Degree Requirements We believe that the most appropriate formal preparation to meet the challenges of today’s world and to lead a satisfying personal and professional life is a carefully conceived educational program in the liberal arts and sciences. With this philosophy in mind, the College developed a precise set of curricular and degree requirements based on the principles of basic skills, breadth, depth, and discovery. Basic Skills Requirements in Expository Writing, Foreign Language, and Mathematics The College requires each student to demonstrate basic competency in three academic areas: expository writing, foreign language, and mathematics. Basic skills examinations are given once to all students—during orientation prior to entrance. If basic competency is not achieved at that time, a student should take an appropriate course to satisfy the requirement. Students should plan their studies to ensure that all basic skills requirements are met by the end of the sophomore year. Expository Writing Entering freshmen are initially placed in HUM 110 or HUM 111 based on English ACT or verbal SAT scores. (HUM 111 includes a one-hour writing lab). At the end of fall term, the writing performance of all freshmen is evaluated by the Writing Committee. At this time, students whose writing is judged to be competent will have satisfied the writing requirement. Those students whose writing is judged to fall short of competency will be required to take a writing-intensive section of a general education course normally during the next spring term. Students who pass this course will have satisfied the basic skills requirement in expository writing. Foreign Language Competency in foreign language may be established through attaining a satisfactory score on a College-administered exam at entrance or through earning a grade of "C-" or higher in Classics 120, French 120, German 120, or Spanish 120/121/ (or, when offered, CLA 121, JPN 120, or appropriate course work in Hebrew). Mathematics Competency in mathematics may be established by presenting an appropriate ACT or SAT math score at entrance or by earning a grade of "C-" or higher in an appropriate math course (usually MAT 110). Placement Policy for Expository Writing, Language, and Mathematics The College’s placement policies are flexibly designed to place students in the course which will best serve as a continuation of their previous education. Placement is based on all available data: results from tests given at the beginning of the freshman year, scores of College Board achievement tests and other standardized tests taken before entrance, number of years of high school preparation (consideration is given to the time at which high school courses were taken), level of achievement in high school courses, and performance during the first two weeks of college classes. Proper placement helps assure students that they will not be placed in a course which is either too advanced or repetitious of previous work. Convocation Requirement A minimum of 30 events each year will be designated as convocations. Since "convocation" derives from the Latin com (meaning together) and vocare (to call), a convocation may be any event in which members of the Centre community are called together. The Convocation Committee, consisting of two students, two faculty, and two members of the administration, will coordinate the selection of convocations and will have final authority in all other matters having to do with convocations. Convocations are a co-curricular requirement. Full-time students who accumulate at least 12 convocation credits in an academic year will receive the equivalent of one hour of "A" recorded on their transcripts and figured into their grade point average. Full-time students who do not accumulate at least 12 convocation credits during the academic year will receive the equivalent of one hour of "U" recorded on their transcripts and figured into their grade point average. Convocation "credit" is not applied toward the number of credit hours required for graduation. Students who participate in Centre’s programs in London, Strasbourg, and Latin America receive 6 convocation credits for the term they are abroad. Students who participate in a CentreTerm off-campus program receive one convocation credit. A schedule of convocation events will be distributed at the beginning of each term; any additions or changes to the schedule will be publicized. The complete convocation policy is provided in the Centre Student Handbook. Degree Requirements Listing The College offers two degrees: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. The general education requirements of the degrees are identical. Students are responsible for making sure that they have fulfilled all degree requirements prior to their intended graduation date. The Bachelor of Arts degree is awarded under all major programs. Students majoring in economics, elementary education, or in any program in the Division of Science and Mathematics may elect to receive either the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science. Degree requirements for students entering in September 2001 and after: 1. 2.00 or higher cumulative grade point average. - 2. Presentation of 111 credit hours successfully completed, subject to the following conditions: A. No more than 42 credit hours in any one discipline. B. A minimum of 42 credit hours taken at Centre, including 23 of the last 30 hours applied toward the degree. 3. Completion of specified general education requirements as follows: A. Basic competency in expository writing, foreign language, and mathematics. B. In addition to demonstrating basic competency in foreign language and mathematics, at least one additional course above the basic competency level in foreign language or mathematics, or in computer science. C. A Freshman Studies course taken in the CentreTerm of the freshman year. D. Humanities Division HUM 110 or 111 and HUM 120 or 121 E. Social Studies Division One of HIS 110, HIS 120, HIS 230, HIS 240 One of ANT 110, ANT 120, ECO 110, GOV 110, SOC 110 F. Science Division, two courses to include one of the following options: Option A Option B 1. BIO 110 or PSY 110 NSC 110 and NSC 120 2. CHE 131 or CHE 135 or CHE 117 or PHY 110 or PHY 170 G. Completion of two courses in fundamental questions: 1. REL 110 or REL 120 2. REL 110 or REL 120 if not used above, or one of PHI 110, PHI 140, PHI 160, PHI 170, PHI 210, PHI 220, REL 130, REL 140, 170 - 4. Completion of a major program. - 5. Completion of the College health and human performance requirement (HHP 101, 102). - 6. Submission of formal application for the degree. - 7. Approval of the faculty and of the Board of Trustees. Notes: 1. A set of transitional degree requirements has been approved for students graduating in 2002, 2003, and 2004. Those requirements are identical to the requirements above except that students are not required to complete 3.B. (further fluency requirement) and 3.C. (Freshman Studies). 2. Additional courses may, from time to time, be added to or deleted from the list of courses fulfilling specific general education requirements; updates will be announced to all students and revised lists of courses approved for general education will be available in the Registrar’s Office. 3. No course may be used to fulfill more than one general education requirement. 4. The College’s general education requirements normally should be completed by the end of the sophomore year, except for the fundamental questions requirement, which should be completed by the end of the junior year. 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