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Mission, History and Religious Affiliation Admissions, Expenses and Financial Aid Scholarships and Special Endowed Funds Catalog Statement and Policies
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Graduation RequirementsI. .The number of credits required for graduation will be 128. These credit hours must include: A. .Eight (8) semester credits in courses designated as meeting the social science distribution requirement. B. .Eight (8) semester credits in courses designated as meeting the natural science and mathematics distribution requirement. C. .Twelve (12) semester credits in courses designated as meeting the humanities and fine arts distribution requirement; at least four (4) semester credits must be in courses in the humanities and four (4) semester credits in the fine arts. D. .No more than ninety-six (96) semester credits in courses in any one of the four areas: social sciences, natural sciences and mathematics, humanities, and fine arts. E. .No more than sixty (60) semester credits in courses in a single academic discipline. F. .No more than twenty-four (24) semester hours in various types of independent study (courses numbered 601-646). II. . One (1) First Year Course completed in the first semester. III. .Four (4) semester credits earned in a course designated as meeting the Internationalism requirement. IV. .Four (4) semester credits earned in a course designated as meeting the U.S. Multiculturalism requirement. V. .Four (4) semester credits earned in a course designated as meeting the writing requirement. This course must be taken after the First Year Course and prior to the senior year. VI. .One (1), two (2) or three (3) courses satisfactorily completed which are designated as meeting the quantitative reasoning requirement. Students may take one or more courses with a Q3, Q2 or Q1 designation. A single Q3 course satisfies the requirement or students may take a Q2 course together with any other Q2 or Q1 course, or students may take three Q1 courses. VII. .Proficiency in a second language equivalent to four (4) semesters of college study. VIII. Approved major plan filed and completed. IX. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.00. X. .At least four (4) semesters spent in residency. At least one of these must be in the senior year. Participation in off-campus study programs does not count toward satisfaction of this requirement. XI. .Declaration of Intent to be Graduated form filed. Degree-seeking students must submit this form to the Registrar’s Office one year prior to the intended date of graduation. Explanations and Regulations Concerning Graduation Requirements I. Courses: All credit courses offered in fall, spring or summer terms are applicable toward the graduation requirements. Course credits may also be earned through successful completion of combinations of activity courses in forensics and music. (See departmental listings in the curriculum section of this catalog.) Credits toward graduation are subject to limitations in certain areas, including maximum credits that may be earned in a single division or in a single discipline, as listed above, or through independent studies, as described under Independent Study on page 48. General Distribution Requirement: Not all courses fulfill this requirement. Credits earned through Advanced Placement Exams, International Baccalaureate or GCE A-Level examinations can not be used to meet the College’s general distribution requirement. For courses which meet this requirement see the General Distribution Requirement section of each academic department. Each student must take at least: a. Eight semester credits in designated courses in the social sciences: anthropology, economics, geography, linguistics, political science, psychology, sociology, as well as some courses in other departments, meet this requirement. b. Eight semester credits in designated courses in the natural sciences and mathematics: biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics and computer science, physics and astronomy, as well as some courses in other departments, meet this requirement. c. Twelve semester credits in designated courses in the humanities and fine arts at least four hours of which are in the humanities and at least four in the fine arts. Humanities courses include courses in classics, English, French, German studies and Russian, Hispanic studies, history, humanities and media and cultural studies, Japanese, philosophy, religious studies, as well as some courses in other departments. Fine Arts courses include courses in art, theater and dance, and music, as well as some courses in other departments. Other Courses: II. First Year Course Requirement: Students enter Macalester with a wide range of experiences and expectations. Many have only a vague notion of what a liberal arts college is all about. It is critical for the students’ success at Macalester that they receive extra guidance during their first semester to help them adjust to Macalester’s expectations and philosophy. The First Year Course requirement is designed to help incoming students in their transition to college, specifically to the liberal arts model, and to Macalester’s academic expectations of them. All First Year Courses have a common emphasis on college-level writing and basic library research skills. A critical component of the program is the role of the faculty member as adviser to the students. The goals of the First Year Course requirement are: *To introduce students to critical inquiry within at least one discipline or interdisciplinary area. *To instruct students in college level writing (including multiple drafts and appropriate citation of source materials) and library