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Undergraduate Bulletin

College of Liberal Arts
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Founded 1884
Morris Vogel, Acting Dean
12th Floor Anderson Hall
1114 W. Berks Street
(215) 204-7743
www.temple.edu/CLA

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Whatever your career aspirations, your future begins here in the College of Liberal Arts. Our courses and majors build toward exciting internships and co-op opportunities, offering practical, valuable work experience as you explore literature, languages, history, psychology, criminal justice, the social sciences, and more. The College of Liberal Arts integrates skills in effective communication, critical and analytical thinking, problem-solving, and technological literacy, tools necessary for any professional career.  Whether you choose to attend Main Campus or one of our world-wide programs, you will be able to choose from among the nation's leading scholars, professors who have connections both to the world of work and to graduate and professional schools.

Liberal Arts programs also easily accommodate minors or certificates in other schools or colleges, allowing Liberal Arts students to prepare for careers in education, business, media, government, and a variety of profit and non-profit organizations and institutions. Whether your interests lie in one of our many undergraduate majors, in the pre-professional programs of Law, Medicine, Allied Health, and Pharmacy, in pursuing advanced study in one of our eighteen master and fifteen doctoral programs, or even if you are not yet decided on a major, your future begins here.

The College's undergraduate programs prepare students to enter the world as informed, responsible citizens, as women and men making consequential choices about the future of their communities, and as leaders in the careers they choose to pursue. Because a rapidly changing technological society cannot prosper without men and women trained in the methods of logical inquiry, deductive reasoning, and critical analysis, the College holds fundamental assumptions about undergraduate education: 

  • that there are certain skills and concepts basic to all academic disciplines, and that their mastery is essential for all subsequent study; 
  • that a liberal education should teach students how to learn; 
  • that factual knowledge has value only when the methods of inquiry which led to its creation are understood. 
The undergraduate Core Curriculum is based upon the skills and knowledge essential to a liberal education. In a world which every year becomes more complex and where information becomes more highly specialized, the ability to speak and write well -- to communicate and describe ideas in language that is clear and precise -- is the greatest asset of an educated man or woman. The increasing reliance of society upon numbers also requires the ability to manipulate numerical data, to recognize their misuse, and to understand the multiple interpretations they often permit. Informed judgment requires of the student an awareness of the diversity of cultures, and a knowledge of our intellectual heritage and the major texts through which it is transmitted. Personal fulfillment rests upon the appreciation of truth and beauty manifested in works of religion, philosophy, and the arts. 

Baccalaureate programs in the divisions of the College -- social sciences and humanities -- lead from the Core Curriculum toward mastery of the subject matter, methods, and values of a chosen field, and prepare the student for productive work or for graduate study. In conjunction with the major, many students complete pre-professional coursework required for preparation for further studies in the health sciences, dentistry, law, pharmacy, or medicine. All programs offer undergraduates the opportunity to work with distinguished faculty and a richly diverse and stimulating student body as they prepare for an active role in a future of change and challenge.

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SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Study Abroad

Undergraduates majoring in any of the arts and sciences may pursue a large variety of study abroad options. Temple University has campuses in Rome, Italy, and Tokyo, Japan; a program in London, England, and exchange programs with universities in England, Germany, and Puerto Rico and summer programs in France, Ghana, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, and South Africa. See International Programs for more information about study abroad options.

University Honors Program

Students in the College of Liberal Arts are eligible to apply to the University Honors Program. College of Liberal Arts students in the Honors Program will take specially designated Honors courses to satisfy their University Core requirements. See Academic Programs/University Honors.

Departmental Honors Programs

Most departments in the College of Liberal Arts offer departmental Honors Programs.

At the time of choosing a field of concentration, the student should consult the Chair of the Honors Program in the selected department regarding eligibility and the special courses in which to enroll.

Teacher Preparation

A liberal arts education provides an excellent foundation for students interested in pursuing careers in teaching at the elementary and secondary levels.  A solid grounding in academic content, along with broad training in critical thinking, analytical reasoning and communication skills, offers a distinct in advantage in the twenty-first century classroom. 

