Southwestern University
2003-2004 Catalog
Southwestern University: A Statement
The Academic Program
Degree Requirements
Academic Regulations
Course Descriptions
Brown College of Arts & Sciences
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DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Each student is responsible for meeting all Catalog requirements for graduation. A Southwestern University degree requires:
1. A minimum of 121 semester hours of academic work, of which at least 60 academic hours must be from a four-year (senior) college or university and the last 33 semester hours from Southwestern (see number 7 below). A minimum overall grade point average of 2.0 on all college-level work attempted in addition to at least a 2.0 on all Southwestern University work is required for graduation.
2. In addition to the overall minimum grade point average of 2.0 for graduation, no grade below C- may be counted toward the required semester hours in the major, minor, or area of concentration (except in introductory courses) and at least an average of C (2.0) must be presented in the major, minor, and area of concentration.
3. Every degree plan must present a minimum of 60 semester hours of work above the introductory level. The major must include at least 18 semester hours (nine hours above the introductory level) at Southwestern, and the minor, if any, must include at least 12 semester hours (six hours above the introductory level) at Southwestern.
4. Completion of the General Education Requirements common to all degrees, described in the Catalog section of the same name.
5. Completion of the major and minor or area of concentration requirements for a given degree plan and the specific additional requirements indicated in that degree plan by the student’s major department. A major requires at least 30 semester hours, 18 above the introductory level; a minor requires at least 18 semester hours, 12 above the introductory level. Note that some majors require from 48 to 60 semester hours.
6. No more than 42 semester hours may be credited on the degree plan for work in one subject area. (Writing and Critical Thinking is excluded from this rule for English majors.)
7. The last 33 semester hours must be done in residence at Southwestern unless a student has undertaken the 3-2 engineering program or other similar program. Modification of this regulation will be considered only for those students who have completed a majority of their academic work at Southwestern University. Students who are candidates for the combined degree programs, such as the 3-2 program in engineering, must have their combined degree plans approved by the appropriate academic officer at Southwestern University before enrolling in the cooperating school. The hours completed by students in approved programs off campus or overseas apply to this 33-hour rule.
Seniors may complete any remaining semester hours in summer school at a regionally accredited four-year college or university on the following conditions: (1) they must have been in residence at Southwestern University for a period of four semesters; (2) they must have completed the requirements for the major and minor subjects at Southwestern; (3) they must attend the commencement exercises on the scheduled commencement date; and (4) they must apply for and receive approval for the work in advance from the appropriate department chair and the Registrar.
All work attempted at other institutions must be reported to Southwestern on official transcripts, in time to meet deadlines for graduation certification.
8. A department may provide for a general evaluation of the students’ competence in their fields before the beginning of the final year. The specific techniques employed are adapted to the discipline involved, and may include public performance (as in The Sarofim School of Fine Arts) or oral or written examination or both. A senior oral examination or other departmental evaluation may be required at the discretion of the department. Such requirements may be in addition to the capstone experience of Area III Other General Education Requirements.
9. Candidates for degrees must file the necessary application for diploma and make satisfactory arrangements for the payment of all accounts due the University before the degree is awarded.
10. Candidates are expected to be present for the conferring of the degrees. Should a candidate have a compelling reason to be absent from Commencement, he or she may petition to be graduated in absentia by writing to the Provost. Candidates may only participate in Commencement exercises once they have completed all degree requirements.
Academic Advising
A program of academic advising provides each student guidance in choosing a course of study and in selecting appropriate courses each semester to complete the student’s degree plan in a timely manner. The Director of Academic Services and Advising assigns an academic advisor to each new student who enters the university. After the first semester, a student may request a change in academic advisor by completing the “Change of Academic Advisor” form available in the Registrar’s Office.
Declaring a Major
Entering students at a liberal arts and sciences university such as Southwestern are urged to explore the options offered before making an official declaration of a major. However, some degree programs, such as art, music, languages, or the natural sciences, require that students enter a sequence of courses in their first semester in order to complete the program in four years. The Director of Academic Services and Advising will assign entering students who indicate interest in such programs to academic advisors who will guide students accordingly.