research skills. *To help students adjust to Macalester’s academic expectations. *To connect incoming students to advisers who get to know the students well from the start. *To provide a supportive community of other first-year students with shared interests and experiences to aid in the transition to college. III. Internationalism and U.S. Multiculturalism Requirements: A rich campus life, language acquisition, study away, and interaction with diverse students and faculty all contribute to students’ intellectual and experiential grasp of difference and of their own place in relation to the “other” and the world. In this context, the Internationalism and U.S. Multiculturalism graduation requirements are designed to prepare students to contribute as members of a thoughtful and principled citizenry in a global society. These courses provide specific knowledge about the complexity of internationalism and multiculturalism abroad, in the U.S., and in the rich campus and local communities in which Macalester participates. While internationalism and multiculturalism are distinguished as two components of the College mission, in reality they are intertwined. Peoples divided by national boundaries may, for example, be more homogenous culturally and linguistically than peoples within a nation like the United States. Systems of power and privilege that help create and maintain hierarchical relations among peoples operate within the U.S. and other nations, among nations and between the U.S. and the rest of the world. All lives are shaped by historical dynamics and contemporary structures that operate on transnational, international, and global levels. Macalester’s two-part requirement recognizes not only the conceptual interconnectedness of internationalism and multiculturalism, but also the need for students to engage with complexities of difference within the community where they live and work, as well as within an international and global context. In learning about other peoples, cultures and global systems one dislodges presuppositions about others and, crucially, about one’s individual and collective self. IV. Writing Requirement: Macalester seeks to ensure that all students receive instruction in writing that gives attention to writing as a process (writing is rewriting), and that provides students individually with feedback on the mechanics and substance of their writing. While First Year Courses assist students in making a transition to college writing along with myriad aspects of college study, each student is required to take at least one additional course with a W designation, in which they will hone their writing skills and go through a process of evaluation and rewriting. Writing instruction at Macalester aims at ensuring that students learn: *How to plan, draft, and revise a college-level paper. *How to construct an argument. *How to organize an essay. *How to use argumentation and evidence to support claims. *How to adapt the style, vocabulary, and tone of a piece of writing to its anticipated audience and context. *How to cite evidence using a standard citation style, such as MLA, APA, CMS or CSE. *The importance of clarity, proper grammar, usage, and style in academic writing. V. Quantitative Thinking Requirement: Quantitative thinking (QT) skills are an essential component of a liberal education. Critical thinking incorporates both qualitative and quantitative evidence and evaluation. In some fields quantitative approaches play a central role, while qualitative thinking dominates in others. Despite these differences in emphasis, critical thinking skills learned in one area often carry over and reinforce those learned in other areas. It is for this reason that the breadth of experience associated with a liberal arts education prepares students effectively to be active participants and leaders in government, civil society, business, and academia. Many policy debates, scientific discussions, political issues, and personal and organizational decisions involve judgments about claims based upon quantitative evidence. To evaluate these claims, the individual must have basic familiarity with such concepts as counting, measurement, estimation, and data analysis. Equally important is the capacity to ask and answer questions in a manner appropriate to these quantitative tools and to understand when the use of quantitative tools is or is not appropriate. The purpose of the QT requirement is to ensure that students have the opportunity to develop such skills. Students should learn approaches to collecting, interpreting, and presenting information about the world based on numerical, logical, and statistical skills. These topics arise in a wide range of areas, and we invite faculty from a range of disciplines to teach courses that contribute to QT. VI. Language Proficiency: Each student shall be required to demonstrate a level of proficiency in a second language—other than the student’s native tongue—through a proficiency examination or by successfully completing the equivalent of four (4) semesters of college level study in a single language. VII. Types of Majors: To insure appropriate depth within an area or related areas of knowledge, students are required to elect among: 1) a departmental major; 2) an established interdepartmental major; or 3) an individually designed interdepartmental major. Within each of these types of majors the student is required to complete a capstone experience. The purpose of this capstone requirement is to give students experience with reading original research literature, doing original work, or presenting a performance. This requirement may be met in many ways, e.g., senior seminar, independent project, honors project. The means of completing this experience are designated by the major department, interdepartmental programs, and IDIM committees and so indicated in the catalog in the cases of departments and interdepartmental programs. A student may obtain more than one major by fulfilling the respective requirements in those majors. Individual courses, where appropriate and approved by the department chairs involved, may be counted toward both majors. A student may not graduate with only one or more minors. 