteria, any Biological Sciences majors and minors utilizing Honors Access may participate in Departmental Honors and pursue their own research topics under close faculty supervision. Admissions criteria, for Departmental Honors, include: a 3.5 cumulative GPA, at the home institution; junior or senior standing, in terms of hours earned toward graduation; on exchange to EIU for a full academic year; passionate about pursuing 6 hours of mentored independent study each term on campus.
- Business - The School of Business at EIU is accredited by AACSB International, a mark of distinction that proves our commitment to continued excellence. A wide range of student organizations, including chapters of the following: American Marketing Association; Association of Information Technology Professionals; Financial Management Association; Society for Human Resource Management; MBA Association; Beta Alpha Psi; Beta Gamma Sigma; Delta Sigma Pi. Eastern also has its own Entrepreneurs Club, Student Accounting Society, and Student Investment Society. For majors and minors utilizing Honors Access and on exchange for an entire year, Departmental Honors in Business may be an option. Departmental Honors students pursue their own research topics under close faculty supervision. Admissions criteria, for Departmental Honors, include: a 3.5 cumulative GPA, at the home institution; junior or senior standing, in terms of hours earned toward graduation; passionate about pursuing 6 hours of mentored independent study each term on campus.
- Neuroscience - One of only two undergraduate neuroscience programs offered by a public university in Illinois, the major provides students with comprehensive foundational knowledge on the organization, development, and function of the nervous system, and how this relates to cognition and behavior, and disorders of the same. The program emphasizes the perspective of different disciplines and the exposure of the students to hands-on research experience. A 21-hour minor is also available. NSE students may take a few select courses, or approximate the minor (should scheduling permit).
- Physics - Facilities, range of focal areas, faculty research, and opportunities for undergraduate majors to participate in research. The Department has a Laser Teaching Lab that is one of a kind. This lab has 6 Nitrogen Pumped Tunable Dye Lasers that are used by introductory students to understand modern Physics concepts. The lab has 12 stations where students can learn about such topics as the speed of light and how to make a laser. The Department also operates, with significant student assistance, the EIU observatory. This facility has for some time included a 16-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope that is computer controlled for both positioning and data acquisition; currently, a new solar telescope is being installed. The major includes concentrations in astronomy, computational physics, engineering physics, physics for teacher certification, and is supported by a Departmental Honors program open to participation by qualified NSE students on Honors Access, who are junior and senior physics majors attending EIU for a full academic year. Dr. Donald Pakey’s work is in the areas of theoretical physics and astrophysics; Dr. Steven Daniels’ work is in the area of lasers and optics, and thin film deposition; Dr. James Conwell’s work was formerly in the areas of general relativity and relativistic astrophysics, and is currently in the area of observational astronomy; Dr. Jie Zou specializes in computerized modeling and simulation of the unusual properties of nanomaterials (materials with extremely small structures). Recently, Dr. Zou has expanded her research to include experimental study of heat conduction using Scanning Thermal Microscopy (SThM). Dr. Zou is also very interested in involving undergraduate students in computation-related research, such as using the Molecular Dynamics Simulation technique to study the properties of materials at the atomic level. Since 2005, Dr. Zou has mentored more than ten undergraduate students in research. Projects include the modeling and simulation of thermal conductivity in nanoscale thin films and heterostructures, the simulation of multi-planetary systems, the computational study of the kinetic theory of real gases, and the computer simulation of an atomic force microscope.
