2011-2012 Archived Catalog Information

The College of Arts and Sciences offers the following undergraduate degrees:

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.)
Bachelor of Science in Journalism (B.S.J.)
Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.)
Associate in Arts (A.A.)
Associate in Science (A.S.)
Associate in Science in Applied Legal Studies (A.S.A.L.S.)

Each academic department shall specify whether students majoring in that department shall meet the requirements of the B.A. degree, the B.S. degree, or have a choice of the B.A. or B.S. degree. All degree programs provide a broad liberal arts background and specialization within a single major field or divisional concentration.

A minimum of 126 semester hours is required for the bachelor’s degree (124-hour requirement for the B.F.A.) and 64 for the associate’s degree.

Major Programs

Applied Legal Studies B.A., B.S.
    Certificate in Paralegal Studies

Asian Studies B.A., B.S.

Biology B.A., B.S.
    Biology
    Biotechnology
    Marine Science

Chemistry B.A., B.S.
    Biochemistry
    Biochemistry/Forensic Science
    Chemistry
    Chemistry/General Business Minor
    Chemistry/Computer Science
    Chemistry/Secondary School Teaching

Communication B.A., B.S., B.S.J.
    Advertising
    Broadcast Journalism
    Communication Studies
    Film Studies
    Media
    Print Journalism
    Public Relations

Computer Science B.A., B.S.

Economics B.A., B.S.

Education and Human Services B.A., B.S.
    English/History for Middle School Teachers
    General Science/Mathematics for Middle School Teachers
    Minor in Middle School Teaching (Licensure Program)
    Minor in Secondary School Teaching (Licensure Program)
    Minor in Foundations of Education (Non-Licensure Program)

Electrical Engineering B.S.E.

English B.A.
    English
    Creative Writing

Environmental Engineering B.S.E.

Environmental Science B.S.

Environmental Studies B.A., B.S.

Fine Arts B.F.A.

French B.A.

French Studies B.A.

German B.A.

German Studies B.A.

Government B.A., B.S.
     Political Science
     American Politics and Government
    Politics, Law, and the Courts
     International Affairs (B.A. only)

Graphic Design B.F.A.

History B.A., B.S.

History and Literature B.A., B.S.

Humanities B.A.
    Art History
    Humanities
    Music History

Illustration, B.F.A.

Interactive Media and Game Development B.S.

Interior Design B.F.A.

International Economics B.A., B.S.

Latin American and Caribbean Studies B.A.

Mathematics B.A., B.S.
    Applied Mathematics
    Pure Mathematics

Medical Science B.S.
    Clinical Radiation Therapy
    Medical Dosimetry
    Post-Bac Certificate in Radiation Therapy
    Radiation Biology

Performing and Visual Arts B.A., B.S.

Philosophy B.A., B.S.

Physics B.S.

Psychology B.A., B.S.

Sociology B.A., B.S.
    Crime and Justice
    General Sociology
   Health, Medicine, and the Body

Spanish B.A.
   Special Concentrations

Theatre B.A., B.S.

Degree Requirements

Within the semester-hour requirements for bachelor’s and associate’s degrees, certain courses and options must be taken as requisites to the degrees. These requirements are in two categories: Core Requirements provide the basic knowledge and skills necessary for successful academic work at higher levels, and the breadth of knowledge in many fields that is fundamental to liberal education. Major Requirements provide the specialized knowledge, training and experience necessary in preparing for a career or vocation.

To complete any major in CAS, students are required to take a minimum of 12 semester hours of courses in their major department at Suffolk University. Students must achieve a minimum 2.0 in their major. Courses that are taken as part of a student’s Major or Complementary Major Requirements, which are also listed under the College Requirements, can be used to satisfy both Major and Core Requirements. These courses count only once toward the 126-hour requirement for bachelor’s degrees (124-hour requirement for the B.F.A.) and the 64-hour requirement for associate’s degrees. Individual exemptions from Core Requirements, based on examination and recommendation of the appropriate departments, may be granted by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Semester-hour credit is not granted for such exemptions.

Students should have finished ENG 101 and 102 or authorized equivalents by the time they have reached 64 credits. Delaying the English requirement may impair performance in upper division courses and make it difficult to graduate on schedule. Upper division students who have not completed all English requirements should do so before they achieve senior status.

