Please note: This is NOT the most current catalog.
Graduation Requirements
A student admitted to St. Olaf College
is considered a degree candidate and registers under the regulations
and degree requirements listed in the catalog for the academic year
the student first enters St. Olaf as a degree candidate. No candidate
for a degree will receive a diploma until all requirements have been
fulfilled. While some course requirements may be fulfilled differently,
Graduation Requirements themselves are not subject to waiver for individual
students.
A student in doubt about how certain
requirements are interpreted should consult the Academic Regulations
section of this catalog 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.
Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree
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Degree candidate students first entering St.
Olaf after May 1994 will pursue degrees under graduation requirements
listed below in this catalog.
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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.
Requirements for Degree Candidate Students
First Entering St. Olaf After May 1994
General Graduation Requirements
1. Courses
The equivalent of 35 full-course credits through
a combination of full-credit and fractional-credit courses.
2a. Residency Requirement for One Degree
Two years (17 of the required 35 courses through
St. Olaf), including the senior year.
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.
2b. Residency Requirement for Two Degrees
Should a student desire to earn both the Bachelor
of Arts and the Bachelor of Music degrees at St. Olaf, both the junior
and senior year, or the senior year and a fifth year, must be spent
in residence. A minimum of 43 full-credit courses must be completed
with the last 17 full-credit courses earned through St. Olaf.
3. January Interim
At least three of the required 35 course credits
must be earned in three separate January Interims. An Interim may
be taken on campus, through a St. Olaf off-campus Interim program, or
through an approved Interim exchange with another 4-1-4 college. Transfer
students admitted with at least sophomore standing must complete two
Interims.
4. Grade Points and Grade Point Average
An average grade of C (2.00 on a 4.00 system) for
all courses taken for the usual letter grades. See the Academic Regulations
section of this catalog for details.
5. Course Level
Satisfactory completion of 18 full-credit courses
above Level I, courses numbered 200 and higher.
A course can earn only its assigned level. It cannot
be raised in level as the result of extra studies, assignments or performance.
6. Graded Courses
A minimum of 24 full-course credits out of 35 must
be graded.
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.
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 Academic Regulations
section of this catalog for details about how this graduation requirement
is affected by off-campus programs.
7. Major - 8 or More Full-Credit Courses
Objective:To study a discipline or an interdisciplinary
field in depth.
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/programs require
more than the minimum eight courses for a major; they may also require
comprehensive examinations or papers.
Comprehensive Graduation Requirements (General
Education)
Some courses in the St. Olaf curriculum count for
more than one graduation requirement at the same time. A course taken
for Studies in Natural Science may also be the first course in the chemistry
major. A course taught in the Department of English may simultaneously
satisfy requirements for Literary Studies and Multicultural Studies.
Courses with writing usually fulfill more than one requirement. In addition,
students may complete requirements with courses taken on international
and off-campus programs.
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.
Foundation Courses
1. First-Year Writing [FYW] - 1 course
Objective: To equip students for effective
writing in the liberal arts and introduce writing as a means of learning.
Requirement: Satisfactory completion of General Education 111
in the 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 General Education 111 in the second
semester of the first year. All other students may enroll directly in
a General Education 111 section.
2. Courses with Writing [WRI] - 4 courses
Objective: To sustain and improve writing
skills.
Requirement: Satisfactory completion of
four courses across the curriculum designated as Courses with Writing.
3. Foreign Language [FOL] - 0-4 courses
Objective: To develop non-English language
skills to an intermediate level, deepen understanding of language as
a human phenomenon and generate insights into a culture other than one's
own.
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.
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 or the director of academic advising. See Index.
4. Oral Communication [ORC] - 1 course
Objective: To develop oral communication
competence and confidence.
Requirement: A course that incorporates
specific instruction, practice and feedback, designated as ORC.
5. Mathematical Reasoning [MAR] - 1 course
Objective: To develop an understanding of
mathematics and mathematical problem-solving.
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.
6. Physical Activity [PHA] - 2 one-quarter (.25)
credit physical activity courses or a .50 credit course.
Objective: To enhance knowledge of present
and long-term physical well-being.
Requirement: Two
different one-quarter (.25 credit) activity courses providing participation
in structured physical activity in Physical Education or Dance or a
.50 credit course in Physical Education. Participants in a recognized
intercollegiate sport or dance company may register and receive credit
for one of the two required .25 credit courses. Credit for intercollegiate
sport or dance company participation cannot be earned as an elective.
It can be earned only once as part of the PHA requirement.
Core Courses
1. Historical Studies in Western Culture [HWC]
- 2 courses
Objective: To develop historical perspective
on and critical appreciation of the major traditions, institutions and
achievements of Western culture.
Requirement: Two courses which may be taken
in a variety of departments.
2. Multicultural Studies [MCS-G, MCS-D] - 2 courses
Objective: To develop an understanding and
appreciation of global and domestic cultural diversity.
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.
3. Artistic and Literary Studies [ALS-A, ALS-L]
- 2 courses
Objective: To develop appreciation and understanding
of artistic and literary forms.
Requirement: One course focusing on artistic
forms and one course focusing on literary forms. The courses may be
taken in a variety of departments. Fractional courses totaling one course
may satisfy the Artistic Studies requirement if they are all in the
same artistic form and are accredited for Artistic Studies.
4. Biblical and Theological Studies [BTS-B, BTS-T]
- 2 courses
Objective: To introduce the Biblical tradition
and to develop a critical and coherent understanding of Christian belief.
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.
5. Studies in Natural Science [NST, NSL] - 2
courses
Objective: To develop an understanding of
scientific knowledge, the process of scientific discovery and the role
of the sciences in society and culture.
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.
6. Studies in Human Behavior and Society [HBS]
- 2 courses
Objective: To introduce concepts, theories
and methods for the empirical understanding of individual and social
human behavior.
Requirement: Two courses in different departments
or programs.
Integrative Course
Ethical Issues and Normative Perspectives [EIN]
- 1 course
Objective: To analyze ethical issues from
a variety of perspectives that provide norms of justice and well-being
and guide moral reasoning. One or more perspectives from the Christian
theological tradition will be included.
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.
Participation in Commencement
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.
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