College of Arts and Sciences

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Ohio University Front Door -Undergraduate Catalogs- Graduate Catalogs

Wilson Hall, College Green

Leslie Flemming
Dean

Maureen Weissenrieder
Associate Dean

Caryn Asleson
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

Karen Dahn
Assistant to the Dean for Student Affairs


From its very founding, Ohio University's reputation rested firmly on a liberal arts curriculum. As the University prepares to enter into its third century, the College of Arts and Sciences proudly provides students with exciting and dynamic programs of study appropriate for the 21st century. Reflecting a changing society and today's career directions, the College offers an expanded and modern curricula, while continuing to be guided by the principles of the liberal arts tradition.


The objectives of a liberal education are achieved through courses that make up the curricula of the college-courses which historically have been regarded as the means whereby human beings come to understand themselves and the world in which they live. These courses fall within the academic areas known as the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. A liberal arts education, both in breadth and approach, provides not only the specific knowledge and skills required for careers in today's changing society, but encourages a lifetime quest for active learning.

As a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, you are offered an expanded and modern curriculum that reflects the principles of a liberal arts tradition. Whether you pursue a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree, you will obtain specialized knowledge through a major field of study while acquiring a fundamental education in foreign languages and other humanities, the social sciences, and natural sciences. College requirements are designed to allow generous opportunity for you to elect from hundreds of courses in addition to a traditional major. If you require a more structured undergraduate program to prepare for a specific educational or career objective, you may choose a major from among the special curricula.

If you have not settled on a major, but would like to be enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences while you are considering the many options available, you may apply to the University as undeclared or "undecided" in Arts and Sciences.

While the College of Arts and Sciences has the distinction of being the largest and oldest college at Ohio University, it is ever changing in its quest to meet the needs of its students. Comprising 19 departments, the College provides 26 regular major programs, 54 special curricula in specific career-related areas, the undeclared ("undecided") option, 4 majors offered in cooperation with other colleges, 27 minors, and 7 certificate programs. A number of departments in Arts and Sciences offer outstanding students the opportunity to graduate with departmental honors by writing a thesis. While this option is restricted to students who maintain a 3.50 g.p.a., you should speak to your major advisor if you are interested. An exciting selection of courses in language and culture that includes many familiar programs such as Latin or French, also offers less commonly available languages, e.g. Russian, Italian, Chinese, Swahili, and Greek, and attracts students from all majors. You are strongly encouraged to consider study abroad opportunities at more than a dozen sites as another way to enhance your liberal arts education.

College and departmental requirements for the B.A. and B.S. degrees are described in detail on the following pages and in the Majors, Minors, and Certificate Programs section.

Departments

The College of Arts and Sciences comprises the following 19 academic departments:

African American Studies

Biological Sciences

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Classics and World Religions

Economics

English

Environmental and Plant Biology

Geography

Geological Sciences

History

Linguistics

Mathematics

Modern Languages

Philosophy

Physics and Astronomy

Political Science

Psychology

Social Work

Sociology and Anthropology
The college also includes the following six programs:

Master of Public Administration Program

Master of Environmental Studies Program

Master of Social Studies Program

Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE)

Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology Program

Women's Studies Program

Departments offering master's programs are Economics, Geography, Geological Sciences, Linguistics, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Political Science, Social Work, and Sociology and Anthropology. Master's and doctoral programs are offered by the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, English, Environmental and Plant Biology, History, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, and Psychology. Further information about the advanced degree programs can be found in the Ohio University Graduate Catalog.

Office of Student Affairs

The College of Arts and Sciences Office of Student Affairs assists students with academic concerns, Such as advising and career choices, as well as overseeing administrative matters related to academic progress, including records management, academic suspension, reinstatement, and graduation conferral. The office is on the first floor of Wilson Hall on the College Green.

Degrees, Majors, Minors, and Certificates

The college offers two four-year degrees: the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.). The B.A. and B.S. degree programs differ in the language requirements (see "Foreign Language Requirements") and in specific major course requirements as established by the department. Regardless of major, all Arts and Sciences degree students must meet basically consistent requirements for any particular program, including a minimum core program of 36 quarter hours, with 16 hours at the 300-400 level. For most majors, the B.A. or B.S. designation is determined by the program and is not subject to student preference.

