Division of Academic Affairs
College of Arts and Sciences and the General College
The Academic Advising Program
Requirements for Degree Programs within the College of Arts and Sciences
Credit by College Board Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate Examination
Credit by Examination
Special Studies for Credit
Policy on Credit for Internships - The College of Arts and Sciences
Undergraduate Honors
Special Undergraduate Programs
Academic Assistance
Bruce W. Carney, Ph.D., Interim Dean
William L. Andrews, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean for Fine Arts and Humanities
Thomas B. Clegg, Ph.D., Interim Senior Associate Dean for the Sciences
Karen Gil, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean for Social and Behavioral Sciences
James W. May, M.A., Senior Associate Dean for Development and Executive Director of the Arts and Sciences Foundation
Tammy McHale, M.B.A., Senior Associate Dean for Finance and Planning
Bobbi Owen, M.F.A., Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
Division of Fine Arts
James Hirschfield, Ph.D., Chair
Terry Rhodes, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Departments
Art, Dramatic Art, Music
Division of the Humanities
James Thompson, Ph.D., Chair
Alan Life, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Departments
American Studies, Classics, Communication Studies, English and Comparative Literature, Germanic Languages and Literatures, Linguistics, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Romance Languages and Literatures, Slavic Languages and Literatures, Women’s Studies
Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Patricia Gensel, Ph.D., Chair
Dorothy Erie, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Departments
Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Exercise and Sport Science, Geological Sciences, Marine Sciences, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, Psychology, Statistics and Operations Research
Curricula
Applied Sciences and Engineering
The Division of the Social and Behavioral Sciences
Helen Tauchen, Ph.D., Chair
John Florin, Ph.D., Vice Chair
Departments
Aerospace Studies, African and Afro-American Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, City and Regional Planning, Economics, Geography, History, Military Science, Naval Science, Political Science, Public Policy, Sociology
Curricula
Archaeology; European Studies; Environment and Ecology; International and Area Studies; Latin American Studies; Management and Society; Peace, War, and Defense; Russian and East European Studies
The Academic Advising Program
Carolyn C. Cannon, M.A., Associate Dean
Glynis Cowell, Ph.D., Assistant Dean
Alice C. Dawson, Ph.D., Senior Assistant Dean
Cheryl F. Junk, Ph.D., Assistant Dean
Barbara E. Lucido, M.Ed., Assistant Dean
Sherry Salyer, Ph.D., Assistant Dean
Elizabeth O. Shuster, Ph.D., Assistant Dean
Barbara Stenross, Ph.D., Senior Assistant Dean
Marilyn Wyrick, M.A., Senior Assistant Dean
Sarah Jacobson, B.A., Graduation Coordinator
Advisors
David Adamson, M.F.A.; Marc J. Alperin, Ph.D.; Todd L. Austell, Ph.D.; Gary Bishop, Ph.D.; Jennifer J. Browning, J.D.; Andrea L. Caldwell, M.S.; Aylim Castro, M.A.; Fred M. Clark, Ph.D.; George W. Cloud, M.A.; Drew S. Coleman, Ph.D.; Marcus L. Collins, M.S.; Carolyn S. Covalt, M.F.A.; Elizabeth Cox, M.Ed.; M. Richard Cramer, Ph.D.; Jean S. Desaix, Ph.D.; Stacy Edwards, M.A.; John Florin, Ph.D.; Anthony E. Hilger, Ph.D.; Kelly Hogan, Ph.D.; Sarah J. Howard, M.A.; Michael Jahn, M.A.; Elizabeth A. Jordan, Ph.D.; Roger J. Kaplan, Ph.D.; Richard A. King, Ph.D.; Lisa LaMantia, M.P.A.; Candis A. Laprade, Ph.D.; Shade Keys Little, M.S.; George E. Maitland, Ed.D.; Gustavo P. Maroni, Ph.D.; Lee Y. May, Ph.D.; Laura McQueen Earhart, M.Ed.; Mérida Negrete, M.M., Musc.Ed.; Harriet Nittoli, Ph.D.; Julianne B. Page, M.S.N., R.N.; Valerie C. Pruvost, Ph.D.; Stephen R. Quint, Ph.D.; Joy J. Renner, M.A., R.T.; Ellen K. Rozan, B.A.; Chloe J. Russell, B.A.; Kenneth B. Shugart, M.A.; Barbara D. Stegenga, M.S.; Christy Walker, M.S.; Linwood Webster, M.S.; Andre Wesson, B.A.; Melissa Wheeler, M.F.A.; Harold Woodard, M.A.
The Academic Advising Program provides academic advising to all students in the General College and the College of Arts and Sciences. All first-year students and sophomores are enrolled in the General College. While in the General College, students are expected to complete the Foundations and Approaches requirements of the General Education curriculum. These required courses, in combination with electives and Connections courses, provide students the opportunity to explore different areas of interest before declaring a major.
The charge of the Academic Advising Program is to assist students with all aspects of their academic planning while providing a foundation for appropriate academic decisions. Each new student in the General College and the College of Arts and Sciences is assigned a primary advisor. Advisors provide students with assistance and advice in selecting courses, maintaining required scholastic standards, and planning a complete educational program. Advisors also help to ensure that students are making satisfactory progress towards their degree. Advisors discuss choices about majors with advisees and help them identify appropriate courses to satisfy General Education and major/minor requirements. In addition, advisors explain academic policies, procedures, and regulations, and provide referrals to appropriate campus resources as needed. Advisors’ office locations, office hours, and contact information are posted on the Web at advising.unc.edu.
