Bowdoin College Bowdoin Digital Commons Bowdoin College Catalogues 1-1-1997 Bowdoin College Catalogue (1996-1997) Bowdoin College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.bowdoin.edu/course-catalogues Recommended Citation Bowdoin College, "Bowdoin College Catalogue (1996-1997)" (1997). Bowdoin College Catalogues. 278. https://digitalcommons.bowdoin.edu/course-catalogues/278 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by Bowdoin Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Bowdoin College Catalogues by an authorized administrator of Bowdoin Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. w , lllili BOWDOIj COLLEGE BRUNSWICK, MAINE AUGUST 1996 —HUH I HH wiMlSyilill BO WDOIN COLLEGE CATALOGUE FOR 1996-1997 BRUNSWICK, MAINE AUGUST 1996 BO WDOIN COLLEGE CATALOGUE FOR 1996-1997 In its employment and admissions practices, Bowdoin is in conformity with all applicable federal and state statutes and regulations. It does not discriminate on the basis ofage, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, creed, ancestry, national and ethnic origin, or physical or mental handicap. The information in this catalogue was accurate at the lime of publication. However, the College is a dynamic community and must reserve the right to make changes in its course offerings, degree requirements, regulations, procedures, and charges. Bowdoin College mpports the efforts ofsecondary school officials and governing bodies to have their schools achieve regional accredited status to provide reliable assurance of the quality oj the educational preparation of its applicants for admission. Text printed on 5091 recycled paper with 109 post-consumer waste. Contents College Calendar vii General Information xii The Purpose of the College 1 Historical Sketch 3 Admission to the College 7 Financial Aid 15 Expenses 21 The Curriculum 25 Academic Requirements for the Degree 25 Distribution Requirements 25 The Major Program 26 Information about Courses 28 Grades and Academic Regulations 30 The Award of Honors 32 Deficiency in Scholarship 33 Academic Skills Programs 35 Special Academic Programs 35 Off-Campus Study 37 Courses of Instruction 40 Explanation of Symbols Used 40 Africana Studies 41 Art 49 Asian Studies 56 Biochemistry 62 Biology 63 Chemistry 70 8 Classics 74 Computer Science 81 Economics 85 Education 91 English 95 Environmental Studies 103 Film Studies 107 First- Year Seminars 110 Geology 1 1 German 121 Government and Legal Studies 124 History 131 Interdisciplinary Majors 145 Latin American Studies 147 Mathematics 148 Music 155 Neuroscience 160 Philosophy 161 Physics and Astronomy 166 Psychology 1 70 Religion 176 Romance Languages 181 Russian 188 Sociology and Anthropology 192 Theater and Dance 203 Women's Studies 208 1 Educational Resources and Facilities 213 Hawthorne-Longfellow Library and Hatch Science Library 213 Instructional Media Services 216 Computing and Information Services 217 Bowdoin College Museum of Art 218 Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum 220 Research, Teaching, and Conference Facilities 221 Lectureships 223 Performing Arts 225 Student Life 229 Residential Life 229 Codes of Conduct 230 Student Government 230 Student Services 23 Athletics and Physical Education 233 Student Activities 235 Alumni Organizations 236 Summer Programs 241 Officers of Government 242 Officers of Instruction 249 Instructional Support Staff 261 Officers of Administration 262 Committees of the College 273 Appendix: Prizes and Distinctions 281 Campus and Buildings 300 Campus Map 304 Index 307 College Calendar 1996 195th Academic Year August 24, Saturday Rooms ready for occupancy for first-year students only. August 25, Sunday Rooms ready for occupancy for upperclass students. August 24-27, Sat.-Tues. Orientation. August 28, Wednesday Opening of College, Convocation. August 29, Thursday Fall semester classes begin, 8:00 a.m. September 14-15, Sat.-Sun. Rosh Hashanah. September 23, Monday Yom Kippur. September 27-29, Fri.-Sun. Parents Weekend. October 4-5, Fri.-Sat. Alumni Council, Alumni Fund and Planned Giving Meetings. October 11, Friday Fall vacation begins after last class. October 16, Wednesday Fall vacation ends, 8:00 a.m. October 17-19, Thurs.-Sat. Meetings of the Governing Boards. October 19, Saturday Homecoming. November 27, Wednesday Thanksgiving vacation begins after last class. December 2, Monday Thanksgiving vacation ends, 8:00 a.m. December 4, Wednesday Last day of classes. December 5-9, Thurs.-Mon. Reading period. December 10-17, Tues.-Tues. Fall semester examinations. 1997 January 18, Saturday Rooms ready for occupancy. January 20, Monday Spring semester classes begin, 8:00 a.m. January 20, Monday Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday. February 14-15, Fri.