B.A. Degree Programs

A major for the B.A. degree may be completed in the following areas. This list is in alphabetical order by department and includes both traditional majors and special curricula.
African American Studies
African American Studies

Anthropology
Anthropology

Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry
Predentistry
Premedicine

Classics and World Religions
Classical Civilization
Greek
Greek and Latin
Latin

Computer Science
Computer Science **

Economics
Economics
Pre-Foreign Service
Prelaw

English
English
Creative Writing
Prelaw
Pretheology

Environmental and Plant Biology
Plant Biology

Geography
Geography
Cartography
Urban and Regional Planning

Geological Sciences
Geological Sciences

History
History
Pre-Foreign Service
Prelaw
Pretheology

International Studies pre-major status*
International Studies - Africa
International Studies - Asia
International Studies - Europe
International Studies -- Latin America

Linguistics
Linguistics

Mathematics
Mathematics
Meteorology
Prep. for Actuarial Sciences
Prep. for Advanced Training

Modern Languages
French
German
Russian
Spanish

Philosophy
Philosophy
Prelaw
Pretheology

Physics and Astronomy
Physics

Political Science
Political Science
Pre-Foreign Service
Prelaw
Public Policy and Administration

Psychology
Psychology
Pre-Physical Therapy

Social Work
Pre-Social Work *
Social Work

Sociology
Criminology
Prelaw
Sociology

Theater***

* These preprofessional programs do not fulfill any degree program but are intended as preparation for admission into a professional school or program.

** Computer science majors can choose to earn a B.A. or B.S. from the College of Arts and Sciences or a B.S.C.S. from the Russ College of Engineering and Technology.

*** Theater majors can choose to earn a B.A. from the College of Arts and Sciences (with oversight and advising for the major from the School of Theater), or a B.F.A. in theater from the College of Fine Arts.

B.A. Majors Outside the College
Arts and Sciences students may earn a B.A. from the College of Arts and Sciences by completing a major in one of the following schools outside the college: Art, Interpersonal Communication, Music, or Theater. Except for theater, admission into any of these programs is by special arrangement and requires the permission of the director of the appropriate school. All selective admission policies apply. For more information, inquire at the College of Arts and Sciences Student Affairs Office.

B.S. Degree Programs
A major for the B.S. degree may be completed in the following areas. This list is in alphabetical order by department and includes both traditional majors and special curricula.

Biological Sciences
Biological Sciences
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Clinical Laboratory Science
Environmental Biology
Marine Biology
Microbiology
Neurobiology
Predentistry
Pre-Exercise Physiology
Premedicine
Pre-optometry
Pre-Physical Therapy
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Wildlife Biology

Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chemistry
Biochemistry
Environmental Chemistry
Forensic Chemistry
Predentistry
Premedicine
Prepharmacy

Computer Science
Computer Science (**)

Environmental and Plant Biology
Plant Biology
Cell Biology and Biotechnology
Environmental Biology
Field Biology

Geography
Geography
Cartography
Environmental Geography
Environmental Prelaw
Geographic Information Systems Analyst
Meteorology
Urban and Regional Planning

Geological Sciences
Geological Sciences
Environmental Geology

Mathematics
Mathematics
Prep. for Actuarial Sciences
Prep. for Advanced Training
Applied Mathematics
Meteorology

Physics
Physics
Applied Physics
Astrophysics
Meteorology

*These preprofessional programs do not fulfill any degree program but are intended as preparation for admission into a professional school or program.

**Computer science majors can choose to earn a B.A. or B.S. from the College of Arts and Sciences or a B.S.C.S. from the Russ College of Engineering and Technology.

Minors
If you wish to complete a formal minor in addition to your major, you may select a minor offered by the College of Arts and Sciences or one from another college. Minors available in the College of Arts and Sciences are:

African American Studies
Anthropology BR> Astronomy
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Classical Civilization
Economics
English
French
Geography
Geological Sciences
German
Greek
History
Latin
Linguistics
Mathematics
Meterology
Philosophy
Physics
Plant Biology
Political Science
Psychology
Russian
Social Services
Sociology
Spanish

Certificates
Certificates available in the College of Arts and Sciences can be a part of any major program offered by Ohio University. Detailed information is available in the Majors, Minors, and Certificate Programs section that follows. Certificate programs include:

East Asian Studies
in cooperation with the Colleges of Business, Communication, and Fine Arts
Environmental Studies
Gerontology

in cooperation with the College of Health and Human Services
International Studies--African, Asian, or Latin American
Italian Studies
in cooperation with the College of Fine Arts
Political Communication
in cooperation with the College of Communication
Women's Studies

Certificate programs and minors are open to students in any program, regardless of college, except as restricted by that program or college.

Departmental Honors

Several departments in the College of Arts and Sciences offer outstanding students the opportunity to graduate with departmental honors through the writing of a thesis. To be eligible to participate in an honors program in Arts and Sciences, you must maintain at least a 3.50 g.p.a. For specific information about honors recognition for your major, see your academic advisor before the end of your junior year.

Admission Requirements

Upon being admitted to Ohio University as a first-year student, you may request direct entry into the College of Arts and Sciences by declaring any of the majors listed above or you may enter as an undecided major. However, you may not earn more than 90 hours in the undecided category before you declare a regular major.

Transfer from Other Colleges Within Ohio University
To transfer into the College of Arts and Sciences from another college within the University, you must declare a major in the College of Arts and Sciences and be in good standing academically with an accumulative g.p.a. no lower than 2.0. If you have earned 45 or more hours, you are not eligible to declare an undecided major in Arts and Sciences.

Courses taken to satisfy requirements in other colleges (e.g., MATH 120, HSS 378) will not necessarily fulfill requirements in the College of Arts and Sciences or in your new major.

