Bachelor's Degree Requirements
Number of Credits and Minimum Index
A candidate for a Bachelor of Arts degree completes a minimum of 120 credits and a candidate for a Bachelor of Science degree completes a minimum of 126 credits. These credits must be distributed in accordance with the requirements of the curriculum the student is pursuing. A candidate for the baccalaureate degree must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
College of Mount Saint Vincent Core Curriculum Requirements
The following constitutes the Core Curriculum requirements for all students enrolling in the College beginning in the fall of 2012. The Core Curriculum requirements for students enrolled prior to the fall of 2012 can be found on pages 49 – 51 of the 2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog.
Category A: FRESHMAN FUNDAMENTALS
The first year includes courses explicitly designed for freshman in order to give them a solid grounding in the academic skills necessary for achievement in college (especially through the Writing in Context sequence, as well as the Modern Language Requirement), the support and resources needed (through the First Year Experience Program) as well as the jumpstart in critical thinking in their area of interest through the Freshman Seminar program:
A – 1 FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE (FYE)
A mission-focused introduction to college life, academic expectations and support systems, including a service project as well as a basic introduction to critical thinking and information literacy. The goals of the course derive from the College Motto: “Teach me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge.” (1 credit)
A – 2 FRESHMAN SEMINAR
Currently, this is an optional pilot program. Students may opt into the courses at the time of registration.The Freshman Seminar program features small seminar-style courses, offering a disciplinary-based “narrow slice” that can be explored in depth to increase student engagement and critical reasoning skills. These courses will be oral communication intensive and student focused.
There is an extensive menu of choices for students. These courses are marketed to incoming freshmen. Freshman Seminar courses substitute for 3 Core Credits in the corresponding Core Category (Humanities Electives, Social Science Electives, etc…) or three credits of Major requirement (3 credits).
A – 3 WRITING IN CONTEXT
A two semester sequence of courses that emphasize the relationship between reading well and writing well. Literary texts serve as the source material for intensive writing instruction. In order to satisfy each of these courses, a C or better is required (6 credits).
Writing in Context I: Literary Inquiry
Working with short stories, poems, and non-fiction essays, WIC-I provides students with basic literary analysis skills and develop those skills in oral and written modes of expression. Students work on development of personal and argument-based essays. The course also contains a systematic formal review of grammar and sentence structure. All sections of WIC-I will contain a shared core of texts, in order that students all have the same core knowledge entering WIC-II.
Writing in Context II: Analysis and Research
WIC-II takes the basic analytical and writing skills developed in WIC-I, and develops them in depth. The central text of WIC-II is a specific substantial work of the instructor's choice (novel, play, or non-fiction work) around which to focus the writing instruction. This work also serves as a spring-board for the development of research writing. Students are encouraged to find personal and independent ways to connect with the text at hand. A significant introduction to the basics of the research process is included.
Developmental Writing Note
Students who place in the bottom quintile of the Noel-Levitz index are required to complete English 007, an intensive developmental (0 credit) writing course. After passing this course with a C or better, they will enroll in the first part of the WIC sequence.
A – 4 MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES (MLL-I; MLL-II)
All students are required to take two semesters of language. Placement in courses is based on prior experience and proficiency, and is determined by the MLL placement guidelines. Students who have demonstrated advanced language proficiency through AP exams (with a score of 4 or 5) will only be required to take one three-credit course (6 credits).
CATEGORY B: HUMANITIES (9 credits)
9 credits chosen from three out of four disciplines
Students choose from a menu of topic-driven Literature, History and Fine and Performing Arts, and Philosophy options. Students must choose one course each from three out of the four areas as outlined below in order to fulfill their humanities requirement:
The Topics Courses are designed with individual, focused topics, combined with a very specific set of shared goals and requirements to ensure that all of the courses within a single grouping are giving students the same skills/methods/ workload/outcomes, while using different content to arrive there. These courses will further develop the writing and oral expression skills of students while introducing them to significant modes of inquiry .
All newly-developed courses must be rigorous enough to qualify for major credit in order to qualify for entry into the core curriculum. (e.g. they must be able to double as major electives, introductory courses, or context courses).
