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The Bachelor's Degree
Programs, Policies And Regulations
Graduation Policies
Application for Graduation
General Education Requirements
Writing Requirements
Distribution Requirements
The Major
Educating the whole student is the goal of the liberal arts curriculum at Washington College. It is a goal that calls for active participation on the part of both faculty and students. The College values its role as a microcosm for today's students who seek a liberal arts education.
Washington College's size lends itself to educating the whole student in intensely personal, important ways. With one professor for every 12 students, teachers know their students by names rather than social security numbers.
The College's commitment to the liberal arts and sciences encourages students to explore many areas of interest and to develop the capacity to reason, to appreciate literature and the arts, and to make the connection between courses of study and their implications in society.
Student participation is crucial to the success of a liberal arts education. That is why students are expected to design—with the help and guidance of faculty advisors—an academic program best suited to their individual interests and talents. To help in charting the course, Washington College has established a set of guidelines concerning its General Education and Distribution Requirements, which are designed to ensure a broad intellectual foundation in the arts and sciences. In addition to these general requirements, students are expected to complete writing requirements, course requirements for the major, and a Senior Capstone Experience, which usually takes the form of a thesis, performance, or comprehensive exam.
Washington College operates on a two-semester academic calendar year. The majority of courses are worth four credits; however, the College also offers one-, two-, and three-credit courses. It is customary to complete sixteen credits for each of eight semesters and to graduate at the end of four years with 128 credits. Students who transfer one or more 3-credit classes may be allowed to graduate after completing 126 or 127 credits. Please check with the Registrar for full details.
Full-time student status is defined as being enrolled for at least twelve credit-hours per semester. The total credits for which a student is enrolled in a given semester is planned by the student and the academic advisor, but must not exceed 22 credits.
The curriculum is designed to provide for a thorough and intensive study of the material selected. Like other leading national liberal arts colleges, Washington College asks students to devote considerable time to each course—normally between ten and twelve hours a week for a four-credit course. Since less than a third of that time is actually spent in the classroom, courses emphasize the importance of outside work—independent research, additional reading and writing, laboratory research, creative projects, as well as service learning opportunities and participation in the many cultural events hosted by the College.
Washington College awards the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. For the degree to be awarded, a student must complete satisfactorily 128 credit-hours, two writing-intensive courses, and the Senior Capstone Experience. A student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 overall and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 within the major. No more than six D's overall and two D's within the major can be counted for graduation. In most cases, the last eight courses leading to a degree must be taken in residence at Washington College.
Faculty advisors, the deans, and the Registrar are freely available to answer questions and offer guidance in selecting and planning a course of study. It is important to keep in mind, however, that the ultimate responsibility for meeting all requirements for the degree rests entirely with the student.
A fundamental goal of a liberal arts education is to encourage and to further individual self-development. Beyond this goal, the liberal arts college shares with other academic institutions an obligation to preserve, to transmit, and to advance the accumulated wisdom of civilizations. The scholarly tradition, in turn, provides the substance of what we can offer to further an individual's intellectual development. As a special kind of liberal arts college, one that stresses the value of close interpersonal relations, we strive to assist the student not only in enlarging his or her intellectual and aesthetic capacities, but in achieving a social and personal maturity as well. Two of the several purposes of higher education listed by the Carnegie Commission describe our situation very well:
Every aspect of the College should, of course, contribute to its basic goal. We are here concerned, however, primarily with the curriculum, the intellectual means by which we serve student self-development. Our Mission Statement identifies the goals of the academic program (see page 1).
Within the general guidelines of the curriculum at Washington College, you will take major responsibility for shaping a program of study to broaden and deepen your intellectual development. During your years here, members of the faculty will work closely with you to design a program to help you meet your personal goals. Close interpersonal relations are highly valued at Washington College, and the faculty and staff will assist you not only in making the most of your intellectual and aesthetic capacities, but also in achieving personal and social maturity as well.
Other aims of the curriculum may be grouped into four broad classes:
A liberal arts education is only secondarily and indirectly vocational. The primary purpose of a liberal arts education is to foster the process of self-development which finds an ideally encouraging environment in a small, residential college such as Washington College. Students should expect to play an active role as partners in an intellectual dialogue with instructors and fellow students. While the curriculum provides guidance and ensures coherence in the educational process, students should find sufficient flexibility to permit the growth and development of specific needs and interests. In short, sound structure and necessary flexibility are the foundations of the course of study at Washington College.
Academic policy is formulated by the faculty, who determine the requirements for admission, promotion, and graduation; the organization of the curriculum; and the provisions covering probation and dismissal. Administrators interpret and apply the rules so as to carry out the intentions of the faculty, subject to the policies established by the Board of Visitors and Governors. Students play an important role in determining these policies. They serve as voting members on both the Curriculum Committee and Committee on Academic Standing and Advising, where major academic policies are formulated, subject to faculty approval.
