OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2020-21 [Archived Catalog]
College of Arts and Sciences
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 Return to: Ohio University College of Arts and Sciences
 Wilson Hall, College Green
Phone: 740.593.2845
Fax: 740.597.1386
cas.undergrad@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/cas/
Florenz Plassmann, Dean
Sarah Poggione, Associate Dean
Randell Price, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
Mission
In 1804, a small group of young men arrived at the first seat of higher learning in the Old Northwest Territory to enroll for instruction in Greek and Latin, history, literature, mathematics, geometry, and physics. Then, as now, the best preparation for helping students meet the challenges of an unknown future was to offer a wide range of courses—a breadth of knowledge. Providentially, the founders had chosen to use a liberal arts model of connecting past to future through classic instruction. And so it was, with a tradition rooted firmly in the liberal arts, the fledgling college at the edge of the wilderness matured into the prestigious and many-faceted institution we know today as Ohio University.
The College of Arts and Sciences at Ohio University is proud to continue the tradition of providing a wide choice of traditional majors to discerning students, even as it offers an expanded and modern curriculum, with both appropriate to a 21st-century education. In addition to teaching specific knowledge and essential skills in tune with an ever-changing world of work and technology, the underlying philosophy of an arts and sciences curriculum promotes the love of lifelong learning.
The objectives of a liberal arts education, historically speaking, have been met through curricula that provide a fuller understanding of the human condition and the world around us, falling as they do within the academic disciplines known as the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. It is the nature of courses such as these to reflect a breadth and scope from both the past and the future. Fortunately, for students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, they are the core of a modern liberal arts education.
In addition to a fundamental education acquired through instruction in the social sciences, natural sciences, foreign languages, and other humanities, you will receive specialized knowledge in a major field of study that is likely to include a wide range of course options. Whether you pursue a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree, an Arts and Sciences degree is all about choice. If you have not settled on a major before coming to the University but are considering a major in Arts and Sciences, you are invited to apply as undeclared or “undecided” in Arts and Sciences, and may even opt for advising emphasis by declaring undecided/humanities, undecided/social sciences, or undecided/science. All undecided first year A&S students are enrolled in a “Learning Community” during the first semester at Ohio University.
The College of Arts and Sciences holds the distinction of being the largest and oldest college at Ohio University. Yet it is ever changing to meet the needs of students. For example, an exciting array of language and culture classes attracts students from all majors—time-honored choices of Latin, Greek, French, German, and Spanish are available at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels; but you might want to consider Russian, Italian, Japanese, Indonesian/Malaysian, Chinese, Swahili, or Arabic, instead of, or in addition to, more familiar languages. Another way to optimize the liberal arts experience, with language learning as a possible component, is to participate in one or more of the dozens of incredible study abroad options in locations around the world. www.ohio.edu/goglobal/. For those interested in the study of language above and beyond meeting foreign language requirements, LCTs (Less Commonly Taught Languages) include a number of African and Asian languages, including Somali, Wolof, Twi, Khmer, Thai, and Vietnamese. www.ohio.edu/linguistics/lctl/index.html.
The Scholars Program in Arts and Sciences was created specifically for intellectually curious incoming students with an ACT of 25 or higher who apply for the program. The unique integrated learning experience allows selected first year scholars a jump-start towards academic excellence by offering an intensive year-long interaction with some of the most highly regarded faculty at Ohio University. www.ohio.edu/admissions/artssciencesscholars.cfm
Outstanding juniors or seniors who maintain at least a 3.5 GPA may be eligible to graduate with “departmental honors.” This prestigious opportunity to create a research project and/or write a thesis is provided by many departments in Arts and Sciences for their highly motivated students. www.ohio.edu/cas/dean/undergrad-affairs/honors/departmental/.
The College of Arts and Sciences supports over 60 majors, including special-curriculum majors with a specific career-related focus, the undeclared (undecided) option refined by a humanities, social science, or science preference, 28 minors, and 13 certificate programs within 18 academic departments. Because of the flexibility of course selection allowed in many A&S majors, A&S students might find they are able to complete two degrees or two majors, for optimum use of their undergraduate years. Others add value by completing a minor and/or certificate program from the many offered.
College and departmental requirements for the B.A. and B.S. degrees are described in detail in the following sections.
Departments
The College of Arts and Sciences comprises the following 18 academic departments www.ohio.edu/cas/departments/ and a program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Major (B.A.) :
African American Studies
Biological Sciences
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Classics and World Religions
Economics
English
Environment and Plant Biology
Geography
Geological Sciences
History
Linguistics
Mathematics
Modern Languages
Philosophy
Physics and Astronomy
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology and Anthropology
The College also offers an array of graduate programs:
www.catalogs.ohio.edu/index.php
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 departments. At least 50 percent of the major course credits must be completed at Ohio University to satisfy the residency policy of the University. For most majors, the B.A. or B.S. designation is determined by the program itself 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 (in italics):
African American Studies
African American Studies
Anthropology
Anthropology
Biological Sciences
Environmental Biology
Human Biology
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chemistry
Classics and World Religions
Classical Civilization
Classical Languages
World Religions
Economics
Economics
English
English - Creative Writing
English - Cultures, Rhetoric, & Theory
English - Literature & Writing
English - Prelaw
Environmental and Plant Biology
Plant Biology - Field Ecology
Plant Biology - Applied Plant Biology
Geography
Geography
Geography—Globalization and Development Major (B.A.)