Introductory Courses in relevant majors are cross-listed to fulfill core requirement. (e.g. Hist 214, Eng 315). Existing major electives may be approved for Core credit as well. However, there will be specific Core criteria for major courses to qualify.
CATEGORY C: SOCIAL SCIENCES (9 credits)
9 credits chosen from three out of four disciplines
Students choose from a menu of topic-driven Business Economics, Sociology, Psychology and Communication options. Students must choose one course each from three out of the four areas as outlined below in order to fulfill their Social Science requirement.
The Social Science Topics Courses are designed with focused topics (not wide ranging surveys) and will use the specific topic as a lens through which to introduce students to the disciplinary mode of inquiry.
The Topics Courses feature shared goals (including Quantitative reasoning and Critical Thinking Goals), and clearly designed departmental requirements to ensure that all of the courses within a single grouping are giving students the same skills/methods/workload/ outcomes, while using different content to arrive there. Specific Guidelines for Social Science Area courses, which include both competency and mission goals, ensure consistency among these courses.
All newly developed courses must be rigorous enough to qualify for major credit in order to qualify for entry into the core curriculum. (e.g. they must be able to double as Major electives, introductory courses, or context courses).
Introductory Courses in relevant majors will be cross-listed to fulfill core requirement. (e.g. Psych 103, Econ 110). Existing major electives may be approved for Core credit as well, provided that they meet the guidelines assigned to the Core Social Science Area courses.
CATEGORY D: SCIENTIFIC AND QUANTITATIVE REASONING (9 credits)
This category consists of three courses: One Natural Science Course, One Mathematics course, and one additional elective in either science or mathematics.
D – 1 NATURAL SCIENCE
Students are required to take one Natural Science course. They may either fulfill this requirement through rigorous introductory courses in Biology or Chemistry, or they may take the new Interdisciplinary Topics Courses: "Current Topics in Natural Sciences." This is the umbrella term for a series of courses on contemporary Scientific Issues that the Science Division is developing. There will be multiple topics of this course, so that students may take more than one (3 credits).
D – 2 MATHEMATICS
In order to ensure a rigorous standard of Quantitative reasoning, all students are required to take Mathematical Modeling. Students who are not ready to engage in a college-level mathematics course will be offered a series of special tutoring sessions as a pre-requisite to enrolling in Mathematical Modeling (3 credits).
D – 3 QUANTITATIVE ELECTIVE
Students take three additional credits in scientific, and quantitative skills. Courses are drawn from the Natural Sciences and Mathematics (3 credits).
CATEGORY E. RELIGION AND ETHICS (9 credits)
Three courses are required in this category, for a total of nine credits: An Introduction to Ethics course offered by the Philosophy department and two Religious studies requirements.
E – 1 PHILOSOPHY I: INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
This course is still under development. It will be formally designed and approved in Fall 2012, in order to be offered in Spring 2012 (3 credits).
E – 2 RELIGIOUS STUDIES I: INTRODUCTION
This Introduction to Religion offers students a fundamental knowledge of religious terms and concepts, providing them the opportunity to explore dimensions of Faith and Belief reflected in the Christian Tradition. They will become familiar with non-Christian traditions, and explore disputed issues in religion from a critical perspective. Students will leave this class with a shared knowledge base with which to enter the Topics Requirement (3 credits).
E – 3 RELIGIOUS STUDIES II: TOPICS
This course will deepen and expand the knowledge gained in the introductory course in religious studies, by exposing students to a more focused Religious Studies topic of their choosing. Each semester will include a selection of such courses. Examples of the topics of the courses include Modern Catholic Thinkers, Contemporary Moral Issues, Death as a Fact of Life, or Evil Suffering, and God (3 credits).
Summary Requirements
Total Credits: 49
* The Freshman Seminar is an alternate way of fulfilling a major or Core requirement. Thus the three credits of Freshman Seminar are not counted in the total credits. In addition, the freshman seminar is currently optional, and will gradually be phased in.
