A select number of exceptionally qualified applicants to the School of Humanities and Sciences are invited to apply to the H&S honors program; if admitted, they participate in a series of special, intensive seminars complemented by an array of out-of-class activities. Starting in the fall of the first year, honors students begin a sequence of eight honors seminar courses that help students meet general education requirements of the school. The sequence includes

1. a first-year seminar taken in the first semester

2. five intermediate seminars, normally completed in the second, third, and fourth semesters

3. a seminar on cultural themes taken in the junior year

4. a capstone seminar on contemporary issues, taken in the senior year

The seminars focus on a problem, theme, or topic approached from multiple perspectives, taking the student beyond the normal boundaries of disciplinary thought. Students who complete the full seminar sequence graduate with honors in humanities and sciences as designated on their official College transcript. H&S honors students who transfer to one of the professional schools may complete honors requirements and receive official designation. The H&S honors program does not conflict with departmental honors programs; qualified students can complete both.

Qualified students not originally admitted to the honors program can apply after their first semester; early application is encouraged. Internal transfers to the program must complete a modified requirement of six honors courses - four intermediate seminars, the junior-year seminar, and the senior-year seminar.

External transfer students may apply and will be considered for the program on a case-by-case basis. They are subject to the same honors program requirements as internal transfers. External transfer students with honors associate degrees from institutions with which Ithaca College has articulation agreements may apply for the program and, if admitted, are required to complete a total of four courses - two intermediate seminars, the junior-year seminar, and the senior-year seminar.

Dean's List

Each semester, students are selected for the dean's list in recognition of superior scholastic performance. Students qualify by attaining a minimum GPA of 3.70. They must complete a minimum of 15 credits, of which at least 12 are graded. A grade of D or F or an incomplete (I) in a course automatically disqualifies the student for the dean's list, regardless of the overall GPA attained for that semester.

Career Planning for H&S Majors

Many career possibilities are open to H&S majors, especially for students who choose to explore and develop their own combination of interests and skills. Departmental advisers can help students individualize a four-year course of study in their major by supplementing required courses with other recommended courses to provide general background or specific skills for a chosen career. The advisers also have information on preprofessional experience, interdisciplinary majors, educational requirements, graduate school, and graduate school testing or can assist in obtaining such information. Students are urged to contact these advisers and to discuss occupation-related matters with their instructors. Since there are many possible options for students in all majors, students are strongly encouraged to talk with counselors in the Office of Career Services in the Gannett Center.

Exploratory Program

Students who wish to investigate a variety of academic disciplines before selecting a major may enter Ithaca College through the Exploratory Program in the School of Humanities and Sciences. Exploratory students are assigned experienced academic advisers who help them choose courses from the liberal arts and preprofessional curricula at the College. After one semester in the program, students are free to enter a major in H&S or apply for transfer to another school of the College. They may also remain in the Exploratory Program through the end of the sophomore year - that is, until they have earned 60 credits - at which time they are required to declare a major. Exploratory students are subject to the same academic regulations as all H&S students and are encouraged to take advantage of all the College resources open to the general student population.

Premedical Sciences Program

Students who wish to prepare for any of the medical science professions - dentistry, medicine, optometry, osteopathy, podiatry, veterinary medicine - may do so at Ithaca College in a variety of ways. No specific major is required to prepare for these professions (biology, chemistry, psychology, English, philosophy, and exercise science are some examples of good preparatory majors), but students must complete a minimum of one year each of biology, general or inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and English. Calculus is highly recommended.

Courses recommended but not required by the professional schools vary but include advanced courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. All such coursework is available at Ithaca College. Students interested in any of the medical sciences should contact the chairperson of the Premedical Sciences Advisory Committee, Jean Hardwick, 168 Center for Natural Sciences, during their freshman year. This will ensure that their academic programs are planned to meet all requirements for professional school by the end of their junior year and in time for the professional schools' admissions tests.

Optometry 3-1 Program

This joint program with the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and the State University of New York College of Optometry enables students in certain disciplines to receive both a bachelor's degree from Ithaca College and a doctor of optometry degree in seven years rather than eight. Students must complete 90 credits of college and departmental requirements in a major at Ithaca College, as well as satisfy the requirements specified for admission to the optometry college. After successfully completing the first year at the optometry college, students receive the bachelor's degree from Ithaca College. After completing the remaining three years at the optometry college the student is awarded the doctor of optometry degree.