During the sophomore year, no later than the Spring advising period for pre-registration for the junior year, students must declare a major from the list of majors in the Catalog by submitting a completed “Request for Degree Plan” to the Registrar’s Office. Students who experience difficulty in choosing a major are encouraged to contact the Office of Academic Services. The Office of Career Services offers several interest and personality inventories to assist students in identifying how their interests and abilities may relate to a particular major. Students who are still undecided should make a tentative selection of a major and construct a course of study under a tentative degree plan.
Degree Plans
Each student’s progress toward graduation is recorded on a degree plan specifying the courses, grades, semester hours, and other requirements for the particular degree and major that the student has chosen to pursue. Each student is responsible for meeting all Catalog requirements for a particular degree and major. The degree plan assists the student, the student’s academic advisor, and the Registrar’s Office in tracking these requirements.
To guide students in planning their courses of study, many of the courses listed in this Catalog indicate the semester in which the course is normally offered. However, the University does not guarantee that a course will be offered in a particular semester, as changing circumstances may dictate an alteration in the usual pattern of course offerings.
When a student declares a degree program contained in a Catalog, the requirements for the program, if changed in a later Catalog, will expire four and one-half years from the date of the Catalog.
Multiple Majors and Paired Majors
A candidate may receive more than one major by completing all of the requirements in each of the majors (not in the same subject area). Subjects normally offered for upper-level electives may be included in the second major and meet the overall requirement for 60 semester hours above the introductory level. No course may satisfy the semester hour requirements in more than one major or a major and a minor or more than one minor. The exception is paired majors, established by two departments or programs with the approval of the Academic Affairs Council, in which as many as six hours of specified courses may count in both majors. Students considering more than one major should be aware that certain combinations of majors cannot be completed in four years. This can affect the student’s total cost of schooling, financial aid, etc.
Undergraduate Second Degree
To become eligible for a second baccalaureate degree, students must complete the 121 semester hours required of the first degree plus a minimum of 30 additional semester hours in residence, of which 18 semester hours must be above the introductory level. Additional courses necessary to meet the specific requirements of the second degree must also be offered. Each degree must be different and have its own distinctive major. Two undergraduate degrees can be awarded simultaneously to the same person.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS COMMON
TO ALL
DEGREES
General Education Program
The General Education Program contains two components requiring 13 general education courses and a third component fulfilled as students pursue their areas of specialization and concomitant degree requirements and electives. This program is outlined below. These courses are normally three semester hours each. These courses may not be taken Pass/D/F, except for certain courses specifically designated as Pass/D/F.
General Education Requirements Common to All Degrees
(Note 1) 38 hours
I. Area One: Foundation Courses: (Note 2) 8 hours
A. First-year Seminar (offered fall only) 05-012
B. Writing and Critical Thinking (Note 3) 10-013
C. Mathematics (Note 4) 3 hours
II. Area Two: Perspectives on Knowledge: (Note 5) 30 hours
A. American and Western Cultural Heritage 3 hours
B. Other Cultures and Civilizations 3 hours
C. The Religious Perspective 3 hours
D. Values Analysis 3 hours
E. The Natural World (Note 6) 6 hours
F. Aesthetic Experience (Note 7) 6 hours
G. Social Analysis (Note 8) 6 hours
III. Area Three: Other General Education Requirements (Note 9).
A. Computer Skills: Persons who are to function effectively in today’s society must have some knowledge of computers and how they can be used to organize, analyze, and communicate information. Courses within majors may accomplish this through assignments which require the use of word processing, web-based resources for research, spreadsheets, e-mail, or other kinds of discipline-related software.
B. Continued Writing Experience: Students should demonstrate mastery of basic communication skills as well as the specialized communication requirements of their chosen major discipline. Ordinarily, courses in Area Two: Perspectives on Knowledge and some courses in all major fields have writing components. There is no specific course or set of courses designated to satisfy this requirement. It is satisfied within existing courses which fulfill degree requirements.
