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Graduation Requirements


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Graduation requirements and special academic programs at DePauw University lead to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Musical Arts and Bachelor of Music Education degrees.

DePauw's various individualized special academic programs leading toward the bachelor's degree and the prevocational and pre-professional programs leading toward professional degrees from other institutions also form the basis of a liberal arts education. The curricula are developed through 20 departments in the Asbury College of Liberal Arts and the School of Music. With the flexibility in the distribution requirements, a wide selection of courses is possible.

Normally, students are subject to the graduation requirements in effect when they first enroll at DePauw. Transfer students meet the requirements of the class with which they expect to graduate. If graduation requirements are subsequently changed, students have the option of graduating under the new requirements. Students who require more than four and one-half courses to complete their degree and interrupt their studies for more than a total of five years must meet the graduation requirements currently in effect when they graduate. Course work more than 10 years old will be reviewed by the appropriate department to determine whether it is still applicable toward the degree or needs additional work to bring it up-to-date.

 

GRADUATION RATE

DePauw graduates 74 percent of first-time degree students in four years. More than 79 percent of first-time degree students graduate in six years from DePauw.

Normally students are subject to the graduation requirements that are in effect when they first enroll at DePauw. Transfer students meet the requirements of the class with which they expect to graduate. If graduation requirements are subsequently changes, students have the option of graduation under the new requirements. Students who require more than four and one-half courses to complete their degree and interrupt their studies for more than a total of five years must meet the graduation requirements currently in effect when they graduate. Coursework more than 10 years old will be reviewed by the appropriate department to determine whether it is still applicable toward the degree or needs additional work to bring it up-to-date.

ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS

DePauw has considerably different academic expectations from those of high school and it is important that students adjust to these new expectations early in their college careers.

1. College is not the end of the educational process but a foundation for a lifetime of continued learning and growth. Therefore, one of the central goals of college is to help students develop a sense of responsibility for their own learning and the ability to learn on their own.
2. Accordingly, college students spend much less time in class than they did in high school but are correspondingly expected to do much more work outside class than they did in high school.
3. Students should expect to spend at least two hours studying outside of class for every hour in class. This means that they will be spending between forty and fifty hours a week (or more) on their academics, the equivalent of a full-time job.
4. Students are responsible for learning a great deal of the material on their own outside of the classroom.
5. Students should expect that course material will be covered at a much more rapid pace than they have experienced before. This expectation is partially based on the assumption that students are preparing carefully for class so that more material can be covered in class.
6. Students are expected to come to class prepared and ready to participate actively in the class session. They are expected to have read the texts and used other required materials carefully and comprehensively before the class session.

GENERAL POLICIES FOR ALL DEGREE PROGRAMS

The policies and requirements below apply to all students earning bachelor's degrees at DePauw. Although faculty advisers and others assist in academic planning, students are responsible for planning their programs and meeting all requirements for graduation.

 

  • Thirty-one courses are required for students earning Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.) and Bachelor of Musical Arts (B.M.A.) degrees. The Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) degree requires 32 courses.
  • Each student must complete a major and achieve a 2.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in that major and satisfy the senior major requirement. See specific majors for more information.
  • Fifteen courses including six of the last eight courses leading to a bachelor's degree must be completed in residence at DePauw or in a DePauw University-approved program.
  • Students must attain a cumulative GPA of 2.0. Students in the B.M.A. and B.M.E. programs need a minimum 2.5 GPA.
  • Students must complete distribution requirements appropriate to their degree objective. Satisfactory performance in proficiency examinations counts toward meeting distribution requirements.
  • Students in the College of Liberal Arts must demonstrate competence in writing (W), quantitative reasoning (Q) and oral communication skills (S). Students in the B.M.A. and B.M.E. programs complete W and S certification. B.Mus. students complete W certification.
  • Students must complete three Winter Term projects with satisfactory grades, including an on-campus Winter Term for first-year students.
  • Students may take up to three Pass/Fail courses excluding physical education activities and English 120. See Pass/Fail, for additional information.
  • A maximum of three internship course credits and five internship experiences (including Winter Terms) may be applied toward the bachelor's degree.
  • Transfer students must earn a 2.0 GPA for all courses taken at DePauw and must meet the requirements of the class with which they expect to graduate.

EXPLANATION OF GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

COMPETENCE REQUIREMENTS

Competence requirements represent a University-wide commitment to the basic areas essential to a liberal education:

  • expository writing,
  • quantitative reasoning,
  • oral communication.

Students must demonstrate their competence in these areas by satisfactorily completing courses which integrate these skills with academic subjects. Competence course offerings may not be taken Pass/Fail.