1. A departmental major consists of not less than thirty-two nor more than forty-four semester credits in courses within one department. Supporting courses included, a major must not require fewer than thirty-six semester credits nor more than sixty-eight semester credits. Departments will determine those courses, and sequences of courses, which constitute the various patterns for the major in that field. Departments will also designate the appropriate means for completion of the senior capstone requirement within each major. A department may also recommend (but not require) additional electives from among its own offerings or in supporting fields as indicated by the student’s educational and career objectives. 2. An interdepartmental major established by the faculty shall consist of not less than thirty-two semester credits nor more than sixty-eight semester credits in courses, including supporting courses. The sponsoring departments will determine those courses, and sequences of courses, which constitute the various patterns for the major in the field. No more than forty-four semester hours may be included from any one department. The interdepartmental program will also designate the appropriate means for completion of the senior capstone requirement within each major. The departments may also recommend additional electives as indicated by the student’s educational and career objectives. 3. An individually designed interdepartmental major (IDIM), reflecting a disciplined area of inquiry crossing departmental lines, may be designed and submitted for approval to the Educational Policy and Governance Committee acting on behalf of the faculty. The provision for an IDIM—as one of the ways in which a student may satisfy the graduation requirement of a major—is to accommodate students with special educational goals which may be achieved within the College’s overall curriculum but not through any of the existing majors or interdepartmental majors (see 1 and 2 immediately above) set forth in detail elsewhere in this catalog. To take advantage of this provision, students are expected to design their program of study in advance of doing the bulk of the course work for it. Students seeking an individually-designed interdepartmental major (IDIM) must present, not later than the beginning of the registration period for the first semester of their junior year, a completed proposal, signed by the student and three faculty members, to the IDIM Subcommittee of the Educational Policy and Governance Committee for consideration. In consultation with three faculty members of the student’s choosing, the student must design a program of courses of study which crosses departmental lines and, in doing so, represents a disciplined area of inquiry not conveniently possible within the provisions of any of the existing majors in the College’s curriculum. The proposal must include the following: 1) A list of courses to be taken to complete the IDIM. This list must include a minimum of forty-four semester credits in courses from a maximum of three departments, and may include up to twenty-four additional semester credits in courses (for a maximum of sixty-eight semester credits) from any relevant department. There must be evidence of progression in the proposed courses. One way to show progression is to use courses that have one or more prerequisites. 2) Letters of support from the three faculty who comprise the student’s IDIM committee (a coordinator and two sponsors). These committee members must be from departments that offer courses listed on the student’s proposal. Two letters of recommendation must be from faculty members who have had the student in class, who may or may not be members of the student’s IDIM committee. 3) A carefully prepared written rationale. In this rationale the student is expected to describe the focus and cohesiveness of all the courses of study included in the IDIM and to indicate how this program of study meets the student’s particular educational goals. The IDIM committee will also designate the appropriate means for the completion of the senior capstone requirement within the IDIM. The committee will meet with the student at least once every semester to discuss the student’s progress towards completion of the IDIM. No proposal for an IDIM will be accepted by the Subcommittee after a student has validated his or her registration for the first semester of the junior year. Students who wish to undertake an Honors project should work with their IDIM committee to describe the procedures to be followed as well as the type of project to be completed for an Honors project. This information should be included in the original proposal for the IDIM and will be examined as part of the review of the IDIM proposal. Regulations Concerning Majors, Minors, and Concentrations Students must file an approved plan for a major no later than the start of the registration period for the first semester of their junior year. A major plan must be filed before their registration can be completed. When students declare a major (file an approved, signed major plan in the Registrar’s Office), they will be given in writing from the department a full description of the requirements for completing that major. This will include, in