C. Integrative or Capstone Experience: The capstone experience may be a special course or project in which students are expected to bring together and apply what they have learned, a comprehensive written examination, or other experience appropriate to the area of specialization. Oral examinations alone will not satisfy this requirement; oral examinations must be related to a course, project, or seminar and have a focused content requiring careful student preparation. If a comprehensive written examination is used to satisfy this requirement, students must be provided with preparation materials such as: a syllabus or detailed outline of the material that the examination will cover, a bibliography of readings that they will be expected to utilize in answering questions, and a statement of the criteria that will be used to assess satisfactory and unsatisfactory performance on the examination. Specific details for satisfying successfully this requirement are described in departmental course descriptions.
D. Fitness and Recreational Activity: Two semester hours of Fitness and Recreational Activity courses are required for all degrees. Repeat courses are not allowed in the attainment of the required two semester hours. FRA courses are evaluated on a Pass/D/F basis. One additional hour of FRA credit may be counted as elective credit toward the total semester hours required for a degree.
NOTES: (These apply to all degrees)
Note 1: Certain degree plans may specify particular courses that satisfy general education requirements. Consult specific degree plans for the various majors.
Note 2: These courses are to be completed in the first year.
Note 3: Students may receive credit by a score of at least 4 on the Advanced Placement English Language exam.
Note 4: This requirement can be satisfied by at least 4 on an Advanced Placement mathematics exam or, by credit in any approved college-level mathematics or computer science course taught at Southwestern.
Note 5: No more than two approved courses in one academic department may be counted toward the general education requirements in this area, except that for the purpose of granting Perspectives on Knowledge credit, Religion and Philosophy are treated as two separate departments.
Note 6: Two approved laboratory science courses, one from the physical sciences and one from the life or experimental behavioral sciences.
Note 7: Two approved courses, one in the classroom/lecture format and one in performance or the production of artworks (or the equivalent semester hours of Ensemble or Applied Music) and at least one from the Sarofim School of Fine Arts.
Note 8: Two approved courses representing two different academic departments, at least one from the social sciences.
Note 9: These requirements are fulfilled with already existing courses as students pursue their degree plans.
General Education Courses—Perspectives on Knowledge
These are the approved Area Two: Perspectives on Knowledge courses. Courses will be added to and removed from this list in subsequent years. These courses are described in the departmental course listings and are designated by a † symbol in the margin before the course number. No more than two Area Two courses may be taken in one department, except as noted for Religion and Philosophy.
A. American and Western Cultural Heritage (one course)
CLA 07-203 Greek and Roman Mythology
07-313 Greek Civilization
07-323 Roman Civilization
COM 75-683 Mass Communication
ECO 31-623 History of Modern Economic Thought
ENG 10-153 Survey of English Literature I
10-163 Survey of English Literature II
10-173 Survey of American Literature
10-203 Greek and Roman Mythology
10-603 Medieval Literature
10-613 Renaissance Literature
FRE 11-353 French Culture and Civilization
FST 04-313 History of the Theatre I
GER 12-353 German Civilization
12-453 German Civilization: The 20th Century
HIS 16-203 Early Modern Europe
16-213 Modern Europe
16-233 U.S. Civilization
16-283 History of Science
16-313 Greek Civilization
16-323 Roman Civilization
16-403 The French Revolution and Modern France
16-523 British History, 1688 to the Present
16-713 African-American History
MUL 80-383 Music in the United States
PSC 32-113 American Politics
32-273 Film, Literature, and the Cold War
SPA 15-343 Visions and Representations of the Hispanic World
THE 74-233 Theatre History and Literature: Ancient to 1800
