Welcome to Miami University! Established in 1809, Miami is the tenth-oldest public university in the nation and takes its name from the Native American tribe that once inhabited the area known as Ohio’s Miami Valley. From our beginning, we have had a clear emphasis on an undergraduate liberal arts education program, which develops the critical thinking skills so vital to your personal and professional success. Building upon our long-standing commitment to excellence, today’s Miami educators use three key educational tenets to guide ou r approaches to liberal education, which include the Global Miami Plan and the Honors Plan: GUIDE STUDENTS to develop their own integrated belief system and identity, which prepares them personally and intellectually for lifelong learning; ACTIVELY ENGAGE STUDENTS in discovering new knowledge in a sequenced way to enable them to think critically, make informed judgments and act ethically; CREATE A VIBRANT CAMPUS LEARNING COMMUNITY that blends in-class and out-of-class learning opportunities and involves all educators in promoting students' learning. These three tenets also underlie Miami’s approach to academic advising. At Miami, faculty and staff define advising as a developmental and collaborative academic planning process that promotes self-efficacy for success at the university and beyond. By DEVELOPMENTAL, we mean that advisors help you become progressively able to take responsibility for making wise decisions regarding your educational journey. Our advising community has identified the following key learning goals for you as a student new to Miami’s advising process: Reflect on your personal background, skills and abilities, and interests to discover connections with your future options. Demonstrate an ability to explain your Miami degree requirements and to gauge your progress toward graduation using University advising-related tools and information resources. Know how to research major and career options to inform your decision-making. Prepare for, schedule, and have a meaningful conversation with your academic advisors; exhibit effective listening skills and ask questions as necessary to gain clarification or additional information. Develop personalized strategies for balancing academic requirements, co-curricular activities, work expectations, and/or leisure pursuits. By COLLABORATIVE, we mean that the advising process is a two-way interaction in which you and your advisor(s) will explore various academic pathways so that you can attain a meaningful and purposeful educational experience throughout your time at Miami. During your college experience, you may interact with multiple advisors. Each advisor will have a unique perspective to share and will inform you of his/her particular area of expertise and will help you connect with other advisors as necessary. All advisors have your success as their common goal. To begin the advising process, we have prepared this Guidebook for New Students, which contains important information for all students who are new to Miami. We urge you to read the Guidebook thoroughly, fill out the worksheets on pages 39-41 during Orientation, and use this book as a guide to other resources that provide more complete and detailed information. We hope you will enjoy your Miami years and use them to grow intellectually and personally. Bobby Gempesaw Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Table of Contents Liberal Education at Miami University The Divisions, Majors, and Minors 5 The Global Miami Plan for Liberal 42 Academic Divisions and Departments Education 42 Majors and Minors 5 Requirements of the Global Miami Plan 45 College of Arts and Science 5 The Honors Plan for Liberal Education 55 Farmer School of Business 6 Extended Study and Service-Learning 56 School of Creative Arts 6 First Year Composition 58 School of Education, Health and Society 7 First Year Seminars 63 School of Engineering and Applied 8 Foundation Courses Science 12 Foundation Courses and Descriptions 25 Global Miami Plan Focus Miami Regional Locations: Hamilton, Middletown and West Chester 66 Miami's Regional Campuses Planning your Course Schedule 66 Registration 27 Selecting Courses 66 Programs Available 27 Registering for Subsequent Terms 71 The Oxford Pathway Program 28 Placement Guides 30 Advanced Placement Program (AP) Transfer Student Information 31 Credit by Examination 72 Terms 32 Academic Assessment on the Regional Campuses 72 Transferring Credit to Miami 32 Admission Prerequisites 73 Types of Credit 73 Special Notes for Each Division Advising and Registration Information 34 Getting Advice International Student Information 34 Oxford Pathway Program 75 Office of International Education 34 myMiami Portal 75 English Course Requirements 35 The Process of Choosing a Major 35 Registration Reference Guide 37 The Grading System 76 Registration Glossary 78 Oxford Building Abbreviations Academic Planning Sheets 79 Course Abbreviations 38 Instructions for Planning Sheets 80 Student Referral List 39 Academic Planning Sheet for the Global 83 Regional Campus Referral List Miami Plan 84 Frequently Asked Questions 40 Academic Planning Sheet for the Honors Plan 41 Student Class Schedule Work Sheet Index 86 Index Liberal Education at Miami University /5 issues; to think about the meaning of coursework for themselves; and to commit to informed action as global citizens. Liberal Education at Miami University Requirements of the Global Miami Plan All students must complete liberal education requirements as well as courses in the major. The Global Miami Plan has three parts: Foundation Courses, a Thematic Sequence, and a Capstone Course. The Foundation (MP) requirement is met by taking a minimum of 36 semester hours (33 hours with Study Abroad) of Foundation courses across five specific areas: I. English Composition (6 hours) II. Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Science (9 hours) A. Fine Arts (3 hours) B. Humanities (3 hours) C. Social Science (3 hours) III. Global Perspectives (6 to 9 hours) A. Study Abroad (6 hours fulfills requirement), or B. Global Courses (9 hours), or C. Global Cluster (9 hours) IV. Natural Science (9 hours, must include one laboratory course) A. Biological Science (3 hours minimum) B. Physical Science (3 hours minimum) V. Mathematics, Formal Reasoning, Technology (3 hours) The Global Miami Plan for Liberal Additionally, to complete the Foundation area requirements, Education students must complete the following: Cultures (Cul) requirement - All students must take at least one Foundation course that presents a cultural perspective. Students Liberal education complements specialized studies in your satisfy this requirement by taking an appropriately designated major and provides a broadened context for exploring social, course in any foundation area. The same course may meet both a academic, political and professional choices. Most students, Foundation areas requirement and the cultural and/or historical regardless of major, are required to participate in the Global Miami perspective requirement. Plan for Liberal Education. Liberal education course work and co-curricular programming emphasize four basic goals: Historical (H) requirement - All students must take at least one Thinking Critically. Students learn how to develop critical Foundation course that presents a historical perspective (H). thinking skills that enable them to carefully identify problems Students satisfy this requirement by taking an appropriately worth studying; to examine pros and cons about issues; to designated course in any Foundation area. The same course may develop skills for examining evidence and counter-arguments; to meet both a Foundation area requirement and the historical and/or analyze research and other information; to explore underlying the cultural perspective requirement. assumptions about multiple positions and arguments; and to The Thematic Sequence (MPT) requirement is met by draw solid conclusions after examining all sides of an issue or completing related courses (usually at least nine hours) in an problem. approved Thematic Sequence outside the student's department of Understanding Contexts. Students learn how to understand major. contexts that inform how we make meaning out of issues and events. They may explore political, social, economic, historical, or The Capstone Course (MPC) requirement is met by completing other contexts that surround problems or issues confronted. They three hours in an approved Capstone course during a student's senior year. learn that contextual analysis and understanding opens up new ways of knowing not only about the world in which one lives, but also about oneself. Engaging with Other Learners. The Global Miami Plan is based on The Honors Plan for Liberal Education the firm belief that we learn from one another, from people different than ourselves, and from a wide variety of others. A healthy exchange of different ideas and viewpoints encourages 513-529-3399, www.honors.miamioh.edu rethinking of accepted perspectives. Thus, students learn to think A traditional strength of Miami University is its emphasis on critically and to understand contexts through in- and out-of-class liberal education. In a broad sense, liberal education refers to activities designed to engage them with other learners: other education in a variety of disciplines/fields of study that is students, other faculty or staff, and other learners outside of the designed to help students understand and creatively transform university. Students learn how to work