Please note: This is NOT the most current catalog.

How to Use This Catalog

In this section, you will find information about the academic programs at St. Olaf College.

In addition to information about program requirements, special resources, and recommendations for graduate study, you will find descriptions of the courses offered by each program. In the description, you will find:

  • the prerequisites for the course; and
  • the frequency with which the course is offered. The general education requirements satisfied by each course are not included because they are subject to change. They may be found instead in the Class and Lab Schedule for the appropriate year and term. Information on faculty specialties is available in the list of faculty at the beginning of each listing. Information on the years courses are offered is included where known. Descriptions of Interim courses that departments plan to offer in 2008 are also included in this catalog where known. For further information about an academic program, consult the St. Olaf website, using the URL address at the top of each listing, or go to www.stolaf.edu and use the site map or search functions.
PLANNING THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM

New students should begin planning their academic program by consulting the GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS and ACADEMIC REGULATIONS sections of this catalog. Returning students should examine their degree audits on the Student Information System (SIS) and familiarize themselves with the description of majors of interest.

GENERAL EDUCATION

Students should note the overview of St. Olaf’s GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM and consult the curricular advice of the ACADEMIC REGULATIONS section.

General education key

The codes for the general education requirements are listed below. When a course fulfills a general education requirement, the code for each requirement being fulfilled is noted in the Class and Lab Schedule for the appropriate year and term. For example, a course fulfilling both Historical Studies in Western Culture (HWC) and Writing Intensive (WRI) would be coded HWC, WRI.

Foundation Studies

FYW = general education 111 (completion in the first year)

WRI = Writing (completion of four full courses designated as Writing in Context [WRI])

FOL = Foreign Language (fourth college semester course numbered 232 or higher in French, German, or Spanish; third college semester course numbered 231 or higher in Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Latin, Norwegian, Russian)

FOL-C = Chinese 231 or higher, taught in Chinese

FOL-F = French 232 or higher, taught in French

FOL-G = German 232 or higher, taught in German

FOL-K = Greek 231 or higher, taught in Greek

FOL-J = Japanese 231 or higher, taught in Japanese

FOL-L = Latin 231 or higher, taught in Latin

FOL-N = Norwegian 231 or higher, taught in Norwegian

FOL-R = Russian 231 or higher, taught in Russian

FOL-S = Spanish 232 or higher, taught in Spanish

ORC = Oral Communication (completion of one full course designated ORC)

MAR = Mathematical Reasoning (completion of one full course designated MAR)

PHA = Physical Activity (completion of two different .25 activity courses or one .50 course designated PHA)

Core Studies

HWC = Historical Studies in Western Culture (two full courses designated HWC)

MCS-G = Multicultural Studies Course (one full course focusing on a culture outside of the Western tradition designated MCS-G)

MCS-D = Multicultural Studies Component (one full course with a component that focuses on cultural diversity within the United States designated MCS-D)

ALS-A = Artistic Studies (one full course focusing on artistic forms designated ALS-A)

ALS-L = Literary Studies (one full course focusing on literary forms designated ALS-L)

BTS-B = Biblical Studies (Level I full course, Religion 121, taken during first year) BTS-B NEW

BTS-T = Theological Studies (one full course in Christian theology taken after the first year) BTS-T NEW

NST = Studies in Natural Science (two full 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.)

NSC = Studies in Natural Science - Biology, Chemistry, or Physics - non-lab

NSC, NSL = Studies in Natural Science - Biology, Chemistry, or Physics - with lab

NST = Studies in Natural Science, other non-lab NST, NSL = Studies in Natural Science, other with lab

HBS = Studies in Human Behavior and Society (two full courses in different departments or programs)

Integrative Studies

EIN = Ethical Issues and Normative Perspectives (one upper level [200 or higher] full course designated EIN. Prerequisite: BTS-T.)