Major, Upper Level Courses, Optional Second Major, and Minor
Major
To major in a chosen field, the student is expected to secure the approval of the Chairperson/Director of the department. Each department lists required courses for its major. A minimum of “C” is required for all courses taken to meet major requirements. The student must maintain a cumulative index in the major of 2.0 by the end of junior year (90 credits) in order to register for major senior courses. To be eligible for graduation, the student must maintain the 2.0 index throughout the senior year.
Upper Level Courses
To be eligible for graduation students must take 30 of their 120 (or 126) credits in courses numbered 300 or 400, planned with guidance, according to their aims and interests.
Optional Second Major
Students may elect a second major with the permission of the chairpersons of both departments and if scheduling permits.
Minor
Minors may be earned in most major disciplines of the College. The requirements for each minor are determined by the department or program and include a minimum of 18 credits in the discipline. A contract for the minor indicating the required courses must be signed by the chairperson or the program director and the student no later than the first semester of the student’s Junior year. Minimum grade requirements for the minor are the same as for the major. Students who elect a second major may not have a minor.
A candidate for a Bachelor of Arts degree completes a minimum of 120 credits and a candidate for a Bachelor of Science degree completes a minimum of 126 credits. These credits must be distributed in accordance with the requirements of the curriculum the student is pursuing. A candidate for the baccalaureate degree must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
College of Mount Saint Vincent Core Curriculum Requirements
The following constitutes the Core Curriculum requirements for all students enrolling in the College beginning in the fall of 2012. The Core Curriculum requirements for students enrolled prior to the fall of 2012 can be found on pages 49 – 51 of the 2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog.
Category A: FRESHMAN FUNDAMENTALS
The first year includes courses explicitly designed for freshman in order to give them a solid grounding in the academic skills necessary for achievement in college (especially through the Writing in Context sequence, as well as the Modern Language Requirement), the support and resources needed (through the First Year Experience Program) as well as the jumpstart in critical thinking in their area of interest through the Freshman Seminar program:
| A-1 | FYE (FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE) | 1 credit |
| A-2 | FRESHMAN SEMINAR | 3 credits* |
| A-3 | ENGL 110 & 120: WRITING IN CONTEXT I and II | 6 credits |
| A-4 | MODERN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE | 6 credits |
A – 1 FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE (FYE)
A mission-focused introduction to college life, academic expectations and support systems, including a service project as well as a basic introduction to critical thinking and information literacy. The goals of the course derive from the College Motto: “Teach me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge.” (1 credit)
A – 2 FRESHMAN SEMINAR
Currently, this is an optional pilot program. Students may opt into the courses at the time of registration.The Freshman Seminar program features small seminar-style courses, offering a disciplinary-based “narrow slice” that can be explored in depth to increase student engagement and critical reasoning skills. These courses will be oral communication intensive and student focused.
There is an extensive menu of choices for students. These courses are marketed to incoming freshmen. Freshman Seminar courses substitute for 3 Core Credits in the corresponding Core Category (Humanities Electives, Social Science Electives, etc…) or three credits of Major requirement (3 credits).
A – 3 WRITING IN CONTEXT
A two semester sequence of courses that emphasize the relationship between reading well and writing well. Literary texts serve as the source material for intensive writing instruction. In order to satisfy each of these courses, a C or better is required (6 credits).
Writing in Context I: Literary Inquiry
Working with short stories, poems, and non-fiction essays, WIC-I provides students with basic literary analysis skills and develop those skills in oral and written modes of expression. Students work on development of personal and argument-based essays. The course also contains a systematic formal review of grammar and sentence structure. All sections of WIC-I will contain a shared core of texts, in order that students all have the same core knowledge entering WIC-II.
Writing in Context II: Analysis and Research
WIC-II takes the basic analytical and writing skills developed in WIC-I, and develops them in depth. The central text of WIC-II is a specific substantial work of the instructor's choice (novel, play, or non-fiction work) around which to focus the writing instruction. This work also serves as a spring-board for the development of research writing. Students are encouraged to find personal and independent ways to connect with the text at hand. A significant introduction to the basics of the research process is included.
