BGSU :: College of Arts and Sciences::Bachelor of Arts Degree

2009-2010 UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG

college of arts and sciences

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Bachelor of Arts Degree

Each student must complete the degree requirements listed below, preferably in the freshman and sophomore years, and must satisfy the requirements for a major and a minor area of specialization. We recommend that every student take English in the first year. If known, the major or minor should be started in the first year, but the major may be declared as late as the middle of the sophomore year. Certain majors and programs require course sequences. These sequences should be started in the freshman year. Major courses may not be taken “S/U.”

Degree requirements

Group I—English composition
Completion of GSW 1120 or demonstration by examination of proficiency in written expression equivalent to that attained by the student who completes that course. (A penalty is imposed if GSW 1120 is not completed within the first 60 hours.)

Group II—Foreign languages
Demonstration of proficiency in a language and language area by one of the options listed below:

Graduating from a high school where all instruction was conducted in a language other than English;

Demonstrating proficiency in the language on the 2020 course level;

Having completed four years of one language in high school (student must have completed the fourth full year, for example, Spanish IV, and received credit for these courses);

Having completed one of the departmental options listed below (12-14 hours minimum in the same language area, or fewer by advanced placement and high school experience).

Note: Foreign language courses numbered 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020, 2120 apply to Group II, not Group V.

German, Russian and East Asian Languages (Chinese, Japanese)

Completion of GERM 1010 and 1020 plus a minimum of six additional hours from: GERM 1170, 1180, 2010, 2020, 2170, 2180, 2310, 3310 and/or GERM 2600, 3150, 3160, 3600, and 4150;

Completion of CHIN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020;

Completion of JAPN 1010, 1020, plus a minimum of six additional hours from: JAPN 2010, 2020, 2150, 2160, 3120, and 4150;

Completion of RUSN 1010 and 1020 plus a minimum of six additional hours from: RUSN 2010, 2020, 2150, 2160, 3120, 3130, and/or 4150.

Romance and Classical Studies (French, Italian, Latin, Spanish)

Option I:

FREN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020;

ITAL 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020;

LAT 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020;

SPAN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020.

Option II: (one of the following)

FREN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2120;

LAT 1010, 1020, and two of LAT 2010; CLCV 2410, 2420, 2450;

SPAN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2120.

American Sign Language: EDIS 3240, 3250, 3260, 3270

Course 2020 is required for admission to 3000-level courses. Credit toward a degree is not granted for foreign language courses which duplicate more than two units of high school study.

Group III—Mathematics, computation and natural sciences
Completion of both A and B listed below:

Must complete three science courses including two courses with a laboratory experience. All courses must be from the approved list in the College of Arts and Sciences Handbook.* Two of the courses must be BG Perspective courses.

Completion of one of the following:

Three and one-half years of high school mathematics or equivalent proficiency as demonstrated on a placement test;

MATH 1150, 1260, 1280, 1290 or 1300**;

MATH 1120 or 1220** and one of the following: PHIL 1030; CS 1000 or 1010;

Three years of high school mathematics and CS 1000 or 1010. High school mathematics means college preparatory mathematics, which normally includes algebra I and II, geometry, and, in the case of three and one-half years, trigonometry. Remedial, technical, and business mathematics are not applicable.

*Or a B.S. laboratory sequence in one of the sciences meets this requirement. A list of approved courses is printed in the College of Arts and Sciences Handbook.
**See Department of Mathematics and Statistics for placement test.

Group IV: Social sciences—Canadian studies, economics, environmental studies, ethnic studies, geography, history, political science, psychology, sociology, telecommunications
Completion of four courses in addition to the two required for the BG Perspective program. Courses are selected from at least three areas, with at least three courses in one area (excluding GEOG 1250, 2130, 4040). A student majoring in one of the social sciences may include two major courses in this group. A full list of approved courses is printed in the College of Arts and Sciences Handbook. Note that some ethnic studies courses are in Group IV and some are in Group V.

Group V—Arts and humanities
Completion of at least three courses in addition to the two required in the BG Perspective program, for a total of five courses. Foreign language courses numbered 2010, 2020, 2120 apply to Group II, not Group V. The five courses must include one course in literature (American, English or foreign), one course in the fine arts, and three additional courses from at least two of the following areas: ART 1010, art history; American, English, or foreign literature; American culture studies; ethnic studies; music composition and history; philosophy, popular culture; theatre, and women’s studies.

A full list of courses approved for Group V requirements is printed in the College of Arts and Sciences Handbook. A student majoring in the arts or humanities may count one major course in this group.

Bachelor of Arts: Majors and minors
In the second year, most students select a major and minor. The number of hours required for a major or minor varies with departmental requirements, but at least 32 hours are required in the major and 20 hours in the minor, except as indicated below. In arranging courses in the minor field, a student should consult the department concerned. Outlines listed for each major represent the usual course choices but may be modified upon departmental approval to meet individual needs. Courses taken for majors and minors may not be elected to be taken "S/U."

If educational objectives cannot be met by one of the departmental majors or minors, students may create an Individualized Planned Program in consultation with a faculty advisor or advisors. A student who has earned at least 30 hours of credit and who needs at least 30 hours to complete the program may petition the Associate Dean for Student Affairs by presenting a statement of rationale as well as a detailed list of courses to be taken. Once approved, the student is obligated to complete the program as planned unless changes are approved by the Office of the Dean. The degree requirements (B.A., B.S., etc.) remain the same.