The primary objective of the College's academic policy is to support the direct relationship between student and instructor. The instructor's judgment is final, and his/her records are authoritative in all matters of course requirements, grades, and class attendance. The College does not normally accept appeals of instructors' decisions in these matters. Any questions should be directed first to the instructor, then to the Department Chair, and, as a final resort, to the Dean of the College.
The four-course plan at Washington College involves eight semesters of study with four courses generally taken every semester. A total of 128 credit hours is required for graduation. Decisions to take coursework beyond the required 128 credits will be made at the student-advisor level. Students may take up to five years to complete their coursework, subject to the usual requirements for acceptable academic progress.
The intent of this plan is to provide for a more thorough and enriched study of the material of each course than is possible in a system of three-credit courses. When this plan was first introduced, it was envisioned that each course would require a student to do approximately ten to twelve hours of work per week. Since the usual number of class hours was not increased, a major portion of work for a course should take place outside of the classroom. Such outside work places a strong emphasis on activities such as independent research, additional reading and writing, laboratory work, and creative work. This requires the student to take a more active role in his or her education.
While the nature of any particular course is a matter to be determined by its instructor, that instructor has the responsibility for defining the nature of work to be done outside of the classroom and for demanding that it be successfully completed. Satisfactory grades are given only to students who demonstrate a mastery of the material as intended.
There are three kinds of requirements at Washington College: Graduation Requirements, General Education Requirements, and Major Requirements. Graduation Requirements ensure that all graduates of Washington College take an equivalent number of courses and fulfill certain common general education obligations. General Education Requirements ensure that students get a balanced introduction to a variety of liberal arts and sciences. Major Requirements ensure that students concentrate sufficiently in at least one liberal art or science to become proficient in that area. In sum, Graduation Requirements are for uniformity, Major Requirements are for concentration, and General Education Requirements are for breadth.
Washington College awards the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. A candidate must complete at least 128 credit hours, of which a minimum of 56 hours must be taken at Washington College or in a Washington College-administered program. Students must satisfy the general education requirements which include completion of one Global Perspectives seminar, ENG 101 (Literature and Composition), two Writing-intensive courses (one each in the sophomore and junior years), and distribution courses. Students must also complete a major, which includes a minimum of eight courses in the major and fulfillment of a senior project known as the Senior Capstone Experience (a comprehensive examination, thesis, research project, or the like as specified by the major department).
Students must attain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in the major. No more than a total of six D's and no more than two D's in the major can be counted for graduation. A student's last eight courses must also be taken at Washington College or in a Washington College-administered program.
Only students who have completed all graduation requirements are eligible to participate in commencement. Students who complete their graduation requirements prior to the first day of fall classes will receive diplomas dated the previous academic year and have the option of participating in the next commencement.
For further explanation of the following items, consult the appropriate sections of this handbook.
For those majors which require or allow the comprehensive exam:
For those majors which require or allow a Senior Capstone or Project:
Because each department establishes its own deadline for submission of #2 and #3 above, students should refer to their department's established guidelines or consult with the chairs of the departments.
Normally in the spring of the student's junior year, the Registrar will provide the student with a graduation audit showing the major and distribution courses presented to meet requirements and also indicating any deficiencies to be made up before graduation. Seniors who expect to graduate at the end of the year should apply to the Registrar's Office no later than the end of September of their senior year.
To ensure a broad foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, all students entering as freshmen are required to take the following General Education requirements: one Global Perspectives seminar (GRW), ENG 101 (Literature and Composition), and the other distribution courses from the categories listed below. Students entering Washington College with Advanced Placement credit may apply that credit toward Distribution courses up to a total of 32 credit hours; however, this credit does not exempt students from the GRW seminar.
First-year students and transfer students with fewer than 31 transferable credits:
Transfer students with 32 or more transferable credits:
All first-year students must complete a GRW seminar in the first year. While students may change from one seminar to another, they are not permitted to withdraw from a GRW course. Please see below for exception.
GRW seminars include competency components in writing, research methodology, and the use of the computer as both a writing and information gathering tool.
Students may not withdraw from a GRW course without prior approval from the Committee on Academic Standing and Advising. Students who are granted approval to withdraw from a GRW course must enroll in an appropriate GRW seminar in the next possible semester.
In addition to fulfilling their writing requirements in the GRW seminars, students at Washington College must successfully complete ENG 101 in the first year and two writing-intensive courses. At least one of these writing-intensive courses must be completed in the sophomore year. A student shall not register for second-semester courses in the sophomore year unless he or she has either already successfully completed or is currently registering for one writing-intensive course. Likewise, a student shall not register for second-semester courses in the junior year unless he or she has either already successfully completed or is currently registering for the second writing-intensive course. A student not taking on-campus courses during the relevant semesters shall meet these requirements in the first subsequent on-campus semester, unless he or she can show that a course taken at an off-campus location meets the guidelines of writing-intensive courses. Writing intensive courses taken during the first year do not satisfy the Writing Obligation.