Five-Year Combined BA/Ed.M Secondary Education Teaching Certification Program

Shiying Li,
Program Advisor
Academic Advising Center, First Floor, Sullivan Hall
sli@unix.temple.edu

The Five-Year program offers the opportunity for Liberal Arts students to obtain an undergraduate degree while simultaneously pursuing a Master's and Secondary Teaching Certification.  Students enroll in graduate level courses in the College of Education beginning in the fall semester of the junior year.  Upon completion of the undergraduate degree, students make a seamless transition into graduate studies in the College of Education for one additional year.  After satisfying all the graduate program requirements, a Master's in Education is awarded with Secondary Teaching Certification I. 

College of Liberal Arts students majoring in English, Foreign Languages, Geography and Urban Studies, and History are considered for this program.  Admission is competitive; applications are submitted in the spring semester of the sophomore year for a fall starting date.   The Five-Year Program is for Secondary Education certification only.  Students seeking Elementary Education Certification can apply to the College of Education for the traditional two-year Master's Certification Program.

Temple Education Scholars

Each year a small  number of highly talented incoming freshmen with an interest in secondary education teaching are provisionally admitted to the Five-Year Program at the same time that they are accepted to the College of Liberal Arts.  Applications are submitted concurrent with the undergraduate Temple Admissions Application..

Selection to EdScholars is based on a student's high school record, performance on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, letters of recommendation, and a  required essay and interview. Accepted students choose a major that has a cognate area in the College of Education CITE department. EdScholars begin the graduate component of the program in the fall term of the junior year similar to continuing students admitted at the end of their sophomore year.

Temple Law Scholars Program

Paul Crowe, Director
(215) 204-8591
prow@tempered

The Temple Law Scholars Program provides an opportunity for outstanding students to gain provisional admission to the Temple University Beasley School of Law at the same time they are accepted into the College of Liberal Arts.  As Temple Law Scholars, students spend their undergraduate years in Temple's Honors Program, after which they enroll in the Beasley School of Law, leading to the degree of Juries Doctor.

The Temple Law Scholars program provides an enriched undergraduate experience.  Scholars will take advantage of special opportunities that are offered by the law school including attendance at special lectures and events, participation in the law school's trial advocacy program, mentoring by law school faculty, students and administrators, and visiting law school classes.

The Temple Law Scholars Program is highly selective.  To be considered, an applicant must be accepted into the Honors Program.  High class standing, high SAT scores, and superior letters of recommendation are expected, as is an articulate, thoughtful essay.  In addition, other criteria are important including above average maturity, community service, leadership, and a genuine commitment to the legal profession and service to others.

Application to the Temple Law Scholars Program takes place at the same time the student applies to the College of Liberal Arts.  The application materials include the Temple undergraduate admission application, the Temple Law Scholars application, three letters of recommendation, and an essay on a topic assigned by the Temple Law Scholars admissions committee.  An interview may also be required.  The deadline for receipt of all application materials is February 1.
 

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AWARDS AND STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS

Awards

During the graduation season in May, the Baccalaureate Ceremony is held to honor seniors who have demonstrated outstanding performance and/or exceptional service to the College. Junior scholarship recipients are also recognized at this annual event.  These prizes are awarded competitively and are a testament to the excellence of Liberal Arts undergraduates.

Majors' Associations

Many of the departments within the College of Liberal Arts support student interest groups known as Majors’ Associations.  These organizations provide opportunities for students from the individual disciplines of the liberal arts to meet one another and the faculty, and to extend the learning experience beyond the classroom.  Frequently the associations invite their alumni back to campus to connect with current undergraduates and talk with them about the wide range of career options open to liberal arts graduates.

Participation in the majors’ associations has significant benefits.  Active involvement cultivates skills in leadership, team work, public speaking and budget management, all of which are highly valued in the workplace.  Students with creative interests can foster their talents by writing for magazines, newsletters and other publications, or by participating in poetry readings, debates and other similar activities.

It is important that there be student involvement on the departmental level because it is here that that students can have the most input concerning course offerings, faculty and departmental functions.

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COLLEGE Council of THE LIBERAL ARTS (cola)

The College Council of the Liberal Arts is the governing branch for the Majors' Associations and provides leadership and direction for all the affiliated organizations.  Presidents from each of the member associations along with other elected delegates plan a variety of educational, cultural, social and career-oriented events that build bridges between students, faculty, alumni and the professional community.  The Council offers a forum for students to express their needs and have a voice in decisions affecting College curriculum and policy.  Designated Council members serve on Temple Student Government and on a variety of College and University committees such as the Committee on Instruction and the Student Grievance Committee. 