During their junior and senior years, students pursue academic majors either in the College of Arts and Sciences or in one of the professional schools. To proceed with a major in the College of Arts and Sciences, students must meet the academic eligibility requirements discussed in later sections of this bulletin. To enter a professional school, students must be accepted into the program. (See admission information for professional schools in later sections of the Undergraduate Bulletin.)
As juniors and seniors, students receive academic advice regarding major studies, course registration, graduate school, internships, and career opportunities from their major departments, interdisciplinary major curricula offices, or from the professional school to which they have been admitted. Students in majors that are part of the College of Arts and Sciences should also consult with an advisor in the Academic Advising Program at least once each year to ensure that they are making acceptable progress toward meeting degree requirements. Each student is ultimately responsible for selecting appropriate courses and complying fully with all published regulations and requirements of the College.
To avoid problems with registration and to ensure graduation by the expected date, students are strongly encouraged to declare a major during their sophomore year or early in their junior year. Students who have not declared a major by the beginning of their fifth semester will not be permitted to register for their sixth semester until they have consulted with an advisor in the Academic Advising Program and chosen a major. Students who have not declared a major by the beginning of their fifth semester will be notified of the impending penalty associated with their registration for the next semester.
Students are expected to complete their undergraduate degree in eight semesters. Summer terms are not included in this semester count. Students entering the University as first-year students in summer 2007 or later, as sophomore transfer students in summer 2008 or later, or as junior transfer students in summer 2009 or later who wish to attend a ninth semester must submit a written petition to and receive permission from their dean. Students who receive approval to attend a ninth, or rarely, a tenth, semester will graduate with one major only and no minors.
Classification (Class Standing)
The following changes regarding class standing were approved by Faculty Council in February 2007, but will not be in effect until the implementation of a new software system in 2010.
All students who begin their undergraduate career at UNC–Chapel Hill are considered first-year students for the first and second semesters. As students enter the third semester, their class standing is calculated based on academic credit hours passed, according to the following schema:
1–29 credit hours First-Year Student
30–59 credit hours Sophomore
60–89 credit hours Junior
90 + credit hours Senior
First-year students entering the University on or after May 14, 2007, will be promoted from the General College to the College of Arts and Sciences once they have completed at least two semesters in residence and passed at least 60 academic credit hours (including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, any other "by-examination" credit, and transfer credit). Some students enter the College of Arts and Sciences upon admission to the University as junior transfers from other colleges.
Please note: A student’s first available date for registration is based on the number of semesters completed, and promotion to the College of Arts and Sciences does not imply that this date will be advanced.
Note: Until the preceding classification system is implemented, the following rules are in effect.
Students are promoted from the General College to the College of Arts and Sciences after their fourth semester. Other students enter the College of Arts and Sciences upon admission to the University as junior transfers from other colleges. Students in the General College may request transfer to the College of Arts and Sciences at the end of their first year provided they have completed two semesters in residence with a grade-point average of 3.00 or higher and at least 45 academic hours passed (including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, any other "by examination" credit, and transfer credit). Such early promotion to the College of Arts and Sciences does not imply, however, that a student’s first available date for registration will be advanced.
Prehealth Advising
UNC–Chapel Hill has no formal predental or premedical curriculum. Instead, students should choose one of the traditional four-year B.A. or B.S. degree programs. Students are advised to begin their premed/predent requirements early in their college career. CHEM 101 and 101L should be taken in the first semester if possible. Help for students thinking about ANY health profession is available from the Health Professions Advising Office. Because requirements for health professions schools change frequently, the Health Professions Advising Office strongly encourages students to visit that office soon after entering the University to learn the latest course requirements and other preparations necessary to become an outstanding candidate for the health career of choice. The office gives advice concerning all health professions, including medicine, dentistry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, nursing, pharmacy, physician assistant, veterinary medicine, and the other allied health professions. Preliminary information may be found on the office’s Web site at prehealthadvising.unc.edu.
Prelaw Advising
Many students enter the University each fall with aspirations to attend law school. At UNC–Chapel Hill there is no formal curriculum for prelaw students. Instead, students should follow one of the traditional four-year B.A. or B.S. degree programs. Most law schools do not require, or even recommend, that students major in any particular field. Most schools subscribe to the selection of a course of study that will provide a foundation for the undertaking of legal studies: reading, writing, speaking, and analytical and critical thinking skills. However, a student wishing to practice patent law will need a degree in one of the sciences.
Prelaw students should emphasize academics. The campus Learning Center offers programs designed to help enhance reading skills and provide preparation for the LSAT. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities. Students also are encouraged to visit the prelaw advisor in the Academic Advising Program. They may also wish to visit the prelaw Web site: http://advising.unc.edu/FieldsofStudy/prelaw.
Pre-Graduate School Advising
This resource is offered to students in the College of Arts and Sciences interested in pursuing graduate studies through their major departments.
Requirements for Degree Programs within the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences offers programs of study leading to the bachelor of arts degree and to the more specialized degrees of bachelor of science, bachelor of music and bachelor of fine arts. In all, students may choose from more than 50 major fields of study. Specific requirements for each major are stated in the "Academic Departments and Schools" section of this bulletin.