The majors in biology, psychology, and chemistry require some courses that are entrance requirements for optometry college. However, no specific major is required, as long as the optometry entrance requirements can be incorporated into the major.

This academic program must be planned carefully. Students interested in the program should contact the chair of the Premedical Sciences Advisory Committee, Jean Hardwick, 168 Center for Natural Sciences, upon matriculation at Ithaca College. A standard 4-4 program is also available.

Prelaw Advisory Program

Students may prepare for the study of law by completing any of the regular majors in the School of Humanities and Sciences. Law schools do not stipulate any specific pre-law courses of study. Students planning to study law should discuss this goal with their adviser and develop a program that emphasizes those skills and insights that the Association of American Law Schools has stated are needed for the study of law: (1) comprehension and expression with words; (2) critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals; and (3) creative power in thinking.

Specific information on law schools and law careers is available from the Office of Career Services. For additional assistance, contact the pre-law adviser, Jonathan Laskowitz, 110 Muller Faculty Center.

Teacher Education Programs

We offer programs leading to initial certification at the middle/secondary levels in the following areas: biology, chemistry, physics, English, math, math-computer science, French, Spanish, German, social studies, and speech communication. (Speech communication is being eliminated effective February 2, 2004.)

Within each of the programs leading to initial certification, there is a core unit of coursework that all teaching option candidates must complete in addition to the coursework required in their major. The education core is significantly different for students who will graduate and apply for New York State teaching certification on or after February 2, 2004, from what it is for those who graduate and apply before that date. Please consult individual department listings or the teacher education program listing for specific information.

Academic Support Services

Advising - Academic advising is an important aspect of a student's educational experience. All students are assigned an academic adviser; students with declared majors are assigned an adviser within their major department. Advisers of exploratory students help their advisees identify their interests and select an appropriate major. Students can expect their advisers to provide information about majors, minors, general education requirements, graduation requirements, and other academic policies and procedures. To obtain the full benefit of the advising experience, students are encouraged to meet with their advisers, not only to discuss midterm grades and course selection, but also to seek assistance with the full range of academic decisions they make during their college years.

The academic advising office coordinates all advising assignments within the School of Humanities and Sciences. This office is a resource center for students and faculty, with staff available to meet with students on a drop-in or appointment basis.

Writing Center - Located in 228 Park Hall and directed by the writing department, the center offers individual and small group tutorials on a referred or self-selected basis to students needing assistance. Help is available with any aspect of the writing process, reading comprehension, or study skills. See p. 192 for writing department courses.

Special Programs

Forensics Program - The program provides an opportunity for all students in all disciplines to participate in speaking events held on campus, at intercollegiate events, and in the community at large. Events include competitive debate, noncompetitive oral interpretation, and readers theater. The forensics program is supported through the Department of Speech Communication. For more information, contact Scott Thomson, director of forensics, Department of Speech Communication, located in Muller Faculty Center.

Independent Studies/Fieldwork and Research - Students meeting minimum academic standards (see "Academic Status," below) or those on warning for deficiency of credits only may undertake academic independent study projects for either major or elective credit. Normally, students should have completed appropriate coursework in preparation for independent study. For each project undertaken, students must work with a faculty sponsor to prepare the required design statement and application form (available from departments or from the dean's office) for approval by the sponsoring department, the student's adviser, and the dean. All projects should be approved in advance of the semester undertaken or no later than the add/drop deadline of that semester.

Internships - Qualified students meeting the minimum academic standards (see "Academic Status," below) may undertake internship projects for either major or elective credit if these work-and-study projects have an academic component appropriate to the curriculum of the school. Normally, a student in H&S should have completed three-fourths of his or her major or an appropriate minor in order to qualify for internship credit. Students must work with a faculty sponsor to prepare the required design statement and application form (available in the office of the dean) for approval by the sponsoring department, the student's adviser, the field supervisor at the worksite, and the dean. All projects must be approved in advance of the semester undertaken and no later than the add/drop deadline of that semester. No more than 12 credits in any combination of internship projects will be counted toward the 120-credit minimum required for graduation.

Individual and Interdisciplinary Studies Programs - For the student who would like to design a major that crosses disciplinary fields, the planned studies major may be of interest. Students may also wish to perform independent fieldwork through the Community Service Program. For a full description of these offerings, see p. 198.