Writing The writing program at DePauw has a variety of levels to meet students' needs. Students are placed into the writing program based on a variety of factors: standardized test scores (SATV and ACTE), Advanced Placement in Writing (AP) score, writing samples, portfolios of previous college-level writings, transfer credit and college teachers' recommendations. They may be placed into College Writing I, College Writing II, College Writing for the Bilingual Student or a W course.

College Writing I (ENG 120) stresses the development of writing skills fundamental for expressing ideas, imagination and opinion. By means of short expository assignments, some of which may be based on their own experience, students develop fluency in written expression, clarity of style and proficiency in the use of language. ENG 120 is offered on a Pass/Fail basis.

College Writing II (ENG 130) refines and builds writing skills. It stresses the development of critical thinking skills, logical development of ideas and a coherent and readable style. In the course, students base their writing on both personal experience and the critical reading and viewing of materials from a variety of disciplines.

College Writing for the Bilingual Student (ENG 100) is offered for students whose native language is not English.

Students are expected to complete ENG 100, 120 or 130 in the semester assigned. They may withdraw from these courses only under exceptional circumstances, such as extended illness, with the permission of the Petitions Committee.

In addition to the composition courses, students in the College of Liberal Arts must fulfill the University's expository requirement in W courses taught by faculty members representing most departments throughout the University.

A student is eligible to elect a W course either through placement or after earning the grade of C- or better in College Writing II (ENG 130). W courses are offered in several academic subjects each semester, have limited enrollments and give one course credit. They combine an emphasis on academic content with practice in writing. Such courses encourage:

  • the logical development of argument, clear and precise diction and a coherent prose style;
  • the development of general skills of expository writing as these apply in the academic disciplines; and
  • the responsible, appropriate and effective use of special or technical language. W courses may not be taken on a Pass/Fail basis, and certification of writing competence will be separate from the grade earned in the course.

Students must achieve W certification by the end of their sophomore year. If certification is not attained before the second semester of the sophomore year, students must complete a W course each succeeding semester until certification is achieved.

In a few exceptional cases, students may fulfill the W requirement through a portfolio of the college-level writings. To request this exception, students must:

  • be eligible to take a W course;
  • submit an application (and learning contract if certification is to be based on anticipated work) to the director of Writing Placement with a copy to the Office of Academic Affairs by the eighth week of the first semester of their sophomore year, or, in the case of those who transfer after that, by the eighth week of their first semester at DePauw;
  • submit a portfolio of their own college-level writing, done either at DePauw or at another college or university, in courses which provide attention to the writing process similar to that found in W courses at DePauw.

The portfolio must contain both out-of-class and in-class writing (essay examinations, for example). There must be a minimum total of 16 pages (at least 4,000 words) in the portfolio. The quality of the writing in the portfolio must correspond to the quality of writing of those who have completed W courses at DePauw, according to the judgment of the director of Writing Placement and at least one other W-certified instructor. The director of Writing Placement will notify the Registrar and the Office of Academic Affairs of the outcome and report this action to the Writing Program Coordinating Committee.

Quantitative Reasoning Based on standardized test scores and other evidence of preparation, each student upon entering the University either is placed into Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning (UNIV 101) or is eligible to enroll in a quantitative reasoning Q course.

Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning, taught by faculty from a variety of disciplines, reviews mathematical concepts and develops critical thinking skills through solving problems in measurement, geometry, statistics and algebra. By improving their ability to think with numbers and to use evidence appropriately, students learn a variety of problem-solving techniques.

Students are expected to complete UNIV 101 in the semester they are assigned. They may withdraw only under exceptional circumstances, such as extended illness, with the permission of the Petitions Committee.

A student is eligible to elect a Q course either through placement or through earning a grade of C- or better in UNIV 101. Q courses are offered in several academic subjects each semester, subject to approval by the Q committee, and normally give one course credit. They combine an emphasis on quantitative reasoning with mastery of course content. Such courses encourage:

  • understanding of the quantitative concepts, representational formats and methodologies of a particular discipline;
  • evaluating quantitative evidence and arguments;
  • decision-making based upon quantitative information;
  • active learning through problem-solving, laboratory experiments and projects.

Students must achieve Q certification by the end of their junior year. If certification is not attained by the end of the first semester of the junior year, students must complete a Q course each succeeding semester until certification is achieved.

Under unusual circumstances, students may receive Q certification in a non-Q course taken at DePauw that includes substantial quantitative work when the following criteria are met:

  • the course meets the guidelines for a Q course;
  • the student is eligible to take a Q course upon entering DePauw;
  • the instructor is Q-certified;
  • the student's application and learning contract (available in the Office of Academic Affairs) are approved by the instructor and the Office of Academic Affairs prior to the beginning of the course;
  • the instructor examines the student's work in consultation with another Q certified instructor and notifies the Office of the Registrar and the Office of Academic Affairs of the outcome.