Bachelor of Arts
The bachelor of arts degree is awarded with majors in the following subjects:
African and Afro-American studies
American studies
Anthropology
Art history
Archaeology
Asian studies
Biology
Chemistry
Classics
Communication studies
Comparative literature
Computer science
Contemporary European studies
Dramatic art
Economics
English
Environmental studies
Exercise and sport science
Geography
Geological sciences
German History
Interdisciplinary studies
International and area studies
Latin American studies
Linguistics
Management and society
Mathematics
Music
Peace, war, and defense
Philosophy
Physics
Political science
Psychology
Public policy
Religious studies
Romance languages and literatures
Russian and East European area studies
Slavic languages and literatures
Sociology
Studio art
Women’s studies.
To graduate with a bachelor of arts degree, students must successfully complete at least 120 semester hours of course work and attain a final cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. Most courses, if repeated and passed more than once, will not count more than once toward credit hours required for graduation. Any exception to this policy, such as applied music, special studies, etc., must receive the express approval of the associate dean (or designee) in the Academic Advising Program. A minimum of 45 academic credit hours must be earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses, and at least 24 of the last 30 academic credit hours applied to the degree requirements must be earned in UNC–Chapel Hill courses.
To graduate, students must satisfy all General Education requirements and complete at least 18 semester hours in the major field; requirements vary by major. Unless specifically prohibited by departments or curricula, major courses may be used to satisfy General Education requirements, though few departments and curricula include Foundations courses in their majors. Courses in a student’s major or minor or cross-listed with the major or minor or specifically required for the major or minor may not be taken on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis. (See "Regulations Governing the Pass/D+/D/Fail Option.")
No more than 45 semester hours in any subject may be used toward fulfilling the B.A. graduation requirement. A maximum of 24 semester hours of courses from professional schools (business administration, education, information and library science, journalism and mass communication, law, social work, dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, or public health) may be taken for degree credit in B.A. and B.S. programs.
Students must complete a satisfactory major as prescribed by departmental or curriculum requirements. Although there is not a specific major GPA requirement, a minimum of 18 hours of C or better (C- does not qualify) in the major is required. Selected majors require 21 hours of C or better grades in the major. Students transferring credits in their major field must earn a grade of C (not C-) or better in at least three-fourths of the courses and credit hours in the major taken at UNC–Chapel Hill. Students transferring from another institution must take at least half of their major course requirements at UNC–Chapel Hill.
Students completing the requirements for a bachelor of arts degree and a bachelor of science degree in the College of Arts and Sciences will earn only one degree and receive only one diploma. (See "Academic Procedures.")
Bachelor of Science
Four-year programs leading to the degree of bachelor of science provide for specialization in a particular field and necessary instruction in related fields, including foreign language. In some B.S. programs, General Education requirements may be reduced. Most B.S. programs, however, require students to complete quantitative reasoning beyond the General Education minimum; some also require students to complete foreign language courses beyond the General Education minimum.
The bachelor of science degree is awarded with majors in applied sciences, biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, geological sciences, mathematical decision sciences, mathematics, physics, and psychology. Students completing the requirements for two bachelor of science degrees or one bachelor of science degree and a bachelor of arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences will earn only one degree and receive only one diploma. (See "Academic Procedures.")
Bachelor of Fine Arts
A four-year program leading to the degree of bachelor of fine arts is offered by the Department of Art. It provides, for qualified students, preprofessional training in creative aspects of the field of art. Approximately one-half of the program will be in the field of the major and the other half will be in the liberal arts and sciences.
Bachelor of Music
The four-year program leading to the degree of bachelor of music emphasizes training and achievement in the performance or composition of music. Approximately one-half of the program will be in the field of the major, and the other half will be in the liberal arts and sciences.
Combining Majors and Minors
The College of Arts and Sciences will award only one bachelor’s degree to a student. (See "Academic Procedures.") Students are permitted, however, to study up to three subjects in depth. They may do this by declaring two majors, one major and one minor, two majors and one minor, or one major and two minors. Students enrolled in the professional schools who wish to have a second major or minor in the College of Arts and Sciences must receive permission from their professional school.
A student may pursue in-depth study in multiple areas by meeting all major/minor requirements in each of the selected disciplines, in addition to General Education requirements. In many cases, it should be possible to do this with as few as 120 semester hours. Students who enter the University as first-year students in Summer 2007 or later and who wish to enroll in a ninth semester must submit a written petition to the Associate Dean of the Academic Advising Program. In some rare cases, students may petition to be allowed to enroll in a tenth semester.
Courses that can be used for two majors may be double-counted with the following general limitation: more than half (not merely half) of the courses and course credit hours taken in each major must be exclusive to that major. In a 10-course major, for example, at least six courses, and at least 51 percent of the credit hours, should be counted exclusively in that major; they should not double-count even if cross-listed with courses in the other major. Note: Some majors may further restrict double-counting courses.
Students who are pursuing two majors and a minor (or two minors and a major) may, in principle, use a single course to satisfy requirements in all three areas of study, provided that more than half (not merely half) of the courses and course credit hours taken in each major/minor are exclusive to that major/minor. That is, for each major/minor, more than half (not merely half) of the courses and course credit hours taken to satisfy the requirements must be counted exclusively; they may not double count even if cross-listed with courses in the other field. Some majors or minors may further restrict double-counting courses.
Academic Minors
The College offers academic minors in certain departments, curricula, and programs. In addition, arts and sciences students may minor—provided they are given permission by the respective professional schools—in business administration (Kenan–Flagler Business School), in information systems (School of Information and Library Science), and in journalism and mass communication (School of Journalism and Mass Communication ). Students enrolled in the professional schools who wish to have a second major or minor in the College of Arts and Sciences must receive permission from their professional school.
