REQUIREMENT: Fulfill Distribution Requirements
Distribution requirements for the B.A. degree consist of four courses each in philosophy, religion, social/behavioral sciences, and mathematics/natural sciences—as well as three courses in humanities, two courses at the intermediate level in a foreign language, two courses in literature, and one course in English composition. Courses in the major field fulfill the requirements in at least one of these areas. (For example, courses taken for a Biology major also fulfill the requirement in mathematics/natural science; courses taken for an English major also fulfill the requirements in humanities and in literature.)
CAUTION: No course taken pass/fail may fulfill a distribution requirement.
The various areas of distribution requirements are outlined below.
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1 - Philosophy
2 - Religion
3 - Literature
4 - Foreign Language
5 - Mathematics / Natural Science
6 - Humanities
7 - Social and Behavioral Science
8 - English Composition
1. Philosophy
Philosophy 201 and 202 are required of all students in Arts and Sciences (except majors in Philosophy) and should be taken in the freshman year. They are the prerequisite for all other Philosophy courses. For their third and fourth required courses in Philosophy, students must choose one from each of the following two areas:
Area I: Logic, Morality and Action
301 Reasoning and Argumentation
303 Biomedical Ethics
309 Theories of Ethics
310 Philosophy of Art
311 Contemporary Moral Issues
332 Political Philosophy
333 Philosophy of Natural Right and Natural Law
351 Introduction to Symbolic Logic
403 Morality and Law
Area II: Nature, Knowledge and God
305 Metaphysics
308 Philosophy of God
313 Philosophy of Human Nature
315 Philosophy of Language
317 Philosophy of Religion
328 Philosophy of the Social Sciences
329 Philosophy of Science
331 Philosophy of Knowledge
2. Theology and Religious Studies
Religion requirements changed effective Fall 2003. For a more extensive explanation of the requirements, see the Schedule of Classes.
Four courses are required in Theology & Religious Studies (TRS). These must include at least one course in Christian tradition (TRS 200 through TRS 261), and at least one upper-level course (TRS 300 through TRS 399).
Students whose cultural heritage is non-Western and who have little familiarity with the Judeo-Christian tradition may substitute TRS 103 for the required course in Christian tradition.
3. Literature
Two semesters of literature are required: literature written in any language is acceptable, including in English translation. Also acceptable are courses in MDIA film studies, Comparative Literature, Greek & Roman Mythology, and honors HSHU.
NOT ACCEPTABLE: Composition courses (English 101, 103, 105, 111, 326, 327) do not fulfill the literature requirement. Courses in rhetoric, linguistics, grammar, history of language, and basic language instruction do not fulfill the literature requirement. The following courses in Modern Languages do not fulfill the literature requirement: French 203, 204, 329, 330, 401, 402, 503; German 203, 204, 401, 402, 601; Italian 301, 302; ML 521; Spanish 203, 204, 210, 211, 401, 402, 461, 503.
4. Foreign Language
A student must pass two semesters of any classical or modern foreign language at the intermediate level. Every student is expected to enroll in a foreign language course each semester until the requirement is completed.
In French, German, Greek, Italian, Latin, and Spanish, intermediate level courses are numbered 103-104. (Heritage speakers placed at the intermediate level substitute 210-211 for 103-104.) The intermediate level course in Arabic is Semitics 242 (6 credits).
Courses in American Sign Language (ASL) do not fulfill the foreign language requirement.
The language requirement may be waived if the student has the fluency of a native speaker in a language other than English, or if the student achieves a designated minimum score on either the SAT achievement test or a placement examination administered by this university when the student enters. There are specific guidelines for waiving the foreign language requirement: consult the Assistant or Associate Dean.
THREE IMPORTANT CAUTIONS:
1) A grade of C- or higher in the preceding course is required for enrolling in a 102, 103, or 104 language course, or in SEM 242.
2) In order to continue a language taken in high school or at another college, students must take a placement examination prior to beginning that language here; otherwise no credit is given for any course in that previously-studied language.
3) No student may take a language course for credit below the level into which he or she has been placed, and no student whose language requirement has been waived may take for credit the 101, 102, 112, 103, or 104 course in that language.
The 103-104 courses in foreign languages (or 210-211 for heritage speakers), or SEM 242, fulfill the distribution requirement in language. Except for majors in the Department of Modern Languages or the Department of Greek and Latin, any other course in a language below the 200 level can be used only as a free elective.
A student with a documented learning disability may request substitution of courses for the 103-104 language requirement. Such a request must include results of testing and consultation with the university's consultant on learning disabilities. There are specific guidelines for courses acceptable for the substitution. Contact the Associate Dean for more information, and Disability Support Services for documentation and testing requirements.
5. Mathematics / Natural Science
Students must complete four courses, including one MATH, from among the following: Physical Anthropology (ANTH 105, 106, 108 and other courses specifically designated), Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Honors Environmental Studies (HSEV 101 only), Mathematics (but not 101), or Physics. Statistics courses (ECON 323 and 324, PSY 322, SOC 301 or 503, EDUC 633, and SSS 501) are acceptable. At least two of the four courses must be in the same department.
CAUTION: Mathematics 101 carries no credit and fulfills no degree requirement.
CAUTION: Not all Anthropology courses fulfill the natural science requirement. Be sure to check carefully into which distribution area an ANTH course falls.
6. Humanities
Students must complete three courses from among the following: Architecture (ARCH 100, 101, 135, 136); Art; Classics; Comparative Literature; Drama; English (102, 104 and 200 level or higher); Greek and Latin (above 104); History; Honors Culture & Technology (HSCT 101, 102, and others specifically designated); Honors Humanities (HSHU); Media Studies; Modern Languages (above the 100 level); and Music. At least two courses must be in the same department.
NOTE: Courses in history (including ancient history designated as Classics) may be selected to fulfill the requirements either in humanities or in social and behavioral science.
7. Social and Behavioral Science
Students must complete four courses, including two in the same department, from offerings of the following: Anthropology other than those designated as natural science [see CAUTION below], Business & Economics, Classics (ancient history only), Education, History, Honors Environmental Studies (HSEV 203, 204 only), Honors Social Science (HSSS), Politics, Psychology, Social Work, and Sociology.
NOTE: Courses in history (including CLAS courses in ancient history) may fulfill the requirements either in humanities or in social and behavioral science.
CAUTION: ANTH 105, 106, 108, and other ANTH courses designated as natural science do not fulfill the Social Science requirement. Be sure to check carefully into which distribution area an ANTH selection falls.
8. English Composition
All students must take English composition in the Freshman year. The required course (determined by placement) is ENG 101 (103 for non-native speakers) 111, or 105. It must be completed with a grade of C- or better.
Last Revised 21-Aug-07 12:43 PM.