addition to course work, a description of any diagnostic and evaluation processes and procedures required as part of the major. Where such processes and procedures are included, copies of representative examinations or other instruments involved will be furnished in department offices and in the library for student use. When changes in major programs occur, students already declared in that area will be permitted to complete the program under the description given them at the time of original declaration or under the new program, at their discretion. Courses included in a major, minor, or concentration should not be taken on the S, D, NC basis, except with specific permission of the department chair. Ordinarily, if a student decides to change his or her major to a new area and already had taken courses in that area on an S, D, NC basis, the courses will be allowed by the department, but written permission must be given by the department chair. Courses with a grade of D, D+, or D– may not be included on a plan, except with the specific permission of the department chair. VIII. Intent to be Graduated: All degree seeking students must file with the Registrar’s Office their “Declaration of Intent to be Graduated” form one year prior to the intended date of graduation. The Bachelor of Arts degree is conferred at the end of the term in which the student successfully completes all graduation requirements. Minors and Concentrations A minor in a given department consists of not less than twenty nor more than twenty-eight semester credits in courses within one department. Departments will determine those courses, and sequences of courses, which constitute the various patterns for the minor in that field. A concentration in an interdepartmental program consists of not less than twenty nor more than thirty-two semester credits in courses drawn from a list of approved courses linked by some theme or topic. Latin Honors Latin honors are awarded upon graduation. To be eligible for Latin honors a candidate must have earned at least half of the number of semester hours required for graduation in courses at Macalester, and may have no more than the equivalent of one course per semester graded on the S,D,NC grading option. The designation cum laude is based on achieving a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50. The designation magna cum laude will be based on achieving a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.70. The designation of summa cum laude will be based on achieving a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.90. Effective with the graduating class of 2010-2011, the qualifying cumulative grade point averages for Latin honors will change. For cum laude , the minimum cumulative grade point average will be 3.65, for magna cum laude, 3.80, and for summa cum laude, 3.90. Honors The Honors Program is designed to enable seniors with demonstrated ability to undertake substantial independent work that culminates in a project of exceptionally high quality. Departments or programs that participate in the Honors Program have designed specific criteria and procedures for pursuing Honors work in their department or program. Departments and programs that have Honors programs are so indicated within their individual sections of this catalog. Detailed information about the specific expectations of the individual departments or programs is available from the departments or programs themselves or from the Director of Academic Programs. The minimum cumulative grade point average established by the College for entrance into the Honors Program is 3.30; however, some departments or programs may require a higher grade point average. Students expecting to apply for acceptance into the Honors Program should consult with their particular department or program early in their junior year as the official application deadlines are normally during the second semester of the student’s junior year. Students pursuing an IDIM should work with their IDIM committee to describe the procedures to be followed as well as the type of project to be completed for an Honors project. This information should be included in the original proposal for the IDIM and will be examined as part of the review of the IDIM proposal. Students in the Honors Program are invited to occasional special events and colloquia. Bound copies of the completed Honors projects are added to the library collection, and successful completion of an Honors project is noted on the student’s transcript following graduation. Second Degree Program Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution of higher education can be admitted to the College for the purpose of earning a second bachelor’s degree. A bachelor of arts degree is awarded to such students upon the successful completion of sixty-four Macalester semester hours, and all other graduation requirements as previously listed. The general distribution and general education requirements for graduation may be partially or completely fulfilled as a result of the evaluation of courses taken while earning the initial degree. Effective Catalog Students are normally expected to satisfy the graduation requirements in effect at the time of their matriculation at Macalester (or readmission if they have withdrawn). If graduation requirements change after this date, students have the option of satisfying either the requirements in effect at the time of matriculation (or readmission) or the requirements in effect at the time of graduation if such a change is feasible. This provision applies only to all-college graduation requirements. See the preceding section for regulations concerning majors, minors and concentrations.
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