African studies (African and Afro-American Studies)
Afro-American studies (African and Afro-American Studies)
American studies
American Indian studies (American Studies)
Anthropology
Arabic (Asian Studies)
Archaeology
Art history
Asian studies
Astronomy (Physics)
Biology
Business (Kenan–Flagler Business School)
Chemistry
Chinese (Asian Studies)
Classical humanities (Classics)
Coaching education (Exercise and Sport Science)
Cognitive science (Psychology)
Comparative literature (English and Comparative Literature)
Computer science
Creative writing (English and Comparative Literature)
Christianity and culture (Religious Studies)
Dramatic art—dramaturgy, theatrical design, theatrical production
English
Entrepreneurship (Economics)
Environmental science and studies
Exercise and sport science
Folklore (American Studies)
French (Romance Languages and Literatures)
Geography
Geology
German
Greek (Classics)
Hindi-Urdu (Asian Studies)
Hispanic studies (Romance Languages and Literatures)
History
Information systems (School of Information and Library Sciences)
International American studies (American Studies)
Italian (Romance Languages and Literatures)
Islamic and Middle Eastern studies (Religious Studies)
Japanese (Asian Studies)
Jewish studies
Journalism and mass communication (Journalism and Mass Communication)
Latin (Classics)
Latina/o studies (English and Comparative Literature)
Linguistics
Marine sciences
Mathematical decision sciences (Statistics and Operations Research)
Mathematics
Medical anthropology (Anthropology)
Medieval studies (Classics)
Modern Hebrew (Asian studies)
Music
Philosophy
Philosophy, politics, and economics (Philosophy)
Physics
Portuguese (Romance Languages and Literatures)
Public policy
Recreation administration
Religious studies
Russian culture (Slavic Languages and Literatures)
Sexuality studies (Women’s Studies)
Slavic and East European languages
Slavic and East European cultures
Social and economic justice (Sociology)
Southern studies (American Studies)
Spanish for the professions (Romance Languages and Literatures)
Sustainability studies (Environment and Ecology)
Urban studies and planning (City and Regional Planning)
Women’s studies
Writing for the screen and stage (Dramatic Art)
The requirements and limitations that apply to all undergraduate academic minors are as follows:
• A student may have no more than two minors, regardless of the student’s major degree program. Departments may exclude certain minors from being elected and completed by students majoring in these departments.
• More than half (not merely half) of the credit hours and courses (including cross-listed courses) taken to satisfy the minor requirements must be counted exclusively in the minor and not double-counted in other majors or minors.
• At least nine hours of the four- or five-course minor must be completed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and not at other academic institutions. Certain departments may require that more than nine hours must be completed at the University.
• Some departments or curricula may disallow the use of courses in the minor as General Education courses.
• A minimum of 12 hours of C (not C-) grades or better is required in the minor, though some minors may require more.
• All courses in the minor department must be taken for a regular letter grade, though one exception to this rule will be allowed, as with courses in the major. That is, one Pass/D+/D/Fail course taken before the declaration of the minor may count toward that minor.
• If students plan to pursue the completion of a minor, they are encouraged to declare their minor by early in the junior year.
Credit by College Board Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate Examination
Students who meet UNC-Chapel Hill standards on certain approved College Board Advanced Placement examinations or examinations of the International Baccalaureate Program may receive academic credit for comparable University course work. Each year the Office of Undergraduate Admissions publishes the minimum scores necessary for the awarding of course credit; however, final authority for the awarding of this placement credit lies with the chair of the department or curriculum in which credit is to be received. Minimum scores for placement may change from year to year. It is the year in which the student began university study that determines the standards that apply, not the year in which the student took the examination. Such credit will not be contingent upon the completion of further work in the subject unless specified by an academic department.
Enrolled students who, through independent study or experience, have gained knowledge of the content of courses offered by the University for undergraduate credit may, with the approval of the department and school or college involved, receive credit (without grade) for such courses by special examination. Such an examination must be taken before the beginning of the last semester or full summer session before graduation, and the approval of the department and school must be received at least 30 days before the examination is taken. Departments may limit the number of by-examination (BE) credit hours that may be used in their majors. Native speakers may not use by-examination credit in their native language to reduce the requirements for a major in that language.
The University offers a variety of internships and independent study experiences for its students. These often fall under the category of special studies (SPCL) or departmental independent study courses. Twelve hours of graded special studies and/or departmental independent study credit may be counted toward graduation, though no more than six hours may be taken in any one semester. Students may participate in either formalized programs, or they may make individualized contracts for work under the supervision of a member of the permanent faculty, either at the department/curriculum level or at the college level. For Special Studies 390 and 396 (independent studies courses and other special courses administered through the college), no more than seven hours may be taken on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis. For information about independent studies courses and internships in their majors, students should consult the directors of undergraduate studies in their major department or curriculum; for information about internships administered through the College, students should consult their advisors and the director of experiential education. For all other special studies courses, students should consult the Office of Undergraduate Curricula.
Policy on Credit for Internships—The College of Arts and Sciences
No internship automatically earns academic credit. Students may seek credit for internships in two ways: through consultation with the director of undergraduate studies in their major department (for course credit in the department), or through consultation with the director of experiential education. Students are eligible to receive credit for an internship through SPCL 390 (section 004) if they meet the following criteria:
• They have a minimum GPA of 2.5
• They are unable to complete the internship under the auspices of their major departments
• Their internship is approved in advance by the coordinator for career services and the director of experiential education
• They complete a learning contract in the semester before they do the internship
• They comply fully with the terms of the learning contract
The deadline for completing paperwork approving credit for an internship is two weeks before the last day of classes in the semester preceding the internship.