Geological Sciences
Geological Sciences
History
History
Prelaw
Linguistics
Linguistics
Mathematics
Mathematics
Modern Languages
French
German
Russian
Spanish
Philosophy
Philosophy
Prelaw
Philosophy—Pretheology Major (B.A.)
Physics and Astronomy
Physics
Political Science
Political Science
Prelaw
Psychology
Psychology
PrePhysical Therapy
Sociology
Sociology
Criminology
Prelaw
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
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 (in italics):
Biological Sciences
Biological Sciences
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Marine, Freshwater and Environmental Biology
Microbiology
Prephysical Therapy
Preprofessional Program (predentistry, premedicine, preoptometry, preveterinary medicine)
Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chemistry
Biochemistry
Environmental Chemistry
Forensic Chemistry
Predentistry
Premedicine
Prepharmacy
Economics
Economics Major (B.S.)
Environmental and Plant Biology
Plant Biology
Geography
Geography
Environmental Geography
Environmental Prelaw
Geographic Information Science
Meteorology
Urban Planning
Geological Sciences
Geological Sciences
Environmental Geology
Mathematics
Mathematics
Actuarial Science
Applied Mathematics
Mathematical Statistics
Physics
Physics
Applied Physics
Astrophysics
Meteorology
*If you plan to enter law school after earning an undergraduate degree, you should choose a major in the area of your principal academic interest. See PreLaw section below for information about choosing a major and about support from the academic and prelaw advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences in the Center for Law, Justice, and Culture: www.ohio.edu/lawcenter/
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 choose one from another college. Minors available through the College of Arts and Sciences are:
African American Studies
Anthropology
Astronomy
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Classical Civilization
Economics
English
French
Geography
Geological Sciences
German
Greek
History
Japanese
Latin
Linguistics
Mathematics
Meteorology
Paleontology
Philosophy
Physics
Plant Biology
Political Science
Psychology
Russian
Sociology
Spanish
World Religions
Certificates
A wide selection of Certificates is available at Ohio University and can be added to your Arts and Sciences program of study. Certificates by the College of Arts and Sciences include:
Bioinformatics (in cooperation with the Russ College of Engineering and Technology)
Environmental Studies
Experimental Study of Language
Food and Society Certificate Program
French and Francophone Studies
Geographic Information Science (GIS)
Gerontology (in cooperation with the College of Health Sciences and Professions )
Global Leadership (GLC) (in cooperation with the College of Business and the College of Communication )
Islamic Studies
Italian Studies (in cooperation with the College of Fine Arts )
Law, Justice & Culture
LGBTQ Studies Certificate Program
Jewish Studies
Middle East and North African Studies
Political Communication (in cooperation with the College of Communication )
Russian Studies
Technology and Society
TOEFL/TEFL Teaching English as a Foreign/Second Language
Wealth and Poverty Certificate Program
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Writing
Certificate programs and minors are open to students in any program, regardless of college, except as restricted by that program or college.
Departmental Honors
Many departments in the College of Arts and Sciences offer outstanding students the opportunity, through research and the writing of a thesis, to graduate with departmental honors. For specific information about honors recognition for your major, see your academic advisor before the end of your junior year. www.ohio.edu/cas/dean/undergrad-affairs/honors/departmental/
A&S Office of Undergraduate Student Affairs
The College of Arts and Sciences Office of Student Affairs assists students with academic concerns, such as advising and career choices or change of major, as well as overseeing administrative matters related to academic progress and retention, academic suspension, reinstatement, and graduation conferral. Students may meet with a professional advisor by appointment or on Walk-in-Wednesdays, from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., and Thursdays from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. when you can be seen by the professional staff on a first-come-first-served basis.
The A&S Office of Undergraduate Student Affairs is located in Wilson Hall, suite 104, on the College Green. Information about student services and extensive resources for student success is available on the Web at: www.ohio.edu/cas/undergrad/.
Admissions InformationAdmission Requirements
Admission to Ohio University is all that is required for acceptance into the College of Arts and Sciences.
Transfer to A&S From Other Colleges Within Ohio University
To transfer into the College of Arts and Sciences from another college within the University, you must be in good academic standing (2.0 or higher). If you have earned 30 or more semester hours, you are not eligible to change to an undecided major in Arts and Sciences.
Courses taken to satisfy requirements in other colleges (e.g. MATH 1101 ) may not necessarily fulfill requirements or apply to your Arts and Sciences major.
As long as your GPA is 2.0 or higher, you may apply to transfer to the College of Arts and Sciences by the end of the seventh week of the semester but after that time, the change will not become official until the following semester.
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. Transfer students may not declare an undecided major category to enter the College of Arts and Sciences.
The College determines the transferability of credit from other institutions, based on 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 in other special cases, the College accepts the recommendations of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
The College evaluates credits on a course-by-course basis and assigns an Ohio University course number whenever possible.
Technical credits for nonbaccalaureate-level courses (e.g., office management) are evaluated as technical electives. Although such credits do not meet any specific degree requirement, you may count up to 15 semester hours of technical credits toward total graduation hours. The benefit of technical credits applied to a degree program at Ohio University may be minimal. 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 areas such as humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and science to improve your chances of completing the four-year degree program within two to three additional years.