As long as your g.p.a. is 2.0 or higher, you may apply to transfer to the College of Arts and Sciences at any time. However, the change is not reflected in the Student information system after the first two weeks of each term. Changes made after the second week become official the following quarter:

Transfer from Other Universities
Applicants to the College of Arts and Sciences from other accredited collegiate institutions must first meet Ohio University's transfer specifications as outlined under "Transfer Applicant" in the Admissions section of the catalog. As a transfer student to the College of Arts and Sciences, you must declare a major other than undecided.

The College determines the transferability of credit from other institutions based upon whether the institution is accredited or a recognized candidate for accreditation. The College follows the recommendations of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers in recognizing transfer credit. For credit earned at foreign institutions and other special cases, the college accepts the recommendations of the University examiner in the Office of Admissions.

The College evaluates credits on a course-by-course basis, assigning an Ohio University course number whenever possible.

Technical credits for nonbaccalaureate-level courses (e.g. diesel mechanics or office management) are evaluated as technical electives. Even though such credits do not meet any specific degree requirement, you are allowed up to 25 hours of technical electives to count toward total graduation hours. The benefits of technical coursework are debatable. If you are currently enrolled in a two-year program with the intention of transferring to Ohio University, it is important to take as much college-level work as possible in such areas as humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and science to improve your chances of completing the four-year degree program within two to three additional years.

Student records sent to the Office of Admissions from other collegiate institutions rarely include high school transcripts. Transferring students should order a high school transcript that includes final semester grades, to be sent directly to the Office of Student Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences so that your language placement the can determined.

In addition to fulfilling University residency requirements, you are required to complete at least 24 quarter hours of 2.0 work in your major at Ohio University, with a minimum of 12 hours at the 300 level or above. If you have a double major, you will need to complete at least 18 quarter hours of work in each major at Ohio University with a minimum of 9 hours at the 300 level or above in each of the two departments. Additionally, you must maintain a 2.0 g.p.a. Courses should be approved by the respective departments.

To fulfill a minor in Arts and Sciences, you must complete a minimum of 8 hours of coursework at Ohio University at the 300-400 level with a grade of 2.0 or above.

Foreign Language Requirement for Transfer Students

Based on the formula for calculating SEMESTER hours at 1.5 x each credit earned upon transfer:

A. 4 semster hours transfer to Ohio University as 6 quarter credits each. Contingent upon the courses being determined as equivalent in content. 1 year (two semesters) of foreign language, with grades of C- or better, will transfer as 12 quarter credit hours, and thus fulfill one year of foreign language in Arts and Sciences (111-112-113 or 211-212-213).

B. 3-credit hour language courses with grades of C- or better will transfer as 4.5 credit hours. One year (two semesters) totals 9 quarter hours at Ohio University. Even if the content is equivalent to Ohio University's course, it is 3 credits deficient of a full year. The second-semester course will be evaulated as 112 or 212 of the sequence.

Credit from QUARTER calendar schools will transfer with an equivalent number of credits:

A. 4-credit hour courses transfer as 4 credits each. If the courses are determined to be equivalent in content, three quarters of language study with grades of C- or better will transfer as 12 credits to fulfill the requirement of one year (111-112-113 or 211-212-213) of foreign language at Ohio University.

B.3-credit hour courses transfer as 3 credits each. Three quarters of language study transfers as 9 credits of language study, thus being deficient by 3 credits to one year of language study at Ohio University.

C. In the case of 3-credit quarter courses, the 3 courses would total 9 credits, divided at the appropriate level of study into 4.5 credit units to equal 111-112 or 211-212.

D. 5-credit hour courses with grades of C- or better will transfer as 5 credits each. Two quarters of study would transfer as 10 credit hours and be deficient by 2 credits of fulfilling the Arts and Sciences requirement of 12 credits. Three quarters of study will transfer as 15 credits, thereby fulfilling the College of Arts and Sciences foreign language requirement.

II. If you have transferred fewer than 12 credits, but have completed a full year of study at your former institution, you may choose to try to fulfill the A&S one-year requirement by:

A. Contacting the Chair of the Department of Modern Languages or the Department of Linguistics to see if your language competency level can be tested at Ohio University. If so, and your results place you at the 113 or 213 level of that language, you must complete that course.

B. If you place above 113 or 213 of the language, that level is considered met. The College will waive the deficiency in credit hours for the language requirement, although the course maintains its 3 credit value.

College Requirements

If you are in Arts and Sciences you are encouraged to become familiar with this section of the catalog, which relates specifically to the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as to the Guidelines and General Information section at the front of the catalog. These pages contain information essential to your being a responsible and well informed student at Ohio University.

The following list outlines the Arts and Sciences degree information presented in the sections that follow:

Advising

Degree Requirements (B.A., B.S.)

