A student in doubt about how certain requirements are interpreted should consult The Book: The St. Olaf Student Planner and Official Handbook or contact the Registrar.
Responsibility for understanding and meeting Graduation Requirements stated in the St. Olaf Catalog rests entirely with the student. Faculty advisers and the Registrar will assist in every way possible.
Degree candidates who entered St. Olaf before May 1994 will continue to pursue degrees under graduation requirements that were in existence prior to May 1994. These requirements are listed on pages 37-38.
Students with junior standing transferring to St. Olaf from other colleges during the 1996-97 academic year will pursue degrees under graduation requirements established after May 1994.
Graduation requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the Paracollege are described within the Paracollege section of this catalog.
Graduation requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Music are described within the Music Department listing. Questions should be directed to the Music Department in person or by phoning (507) 646-3180.
The senior year in residence is defined as registration at St. Olaf College, either (a) during the last two semesters and Interim preceding the conferring of the degree, or (b) for at least nine of the last 12 full-credit courses.
The Grade Point Average is based upon all coursework taken on a graded basis at St. Olaf; on a cooperative basis with Carleton College; or, under certain restrictions, through the Minnesota Intercollegiate Nursing Consortium.
Grades earned on St. Olaf-sponsored off-campus programs appear on the transcript but are not computed into the Grade Point Average except in cases where a grade is given by a St. Olaf professor accompanying the off-campus experience.
Grades earned under the S/U and P/N options are not included in the Grade Point Average.
Transfer credits and Advanced Placement credits are not included in the Grade Point Average.
A course can earn only its assigned level. It cannot be raised in level as the result of extra studies, assignments, or performance.
A sliding scale is used if not all work is taken at St. Olaf, or if credit is earned through special programs such as Advanced Placement. As a rule, two-thirds of the courses taken at St. Olaf must be graded. Sophomore transfer students need a minimum of 18 graded courses, and junior transfer students a minimum of 13 graded courses. Details are available from the Registrar.
Paracollege students transferring to the regular college should be especially aware of this requirement. All students should be aware of the restrictions on S/U and P/N grades.
Students studying on St. Olaf off-campus programs should refer to "Graded and Ungraded Courses" in The Book: The St. Olaf Student Planner and Official Handbook for details about how this graduation requirement is affected by off-campus programs.
Requirement: A minimum of eight full-credit courses in a disciplinary or interdisciplinary major.
Specific requirements for each major are listed in the preface to course offerings in each department and interdisciplinary program. All majors include writing requirements. Many departments require more than the minimum eight courses for a major. Departments may require comprehensive examinations or papers.
Only one full-credit course in the major may be taken S/U.
A minimum of 6 full-credit courses with grades above C- (C or higher) must be completed within the major.
Twenty-one full-credit courses must be completed outside of the department or program which certifies each major.
In the case of double majors taken in separate departments or programs, courses included in one major count toward the 21 "outside" courses satisfying the second major.
The maximum number of course credits in any one department allowed toward the minimum 35 course graduation requirement is the equivalent of 14 full courses.
At least 50 percent of the minimal major must be taken through St. Olaf. No more than 4 full-credit courses in a minimum, 8 course major may be acquired through the transfer of course credits from another college or university. Of the 4 or more remaining courses in the major which are taken through St. Olaf, 3 full courses must receive grades above C- (C or higher), and at least 3 of the transferred full-credit courses likewise must have grades above C- (C or higher). Transfer students to St. Olaf and St. Olaf students considering courses from other colleges or universities should consult the appropriate St. Olaf Department Chair about credits applicable to a major.
A completed major is not designated or recorded on the transcript until all requirements for the degree are completed.
A graduated student may add a second major to the St. Olaf record if not more than two courses from another institution are subsequently applied.
A typical course of study may have proportions like these:
General Education: 14-16 courses Major: 8-10 courses Electives: 10-12 courses Total for graduation: 35 course credits
Depending upon Advanced Placement examination results, choice of foreign language, prior preparation in languages and mathematics, choice of a major, and a second major or teaching certification, the proportions will vary.
Requirement: Satisfactory completion of a First Year Seminar in the first year of study. As an alternative, students may take English 111: College English, in their first year of study. Students who initially transfer 15 or more courses to St. Olaf are exempt from this requirement.