74-243 Theatre History and Literature: 1800 to Present
B. Other Cultures and Civilizations (one course)
ANT 35-103 Introduction to Anthropology
35-113 Peoples and Places: World Regional Geography
35-313 Pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica
ART 71-123 History of Art III: Asian Art
ECO 31-443 Economic Development
ENV 49-453 Economic Development
FST 04-033 Women in World History
HIS 16-013 World Civilizations to 1500
16-023 World Civilizations since 1500
16-033 Women in World History
16-043 Exploration, Discovery, and Colonization in World History
16-063 Colonial and Post-Colonial Worlds
16-073 Nations and Nationalism in World History
16-223 Latin American Civilization
16-243 Ancient China
16-263 African History
16-273 Japanese Civilization
16-433 Modern South African History
MUL 80-363 World Music
PSC 32-463 Russian Politics
SSC 39-103 Peoples and Places: World Regional Geography
39-313 Pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica
C. The Religious Perspective (one course)
REL 19-103 Introduction to the Christian Tradition
19-123 Introduction to the Hebrew Bible
19-133 Introduction to the New Testament
19-143 Introduction to Islam
19-153 Introduction to Judaism
19-163 Dimensions of Religion
19-173 Introduction to Hinduism
19-183 Introduction to Buddhism
D. Values Analysis (one course)
EDU 40-553 Schools, Society and Diversity
FST 04-253 Theories of Race
04-543 Gender and Science
HIS 16-543 Gender and Science
PHI 18-103 Introduction to Ethics
18-113 Contemporary Moral Problems
18-123 Values and the Liberal Arts
18-253 Theories of Race
18-273 Biomedical Ethics
PSY 33-123 Parenting: Theories and Realities
E. The Natural World (two courses: one physical
science, one life or
experimental behavioral science)
Physical Science (one course)
CHE 51-053 Chemistry Appreciation
51-153,151 Chemical Concepts and Properties I
51-173,171 Accelerated Chemical Concepts and Properties
KIN 48-714 Biomechanics
PHY 53-053 Exploring the Universe: An Appreciation of the Cosmos
53-063 Musical Acoustics
53-104 Introductory Physics
53-114 Introduction to Physics I
53-154 Fundamentals of Physics I
Life or
Experimental Behavioral Science (one course)
BIO 50-102 Cell Biology
50-112 Biological Diversity and Interactions
50-122 Classical and Population Genetics
50-132 Life Processes
Note: Successful completion of any two of the
above four
courses yields POK
credit.
50-113 Human Biology Today
50-123 Biology of Food
50-133 Microbes in Everyday Life
50-143 Environmental Science
50-153 Native Plants of Texas
50-163 Biology of Perception
ENV 49-123 Biology of Food
49-133 Microbes in Everyday Life
49-143 Environmental Science
49-153 Native Plants of Texas
KIN 48-704 Physiology of Exercise
F. Aesthetic Experience (two courses: one
classroom/lecture, one performance/
production, at least one course must be
from The Sarofim School of Fine
Arts; See Academic Structure of the
University for a list of departments
in The Sarofim School of Fine
Arts.)
Classroom/lecture (one course)
ART 71-103 History of Art I
71-113 History of Art II
71-323 Greek Art
71-343 Italian Renaissance Art
71-353 Baroque Art
71-363 Modern Art I: 1780-1860
71-373 Modern Art II: 1860-1945
71-383 Modern Art III: 1945-Present
71-703 World Architecture I
71-713 World Architecture II
CLA 07-103 History of Art I
07-353 Greek Art
07-363 World Architecture I
COM 75-653 Narrative Communication
DAN 79-243 History of Dance
ENG 10-143 Masterpieces of Literature
10-523 Movies and Cultures
FRE 11-453 Women Writers in French
FST 04-453 Women Writers in French
MUL 80-103 Introduction to Music
80-113 Music Literature I
MUT 76-103 Fundamentals of Music Theory
76-113 Music Theory I
THE 74-103 Theatre Appreciation
74-113 Theatre Arts in London (Semester in
London only)
Performance/production
(one course or 3 semester hours of any combination)
ART 69-703 Architectural Studio I: Introduction to Drafting and
Programmatic Design
69-753 Design I
70-203 Drawing I
70-323 Printmaking: Intaglio
70-333 Printmaking: Lithography
70-403 Sculpture: Figurative
70-413 Sculpture: Abstract
70-463 Ceramics: Hand-Forming
70-473 Ceramics: Wheel-Forming
70-493 Ceramics: Raku
70-503 Painting I
70-603 Computer Imaging
70-613 Photography I
70-623 Photography II
70-703 Architectural Studio I: Introduction to Drafting and
Programmatic Design
70-753 Design I
APM 8X-NNN All Applied Music
COM 75-173 Introduction to Performance Studies
