The Cavalier daily :: February 9, 1970 :: University of Virginia Library

As the result of the largest reforms of
the College academic system in twenty
years, much confusion now exists in the
minds of students who are currently
attempting to work out their spring
schedules and their major programs.

When the faculty of the College passed
the final changes in the curriculum in
December, there were still many intricate
details to be worked out by the Dean and
the various academic departments. Many
students are now in a quandary trying to
decide exactly how the new curriculum
affects them and attempting to keep
abreast with new academic developments.

The changes in the curriculum
combined with a lack of communication
between the faculty and the registrar have
made the beginning of this semester more
chaotic than ever, according to the Dean
of the College, Irby Cauthen. Letters
from the Dean and information from
student counselors have helped some
undergraduates wade through the chaotic
waters of the beginning of this term, but
many college students still remain
uninformed.

'Restless Nature'

For Echols Scholars, their program is
now very simple. They must have 120
hours passed in good standing to take a
degree in the Bachelor of Arts program.
There are no other requirements. No
major, no Area Requirements, no
physical education, no foreign language.
These students are encouraged to spend a
session away from the University in some
sort of program of their own choosing. A
session away from Virginia was included
because of the Scholars' restless nature
according to Dean Marcus Mallet,
although the students are reminded that
their degree does, after all, come from the
University.

Language Requirement

The regular college curriculum is not
quite as simple. The pass-fail system in
which a student may take up to two
pass-fail courses a semester will not go
into effect until next fall, and courses
which can be taken under the new system
will not be known until then.

First-year men will still have to take
English 1 or Composition unless
exempted upon the recommendation of
the English Department. The foreign
language requirement remains the same,
although the Committee on the
Curriculum, Educational Policy and the
Budget is studying the possibility of
lowering the Achievement score to free
more students from this requirement.

Six Hours

For the Natural Science and
Mathematics requirement a student must
complete six hours of courses in one or a
combination of both. All of the lower
math courses are "comma" courses and
now many of the sciences are too.
Geology, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
are now on at least a partial comma
system. It should be noted that it is not
too advisable for a student to take the
second semester of a science without
having the first. The comma system has
been included mainly to allow students to
get out of a science and still receive credit
for the first semester's passed work. . .

A student must complete six hours of
work in the humanities area from courses
in Art, English (except English 1), Music,
Philosophy, Religious Studies, or Speech
and Drama. A student need not take
English 4, 6, or 8 to be given degree
credit for English 3, 5, or 7. Six hours
must be completed in the Social Science
Area in courses of Economics,
Government and Foreign Affairs, History,
Psychology, and Sociology and
Anthropology.

Social Science

All of these requirements may taken
any time before a degree application with
the exception of English 1 which must be
completed in the first year.
Environmental Science 3, 4, 11, or 12
may not be used to satisfy the Social
Science or the Natural Science Area
Requirements.

Although a College student need not
continue in math or science once he has
six or more hours in this area, he should
consider carefully before dropping. If he
decides to major in Economics, he may
find that departmental requirements may
include a year of math; in Psychology, a
year of Biology. If a transfer is
contemplated to the Commerce School, a
year of math, a year of a natural science,
and a year of a second level English
course must be completed successfully.

First-Year Major

The major subject program will
continue to be supervised by the
individual academic departments. A
student may even declare his major
during his first year if the department will
accept him. A major program requires no
fewer than 18 nor more than 30 semester
hours and may require up to 12 semester
hours in related courses. The
interdisciplinary programs which
currently exist remain intact and
unchanged.

The University Major is to be designed
by the individual student and approved
by the Dean for Special Scholars, Marcus
Mallet. Normally a "theme" or "area"
will be pursued in more than two
departments, i.e. American Studies,
British Studies, etc. The plan must
include no fewer than 30 hours of
approved courses. For all major programs
a student may not use the pass-fail system
unless the course is beyond the ones
required for the major.

Elective Courses

A degree program may also include up
to 15 semester hours of elective courses
in other undergraduate Schools of this
University when such courses have been
approved for inclusion in a student's
degree program by the Dean and, where
necessary, bu the appropriate
departmental adviser. However, a
maximum of 12 semester hours,
excluding academic substitutions, offered
by the Departments of the Military will
be allowed toward the degree
requirement of 120 semester hours. A
faculty committee which will report to
the College Faculty in April is currently
studying all ramifications of the ROTC
system.

Comprehensive examinations or an
acceptable essay may be required by the
individual department in which a student
majors. If a student makes a grade of "B"
or better on his final departmental
comprehensive examination (but not the
essay), he may be excused by his
Department from the final examinations
in the courses of his major subject in his
final semester.

If a student has a question about the
curriculum, he should contact his
Dormitory Counselor, Resident Advisor.
Association Dean, or major department
until he finds an answer.