Second Bachelor's Degree

Degree in Absentia

Major Requirements

Double Major

Minor Requirements

General Education Requirement

Foreign Language Requirement

Humanities Area Requirement

Social Sciences Area Requirement

Natural Sciences Area Requirement

Level of Study Requirement

Single Application of Credit

Credit, Noncredit, and Pass/Fail Credit

Transient Study

Teacher Licensure

Education Abroad


Advising
All departments in the College of Arts and Sciences have an undergraduate advising coordinator who, with the help of other faculty in the department, ensures that every student is assigned an advisor for academic counseling. It is not the advisor's responsibility, however, to plan your schedule or to guarantee that program requirements are being met--these are your responsibilities.

Every student in the College of Arts and Sciences is assigned an advisor, including undeclared ("undecided") students. It is expected that you will schedule a conference during the advising period before preregistration each quarter. For students with declared majors, your advisor is a faculty member in the department of the major. For undecided majors, an advisor is assigned from Arts and Sciences faculty and administrative staff.

While advisor conferences are particularly encouraged during preregistration, it is recommended that you maintain regular contact for assistance with concerns related to academic and career planning. Any arrangements deviating from the major requirements must be communicated in writing by the department chair or the undergraduate advising chair to the dean's office. While an advisor may assist with scheduling, it is ultimately your responsibility to see that program requirements are met. If you have questions or need assistance you are invited to seek help at the College Office of Student Affairs.

To change majors, contact the Office of Student Affairs. An advisor will be assigned or instructions given regarding a new advisor. All other matters pertaining to advisors are administered by the departmental offices.

Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
General requirements for a B.A. or B.S. are (a) a minimum of 192 quarter hours, including (b) 90 hours of Arts and Sciences coursework above the 199 level; (c) the equivalent of two years of college-level foreign language; (d) at least 18 hours each of humanities, social sciences and natural sciences; (e) General Education Requirements--Tiers I, II, II--and (f) all requirements stipulated by the department for the chosen major. Minors are optional.

A minimum of 192 quarter hours of credit is required for either a B.A. or B.S. However, you may acquire no more than 72 hours in any one subject for a B.A. and no more than 80 hours in one subject for a B.S. Any hours accumulated beyond the maximum allowed for the major area will necessitate an equivalent increase in the number of total hours required to graduate from Ohio University.

To receive a degree from the College of Arts and Sciences, you must have a minimum 2.0 g.p.a. on all of the following:

  1. all hours attempted at the college level

  2. all hours attempted at the college level in the major

  3. all hours attempted at Ohio University

  4. all hours attempted at Ohio University in the major.

The graduation g.p.a. is computed after deductions for repeated and noncredit courses have been made. See the "Credit and Grading" section for information on repeated course removal.

Graduation requirements are defined by your catalog of entry and remain in effect for five years from your date of admission to Ohio University. An average course load of 16 hours a quarter is necessary to graduate in four years. Five years after entry, graduation requirements become redefined by the current Catalog.

For specific information involving graduation requirements, including residence requirements (i.e., the minimum number of credit hours that you must complete at Ohio University), see the "Graduation Requirements--University Wide" section of the Catalog.

Second Bachelor's Degree
The College of Arts and Sciences awards a B.A. or B.S. only once to a student who completes more than one major within the degree program (e.g., sociology and African American Studies). It is possible, however, to earn both a B.A. and a B.S. (e.g., Spanish and chemistry) or to earn degrees from separate degree-granting colleges (e.g., College of Arts and Sciences and College of Health and Human Services).

University policy requires the completion of a minimum of 208 quarter hours for the second degree (i.e., an additional 16 hours beyond the 192 required for the first degree), including all specific requirements for both degree programs. For the guidelines to earning a second bachelor's degree, refer to the Graduation Requirements section.


Degree in Absentia
To be eligible for in absentia privileges, you must first be enrolled in one of the programs listed in item 5 below. To earn a degree in absentia , you must have:

  1. completed 144 quarter hours at Ohio University, including specific requirements for the chosen program

  2. earned a g.p.a. of 2.0 or better on all work attempted and on all work in the major

  3. completed all General Education Requirements

  4. completed all college distribution area requirements, except the 200 level requirement, of which 45 hours must be complete

  5. completed a full year's work in an accredited school of dentistry, law, clinical laboratory science, medicine, optometry, physical therapy, or veterinary medicine

  6. been advanced without condition to the second year of training when the professional school's program is for two or more years

  7. successfully completed the professional program specified.

For the clinical laboratory science program, you must receive the approval of the clinical laboratory science advisor. For any other in absentia programs, you must secure a statement from the dean of the College before you enter the professional school granting the degree in absentia privilege.


Major Requirements

The specific requirements for each major, including the preprofessional programs and other special curricula in the College of Arts and Sciences, are listed in the following pages in the Majors, Minors and Certificates section.

If you are a first-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences, you may enroll in the college as an undecided major; however, you must declare a major once you have earned 90 hours. If you have earned 45 or more hours, you are ineligible to transfer into the College as an undecided major.

Requirements for the four non-Arts and Sciences major programs are determined by the respective colleges.