DAN 79-203 Ballet
79-403 Modern Dance
79-413 Theatre Dance
79-503 Jazz Dance
79-603 Tap Dance
ENG 10-423 Creative Writing
ENS 78-101 Southwestern University Wind Ensemble
78-201 Southwestern University Jazz Ensemble
78-401 Southwestern University Singers
78-501 Southwestern University Chorale
78-601 Thai Music Ensemble
78-901 Southwestern University Chamber Orchestra
FST 04-173 Introduction to Performance Studies
THE 73-101 Theatre Performance Practicum
73-111 Theatre Laboratory
73-173 Introduction to Performance Studies
73-201 Theatre Performance Practicum
73-211 Alexander Technique
73-273 Creative Dramatics: Theatre for Youth
73-293 Introduction to Acting
73-413 Theatre Dance
G. Social Analysis (two courses: from two different
departments, at least one
course from the Social Sciences; See Academic
Structure of the
University for a list of departments in the Division of
Social Sciences.)
AMS 01-403 Chicago: Studies in Urban Sociology
ECO 31-013 Principles of Macroeconomics
EDU 43-403 Survey of Exceptionalities
ENV 49-053 Ecological History of the World
FST 04-103 Introduction to Feminist Studies
HIS 16-053 Ecological History of the World
PSC 32-503 Texas Politics
32-533 Legislative Politics
PSY 33-103 Principles of Psychology
SOC 34-113 Social Patterns and Processes
34-123 Social Problems
34-263 Social Psychology
34-273 Chicago: Studies in Urban Sociology
NOTES:
1. Perspectives on Knowledge courses (POKs) are approved until there is a substantial change in the content of the course, in which case the course must be resubmitted for POK approval.
2. Selected topics courses (303) are approved as Perspectives on Knowledge courses on a one-time-only basis.
Fulfilling General Education Requirements
Transfer students’ transcripts are evaluated on an individual basis to determine which courses will be counted toward Southwestern’s General Education Program. If there is a question about whether a course from another institution presented by a transfer student actually meets the objectives of a given requirement, a Southwestern faculty member who teaches in the relevant discipline may be asked to interview the student. Final responsibility for assessing transcripts and transfer credit rests with the Registrar. Additionally, if there is doubt concerning the level of competence a transfer student has in mathematics or English composition, the University may require a test to determine whether the student has achieved the necessary level of skill. In certain circumstances, students matriculated at Southwestern University may be allowed to take work at another institution to satisfy General Education Area Two requirements, but they must secure approval in advance from the appropriate Southwestern department chair. Forms for this purpose are available in the Registrar’s Office. Transfer students are exempt from the First-Year Seminar requirement.
Fulfilling the Foreign Language Requirement
Southwestern University students must demonstrate proficiency at the fourth semester level in order to fulfill the foreign language requirement in programs requiring a foreign language. Incoming students have the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency by achieving advanced placement on the regularly- scheduled placement examinations. Through the sustained study of literature or other forms of cultural expression in the target language, students gain a foundational understanding of communities and heritages other than their own. Students thereby become conversant in an increasingly interconnected global environment where proficiency in foreign languages provides access to intellectual inquiry (including cultural and literary expression) otherwise inaccessible in a monolingual setting. With Modern Languages and Literatures Department permission, the foreign language requirement may be fulfilled by demonstrating proficiency at the equivalent of the fourth-semester level in a language not offered at Southwestern University. The student wishing to fulfill Southwestern’s foreign language requirement in this manner is responsible for supplying pertinent documentation to the Modern Languages and Literatures Department and to the Registrar’s Office, including official transcripts and/or expert verification of fourth semester or equivalent proficiency in the target language, once the course of study is completed.