Oral Communication Effective expression in speech as well as writing has been perennially at the core of liberal education. The competent expression, exchange and examination of facts and ideas remains vital to the educational process itself. It is also essential for service and achievement in professional, civic and personal life.

Each new student is tested to determine whether he or she has the skills needed to enter an S course. The student's abilities in listening, language skills, delivery and organization of the spoken message are assessed. Students not meeting the entrance requirements for an S course will be apprised of the various options available to them for developing their speaking skills.

In order to graduate, a student must demonstrate such competence in an S course or in a designated alternative. S courses are offered in several departments, at the 300-400 level, and have common entry and exit standards.

Under unusual circumstances, students may receive S certification outside of an S course, while enrolled at DePauw, when the following criteria are met:

  • the course meets the guidelines for an S course, or the activity is equivalent to college-level work with the complexity of ideas worthy of at least a 300-level course;
  • the instructor or supervisor of the activity is S certified;
  • the student's application and learning contract (available in the Office of Academic Affairs) are approved by the faculty member and the Office of Academic Affairs prior to the beginning of the course or activity;
  • the activity must be a sustained one, usually over a full semester or Winter Term;
  • arrangements are made prior to the senior year;
  • the activity is initiated by the first semester of the senior year; it may extend into the second semester, but may not be initiated then;
  • the faculty member notifies the Office of the Registrar and the Office of Academic Affairs of the outcome.

GRADE REQUIREMENT

The minimum cumulative GPA required for graduation is 2.0 for all courses in which a final grade has been recorded. See Section IV, Repetition of a Course, for details about how repeated courses affect the GPA. Transfer students also must earn a cumulative 2.0 average for all courses taken at DePauw. Courses taken elsewhere do not affect the grade average at DePauw.

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT

Fifteen courses applicable towards the degree, including six of the last eight, must be completed in residence at DePauw University or in a DePauw University-approved program. Second semester seniors are not, however, eligible to participate in off-campus programs.

WINTER TERM GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Winter Term is a one-month period in January designed to foster creativity and independence by providing room for more adventurous and experimental learning along with opportunities for new forms of collegiality among students and faculty members. DePauw Winter Term projects do not receive regular units of academic credit, and do not meet distribution requirements for graduation or requirements toward a major.

Students must complete three Winter Terms with a satisfactory grade. Students who receive Incomplete (I) grades in their Winter Term project must complete the project by the end of the following semester or the grade will convert to an Unsatisfactory (U). Students who have a deficient number of Winter Terms may make up a project during the summer. However, graduating seniors who receive an incomplete or unsatisfactory Winter Term grade during the senior year may make up the project during the spring semester if appropriate arrangements can be made. Tuition is charged to enroll in a make-up Winter Term project. 

Transfer students may receive one "credit" for Winter Term for every full year of full-time study at another institution. First-year mid-year transfer students must complete the on-campus requirement, including first-year co-curricular activities, and are encouraged to do so immediately.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN THE ASBURY COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

In setting forth the general requirements for graduation with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, the aims of the faculty of DePauw University are these: We seek in our students an understanding of what good reasoning is and the capacity to use it; a disciplined acquaintance with at least some segments within each of the main divisions of human knowledge, especially the important ideas by which that knowledge is ordered; facility for vivid and coherent expression in words and other media; good judgment and taste, the ability to distinguish the excellent from the mediocre; a capacity for reasoned judgments of right and wrong and of value generally; a critical understanding of basic assumptions of life and thought, assumptions that are expressed in great literature, in religion, and in philosophy, our own and those of other epochs and cultures.

These things--good reasoning, knowledge, some degree of accomplishment in the forms of human expression, well-wrought judgment and taste, a moral reflectiveness, a historical and philosophical understanding of basic ways of viewing the world--are what we take to be important objectives of distribution requirements. They entail two general characteristics of a liberal education, namely, that such education be reasonably broad and that it not be a mere miscellany of students but have pattern or coherence. In addition, of course, we hold it important that an undergraduate study some subject or area of knowledge in depth, that he or she come to have an idea of what it means to master a subject.

We believe that studies that are directed to these aims will assist our students in becoming independently thoughtful and responsible human beings, who also, at least in part because of their education at  DePauw University, will have the capacity not just to live but, in an old Socratic sense, to "live well".

Distribution Requirements

Each student shall complete satisfactorily the specified number of courses in each of the six groups listed below except student may omit any one course from two of the groups. No entire group may be eliminated. The directed options required under Groups 1,3, and 6 (lab science, literature or physical education) apply only when a student chooses to complete the whole group.

Group 1. Natural Sciences and Mathematics: two courses from those listed below. These courses shall consider, as a significant part of their work, ways in which knowledge of the natural world is attained. Students choosing to fulfill this group must complete at least one laboratory science course.

