2009-10 Catalogue
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1 Contents College Calendar . 2 General Information A History of Vassar College . 5 Academic Life . 6. Physical Resources . 7 Student Services and Activities . 11. Admission . 15. Fees . 17. Financial Aid . 19 Alumnae and Alumni of Vassar College (AAVC) . 25 Academic Information Degrees and Courses of Study . 25. Preparation for Graduate Study . 35 Instruction 2009/10 . 36 Departments and Programs of Instruction . 37 College Organization Board of Trustees . 201. Administration . 202. Alumnae and Alumni of Vassar College . 207 Faculty . 208. Degree Programs . 218. Index . 219. For the college website and the catalogue online, please refer to: www vassar. .edu Catalogue Statement All statements contained in this catalogue reflect the approved policies of Vassar College as of January 1, 2009 . However, for educational or financial reasons, the College reserves its right to change the provisions, statements, policies, curricula, procedures, regulations, or fees described herein . Such changes will be duly published and distributed . Students, faculty, and staff are responsible for all information and deadlines contained in this catalogue and in the current Student Handbook. The Student Handbook and the Schedule of Classes supplement the College Catalogue and expand upon college policies and procedures . VASSAR 2009/10 Catalogue Cover / photo by Tamar Thibodeau The Casperkill Creek, which runs through the campus and Vassar Farm, is often the subject of student research projects . printed on recycled paper 2 Calendar 2009/10 Vacations, recesses, and holidays are shown in underlined figures . 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 1 1 2 3 4 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 30 27 28 29 30 31 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 28 29 30 31 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 1 1 2 3 4 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 25 26 27 28 29 30 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 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 3 Fall Semester, 2009/10 August 10 Monday Last day for payment of first semester fees 25 Tuesday Residence houses open at 9:00 am for new students only . All new students arrive before 2:00 pm for beginning of orientation week . First board meal is lunch . 29 Saturday Residence houses open at 9:00 am for all other students . 31 Monday Classes Begin Registration of Special Students September 2 Wednesday Fall Convocation at 3:30 pm 7 Monday Labor Day - No Classes 11 Friday Add period Ends 26 Saturday- Freshmen Parents Weekend 27 Sunday October 16 Friday Drop period ends 16 Friday- October Break begins at 5:30 pm 25 Sunday October Break ends at midnight November 9-20 Monday- Preregistration for Spring 2010 Friday 25 Wednesday - Thanksgiving recess begins at 5:30 pm 29 Sunday Thanksgiving recess ends at midnight December 9 Wednesday First semester classes end 10-13 Thursday - Study period Sunday 14-18 Monday - First semester examinations Friday 19 Saturday Residence houses close at 9:00 am . Last board meal is breakfast Second Semester, 2009/10 January 11 Monday Last day for payment of second semester fees 16 Saturday Residence houses open at 9:00 am . New students arrive . First board meal is lunch . 20 Wednesday Second semester classes begin . Registration of special students . February 2 Tuesday Add period ends . March 5 Friday Drop period ends 5 Friday Spring vacation begins at 5:30 pm 6 Saturday Residence houses close at 9:00 am . Last board meal is breakfast 21 Sunday Spring vacation ends at midnight . Residence houses open at 9:00 am on Saturday (20th) . First board meal is lunch on Saturday, March 20th . April 9-11 Friday - All Parents Weekend Sunday 5-16 Monday- Preregistration for Fall, 2010 Friday 15&18 Thursday &- Accepted Students Open House Sunday 28 Wednesday Spring Convocation at 3:30 pm May 4 Tuesday Second semester classes end 5-11 Wednesday- Study period Tuesday 12-18 Wednesday- Second semester examinations Tuesday 19 Wednesday Residence houses close at 9:00 am (except seniors) 23 Sunday 146th Commencement . Residence houses close at 9:00 am on Monday, May 24 (for seniors) June 4-6 Friday- Vassar College Reunions Sunday Note: Because there are 14 Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and only 12 Thursdays and Fridays in the Fall Term, the following changes are necessary: Tuesday, December 8 = Thursday Wednesday, December 9 = Friday 4 Academic Calendar Four-Year Calendar 2008/09-2011/12 First Semester 2009/10 2010/11 2011-2012 2012-13 Classes Begin 8/31 (Mon) 8/30 (Mon) 8/31 (Wed) 9/4 (Tue) October Break: Begins 5:30 pm 10/16(Fri) 10/15(Fri) 10/14 (Fri) 10/12 (Fri) Ends Midnight 10/25(Sun) 10/24(Sun) 10/23 (Sun) 10/21 (Sun) Thanksgiving: Begins 5:30 pm 11/25(Wed) 11/24(Wed) 11/23 (Wed) 11/21 (Wed) Ends Midnight 11/29(Sun) 11/28(Sun) 11/27 (Sun) 11/25 (Sun) Classes End 12/9 (Wed) 12/8 (Wed) 12/9 (Fri) 12/12 (Wed) Study Period: Begin 12/10(Thur) 12/9 (Thur) 12/10 (Sat) 12/13 (Thu) End 12/13(Sun) 12/12(Sun) 12/13 (Tue) 12/16 (Sun) Final Exams: Begin 12/14(Mon) 12/13(Mon) 12/14 (Wed) 12/17 (Mon) End 12/18(Fri) 12/17(Fri) 12/20 (Tue) 12/21 (Fri) Second Semester Classes Begin 1/20 (Wed) 1/19 (Wed) 1/18 (Wed) 1/23 (Wed) Spring Break: Begins 5:30 pm 3/5 (Fri) 3/4 (Fri) 3/2 (Fri) 3/8 (Fri) Ends Midnight 3/21 (Sun) 3/20 (Sun) 3/18 (Sun) 3/24 (Sun) Classes End 5/4 (Tue) 5/3 (Tue) 5/1 (Tue) 5/7 (Tue) Study Period: Begin 5/5 (Wed) 5/4 (Wed) 5/2 (Wed) 5/8 (Wed) End 5/11 (Tue) 5/10 (Tue) 5/8 (Tue) 5/14 (Tue) Final Exams: Begin 5/12 (Wed) 5/11 (Wed) 5/9 (Wed) 5/15 (Wed) End 5/18 (Tue) 5/17 (Tue) 5/15 (Tue) 5/21 (Tue) Commencement 5/23 (Sun) 5/22 (Sun) 5/20 (Sun) 5/26 (Sun) General Information 5 General Information A History of Vassar College A pioneer for women’s education and liberal arts education in the After declining an invitation to merge with Yale, Vassar decided United States, Matthew Vassar founded Vassar College in 1861 . to open its doors to men in 1969 . In keeping with its pioneering Opening its doors to its first class of 353 students paying $350 for spirit, Vassar was the first all-women’s college in the country to be- tuition and “residence” on September 26, 1865, the college offered come coeducational: men now represent 40 percent of the student young women a liberal arts education equal to that of the best men’s body of 2,400 . colleges of the day . Coeducational since 1969, Vassar College set The unique traditions upon which the college was founded the standard for higher education for women for more than 100 continue to be upheld today: a determination to excel, a willingness years and now sets the standard for true coeducation . Recognized to experiment, a dedication to the values of the liberal arts and sci- as one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country, Vassar has ences, a commitment to the advancement of equality between the successfully fulfilled its founder’s goals .