Academic Catalog 2008-09 Table of Contents Campus Directory Academic Calendar Accreditation and Compliance Statements Alma College in Brief Campus Map Section I: General Information A College of Distinction A Message from the President Admission Information Accelerated Programs and Advanced Placement Options Scholarships and Financial Assistance College Expenses Living on Campus Creative and Performing Arts Opportunities Activities and Organizations College Regulations The Judicial Process The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and Alma Academic Support Facilities Student Development Section II: Academic Programs and Opportunities A Message from the Provost Requirements for Degrees General Education Objectives General Education Requirements Guide to Distributive Requirements Chart of Requirements, Credits and Approved Courses Academic Honors Faculty Recognition Academic Rules and Procedures Honors Program Interdisciplinary Programs Leadership Programs Pre-Professional Programs Off Campus Studies Programs Special Programs Section III: Courses of Instruction Courses of Instruction Guide to Understanding Course Listings General Studies American Studies (AMS) Art and Design (ART) Astronomy (AST) Biochemistry (BCM) Biology (BIO) Business Administration (BUS) International Business Administration (IBA) Chemistry (CHM) Cognitive Science (COG) Communication (COM) New Media Studies (NMS) Computer Science (CSC) Economics (ECN) Education (EDC) English (ENG) Environmental Studies (ENV) Exercise and Health Science (EHS) Public Health (PBH) Geography (GGR) Geology (GEO) Gerontology (GER) History (HST) Library Research (LIB) Mathematics (MTH) Modern Languages French (FRN) German (GRM) Spanish (SPN) Additional Languages Offered Music (MUS) Philosophy (PHL) Physics (PHY) Electronics and Computer Engineering (ECE) Political Science (POL) Psychology (PSY) Public Affairs Institute (PAF) Religious Studies (REL) Christian Education (CEP) Sociology and Anthropology (SOA) Theatre and Dance (THD) Women's Studies (WST) Section IV: Directories Board of Trustees 2007-08 Administration 2007-08 Faculty 2007-08 Scholarship and Loan Funds Named Facilities Campus Directory College Switchboard (989) 463-7111 Office of the President Saundra J. Tracy, President Reid-Knox Administration Building 463-7146 fax 463-7094 [email protected] Office of the Provost Michael Selmon, Provost E. Ann Hall, Assistant Provost Swanson Academic Center, first floor 463-7176 fax 463-7073 [email protected] [email protected] Academic and Career Planning Virginia Holmes, Director Kehrl Building, lower level 463-7247 fax 463-7126 [email protected] Admissions Office Reid-Knox Administration Building 463-7139 fax 463-7057 [email protected] Toll Free 1-800-321-ALMA Advancement Office Carol Hyble, Vice President for Advancement Hood Building 463-7081 fax 463-7983 [email protected] Alumni Relations Office Brent Neubecker, Director Smith Alumni House 463-7245 fax 463-7047 [email protected] Toll Free 1-800-291-1312 Athletics Department John Leister, Athletic Director Hogan Physical Education Building 463-7265 fax 463-7018 [email protected] Business Office Hamilton Commons, lower level 463-7317 fax 463-7005 Center for Responsible Leadership John Leipzig, Director Dunning Memorial Chapel, lower level 463-7981 fax 463-7959 [email protected] Chaplain's Office Carol Gregg, Chaplain Dunning Memorial Chapel, lower level 463-7231 fax 463-7959 [email protected] Counseling and Wellness Center Patricia Chase, Director Wilcox Medical Center 463-7225 fax 463-7353 [email protected] Enrollment Office Karen Klumpp, Vice President for Enrollment Reid-Knox Administration Building 463-7299 fax 463-7057 [email protected] Finance and Administration Office Jerry Scoby, Vice President for Finance and Administration Reid-Knox Administration Building 463-7143 fax 463-7094 [email protected] Health Services Wilcox Medical Center 463-7181 fax 463-7277 Human Resources Kenneth Borgman, Director Centennial House 463-7314 fax 463-7787 [email protected] Information Technology David Reed, Director Swanson Academic Center, first floor 463-7303 fax 463-7101 [email protected] Library Carol Zeile, Director Kehrl Building 463-7227 fax 463-8694 [email protected] Marketing and Public Relations Office Mike Silverthorn, Director Hood Building 463-7327 fax 463-7102 [email protected] Physical Plant Robert Boyce, Director Trower Building 463-7162 fax 463-7125 [email protected] Registrar Susan Deel, Registrar Hamilton Commons, lower level 463-7348 fax 463-7993 [email protected] Student Financial Assistance Office Christopher Brown, Director Hamilton Commons, lower level 463-7347 fax 463-7993 [email protected] Student Life Office Nicholas Piccolo, Vice President for Student Life Tyler-Van Dusen