Additional information can be obtained at the Council Office in the Academic Advising Center, first floor, Sullivan Hall.

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POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

University policies and regulations generally apply to all undergraduate students and provide a framework within which schools and colleges may specify further conditions or variations appropriate to students in their courses or programs.

Academic Residency Requirements

Students who transfer into the College of Liberal Arts must complete at least 30 semester hours of course work in the College, and at least half of the courses required in the major at Temple. 

Course Eligibility

All College of Liberal Arts undergraduate courses are divided into three kinds: 

  • Preparatory courses numbered 0001-0049: open to all students, full-time, part-time, matriculated, and non-matriculated. 
  • Lower Level courses numbered 0050-0099: open to all students including non-matriculated students who are in the process of completing required remedial courses or who have completed them, and who have completed appropriate course prerequisites. 
  • Upper Level courses numbered 0100-0399: open to all matriculated students who have completed all necessary remedial courses and appropriate course prerequisites.
Courses Taken Elsewhere by Liberal Arts Students

Matriculated Temple students must always petition for the prior approval of their dean to take courses at another institution. (See Permission to Take Courses at Another Institution under Academic Policies and Regulations.) Petitions are available in the Academic Advising Center, Sullivan Hall.

Courses Inapplicable to Graduation

Semester hours earned in Mathematics 0015, Military Science, or RCC-Enhanced are excluded from the total minimum semester hours required for graduation.

Dean's List

Each semester, undergraduate students who achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or above for the semester with 12 or more graded credits toward the degree and with no grade of Incomplete or "R" are selected for the Dean's List. Letters of congratulation are sent to each of these students.

Declaration of Major

Students in the College of Liberal Arts are expected to declare their major before completing 60 credits, which includes credits transferred from other institutions.  Undeclared students with 30 or more credits are required to meet with an advisor in the Academic Advising Center before registering.  Students transferring into Liberal Arts from other colleges and schools at Temple will not be permitted to transfer as undeclared if they have completed, or are in the process of completing, 60 or more semester hours.  This policy is effective for students admitted Fall 2002 or later.

Grading

  • Major, Minor, and Core courses must be completed with a letter grade of C- or higher. 
  • Credit/No Credit -- during the junior and senior years, any College of Liberal Arts student in good standing, who is taking a minimum of 12 semester hours, may elect to take one course each semester on a Credit/No Credit basis except for courses that count toward major, minor, Core, or distributional requirements. Application must be made at the Academic Advising Center of the College of Liberal Arts, Sullivan Hall, during the first two weeks of a fall or spring semester course and during the first three days of a first or second summer session course. 
Graduation Procedures

In the first semester of the senior year, all students are required to review, with their advisers in the Academic Advising Center, a summary sheet indicating the requirements for the degree which remain to be completed. This summary is then reviewed by the Advising Coordinator for the specific major and a copy sent to the student to delineate the courses which remain to be completed in the final semester.

Appointments for this review will be scheduled in the Academic Advising Center, first floor, Sullivan Hall, in the fall semester for graduations anticipated the next May and in the spring semester for graduations anticipated the next August and January .

Notice of Anticipation of Graduation

Early in the semester in which students will complete their degree requirements, they must notify, in writing, the Academic Advising Center. Forms for this purpose are available at the reception desk on the first floor of Sullivan Hall. The deadline for returning the form is:

  • October 8, 2002, for fall semester 2002 
  • February 10, 2003, for spring semester 2003
  • June 2, 2003, for second summer semester 2003
Plagiarism and Academic Cheating

Plagiarism and academic cheating are prohibited in College of Liberal Arts courses. Essential to intellectual growth is the development of independent thought and a respect for the thoughts of others. The prohibition against plagiarism and cheating is intended to foster this independence and respect. See Academic Policies in this Bulletin.

The penalty for plagiarism or cheating as a first offense is normally an F in the course in which the offense is committed. In such cases, the instructor will write a report to the Dean. The CAL Grievance Committee will adjudicate appeals made by students and serious cases, or repeat offenses, referred to the Committee by an instructor or the Dean. The Dean may recommend suspension or expulsion from the University when warranted. 

Probation and Dismissal

Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 may be subject to probation. Students whose semester GPA falls below a 1.0 or who fail to remove themselves from probation after one semester may be subject to dismissal. Students not making academic progress toward a degree may be subject to probation and/or dismissal.