Group 2. Social and Behavioral Sciences: two courses from those listed below. These courses consider ways in which we attain knowledge of the human world and the problems of ethical values which arise in or because of such knowledge.

Group 3. Literature and the Arts: two courses from those listed below. These courses consider the ways in which artists interpret the world and the problems of ethical values which arise in or because of such interpretations. Students choosing to fulfill this group must complete at least one course in literature or an interdisciplinary course with a literary component.

Group 4. Historical and Philosophical Understanding: two courses from those listed below. These courses attend to the historical or philosophical study of classical writings from periods or movements. They also consider ways in which historical or philosophical understanding is attained, and the problems of ethical values which arise in or because of such understanding.

 

Group 5. Foreign Language: one course at the second semester proficiency level in any of the major languages; or participation in an overseas program in a non-English speaking country and enrolling in a minimum of two courses of different disciplines related to the location of the program. Students entering the fall of 1996 and after who wish to only partially fulfill group 5 may do so with a first semester foreign language class.

Students whose first language is not English may be certified as meeting group 5 through the Office of the Registrar.

Group 6. Self-Expression: one and one-half courses or the equivalent. All methods of fulfilling this requirement must include actual participation as a major part of the course or activity. Students choosing to fulfill this group must complete at least one-half course in health and physical performance (HPP) activities courses.

  • ART any studio art course
  • COMM 111, 201, 223
  • HPP Activity Courses*
  • MUS 171-179, Applied Music**
  • Music Ensembles - Students must complete satisfactorily two (equivalent of one-half course) or four (equivalent of one course) consecutive semesters in one of the following ensembles: MUS 271, 273, 275, 276, 279, 285, 289, 291, 296A, 296B. When group 6 is satisfied in this manner, no academic credit is awarded toward the 31 courses required for graduation.
  • Co-curricular participation - The equivalent of one-fourth course may be earned in any semester through non-credit participation in Little Theatre, Forensic Team, Midwestern Review, Mirage, student TV or WGRE faculty-directed activities. Also, the equivalent of one-half activity credit for editors of The DePauw per semester may be earned. No academic credit is awarded toward the 31 courses required for graduation.
  • *Only one course is applicable toward the bachelor's degree and group 6.
  • **No more than four courses apply toward the bachelor's degree.

ADDITIONAL POLICIES FOR DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS

No course may satisfy more than one distribution requirement and no more than two courses from any department may be used to fulfill the requirements of groups 1 through 4. With the exception of physical education activity courses, courses used to fulfill distribution requirements may not be taken on a Pass/Fail basis. Students may satisfy graduation requirements by satisfactory performance in proficiency examinations.

The directed options required under groups 1, 3 and 6 (lab science, literature or physical education) apply only when a student chooses to complete the whole group.

A student may receive up to two courses credit toward the distribution requirements by participation in DePauw or Great Lakes College Association Off-Campus Programs. No more than one course may be counted in any group. Approval of these courses is granted by the Petitions Committee.

SUMMARY REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE
  • A minimum of 31 courses
  • One major subject which includes satisfactory completion of a seminar, a project, a thesis or a departmental comprehensive examination
  • At least a 2.0 GPA in the major subject
  • 19 courses outside the major subject
  • At least a 2.0 cumulative GPA
  • Writing competence
  • Quantitative reasoning competence
  • Oral communication competence
  • Satisfactory completion of distribution requirements
  • Three Winter Term projects
  • Not more than three Pass/Fail registrations (excluding health and physical performance activities courses and ENG 120)
  • A maximum of three internship course credits and five internship experiences (including Winter Terms)
  • 15 courses applicable toward the degree including six of the last eight courses in residence or on a University-approved program

SUMMARY OF MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF MUSIC DEGREES

Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)

  • 31 courses
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.0
  • Appropriate major
  • 2.0 GPA in all music courses
  • 7.5 courses in CLA (including 1.5 oral communication)
  • W certification
  • Three Winter Terms
  • Recital attendance
  • Ensemble-chamber music

Bachelor of Musical Arts (B.M.A.)

  • 31 courses
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.5
  • Major with 2.0 GPA
  • Core music courses
  • 12.5 courses in CLA (three at the 300-400 level)
  • W & S certification
  • Three Winter Terms
  • Recital attendance
  • Ensemble-chamber music

Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.)

  • 32 courses
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.5
  • Major with 2.0 GPA
  • Core music courses
  • 13.5 courses in CLA
  • W & S certification
  • Three Winter Terms
  • Recital attendance
  • Ensemble-chamber music
  • Professional teaching semester

See the School of Music for additional information about these programs.

 


 

 

 

E-mail questions or comments to: jsappenfield@depauw.edu


©1999 DePauw University		 Latest revision Oct-10-2001