Students whose transfer credit is equated as comparable to Tier I-level composition or to quantitative courses are considered to have met the Tier I requirement. Transfer students without comparable credit in composition and/or quantitative courses must complete the requirement.
To fulfill University residency requirements, you are required to complete at least 50 percent of your major credits at Ohio University. If you have a double major, you will need to complete at least 50 percent of the work in each major at Ohio University. Additionally, you must maintain a 2.0 GPA. Transfer courses should be approved by the respective departments.
To fulfill a minor in Arts and Sciences, you must complete a minimum of 50 percent of your coursework at Ohio University and have a minimum 2.0 GPA or higher depending on the specific major.
College-Level Requirements for the College of Arts and SciencesCollege Requirements
If you are in Arts and Sciences, you are expected to become familiar with this section of the catalog, which relates specifically to College requirements. This section contains information essential to your success as a well-informed student at Ohio University. It should be noted that you are responsible for understanding and meeting all requirements designated for your degree program. The following list outlines the Arts and Sciences degree information presented in the sections that follow:
Advising
Academic Probation
Degree Requirements (B.A., B.S.)
Double-Majors and Second Degrees
Major Requirements
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
Global Opportunities
All departments in the College of Arts and Sciences provide a designated undergraduate advising coordinator who oversees advising procedures within that department. 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 priority registration period each semester. For students with declared majors, your advisor is a faculty member in the department of your major. For undecided majors, an advisor is assigned to a professional advisor in the Undergraduate Student Affairs office. To learn more about your advisor assignment go to: ohio.edu/uc/uaac.cfm
While advising conferences are particularly encouraged during the registration period, it is recommended that you maintain regular contact with your advisor for assistance with concerns related to academic and career planning. Any requests by students to deviate from stated major requirements must be communicated in writing by the department chair or the undergraduate advising chair to the College Student Affairs Office. While your advisor is expected to assist with course choices and recommendations, it is your responsibility to see that your own program requirements are met. If you have questions about fulfilling requirements you are invited to seek help at the College Student Affairs Office in Wilson Hall.
To change majors within the College of Arts and Sciences, contact the Office of Student Affairs in Wilson Hall. Either a new advisor will be assigned or you will be referred to the Advising Coordinator of the department of your new major. Other matters pertaining to advisors are administered by advising coordinators or the departmental offices.
All students who, at the time of review, do not have a 2.0 or higher GPA, will be placed on academic probation. More information about academic status is available in the Academic Policies section of this catalog. Students placed on probation will be required to complete an Academic Success Workshop coordinated by the Allen Student Advising Center. This 90 minute workshop is mandatory each time a student is placed on academic probation and is intended to help students improve their academic performance and return to good academic standing as quickly as possible. Failure to attend a workshop will result in a registration hold, which will not be lifted until the workshop is completed. Information about the workshop will be emailed to the student. See the Allen Student Advising Center website www.ohio.edu/helpcenter for workshop dates and times. Please contact the Allen Student Advising Center with any questions or concerns about the workshop: Baker University Center 419, 740.566.8888, helpcenter@ohio.edu.
General requirements for a B.A. or B.S. are:
- a minimum of 120 semester hours for the B.A. or B.S. degree,
- 60 hours of Arts and Sciences coursework at the 2000 level or above,
- A minimum of college level foreign language at the 2120 level or the equivalent for the B.A. and, for the B.S., a minimum of college level foreign language at the 1120 level or equivalent (see further explanation of the differences between the B.A. and B.S. requirement in the “Foreign Language Requirement” section below),
- At least 9 semester hours each of humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences coursework for a total of 33 semester hours for the B.A. degree and 27 semester hours for the B.S. degree,
- General Education requirements— Tiers I, II, III and
- All requirements stipulated by the department for the chosen major.
To receive a degree from the College of Arts and Sciences, you must have a minimum 2.0 GPA on all of the following:
- All hours attempted at Ohio University
- All hours attempted at Ohio University in your major.
Additional information about grading and GPA is available in the Academic Policies section of this catalog.
Graduation requirements are defined by your catalog of entry. Students who have no enrollment at Ohio University for more than 5 years must re-enroll under the catalog year that they return. An average course load of 15 hours a semester is necessary to graduate in four years. 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 - Universitywide section of the catalog.
The College of Arts and Sciences awards a B.A. or B.S. only once, regardless of the number of majors completed within that degree designation. If you complete two or more majors for the B.A. (e.g., Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and African American Studies), it is considered a double major, and you will receive one diploma. A second bachelor’s degree requires completion of a B.A. and B.S. (e.g., Spanish and Biological Sciences) or a B.A. or B.S., and a different degree from one of our other colleges (e.g., B.B.A. from the College of Business). In this case two diplomas are awarded.
You are permitted to complete only one major within an academic department in the College of Arts and Sciences except in the following cases: You may complete more than one major in Modern Languages and you may complete both an Anthropology and Sociology (or Sociology-Criminology) major from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
University policy requires the completion of a minimum of 135 semester hours for the second or dual degree (an additional 15 hours beyond the 120 required for the first degree), including all specific requirements for both degree programs. If you have met the requirements for two degrees, as stated above, and want to have the degrees conferred in successive semesters, you may do so without further credit requirements. For example, one degree may be conferred at the end of one semester and an application made for the second degree in the subsequent semester. For more information about earning a second degree, see the Graduation Requirements - Universitywide section of the catalog.