Readmission

To apply to reenter the College after a full semester of non-attendance, a student must submit a Readmission Application.

Applications may be obtained from the Academic Advising Center and are due November 1 for the spring semester and June 1 for the fall semester. 

Withdrawal from Classes

After notifying the instructor and filing the correct form, a student may withdraw from a course without penalty up to six weeks after the beginning of the semester. After six weeks have passed, but before the end of the twelfth week, permission to withdraw must be obtained from both the instructor and the Academic Advising Center of the College of Liberal Arts, Sullivan Hall. If withdrawal is approved, the instructor may file a W (withdrew without penalty), or WE (withdrew with failing grade). Permission to withdraw is not given after the twelfth week of the semester. Students may not withdraw from Mathematics 0015.

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ADVISING

It is recommended, and in some cases required, that students consult with an adviser prior to registration. The adviser will review the proposed coursework and will attempt to keep students informed of the requirements for graduation. In addition, the adviser will help the student achieve breadth in the curriculum and will provide other assistance needed by the student. 

Academic advisers attempt to avoid errors when advising students about program requirements, although the college cannot assume liability for errors in advising. Therefore, students must assume primary responsibility for knowing the requirements for their degree and for acquiring current information about their academic status.

Academic Advising Center

The Academic Advising Center serves as the advising division of the College of Liberal Arts helping students plan curriculum, choose majors, make vocational and post graduate plans and resolve a variety of academic problems. Services are provided by a staff of full-time professional advisers and part-time faculty advisers. The center informs students about the results of placement testing and assignment into corresponding courses. Monitoring of academic progress and graduation clearance are also the responsibility of the Advising Center. 

Through individual interviews and group workshops, the Center offers the following services: 

  • New Student Orientation for freshmen and first semester transfer students. 
  • Curriculum Advising for undeclared Liberal Arts students and declared majors in the Humanities or Social Sciences who have completed fewer than 30 credits. Students enrolled in the University Honors Program are advised in the Honors Office in Tuttle man Learning Center until they have completed 60 semester hours. All other students are advised in their departments. 
  • Registration Assistance for students ineligible for phone registration. Includes on-line processing of original registrations and/or schedule revisions, and course withdrawals through the twelfth week of the semester or the third day of the summer sessions. 
  • Academic Counseling which provides an opportunity for students to develop a meaningful education plan compatible with life goals. Students can also meet with advisers to discuss a variety of academic concerns and develop some possible solutions. Students on academic probation and others experiencing academic difficulty work with advisers to learn strategies for overcoming the obstacles to success. 
  • Pre-Professional Advising for students planning to enter law school. Pre-professional advising for the health professions is offered through the Academic Resource Center, Room 113, Curtis Hall. 
  • Intra-University Transfer (IT) Advising for students changing programs and moving to the College of Liberal Arts from other schools and colleges at Temple.  During mandatory group advising sessions, students transferring to Liberal Arts learn about collegiate degree requirements, policies and procedures, and arrangements for advising.  

  • Withdrawal and Readmission interviews.
  • Graduation Reviews for students entering their senior year. 
Requests that require students to petition include those to: attend another university for a semester or summer course, be graded in one course on a credit/no credit system, register for an overload, evaluate life experience credit and credit by examination, receive approval for an exception to policy.

Students are advised by a  Departmental adviser  within their major once they have accumulated at least 30 credits and have declared a major. Through contact with departmental faculty, students gain an in-depth appreciation of a specific discipline and discover opportunities associated with their field of interest.

Departmental Advisers

Students are advised by a departmental adviser within their major once they have accumulated at least 30 credits at Temple University and have declared a major.

Student Advisers/Ombudspersons (SA/O)

Departments in the College of Liberal Arts have student advisers/ ombudspersons who are qualified undergraduate majors of the departments they represent. Thoroughly familiar with requirements and curricula, they can add something far more valuable than just information -- the voice of experience. These student advisers/ombudspersons can competently direct fellow students to the courses and faculty members that will enhance their interests. They also have information concerning career options for graduates from their departments. 

