1999-2001 Undergraduate Catalog

Degree requirements

University and general degree requirements

In addition to specific requirements listed on the following pages, a candidate for any degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must meet the following requirements:

1. Complete the degree requirements listed below, preferably in the freshman and sophomore years;

2. Satisfy the requirements for a major and minor area of specialization (if applicable). Note: Courses taken for a major do not count toward a minor. Major courses may not be taken "S/U";

3. Complete the University's general education program requirements. These include courses in natural sciences, social and behavioral sciences, humanities and arts, international perspectives and cultural diversity in the United States. Students wishing to apply general education program courses to college degree requirements should consult the College of Arts and Sciences Handbook for a list of appropriate courses which could be used to fulfill both sets of requirements. See also the college foreign language statement in this catalog under specific degree being sought;

4. Students anticipating graduation must complete a junior audit four semesters (60 hours) prior to graduating to ensure that all requirements can be met for the degree. Junior audit checksheets are available in the college office and must be submitted with the department/school adviser's signature. Failure to file a junior audit may severely jeopardize graduating on time. The student assumes the responsibility for failure to be informed about requirements for the degree. See also application for graduation deadlines.

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. Every student must take English in the first year. If known, the major or minor should be started in the first year, but selection of the major may be deferred 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 ENG 112 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 ENG 112 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:

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

2. Passing a proficiency examination in the language on the 202 course level;

3. Having completed four years of one language in high school;

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

Note: Foreign language courses numbered 201, 202, 212 apply to Group II not Group V.

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

  • Completion of GERM 101 and 102 plus a minimum of six additional hours from: GERM 117, 118, 201, 202, 217, 218, 231, 331 and/or GERM 260, 315, 316;
  • Completion of CHIN 101, 102, 201, 202;
  • Completion of JAPN 101, 102, 201, 202;
  • Completion of RUSN 101 and 102 plus a minimum of six additional hours from: RUSN 201, 202, 215, 216, 313, 317, 319, 331 and/or 312
  • Romance languages (French, Greek, Italian, Latin, Spanish)

    Option I:

  • FREN 101, 102, 201, 202;
  • GRK 101, 102, 201, 202;
  • ITAL 101, 102, 201, 202;
  • LAT 101, 102, 201, 202;
  • SPAN 101, 102, 201, 202
  • Option II: (one of the following)

  • FREN 101, 102, 201, 212
  • GRK 101, 102 and two of GRK 201; CLCV 241, 242, 245
  • LAT 101, 102, and two of LAT 201; CLCV 241, 242, 245
  • SPAN 101, 102, 201, 212
  • A student may transfer at any point from Option I to Option II but not vice versa. Course 202 is required for admission to 300-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:

  • A. Completion of at least one course in addition to the two required for the general education program. Courses include astronomy, biological sciences, chemistry, geology, physics or physical geography (including GEOG 125, 126, 127, 213, 404). Of the three courses, at least two courses must be from the approved list of laboratory courses in the College of Arts and Sciences Handbook.*
  • B. Completion of one of the following:

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

    2. MATH 115, 126, 128, 129 or 130**;

    3. MATH 111 or 120** and one of the following: PHIL 103; CS 100 or 101;

    4. Three years of high school mathematics and CS 100 or 101. 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

    Completion of four courses in addition to the two required for the general education program. Courses are selected from at least three areas with at least three courses in one area (excluding GEOG 125, 126, 127, 213, 404). 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 general education program, for a total of five courses. Foreign language courses numbered 201, 202, 212 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 (art, art history, music, theatre or film) and three additional courses from at least two of the following areas: ART 101, art history; American, English or foreign literature; American culture studies; ethnic studies; music composition and history; philosophy, popular culture; theatre, and women's studies. It is recommended that philosophy be one of these areas.

    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

    By the beginning of the second year most students select a major and minor. The possible majors and minors include: American culture studies, art, art history, Asian studies, general studies in business, Canadian studies (minor only), classical civilization, computer science, economics, English, environmental policy and analysis, ethnic studies, film studies, folklore and folklife (minor only), French, geography, geology, German, history, international studies, interpersonal communication, Italian (minor only), journalism (minor only), Latin, linguistics (minor only), mathematics, music, philosophy, political science, popular culture,
    psychology, Russian, scientific and technical communication, sociology, Spanish, statistics, telecommunications, theatre and women's studies.

    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.

    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 adviser or advisers. 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 academic appeals board of the college 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.

    Bachelor of Science 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 minor area of specialization as outlined. Every student, however, must take English in the first year. If known, the major or minor should be started in the first year, but selection of the major may be deferred 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".

    A bachelor of science degree is only available in biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, geology, mathematics, neuroscience, physics, psychology, scientific and technical communication or statistics. The student also completes a minor area of specialization as outlined below.

    Degree requirements

    Group I-English composition

    Students are required to complete ENG 112 or demonstrate by examination that they have proficiency in written expression equivalent to that attained by the student who completes that course. (A penalty is imposed if ENG 112 is not completed within the first 60 hours.)

    Group II-