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Temple University Home Page -- Undergraduate Bulletin Main Page
founded 1884
Carolyn T. Adams, Dean
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:
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 three divisions of the College -- natural sciences, 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. Pre-professional programs prepare the student for the health sciences, dentistry, law, pharmacy, or medicine. Bachelor of Science programs in some departments offer greater concentration in the major; Bachelor of Arts programs offer greater breadth of choice. 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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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 Arts and Sciences are eligible to apply to the University Honors Program. College of Arts and Sciences students in the Honors Program will take specially designated Honors courses to
.their University Core requirements. See Academic Programs/University Honors.
Departmental Honors Programs
Most Departments in the College of Arts and Sciences 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.
Five-year Master's Programs and Teacher Certification
In some departments, it is possible for talented students to complete both a bachelor's and a master's degree in five years. Departments offering this opportunity are Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Political Science.
Students who want to combine teacher certification with a major in Arts and Sciences may take a minor in Education during their undergraduate years. After earning a bachelor's degree in the field of choice, an additional year is spent as a graduate student in the College of Education, simultaneously earning a Master of Education degree and Pennsylvania teaching certification. See the College of Education for more details.
Information about all programs leading to certification can be found in the appropriate section of this Bulletin, and is indexed.
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Honorary Societies, Awards, and Student Associations
Phi Beta Kappa
Membership in the society is open only to students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences. Eligibility for membership is considered each Spring. At this time, juniors and seniors who are candidates for the B.A. or B.S. degree are eligible for consideration if their undergraduate record fulfills the following minimum requirements:
1-The candidate shall be majoring in a department or program in the College of Arts and Sciences and be taking a course program expected to include not less than 95 hours of letter graded CAS courses (including courses transferred to Temple as CAS courses) among the hours required for the B.A. or B.S. degree.
2-During the semester in which eligibility is considered,
a-The candidate must either have completed or be in the process of completing 60 semester hours of courses in the College of Arts and Sciences at Temple University; (Students transferring to Temple from a college housing a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa will have CAS equivalent courses counted as if they were taken at Temple.)
b-The candidate must have taken 12 semester hours per semester for at least 4 semesters which may include the current semester and/or two consecutive summer sessions;
c-The candidate must have completed or be enrolled in 2 full-time semesters at one of the Philadelphia campuses of the University.
3-For election as a junior, the candidate shall have completed not less than 75 nor more than 89 semester hours of college work. The caliber of the candidate's work should be of exceptional distinction, including, for all graded work in CAS courses, a GPA of at least 3.80. The minimum CAS GPA needed for a candidate to be considered for election as a senior is 3.50. Candidates who have achieved this minimum CAS GPA at Temple and who have transferred to Temple 30 or more semester hours of course work, will have their CAS GPA recalculated to include grades received at the transfer institution(s) in CAS equivalent courses.
4-Candidates shall have demonstrated a knowledge of mathematics and of a foreign language at least minimally appropriate for a liberal education. Candidates shall have completed at least one college level mathematics course. (This would include courses in the Mathematics Department numbered 55 or above. Note that although Statistics 11 and 12 and other courses outside the Mathematics Department may satisfy the University's Core QA and QB requirements, they do not satisfy the Phi Beta Kappa requirement.) Candidates shall also have completed at least one semester of a foreign language at the second year level. At Temple, this generally means completion of a foreign language course numbered 61 or above which was taught in the foreign language. (Courses taught primarily in English do not fulfil the requirement.) Students for whom English is a second language will be exempted from this requirement, provided that a notation to this effect appears on the "events" screen of the student's ISIS record. It is the student's responsibility to make sure that this notation is made prior to the semester in which eligibility will be considered.
5-Weight shall be given to the breadth of the program of each candidate as shown by the number, variety and level of Arts and Science courses taken outside the major. Weight shall also be given to the balance and proportion in the candidate's degree program as a whole.
Officers of Phi Beta Kappa
Awards
Many awards are granted to juniors and seniors for outstanding performance in many scholastic areas and for exceptional service to the College. Information is available in Department Offices or in the Academic Advising Center, Sullivan Hall.
Majors' Associations
Many of the departments within the College of Arts and Sciences support student interest organizations known as Majors' Associations. Each department organization provides an opportunity for students to interact with other students of similar interests as well as their faculty. This is essential to making a student's academic life more than merely classroom oriented work.
It is important that there be student involvement on the departmental level because it is here that the student can have the most input concerning course offerings, faculty, and departmental functions.
CCAS
The College Council of Arts and Sciences is the student government of the College of Arts and Sciences. The goal of CCAS is to unite students so they can work together to enhance their education both inside and outside the classroom. CCAS provides valuable services and programs such as support for Majors' Associations, educational programs and lectures, a student representation on College and University committees, the CCAS newsletter, a course evaluation survey, and representation in Temple Student Government.
CCAS provides an open forum for students to express their concerns and to act on them. All students of the College of Arts and Sciences, both graduates and undergraduates, are welcome to become members of CCAS. CCAS meetings are open to everyone. Students' opinions are shared and decisions are conveyed to the students through the Majors' Associations and to the faculty and administration through College and University committees such as the Executive Committee, the Committee on Instruction, the Committee on Writing, and the Student Grievance Committee.