Students who have completed the preliminary paperwork may sign up for SPCL 390.004 (for a Pass/Fail grade only) in the semester following the internship.
Degrees with Distinction
To graduate with distinction or with highest distinction, students must have completed at least 45 academic hours at UNC–Chapel Hill and have an overall grade point average of at least 3.5 or 3.8, respectively. The grade point average is based on the grades received and recorded by the Office of the University Registrar as of the degree award date. No changes are permitted to the awards after that date.
Degrees with Honors
Programs providing an opportunity for graduation with honors for qualified students are offered in all four divisions of the college (fine arts, humanities, natural sciences and mathematics, social and behavioral sciences). The honors programs are supervised by the individual departments and curricula, in conjunction with the associate dean for honors. Though they are not completely uniform in the various disciplines, all have the following general procedures and requirements:
Application for honors work: Students should apply to the honors advisor in their major departments or curricula. Ordinarily, application is made at the end of the junior year, although it is done earlier in some departments. Detailed information concerning the application should be obtained from the honors advisor in the major.
Requirements for eligibility: In general, a minimum overall grade point average of 3.200 is required for admission to senior honors work, though a higher average is required in some departments. Prior participation in the undergraduate honors program (see below) is not required.
Nature and purpose of honors study: Programs are provided for students who have demonstrated a very high level of scholastic ability and achievement and who desire to pursue an intensive, individualized program of study in their major discipline. Honors studies ordinarily will consist of one or more of the following: the preparation of an honors thesis or essay, an independent research or reading program, an artistic performance or exhibition, or the completion of advanced course work in the major not normally required of students in that major.
A special written or oral examination on the student’s program is required during the second semester of the senior year. The department may impose other requirements that it deems appropriate. In every instance, study for honors will require academic excellence. When the student has fulfilled all requirements, the department will recommend to the associate dean for honors that the degree be awarded with honors or with highest honors. The degree with highest honors is conferred in recognition of extraordinary achievement in honors program work and predominantly excellent course grades in the major.
Procedures for granting degrees with honors: The grade for course work in connection with an honors project is determined by the faculty sponsor and is (like all grades) subject to appeal. Successful completion of honors study does not automatically confer departmental honors. Before awarding a degree with honors, the College of Arts and Sciences requires the recommendation of a departmental honors committee on the basis of departmental criteria for honors (normally an excellent paper and/or examination and a high grade point average in the major field) and the endorsement of that committee’s recommendation by the departmental chair. A negative recommendation by the department is final and cannot be appealed. The associate dean for honors makes the final decision to award a degree with honors on the basis of the department’s positive recommendation and the student’s cumulative grade point average.
Phi Beta Kappa
This national collegiate honor society is open to undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences and in exceptional circumstances (as described below) to students enrolled in undergraduate professional degree programs. The following students in the College of Arts and Sciences are eligible for membership:
• Students who have completed at least 75 semester hours of graded academic course work taken at UNC–Chapel Hill with a grade point average of at least 3.85
• Students who have completed at least 105 semester academic course hours (which include at least 45 semester hours of graded academic course work taken at UNC–Chapel Hill) with a grade point average of at least 3.75.
No grades made at an institution from which a student has transferred shall be included in determining a student’s eligibility. The grade point average shall include all academic course work taken and counted at UNC–Chapel Hill toward the candidate’s degree. Grades and hours received on courses taken after the candidate has received his or her degree shall not be counted.
Undergraduate students not enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences who meet the general semester hours and grade point average described above and who have completed at least 90 semester hours of course work in the departments and curricula of the College of Arts and Sciences (or the equivalents accepted for transfer credit from other institutions) are eligible for election. These students may apply by submitting a current UNC–Chapel Hill transcript as well as transcripts for all college course work taken elsewhere. Applications for fall initiation must be submitted no later than September 15. Applications for spring initiation must be submitted no later than January 20.
Dean’s List
To be eligible for the Dean’s List, students must meet one of the following requirements:
• A 3.2 grade point average with no grade lower than C if enrolled in 15 or more hours of academic credit-bearing courses
• A 3.5 grade point average with no grade lower than C if enrolled in at least 12 but fewer than 15 hours of academic credit-bearing courses
The grade point average is based on the grades received and recorded by the Office of the University Registrar at the time the Dean’s List is published. No changes are permitted to the Dean’s List after that date.
Special Undergraduate Programs
The James M. Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence
James Leloudis, Ph.D., Director
Randi Davenport, Ph.D., Executive Director
The James M. Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence was founded to lead a renaissance in undergraduate education at Carolina. Building on the University’s 200-year commitment to outstanding teaching and scholarship, the Johnston Center serves as the intellectual crossroads of the College of Arts and Sciences and welcomes students, faculty, and staff from all departments and programs.
The Johnston Center supports curricular initiatives that enliven undergraduate education. It offers opportunities for learning outside of the traditional classroom and for creating the social context for the intellectual community that is the heart of the academy. The center hosts visits from civic and community leaders, philosophers, artists, scientists, poets, and politicians. It supports interdisciplinary programming, joining the interests and expertise of many different departments on campus to explore a common topic. The center also provides a warm and welcoming environment, where students can get to know their professors as scholars and as people, meet Carolina alumni, and perform or present their own creative and scholarly works.