If you are a first-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences, you may enroll in the College as an undecided major, undecided-humanities, undecided- social sciences, or undecided natural sciences. All undecided students participate in a learning community their first semester that includes a course (CAS 1130 - Career Planning in the Liberal Arts) where you will learn more about how to choose a major and the many career opportunities that you may consider. You must declare a major at or before you have earned 60 hours. If you have earned 30 or more semester hours from Ohio University, you are ineligible to transfer into the College as an undecided major. Transfer students from other universities may not enroll as undecided students in Arts and Sciences.
College policy requires that any major program consist of a minimum of 24 hours. Most majors require more than 24 hours and there might be specific departmental requirements such as minimum GPA for core coursework. Methods courses for certification in education are not included in hours that apply to the A&S major. You are obligated to fulfill the requirements specified by the department of the major, which, at minimum, requires a 2.0 GPA and at least 50 percent of the major from Ohio University. No courses in any major (except extradepartmental requirements, e.g. chemistry for a biological sciences major) may be applied to the area distribution requirements. A second major or second degree program allows an exception to the rule stated above. In the case of a single major, courses used to fulfill that major cannot be used for area requirements.
All courses in the major numbered at the 2000-level or higher are applied to the 60-hours-above-2000-level 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 be enrolled 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.
Students interested in completing a minor may choose from the many minors offered by the College of Arts and Sciences or select a minor offered by another college. You must declare the minor and fulfill all hour and course requirements for it to be conferred and noted on your Ohio University transcript. The minor will not show on the transcript until a degree is conferred.
University policy stipulates that a minor comprises a minimum of 15 required hours. In the case of foreign languages, the minimum requirement is 15 hours beyond the 2120 level. English courses fulfilling Tier I composition requirements do not count toward an English minor. Within these limits, the distribution of courses, as well as other specific requirements, are determined by the academic department. At minimum, a 2.0 GPA is required. In cases where extradepartmental courses required to fulfill your major either nearly or completely duplicate courses for your chosen minor, declaring that minor might not be acceptable. Students must complete 50% of their minor credits through Ohio University. See the Curricula – Certificates, Major Programs, Minors section for specific minor requirements.
The University General Education requirements (Tiers I, II, and III) are similar to, but lesser in scale than, the Arts and Sciences requirements. You may 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 at the 2000-level or higher. The lists for humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences indicate specifically, and without exception, the courses that fulfill the three Arts and Sciences areas. Many of these courses also satisfy Tier II requirements.
All courses that fulfill General Education requirements, even if they are not Arts and Sciences courses, apply toward the 120 credit hours needed to graduate from Ohio University.
Some 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. Other courses, such as MATH 1350 and PSY 2110 may fulfill multiple requirements. Arts and Sciences courses that fulfill the Tier I advanced composition requirement at the junior level can apply to the humanities distribution area and in certain cases, to your major.
Courses designated as Tier III do not fulfill Arts and Sciences requirements, except those designated as Tier III equivalents (T3E), or Tier III courses, when they are taught by Arts and Sciences faculty. In either case, the course contributes to the hours-above-2000-level requirement. Courses designated as “T3E” may count both for Tier III and toward the major.
Transfer students whose credit is equated as comparable to Tier I-level composition or to quantitative courses are considered to have met that Tier I requirement. Transfer students without comparable transfer credit in composition and/or quantitative courses must complete the requirement. In addition, transfer students are responsible for completing Tier II and Tier III requirements.
The College of Arts and Sciences requires that all candidates for a B.A. degree successfully complete the 2120 college level of foreign language or equivalent. Equivalent credit can be Advanced Placement (AP) www.ohio.edu/admissions/transfer-credits/exam.cfm or college transfer credit www.ohio.edu/admissions/transfer-credits/index.cfm. Students, who have prior knowledge of one of the languages listed below, must take the placement test before enrolling in these courses. (The placement exam does not count as college credit.) If you test into the 3000-level or above, the foreign language requirement is considered fulfilled. Students who place at or above the 3000-level are encouraged to take that course for college credit. Language courses at this level will count both in the humanities academic area and in the A&S 2000-level or higher requirement, as well as towards a minor, or a language major.
The College of Arts and Sciences requires that all candidates for a B.S. degree successfully complete the 1120 college level of foreign language, or the equivalent. Equivalent credit can be Advanced Placement (AP) www.ohio.edu/admissions/transfer-credits/exam.cfm or college transfer credit www.ohio.edu/admissions/transfer-credits/index.cfm. Students with prior knowledge of one of the languages listed below, must take the placement test before enrolling in these courses. (The placement exam does not count as college credit.) If you test into the 2000-level or above, the foreign language requirement is considered fulfilled. Students who place at or above the 2000-level are encouraged to take that course for college credit. Language courses at this level will count both in the humanities academic area and in the A&S 2000-level or higher requirement, as well as towards a minor, or a language major.
Students who have prior knowledge of one of the following foreign languages should contact the academic departments listed below for test-out and placement information:
Akan (Twi), Hindi/Urdu, Indonesian, Khmer, Malaysian, Thai, Vietnamese, or Wolof - Contact the Center for International Studies - 740.593.1840 - international.studies@ohio.edu - Yamada International House, 56 East Union Street.
