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EIGHT The College of Arts and SciencesTo succeed in today's rapidly changing world, individuals must become self-directed, independent learners who can communicate clearly, think analytically, and solve problems creatively. These skills are some of the tangible results of the curriculum offered in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences encompasses all undergraduate programs in the liberal arts. A strong liberal arts education provides students with in-depth knowledge and skill in a focused area of study as well as broad base of understanding and interdisciplinary experience. Within the College of Arts and Sciences, three divisionsArts and Humanities, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and Social Scienceshouse a range of academic and interdisciplinary programs which sponsor undergraduate majors, minors, and elective courses. The Weekday ProgramMajor ProgramsTrinity offers an approach to majors that provides interdisciplinary support and enhances each program of study. This approach creates an essential link between the liberal arts, the major, and a selected professional focus. When choosing a major, a student is encouraged to select a self-designed focus area. For example, a major in environmental studies may choose to concentrate on policy implications or applications for the corporate sector. A sociology or psychology major may want to focus on a career in health care, environmental policy, or corporate management, and select the related internship experiences; a history major may choose to focus on public policy, law, education, or preparation for a graduate program. This creates a broad range of professional options for each Trinity student and an enriched academic environment for the community. There are three approaches to the major program: the traditional major in one discipline, the interdisciplinary major, and the individualized major. The specific requirements for receiving a degree in each discipline appear with program descriptions. Students should declare their major during their second academic year. Traditional and Interdisciplinary MajorsTraditional and interdisciplinary majors in the College of Arts and Sciences provide students with in-depth knowledge and skills in a focused area of study. The following majors are offered for students in the Weekday Program:
* Offered in conjunction with the School of Professional Studies. Offered as a dual degree program in conjunction with George Washington University or the University of Maryland and requires a major in physical science at Trinity. The Individualized MajorIndividualized majors are unique because they are not structured by a program or combination of programs. Instead, they grow out of an individual student's interest in a particular problem; a given profession; or a period, place, or theme to be approached from multiple points of view. Individualized majors must be designed with and supported by a faculty advisor, in accordance with the student's abilities and goals. They must also show coherence and continuity of purpose. Students considering individualized majors must consult with their faculty advisor, who can provide detailed information about the application, development, and evaluation of such a proposal. The Committee on Scholastic Standing and Degrees must approve the proposal for implementation of an individualized major. Proposals are usually submitted during the sophomore or early junior year. Applications submitted after the beginning of the second semester of the junior year will not be approved. Minor ProgramsStudents may be interested in pursuing a focused course of study outside of their major program of study. The academic programs in the College of Arts and Sciences provide for this interest by offering minors in the following areas:
ElectivesStudents choose electives from programs complementary to their major. In consultation with an advisor, students can choose electives that reflect personal interests or career goals. Professional studies courses may be taken in a variety of fields; internships may also offer job-related experience and learning. Foundation for Leadership Curriculum (FLC)Trinity College's Foundation for Leadership Curriculum (FLC) is an interdisciplinary, liberal arts program offering a coherent approach to education by linking the liberal arts with practical experience and a professional focus. Central to this curriculum is an appreciation for the interdependence of the liberal arts and the development of leadership skills. This curriculum is goal-directed rather than discipline-based and includes two components, a Seminar Sequence and Curricular Areas. Designed to provide a coherent support structure and enrichment for each individual, the Foundation for Leadership Curriculum is completed over four years and becomes an integral part of the student's total curricular experience. FLC PreambleFrom its foundation and through its historic mission as a Catholic college for women, Trinity's identity has been grounded in the Judeo-Christian faith and in the tradition of liberal education. Trinity welcomes students of all faiths and calls on them to grow in their understanding of ultimate meanings and values. Trinity's curriculum is designed to engage students in the search for truth in all its complexity and to enable them to discover the power of integrated learning for transforming themselves and enlarging their perspective of the world. Trinity seeks especially to prepare women for leadership rooted in the ethic of mutuality and shared responsibility. The college strives, therefore, to educate students to articulate their visions and to equip them to become leaders who empower and facilitate the varied communities in which they participate. This vision informs the goals of the Foundation for Leadership Curriculum. Goals of the FLCThe curricular goals guide the development of all courses selected for this curriculum. All goals are equally important, yet each is emphasized at different points throughout the curriculum. This goal-based structure gives each student a unique opportunity to build an integrated and coherent curriculum, with an emphasis on individual aspirations and life goals. 