Sweet BriarCollege Catalog 2004-2005 2004-2005 College Calendar Fall Semester 2004 August 21, 2004_____________________________________________New students arrive August 25, 2004 ________________________________Registration, Opening Convocation August 26, 2004 __________________________________________________Classes begin September 24, 2004 ______________________________________________Founders’ Day Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2004 ______________________________________________Reading Days October 15-17, 2004___________________________________________Families Weekend November 10, 2004___________________________________Registration for Spring Term November 19, 2004 ____________________________Thanksgiving vacation begins, 5 p.m. (Residence Halls close at 8 a.m. November 20) November 29, 2004 ______________________________________________Classes resume December 10, 2004_________________________________________________Classes End December 11, 2004________________________________________________Reading Day December 12-17, 2004 ____________________________________________Examinations December 17, 2004____________________________________Winter break begins, 5 p.m. (Residence Halls close at 8 a.m. December 18) Spring Semester 2005 January 20, 2005 ____________________________________________Spring Term begins March 11, 2005 _____________________________________Spring vacation begins, 5 p.m. (Residence Halls close at 8 a.m. March 12) March 21, 2005 _________________________________________________Classes resume April 6, 2005 __________________________________________Registration for Fall Term May 4, 2005 _______________________________________________________Classes end May 5, 2005 ______________________________________________________Reading Day May 6-11, 2005 __________________________________________________Examinations May 13, 2005 __________________________Class of 2005 Awards Ceremony, Baccalaureate Service May 14, 2005_________________________________________________________Commencement Disclaimer-Every effort has been made to insure the accuracy and completeness of this Catalog. The information included is accurate at the time of printing. However, Sweet Briar College reserves the right to make necessary and desirable changes in policies, program requirements, programs, courses, tuition, and fees. Current and prospective students should check with College officials to verify current policies, requirements, programs, tuition, and fees. Sweet Briar College Catalog 2004-2005 Contents Sweet Briar’s Mission ________________________________________2 The College ________________________________________________3 The Campus ________________________________________________3 A Brief History of Sweet Briar College ____________________________4 Admissions ________________________________________________6 Financial Aid ______________________________________________11 Academic Scholarships ______________________________________12 Student Life ________________________________________________13 College Fees, 2004-2005 ______________________________________20 General Policies ____________________________________________23 Academic Programs ________________________________________27 Academic Regulations ________________________________________35 Requirements for the Degree __________________________________38 Courses of Instruction ______________________________________44 Academic Honors __________________________________________179 Faculty, 2004-2005__________________________________________184 Board of Directors, 2004-2005 ________________________________191 Administration, 2004-2005 __________________________________192 Index ____________________________________________________195 Communication with the College __________________Inside Back Cover Sweet Briar College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; telephone: 404-679-4501) to award the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Bachelor of Science. SWEET BRIAR’S MISSION Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar’s Mission weet Briar College prepares women (and at the graduate level, men as Swell) to be productive, responsible members of a world community. It focuses on personal and professional achievement through a customized educational program that combines the liberal arts, preparation for careers, and individual development. The faculty and staff guide students to become active learners, to reason clearly, to speak and write persua- sively, and to lead with integrity. They do so by creating an educational environment that is both intense and supportive and where learning occurs in many different venues, including the classroom, the community, and the world. Approved by the Board of Directors, May 2004 Statement of Purpose in Support actions, personal initiative, and the of the Mission assumption of leadership. Sweet Briar’s curriculum is organized on A highly qualified faculty, committed the premise that a foundation in the liberal to the highest standards of teaching, arts enhances the development of critical engages individuals on a human scale. In and creative abilities, develops the ability small classes, students receive the atten- to synthesize disparate information, tion that encourages self-confidence and equips the student for graduate and pro- the improvement of skills for life and fessional education, and encourages the livelihood. individual to continue to learn long after leaving Sweet Briar. Sweet Briar continues its commitment as an independent undergraduate A broadly based academic program women’s college in order to devote its teaches her to view her experience within resources to the education of women in wide contexts, to appreciate the achieve- the full range of the liberal arts, including ments of the past, to understand the meth- those subjects that have been traditionally ods and major theories of science, to gain considered as male domains. It welcomes an appreciation of the arts, and to com- men as well as women in selected graduate municate with precision and cogency. At programs. The College continues to seek a Sweet Briar this study takes place within a diverse student body, which is drawn from residential environment that encourages a national and international pool of appli- physical well-being, ethical awareness, sen- cants. sitivity to others, responsibility for one’s 2 2004-2005 Catalog THE COLLEGE/THE CAMPUS Sweet Briar College offers cultural events including plays, concerts, theater, dance, and The College other presentations throughout the year, by stu- weet Briar College grants the bachelor of dents, faculty, and visiting artists, performers, arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of fine S and lecturers. These as well as sports events are arts, master of arts in teaching, and master of open to the general public and, with rare excep- education degree. The College offers more than tions, free of charge. The College art galleries 40 programs of study as well as self-designed and museum serve both as resources for the and interdisciplinary majors. Students create surrounding community and as laboratories for and learn with an exceptional faculty, almost students in arts management and related fields. all of whom hold the doctorate or the appro- For information on current events go to our priate terminal degree. A 7.5 to 1 student/fac- Web site <scene.sbc.edu>. ulty ratio insures that classes are small and each student’s educational program is cus- tomized. Each academic year consists of two semesters; students are guided in the pursuit of special interests not only in academic course- The Campus work but also through internships, research weet Briar’s intellectually and socially opportunities, summer fellowships, service Svibrant campus is a true community, home experiences, and independent study. The not only to students but also to approximately College strongly encourages study abroad, at half of our faculty as well as many staff mem- one of Sweet Briar’s distinguished programs or bers. It is also a living laboratory, which pro- through another approved international pro- vides hands-on opportunities for exploration gram. and discovery in nearly every discipline from the classics and anthropology to the sciences Sweet Briar is a residential community. and engineering. History and archeology stu- Sweet Briar women have enough ideas and dents have a particularly rich setting in which enthusiasm to support nearly 50 student-led to do research inasmuch as the campus was a and student-managed organizations—every- working plantation in the 18th and 19th cen- thing from art and musical groups to student turies. The main campus buildings are nestled publications and cultural awareness organiza- at the center of 3,250 acres of rolling hills and tions. Thus, leadership opportunities abound, meadows in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue and a strong leadership program helps students Ridge Mountains. The broad landscape develop leadership skills. Many students take includes two lakes, six nature sanctuaries, and part in volunteer service projects during school an extensive network of walking, horseback terms and vacations, putting these skills to riding, and hiking trails. work. The campus, designed in the early part of Nearly 20 percent of Sweet Briar students the 20th century, is dominated by the architec- play sports at the varsity level; the College is a ture of Ralph Adams Cram, whose work is also member of the National Collegiate Athletic seen at MIT,