1 CENTRAL COLLEGE CATALOG 2007-2008 Notice This catalog should not be construed as constituting a formal contract between the college and any person or group of persons. The college retains the right to make changes in the academic and social programs as well as operating procedures. All such changes will be effective at times deemed appropriate by the proper institutional authorities and may apply to enrolled as well as prospective students. For the most current information on Central College, contact: Office of Admission www.central.edu 812 University E-mail [email protected] Pella, IA 50219 Ph. 641-628-5285 Toll free 877-462-3687 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Academic Calendar 3 Central…Briefly 5 Mission of Central College 7 Central History 8 Student Records Notice 8 Admission 9 College Costs 13 Financial Aid 16 Academic Philosophy 21 Graduation Requirements 22 Academic Policies 25 Academic Divisions & Departments 34 Academic Programs 38 Course Descriptions 143 Academic Resources 201 Pre-Professional Programs 202 Special Programs 204 Central College Abroad 207 Awards 211 Directories 219 Index 232 3 ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2007-2008 Dates are subject to change. For current calendar information, check out our web site at www.central.edu or call toll-free 1-877-462-3687. August 2007 January 2008 14 New Faculty Orientation 12-13 New Student Welcome Days 16-17 Faculty Workshops 13 Residence Halls Open 8 AM 16-19 New International Student Orientation 14 Spring Semester Classes Begin 18 Welcome Week Begins Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 20 Enrollment Confirmation Day (classes may be shortened) 21 Fall Semester Classes Begin (Add/Drop Period: Jan. 14‐25) (Add/Drop Period: Aug. 21-31) February 2008 September 2007 No Events 3 Labor Day (no classes/college closed) 28-30 Homecoming/Family Weekend March 2008 7 Midterm October 2007 12 Midterm Grades Available on Web 11-12 Board of Trustees Meeting 14 Spring Break Begins After Last Class 12 Midterm 23 Easter 17 Midterm Grades Available on Web 25 Classes Resume 17 Fall Break Begins After Last Class 26 Classes Resume April 2008 11 Last Day to Withdraw From Spring Courses November 2007 18-19 Board of Trustees Meeting 16 Last Day to Withdraw From Fall Courses 21 Thanksgiving Break Begins After Last Class May 2008 22 Thanksgiving 1-3 Tulip Time 26 Classes Resume 2 Last Day of Spring Semester Courses 5 College-Wide Study Day December 2007 6-9 Final Exams 3 Registration for New Students Begins 9 Residence Halls Close at 5 PM 7 Last Day of Fall Semester Classes 10 Baccalaureate 10 College-Wide Study Day 11 Commencement 11-14 Final Exams 14 Final Grades Available on Web 14 Residence Halls Close for Break 19 Final Grades Available on Web 25 Christmas 5 CENTRAL . BRIEFLY Located in Pella, Iowa - 40 minutes southeast of Des Moines Founded in 1853 Campus includes 50 major buildings on 169 acres Vermeer Science Center — $20 million renovation and addition completed fall 2003. It is the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (L.E.E.D.) rated facility in Iowa 1203 Independence — 72-person residence hall opened fall 2003, new wing opened in 2005, received gold medal L.E.E.D. rating The Central Market — European marketplace design dining hall Weller Center for Business and International Studies Ron Schipper Fitness Center — state-of-the-art fitness center available to all students Geisler Library — over 234,000 volumes, plus access to a vast array of electronic information in the library’s new wireless environment; Café@Geisler coffee shop, new fall 2002 Kruidenier Center for Communication and Theatre Lubbers Center for the Visual Arts — includes the only teaching glassblowing studio in the Midwest Cox-Snow Music Center Graham Conference Center Townhouses for upper-class student housing Central College abroad programs in England, France, Austria, Spain, Mexico, Wales, the Netherlands and China U.S. News and World Report calls Central College one of the top 10 best comprehensive colleges for a bachelor’s degree in the Midwest. Also named in the magazine’s “Great Schools, Great Prices” category and “programs to look for” section for study abroad. One of only 247 colleges nationwide chosen by Barron’s to appear in Best Buys in College Education, 9th edition. Named a Best Midwestern College by The Princeton Review 2005 The Unofficial, Unbiased Guide to 328 Most Interesting Colleges, 2004 edition, published by Kaplan, names Central College a school that is a hidden treasure Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association (www.hlcommission.org; (800) 621-7440) Also accredited by the Iowa Department of Public Instruction, National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and certified by the American Chemical Society Students Total enrollment: 1606 Number of states represented in student body: 27 states Foreign countries represented in student body: 17 countries Average aid awarded to all first-year students in 2006-07: $18,228 Faculty Total faculty: 94 Ph.D. degree or terminal degree: 90 percent Faculty-student ratio: 14:1 Average class size: 20 Freshmen admission profile (Fall 2006) Total applications: 1797; total acceptances: 1439; final enrollment: 413 (195 men; 218 women) Reformed Church in America students: 39 Alumni parents: 50 Alumni siblings: 74 Percent in top 10 percent of high school class: 24 percent ACT composite score average: 24 Average HS GPA: 3.485 Percentage entering with AP or college credit: 50 percent 6 Financial aid profile, entire student body Receiving need-based aid: 78 percent Receiving scholarship and aid: more than 98 percent Music program Central’s music department is committed to providing both majors and minors a variety of musical performance opportunities: A Cappella Choir, Brass Ensemble, Chamber Singers, Clarinet Ensemble, College-Community Band, College-Community Chorus, College-Community Orchestra, Flute Choir, Flying Pans steel drum band, Handbell Choir, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Percussion Ensemble, Piano Ensemble, String Ensemble, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Vocal/Instrumental Jazz and Pop Combo, Woodwind Ensemble. Athletic program Central College is affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Division III) and the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for men and women. Our 17 teams include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, volleyball and wrestling. Central athletes have posted 11 NCAA Division III championships, 23 NCAA Division III national individual champions, 139 Iowa Conference championships, 23 men’s and women’s IIAC all-sports titles and 44 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans. Athletic facilities: The Ron Schipper Fitness Center features a 7,200-square-foot weight training area and is open to all students. Over $125,000 of new strength and conditioning equipment was purchased for the facility in 2006. A new Fieldturf football field and new 400-meter, 8-lane track were completed for the 2006 football season and 2007 track and field season P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium with new vinyl seating installed in 2005 Human performance lab opened in 1999, and remodeling of exercise science facilities completed in 2004 H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse with 200-meter indoor track Ryerson Golf Range, opened in 2004 Tennis courts, softball, baseball Cross-country competition course, new in 2004 New competition soccer field debuted in 2005 7 Mission of Central College Central College is a residential liberal arts college dedicated to helping students discover and develop their greatest potential. Guided by its ecumenical Christian tradition, the College community engages in vigorous, free, open inquiry in pursuit of academic excellence. The College nurtures the development of the mind, while fostering spiritual and emotional maturity and physical well-being. Central integrates career preparation with the development of values essential to responsible citizenship, empowering graduates for effective service in local, national and international communities. Goals for students 1. Acquire integrated knowledge from a variety of academic, philosophical and cultural perspectives as well as the in-depth knowledge of a chosen major. 2. Develop skills and habits of mind that lead to life-long learning: effective communication, open inquiry, critical reasoning, creativity and the ability to solve problems. 3. Develop moral character that is evident in ethical behavior, intercultural effectiveness, environmental stewardship and service to humanity. 4. Develop increasing maturity that is reflected in intellectual, spiritual, social and physical well-being. Goals for faculty 1. To develop a community of scholars in which teaching and learning are the activities with the highest priority. 2. To be models and mentors who support the development of students as independent learners, responsible citizens and morally responsive persons. 3. To participate in governing the college, developing its academic programs and enriching its cultural environment. 4. To grow professionally, spiritually and personally while contributing to the college and the larger academic community through research, creative expression, innovative teaching and interdisciplinary dialogue. Goals for the Central College community 1. To promote attitudes and values reflective of the Christian tradition: acceptance, mutual respect, justice, compassion and service to others. 2. To promote and model appreciation of our natural