The Johnston Center houses the undergraduate Honors Program, the Office of Burch Programs and Honors Study Abroad, the Office of Distinguished Scholarships, the Office for Undergraduate Research, the Robertson Scholars Program, and the Beasley Multimedia Center.
The Johnston Center also serves as a laboratory for innovation in teaching and learning by providing access to exceptional technology. Faculty and students use its state-of-the-art classrooms to engage in collaborative inquiry with peers close to home and around the globe. The center’s teleconferencing facilities connect UNC–Chapel Hill programs abroad back to campus and give students in Chapel Hill access to academic experts from all parts of the world.
The Johnston Center has a student-faculty advisory committee that advises its director on all aspects of programming and planning.
Undergraduate Honors Program
James Leloudis, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Honors
Ritchie Kendall, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Honors
The Honors Program offers exceptionally well-qualified students an opportunity to take part of their General Education curriculum and other course work in special honors seminars and honors sections.
Honors seminars are special topics courses that are often interdisciplinary and that emphasize new approaches to teaching. Honors seminars and honors sections of regular departmental offerings are limited in enrollment, usually to 15 or 20 students, and are taught by regular members of the faculty. These courses emphasize critical reading, class discussion, and expository writing. Departments and curricula often provide honors versions of the courses listed in their sections of this bulletin; interested students should consult the course listings at the Honors Program Web site at www.honors.unc.edu.
Some enrolling first-year students are invited to participate immediately in the Honors Program. Other students may apply to the program during their first or second years and receive invitations into the program on the basis of outstanding academic performance at Carolina. Honors students must take at least two honors courses during each academic year and maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 to remain in the Honors Program. Honors courses are open to all academically qualified students on a space-available basis.
The Honors Program Student Advisory Board coordinates social and cocurricular activities for Honors Program students. The activities include a faculty/student lecture and discussion series, presentations on various topics, and community service projects. The Honors Program also has semester and summer study abroad programs (see below).
Senior departmental honors programs are offered in nearly 50 departments, curricula, and professional schools throughout the University. Interested students should consult with the honors advisor in their major about its senior honors program. In order to graduate from the University with honors or with highest honors, a student must complete the senior honors program.
Burch Programs and Honors Study Abroad
Honors Study Abroad: The Honors Program offers innovative study abroad opportunities in London, Rome, and Cape Town. They are led by UNC–Chapel Hill faculty. Students take courses with instructors from some of the world’s leading institutions of higher education, and all of the programs provide honors graded credit for General Education and major requirements. Honors study abroad is open to all students with a 3.0 grade point average.
Burch Fellows Program: The Burch Fellows Program recognizes undergraduates who possess extraordinary ability, promise, and imagination. It provides grants to support self-designed off-campus experiences in the United States and abroad that will enable students to pursue a passionate interest in a way and to a degree not otherwise possible.
Burch Field Research Seminars: Burch Field Research Seminars offer students and faculty an opportunity to spend a full semester or summer session together engaged in a shared research project in the United States or abroad. Topics for recent seminars have included policy making and foreign affairs in Washington, DC, economic and social reconstruction in the Balkans, human rights law in Rwanda, documentary filmmaking in Thailand, and astronomical study at UNC–Chapel Hill’s telescope in the Chilean Andes. Seminars in new locations are added every year.
Office of Distinguished Scholarships
George Lensing, Ph.D., Director
The mission of the Office of Distinguished Scholarships (ODS) is to provide a central location for information on national and international distinguished scholarships, such as the Rhodes, Marshall, and Truman scholarships. ODS strongly believes in educating students about available opportunities and the preparation required to compete for these prestigious scholarships. The office provides regular informational sessions for students with a grade point average of 3.6 and above. Additionally, ODS advises students on their drafts of applications, suggests interviewing strategies, and facilitates contacts with faculty members who can assist with the writing of project statements.
For more information about the Office of Distinguished Scholarships and access to all the scholarships offered through this office, visit www.distinguishedscholarships.unc.edu.
Office for Undergraduate Research
Patricia J. Pukkila, Ph.D., Director
The Office for Undergraduate Research (OUR) was established in 1999 to help students learn about the expanding possibilities for research, mentored scholarship, or creative performance at UNC–Chapel Hill. It seeks to make research a distinctive feature of the undergraduate educational experience at this vibrant re- search university because it believes that students who understand how discoveries are made are well prepared to address the unsolved problems of the future. The office is located in 220 Graham Memorial and is a part of the Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence.
The OUR maintains several kinds of searchable databases, including listings of courses that introduce research methodologies, research-intensive courses in which over half of class time is devoted to students’ conducting original research and presenting research conclusions, courses that involve graduate students as research consultants to assist undergraduates with their projects, postings of current undergraduate research opportunities on campus, and descriptions of what Carolina students have accomplished. The OUR also sponsors a Celebration of Undergraduate Research each spring, which allows students to present their results to the campus and community. There are also funding opportunities available through the OUR that provide the necessary support for students to conduct summer research, travel to professional meetings to present their work, or pay for essential research supplies.
In 2008 the OUR initiated the Carolina Research Scholars Program (CRSP), which is open to all undergraduates. Participants who complete the required course work, including an introductory Modes of Inquiry seminar and research-intensive courses, and who present their original work at the campus undergraduate research symposium or at a professional conference, will receive official University recognition on their transcripts for their contributions.
For more information about the Office for Undergraduate Research and for access to all the programs and databases, visit the Web site at www.unc.edu/depts/our.