1. Quest for Ultimate Meaning: To enable all students to explore freely and in- depth questions of ultimate meaning and values and to provide the intellectual discipline for this exploration through philosophical and theological reflection. 2. Ethical Insight for Personal, Professional, and Social Life: To require students to examine ethical values and theories with intellectual clarity and critical rigor and to confront the ethical issues that arise in every dimension of human activity. 3. Liberal Arts Foundation: To provide students with a strong foundation in the liberal arts, to enable them to appreciate the interconnectedness of the liberal arts disciplines, and to use their liberal learning for the application and practice of critical and analytical habits of thought. 4. Focus on Gender: To focus on the historical, political, and social realities that have shaped and continue to shape the gender roles of women and men, in order to encourage the development of knowledgeable action, as well as knowledge of the issues, therefore providing students with the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to meet the challenge of leadership in personal, community, and professional spheres. 5. Diversity, Pluralism, Citizenship: To challenge students to see the world as a global community and to develop those cross-cultural perspectives and skills that will prepare them to live in an international and interdependent society. 6. Self-directed Learning: To develop active learners who are able to form effective problem-solving strategies while shaping and selecting the systems and skills necessary for the challenges of the future. FLC Course Selection and PlanningThe Foundation for Leadership Curriculum is designed to provide coherent support and enrichment for each student's major program and selected life focus. The order and selection of courses should be determined in consultation with the student's academic advisor, and FLC requirements should be completed over a four-year period. Course selection is directed by the student's choice of major, focus area, and life-long goals. Each course helps build the liberal arts foundation that supports the individual student's program. FLC Seminar SequenceTrinity's curriculum engages students in a demanding and directed search for meaning and truth, beginning with a series of interdisciplinary seminars to be completed throughout the undergraduate program. The sequence provides an interactive learning experience for students and faculty that fosters intellectual inquiry and analysis. All students complete three seminars. The required First-Year Seminar focuses on a faculty selected theme and challenges the student to confront contemporary issues. The second seminar, which is selected during the second or third year, emphasizes shared learning. The third and final seminar focuses on major issues, emphasizing experiential learning, integration, and synthesis. A summary follows: Seminar I: Students must take INT 115 First-Year Seminar, which emphasizes active and cooperative learning and challenges students to question and confront. Required for all first-year students. Seminar II: Students select an approved seminar to fulfill this requirement during their second or third year. This seminar engages the student in active, shared learning and in a comparative, interdisciplinary analysis of special topics. Seminar III: Students, with their advisors, determine an appropriate seminar which requires expertise in a major and the readiness for a combination of experiential learning, integrative analysis, and synthesis. This seminar is completed during the student's final semesters. FLC Curricular AreasThis component of the curriculum introduces the student to a diversity of academic disciplines and increases her understanding of the connections between different areas of study. Students investigate and analyze such topics as: the physics of music; theological perspectives of economics; the ethics of corporate life; and/or the interdependence of biology, chemistry, and political science. The curricular areas represent six distinct fields of knowledge. Courses are divided into two levels: Level 1 courses (usually listed as 100-200 in the catalog) introduce the student to the content and methodology of the liberal arts; Level 2 courses (often listed as 300-400 in the catalog) expand upon the student's experience and offer an opportunity for in-depth, interdisciplinary explorations. Each student completes requirements in the six areas at two different levels. Students select a minimum of 12 courses from Level 1 and three to four courses (12 credits) from Level 2. The six curricular areas are: Level 1 Level 2
A number of guidelines govern how course work may be applied toward the fulfillment of the FLC requirements. As a general rule, one course may be counted to fulfill no more than one FLC requirement.