Writing-intensive courses are noted in the course schedule by an asterisk. Such courses will incorporate frequent and regular writing experiences and will make provisions for appropriate review and revision exercises. Faculty members offering writing-intensive courses will explain on their syllabi the relevant course expectations and activities. Writing-intensive courses may involve specified interactions with the Writing Center.
Students complete their Writing Obligation by receiving passing grades in two writing-intensive courses.
Students are required to take courses from the five categories listed below, unless an exception is granted through advanced placement. An exception is the distribution requirements required of transfer students with 31 or more transferable credits (refer to the section 'Requirements for First-Year and Transfer Students' for more information).
The requirements are:
Students who wish to plan their general education outside of the normal guidelines may write a proposal to this effect and submit it to their advisor as a basis for discussion of the feasibility of the plan. After consultation with the advisor, the student should send the proposal to the Committee on Academic Standing and Advising for final judgment. Approval of such proposals depends on convincing demonstration that the desired scheme provides an alternate way of adequately meeting the broad aims of the distribution requirement. Proposals must make provisions for meeting such specific goals as the following: promotion of cultural breadth, introduction to empirical investigation, provision of some basis for aesthetic appreciation or creativity, acquaintance with the nature of language (natural or symbolic), and opportunity to view complex phenomena.
The role of concentration, counterbalancing that of the distribution requirement, is most fundamentally to prepare students for discipline mastery. Detailed knowledge of the facts and terminology of a discipline, development of skill in the use of techniques essential to a discipline, sufficient mastery of the structure and methods of scholarly investigation to engage in independent study in a discipline—such are the objectives of the major in a liberal arts curriculum.
Normally, students will declare a major before the end of the sophomore year, in time for advising for the following fall. Prior to that semester's advising days, students will receive information about declaring a major. After discussing their decision about their major with their current advisors, students take Declaration of Major cards to the Chairs of their major departments for signature and then return the cards to the Registrar.
Departments may, but are not required, to permit students to declare a major provided they have completed at least 16 credit hours and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. Transfer and Advanced Placement credit cannot be counted toward the 16-credit requirement. Students wishing to declare a major early should obtain Declaration of Major cards from the Registrar, discuss the decision with their current advisors, and make an appointment to meet with the Chair of the major department to discuss the decision and obtain the appropriate signature. The Chair or a member of the major department becomes the student's advisor for the junior and senior years. All majors include a minimum of eight semester courses taken under departmental supervision. Specified extra-departmental courses in related fields may be included in a major program by special permission of the department.
Students who wish to pursue a course of major study other than one of those regularly provided may submit a proposal to this effect in their pre-major advising session. After consultation with the advisor, the student sends the proposal to the Dean of the College, who forms a committee of faculty members from appropriate disciplines to supervise the major. One member of the committee is designated major advisor; the entire committee assists in the selection of a senior project and passes on the completed work. The major program agreed on by the student and the committee will be submitted for final approval to the Dean.
There are always a few Washington College students who, after sampling a variety of courses during their first two years, find it impossible to limit themselves to a single major—so instead they choose two. Though challenging, pursuing a double major is possible for those who are willing to shoulder a slightly heavier course load. In recent years, Washington College students have successfully teamed majors in mathematics and German, English and political science, and business and French. Those who double-major are assigned two advisors, one from each discipline, and are expected to complete required coursework and a senior capstone experience for each major. Students are not permitted to declare more than 2 majors.
Pursuing one or more minor areas of study is also an option. Minors require a minimum of five courses taken for grade, or, alternately, an area of concentration within a particular discipline. (Math majors, for example, sometimes choose an additional minor in computer science.) The College also offers interdisciplinary programs in American Studies, Black Studies, Environmental Studies, Gender Studies, the Humanities, Human Development, Information Systems, and International Studies. Students are not permitted to declare more than 3 minors.
Required of all graduating seniors, the Senior Capstone Experience is intended to demonstrate the student's ability to think critically and to engage in a project of active learning within the student's major field of studies. The experience will integrate acquired knowledge and skills in a senior project designed to produce upon its successful completion a sense of mastery and intellectual accomplishment that goes significantly beyond classroom learning.
Senior Capstone Experiences can take several forms. They might involve research papers, comprehensive exams, professional portfolios, and artistic creations or performances. Whatever the design, Senior Capstone Experiences will be informed by the following expectations:
Faculty will mentor students intensively as they work on the completion of their Senior Capstone Experiences. As part of the process, students are expected to share with the College community in appropriate ways the results of their Senior Capstone Experience. The Curriculum Committee will review at regular intervals departmental policies regarding the Senior Capstone Experience to ensure compliance with the expectations listed above and overall equality of demands across departments.
The following policies will govern the administration of the Senior Capstone Experience:
Excellent work on the Senior Capstone Experience, along with the quality of work done in major courses, can result in Departmental Honors. See page 46 for more complete information.
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