Southwestern University
2006-2007 Catalog
Southwestern University: A Statement
The Academic Program
Degree Requirements
Academic Regulations
Course Descriptions
Brown College of Arts & Sciences
Biology
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Classics
Communication Studies
Economics & Business
Education
English
History
Kinesiology
Math & Computer Science
Modern Languages & Literatures
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Religion & Philosophy
Sociology & Anthropology
Sarofim School of Fine Arts
Art and Art History
Music
Theatre
Interdisciplinary Programs
Special Academic Programs
Admission & Financial Aid
Student Life
Cultural Activities
History & Governance
Endowments & Scholarships
University Directory
Board & Officers
Faculty
Administration
THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM
ACADEMIC STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY
The academic and instructional program at Southwestern University is organized through The Brown College of Arts and Sciences and The Sarofim School of Fine Arts. The Brown College of Arts and Sciences is composed of three divisions: The Division of Humanities, The Division of Social Sciences and The Division of Natural Sciences. The Sarofim School of Fine Arts is composed of the Art and Art History Department, the Music Department and the Theatre Department. In addition, the University supports a series of team-taught, interdisciplinary courses including fields represented both by The Brown College of Arts and Sciences and The Sarofim School of Fine Arts.
Divisions/School
The Brown College of Arts and Sciences, named in honor of the George R. and Herman Brown families of Houston for their generosity in supporting Southwestern’s academic program, is composed of 15 academic departments making up three divisions: Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences. The Sarofim School of Fine Arts is named in honor of Fayez Sarofim of Houston for his generous support of Southwestern.
Division of Humanities
Classics Area
English
History
Modern Languages and Literatures
Religion and Philosophy
Division of Social Sciences
Communication Studies
Economics and Business
Education
Kinesiology
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology and Anthropology
Division of Natural Sciences
Biology
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Mathematics and Computer Science
Physics
The Sarofim School of Fine Arts
Art and Art History
Music
Theatre
Interdisciplinary Programs
American Studies
Animal Behavior
Environmental Studies
Feminist Studies
International Studies
Latin American Studies
Physical Science
SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM
Rationale
At Southwestern University, we believe that the liberal arts must extend beyond a prescribed set of courses and experiences to include all we do. In structuring the academic curriculum, Southwestern University believes that general education, the major, the minor and electives all contribute in a vital way to a liberal arts education. A liberal arts approach to teaching and learning requires that faculty in all disciplines provide courses that cause students to challenge their own assumptions about the world and to become individuals who are capable of self-reflection and critical analysis and who are passionate about continued learning throughout their lives. A liberal arts approach requires that individual courses be placed in the context of the discipline, in relationship to other disciplines, and in relation to the liberal arts in general, such that students come to understand the essentially interdisciplinary nature of the liberal arts.
Students who experience such a liberal arts education should become literate, informed and critical persons capable of making the world more humane and civilized. Such students must acquire the skills of communication: they must learn to read and think critically, to write and speak cogently. They must develop mathematical reasoning ability. Because cumulative learning develops their powers of reasoning and analysis, they must achieve depth in some field of knowledge. At the same time, they need to acquire breadth by becoming familiar with the different specialized modes of acquiring knowledge of themselves and of their social and natural environments. They must come to understand the complexity and diversity of their own cultural heritage, both in historical context and in relation to the international context of the 21st century. They must develop religious and aesthetic awareness that will help them to make informed and discriminating decisions.
Objectives
The Southwestern University curriculum is designed:
I. To develop in students a set of basic academic skills which are the marks of an educated person and are fundamental to the successful completion of any program of study, namely:
A. Fluency in written and spoken English.
B. Competence in analytical and critical thinking.
C. The ability to perform mathematical operations, carry out quantitative analysis and/or practice mathematical reasoning.
D. The ability to access and evaluate bibliographic and other systems of stored data and information, including electronic resources.
E. Proficiency in a classical or modern language other than English at the fourth-semester level.
II. To allow students to encounter the various perspectives on knowledge and modes of reasoning, thinking and acquiring knowledge that are fundamental for understanding personal existence, human community, and the natural environment and that are necessary for continued self-education in the modern world, namely:
A. An understanding of other cultural traditions in order to expand students’ cultural experience and provide fresh perspectives on their own cultural assumptions and traditions.
B. An understanding of the impact of religious ideas and traditions on human experience.
C. An understanding of how knowledge of the natural world is acquired by the use of scientific methods of inquiry and application of experimental techniques.
D. An understanding of the creative dimension of human existence and of aesthetic experience as a distinctive mode of perceiving the world.
E. An understanding of the relationship between the individual and the social environment and of the ways in which that relationship can be understood.