Additional information and meeting times can be obtained at the CCAS offices in Suite 213 of Anderson Hall, (215) 204-8262.
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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 CAS 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 Arts and Sciences undergraduate courses are divided into three kinds:
Courses Taken Elsewhere by CAS Students
Matriculated Temple students must always petition for the prior approval of their dean to take courses at another institution.
Courses Inapplicable to Graduation
Semester hours earned in Mathematics 0015 (formerly Mathematics 0001), Military Science, 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.
Grading
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 B.A. or B.S. 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:
Matriculation Equivalency
Upon completion of all required remedial courses and at least four or more lower level courses accruing no fewer than 12 semester hours of credit, a student with an average of C or better will be granted matriculation equivalency. Students with such equivalency may register for any CAS undergraduate course for which they have met the prerequisites. Full matriculation, however, including admission through the Admissions Office, is required for any student to enter a degree program. Admissions applications may be obtained at the Office of Admissions, Conwell Hall.
Plagiarism and Academic Cheating
Plagiarism and academic cheating are prohibited in CAS courses. Essential to intellectual growth is the development of independent thought and of 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 CAS 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
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 Arts and Sciences, Sullivan Hall. If withdrawal is approved, the instructor may file a W (withdrew without penalty), or WF (withdrew with failing grade). Permission to withdraw is not given after the twelfth week of the semester. Students may not withdraw from Mathematics 0015 (formerly Mathematics 0001).
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It is recommended, and in some cases required, that students consult with an adviser prior to registration. The adviser will approve 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 Arts and Sciences 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 CAS students in declared majors who have completed fewer than 30 credits. Undeclared CAS students are advised in the Academic Resource Center (ARC) in Room 113, Curtis Hall. Students enrolled in the University Honors Program are advised in Room 648, Ritter Annex 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 the various health professions or law school.
Graduation Reviews for students entering their senior year.
Withdrawal and Re-Admission interviews.
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
Departments in the College of Arts and Sciences 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.
The ombudsperson 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 Arts and Sciences 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. Degree Audit Reports (DARS) for declared majors with under 30 credits are available in the Academic Advising Center prior to the registration period. Declared majors with 30 or more credits obtain their documents from their departmental advising offices.
Prior to processing their registrations, freshmen meet with advisers in a group setting to review their DARS documents, discuss course selections for the upcoming semester and have their Personal Identification Numbers (PINS) activated. 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.
Preparation for the Allied Health Professions
The College of Arts and Sciences provides advising and courses of study preparatory to the programs offered by the College of Allied Health Professions. For the application and pre-professional course requirements of those programs, see College of Allied Health Professions.
Preparation for the Study of Dentistry, Medicine, Optometry, Podiatry, Veterinary Medicine
Science requirements for admission to the medical, dental, podiatry, optometry, and veterinary schools in the state of Pennsylvania:
The courses listed are the minimum required for acceptance. While students need not major in a science, it is recommended that additional science courses, beyond the minimum required, be included in the program in order to strengthen the application. The specific requirements will vary depending upon which professional area is selected. Optometry requires an additional four semester hours of microbiology and a course in statistics. Veterinary medicine requires a course in genetics. In addition, all students are required to complete six semester hours in English courses and eight semester hours in mathematics, which are usually calculus courses. If they have met all the requirements, qualified students may apply after completing 90 semester hours in the undergraduate program.
Studies which develop verbal competence and enlarge upon the student's perspective and capacities for critical thinking and ethical judgments also are recommended; these studies should include courses in composition, speech, literature, philosophy, and religion. Understanding the range and variation of human behavior is essential and should be enlarged upon through studies in psychology, sociology, anthropology, and courses offered in other social sciences departments such as economics, history, and political science.
The health professions adviser in the Academic Advising Center of the College of Arts and Sciences is a key person in helping to plan a student's undergraduate program and aiding in educational and career decisions. Most medical, dental, and podiatry schools require candidates to apply through a centralized application service and take specific examinations. The adviser will help students with this application process.
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 Arts and Sciences.
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
Arts and Sciences:
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 R246 -- Race & U.S. Constitution
Philosophy C062 -- Morality and the Law
Philosophy 0154 -- Political Philosophy
Philosophy 0243 -- Philosophy of Law
Political Science 0117 -- American Constitution Principle I & II
Political Science 0151 -- Public Policy Analysis
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.
Preparation for the Study of Pharmacy
The College of Arts and Sciences provides advising and courses of
study preparatory to the study of pharmacy. For the application
and pre-professional course requirements of the Temple University
School of Pharmacy see College of Pharmacy.
Early Admission to Professional Programs
Students in the College of Arts and Sciences, who have been
admitted to health-related professional schools at the end of
their third year and have completed 90 s.h. 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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Comments and questions concerning this web version of the bulletin or requests for adding reference marks for linking to subsections of a page may be sent to Robert Schneider.