American Sign Language: Contact Person: Teresa Tyson-Drummer - tyson-dr@ohio.edu 740.593.0309 - Grover Center W218
French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, or Russian: Modern Languages - Contact 740.593.2765 - Gordy Hall 283
Greek or Latin: Classics and World Religions - Contact Person: Dr. Bill Owens - owensb@ohio.edu - 740.597.2101 - Ellis Hall 210
Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Swahili: Linguistics - Contact Person: Dr. Chris Thompson - thompsoc@ohio.edu - 740.593.4564 - Gordy Hall 383
A&S students who have prior knowledge of a foreign language not offered at Ohio University can opt to take the NYU Foreign Language 12-Point exam (approximate cost $350) to complete their foreign language requirement: www.scps.nyu.edu/trans.
Students must earn 12 Points to waive 2 years of foreign language (BA-2120).
Students must earn 6 Points to waive 1 year of foreign language (BS-1120).
Please contact the A&S Undergraduate Student Affairs Office at 740.593.2845 for additional information.
Choice of Degree Options
For the limited number of majors that offer a choice of either the B.A. or B.S. degree (see listings in the Curricula – Certificates, Major Programs, Minors section of this catalog), you may choose which degree to pursue. Be certain to consider the appropriate language requirement. See above section for the respective B.A. or B.S. language requirements.
International Students
For international students whose first or native language is not English, and who completed high school where the first or native language was the one primarily used for instruction, the foreign language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating competence in English. This must be approved by the assistant dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, and it generally requires the successful completion of at least one or more courses in English as a foreign language, specifically ENG 1610 .
You may also satisfy the foreign language requirement by taking a foreign language other than your own first language at Ohio University, or by successfully completing the NYU foreign language exam.
Enrollment in the beginning or intermediate level (under 3000) of your own first language(s) will be considered a noncredit course, where permitted.
The humanities requirement may be met by selecting 9 semester hours from the following:
- African American Studies: AAS 1060 , 1100 , 1500 , 2100 , 2110 , 2500 , 3100 , 3170 , 3500 , 3520 , 3530 , 3550 , 3560 , 3570
- Academic and Global Communication:AGC 1300
- College of Arts and Sciences: CAS 1110 , CAS 2300 2411 ,2405 , 2500 *
- Art History: AH
- Classical Archaeology, except CLAR 2110 , 2120 , 2130 , 3650
- Classics in English: CLAS
- Communication Studies: COMS 3601 , 3602 , 3603
- Dance: DANC 2700 , 3550 , 4710 , 4750
- English: except ENG D150 , D160 , 1510 , 1610 , 4510 , 4520 , 4911 , 4912 , ENG 1510L
- Fine Arts: FAR 1500
- Foreign language courses other than those used to complete the foreign language requirement and except FR 1199 , FR 2930 , FR 4640 GER 2930 , ITAL 2930 , JPN 3410 , RUS 2930 , SPAN 1199 , and SPAN 2930
- History: HIST 1210 , 1220 , 2270 , HIST 2700 , 2530 , HIST 2600 2950 , , 3140 , HIST 3141 3144 , 3146 , HIST 3147 3148 , 3224 , 3290 , 3291 , 3292 , 3293 , 3390 , 3501 , 3520 ,HIST 3521 3531 , 3532 , 3533 , 3540 , 3541 , 3542 , HIST 3550 3560 , 3562 , 3600 , 3840 , 3860 , 3861 , 3864 , 3900 ,
- Humanities: HUM
- Interdisciplinary Arts: IART
- International Literatures in English, International Literature: Linguistics, and International Literature: Modern Languages except ILL 3890
- Jewish Studies: (all), JS 1000 , 2100 , 2900
- Modern Languages: ML 2300 , 2950 , 3210J , 3270J
- Music/Music Literature: MUS 1200 or 1250 , 1240 , 2240 , 3210 , 3625 , 4210 , 4211 , 4212 , 4213 , 4214 , 4215 , 4216 , 4270
- Philosophy: except PHIL 1200
- Portuguese: , , 3180 , 3190 , 4110 , 4120
- Theater: THAR 2710 , 2711
- University Professor: UP 1901 , 1901U , 4901U (class subjects vary; check Course Offerings for more information)
- Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: except WGS 3910
- World Religions: except CLWR 4340 , 4350
The social sciences requirement may be met by a selection of 9 semester hours from the following:
- African American Studies: AAS 1010 , 1900 , 2020 , 2200 , 2250 , 2540 , 3400 , 3410 , 3450 , 3460 , 3680 , 4400 , 4820
- Academic and Global Communication: AGC 1300
- Anthropology: except ANTH 2010 , 3460 , 3550 , 3600 , 4470 , 4480 , 4740, 4960 , and those listed as natural sciences below
- Business Law: BUSL 2000 , 2550 , 3400
- Classical Archaeology: CLAR 2110 , 2120 , 2130 , 3650
- College of Arts and Sciences: CAS 1120 , 1415 1425 , 1605 ,CAS 2300 , 2410 , 2411 , 2405 , 2500 , 2600 , 4410 , 4911 *
- Economics: ECON
- Environmental and Plant Biology: PBIO 2170
- Geography: GEOG except those listed under Natural Sciences (see below)
- History: HIST except those listed under Humanities (see above)
- International Studies: INST
- International Literature: ILL 3890
- Japanese: JPN 3410
- Law, Justice, and Culture: LJC 2000 , 3915 , 4945
- Linguistics: LING
Modern Languages: ML 2400
- Political Science: POLS
- Psychology: except PSY 1110 , 2110 , PSY 2111 PSY 2112 2210 , 3110 , 3230
- Social Work: SW
- Sociology: SOC
- University Professor: UP 1901S , 4901S (class subjects vary; check Course Offerings for more information)
- Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: WGS 3910