Developmental Writing Note
Students who place in the bottom quintile of the Noel-Levitz index are required to complete English 007, an intensive developmental (0 credit) writing course. After passing this course with a C or better, they will enroll in the first part of the WIC sequence.
A – 4 MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES (MLL-I; MLL-II)
All students are required to take two semesters of language. Placement in courses is based on prior experience and proficiency, and is determined by the MLL placement guidelines. Students who have demonstrated advanced language proficiency through AP exams (with a score of 4 or 5) will only be required to take one three-credit course (6 credits).
CATEGORY B: HUMANITIES (9 credits)
9 credits chosen from three out of four disciplines
Students choose from a menu of topic-driven Literature, History and Fine and Performing Arts, and Philosophy options. Students must choose one course each from three out of the four areas as outlined below in order to fulfill their humanities requirement:
| B-1 | LITERATURE |
| B-2 | HISTORY |
| B-3 | FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS |
| B-4 | PHILOSOPHY TOPICS |
The Topics Courses are designed with individual, focused topics, combined with a very specific set of shared goals and requirements to ensure that all of the courses within a single grouping are giving students the same skills/methods/ workload/outcomes, while using different content to arrive there. These courses will further develop the writing and oral expression skills of students while introducing them to significant modes of inquiry .
All newly-developed courses must be rigorous enough to qualify for major credit in order to qualify for entry into the core curriculum. (e.g. they must be able to double as major electives, introductory courses, or context courses).
Introductory Courses in relevant majors are cross-listed to fulfill core requirement. (e.g. Hist 214, Eng 315). Existing major electives may be approved for Core credit as well. However, there will be specific Core criteria for major courses to qualify.
CATEGORY C: SOCIAL SCIENCES (9 credits)
9 credits chosen from three out of four disciplines
Students choose from a menu of topic-driven Business Economics, Sociology, Psychology and Communication options. Students must choose one course each from three out of the four areas as outlined below in order to fulfill their Social Science requirement.
| C-1 | BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS |
| C-2 | SOCIOLOGY |
| C-3 | PSYCHOLOGY |
| C-4 | COMMUNICATION |
The Social Science Topics Courses are designed with focused topics (not wide ranging surveys) and will use the specific topic as a lens through which to introduce students to the disciplinary mode of inquiry.
The Topics Courses feature shared goals (including Quantitative reasoning and Critical Thinking Goals), and clearly designed departmental requirements to ensure that all of the courses within a single grouping are giving students the same skills/methods/workload/ outcomes, while using different content to arrive there. Specific Guidelines for Social Science Area courses, which include both competency and mission goals, ensure consistency among these courses.
All newly developed courses must be rigorous enough to qualify for major credit in order to qualify for entry into the core curriculum. (e.g. they must be able to double as Major electives, introductory courses, or context courses).
Introductory Courses in relevant majors will be cross-listed to fulfill core requirement. (e.g. Psych 103, Econ 110). Existing major electives may be approved for Core credit as well, provided that they meet the guidelines assigned to the Core Social Science Area courses.
CATEGORY D: SCIENTIFIC AND QUANTITATIVE REASONING (9 credits)
This category consists of three courses: One Natural Science Course, One Mathematics course, and one additional elective in either science or mathematics.
| D-1 | NATURAL SCIENCE |
| D-2 | MATHEMATICS |
| D-3 | QUANTITATIVE ELECTIVE |
D – 1 NATURAL SCIENCE
Students are required to take one Natural Science course. They may either fulfill this requirement through rigorous introductory courses in Biology or Chemistry, or they may take the new Interdisciplinary Topics Courses: "Current Topics in Natural Sciences." This is the umbrella term for a series of courses on contemporary Scientific Issues that the Science Division is developing. There will be multiple topics of this course, so that students may take more than one (3 credits).
D – 2 MATHEMATICS
In order to ensure a rigorous standard of Quantitative reasoning, all students are required to take Mathematical Modeling. Students who are not ready to engage in a college-level mathematics course will be offered a series of special tutoring sessions as a pre-requisite to enrolling in Mathematical Modeling (3 credits).