Academic Status

To meet the minimum academic standards, students must pay attention to two areas: grade point average and credits completed toward graduation. Over the period of one semester, students are expected to achieve a GPA of 2.00 and to complete at least 12 credits. Over the period of two semesters, students are required to achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.00 and to complete 24 credits.

Students who fail to meet the minimum academic standards are liable to immediate suspension or to suspension after a warning period. Each case is handled on an individual basis by the student's dean. If a student's academic performance is grossly deficient, he or she may be suspended without warning. If the dean's review indicates that a warning before suspension is appropriate, the procedure below is followed. Students should be aware that the offer of a warning period is a privilege, based on individual review, not a right.

Definitions of Policies and Procedures of the Academic Status Committee

The Humanities and Sciences Academic Status Committee acts on behalf of the faculty and the dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences.

1. "Warning" - a formal letter notifying students that they have failed to meet the minimum school requirements for acceptable progress in grades, in credits, or in a combination of grades and credits, and that continued deficiencies may lead to suspension or dismissal from the School of Humanities and Sciences. Those minimum requirements are

· a minimum semester GPA of 2.00;

· a cumulative GPA of 2.00;

· a minimum of 24 credits in an academic year, with a minimum of 12 credits each semester.

If a student's academic performance is grossly deficient, he or she may be suspended without prior warning.

2. "Final warning" - a formal letter notifying students that their academic performance is seriously deficient and they have only one semester to improve their academic standing before suspension. Students may be placed on final warning without prior warnings if deficiencies in their grades and/or credits warrant it. Students given final warning are required to complete at least 12 letter-graded credits at a level of 2.30 or better with no incompletes (I) or Fs, and no more than one grade below C. Other conditions may also be specified in the formal notification.

Students who fail to meet these minimum standards will be suspended.

3. "Continuation of warning" - a second formal letter notifying students who have been on warning that they continue to be deficient in credits, grades, or a combination of credits and grades. Generally this letter is sent to students who have demonstrated some improvement over the previous semester but have not yet attained the minimum levels required to remove the formal warning.

Students continued on warning are required to complete their next semester of enrollment with at least 12 letter-graded credits at a level of 2.00 or better, with no incompletes (I) or Fs, and no more than one grade below C. Other conditions may also be specified in the formal notification.

Students may be suspended if this level is not attained; in some cases, they may be continued on warning for one more semester.

4. "Suspension" - formal notice to students that they are suspended from the School of Humanities and Sciences. The length of suspension is specified, and students are informed that they are ineligible to attend courses at the College in either the regular semester or summer session until a semester specified by the notification letter.

5. Return to College following suspension - Students who wish to return after suspension should contact the registrar's office. The specific requirements that must be met prior to readmission are specified in the suspension letter.

Following return to college after academic suspension, students are considered to be on final warning. That is, the minimum level of performance specified in the notification of permission to return must be attained, or the student will be dismissed. In exceptional cases, the student may be permitted an additional semester of final warning by permission of the Humanities and Sciences Academic Status Committee.

6. Dismissal - Students who do not meet the requirements for academic performance specified upon return from suspension will be dismissed from the School of Humanities and Sciences.

Special Regulations

Special regulations applicable to students enrolled in H&S:

1. All candidates for graduation must complete the general education requirement, mathematics requirement, writing requirement, and the requirements listed by the department of their major. Any variation from the requirements in the major field must be approved in writing by the department.

2. A minimum of 120 credits, including satisfactory completion of all required departmental courses and general education requirements, is necessary for graduation.

3. The senior year normally must be taken in residence at Ithaca College. Any variation from this requirement must be approved by the department, dean, and provost prior to enrollment in courses elsewhere.

4. Students must select a major by the end of their sophomore year.

5. In order to graduate from H&S, a student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 in required courses in the major, and no more than two grades below C- in required courses.

6. In order to fulfill the requirements of a minor in H&S a student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 in the courses required by the minor and no more than one grade below C- in those courses.

Courses and course schedules

In addition to the courses listed in this catalog, others may be offered on an experimental basis. Details of such courses are published in the Undergraduate Course Offerings and the Humanities and Sciences Supplement for the semester they are given. Students should consult these publications for specific information on the schedule of all courses for the semester.

A. Ozolins, Office of Publications, 21. October, 2002