Office of Experiential Education
Kenneth Janken, Ph.D., Director
The Office of Experiential Education seeks to create, promote, expand, and publicize the experiential learning available to Carolina’s undergraduates. As defined by the University, courses may meet the experiential education requirement if they include sustained, faculty-mentored research; have been approved as service-learning courses; have 30 hours or more of field trips or fieldwork; are department- or university-unit internships; are part of an approved study abroad program; or have direct and sustained engagement in a creative process under faculty supervision. The director of experiential education identifies existing opportunities, facilitates the creation of new opportunities, and helps to communicate information about experiential education to both students and faculty. The director also supervises and evaluates certain kinds of student internships administered through the College of Arts and Sciences.
For more information about the Office of Experiential Education, visit the Web site at www.unc.edu/depts/uc/exped.html.
Study Abroad
Robert Miles, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Study Abroad and International Exchanges
Living and studying in another culture is a crucial part of an undergraduate education for all majors. Undergraduate students who wish to receive credit for study abroad may do so only on officially sanctioned UNC–Chapel Hill programs, by applying through one of the following offices that administer study abroad programs: the College of Arts and Sciences Study Abroad Office located in the FedEx Global Education Center; the UNC–Chapel Hill Summer School Office, 134 East Franklin Street; and the Kenan–Flagler Business School B.S.B.A. program, McColl Building. Study abroad credit will be awarded only to students who participate in the programs administered by these UNC–Chapel Hill offices. Students who wish to participate in other programs for academic credit may submit a petition for approval only to the Study Abroad Office. Deadlines and procedures are available from the Associate Director for Advising in the Study Abroad Office. Not all program petitions are granted.
The Study Abroad Office facilitates all study abroad programs designed and offered within the College of Arts and Sciences, including Honors Study Abroad Programs, Burch Field Research Seminars, and UNC Institute for the Environment Programs. The Study Abroad Office also operates undergraduate student exchange programs and a number of programs led by UNC–Chapel Hill faculty members. Study abroad programs are available in more than 70 countries. There are summer, semester, and year-long programs.
Many programs for UNC–Chapel Hill students offer a varied curriculum, while some are focused on a particular academic discipline. Students are strongly advised to begin to plan their academic program by first arranging an advising session in the Study Abroad Office. Students may fulfill elective, General Education, and major/minor requirements abroad. Approval for major/minor credits must be granted by the director of undergraduate studies in the relevant department, and approval for General Education requirements must be granted by the Study Abroad Office, which coordinates the approval process in both instances. Some programs, most often those taught by UNC–Chapel Hill faculty, offer University graded course credits. Most programs will offer transfer credit that can also be used to fulfill requirements toward graduation.
Through informational meetings and individual counseling, the Study Abroad Office advising staff assists students in choosing the best programs for their needs, in devising an academic schedule, and in making housing arrangements. The Study Abroad Office requires students to attend a predeparture program during which they receive valuable information regarding safe travel, managing money abroad, credit issues, and managing cultural adjustment. The office maintains contact with the students while they are abroad and provides a re-entry program upon their return to UNC–Chapel Hill.
First Year Seminars and Academic Experiences
J. Steven Reznick, Ph.D., Associate Dean
The First Year Seminars program at UNC–Chapel Hill builds and sustains a vibrant campus-based educational community committed to the success of first-year college students by coordinating a varied offering of seminar-format courses that allow students to work closely with faculty on intriguing topics.
First-year seminars offer an introduction to the intellectual life of the University. Taught by University faculty members who are active scholars and accomplished teachers, each seminar enrolls approximately 20 first-year students. The courses address a range of topics across disciplines, often including the most pressing issues of the day. First-year seminars share a common focus on how scholars pose problems, discover solutions, resolve controversies, and evaluate knowledge.
Students in first-year seminars are active participants in the learning process. The seminars encourage self-directed inquiry by using a variety of activities inside and outside the classroom, including field work, case studies, performances, computer projects, laboratory explorations, archival research, and group presentations.
For more information about the First Year Seminars program, visit the Web site at www.unc.edu/fys. The Web site is designed to provide students, parents, faculty members, and the wider intellectual community information about the First Year Seminars program. Students can learn what courses are being offered, gain information on registration procedures, and find examples of the kinds of experiences that first-year seminars provide.
The Office for Student Academic Counseling
Harold Woodard, M.A., Associate Dean
Marcus Collins, M.S., Assistant Dean
Dara Slivka, MAEd., Program Assistant
The Office for Student Academic Counseling (OSAC) offers academic and personal support to all UNC–Chapel Hill students. OSAC has historically sponsored programs and activities that promote academic excellence, increase retention, and improve the campus climate for diversity among American Indian and African American undergraduates. Support provided by OSAC includes the Minority Student Advisory Program, cultural and personal enrichment sessions for American Indian students, the Community Ties Adult Mentoring Program for American Indian first-year students, the STAR Network, and the Annual Academic Achievements (3.0) Recognition Ceremony. Historically, OSAC has worked cooperatively with members of several student organizations, including Black Women United, the Black Student Movement, the National Panhellenic Council, the Asian Student Association, the Carolina Hispanic Association, and the Carolina Indian Circle. Among the tribes that have been represented in the Carolina Indian Circle are the Lumbee, Cherokee, Coharie, Haliwa-Saponi, Meherrin, and Waccamaw Siouan. An associate dean, an assistant dean, and an program assistant work with several graduate students to meet the needs of any UNC–Chapel Hill student requesting assistance. Visit OSAC’s administrative offices in 105A Abernethy Hall or call (919) 966-2143.