College policy requires that any major program consist of a minimum core of 36 quarter hours in one subject area, including 16 quarter hours to be taken at the 300-400 level. Most departments require more than 36 hours for the major, and there may be specific departmental requirements. Methods courses for certification in education are not included in hours that apply to the major. Whether you have chosen a traditional or a special curriculum major, you are obligated to fulfill the requirements specified by the department of major which, at minimum, requires a 2.0 g.p.a. and at least 24 quarter hours of 2.0 work in the major from Ohio University, with no fewer than 12 of those hours at the 300 level or above. No courses in any major (except extra-departmental requirements, such as chemistry for a biological sciences major) may be applied to the area distribution requirements.

B.A. degree candidates may count a maximum of 72 hours in one subject towards the degree; B.S. candidates may count a maximum of 80 hours. Exceeding this maximum requires adding equivalent hours to the total hours for graduation. Courses in the major that are numbered above 199 are applied to the 90-hours-above-200 requirement.

To earn a major in an Arts and Sciences discipline, you must be enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences (except for economics majors, who may enroll in either the College of Arts and Sciences or the College of Business). If you are a student in another college at Ohio University, you may enroll concurrently or consecutively in Arts and Sciences.

Double Major
For a degree to be granted, you must complete at least one formal major. A second major (or more), an option that any Arts and Sciences student may pursue, requires that all requirements for each major as described in the Majors, Minors, and Certificate Programs section be fulfilled. You will need to complete at least 18 quarter hours of work in each major at Ohio University, including a minimum of 9 hours at the 300 level or above in each of the two departments while maintaining a 2.0 g.p.a. in each major. No courses in any major (except extra- departmental requirements, such as chemistry for a biological sciences major) may be applied to the area distribution requirements. If you complete more than one major program for the same degree, it will not increase the hours required for Arts and Sciences area requirements or the 192 hours to graduate.

Minor Requirements
Arts and Sciences students interested in completing a formal minor may choose from the 287minors offered by the College of Arts and Sciences or select a minor from another college. You must declare the minor for it to be official and fulfill all hour and course requirements for it to be noted on your Ohio University transcript. The minor will not show on the transcript until your degree is conferred.

University policy stipulates that a minor comprise 24 to 35 required hours, including at least two courses at the 300-400 level. In the case of foreign languages, the minimum requirement is 24 hours beyond the 213 level. English courses fulfilling Tier I composition requirements do not count toward an English minor. To fulfill a minor in Arts and Sciences, you must complete a minimum of 8 hours of coursework at Ohio University at the 300-400 level with a grade of 2.0 or above. Within these limits, the distribution of courses is determined by the department as well as other specific requirements. At minimum, a 2.0 g.p.a is requried. In cases where extradepartmental courses required to fulfill your major either nearly or completely duplicate courses for your chosen minor, declaring a minor may not be acceptable. See the Majors, Minors, and Certificate Programs section for specific minor requirements.


General Education Requirement
The University General Education Requirements (Tiers I, II, and III) are similar to, but lesser in scale than, the Arts and Sciences requirements. You can select courses that, while fulfilling University General Education Requirements, can partially satisfy Arts and Sciences distribution requirements in foreign languages, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and courses above the 199 level. The following lists for humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences indicate specifically and without exception the courses accepted for Arts and Sciences credit. Many of these courses also satisfy Tier II requirements.

All courses that fulfill General Education Requirements also apply toward the 192 credit hours needed to graduate from Ohio University, even if they are not Arts and Sciences distribution courses.

Most courses designated for Tier I quantitative skills and freshman composition (including any skills courses needed as prerequisites) apply only to hours for graduation and do not apply to Arts and Sciences distribution requirements.

Arts and Sciences courses that fulfill the Tier I advanced composition requirement at the junior level can apply to distribution areas and, in certain cases, to your major.

Courses designated for Tier III do not fulfill Arts and Sciences requirements except when they are taught by Arts and Sciences faculty when the course contributes to the hours-above-200-level requirement.

Transfer students who receive transfer credit for courses comparable to the composition and quantitative courses of Tier I are considered to have met the Tier I requirement. Transfer students without comparable transfer credit in composition and/or quantitative skills must complete the requirement.

Foreign Language Requirement
The College of Arts and Sciences requires that all candidates for a B.A. or B.S. degree successfully complete two years of foreign language at the college level or the equivalent. (Transfer students should refer to the "Transfer from Other Universities" section for specific information about the transfer of foreign language credits). However, the type of degree (B.A. or B.S.) determines how the two-year requirement is completed. These requirements are determined by the degree program and are not the student's choice.

Courses taught at Ohio University that will fulfill the language requirement (see "Modern Languages" in the Courses of Instruction section for a complete description of language courses offered) are the African and Asian languages (Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian/Malaysian, Japanese, and Swahili), classical languages (Greek and Latin), Germanic language (German), Romance languages (French, Italian, and Spanish), and Slavic language (Russian). The first or beginning year of language at Ohio University is represented by the course numbers 111, 112, and 113, while the second or intermediate year is represented by the course numbers 211, 212, and 213.