Options
Honors Access: Yes
Undergraduate Majors Open to NSE StudentsArt/Design/Fine Art: Art, Art Education, Art History, Graphic Design, Studio Art, Theater Art
Athletics: Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Physical Education, Sports Communication, Sports Management/Administration
Biological Sciences: Biology/Life Science, Neuroscience
Business: Accounting, Business Administration, Finance and Operation Management, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Public Relations
Chemistry: Biochemistry, Chemistry
Communications: Broadcasting, Communication, Journalism, Television
Computer Science: Computer Science
Criminal Justice: Criminal Justice, Criminology
Earth Sciences: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Geology
Economics: Economics
Education: Child Care, Early Childhood, Educational Studies, Elementary Education, English, French, Junior High/Middle School, Junior High/Middle School Mathematics, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Science, Secondary Education, Social Science Education, Spanish, Special Education, Technical Education, Vocational Education
Engineering: Engineering, Engineering Physics
English: English
Environmental Studies: Environmental Biology
Fashion: Apparel/Fashion Design, Apparel/Fashion Merchandising, Textile Arts, Textiles and Clothing
Food Science: Nutrition
Geography and Urban Studies: Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography
Geology: Geology
Health and Safety Sciences: Clinical Laboratory Science, Communication Disorders, Community Health, Dietetics, Disaster Studies, Emergency Administration and Planning, Exercise Science, Health Education, Health Promotion, Health Services Administration, Kinesiology
History: History
Hospitality and Tourism: Hospitality Management, Tourism Management
Industrial Studies: Construction Management
Information Studies: Computer Science, Information Technology
Interdisciplinary Studies: Digital Media Informatics
Languages: Chinese, French, German, Spanish
Mathematics: Mathematics
Military Sciences: Army ROTC
Music: Choral Music
Performing Arts: Choral Music, Music, Music Education, Music Performance, Music/Jazz Studies, Performance, Theater Arts/Drama, Theater Education, Theater Production
Philosophy/Religious Studies: Humanistic Studies, Philosophy
Physics: Applied Physics, Astrophysics, Physics
Political Science: International Studies, Political Science
Pre-Professional : Engineering Pre-Professional, Law Pre-Professional, Medicine Pre-Professional, Optometry Pre-Professional, Pharmacy Pre-Professional, Veterinary Medicine Pre-Professional
Psychology: Psychology
Recreation: Recreation Therapy, Sports Administration
Sociology/Social Work: Sociology
Speech Pathology and Audiology: Communication Disorders, Speech Pathology and Audiology
Theater: Performance and Directing
Financial Aid
Host Payment (Plan A)
For Plan A U.S. students, aid is awarded by and disbursed from your host campus.
Students apply for federally funded financial aid by using the FAFSA code of their host campus.
Host campuses award aid to eligible incoming Plan A students on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funds are available.
Ask your home campus NSE coordinator if your campus awards aid to their own outgoing students. If so, do not apply for aid from your host campus.
For eligible Plan A applicants U.S. federal financial aid may be available in the following programs:
Use FAFSA CODE: 001674
Home Payment (Plan B)
For eligible Plan B students, aid is awarded by and disbursed from your home campus.
Canada
Regardless of Payment Plan, students exchanging to or from Canada, apply for financial aid at their home campus.
Room / Meals
Figures are current as of 07/01/19
On-Campus Housing Per Semester
- 34% living on campus
- Double: $4821 (includes meals)
- Per semester unless otherwise noted
- Students must live on campus
- Maximum housing reserved for women: 10
- Maximum housing reserved for men: 10
Off-Campus Housing
- Approximate monthly cost: $0
- Proximity to campus: NA
Notes About HousingIncoming students on NSE may request Housing on the Honors floors in Thomas Hall, if they would appreciate being part of an Honors community. Students on Honors floors are like any other students on campus, except they tend to be more respectful of other students' needs for quiet during midterms and finals...and study groups tend to form more naturally on Honors floors. NSE students are also welcome to participate in any Honors College social activities of interest to them, whether held in the Honors residence halls or elsewhere.
Meal Plans Per Semester
- Meal purchase is required for on campus living.
- $1708 per semester for 12 meals per week.
- $1902 per semester for 15 meals per week.
- $2180 per semester for 20 meals per week.
Notes About Meal PlansThe 13 meal plan also includes $100 in flexible dining dollars and 4 bonus meals per month. The 15 meal plan also includes $140 in flexible dining dollars and 5 bonus meals per month. The 20 meal plan is called the "unlimited plan" at EIU, and also includes $150 in flexible dining dollars and 6 bonus meals per month.
Meals per week may not accrue (be carried over from week to week). Flexible dining dollars may be used for a la carte purchases at the Thomas Hall Convenience Store, Java Beanery & Bakery, and University Food Court.