Students should consult with their advisors when planning a course of study that meets their academic interests and fulfills the FLC requirements. FLC Area DescriptionsAREA I: COMMUNICATION SKILLS Area Objectives Courses enable students to develop critical communication skills, which allow them to listen, write, and speak effectively in both academic and professional settings; to conduct and organize research; to manage technology; and to write and speak a second language. Course Goals
* Some or all of these credits may be waived by permission of the program chair after reviewing the student's credentials; see "Waiver of FLC or Core Requirements" in the Undergraduate Academic Policies section of this catalog. AREA II: CULTURAL DIVERSITY Area Objectives Courses in this area enable students to acquire an understanding of multicultural content and contact, to develop an appreciation of diverse cultures, and to develop an understanding of the role of cultures in the various disciplines. Course Goals
Area Objectives Courses enable students to develop a historical understanding of the humanistic and artistic traditions and to appreciate the legacies of Western and United States culture. Course Goals
Level 1 Requirements: 6 credits of student's preference AREA IV: KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEFS Area Objectives Courses strongly encourage students to develop an appreciation for intellectual and religious traditions and to acquire an in-depth understanding of the ways of knowing. Course Goals
AREA V: SCIENTIFIC AND MATHEMATICAL INQUIRY Area Objectives Courses invite and challenge students to acquire an understanding of the modes of scientific and mathematical inquiry and to develop an appreciation for the role of science in society. Course Goals
AREA VI: INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY Area Objectives Courses call upon students to understand individual and group behavior as it influences the person and the institutions that shape human communities through the modes of social science inquiry and to develop an appreciation for citizenship and service to others.
The Honors ProgramThe Honors Program at Trinity encourages students to take the fullest advantage of small, seminar-style classes and the rich cultural and political benefits of our location in the nation's capital. It provides academically motivated students with the intellectual stimulation that comes not only from courses designed specifically for them by faculty members but also from intensive debate and discussion with their peers. Goals of the Honors Program In addition to reinforcing the six goals of the Foundation Leadership Curriculum, the Honors Program emphasizes the following: 1. Superior Academic Achievement: To challenge strongly motivated students to achieve at their highest potential, both in their major fields and in the broader context of their liberal arts education. 2. Self-knowledge: To challenge students to develop greater insights into the values, attitudes, and assumptions they hold about themselves and others and to explore the connection between these values and their academic and professional choices. 3. Intellectual Risk-Taking: To encourage students to explore new areas of intellectual development, to participate in new methods of learning, to examine the connections between various disciplines and approaches, and to apply learning in new situations. 4. Professional Development: To require students to further their learning in professional environments through internships and other applied experiences. Selection Process for the Honors Program First-year students are invited to participate in the Honors Program on the basis of high school GPA, standardized test scores, and the college admissions essay. Sophomores and transfer students may be recommended by a professor or should apply to the director of the Honors Program for consideration. Academic AdvisingAll students have an academic advisor to assist them with academic planning and interpretation of academic policies and procedures. With her advisor, the student learns to explore academic interests, to recognize academic strengths, and to identify resources to address weaknesses. During each registration period, the student and her or his advisor select courses which are consistent with the overall degree objectives. Frequent advisor contact ensures that students receive timely information and make progress toward the completion of the degree. Advising for Medical School and Other Health ProfessionsA liberal arts education is recognized as excellent preparation for medical school as well as related professions. Students interested in pursuing a career in the health professions often choose a major in biology, biochemistry, or chemistry; however, it is not always necessary to major in a science-related field to be admitted into medical school. The goal is to plan an academic program that satisfies the requirements of the intended professional school while also enhancing the student's intellectual, social, and personal development. A high proportion of Trinity graduates who have applied to professional schools have been accepted. All students interested in medical school must fulfill the premedical requirements as outlined in "Medical School Admissions Requirements," a publication of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Minimally, these requirements include one year of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, each with a laboratory. These courses should be completed by the junior year so that the student can take the Medical College Admissions Test during the second semester of the junior year. Mathematics and English may also be required or strongly recommended, and specific medical schools often have additional requirements. Students interested in dental school should consult "Admission Requirements of U.S. and Canadian Dental Schools." Requirements for dental schools are similar to medical schools, and there is a Dental Admission Test. The PreMedical/Health Professions Advisory Committee provides special assistance to students interested in careers in the health professions. This committee also writes letters of evaluation as part of a student's application to medical, dental, or veterinary school. Any student interested in a health career should contact a member of the committee or the Director of Career Services, as early as possible (preferably during the first year at Trinity). Career Services keeps a list of faculty serving on the committee. Advising for the Legal ProfessionThe Legal Professions Advisory Committee provides a coordinated process to help students explore