 | The University of Virginia record January 15, 1934 |  |
REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREES
Full opportunity is given to any student to carry out any definite plan of
work which he may have in view on coming to the University, or which
may have been prescribed for him by those under whose direction he is completing
his education. But when no well-considered plan has been outlined
in advance, and the end in view is that for which the great majority of
students should enter college, namely, the attainment of a liberal education,
the student will be expected to enter upon regular work of the college leading
to a baccalaureate degree.
Five degrees are offered candidates for graduation in the College of Arts
and Sciences. Two of these, the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of
Science, are cultural; the Bachelor of Science in a Special Subject, the name
of which is inscribed on the diploma, the Bachelor of Science in Architecture,
and the Bachelor of Science in Commerce, are vocational degrees, designed
for those who wish to fit themselves especially for professional work.
No course offered by a successful candidate for one of the cultural baccalaureate
degrees can be offered by the same candidate as part of the work
which has been counted as credit toward a vocational degree be subsequently
counted as credit toward a cultural degree; and no work done to remove
an entrance condition can be counted for any degree.
For a student who enters without advanced standing the normal time required
for obtaining a baccalaureate degree is four years, assuming that he
completes each year courses which aggregate the regular minimum of 15
session-hours. A student receiving advanced standing in not less than two
subjects may obtain a degree in three years, provided he is able to complete
each year 18 session-hours. A student may materially shorten the time required
for obtaining a degree by taking courses in the Summer Quarter for
which college credit is given. For credit for work done at other colleges,
see page 102.
The requirements for the baccalaureate degrees are such as to allow a
large measure of freedom of election on the part of the individual student,
such restriction only being placed upon this liberty as is necessary to insure
at the same time the thoroughness and the breadth of culture for which these
degrees stand. In order to secure to the recipient of a degree a due measure
of acquaintance with the methods of thought characteristic of each of the
leading departments of knowledge, as well as with their subject matter, his
courses must be chosen subject to the specific requirements detailed below.
BACHELOR OF ARTS AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
The degree of Bachelor of Arts or of Bachelor of Science, respectively,
will be conferred upon regular students who have completed not less than
63 session-hours of undergraduate courses, taken in conformity with the following
program:
(1) Required Subjects.—Candidates for either cultural degree must take
36 hours of required subjects as stated below. Of the 36 hours of required
subjects not less than 27 hours must be taken during the first two years,
and the remaining 9 hours not later than the third year.
Foreign Languages
For the Bachelor of Arts.—9 session-hours from two languages, of which
6 must be in either Latin or Greek.
For the Bachelor of Science.—9 session-hours from two languages, of which
6 must be in either French, German, Spanish, or Italian.
Mathematics
For either degree.—3 session-hours.
Natural Science
For either degree.—6 session-hours in Biology B1, Chemistry B1a, Geology
B1 or Physics B1.
English
For either degree.—6 session-hours, 3 of which may be in Biblical Literature,
or Public Speaking, the other 3 being in English or English Literature.
Social Science
For either degree.—6 session-hours, 3 of which must be in History, the other 3
being in Economics B1, Government B1 or Sociology B1.
Philosophy
For either degree.—3 session-hours in Philosophy B1 or Psychology B1.
Physical Education
For either degree.—3 session-hours. A two-year course which must be taken
during the first two years unless the candidate is excused on a physician's certificate.
Note.—A candidate entering with advanced standing or with college
credit shall in his first, and, if necessary, continuously in subsequent sessions, take
such courses as are necessary to complete the above requirements for the first and
second sessions.
(2) Electives-at-Large.—Of the remaining 27 session-hours required
for the baccalaureate degree, 15 session-hours may be elected from any courses
in the academic schools for which the candidate has adequate preparation.
(3) Major-Electives.—The remaining 12 session-hours required for either
degree shall be known as Major-Electives. The Major-Electives shall include
at least one C course (which must require two B courses as a prerequisite),
and must all be offered from some one of the following Major-Groups of related
subjects, except that when the Major-Group is Group III, the candidate may
offer, in lieu of a C course, any 6-hour B course in this Group, for admission
to which another 6-hour B course in the Group is prerequisite. The Major-Electives
must all be completed in this College or in some professional department
of this University.
Group I.—Languages, Literature, Fine Arts and Music.
Group II.—Social and Philosophical Sciences.
Group III.—Mathematical and Natural Sciences.
(4) Substitutions for Major-Electives.—The first-year course in Law, or
the first-year course in Medicine or 12 session-hours of technical courses in one
of the professional departments of Engineering or Education may be substituted
for the 12 session-hours of Major-Electives in academic subjects. This work,
which must be completed in one of the professional departments of this University,
cannot be begun by the candidate until he has spent at least two sessions of nine
months each in successful work in this College, and has at least 45 session-hours
to his credit.
DEGREES WITH HONORS
The courses required for the cultural B.A. and B.S. degrees are adapted to
the powers of the average student, and any graduate of an accredited school, who
has, either by certificate or examination, satisfied the requirements for admission
to the College of Arts and Sciences, if he is reasonably industrious and regular in
his studies, should obtain one of these degrees without great difficulty in four
sessions' work. In every body of students, however, there are a number who
possess greater ability and application than the average, and whose ambition aims
higher than a bare pass-mark on their work. For the proper stimulation of such
students toward the best that they can do, and for due and authoritative recognition
of unusual ability and high achievement in studies, the Academic Faculty has
instituted the following system of Special Honors:
Intermediate Honors
A certificate of Intermediate Honors is conferred by the Academic Faculty
on the student who, during his first two regular sessions in the College of Arts
and Sciences of this University, has passed on not less than 30 session-hours of
academic courses, including 3 session-hours in English, 3 session-hours in Mathematics
and 6 session-hours in Foreign Language, without failure or re-examination
on any course, and with an average grade on all courses of 85 per cent. or more
each session.
The holder of a Certificate of Intermediate Honors, so long as he has no
grade below 75 per cent. on the work of any term in any course, is not subject
to the rules limiting absence from the University, nor does absence from any class
entail on such student any penalty, affecting class-standing, imposed for absence
alone.
The Certificates of Intermediate Honors are publicly conferred at the Annual
Convocation of the University following the session in which the honors have
been attained. The names of the holders of these certificates are published under
a separate heading in the annual catalogue of the University.
Final Honors
Final Honors are conferred only on graduation, and the diploma of B.A.
or B.S. with Final Honors states that the honors were won in a given academic
school.
A student who wishes to attain Final Honors must be accepted as a candidate
for honors two sessions before graduation. Any student who has met the requirements
for the Dean's List for two sessions may apply to become a candidate for
Final Honors. Application must be made first to the Dean, and, if approved by
him, must also be approved by one of the academic schools which offer work for
honors. A list of such schools is published annually.
Final honors are conferred on the basis of a final comprehensive examination,
both oral and written, on some field of knowledge, and not for work done in
any or all of the regular courses required for a baccalaureate degree. Honors
work involves wide and independent reading for two years, under the general
direction of the professors of an academic school. It does not require regular
final examination, though consultations and reports may be required. Its aim is
the development of a capacity for scholarly work in a field of knowledge, rather
than a mastery of required details of subject matter.
The completion of work for Final Honors may be counted as credit towards
a B.A. or cultural B.S. degree in lieu of 6 session-hours of Electives-at-Large
or Major-Electives. In the event that the work for honors is not of sufficiently
high quality for Final Honors to be conferred, 6 session-hours' credit toward a
degree without honors may be granted upon recommendation of the academic school
in charge.
| The University of Virginia record January 15, 1934 | |