Language Placement Table
The language placement table that follows represents the broadest interpretation of the language requirement and thus applies more specifically to the B.A. degree. If your major is designated B.S., use the table as a guide to determine if you qualify for the options described in the Candidates for the B.S. Degree section that follows the table.

The language placement table represents two years of high school language as being equal to one year of college language. The study of a foreign language at Ohio University must begin according to the recommendations listed below. However, if you have completed two or more years of high school language, these recommendations assume there has been thorough foreign language preparation within the last year. If this is not the case, you are strongly advised to enroll first in a lower-level course as preparation to enter the intermediate level. * Enrolling at a level higher than indicated by the table is not permitted. Bypassing sequential courses is permitted only in accordance with the language placement table, or upon referral to and recommendations by the chain of a respective language department for special consideration:


Years of language          Begin college 
in high school             language at 

0-1 year                   Course 111
2-3 years                  Course 211
4-5 years                  Course 213 or 341 (Latin 351)

*If you find it necessary to repeat high school-level work (111-113) to prepare for the intermediate level, these credits will be applied to the 192-hour graduation requirement but will not fulfill any part of the language requirement. Once the language requirement is completed, any foreign language course that does not duplicate coursework for the requirement or high school work will be applied to the humanities distribution area.

Candidates for the B.A. Degree
The foreign language requirement for B.A. degree candidates is the successful completion of a two-year sequence of study of one language from level 111 through level 213.

Two years of high school language are considered the equivalent of one year of college language. According to your preference, however, your two years of college-level study may be a language other than the one studied in high school.

The B.A. student with:
Zero to one year of high school language must complete two years of one foreign language at the college level.

Two to three years of one language in high school must successfully complete the intermediate level (i.e., second year) 211-213, of the same language or, if you prefer, two years (111-213) of a language different from the one studied in high school.

Four or more years of one foreign language in high school must complete level 213 or 341 or any other higher level course in the same language.

Four years of Latin in high school may complete LAT 351 rather than LAT 213. LAT 351 is recommended.

Candidates for the B.S. Degree
If you are earning a B.S. degree, you may meet the foreign language requirement through two years of college language study or the equivalent. This policy allows for several interpretations.

The B.S. student with:
Zero to one year of high school language is allowed two choices--the completion of a full sequence of study in one language (two years, 111-213) or one year each of study at the beginning level in two different languages (two years, 111-113, 111-113).

Two to three years of high school language is allowed two choices--the completion of the intermediate level of the same language (211-213) or the completion of the beginning year of a second language (111-113).

Four or more years of high school language (i.e., four years of the same language or two years each of two different languages), may consider the language requirement met.

Candidates for Either Degree
For the limited number of major programs that offer both B.A. and B.S. degrees (see listings in the Majors, Minors, and Certificate Programs section), you may choose which degree to pursue. See the above section for the respective language requirements.

Transfer Students
Please refer to the "Transfer from Other Universities" section for specific information about the transfer of foreign language credits.

International Students
For international students whose first or native language is not English, the foreign language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating competence in English. This must be approved by the director of the Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE), and generally requires the successful completion of at least one course in English as a foreign language. In some cases, the chair of the Department of Linguistics may certify that you have achieved an acceptable level of ability in a non-English language. You may also satisfy the foreign language requirement by taking a foreign language other than your own first language at Ohio University.

Enrollment in the beginning or intermediate level (under 300) of your own first language(s) will be considered a noncredit course.

Humanities Area Requirement *
The humanities requirement may be met by selecting 18 quarter hours from two or more departments, excluding the major, with at least 8 hours in one area, from the following:

a African American Studies 110, 150, 210, 211, 250, 310, 350, 352, 353, 355, 356
b Art History
c Classical Archaeology except 211, 212, 213
d Classics in English
e Comparative Arts
f Dance 170, 351, 352, 353, 370, 471, 472, 473
g English except 150, 151, 152, 153, 153A, 153B, 451, 452
h Foreign language courses other than those used to complete the foreign language requirement
i Humanities 107, 108, 109, 117, 307, 308, 309
j History 121, 122, 123, 314A-F, 328, 329A-C, 330, 331, 350A, 351, 352, 353A-B, 354, 356A-C, 357, 370, 389
k International Literatures in English-International Literature: Linguistics and International Literature: Modern Languages
l Interpersonal Communication 351, 352, 353
m Modern Languages 370J
n Music History and Literature
o Philosophy except120
p Theater 270, 271, 272
q Women's Studies 100, 200, 250, 400
r World religions

Social Sciences Area Requirement *
The social sciences requirement may be met by a selection of 18 quarter hours from two or more departments, excluding the major, with at least 8 hours in one area, from the following:

a African American Studies 101, 202, 220, 225, 340, 341, 360, 368, 440
b Anthropology except 201, 492, 496
c Business Law 255, 370, 442, and 475
d Classical Archaeology 211, 212, 213
e Economics
f Geography except those listed under natural sciences (see below)
g History except those listed under humanities (see above)
h International Studies 103, 113, 121
i Linguistics
j Political Science
k Psychology except 120, 221, 226, 312, 314, 321
l Social Work
m Sociology