-Sat. Winter's Weekend. February 27-March 1, Thurs.-Sat. Meetings of the Governing Board. March 14, Friday Spring vacation begins after last class. March 28, Friday Good Friday. March 30, Sunday Easter. College Calendar March 31, Monday Spring vacation ends, 8:00 a.m. April 4-5, Fri.-Sat. Alumni Council, Alumni Fund, and Planned Giving Meetings. April 22-29, Tues.-Tues. Passover. May 2-3, Fri.-Sat. Ivies Weekend. May 6, Tuesday Last day of classes. May 7-10, Wed.-Sat. Reading period. May 8-10, Thurs.-Sat. Meetings of the Governing Board. May 11-17, Sun.-Sat. Spring semester examinations. May 23, Friday Baccalaureate. May 24, Saturday The 192nd Commencement Exercises. May 29-June 1, Thurs.-Sun. Reunion Weekend. 1997 196th Academic Year (Tentative schedule) August 23, Saturday Rooms ready for occupancy for first-year students only. August 24, Sunday Rooms ready for occupancy for upperclass students. August 23-26, Sat.-Tues. Orientation. August 27, Wednesday Opening of College, Convocation. August 28, Thursday Fall semester classes begin, 8:00 a.m. September 19-21, Fri.-Sun. Parents Weekend. September 26-27, Fri.-Sat. Alumni Council, Alumni Fund, and Planned Giving Meetings. October 2-3, Thurs.-Fri. Rosh Hashanah. October 1 1, Saturday Yom Kippur. October 17, Friday Fall vacation begins after last class. October 22, Wednesday Fall vacation ends, 8:00 a.m. October 23-25, Thurs.-Sat. Meetings of the ( roveming Board. October 25, Saturday Homecoming. November 26, Wednesday Thanksgiving vacation begins after last class. December l, Monday Thanksgiving vacation ends, 8:00 a.m. December 3, Wednesday Last day of classes. December 4-8, Thurs.-Mon. Reading period. December 9-16, Tues.-Tuefl. Fall semester examinations. College Calendar 1998 January 17, Saturday Rooms ready for occupancy. January 19, Monday Spring semester classes begin, 8:00 a.m. January 19, Monday Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday. February 20-21, Fri.-Sat. Winter's Weekend. February 26-28, Thurs.-Sat. Meetings of the Governing Board. March 13, Friday Spring vacation begins after last class. March 30, Monday Spring vacation ends, 8:00 a.m. April 3^J, Fri.-Sat. Alumni Council, Alumni Fund, and Planned Giving Meetings. April 10, Friday Good Friday. April 11-18, Sat.-Sat. Passover. April 12, Sunday Easter. May 1-2, Fri.-Sat. Ivies Weekend. May 5, Tuesday Last day of classes. May 6-9, Wed.-Sat. Reading period. May 7-9, Thurs.-Fri. Meetings of the Governing Board. May 10-16, Sun.-Sat. Spring semester examinations. May 22, Friday Baccalaureate. May 23, Saturday The 193rd Commencement Exercises. May 28-31, Thurs.-Sun. Reunion Weekend. 1998 197th Academic Year (Tentative schedule) August 29, Saturday Rooms ready for occupancy for first-year students only. August 30, Sunday Rooms ready for occupancy for upperclass students. August 29-September 1, Sat.-Tues. Orientation. September 2, Wednesday Opening of College, Convocation. September 3, Thursday Fall semester classes begin, 8:00 a.m. September 18-19, Fri.-Sat. Alumni Council, Alumni Fund, and Planned Giving Meetings. September 21-22, Mon.-Tues. Rosh Hashanah. September 30, Saturday Yom Kippur. October 2-^4, Fri.-Sun. Parents Weekend. October 16, Friday Fall vacation begins after last class. College Calendar October 21, Wednesday Fall vacation ends, 8:00 a.m. October 22-24, Thurs.-Sat. Meetings of the Governing Board. October 24, Saturday Homecoming. November 25, Wednesday Thanksgiving vacation begins after last class. November 30, Monday Thanksgiving vacation ends, 8:00 a.m. December 9, Wednesday Last day of classes. December 10-14, Thurs.-Mon. Reading period. December 15-22, Tues.-Tues. Fall semester examinations. 1999 January 18, Monday Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday. January 23, Saturday Rooms ready for occupancy. January 25, Monday Spring semester classes begin, 8:00 a.m. February 25-27, Thurs.-Sat. Meetings of the Governing Board. February 26-27, Fri.-Sat. Winter's Weekend. March 19, Friday Spring vacation begins after last class. April 1-8, Sat.-Sat Passover. April 2, Friday Good Friday. April 4, Sunday Easter. April 5, Monday Spring vacation ends, 8:00 a.m. April 9-10, Fri.-Sat. Alumni Council, Alumni Fund, and Planned Giving Meetings. April 30-May 1, Fri.-Sat. Ivies Weekend. May 11, Tuesday Last day of classes. May 12-15, Wed.-Sat. Reading period. May 13-15, Thurs.-Sat. Meetings of the Governing Board. May 16-22, Sun.-Sat. Spring semester examinations. May 28, Friday Baccalaureate. May 29, Saturday The 194rd Commencement Exercises. June 3-5, Thurs.-Sun. Reunion Weekend. SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER 12 3 4 5 6 7 12 3 4 5 1 2 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 20 21