Campus Center 463-7333 fax 463-7391 [email protected] Academic Calendar Fall 2007 August 25 Saturday Freshman Preterm Begins September 3 Monday Residence Halls Open, Noon (Labor Day) September 4 Tuesday Classes Begin, 8 A.M. September 7 Friday Last Day to Add a 1st 7-week Class September 14 Friday Last Day to Add a 14-week Class September 28 Friday Last Day to Drop a 1st 7-week Class October 13 Saturday Homecoming October 17 Wednesday Middle of Term October 18-19 Thursday-Friday Fall Term Recess October 22 Monday Classes Resume, 8 A.M. Begin 2nd 7-week Classes Mid-Term Grades Due, 9 A.M. October 26 Friday Last Day to Add a 2nd 7-week Class November 2 Friday Last Day to Drop a 14-week Class November 5-15 Two Weeks Winter Term Pre-registration November 16 Friday Last Day to Drop a 2nd 7-week Class November 21 Wednesday Thanksgiving Recess Begins, 5 P.M. November 26 Monday Classes Resume, 8 A.M. December 10-14 Monday-Friday Fall Term Exams December 14 Friday Residence Halls Close, 5 P.M. December 18 Tuesday Final Grades Due, 9 A.M. Winter 2008 January 6 Sunday Residence Halls Open, Noon January 7 Monday Classes Begin, 8 A.M. January 11 Friday Last Day to Add a 1st 7-week Class January 18 Friday Last Day to Add a 14-week Class January 21 Monday Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Classes Cancelled 12:30-6 P.M. February 1 Friday Last Day to Drop a 1st 7-week Class February 4-8 Monday-Friday Spring Term Pre-registration February 20 Wednesday Middle of Term February 21 Thursday Begin 2nd 7-week Classes February 23 Saturday Winter Term Recess Begins February 25 Monday Mid-Term Grades Due, 9 A.M. March 2 Sunday Exam Preparation Day for 1st 7-week Classes Exam Period for 1st 7-week Classes, 7-9 P.M. March 3 Monday Classes Resume, 8 A.M. March 7 Friday Last Day to Add a 2nd 7-week Class March 14 Friday Last Day to Drop a 14-week Class March 17-27 Two Weeks Fall Term Pre-registration March 21 Friday Good Friday: No Classes after 12:30 P.M. March 28 Friday Last Day to Drop a 2nd 7-week Class April 3 Thursday Honors Day; Honors Convocation, 9:30 A.M.. April 14-18 Monday-Friday Winter Term Exams April 19 Saturday Commencement, 2 P.M. Residence Halls Close, 5 P.M. April 22 Tuesday Final Grades Due, 9 A.M. Spring 2008 April 26 Saturday Residence Halls Open, Noon April 27 Sunday Classes Begin, 1 P.M. May 16 Friday Last Day to Drop a Class May 22 Thursday Spring Term Ends; Residence Halls Close, 5 P.M. May 27 Tuesday Final Grades Due, 9 A.M. Summer 2008 June 2-August 22 Summer Session Fall 2008 August 23 Saturday Freshman Preterm Begins September 1 Monday Residence Halls Open, Noon (Labor Day) September 2 Tuesday Classes Begin, 8 A.M. September 5 Friday Last Day to Add a 1st 7-week Class September 12 Friday Last Day to Add a 14-week Class September 26 Friday Last Day to Drop a 1st 7-week Class September 27 Saturday Homecoming October 15 Wednesday Middle of Term October 16-17 Thursday-Friday Fall Term Recess October 20 Monday Classes Resume, 8 A.M. Begin 2nd 7-week Classes Mid-Term Grades Due, 9 A.M. October 24 Friday Last Day to Add a 2nd 7-week Class October 31 Friday Last Day to Drop a 14-week Class November 3-13 Two Weeks Winter Term Pre-registration November 14 Friday Last Day to Drop a 2nd 7-week Class November 26 Wednesday Thanksgiving Recess Begins, 5 P.M. December 1 Monday Classes Resume, 8 A.M. December 8-12 Monday-Friday Fall Term Exams December 12 Friday Residence Halls Close, 5 P.M. December 16 Tuesday Final Grades Due, 9 A.M. Winter 2009 January 4 Sunday Residence Halls Open, Noon January 5 Monday Classes Begin, 8 A.M. January 9 Friday Last Day to Add a 1st 7-week Class January 16 Friday Last Day to Add a 14-week Class January 19 Monday Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Classes Cancelled 12:30-6 P.M. January 30 Friday Last Day to Drop a 1st 7-week Class February 2-6 Monday-Friday Spring Term Pre-registration February 18 Wednesday Middle of Term February 19 Thursday Begin 2nd 7-week Classes February 21 Saturday Winter Term Recess Begins February 23 Monday Mid-Term Grades Due, 9 A.M. March 1 Sunday Exam Preparation Day for 1st 7-week Classes Exam Period for 1st 7-week Classes, 7-9 P.M. March 2 Monday Classes Resume, 8 A.M. March 6 Friday Last Day to Add a 2nd 7-week Class March 13 Friday Last Day to Drop a 14-week Class March 16-26 Two Weeks Fall Term Pre-registration March 27 Friday Last Day to Drop a 2nd 7-week Class April 2 Thursday Honors Day; Honors Convocation, 9:30 A.M. April 10 Friday Good Friday: No Classes after 12:30 P.M.. April 13-17 Monday-Friday Winter Term Exams April 18 Saturday Commencement, 2 P.M. Residence Halls Close, 5 P.M. April 21 Tuesday Final Grades Due, 9 A.M. Spring 2009 April 25 Saturday Residence Halls Open, Noon April 26 Sunday Classes Begin, 1 P.M.