F. An understanding of human experiences and cultures through close reading and critical analysis of our histories, literatures, languages, ideas and values.
III. To develop in students proficiencies based on systematic and rigorous study of a particular field. Students may choose to focus their study on a discipline located within a particular academic department or on an interdisciplinary program.
Structure of the Curriculum
The Southwestern University curriculum consists of three areas, each of which contributes an essential component to the student's educational experience. Area One specifies courses common to all programs of study; Area Two provides parameters within which students may choose courses that support their work in Area One and Area Three; Area Three describes the general requirements for an area of study in depth (“the major”).
I. AREA ONE
A. First-Year Seminar (one course)
The purpose of the First-Year Seminar is to provide an introduction to the Southwestern University liberal arts learning environment. It involves investigation of a special topic in a mentoring relationship with a faculty member that begins during Orientation week and continues into the first part of a student’s first regular semester. Seminars are special topic courses that provide stimulating and challenging academic experiences to help prepare incoming students to be successful in a rigorous liberal arts college environment. In particular, seminars focus on developing the student’s abilities in the following areas: reading, writing, critical thinking, research, informed discussion and creativity. Additional academic socialization components prepare students for the challenging intellectual demands of college-level course work. Must be completed in the first semester.
B. College Writing (one course)
Writing is a significant form of thinking, a process of discovering and communicating ideas. This course is designed to involve students directly in this process of writing as thinking, to stimulate them to develop their ideas, and to increase their facility with the English language and the use of bibliographic sources. Readings expose students to effective writing and encourage them to respond accurately and intelligently to the language and ideas of others, but the emphasis of this course is on the students’ own writing of expository prose, including the research paper. Should be completed in the first semester.
C. Mathematics (one course)
The mathematics requirement is designed to insure that students have an appropriate mastery of computational skills as well as an appreciation of the nature of mathematical reasoning. Any three or four credit-hour mathematics or computer science course taught at Southwestern University satisfies this requirement. Should be completed in the first year.
D. Language (up to four semesters)
Southwestern University students ordinarily must demonstrate proficiency at the fourth-semester level in order to fulfill the foreign language requirement. 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 permission of the Modern Languages and Literatures Department, 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.
E. Fitness and Recreational Activity (two courses)
The objective of the Fitness and Recreational Activity program is to develop knowledge, skills and physical abilities that contribute to the enjoyment of various sports and leisure-time activities throughout life, as well as to acquire techniques in developing and maintaining personal physical fitness. Students are encouraged to develop and practice a lifestyle that promotes wellness and physical fitness, and that incorporates recreational activities on a regular basis. Students who complete a season of participation in intercollegiate athletics may satisfy one FRA course requirement for such participation.
F. Intercultural Perspectives (one course)
The aim of this requirement is to expand the student’s cultural experience through the study of different cultural traditions. Through the study of other cultures’ histories, literatures, social systems, religious and ethical values, intellectual trends, and/or artistic achievements, these courses seek to identify the distinctive patterns of thought, belief, and action that account for a culture’s particular configuration or ethos. Among Area One requirements, only the Intercultural Perspectives requirement may be satisfied by designated courses taken in either Area Two or Area Three. Courses that satisfy this requirement are marked in the catalog with (IP) following their descriptions.
G. Religion (one course)
Courses satisfying this requirement introduce students to reflections on the meaning of human existence, community and the universe from the perspectives of the major religious traditions of humankind. Specific courses may focus upon a segment of religious and philosophical tradition or on several religious traditions in comparison. These courses show how religious tradition shapes human consciousness and provides individuals with self-definition and meaning. Courses that satisfy this requirement are marked in the catalog with (R) following their descriptions.
II. AREA TWO
Courses selected within Area Two are designed to ensure breadth of study across the range of academic disciplines included in the liberal arts, and to foster the student's agency in shaping a program of study.
A. At least two courses totaling at least six hours from the Division of Humanities
These courses develop an understanding of human experiences and cultures through close reading and critical analysis of histories, literatures, languages, ideas and values. Courses that satisfy this requirement are marked in the catalog with (H) following their descriptions.
B. At least two courses totaling at least six hours from the Division of Natural Sciences
These courses develop an understanding of how knowledge of the natural world is acquired by use of scientific methods of inquiry, experimental techniques, or by mathematical/computational models and methods. Courses must be from two different departments, and at least one course must have an experimental lab. Courses that satisfy this requirement are marked in the catalog with (NS) or (NSL) following their descriptions.
C. At least two courses totaling at least six hours from the Division of Social Sciences
These courses develop an understanding of the relationship between the individual and the social environment and of the ways in which that relationship can be understood. Courses must be from two different departments or programs. Courses that satisfy this requirement are marked in the catalog with (ScS) following their descriptions.
