Fort Lewis College ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND POLICIES Academic Programs Requirements For Graduation The Curriculum Courses Common to All Programs Transitional Studies John F. Reed Honors Program Special Academic Programs Summer Programs Academic Policies Academic Procedures Academic Support Programs ACADEMIC PROGRAMS The academic programs at Fort Lewis College are offered through the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, and Education. Degrees Offered Fort Lewis College offers a number of programs leading to the bachelor's degree. The Bachelor of Science degree is offered in biology, chemistry, geology, general science and physics; the Bachelor of Arts degree is granted in all other four-year programs. In addition, the College offers a program leading to the Associate of Arts degree in agricultural science. The Fort Lewis College teacher education programs have been approved by the Colorado Department of Education. Licensing programs are offered for the following: early childhood (pre-school, K- 2), middle childhood (elementary), young adult (secondary) and K-12 (art, music, PE) education. file:///D|/Temp/catalogs/course_catalog/CATALOG/acadprog.htm (1 of 42) [1/20/2011 9:25:15 AM] Fort Lewis College School of Arts and Sciences Courses in agriculture, anthropology, art, biology, chemistry, communications, computer science, engineering, English, environmental policy, forestry, French, geology, general science, German, health careers, history, Japanese, Latin, mathematics, music, Navajo, philosophy, physics, political science, sociology, Spanish, statistics, and theatre, as well as interdisciplinary work in a number of areas (such as international studies, religious studies, southwest studies, and women's studies) are offered in the School of Arts and Sciences. School of Business Administration The School of Business Administration is an AACSB Accredited professional school offering instruction in accounting, agricultural business, business administration, engineering management, finance, international business, management, marketing, operations management, tourism and resort management, and economics. School of Education The School of Education prepares students for licensure at the early childhood (pre-school, K-2), middle childhood (elementary), young adult (secondary) and K-12 (art, music, PE) levels. Major programs of study in English, exercise science (PE) and music education are also available. Students can add-on endorsements in bilingual, English as a second language, early childhood (pre-school, K-2) and early adolescent (middle school) education to various licenses. Student-Constructed Major The College has established the student-constructed major to meet particular needs and purposes. Such a major is usually interdisciplinary, always designed to meet the special needs and talents of individual students, and generally differs substantially from course combinations and emphases that are available through majors, minors, and electives in the established curriculum. Among recent student-constructed majors have been ones in criminal justice, international studies, agricultural economics, commercial art and southwestern peoples. The major may be related to any school or include course offerings from more than one school. Student-constructed major contract forms and requirements are available in the Records Office. Return to Top REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION file:///D|/Temp/catalogs/course_catalog/CATALOG/acadprog.htm (2 of 42) [1/20/2011 9:25:15 AM] Fort Lewis College General Requirements Each candidate for graduation must complete a minimum of 128 credits, with at least a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for those courses accepted to meet the requirements for the major course of study. Of the 128 credits required for graduation, each student is required to complete a minimum of 50 credits outside the discipline in which he or she is majoring. It is the responsibility of the student to know and complete all graduation requirements. Candidates for bachelor's degrees must complete three elements in their academic programs: general studies, a major and electives. Each candidate must complete a minimum of 44 credits in the general studies program to be chosen as outlined below and a minimum of 30 credits in a field of specialization, called the major. The balance of the 128 credits required for graduation are called electives. The student has wide latitude in selecting these, although some of them may be specified in certain programs as auxiliary to the major or for teacher licensing. Many students choose to use electives to complete the requirements for a minor. A student must complete his or her final 28 credits in residence. Exceptions to this requirement include such programs as medical technology and engineering (3-2 program). Other exceptions may be made in unusual circumstances by the Vice President for Academic Affairs on recommendation of the appropriate school dean. Among the 128 credits required for the degree, 50 credits must be upper- division courses. No more than 28 credits will be accepted for work completed by correspondence, extension or educational television. A course offered in substitution for a required course or the request that a requirement be waived must have the approval of the student's faculty advisor, the school dean, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs or his designee. The student must complete the form "Request for Exception to Graduation Requirements." Majors Each student seeking a baccalaureate degree must select a major area of study for specialization. The College now offers majors in Accounting, Anthropology, Art, Biology, Business Administration, Chemistry, Computer Science Information Systems, Economics, English, Exercise file:///D|/Temp/catalogs/course_catalog/CATALOG/acadprog.htm (3 of 42) [1/20/2011 9:25:15 AM] Fort Lewis College Science, Geology, History, Humanities, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology/Human Services, Southwest Studies, Spanish and Theatre. In addition to these regular majors, the College has established a procedure whereby a student with a special purpose may construct his/her own major. Ordinarily, this major should be of an interdisciplinary character and be submitted for approval not later than the end of the first term of the junior year. The student-constructed major contract must be approved by the advisor, the appropriate school dean, a representative of the Curriculum Committee and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Students may elect to complete concurrently the requirements for two majors. The "Petition for Candidacy for a Degree," which can be obtained from the Records Office, must be completed with both majors listed, and submitted to the Records Office. Any major or minor additions or changes after submission of the original "Petition for Candidacy for a Degree" must be made on the original form in the Records Office. Courses meeting auxiliary requirements may count in meeting curriculum requirements for both majors. Courses taken to fulfill requirements in either major field generally will not apply towards General Studies groups A, B, C, D, or E. All requirements for both majors must be completed prior to a degree being awarded. As of January 1, 1989, the Colorado Department of Education no longer recognizes elementary education as a major for candidates seeking elementary teacher licensing. Students seeking elementary teacher licensing must complete a degree with a subject major as well as the elementary teacher licensing program. Associate of Arts degree is offered in agricultural science. Minors Minors, even though not required for graduation, are offered by most departments. Requirements for a minor are described under the program of study for each department or can be obtained from the department. General Studies requirements and minor requirements may overlap. For additional information regarding a minor, consult the department chair. Electives The third part of a student's program of study consists of additional courses called "electives," selected in accordance with his or her ability, file:///D|/Temp/catalogs/course_catalog/CATALOG/acadprog.htm (4 of 42) [1/20/2011 9:25:15 AM] Fort Lewis College interest and purpose. The courses permit students to become acquainted with other areas of knowledge to broaden their education, to supplement their major areas of concentration, to meet specific requirements of a graduate school, to take professional teacher certification courses, or to add a second teaching field. Second Bachelor's Degree A student who for special reasons desires to secure a second bachelor's degree must complete a minimum of 28 credits in addition to the total number of credits required for the first degree. The student is required to complete all requirements for the second degree, including general graduation requirements and specific requirements for the major selected. No honors are awarded upon the receipt of a second bachelor's degree. If a student receives the first bachelor's degree from another accredited college, the additional 28 credits must be in residence to fulfill the requirements for the second bachelor's degree. The additional credits required for the second degree may be completed concurrently with those credits applying to the first degree and the two degrees may be granted simultaneously, providing all requirements have been completed for both degrees. Petitioning to Graduate Once