College of Arts and Sciences 

The General Education Requirement (GER) includes the GER Common Courses requirement, the GER University Distribution requirement, and GER free electives. Depending on the academic discipline, there may also be a GER Divisional Distribution requirement.

GER COMMON COURSES

To enable students to share a widened range of reference, an experience in critical thinking, and skill in effective and reflective communication, certain courses are established as common to all curricula. The common course component includes six courses, distributed as follows:
ENG 1011 The Craft of Language
ENG 1021 Texts and Contexts
PHL 1011 The Human Person
PHL 1031 Moral Philosophy
HIS 1011-1021 Historical Introduction to Western Civilization

GER UNIVERSITY DISTRIBUTION

The GER University Distribution requirement includes fourteen courses, exclusive of free electives, distributed as follows:
Foreign Language (two courses at intermediate level)
The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by two courses in a modern or classical foreign language at the intermediate (1211-1221) level or higher. Students who have insufficient preparation for language study at this level may satisfy the requirement through an intensive three-semester, twelve-credit sequence (SPA 1011, 1021, 1031 or SPA 1051, 1061, 1071) which is designed to result in a comparable level of proficiency. The initial course (1011) would then be used to fulfill a free elective requirement. Students whose primary language is not English may request permission to satisfy the language requirement by completing comparable courses in English. For more information click here.

Art/Literature (one course from either field)
The art/literature requirement may be satisfied by one of the courses listed in the GER section of the departmental listing for the Department of Fine and Performing Arts. This requirement may also be satisfied by a course in Fine and Performing Arts, courses in English, a modern foreign language, a classical language, or a course in classical literature in translation. The various departments list courses that satisfy this requirement in their departmental sections of this catalog. In addition to satisfying the art/literature requirement described above, humanities majors must also take a course in Fine and Performing Arts. That divisional requirement may be satisfied by completing any course in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts.

Mathematics (two courses)
Unless particular courses are specified by the major department, students may fulfill the mathematics requirement by completing any two mathematics courses (normally both semesters of a two-course sequence) for which they qualify.

Natural Sciences (two courses)
Students majoring in the natural sciences must meet the requirement as specified by their departments. Other students may satisfy the natural science requirement by completing any two of the introductory courses in biology, chemistry, or physics for which they qualify; or by completing any two of the special one-semester science courses designed for non-science majors.

Philosophy (one course)
In addition to the two philosophy courses specified under the GER common courses, all students are required to complete a course chosen from those listed under the heading Knowledge and Reality under Philosophy in this Catalog. PHL 1011 is prerequisite to all other courses offered in the department.

Social/Behavioral Sciences (three courses)
The social/behavioral sciences requirement requires three courses from economics, political science, psychology, or sociology, with no more than two courses from one area.

Economics—ECN 1011 and ECN 1021 may be taken independently; each course is prerequisite to a specified group of upper division courses.
Political Science—POL 1011 and POL 1031 may be taken independently. All upper division political science courses are open to non-majors.
Psychology—All psychology courses numbered 1001 to 1781 are specifically designed to satisfy the social/behavioral sciences requirement, as well as to serve as electives in the psychology major. Courses at the 2000 level or above may be taken to satisfy the requirement if the student has successfully completed PSY 1001.
Sociology—SOC 1011 and SOC 1021 may be taken independently, and either course serves as prerequisite for upper division courses in sociology which can satisfy the GER requirement.

Theology (three courses)
Theology, taught as an academic discipline not necessarily implying a faith commitment, is considered an essential element in the Jesuit tradition of a liberal arts education. For this reason, all students must fulfill the theology requirement. All students select a first course in theology from the courses
numbered THE 1111 through THE 1141; this course is prerequisite to all other courses offered in the department. All students select a second course from the courses numbered THE 1511 through THE 1591 and a third course from the courses numbered THE 2111 through THE 2891. For more information, click here.

GER DIVISIONAL DISTRIBUTION

The disciplinary divisions may also establish divisional distribution requirements for their own majors. Where such requirements have been established, they are listed for the various majors in the departmental section of this Catalog. In the Haub School of Business, the GER divisional distribution requirement has been designated as the Business Foundation.

GER FREE ELECTIVES
Electives in the General Education Requirement are chosen by the student with no departmental restrictions other than the ordinary prerequisites.

The ordinary Degree requirements are 40 courses, including the completion of the number of courses specified by the major with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0, along with the satisfaction of the General Education Requirement.

For the purpose of fulfilling curricular requirements, a course is any semester unit to which a value of three credits or more is assigned. A laboratory associated with a course is not considered as a separate course, even when it carries a separate course number and grade. Audit (non-credit) courses do not fulfill any requirement.

If you fail a required course, you have to make it up in the summer or as a sixth course (with permission of the associate dean). If you fail a course that is not required, you may make it up with another course. In either case, the original "F" grade remains on your transcript.

Merit Scholarships are contingent upon full time enrollment (12 credits a semester) and the annual required GPA as stipulated in the student's scholarship letter. A student's merit award can be reduced or revoked at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee if the student does not achieve the required cumulative grade point average as stipulated by their award. The review process will take place at the end of each academic year. If in the subsequent academic year, the required cumulative grade point average is not achieved, the scholarship can be revoked or further reduced. The Scholarship Committee will reinstate the award to its original annual amount should a student achieve the required cumulative point average at the time of the review process.
To contact your Financial Aid Counselor for any additional questions, click here or visit Saint Thomas Hall.