Natural Sciences Area Requirement *
The natural sciences requirement may be met by selecting 18 quarter hours from two or more departments, excluding the major, with at least 8 hours in one area, from the following:

a Anthropology 201, 492, 496
b Astronomy
c Biological Sciences except 217
d Chemistry except 115
e Computer Science except 120, 135
f Environmental and Plant Biology except 217
g Geography 101, 202, 302, 303, 304, 305, 315, 316, 358, 406, 407, 411, 417, 418, 476
h Geological Sciences
i Mathematics except 101, 102, 109, 113, 115, 117, 118, 120, 121, 122, 320, 320L
j Physical Sciences
k Psychology 221, 226, 312, 314
l Physics

Note: Methods courses are not applicable to area requirements.

*These listings must be used as the official guide for the completion of the Arts and Sciences area (distribution) requirements. Exceptions to the18-hour Arts and Sciences area distribution requirements will be made only under the most unusual of circumstances and by petition only. Consideration for inclusion of courses not listed is not made on an ad hoc basis but requires formal approval of the Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee.

Some courses from these categories may also be applied to the University Tier II requirements. However, the three Arts and Sciences area categories differ in scope from the five Tier II groupings (Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Applied Sciences and Technology, Social Sciences, and Third World Cultures). If you wish to select a course that will apply to both the Arts and Sciences and Tier II requirements, take care to choose a course that has been approved for the desired category in both the College and the University requirements. (The list of courses approved for each of the Tier II categories appears in the Graduation Requirements section of the catalog.) Courses that can fulfill Tier I quantitative skills and freshman composition requirements and the Tier III requirement do not apply to the Arts and Sciences area distribution requirements. Exceptions include MATH 163A, 163B, and PSY 221.

Candidates for the B.S. Degree
If you are earning a B.S. degree, you may meet the foreign language requirement through two years of college language study or the equivalent. This policy allows for several interpretations.

The B.S. student with:
Zero to one year of high school language is allowed two choices--the completion of a full sequence of study in one language (two years, 111-213) or one year each of study at the beginning level in two different languages (two years, 111-113, 111-113).

Two to three years of high school language is allowed two choices--the completion of the intermediate level of the same language (211-213) or the completion of the beginning year of a second language (111-113).

Four or more years of high school language (i.e.. four years of high school language (i.e, four years of the same language or two years each of two different languages), may consider the language requirement met.

Candidates for Either Degree
For the limited number of major programs that offer both B.A. and B.S. degrees (see listings in the Majors, Minors, and Certificate Programs section), you may choose which degree to pursue. See the above section for the respective language requirements.

International Students For international students whose first or native language is not English, the foreign language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating competence in English. This must be approved by the director of the Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE), and generally requires the successful completion of st least one course in English as a foreign language. In some cases, the chair of the Department of Linguistics may certify that you have achieved an acceptable level of ability in a non-English language. You may also satisfy the foreign language requirement by taking a foreign language other than your own first language at Ohio University.

Enrollment in the beginning or inter-mediate level (under 300) of your own first language(s) will be considered a noncredit course.

Level of Study Requirement
(Hours at the 200 level or above)
Within the total hours applied to the degree, at least 90 quarter hours of Arts and Sciences courses must be above the freshman level (numbered above 199). Arts and Sciences courses are defined as courses listed earlier in this section under humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, and include foreign languages, courses from the department major, and courses taught by faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences intended to meet the junior composition or Tier III requirement. University Professor (UP) courses taught by Arts and Science faculty will count only if they are applicable to any of the three area requirements.

Economics majors may apply QBA 201 and, with departmental approval, other advanced courses in statistics to the Arts and Sciences 200-level requirement for a maximum of 15 hours.

Non-Arts and Sciences courses are almost always considered electives and not counted toward the level of study requirement. Rather, they apply toward the 192-hour requirement for graduation.

Single Application of Credit
Excluding the exceptions listed below, no course may satisfy more than one of the area requirements in foreign language, humanities, social sciences, or the major requirement. For example, a philosophy major may not apply any courses in philosophy toward the humanities requirement. Neither courses that fulfill freshman General Education Tier I requirements nor Tier III classes will apply to the distribution area requirements. Exceptions are:

Courses, including MATH 163A, 163B, and PSY 221, will fulfill the Tier I quantitative requirement as well as the natural science area.

Courses required for a major, but outside the major department (extra-departmental requirements) will be counted toward the area requirements except in the case of interdisciplinary majors (i.e., international studies, classical studies) where required courses normally do not apply to the distribution area.

Courses required for a minor will be counted toward the area requirements, except for non-Arts and Sciences minors. Courses at the beginning and intermediate levels of a foreign language for students majoring in that foreign language may fulfill the language requirement since the major is defined as including only language courses above the intermediate level.