Academic Services
Shade K. Little, M.A., Interim Associate Dean
The Office of Academic Services offers programs to help students achieve academic success. Its programs include the Academic Support Program for Student Athletes; the Learning Center, which includes the Academic Success Program (formerly Learning Disabilities Services); the Summer Bridge Program; the General Chemistry Resource Center; the Math Help Center; and the Writing Center. Links to these programs are accessible via the site for Academic Services, www.unc.edu/depts/acadserv.
The College of Arts and Sciences has developed these programs to assist all students in achieving academic success. With an emphasis on students in the General College, but open to all students, the programs are intended to strengthen academic skills. Although they cover a range of academic disciplines, the programs share common goals: to be responsive to students’ individual needs and to provide appropriate services so students can gain the confidence essential to their success at the University.
The Office of Academic Services is under the direction of the associate dean for academic services in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Academic Support Program for Student Athletes
Robert Mercer, M.Ed., Director
The Academic Support Program for Student Athletes, located in Kenan Field House, assists the University’s student-athletes in reaching their academic goals.
The staff provides academic counseling, a first-year transition program, eligibility monitoring, study skills development workshops, tutoring, and a supplemental instruction program. The center’s facilities include a computer lab, group and private study rooms, a reading lounge, and a 130-seat auditorium.
For more information, contact Robert Mercer, Director, Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes, Student-Athlete Development Center, P.O. Box 2126, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2126, (919) 966-4102 or rmercer@uncaa.unc.edu.
General Chemistry Resource Center
Todd Austell, Ph.D., Coordinator
The Chemistry Resource Center supplements class instruction for any student enrolled in CHEM 101 General Chemistry I and CHEM 102 General Chemistry II as well as CHEM 241, 241H, 261, 261H, 262, and 262H. When the University is in session, tutors are on duty in the Dobbins Chemistry Resource Center, currently located in Morehead Labs 305, Monday through Thursday from noon to 6:00 p.m. Students may drop in to ask questions, discuss course material, and work through problems.
Learning Center
Martha Keever, Ph.D., Director
The Learning Center, located in the Student and Academic Services Building North on the corner of Ridge Road and Manning Drive, aims to help students become self-confident, self-directed learners. While the immediate goal of the Learning Center is improving students’ abilities to learn, remember, and solve problems, the center’s ultimate goal is increasing student achievement through retention and graduation. To make an appointment with a counselor or check out this year’s event calendar, visit the Learning Center’s Web site at www.unc.edu/depts/lcweb.
The center’s programs include
• Academic counseling and individual assistance with attaining academic goals
• The Reading and Learning Lab, a program through which students can discover effective reading and learning strategies
• Supplemental instruction and guided study groups to help participants blend how to learn with what to learn, as well as a Peer Tutoring Program offering tutorial assistance to enhance students’ understanding of many subjects
• Inexpensive courses to help students prepare for the GRE, LSAT, GMAT, and MCAT (fees are currently $150 per course)
• The Academic Success Program for Students with LD/ADHD (see description below)
Academic Success Program for Students with LD/ADHD
Theresa Maitland, Ph.D., Coordinator
The Learning Center’s Academic Success Program for Students with LD and ADHD (formerly Learning Disabilities Services), located in Suite 2109 of the Student and Academic Services Building North, offers services for students with documented learning disabilities and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD). In the Academic Success Program for Students with LD and ADHD, students work collaboratively with staff to create alternative strategies to overcome the barriers caused by their disabilities without lowering academic standards or their academic goals. Students can also work with staff to review their evaluations in order to better understand how LD and/or ADHD impact their lives, and how to better advocate for themselves. CoActive Coaching—a partnership designed to help students develop self-determination in order to take action toward setting and achieving fulfilling goals—is also available.
The staff determines legally mandated accommodations for students with LD and ADHD and collaborates with the Department of Disability Services in providing them. Depending upon the impact of a student’s disability, accommodations may include priority registration, access to lecture notes, assistive reading technology, and test-taking modifications (extended time, separate administration in a quiet space, assistive technology, and the use of a computer for written exams). The staff also serves as a resource to both the UNC–Chapel Hill campus and the larger community. Visit the program’s website at www.unc.edu/asp.
Math Help Center
Brandyn Lee, Director
The Math Help Center, located in 224 Phillips, provides additional instructional support for those students enrolled in MATH 110 through 233. The center is staffed by both graduate and undergraduate tutors, who work with students in small groups or individually. The center’s main purposes are to provide assistance and to increase the success rate for students in specified math courses. To make an appointment or access online resources, visit the Web site at www.math.unc.edu/HelpCenter.
Summer Bridge Program
Marcus Collins, MS., Director
The Summer Bridge Program is a seven-week residential academic support program for a select group of entering first-year students who are residents of North Carolina. The program is designed to ease participants’ personal and academic transition from high school to the University. Students enroll in an English composition course and a mathematics course. Introductory chemistry is also offered to qualified students. Program participants receive learning strategies instruction offered by the Learning Center. Cultural and recreational activities are significant components of the program as students are introduced to the University and the vast array of opportunities available.
Writing Center
Vicki Behrens, Ph.D., Interim Director
The Writing Center is located on the lower level of the Student and Academic Services Building North. It offers free, one-on-one writing instruction to students, staff, and faculty members. Tutors work with students on all aspects of writing, including topic development, organization, style, and grammar. Individual or small-group tutorial sessions are available by appointment and through an online service. To make an appointment or access online resources, visit the Web site at www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb.