For All Students: An overall grade-point average of at least 1.8 (for the Classes of 1999 and 2000) and 2.00 (for the Class of 2001 and all subsequent classes) 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 and courses specifically required to be taken at another institution as part of the prescribed degree program and not on the list of Lafayette course offerings (e.g., geology field camp).

Students must complete an approved major program with an average of at least 1.8 (for the Classes of 1999 and 2000) and 2.00 (for the Class of 2001 and all subsequent classes) in courses taken in the major. The senior year must be completed in full-time residence at Lafayette. "Full-time" 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.

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 the physical or life sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, Psychology).

A Mathematics Unit, requiring one mathematics course, Philosophy 103, 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.

B.S. Degree Requirements

The B.S. curricula in Behavioral Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, and the four engineering programs have been established by the faculty and represent the departmental as well as the professional expectations of these disciplines. Requirements for the specific curricula may be found under the appropriate departmental headings.

A.B. Degree Requirements

At least 32 course credits are required for the A.B. degree. Certain courses in Military Science may not be counted toward the 32 course minimum. Also a Writing Requirement, to be satisfied through courses in the Common Course of Study (see above), plus at least two writing courses in the junior and senior years, normally taken one per year; and a Foreign Culture Requirement, which may be satisfied in one of the following ways: (1) demonstration of proficiency in a foreign language through the intermediate level, (2) an approved course of study abroad, or (3) completion of a cluster of three related courses dealing with another culture. The established clusters are: Africa/Middle East; Asia; Central and Western Europe; France; Germany; Latin America; and Russia.