Junior-level advanced composition courses offered by departments within the College of Arts and Sciences apply to the distribution area requirements except when they are required for the major (e.g. ENG 307J or HIST 301J).

Hours of Credit (CR), Pass/Fail Courses, and Noncredit Allowed

Credit (CR) Hours
Hours of coursework that are offered for credit (CR) may be applied toward requirements, but are limited to 15 hours total. (Do not confuse credit (CR) with pass/fail (P/F.)

Pass/Fail Hours
Courses taken pass/fail are limited strictly to electives or courses that fulfill hours to graduate only and may total no more than 20 hours. No course taken pass/fail may fulfill any requirement, except the total-hours requirement. For an Arts and Sciences student, this policy effectively restricts taking any pass/fail courses that apply to your foreign language, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, major, minor, 90-hours-above-200, and special curriculum requirements.

See the Pass/Fail section in the Credit and Grading section of the catalog for further information.

Noncredit Hours
Noncredit courses do not count toward the 192-hour requirement. Noncredit courses are those numbered below 100; courses completed out of sequence, i.e., a lower-level course taken after completing an advanced course in the same department; certain technology courses; developmental courses (such as ENG 150 or MATH 101) in excess of 8 credit hours; skills courses such as UC 110 and 112 in excess of the eight-hour limit; credits duplicated by the repetition of coursework; and courses taken for audit. See the Guidelines and General Information section for details about credit and grading, repeated courses, and residence requirements that affect hours required.

Transient Study
Transient study is defined as earning credit hours at another institution for the purpose of fulfilling specific Ohio University or Colelge of Arts and Sciences requirements. (Transfer study refers to credits you transfer from another institution when you are admitted to Ohio University.) See "Transferring Credit" in the Admissions section.

If you are a senior and wish to earn credit by transient study, remember that you must complete your final 16 hours at Ohio University if you have previously earned 96 or more hours in residence. If you have fewer than 96 hours earned here, you must complete a final residence requirement of 48 hours, including at least 12 hours of 300-400 level work from Ohio University in your major. Any minor must include 8 hours of courses at the 300-400 level from Ohio University.

Before registering for courses at another institution to earn credit by transient study, you must secure approval. A visit to the Office of Student Affairs is essential to determine beforehand the value of the intended coursework to your progress toward graduation. You may need a catalog and/or course description in order to complete the petition/approval form. Finally, after receiving permission to transfer hours from another institution, you must earn a C- or better, in order for the hours to be applied to your record here. Keep in mind that while credits are transferrable, grades are not. Your g.p.a. will not be affected by transient study hours.

See major requirements section for information regarding OU credits.

Teacher Licensure
Students in the College of Arts and Sciences may meet the requirements for licensure to teach at the secondary-school level by completing requirements for either the B.A. or the B.S. degree program and completing any necessary requirements through the College of Education. Information about requirements is available from department representatives in the College of Arts and Sciences. If you are interested in teaching, begin planning for your required courses as early as possible.

Education Abroad
Among the many study-abroad opportunities offered by Ohio University more than a dozen programs coordinated by the College of Arts and Sciences. For information about education abroad, please refer to the "University-Wide Academic Opportunities" section. See also Global Learning Community. If you receive financial aid, plan to meet with your financial aid advisor at least one full quarter before you intend to study abroad.

Language Programs
Intensive French Abroad, Tours, France, spring quarter; Intensive German Abroad, Salzburg, Austria, spring quarter; Intensive Spanish Abroad, Merida, Mexico, winter quarter; Greek in Greece, on-site program in Greece and Turkey, spring quarter; Japanese Culture and Language Abroad, Chubu University, Nagoya, Japan, fall quarter; Russian Study Abroad, Moscow, Russia, spring quarter; Spanish Study Abroad, Universidad Publica de Novarra (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain, fall, winter and/or spring quarters (1, 2, or 3 quarters).

Student Exchange Programs
Odense University Exchange Program, Odense, Denmark, fall quarter or one academic year; Johannes Gutenberg University Exchange Program, Mainz, Germany, one academic year; University of New Castle, New Castle, Australia, one semester or one academic year; University of Wales Exchange Program, Swansea, Great Britain, one academic year.

Other Arts and Sciences Programs
The Archeology of Ancient Rome Program, Italy, three weeks during winter intercession; Global Studies in Plant Biology, ecological and geographic themes and locations change from year to year, but the program takes place fall-winter intercession and summer sessions; Latin American Study Abroad Program, Cuerco, Ecuador, spring quarter; London Summer Study Program, England, three weeks; Wilhemshaven Summer Study Program, Germany, five weeks (annual or every other year, depending on demand.)

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University Advancement and Computer Services revised this file (http://www.ohiou.edu/catalog/03-04/colleges/artsci.htm) on September 19, 2003.

Please E-mail comments or suggestions to "ucat@www.ohiou.edu."