DEGREES

Lafayette College offers the Bachelor of Arts degrees in 32 established major fields, the Bachelor of Science in nine fields of science and four fields of engineering.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

In fall 1993 the College instituted a new curriculum, the Common Course of Study, which is required of all students in their first and second years.

Graduation Requirements for All Students:
An overall grade-point average of at least 2.00 is required for graduation. Considered in determining the cumulative average are courses taken at Lafayette or at other member colleges in the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC) under the cross-registration agreement or affiliated study abroad programs. Explanation of the grading system.

Students must complete an approved major program with an average of at least 2.00 in courses taken in the major.

The senior year must be completed in full-time residence at Lafayette. "Fulltime" is defined to be a minimum of three courses per semester.

Students are responsible for determining that they have satisfied all requirements for graduation. To participate in the commencement ceremony, students must have completed all degree requirements.

THE COMMON COURSE OF STUDY

First-Year Seminar, taken in the fall semester of the first year, is designed to introduce students to intellectual inquiry through engaging them as thinkers, speakers, and writers.

College Writing (English 110), taken in the spring semester of the first year or the fall semester of the sophomore year, provides intensive experience in writing and reading complex texts.

Values and Science/Technology (VAST) Seminar, normally taken in spring semester of the second year, is a one-semester interdisciplinary course addressing the value issues occasioned by developments in science and technology. For B.S. Engineering majors, the VAST requirement will be satisfied through ES 225 (Engineering Professionalism and Ethics), for B.S. Computer Science majors through VAST 200 (Computers and Society).

A Humanities/Social Sciences Unit, requiring the completion of at least three courses in the Humanities/Social Sciences Divisions, with at least one course in each division. B.S. majors should be guided by their major programs for the distribution and timing of their Humanities/Social Sciences courses.

A Natural Sciences Unit, requiring the completion of at least two courses in the Natural Sciences Division, consisting of two laboratory courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, or Psychology, not necessarily in the same science.

A Mathematics Unit, requiring one mathematics course, Philosophy 150, or Computer Science 102.

A Writing Requirement, to be satisfied through courses in the Common Course of Study (First-Year Seminar, English 110, and VAST), plus, for A.B. majors and B.S. science majors, at least two additional writing courses in the junior and senior years, normally taken one per year.

Academic Divisions:
The College is divided into four academic divisions with departmental membership as listed below. The divisional membership of a specific department needs to be considered in selecting courses to satisfy the Humanities/Social Sciences Unit and the Mathematics/Natural Sciences Unit of the Common Course of Study.

The following courses may not be used to satisfy requirements for any unit: all Computer Science courses except 102; Economics & Business 213, 218, 219, 303, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 352, 365, 367-368; Music 140.

Computer Science 102 and Philosophy 150 may be used only to satisfy the Mathematics requirement.

Religious Studies 221 and 222, and INDS 120, 125, 135, 160, 135, 165, 170, 185, 195, 205, 230, 250, 275, 280, 321, 322, and Women's Studies 101 may be used to satisfy the social sciences part of the Humanities/Social Sciences requirement.

INDS 150, 151, 175, 180, 190, 200, 210, 215, 220, 230, 245, 270, 361 may be used to satisfy the humanities part of the Humanities/Social Sciences requirement.