- World Religions: CLWR 4340 , 4350
The natural sciences requirement may be met by selecting 9 semester hours from the following:
- Anthropology: ANTH 2010 , 3460 , 3550 , 3600 , 4470 , 4480 , 4740, 4960
- Astronomy: ASTR
- Biological Sciences: BIOS, BIOL 1010
- Chemistry: except CHEM D015 , 1100 , 1150 , 1151 , 1152 , 3005 , 3006
- College of Arts and Sciences: CAS 2411 , 1415 , 2405 , 2600
- Computer Science: CS 3000 , 4160
- Environmental and Plant Biology: except PBIO 2170
- Geography: GEOG 1100 ,GEOG 2060 GEOG 2680 , GEOG 2710 , 3010 , 3020 , 3031 , 3040 , 3050 , 3150 , 3160 , 3580 , GEOG 3650 , 4035 , 4060 , 4070 , 4080 , 4090 , 4110 , GEOG 4130 , 4170 , 4660 , 4670 , 4712 , GEOG 4730 , GEOG 4760 , 4770 , 4941 , 4942 , 4943 , 4944
- Geological Sciences: GEOL
- Mathematics: except MATH D004 , D005 , 1060, 1090 , 1101 , 1102 , 1200 , 1300 , 1321 , 1322 , MATH 1500 ,4100
- Physical Science: PSC
- Psychology: PSY 2110 , 2210 , PSY 2111 PSY 2112 ,3110 , 3230
- Physics: PHYS
- University Professor: UP 1901N , 4901N (class subjects vary; check Course Offerings for more information)
* May only count in one area.
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 the 9-hour Arts and Sciences area distribution 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 six Tier II groupings (Applied Science and Mathematics, Cross-Cultural Perspectives, Fine Arts, Humanities and Literature, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences). 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 listings. 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 1350 and PSY 2110 .
The list of courses approved for Tier II categories appears in the General Education Requirements section of the catalog.
Hours at the 2000 level or above
Within the total hours applied to the degree, at least 60 semester hours of Arts and Sciences courses must be above the freshman level numbered at the 2000 level or higher. 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 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 listed as applicable to any of the three A&S area requirements.
Non–Arts and Sciences courses are usually considered electives and not counted toward the level of study requirement. Rather, they apply toward the 120-hour requirement for graduation.
Excluding the exceptions explained in Hours at 2000-level or above, 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 and courses that fulfill freshman General Education Tier I requirements or Tier III will not apply to the distribution area requirement.
Exceptions to the single application rule include:
- MATH 1350 and PSY 2110 will fulfill the Tier I quantitative requirement, as well as the natural science area.
- Although in general, courses required for a major apply only to the major, Tier III-equivalent courses may fulfill both major and Tier III requirements. When there are two majors, courses required for a second major may be used for the area requirements in the other major. Required courses from outside the major department (extradepartmental) will be counted toward the area requirements, except in the case of interdisciplinary majors (i.e., classics and world religions) where required courses normally may not be applied to the distribution areas.
- Courses required for a minor will be counted toward the area requirements, except for non–Arts and Sciences minors.
- For students majoring in foreign language, language courses at the beginning and intermediate levels (1110 - 2120) of that language may fulfill the language requirement, since the major is defined as including language courses above the intermediate level only.
- 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 3070J or HIST 3111J ).
Credit (CR) Hours
Coursework that is offered for credit (CR) may be applied toward requirements, but is limited to 12 hours out of 120 hours earned. (Do not confuse credit (CR) with pass/fail (P/F).)
Pass/Fail Hours
Courses taken pass/fail are limited strictly to electives hours, or hours that fulfill hours to graduate, and may total no more than 12 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 course within the areas of foreign language, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, major, minor, and special curriculum requirements, unless that area is completed, as required. See the Pass/Fail section in the Grading Information section of Academic Policies for further information.
Noncredit Hours
Noncredit courses do not count toward the 120-hour requirement. Noncredit courses are those developmental courses numbered D000-D999 (e.g., ENG D150 , MATH D005 ) in excess of six credit hours; courses completed out of sequence (i.e., a lower-level course taken after completing an advanced course in the same academic department); certain technology courses; skills courses such as UC D998 in excess of the six hour limit; credits duplicated by the repetition of coursework; and courses taken for audit. See the Graduation Requirements – Universitywide section for details about credit and grading, repeated courses, and residence requirements that affect hours required.
Transient study is defined as earning credit hours at another institution after enrolling at Ohio University for the purpose of fulfilling specific Ohio University or College of Arts and Sciences requirements. (Transfer study refers to credits transferred from another institution prior to being admitted to Ohio University.) See “Transferring Credit” in the Admissions section.