D. At least two courses totaling at least six hours from The Sarofim School of Fine Arts
These courses develop an understanding of the creative dimension of human existence and of aesthetic experience as a distinctive mode of perceiving the world. At least three credit hours must be in classroom/lecture format, and at least three credit hours must be in performance/production format. Courses that satisfy this requirement are marked in the catalog with (FAL) or (FAP) following their descriptions.
E. Free Electives (hours vary depending on degree program and choice of major)
These unrestricted courses give students the opportunity to pursue topics of personal interest that complement courses taken in Area One and Area Three.
III. AREA THREE
A. The Major
All majors require at least 30 semester hours (18 above the introductory level); some require as many as 60 hours. No course may satisfy hour requirements in more than one major, except in the case of paired majors (see Paired Majors). All students must have a major in their academic program.
B. The Minor
A minor requires at least 18 semester hours in a subject field (12 above the introductory level). Some minors may require more than 18 hours. Students are not required to have a minor in their academic program.
C. Continued Writing Experience
Students must not only learn how to write cogently but must also practice and refine writing skills as they progress through their various courses of study. Different disciplines or fields of knowledge have different writing styles and requirements, and graduates should be able to communicate effectively in their chosen fields.
D. Capstone Experience
Each department and major program shall design its major(s) to include an appropriate capstone experience. This may be a special course, a project in which students are expected to bring together and apply what they have learned, a comprehensive written and/or oral exam, or other experience appropriate for the area of specialization.
Majors and Minors Available at Southwestern
Majors
Accounting page 50
American Studies (Interdisciplinary) page 147
Animal Behavior (Interdisciplinary) page 148
Anthropology page 114
Art (Studio) page 121
Art History page 121
Biochemistry page 38
Biology page 33
Business page 50
Chemistry page 37
Child Study and Language Development page 57
Classics page 42
Communication Studies page 46
Composite Science (teaching field) page 58
Composite Social Studies (teaching field) page 59
Computational Mathematics page 82
Computer Science page 82
Economics page 50
English page 65
Environmental Studies (Interdisciplinary) page 149
Feminist Studies (Interdisciplinary) page 151
French page 87
German page 88
History page 69
Independent Major (Interdisciplinary) (Area of Concentration) page 13, 146
International Studies (Interdisciplinary) page 154
Kinesiology page 76
(with an optional area of emphasis in the Athletic Training Education Program)
Latin page 42
Latin American Studies (Interdisciplinary) page 156
Mathematics page 82
Music page 129
Philosophy page 108
Physical Science (dual-degree program) page 157
Physics page 96
Political Science page 98
Psychology page 103
Religion page 108
Sociology page 114
Spanish page 94
Theatre page 137
Minors
Animal Behavior page 148
Anthropology page 114
Architecture and Design Studies page 121
Art (Studio) page 121
Art History page 121
Biology page 33
Business page 50
Chemistry page 38
Chinese page 87
Communication Studies page 46
Computer Science page 82
Dance page 137
Economics page 50
English page 65
Environmental Studies page 149
Feminist Studies page 151
French page 88
Generic Special Education page 59
German page 88
Greek page 43
History page 70
Kinesiology page 76
Latin page 42
Latin American Studies page 156
Mathematics page 82
Music page 131
Performance Studies page 137
Philosophy page 108
Physics page 96
Political Science page 98
Psychology page 103
Religion page 108
Sociology page 114
Spanish page 94
Theatre page 137
Paired Majors
Certain departments and programs have agreed to “pair” majors, which allow up to six hours of specified courses to count in both majors. Contact the chairs of the applicable department or programs for details about these paired majors. The approved majors are:
Communication Studies/Feminist Studies
Economics/Accounting
Economics/Business
English/Feminist Studies
History/Feminist Studies
International Studies/French
International Studies/German
International Studies/Spanish
Philosophy/Feminist Studies
Psychology/Child Study and Language Development
Religion/Feminist Studies
Sociology/Anthropology
Sociology/Feminist Studies
Theatre/Feminist Studies
The Independent Major (Area of Concentration)
The independent major (area of concentration) within the Bachelor of Arts degree is an alternative to a regularly offered major and minor. It gives students 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, chosen in accordance with an overall plan that gives unity and coherence to the integrated course of study: 1) 24 semester hours from one subject area (defined as one group of courses sharing a numerical prefix, e.g. 70-XXX-Studio Art), 18 of which must be above the introductory level; and 2) 24 additional semester hours from other subject areas, 18 of which must be above the introductory level.
Students’ programs must be designed in consultation with the chairs of the Division/School and the departments involved and must be approved by the Division/School in which the first 24-hour block falls. The capstone experience is dictated by the requirements of the subject area in the first 24-hour block.