lawrelated careers. The process includes assistance from Career Services, faculty members, and panels on the legal profession. One objective of the committee is to guide students toward courses that develop relevant skills, such as quantitative and verbal analysis, writing, research, and oral communication. By following this process, any Trinity major can serve as an appropriate preparation for a career in the legal professions. Individual assistance is available for students making applications to law schools and considering other legal paths. For additional information, students should contact a member of the Legal Professions Advisory Committee or the Director of Career Services. The Weekend College ProgramThe Weekend College Program is designed to meet the needs of professionals seeking a baccalaureate degree. To this end, courses are conveniently scheduled on Friday evenings and Saturdays. Weekend College students may also take courses on weekday evenings. Intensive one-week courses are available in January and May (Winter term and May term). Students may earn either a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.); the Weekend College Program also offers courses for students who wish to take college-level classes but do not wish to complete the requirements of a degree. Credit for college-level learning acquired outside of the traditional classroom format can be earned through Trinity's Experiential Lifelong Learning Program (TELL). Information about TELL may be obtained from the Office of Enrollment Services (202) 884-9620. Further information may also be found in the Undergraduate Academic Policies section of this catalog. Weekend College information sessions are held throughout the year. Students who attend these sessions receive information about applying to the program, academic programs, and advising, and financial services. Prospective students who attend an information session are eligible for a waiver of the application fee. Further information is available on the Trinity College web site at http://www.trinitydc.edu and by calling the Office of Admissions at (202) 884-9400. Major ProgramsThe Weekend College Program offers eight majors leading to the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree:
* Offered in conjunction with the School of Professional Studies. Offered in conjunction with the School of Education as the B.A./M.A.T. Program. A detailed description appears in the School of Education section of this catalog. Core Curriculum The Core Curriculum promotes coherence, breadth, and mastery of basic skills. Through exposure to a broad base of disciplines integral to a liberal arts education, students receive the opportunity to develop the essential skills for advanced courses and lifelong learning. Through the Core Curriculum, students receive a foundation for specialized study in a major and gain an understanding of interdisciplinary relationships. In addition, it ensures a common body of knowledge to which faculty and students can relate subsequent studies; this "common ground" fosters a basis for communication across academic disciplines at Trinity and the community at-large. All Weekend College students pursuing a degree must fulfill the requirements of the Core Curriculum. Exemptions or substitutions must be approved by individual program chairs. Individual course descriptions indicate if a course fulfills requirements of the Core Curriculum. Core Curriculum RequirementsAREA I: LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE (9-12 credits)* Language: Students must fulfill one of the following:
Literature: One Core Curriculum approved
literature course * Some or all of these credits may be waived by permission of the program chair after reviewing the student's credentials; see "Waiver of FLC or Core Requirements" in the Undergraduate Academic Policies section of this catalog. AREA II: SOCIAL SCIENCES (6 credits) Two Core Curriculum approved courses in different disciplines chosen from:
AREA III: NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (6-8 credits) Natural Science: One Core Curriculum approved course chosen from:
Mathematics: One Core Curriculum approved course in mathematics.* * These credits may be waived by permission of the program chair after reviewing the student's credentials; see "Waiver of FLC or Core Requirements" in the Undergraduate Academic Policies section of this catalog. AREA IV: HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, THEOLOGY (12 credits)
AREA V: FINE ARTS (3 credits) One course chosen from Core Curriculum approved courses in art or music. Core Curriculum Course Selection and PlanningBecause the Core Curriculum courses are designed to provide a foundation for further study, students should attempt to complete at least two-thirds of the Core Curriculum requirements by the end of their second academic year. The order and selection of courses should be determined in consultation with one's advisor and according to one's planned major. Advising and the Office of Enrollment ServicesThe Office of Enrollment Services provides orientation programs, academic advising, and registration services for Weekend College students. A professionally trained staff of academic advisors is available to work with each Weekend College student to develop an individualized degree plan to fit her or his specific situation. This office also coordinates the Trinity Experiential Lifelong Learning Program (TELL), conducts co-curricular workshops and special events for Weekend College students, publishes the bi-weekly Weekend College newsletter, The Grapevine, and oversees the Alpha Sigma Lambda honor society for adult students. Further information is available from Enrollment Services at (202) 884-9620. Student Services and FacilitiesAdditional services available to Weekend College students are listed in the Campus Life and Student Resources section of this catalog. RoomsTrinity offers dormitory rooms to Weekend College students who wish to stay overnight while attending classes on the weekend. Students may also lease a room on a long-term contract. Interested students should contact the Director of Residence Life at (202) 884-9604 for fees and to make housing arrangements. Child CareTrinity offers on-campus child care services to students, faculty, and staff. Contact Trinity's Child Activity Center at (202) 884-9593 for a fee schedule and to make child care arrangements. Unless a child is enrolled in the Child Activity Center or some other formally organized program of Trinity College, children should not be present on Trinity's campus. Weekend College Lounge
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