If you wish to earn credit by transient study, remember you must complete 50 percent of your major at Ohio University to complete an Ohio University degree, as well as a minimum of 30 total hours at Ohio University. Any minor must include 50 percent of required coursework from Ohio University.
Before registering for courses at another institution to earn credit through transient study, you must secure permission from the College of Arts and Sciences. Transient Study Permission forms can be downloaded from the CAS Web site at: www.ohio.edu/cas/undergrad/academic/requirements/transient.cfm. You will need a catalog and/or course description from that institution to complete the Transient Study Permission Form. Submitting the permission form to the College office ensures that you will know beforehand about the transfer value at Ohio University of any courses that you intend to take elsewhere. Students are permitted to transfer back course credit for classes that they have failed at Ohio University. Keep in mind that while credits are transferable, grades are not. Your GPA will not be affected by credit hours transferred from another school, nor can you replace a grade earned at Ohio University with a grade from a transferred course.
See the major requirements section for information regarding Ohio University credits.
Students in the College of Arts and Sciences can 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 Patton College of Education. Information about requirements is available from department representatives in the College of Arts and Sciences. If you are interested in teaching middle or high school after you graduate, you must begin planning how to accomplish this goal very early in your college career. You will want to meet with a representative from the Patton College of Education .
Ohio University has a rich history of providing outstanding global experiences to students. More than 1,000 students participate annually in domestic and international global opportunities. These study abroad and away experiences provide students the opportunity to enhance their global perspective, learn in a new and different way, and improve marketability. The Office of Global Opportunities (OGO) advises students through all stages of the planning process, including choosing a program, applying, finding creative funding options, preparing to depart and resettling into campus.
Study abroad and away is available to any major. Many programs offer tier II or tier III coursework, while others have major-specific classes. Students can take language abroad or courses in English. Programs range from one week over spring break to a full semester or academic year. Financial aid can be applied to most opportunities and additional scholarships are available.
Students can visit the Walter International Education Center for walk-in advising hours Monday- Friday, 1pm-4pm to explore their options. Students should work with their academic advisor and the Office of Student Affairs in the College to discuss planning. For an updated program list, visit www.ohio.edu/goglobal/.
College Highlights
A Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Arts and Sciences affords graduates with a proven tradition of transferable skills and fosters an interest life-long learning. The flexibility built into fulfilling course requirements for a liberal arts degree provides ambitious students with the opportunity to earn double-majors and dual degrees, along with minors and/or certificates. A faculty or professional advisor is assigned to every student to assist with academic planning and career goal setting. Students who choose a major in the College of Arts and Sciences discover that the essence of an A&S degree–knowing how to gather information, to be analytical, to articulate ideas, and to think critically–never loses value. These attributes are highly appreciated by employers who often emphasize that an academic major is not nearly as important as the “toolbox of skills” an employee brings to the workplace.
Academic Opportunities
Center for Law, Justice, and Culture: www.ohio.edu/lawcenter/
Education Abroad destinations specific to Arts and Sciences students: www.ohio.edu/cas/undergrad/?link=abroad&anchor=#abroad
Many Foreign Language choices:
www.modlang.ohio.edu/
www.classics.ohiou.edu/
linguistics.ohio.edu/linguistics/
Sphere, the undergraduate journal for English majors: www.english.ohiou.edu/cw/publications/
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Academic Advising and Career Information
Career & Academic Checklist: www.ohio.edu/cas/checklist
Internship Opportunities: www.ohio.edu/careerandleadership
Prelaw Advising: www.ohio.edu/cas/undergrad/bachelors/pre-law.cfm
Preprofessional Advising for the Health and Medical Fields: www.ohio.edu/biosci/ugrad/ppadv.html
Academic Honors, Scholars Program, and Scholarships
Departmental Honors Programs (These departments offer students with GPA’s of 3.5 or higher the option to graduate “with honors”): www.ohio.edu/cas/dean/undergrad-affairs/honors/departmental/
Honor Societies:
Mortar Board: www.ohio.edu/orgs/mortar/
The Phi Beta Kappa Society: www.ohio.edu/pbk/
The Scholars Program (first year academic opportunity for students with ACT 25 or above): www.ohio.edu/cas/undergrad/scholars/program/ To apply, go to: www.ohio.edu/admissions/artssciencesscholars.cfm
Distinguished record of A&S students placing or winning nationally competitive awards (e.g., Fulbright, Truman, Udall, Goldwater, Carnegie, Boren): www.ohio.edu/honors/onca/
Scholarships: www.cas.ohiou.edu/undergrad/content/honors/scholarships.asp
Student Involvement
A&S Student Organizations: www.ohio.edu/cas/dean/undergrad-affairs/student-orgs/index.cfm
Undergraduate Research
Opportunities for performing research and independent work are available across the A&S college curriculum! You are encouraged to explore these opportunities with your advisor. Many options exist for both credit/non-credit and paid/non-paid work.