Student Grievances.  The student grievance part of the job is as important as the advising aspect and may be the reason that a student would seek help. As the departments' ombudspersons, they will try to solve any academic grievance that may arise, acting as the student-faculty "go-between." A student must initiate the first stage of an academic grievance no later than 30 days after the beginning of the fall or spring semester immediately following the completion of the course in which the grievance occurred. Copies of the College of Liberal Arts grievance procedure can be obtained from the Student Advisers/Ombudspersons. The Student Advisers/Ombudspersons have offices within their respective departments. This program serves as a means for student expression and concern with the hope of benefiting the student and the department.

Continuing Student Registration

Continuing student registration is the period during the fall and spring semesters when currently enrolled students should register. Prior to processing their registrations, freshmen meet with advisers in a group setting to review their DARES documents, discuss course selections for the upcoming semester and have their Personal Identification Numbers (PINS) activated. DARES for all students are available on the Web through Owlet. 

New transfer students and continuing students in good academic standing are encouraged to meet with their advisers before processing their schedules via telephone registration. Students ineligible to use telephone registration are required to meet with an adviser. 

Pre-Professional Advising

Preparation for the Study of Law 

The degree of Bachelor of Arts is accepted by all law schools as fulfillment of their requirements for admission. 

The Pre-Legal Education Committee of the Association of American Law Schools and the Temple University School of Law stress the importance of a well-rounded education. Since the legal profession makes extensive use of both the written and spoken English language as professional tools, the law student should have extensive preparation in English in undergraduate courses. Because a large part of a lawyer's work requires problem solving and sound judgment, students should take courses that help develop creative power in thinking. The study of law, furthermore, rests upon a broad knowledge of western civilization, including its political, economic, and social institutions; hence, the student preparing for law should schedule courses which afford this broad background. Some law schools also recommend two semesters of accounting. 

After selecting a field of concentration, the student schedules courses in consultation with both the adviser in the area of concentration and with the pre-law adviser in the Academic Advising Center of the College of Liberal Arts. 

Courses of Special Interest to Pre-Law Students

While no specific undergraduate courses or majors are required for admission to accredited law schools, pre-law students are advised to select courses and programs of study that are intellectually challenging while helping to develop necessary skills and knowledge. 

Courses that are "law-related" because they either require reading of law cases or concern the study of particular legal issues are listed below for the convenience of interested students. Law school admissions officials prefer that pre-law students take very few such courses believing that the teaching of law more appropriately belongs in the province of the law school. It may be useful, however, for students who are uncertain about attending law school to test their level of interest by selecting one or more of the following courses in the College of Liberal Arts:

American Studies 0109 -- Courtroom in American Society
Anthropology 0223 -- Comparative Law
Criminal Justice 0150 -- Introduction to Criminal Law
Criminal Justice 0243 -- American Jury System
Criminal Justice 0247 -- Criminal Procedure: Prosecution and Adjudication
History R267 -- Race & U.S. Constitution
Philosophy C062 -- Morality and the Law
Philosophy 0154 -- Political Philosophy 
Philosophy 0243 -- Philosophy of Law
Political Science 0117 -- American Constitutional Principles I 
Political Science 0118 -- American Constitutional Principles II
Political Science 0270- Classics in Political Philosophy
Sociology 0270 -- Sociology of Law
Sociology 0283 -- Social Movements
Women's Studies 0273 -- Women and Criminal Justice 

To develop the communications skills of reading and comprehension, expository writing, and speaking:

Communication Sciences 0180 -- Introduction to Linguistics
Communication Sciences 0214 -- Conflict and Communication 
English W103 -- Writing the Research Essay 
English W101 -- Developing Prose Style 
English Upper level literature courses 
Speech Communication 0065 -- Public Speaking 
Speech Communication 0180 -- Persuasion 

To develop analytical reasoning skills:

Philosophy C055 -- Critical Thinking 
Philosophy C066 -- Logic 
Philosophy 0100 -- Introduction to Philosophy 
Philosophy 0121 -- Introduction to Ethics 
Speech Communication 0174 -- Argumentation 
Courses in Computer Science and Mathematics 
Courses in Natural Science

Since most law schools require applicants to submit the score made on the Law School Aptitude Test, administered periodically by the Law School Admissions Service, students planning to study law should consult the pre-law adviser prior to the senior year to determine whether the school to which they plan to apply will require such a test and to determine the dates when such examinations are given. 

Prospective law students should consult the pre-law adviser about requirements for admission to law school, law school scholarship assistance, and opportunities in the legal profession. To satisfy statutory requirements, early in the senior year prospective law students should consult the pre-law adviser concerning the legal requirements for practicing law in the state in which the student desires to study and practice.

Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International

Students interested in College of Liberal Arts pre-law studies are encouraged to join Phi Alpha Delta. Its pre-law program assists "undergraduate students to make an 'informed choice' in selecting law as a career, deciding which law school to attend, and in preparing for the rigors of law school."

PAD was formed "to advance the ideals of liberty and equal justice under law, to stimulate excellence in scholarship; to inspire the virtues of compassion and courage; to foster integrity and professional competence; to promote the welfare of its members; and to encourage their moral, intellectual, and cultural advancement."

For more information about Phi Alpha Delta and College of Liberal Arts pre-law activities, please contact Dr. Paul Crow, pre-law adviser at 215-204-8591 or prow@tempered.

Early Admission to Health Professions Graduate Programs

Students in the College of Liberal Arts, who have been admitted to graduate health-related professional schools at the end of their third year and have completed 90 semester hours of College of Liberal Arts or College of Science and Technology coursework including the requirements of the College and their majors with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, may petition the Dean for the transfer of their first year in professional study toward the completion of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts.

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REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES

Credit Hour Requirements

The College of Liberal Arts requires that students complete a total of 123 credits. Of that total, 90 credits must be in CLA or College of Science and Technology courses (excluding Engineering). Of those 90 credits, 45 must be in upper level CAL or CST courses (excluding Engineering). Of those 45 credits, students receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree must distribute their course selections to satisfy the upper level distribution requirements. 

Students must also satisfy the requirements of the University Core Curriculum. 

The detailed explanations of the College of Liberal Arts' credit hour requirements appear in the paragraphs that follow. 

The liberal arts baccalaureate degrees require a minimum of 123 credit hours, distributed according to University and College policy outlined below, with at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA). A minimum 2.0 GPA must also be maintained in CLA/CST courses (excluding Engineering) and in the major. 

To earn a CLA baccalaureate degree, a student must complete a minimum of 90 semester hours in CLA/CST courses (excluding Engineering courses). 

A course is classified as a College of Liberal Arts or College of Science and Technology course if it is offered by a department in either college (except Engineering), or by the departments of Economics or Art History.

Student majoring in Music can obtain information concerning the minimum number of semester hours in CLA/CST courses required for graduation from the major adviser and from the description of the major found in this Bulletin

These credit hour requirements apply to students entering fall, 1995 or later. 

A maximum of nine semester hours in preparatory courses (courses numbered 0001-0049) may be applied to any baccalaureate degree. Semester hours earned in Mathematics 0015, Military Science, and RCC-Enhanced do not receive credit toward the minimum semester hours required for graduation. 

Bachelor of Arts Requirements

Core. Bachelor of Arts candidates must complete the University Core requirements with the following difference: For the Core Language or International Studies requirement, candidates for the B.A. degree are required by the College of Liberal Arts to complete both an International Studies and a Language requirement. 

  • Complete the third semester of a language (course number C061, except in Critical Languages) and one international studies course or 
  • Complete the second semester of a language (course number 0052, except in Critical Languages) and two international studies courses, at least one of which must be "Third World/Non-Western." 
Upper level distribution requirements  B.A. students must complete upper level distribution requirements by taking two upper level CLA courses outside the curriculum division of the major (or upper level College of Science and Technology courses excluding Engineering.) Students who have double majors in the same division must take two upper level courses outside this division. Students who have double majors in two different divisions automatically satisfy the distribution requirement. Students taking an interdisciplinary major or program must take at least one upper level course in each of the two divisions. 

Major. They must also complete the requirements of a major. The minimum acceptable grade in a course taken to fulfill major requirements is a C-. Students are encouraged to declare their major by the end of the freshman year; forms for this purpose are available in the Academic Advising Center in Sullivan Hall. B.A. majors are offered in the following programs: 

African American Studies 
American Culture and Media Arts 
American Studies 
Anthropology 
Asian Studies 
Criminal Justice 
Economics 
English 
Environmental Studies (BA or BS)
French 
Geography and Urban Studies 
Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literature 
Greek and Roman Classics 
Hebrew 
History 
Interdisciplinary Studies 
Italian 
Jewish Studies 
Latin American Studies 
Mathematical Economics
Music 
Organizational Studies 
Philosophy 
Political Science 
Psychology 
Religion 
Russian (See German and Slavic) 
Sociology 
Spanish 
Women's Studies 

Curriculum Divisions
Students should use the following curriculum divisions in satisfying the distribution requirements mentioned above: 

  • Humanities: Art History, English, Foreign Languages, Greek and Roman Classics, Music*, Philosophy, Religion. 
  • Social Sciences: African American Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography and Urban Studies, History, Jewish Studies, Latin American Studies, Mathematical Economics, Organizational Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Women's Studies. 
*Courses in Music may not be used to satisfy upper level distribution requirements. 

