Programs of Study

Candidates for a B.A. degree select a program of study from the following: Accounting, American Studies, Art History, Behavioral Neuroscience, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Business Administration, Business Analytics, Chemistry, Classical Archeology, Classics, Communication, Computer Science, Computer Science with Business, Computer Science with Mathematics, Criminal Justice, Cyber Criminology, Dance, Data Science and Analytics, Economics, Elementary Education, Engineering Physics, English, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Finance, Forensic Science, French, German Studies, Graphic Design, Great Books, History, Information Systems, International Business Administration, International Relations, Legal Studies, Marketing,  Mathematics, Mathematics with Economics, Music, Natural Science, Peace and Justice Studies, Philosophy, Physics, Politics, Psychology, Secondary Education, Social Work, Sociology, Spanish, Studio Art, or Theology.

Candidates for a B.S. degree select a program of studies from the following: Accounting, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Community Public Health, Health Sciences, Nursing, or Physics.

Graduate programs include the Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice and Master of Education with Special Education Licensure.

All undergraduate and graduate programs are submitted to the Academic Dean for approval. Undergraduate programs are designed 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. Graduate programs must adhere to approved College and professional guidelines.  Specific requirements are indicated under individual department sections.

Nursing

The student pursues the sequence of courses listed under the Department of Nursing. 

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-Health, 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 a Pre-Law advisor for guidance on preparing for their law school application process. Each semester, the Office of Academic Advisement also offers workshops on the law school admission process and the legal profession.

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

Engineering: Saint Anselm College offers a five-year liberal arts and engineering program in affiliation with other institutions. Students spend three years at Saint Anselm and two years at the partner school, after which they will have a BA in Physics from Saint Anselm and a BS in an engineering discipline from the partner school. Requirements vary by program and partner school, and students are therefore required to work with their academic advisor in order to ensure that they meet the specific requirements for the program they choose. For additional information, please contact the Chair of the Physics Department.

Community Engaged Learning

Community engaged learning is an educational strategy that allows students the opportunity to apply important course concepts through significant engagement with the community. A number of faculty members at Saint Anselm have integrated community-engaged learning into their courses. Every semester, the Meelia Center for Community Engagement manages community -engaged learning placements and support for a dozen academic departments, nearly 20 courses and around 300 community engaged learners. Students apply faculty developed course learning goals at sites selected specifically for their classes. The Meelia Center’s student coordinating staff manages and supports the placement of community engaged learners at nearly fifty community learning sites

Community-engaged learners have the opportunity to work with infants, K-12 schools, English language learners, teens experiencing homelessness, elderly coping with Alzheimer’s, hospice patients and survivors of domestic violence to name a few. Most community-engaged learners go into the community for their learning, although on-campus opportunities exist, including through Access Academy where Manchester high school students from more than 25 countries come to campus for student and faculty taught classes. In addition, some students engage in class-based projects in support of community, while other departments allow students to perform research that helps community partners answer critical questions that are important to their work.. Learning opportunities exist for all levels of experience and all interests.

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 junior year. Candidates must have an average GPA of 2.00 in the required courses for successful completion of the minor.

1. The minimum number of courses to complete a minor is 5 (20 credits).
2. The maximum number of courses to complete a minor is 7 (28 credits).
3. The majority of courses presented for the minor must be taken at Saint Anselm College.

A student with an interest in a minor may experience irresolvable conflicts in scheduling, the cancellation of a course because of under enrollment, and/or 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 undergraduate 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, capstone experiences, 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(s) and the Office of the Academic Dean. 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/or 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. 

Internal Transfer Policy to Earn a Second Bachelor’s Degree

Saint Anselm College provides students who have completed their first baccalaureate degree with the opportunity to complete an additional major while pursuing a second degree.

Note: Students should be aware that not all majors may be eligible for the second degree option.

A student who wishes to return to Saint Anselm College to pursue further study following graduation may do so under the following conditions:

• Students must apply through the Office of Admissions.

• Students must be eligible for and intend to complete a second major.

• Only course work taken at Saint Anselm College can be applied for the second degree.  (Exceptions to this policy may be made by the Academic Dean.)

• Students must complete the equivalent of a full year of study - that is, 32 credits.

• Students may count up to 96 credits of their previous work toward future work at Saint Anselm College.  Departments may have additional restrictions in regard to their major. 

• The College may not be able to guarantee courses availability for completion of a second degree within a year

• Students will begin their second degree with a new GPA.  Course work completed for a student’s first bachelor’s degree-including in a student’s second major - will be treated as internal transfer courses, and, as such, they will not count towards the second major’s GPA.

• Students must achieve a 2.0 in their major courses and in their cumulative GPA in order to earn a second degree.

• Students must pass all their first semester courses in order to continue to the second semester.

Application for the second bachelor’s degree must typically be submitted to the Office of Admission by June 1st for the fall semester or December 1st for the Spring semester.

Housing and Financial/Institutional aid may not be available to students applying for a second degree.

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. 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.  A 75-minute class is 1.5 clock hours.  Therefore a TR class from 11:30-12:45 is comprised of three academic or clock hours per week. 

Examples of engaged student learning in the classroom include: lecture, discussion, group work, studio work, lab work, etc. Examples of engaged student learning outside the classroom include: reading, writing, work with other students, research, film watching, service learning, internship, online activities, etc.

A course’s credit value, then, may be established in a variety of ways. For example:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.