UNIVERSITY DEGREES
Southwestern University offers four baccalaureate degrees. Degree plans typically have the following four components: general education requirements common to all degrees, specific additional requirements for the particular degree, an area of specialization (major, minor, or area of concentration), and approved electives to total a minimum of 121 academic hours. A general outline of the requirements for each degree is given below. The departmental sections supplement this information with detailed requirements for majors and minors within a particular degree.
Bachelor of Arts
The Bachelor of Arts degree requires a minimum of 121 semester hours.
General Education Requirements Common to All Degrees
38 hours
Specific Additional Requirements for the BA Degree:
Foreign Language, through sophomore level (Note 1) 14 hours
Specialization:
A—The Major 30 hours
(18 hours must be above the introductory level)
The Minor (optional) 18 hours
(12 hours must be above the introductory level)
OR
B—The Area of Concentration 48 hours
An area of concentration permits a student greater freedom to design an interdisciplinary course of study focusing on a theme or career plan. It must consist of no fewer than 48 semester hours: 1) 24 semester hours from one department, 18 of which are above the introductory level, and 2) 24 additional semester hours in other departments, 18 of which are above the introductory level. The area of concentration must be designed in consultation with the chairs of the Divisions/School and departments involved and must be approved by the Division/School in which the 24-hour block of 1) above is taken. The capstone experience required will be dictated by the subject area in the first 24-hour block of courses.
Fitness and Recreational Activity 2 hours
Approved Electives 21 hours
Total, including approved electives, to complete a minimum of
(Note 2) 121 hours
Note 1: If the foreign language requirement for any degree is met by a placement or proficiency examination on which credit hours are not awarded, the needed hours toward the 121 total may be earned as approved electives.
Note 2: No more than three semester hours of Fitness and Recreational Activity (FRA) courses may count in the minimum 121 hours required for any degree.
Bachelor of Science
The Bachelor of Science degree requires a minimum of 121 semester hours.
General Education Requirements Common to All Degrees 38 hours
Specific Additional Requirements for the BS Degree:
Biology 50-102, 112, 122, and 132 8 hours
Chemistry 51-153, 51-151, 51-163, and 51-161 8 hours
Mathematics 52-154 and 52-253 or 52-113 7 hours
Physics 53-154 and 53-164 8 hours
Foreign Language, through sophomore level 14 hours
(French or German preferred)
Specialization:
The Major 30 hours
(18 hours must be above the introductory level)
AND
The Minor 18 hours
(12 hours must be above the introductory level)
The major and the minor must each be selected from one of the subject areas of the Division of Natural Sciences. See specific course requirements for majors and minors listed under departmental program descriptions.
Fitness and Recreational Activity 2 hours
Total, including approved electives, to complete a minimum of 121 hours
Bachelor of Music
The Bachelor of Music degree requires a minimum of 121 semester hours.
General Education Requirements Common to All Degrees 38 hours
Foreign Language, through sophomore level 14 hours
Specific Additional Requirements for the BM Degree hours vary
Specialization (Area of Emphasis):
Theory/Literature hours vary
Ensembles hours vary
Principal Instrument hours vary
Keyboard Proficiency hours vary
Other music courses specific to each area of emphasis hours vary
Fitness and Recreational Activity 2 hours
Approved Electives hours vary
Total, including approved electives, to complete a minimum of 121 hours
Bachelor of Fine Arts
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree requires a minimum of 121 semester hours.
General Education Requirements Common to All Degrees 38 hours
Foreign Language, through sophomore level 14 hours
Specific Additional Requirements for the BFA Degree hours vary
Specialization (Area of Emphasis) hours vary
Fitness and Recreational Activity 2 hours
Approved Electives hours vary
Total, including approved electives, to complete a minimum of 121 hours
NOTE: Consult with the chairs of the departments in The Sarofim School of Fine Arts for details concerning BM and BFA degree programs.