Placement Tests

All new freshmen must take diagnostic English and mathematics placement tests. Transfer students who have not completed English C050 or a college level math course are also required to take placement examinations. The results of these tests determine if students are required to enroll in preparatory composition and mathematics courses. Students assigned to English 0040/0041 must register each semester for that course until the requirement is completed. Only upon successful completion of English 0040/0041 can such students enroll in English C050/C051. Students assigned to courses designed to remedy deficiencies in mathematics are required to complete those courses before enrolling in the mathematics component of the University Core. Incoming students must also take a foreign language placement examination if they plan to continue a language previously studied, or if they wish to place out of a foreign language requirement. 

Special Major and Minor Requirements

Interdisciplinary Major

Rather than major in an existing department or program, students may apply for a major in Interdisciplinary Studies. The proposed major should consist of coursework totaling at least 36 semester hours, and be justified in terms of some thematic unit of cohesive rationale. The program should not closely resemble any major currently available in the College of Liberal Arts. 

The proposed major program may include courses outside of the College of Liberal Arts, but at least 24 semester hours must be in upper level liberal arts or science courses. The student's proposal must be sponsored by two faculty members from different departments, at least one from the College of Liberal Arts. Approval for the program must be obtained from the College of Liberal Arts Academic Advising Center prior to the initiation of the last 60 semester hours of the degree. 

Honors Interdisciplinary Major

Students in the University Honors Program may apply for a College of Liberal Arts Honors Interdisciplinary Major. They must complete the degree requirements of the B.A. in the College of Liberal Arts and the requirements for the Interdisciplinary Major described above as well as the requirements for the University Honors Program. Approval for this program must also be obtained from the University Honors Committee prior to the initiation of the last 60 semester hours of the degree. 

In addition, the proposed Major Program should include submission of an acceptable Honors Thesis to the University Honors Steering Committee. 

Minor
Students may also choose to complete the requirements for a minor. The minimum acceptable grade in a course taken to fulfill minor requirements is C-. The minimum GPA for all College of Liberal Arts minors is 2.0. This requirement is superseded if some higher GPA is required by any specific minor program. At least half of the courses taken by a student to fulfill the minor must be taken at Temple. Forms for declaring a minor are available in the following programs: 

African American Studies 
American Studies 
Ancient Mediterranean Studies 
Anthropology 
Asian-American Studies
Asian Studies 
Cognitive Neuroscience (see Psychology) 
Criminal Justice 
Economics 
English 
Environmental Studies 
French 
Geography and Urban Studies 
German 
Greek and Roman Classics 
Hebrew 
History 
Italian 
Jewish Studies (see Religion) 
Latin American Studies 
Mathematical Economics 
Music 
Philosophy 
Polish (see German and Slavic) 
Political Science 
Portuguese (see Spanish and Portuguese) 
Psychology 
Religion 
Russian 
Sociology 
Spanish 
Women's Studies 

Certificates of Specialization

Students may choose to complete the requirements for an additional Certificate of Specialization. Forms for declaring a certificate are available in the Academic Advising Center in Sullivan Hall. Certificates of Specialization are available in the following programs: 

  • Asian Business and Society (see Asian Studies)
  • Foreign Languages: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish (see departments) 
  • Geography of Sports, Recreation and Tourism Planning (see Geography and Urban Studies)
  • Geography of Tourism (see Geography and Urban Studies)
  • Latin American Studies and Spanish for Business (see Spanish) 
  • Latino Studies and Spanish for Health and Human Services Professions (see Spanish) 
  • Management Career (see Economics) 
  • Multilingual Business and Government Studies (see Spanish) 
  • Neuroscience (see Psychology) 
  • Political Economy (see Political Science) 
  • Women's Studies (see Women's Studies) 
  • Writing (see English) 

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