D – 3 QUANTITATIVE ELECTIVE
Students take three additional credits in scientific, and quantitative skills. Courses are drawn from the Natural Sciences and Mathematics (3 credits).
CATEGORY E. RELIGION AND ETHICS (9 credits)
Three courses are required in this category, for a total of nine credits: An Introduction to Ethics course offered by the Philosophy department and two Religious studies requirements.
E – 1 PHILOSOPHY I: INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS
This course is still under development. It will be formally designed and approved in Fall 2012, in order to be offered in Spring 2012 (3 credits).
E – 2 RELIGIOUS STUDIES I: INTRODUCTION
This Introduction to Religion offers students a fundamental knowledge of religious terms and concepts, providing them the opportunity to explore dimensions of Faith and Belief reflected in the Christian Tradition. They will become familiar with non-Christian traditions, and explore disputed issues in religion from a critical perspective. Students will leave this class with a shared knowledge base with which to enter the Topics Requirement (3 credits).
E – 3 RELIGIOUS STUDIES II: TOPICS
This course will deepen and expand the knowledge gained in the introductory course in religious studies, by exposing students to a more focused Religious Studies topic of their choosing. Each semester will include a selection of such courses. Examples of the topics of the courses include Modern Catholic Thinkers, Contemporary Moral Issues, Death as a Fact of Life, or Evil Suffering, and God (3 credits).
Summary Requirements
| A | Freshman Development | All Required | 16 credits* |
| A-1 | First Year Experience (FYE) | 1 credit | |
| A-2 | Freshman Seminar | 3 credits | |
| A-3 | Writing in Context I and II | 6 credits | |
| A-4 | Modern Languages/Literature | 6 credits |
| B | Humanities | Choice of 3 out of 4 | 9 credits |
| B-1 | Literature | 3 credits | |
| B-2 | History | 3 credits | |
| B-3 | Fine and Performing Arts | 3 credits | |
| B-4 | Philosophy Topics | 3 credits |
| C | Social Sciences | Choice of 3 out of 4 | 9 credits |
| C-1 | Psychology | 3 credits | |
| C-2 | Economics | 3 credits | |
| C-3 | Sociology | 3 credits | |
| C-4 | Communication | 3 credits |
| D | Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning | All required | 9 credits |
| D-1 | Natural Science | 3 credits | |
| D-2 | Mathematics | 3 credits | |
| D-3 | Science/Math Elective | 3 credits |
| E | Religion and Ethics | All required | 9 credits |
| E-1 | Intro to Ethics (Philosophy) | 3 credits | |
| E-2 | Religious Studies I (Intro) | 3 credits | |
| E-3 | Religious Studies II (Topics) | 3 credits |
Total Credits: 49
* The Freshman Seminar is an alternate way of fulfilling a major or Core requirement. Thus the three credits of Freshman Seminar are not counted in the total credits. In addition, the freshman seminar is currently optional, and will gradually be phased in.
Major, Upper Level Courses, Optional Second Major, and Minor
Major
To major in a chosen field, the student is expected to secure the approval of the Chairperson/Director of the department. Each department lists required courses for its major. A minimum of “C” is required for all courses taken to meet major requirements. The student must maintain a cumulative index in the major of 2.0 by the end of junior year (90 credits) in order to register for major senior courses. To be eligible for graduation, the student must maintain the 2.0 index throughout the senior year.
Upper Level Courses
To be eligible for graduation students must take 30 of their 120 (or 126) credits in courses numbered 300 or 400, planned with guidance, according to their aims and interests.
Optional Second Major
Students may elect a second major with the permission of the chairpersons of both departments and if scheduling permits.
Minor
Minors may be earned in most major disciplines of the College. The requirements for each minor are determined by the department or program and include a minimum of 18 credits in the discipline. A contract for the minor indicating the required courses must be signed by the chairperson or the program director and the student no later than the first semester of the student’s Junior year. Minimum grade requirements for the minor are the same as for the major. Students who elect a second major may not have a minor.