Placement: Students who need to improve their writing skills complete English 110: Critical Skills in Composition, in the first semester of the first year, then complete a First Year Seminar or English 111 in the second semester of the first year. All other students may enroll directly in a First Year Seminar or English 111.
Requirement: Satisfactory completion of four courses across the curriculum designated as Courses with Writing.
Requirement: Satisfactory completion of the fourth college semester course (numbered 232 or higher) taught in the French, German or Spanish languages; or satisfactory completion of the third college semester course (numbered 231 or higher) taught in the Chinese, Greek, Latin, Japanese, Norwegian, or Russian languages.
Placement: The college provides placement examinations for new students. On the basis of examination results and the admissions record, the college assists with initial placement in a first-, second-, third-, or fourth-semester course. All students are advised to begin foreign language study in the first semester of the first year and to continue their language study in each subsequent semester until the requirement is completed. In cases where a student's schedule of courses makes that impossible, the student should consult with his or her adviser.
Students may also fulfill the foreign language requirement by demonstrating proficiency at the required third- or fourth-semester level either through a St. Olaf proficiency examination or by transfer of college credits in a single foreign language at the appropriate levels as determined by the relevant St. Olaf foreign language department and the Registrar. Proficiency reports from persons not known to St. Olaf must be based on documented exposure or training by the student in a foreign language equivalent in length to three or four college semesters, or demonstration of a sufficient length of time in a non-English speaking culture to give credence to a proficiency report. As a rule, proficiency reports from persons outside of St. Olaf are not acted upon until the student arranges for a final proficiency exam by persons and methods agreed to by members of the foreign language faculty, the Registrar and, if necessary, the Dean of the College. Such exams may involve an expense paid by the student. Students fulfilling the foreign language requirement with courses transferred from an American institution should first consult with the Registrar. These transferred courses must be in a single language and at the appropriate level. Four terms of a single foreign language are required through term schools such as Carleton College.
Alternatives to the foreign language requirement are rarely considered, and only if strict adherence to course requirements and class attendance are met. Students experiencing special language difficulty or students for whom English is a second language should consult the Registrar.
Requirement: A one-quarter (.25) credit course, or its equivalent incorporated within a full-credit course.
NOTE: The Oral Communication requirement has been waived for the Classes of 1998 and 1999 (students entering in the Fall of 1994 and 1995). It is required for students who entered in the Fall of 1996 and afterwards.
Requirement: Satisfactory completion of a course approved for Mathematical Reasoning credit.
Placement: The college provides a placement examination for new students. On the basis of examination results and the admissions record, most students are advised to complete the requirement in the first year. In some instances, however, students are advised to complete the requirement later. The college assists with placement.
Requirement: Two different one-quarter (.25 credit) activity courses providing participation in structured physical activity. Participants in a recognized intercollegiate sport may register and receive credit for one of the two required .25 credit courses. Credit for intercollegiate sport participation cannot be earned as an elective. It can be earned only once as part of the P.E. requirement.
Requirement: Two courses which may be taken in a variety of departments.
Requirement: One full-credit course focusing on culture outside of the Western tradition and one course which includes a component focusing on cultural diversity within the United States. The course and the component may be taken in a variety of departments.
Requirement: One course focusing on artistic forms and one course focusing on literary forms. The courses may be taken in a variety of departments.
Requirement: An introductory biblical studies course (Religion 121) taken during the first year, and one course in Christian theology. Students who initially transfer 15 or more courses to St. Olaf are only required to complete the Christian theology course.
Requirement: Two courses in different departments or interdisciplinary programs. At least one must be in biology, chemistry or physics, and at least one must be a laboratory course.
Requirement: Two courses in different departments or programs.
Requirement: One upper level course (numbered 200 or higher) which may be taken in a variety of departments.
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of the Christian theology requirement or permission of instructor..
Only students who have successfully completed 33 full-course credits out of the required 35 full-course credits with a minimum 2.00 grade point average are eligible to be included in the Commencement program and participate in Commencement and its related activities without a diploma.
Neither senior status, number of courses attempted, time spent in college, delays in submitting off-campus or transfer work, nor other circumstances or miscommunication eliminate the 33 full-course requirement. The 33 credits must be fulfilled and recorded before the day of Commencement.
Again, the responsibility for understanding and meeting graduation requirements rests entirely with the student.