Departmental Honors are available in many of our majors: www.ohio.edu/cas/dean/undergrad-affairs/honors/departmental/
Several departments hold annual Undergraduate Research Conferences and an annual campus-wide “Student Research and Creative Activity Expo” is held in the spring: www.ohio.edu/research/communications/student_expo.cfm
Grant opportunities are available:
Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fund-PURF (fall): www.honors.ohio.edu/research_op.htm
Student Enhancement Awards-SEA (winter): www.ohio.edu/research/communications/sea10.cfm
Program to Aid Career Exploration-PACE (winter): www.ohio.edu/financialaid/employment/emp_pace.cfm
Grasselli Undergraduate Awards (spring): www.ohio.edu/cas/about/awards/student/grasselli.cfm
In some cases, undergraduate students are supported as part of both internally and externally sponsored research grants awarded to a faculty member. Some projects may be linked through study abroad and/or field work. Application processes vary depending on the grant opportunities, undergraduate hours completed, and major.
Study of the Environment
The study of the environment includes the physical nature of the planet, as well as plant and animal interactions involving other living organisms, space, land, and water. The Departments of Biological Sciences , Chemistry and Biochemistry , Environmental and Plant Biology , Geography , and Geological Sciences offer programs for preparation in the study of the environment. These programs allow you to develop a fundamental knowledge of the nature of basic environmental parameters; a sense of the complex interactions of living organisms, including humans, on those parameters; and a basis for approaching solutions to problems resulting from this impact. To major in the study of the environment at Ohio University, choose a discipline for intensive investigation (biological sciences, chemistry, environmental and plant biology, geography, or geological sciences) and, in consultation with an advisor in that department, develop a program to meet your goals.
The following degree programs are offered:
- Environmental Biology and Marine-Freshwater Environmental Biology
- Environmental and Plant Biology
- Environmental Chemistry
- Environmental Geography
- Environmental Geology
In addition, the Department of Geography offers an Environmental Prelaw Major .
For the specific requirements of each program, refer to the respective department’s listing in the catalog.
The College of Arts and Sciences sponsors the undergraduate Environmental Studies Certificate program for students who are interested in environmental studies but do not wish to major in the field. The program is available to students in any major within the University. See the Environmental Studies Certificate program listing for requirements.
Preparation for Law
If you plan to enter law school after earning an undergraduate degree, it is prudent to choose a major that reflects your true academic interest. Majors in history, philosophy, political science, and sociology and anthropology are often considered excellent academic preparation for law school. See the respective department listings in the catalog for specific information about major requirements. Additional prelaw information is available at: www.ohio.edu/cas/undergrad/bachelors/pre-law.cfm.
You may also want to select courses from English composition and literature, American literature, history (English and American), political science, economics, sociology, a laboratory science, mathematics, philosophy (include ethics and logic), accounting, psychology, and a foreign language. Courses in speech, and training in expression, as well as activities that develop the capacity for independent thought and action, are recommended.
For students interested in environmental law the Department of Geography offers a prelaw major grounded in sciences preparation.. See Geography—Environmental Prelaw for information. The Department of Philosophy offers an opportunity to prepare for the study of law through a program emphasizing logic and the analysis of social, political, and legal thought. See Philosophy—Prelaw Major . The Prelaw program in the Department of Political Science centers on the Law, Justice, and Political Thought. See Political Science—Prelaw Major .
The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that to enter law school you must be able to show possession of an undergraduate degree from an approved college if you wish to take the Ohio Bar Examination. Law schools in the State of Ohio require the degree of all entering students, regardless of the state in which they plan to take the bar examination.
Preparation for Physical Therapy
Ohio University offers a unique opportunity to the prospective physical therapist. Recognized for leadership in the development of preprofessional physical therapy curricula since the 1930s, the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Psychology , both in the College of Arts and Sciences, work cooperatively with the School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences in the College of Health Sciences and Professions .
Physical therapy programs are offered at the graduate level only. As of January 1, 2002, undergraduate physical therapy programs are no longer accredited. To be eligible for admission to most accredited professional schools of physical therapy, you must first complete the baccalaureate-level preprofessional preparatory coursework and then apply on a competitive basis to a professional school of physical therapy. If you are accepted, the professional program extends for an additional two to three years, culminating in a degree in physical therapy. The optional plans of study available will prepare you to be highly qualified for admission to most schools of physical therapy. However, some professional programs require special prerequisites—either courses or practical experience as a volunteer—before you apply for admission. It is your responsibility to check the admission requirements for programs you wish to attend and, in consultation with your academic advisor, to fulfill any special prerequisites.
Ohio University has the first entry-level doctoral program in the state of Ohio. Although a master’s degree is sufficient to sit for the national licensing examination, the profession has been making a rather rapid transition to the doctoral degree (DPT). At Ohio University, the entry-level doctoral three-year program in physical therapy admits students on a competitive basis. A baccalaureate degree is required for admission to the program. Although a baccalaureate degree in any field is acceptable, as long as the prerequisites have been attained, the most direct routes at Ohio University are the Biological Sciences—Prephysical Therapy or Psychology—Prephysical Therapy major in the College of Arts and Sciences. A major in exercise physiology in the College of Health Sciences and Professions is also an option.
Application should be made in the senior year. The GRE should be taken at the beginning of the senior year, in order to meet requirements for early admission status. Some volunteer experience is possible through Ohio University Therapy Associates.
For additional information, see the Biological Sciences—Prephysical Therapy or Psychology—Prephysical Therapy majors in the catalog, and “Physical Therapy” in the College of Health Sciences and Professions section. Students should consult the Web page (www.ohio.edu/chsp/rcs/pt/) for the most up-to-date information.
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