Mar 28, 2024  
2015-2016 Catalogue 
    
2015-2016 Catalogue [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Programs of Study



Candidates for a degree select a program of studies from the following: Accounting, American Studies, Biochemistry, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Classics, Communication, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Economics, Education, English, Environmental Politics, Environmental Science, Fine Arts, Finance, French, German Studies, History, International Relations, Liberal Studies in the Great Books, Mathematics, Natural Science, Nursing, Peace and Justice Studies, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Spanish, or Theology. Depending on the educational objectives of the student, a combined or interdisciplinary course of studies may be appropriate. All programs should be submitted to the Dean of the College for approval. Programs should be planned to cover in sufficient depth a major field of concentration, to include ancillary courses in fields of related disciplines and elective courses, and to allow the student a sufficiently wide choice of courses in the liberal arts. At least eight courses in the major field, exclusive of introductory courses, are required for graduation. Specific requirements are indicated under individual department sections.

Engineering

Saint Anselm College offers a five-year liberal arts and engineering program in affiliation with the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana; the University of Massachusetts Lowell; The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C; and Manhattan College, Riverdale, New York. The student spends three years at Saint Anselm College completing a specified set of courses including studies in engineering, science, and mathematics, while fulfilling the Saint Anselm College core curriculum requirements. In an additional two years, at one of the above universities selected by the student, the remaining engineering requirements are fulfilled. Under this arrangement, after completing the Saint Anselm College graduation requirements, the student receives the Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Anselm College, and, upon the successful completion of the fifth year, an engineering degree from the cooperating institution’s School of Engineering.

Nursing

The student pursues the sequence of courses listed under the Department of Nursing. Preparation for graduate study occurs within the Department.

Preprofessional Advisement

The College offers several programs of study for students who are preparing for specific professions. Their content is determined largely by the general requirements for graduation and the particular requirements of individual programs.

Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental: The Health Professions Advisor and Chairperson of the Preprofessional Committee oversees the preparation of students intending to apply to schools of medicine (allopathic and osteopathic), dentistry, optometry, podiatry, or veterinary medicine as well as graduate programs in the allied health care professions. Whatever their major field, these students are directed to the prerequisite coursework and extracurricular experience that is appropriate for them and given guidance as they apply to professional school.

Pre-Law: No specific program of study is required to gain admittance to law school. Students should meet with the Director of Academic Advisement for guidance on preparing for law school. Each semester, the Office of Academic Advisement also offers workshops on academic planning and the law school selection and application process.

The Pre-Theological Program involves concentration in Philosophy, and courses in Classical and Modern Languages.

Service-learning

Service-learning is an educational strategy that allows students the opportunity to apply important course concepts through significant service to the community. A number of faculty members at Saint Anselm have integrated service-learning into their courses. Every semester the Meelia Center for Community Engagement manages service-learning placement and support for about 10 academic departments, over 20 courses and around 220 service-learners. Students apply course learning goals at sites selected specifically for their classes. The Meelia Center’s student coordinating staff manages the placement of  service-learners at nearly fifty  community learning sites.

Service-learners have the opportunity to work with infants, K-12 schools, English language learners, homeless teens, elderly coping with Alzheimer’s, hospice patients and victims of domestic violence to name a few. Most service-learners go into the community for their learning, although on-campus opportunities exist. In addition, many Fine Arts students engage in class-based art related service to the community, while other departments allow students to perform research into questions posed by the community. Learning opportunities  exist for all levels of experience, and all interests.

Service-learning enhances classroom learning. Through guided in-class and out-of-class reflections service-learners are encouraged to clarify the academic, personal, spiritual and civic learning components of the experience. Students frequently share the connections they have made in class, and their faculty are able to further develop students’ understanding of theory and practice.  All students in class can benefit from service-learning related discussions.   

The community involvement in service-learning provides additional benefits. The community is a vast source of knowledge and information that can flow back to the classroom, and an excellent place for Saint Anselm students to conduct further research. Over the years Saint Anselm service-learners have shown their ability and dedication, and the community agencies have responded by opening more doors for significant student involvement. It is not uncommon for service-learning experiences to evolve into internships or senior research projects. Efforts are underway to assist service-learners as they explore the civic dimensions of their service engagement, and define opportunities to help strengthen the community.

The Minor

Information on minors can be found in the department pages of the catalogue. For the best chance of completing a minor, students should declare the minor prior to the pre-registration period for the fall of their senior year. Candidates must have an average G.P.A. of 2.00 in the required courses for successful completion of the minor.  Further regulations regarding minors may be found on the Dean of the College’s web page.

A student with an interest in a minor may experience irresolvable conflicts in scheduling, the cancellation of a course because of under enrollment, the absence of faculty in a program due to other teaching assignments or sabbaticals. The College does not guarantee a particular minor nor a course in a particular program needed by a student to enter or complete a minor. A student who does not complete a minor in the course of his or her baccalaureate studies at the College may not initiate or complete a minor after earning a baccalaureate degree from Saint Anselm College.

The Double Major

Saint Anselm College students are allowed to pursue two majors.  Students must declare a second major by the second semester of their junior year.  Students must complete all degree requirements for both majors, including all coursework, comprehensive exams, senior theses, and major GPA requirements. Course substitutions in the 2nd major-because of unresolvable class conflicts-will only be considered on a case-by-case basis and in extenuating circumstances when deemed appropriate by the departmental chairperson and the Office of the Dean of the College. The college’s course repeat policy applies to both majors.

A student with an interest in a second major may experience irresolvable conflicts in scheduling, the cancellation of a course because of under enrollment, and the absence of  faculty in a program due to other teaching assignments or sabbaticals. The College does not guarantee a second major nor a course in a particular program needed by a student to enter or complete a second major.  A student who does not complete a second major in the course of his or her baccalaureate studies at the College may not initiate or complete a second major after earning a baccalaureate degree from Saint Anselm College.

The Credit Hour

One credit hour shall reasonably approximate not less than three hours of engaged student learning per week throughout the duration of the term. A course’s credit value, then, may be established in a variety of ways. For example:

  • Three credit lecture or seminar course. Three academic or clock hours* of class time and a minimum of six hours of out of class work per week. 
  • Four credit lecture or seminar course. Three hours of class time and a minimum of nine hours of out of class work per week. Four hours of class time and a minimum of eight hours of out of class work per week. 
  • One credit laboratory course. Two hours of laboratory time and a minimum of one hour of out of class work per week. Three hours of laboratory time and a minimum of zero hours out of class work per week. Three hours of laboratory time and a minimum of one hour out of class work per week for 11 weeks. Four hours of laboratory time per week for 11 weeks and a minimum of zero hours out of class per week. 
  • One credit studio course. Two hours of studio time and a minimum of one hour of out of class work per week. Three hours of studio time and a minimum of zero hours of out of class work per week. 
  • Three credit internship. Minimum of nine hours of direct or indirect internship work per week.

*Note: an “academic hour” or “clock hour” is defined as 50 minutes of class time: for example, a MWF class, from 8:30-9:20, is comprised of three academic or clock hours per week. 

Unless otherwise noted, each course is scheduled to meet the equivalent of three 50 minute class “hours” per week and carries four semester hours of credit.

The College reserves the right to change procedures, programs, curricula, courses, fees and charges, instructors and degree requirements without prior notice.  It further reserves the right to sever the connection of any student with the College for an appropriate reason.

NOTE:   The course sequence outlines appearing under each department are illustrative only, and do not supersede either general or departmental requirements. Extra-departmental courses ancillary to the major, and specified by name or course number in the sequence outlines, are considered to be an integral part of the major program.