Students who fail to maintain the required grade point average or an acceptable level of progress toward the degree are placed on probation by their Dean, acting on the recommendation of the Board on Student Academic Review. A student on probation is required to report to the Dean, who may prescribe appropriate remedial measures, and is not permitted to register for more than five courses a semester. (If circumstances warrant, the Dean may require a student on probation to limit his/her course load to four with no reduction in tuition.)

Ordinarily, the period of probation will extend one semester, during which time the student must show sufficient improvement to raise his/her GPA above the minimum level. In extraordinary cases, one additional semester of probation may be allowed by the Board on Student Academic Review if the improvement during the first probationary semester indicates that the student will probably reach the necessary level by the end of the second probationary semester. A student may be permitted as many as three semesters of probations, provided that no more than two are consecutive.

A student on academic probation is ineligible to participate in major extracurricular activities, including intercollegiate athletics, or to serve as officer or director of any student activity.

A student who fails to make sufficient improvement in his/her level of performance or rate of progress during this period of probation is subject to academic dismissal by the appropriate Dean. While a student is normally granted at least one academic probation, the Board on Student Academic Review may recommend academic dismissal without any probation where the student's cumulative grade point average is so low that an academic probation would not be in the student's best interest. A student may also be dismissed or suspended from the University, i.e., prohibited from enrolling in and/or attending classes for a specified period of time, under the provisions of the Academic Honesty Policy.

All freshmen receive mid semester grades in both the fall and spring semesters. The Registrar's office sends grade reports to freshman advisors about a week before the deadline to withdraw from a course; grades are not sent directly to students. Freshmen should meet with their advisors during the ninth week of class to pick up their grades and discuss the next semester's registration. These grades are not available online. They do not remain as part of a student's permanent record but serve as an indication of academic progress.

Not in the freshman year. Declared majors are usually assigned freshman advisors from their major department. Undeclared students are usually assigned freshman advisors in their division. In many instances, freshman seminar professors serve as their students' freshman advisor. Students remain with their freshman advisor for the entire freshman year, even if students change their major. In the sophomore year, students are assigned advisors in their majors by the department chair. Some departments assign all majors in one cohort to a particular faculty member. Students may request a particular advisor when they discuss their declaration of major with the department chair. Students who have not declared a major by the end of their freshman year usually remain with their freshman advisor until they do so. For questions about freshman advising, Contact Donna Mallon, ,x 1280. For questions about major advisors, consult the department chair.

Student Services has a pamphlet that describes "typical" programs by major, which you can pick up in 121 Barbelin, or click here and select a major.

Students may drop a course during the first week of class and add another without penalty. After the first week of class, students may withdraw from a course but cannot add another. The grade "W" will appear on the transcript but is not calculated in the grade point average.

The Registrar's office mails grades to the student's home address a week after finals week. Grades are also available online through MySJU. Students should go to School Services, Administrative Services, Student Services and Financial Aid, and then "student records and payments." Then click on "Final Grades." Final grades can also be viewed on the transcript (see question 14). Advisors can access their advisees' final grades only by viewing student transcripts through MySJU. Go to School Services, Administrative Services and then Faculty Services and then the Advisor menu.

To change a major officially, students must fill out a "change of major" form, which requires a meeting with the present department chair (and a signature) and then a meeting with the prospective department chair (and a signature). The prospective chair will usually discuss the major requirements and assign the student a departmental advisor, effective immediately. The form then goes to the associate dean's office for a signature. To download the form, click here.

Students can access their curricular worksheets and transcripts through MySJU. Go to School Services, Administrative Services and then Student Services and Financial Aid. For curriculum worksheet, go to "Curriculum, Advising and Program Planning." For transcript, go to "student records and payments." Students should check these sites on a regular basis, at least once a semester and consult with their advisors if they have any questions. Advisors can access their advisees' curricular worksheets and transcripts through MySJU. Go to School Services, Administrative Services and then Faculty Services and then the Advisor menu. To request an official transcript, click here.

Many students study abroad in their junior year for a semester or for the entire academic year, both at Saint Joseph's sponsored programs and at programs based in other institutions. Students who are interested in Study Abroad should contact Mr. Thomas Kesaris, Director of the Center for International Programs (C.I.P.), 183 City Ave, x1835, cip@sju.edu or click here.

There is a variety of extracurricular opportunities available on campus. A good start is to contact the office for Campus Life in LaFarge Residence Center, x 1062 or click What can I do to ensure success in college? Where can I go if I need help?

Although there are no guarantees, the most important things you can do is go to class, keep up with your work, stay in contact with your advisor, and get involved. If you develop problems in a course, see your professor as soon as possible. Consult your advisor as well. For help with academics, visit the Learning Resource Center, Ms. Janis Wilkins-Mash, x1778, 303C Science Center or click here. For personal or emotional problems, visit the Counseling and Personal Development Center Dr. Gregory Nicholls, x1090, A504 Merion Gardens or click here.