Declaring a Major

An academic major program enables a student to concentrate a portion of his or her studies in a specific subject area. Choosing a major is a serious decision, since it will have a significant impact on a student’s future. Although many students come to the University with a specific major in mind, many other students decide to postpone the declaration of a major until they find out more about certain fields and concentrations of study. These latter students leave open their choice of a major, and are thus referred to as “open” majors. In general, students do not have to select their major until the second semester of their sophomore year.

Students wishing to change majors need to obtain a “Change of Major Form” at either the Office of the Registrar or the Office of Undergraduate Advising. This form should be brought to the new major department for advisor assignment. The form is then submitted by either the new department or by the student to the Office of the Registrar.

Double Majors

Double majors are permitted, provided: 1) The two majors are in two different departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. (The departments of Humanities/Modern Languages and Computer Science/Mathematics are joint departments but should be considered to be two separate departments when interpreting this requirement. Similarly, the Graphic Design/Fine Arts and Graphic Design/Interior Design programs at NESAD should be considered as separate departments for the purposes of double majors.); 2) The student has completed the major requirements and the complementary major requirements for each major field. Advisors for each of the two proposed major departments advise the candidate concerning the proposed double major and help the candidate to plan, coordinate, and implement a program which interrelates (where possible) the two proposed major disciplines. At some point after the freshmen year, but not later than the end of the junior year, the student should declare the double major. The double major approval form, signed by both advisors, must be submitted to the CAS Dean's Office for approval. A student declaring a double major must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher and must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in both majors. For double major candidates, courses taken as complementary major requirements in one major department may be used to satisfy major requirements in the second major department.

CAS students wishing to double major with the Sawyer Business School must consult with the SBS double major coordinator during the initial application process and must adhere to the CAS Double Major criteria.

Minor Programs

Any department within the College of Arts and Sciences may establish a formal minor program. A department’s minor program shall be available to any student not majoring in that department. (The departments of Humanities/Modern Languages, Computer Science/Mathematics, and Communications/Journalism should each be considered to be two separate departments. Similarly, the Graphic Design/Fine Arts and Graphic Design/Interior Design programs at NESAD should be considered as separate departments for the purposes of minors.) A minor program is optional for any student, and is not required for graduation. A student should consult as early as possible with his/her advisor, and with a member of the department in which he or she intends to minor, regarding minor requirements. Students must achieve a minimum of 2.0 in their minor.

Business Minors for College Students

A College of Arts and Sciences student seeking a Business Minor should consult with the Undergraduate Programs Office, Sawyer Business School, for advising. Additionally, students may be advised to meet with specific faculty specialists in their area of interest. Please refer to the Sawyer Business School section of this catalog for program details.

The Sawyer Business School offers two types of business minors to College of Arts and Sciences students:

The General Business Minor (15 credits) appeals to students who choose to develop a basic understanding and appreciation of business administration.

The Functional Business Minor (12– 22 credits) is for College students who would like to minor in a specific business discipline.

Second Baccalaureate Degree

Students with an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year institution may apply for admission to an accelerated second bachelor’s degree program in the College of Arts and Sciences. By transferring prior coursework to satisfy the all-college requirements, and completing all departmental requirements for the new major, a student could earn a second baccalaureate in as little as one academic year.

All applications must be initiated in the undergraduate admissions office. A candidate will be referred to the appropriate department chair for advice. The admissions office will then accept and evaluate all outstanding college requirements.

If accepted, a candidate would be required to successfully complete a minimum of 45 credit hours of new work in the major and satisfy any outstanding general all-college requirements. Candidates deemed under-prepared to begin a second baccalaureate degree by the department chair could be required to complete prerequisite studies as a condition of admission to the program.

Associate Degrees

An associate degree is designed as a two-year program. Credits earned toward the associate degree may be transferred to a four-year program at another institution; may be used to allow the student to re-enter college after an absence; or may be converted to a four-year degree program at Suffolk University if the student’s educational objectives change. The College of Arts and Sciences offers an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree, an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree, and an Associate of Science in Applied Legal Studies (A.S.A.L.S.) degree.