S w e et B riar College Catalog 2008-2009 2008-2009 College Calendar Fall Semester 2008 August 23, 2008 ____________________________________________ New students arrive August 27, 2008 __________________________________________ Opening Convocation August 28, 2008 _________________________________________________ Classes begin September 26, 2008 _____________________________________________ Founders’ Day September 25-27, 2008 ___________________________________Homecoming Weekend October 2-3, 2008 ________________________________________________ Reading Days October 17-19, 2008 __________________________________________ Families Weekend November 5, 2008 _____________________________ Registration for Spring Term Begins November 21, 2008 _________________________Thanksgiving vacation begins, 5:30 p.m. (Residence Halls close November 22 at 8 a.m.) December 1, 2008_______________________________________________ Classes resume December 12, 2008________________________________________________ Classes End December 13, 2008________________________________________________Reading Day December 14-19, 2008 ____________________________________________ Examinations December 19, 2008_________________________________ Winter break begins, 5:30 p.m. (Residence Halls close December 19 at 5:30 p.m.) Spring Semester 2009 January 21, 2009 ___________________________________________ Spring Term begins March 13, 2009 __________________________________ Spring vacation begins, 5:30 p.m. (Residence Halls close March 14 at 8 a.m.) March 23, 2009 _________________________________________________ Classes resume April 8, 2009 ____________________________________ Registration for Fall Term Begins May 5, 2009_______________________________________________________Classes end May 6-7, 2009 ___________________________________________________ Reading Days May 8-13, 2009 __________________________________________________ Examinations May 15, 2009 _________________________ Class of 2008 Awards Ceremony, Baccalaureate Service May 16, 2009 ________________________________________________________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 2008-2009 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, 2008-2009 ______________________________________19 General Policies _____________________________________________22 Academic Programs _________________________________________26 Academic Regulations ________________________________________34 Requirements for the Degree __________________________________38 Courses of Instruction _______________________________________46 Academic Honors __________________________________________196 Faculty, 2008-2009 _________________________________________201 Board of Directors, 2008-2009 ________________________________208 Administration, 2008-2009 ___________________________________210 Index ____________________________________________________212 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, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts in Teaching, and Master of Education. 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 custom- ized 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 commu- nity, and the world. Approved by the Board of Directors, May 2004 Statement of Purpose for one’s actions, personal initiative, and in Support of the Mission the assumption of leadership. Sweet Briar’s curriculum is organized on A highly qualified faculty, commit- the premise that a foundation in the liberal ted to the highest standards of teaching, arts enhances the development of critical engages individuals on a human scale. In and creative abilities, develops the abil- small classes, students receive the atten- ity 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 Sweet Briar this study takes place within a diverse student body, which is drawn a residential environment that encour- from a national and international pool of ages physical well-being, ethical aware- applicants. ness, sensitivity to others, responsibility 2 2008-2009 Catalog THE COLLEGE/THE CAMPUS ers, and lecturers. These as well as sports events The College are open to the general public and, with rare exceptions, free of charge. The College’s art gal- weet Briar College grants the Bachelor of leries and museum serve both as resources for Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine S the surrounding community and as laboratories Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching, and Master for students in arts management and related of Education. The College offers more than 35 fields. For information on current events go to programs of study as well as self-designed and our Web site www.calendar.sbc.edu. interdisciplinary majors. Students create and learn with an exceptional faculty, almost all of whom hold the doctorate or the appropri- ate terminal degree. An 8:1 student/faculty ratio insures that classes are small and each The Campus student’s educational program is customized. weet Briar’s intellectually and socially Each academic year consists of two semesters. vibrant campus is a true community, home Students are guided in the pursuit of special S not only to students but also to approximately interests, not only in academic coursework, but half of our faculty as well as many staff mem- also through internships, research opportuni- bers. It is a living laboratory, which provides ties, summer fellowships, service experiences, hands-on opportunities for exploration and and independent study. The College strongly discovery in nearly every discipline from the encourages study abroad, at one of Sweet classics and anthropology to the sciences and Briar’s distinguished programs or through engineering. History and archaeology students another approved international program. have a particularly rich setting in which to do Sweet Briar is a residential community. research inasmuch as the campus was a work- Sweet Briar women have enough ideas and ing plantation in the 18th and 19th centuries. enthusiasm to support nearly 50 student-led The main campus buildings are nestled at the and student-managed organizations—every- center of 3,250 acres of rolling hills and mead- thing from art and musical groups to student ows in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge publications and cultural awareness organiza- Mountains. The broad landscape includes two tions. A strong leadership program helps stu- lakes, six nature sanctuaries, and an extensive dents develop leadership skills. Many students network of walking, horseback riding, and hik- take part in volunteer service projects during ing trails. school terms and vacations, putting these skills The campus, designed in the early part of to work. the 20th century, is dominated by the archi- Nearly 30 percent of Sweet Briar students tecture of Ralph Adams Cram, whose work is play sports at the varsity level. The College is also seen at MIT, Princeton, Wellesley, Rice, a member of the National Collegiate Athletic and West Point. Twenty-one of Sweet Briar’s Association