Vassar College 2014/15 Catalogue
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VASSA R 2014/15 Catalogue Cover image: The Vassar Chapel, seen through the steel skeleton of the Integrated Science Center, scheduled for completion in 2015. photo: Karl Rabe About the Catalogue 1 About the Catalogue CATALOGUE STATEMENT NONDISCRIMINATION POLICIES All statements contained in this catalogue reflect the approved poli- Vassar College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, reli- cies of Vassar College as of January 1, 2014. However, for educational gious belief, sex, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender or financial reasons, the college reserves its right to change the provi- identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, or sions, statements, policies, curricula, procedures, regulations, or fees age in the admission of students to the college; in any of the rights, described herein. Such changes will be duly published and distributed. privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made avail- Students, faculty, and staff are responsible for all information and able to students at the college; in the administration of its educational deadlines contained in this catalogue and in the current Student policies, admission policies, scholarship or loan programs, and athletic Handbook. The Student Handbook and the Schedule of Classes supple- and other programs administered by the college; or in the employment ment and expand upon college policies and procedures. practices of the college. Additionally, should state or federal law be enacted during the period this policy is extant which prohibits dis- COURSE CREDIT crimination based upon a group’s protected status not listed in the The credit which a course carries is stated in units per semester and above categories, this policy will be deemed amended to afford pro- is shown below. tection to such groups. Inquiries concerning the application of this policy prescribed by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, COURSE ELECTIONS the Internal Revenue Service, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act The elections of first-year students are limited to courses marked (ADAA) of 2008 may be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity “Open to all classes,” or to courses numbered 100 to 199 unless special and Affirmative Action, which is charged to coordinate the college’s prerequisites are stated. Students with Advanced Placement credit efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX, may be admitted to other courses. Unless otherwise noted, courses are Section 504, and the ADAA. open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Matriculated students may audit courses with the permission of CRIME STATISTICS the instructor. No formal registration is necessary and no extra fee is charged. For campus crime statistics, consult the Security website at http:// security.vassar.edu/statistics, the U.S. Department of Education’s COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM website at http://ope.ed.gov/security, or call the director of security at (845) 437-5201. The Advisory Committee on Campus Safety will Undergraduate courses are offered on the levels shown in the follow- also provide upon request all campus crime statistics as reported to the ing numbering system: U.S. Department of Education. 000-099 Noncredit courses. 100-199 Introductory courses, without prerequisite of college work 200-299 Intermediate courses, with prerequisite of 1 to 2 units of introductory work or Advanced Placement or permission 300-399 Advanced courses, with prerequisite of 2 units of intermediate work or permission Courses numbered above 400 are designed for graduate students. The same number is reserved in each department for particular kinds of study: 290 Field Work 297 Reading Course 298 Intermediate Independent Work 399 Senior Independent Work Courses numbered in the 180 and 280 series are newly developed courses which may be offered on a trial basis under this number for one time only. After this initial offering, the course must either be presented for approval as a regular course or dropped completely by the department. Courses numbered in the 380 series apply to departmental offer- ings in which small groups of students pursue advanced work on special topics with special permission. It is understood that the top- ics are changed from time to time, with no particular time limit, according to the department’s needs, and are listed under the general heading “Special Studies” within the departmental listings. The term may also apply to experimental courses introduced by departments or introduced interdepartmentally which will normally be offered for one year. 3 Contents Academic Calendar .................................................................................................................4 General Information ...............................................................................................................7 A History of Vassar College ....................................................................................................7 Learning and Living at Vassar .................................................................................................8 Admission ..............................................................................................................................14 Fees .........................................................................................................................................17 Financial Aid .........................................................................................................................19 Alumnae and Alumni of Vassar College (AAVC) ...............................................................25 Academic Information ..........................................................................................................26 Degree Requirements and Courses of Study ..........................................................................26 Preparation for Graduate Study .............................................................................................37 Departments and Programs of Instruction .............................................................................38 College Organization ..........................................................................................................316 Board of Trustees 2013-14 ..................................................................................................316 Administration 2013-14 ......................................................................................................317 Alumnae and Alumni of Vassar College .............................................................................322 Faculty 2014-15 ...................................................................................................................323 Degree Programs ..................................................................................................................331 Index ....................................................................................................................................332 For the college website and the catalogue online, please refer to: www.vassar.edu 2014/2015 Catalogue 4 Academic Calendar Academic Calendar 2014/2015 Vacations, recesses, and holidays are shown in the shaded boxes. JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 31 OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 28 29 30 31 30 JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 30 31 APRIL MAY JUNE S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 31 Although Vassar College has no religious affiliations, it does respect the observance of religious holy days by members of the college community. Academic Calendar 5 FALL SEMESTER, 2014/15 August 2014 August 1 Friday Last day for payment of first semester fees August 26 Tuesday Residence houses open at 9:00 am for new students only. All new students arrive before 2:00 pm for beginning of orientation. First board meal is lunch. August 31 Sunday Residence houses open at 9:00 am for all other students. September 2014 September 1 Monday Labor Day - no classes September 2 Tuesday Classes begin. Registration of Special Students September 10 Wednesday Fall Convocation at 3:30 pm September 15 Monday Add period ends. September 20-21 Saturday-Sunday Freshman Families Weekend October 2014 October 17 Friday Drop period ends. October Break begins at 5:30 pm. October 26 Sunday October Break ends at midnight. November 2014 November 3-14 Monday-Friday Preregistration for spring 2015