College of Arts and Sciences - Academic Programs 

African Studies

All majors in the Department of African Studies must pursue a total of 36 credit hours of course work in the department, including the core program, which consists of the following courses: AFST 101, AFST 102, AFST 106, AFST 111, AFST 156, AFST 182, AFST 183, AFST 191, AFST 195. Majors must also fulfill a language requirement with a minimum of 14 credit hours in one of the languages offered by the Department of Modern Languages. Students may select any courses for which they have the prerequisite to complete the remaining 12 credit hours, from the following list: AFST AFST 121, AFST 131, AFST 141, and AFST 157. A minor in African Studies requires the completion of a total of 15 credit hours, including AFST 101.

Afro-American Studies

All majors in Afro-American Studies must satisfactorily complete thirty-three (33) credit hours in departmental courses, including the following required courses: AFRO 005, AFRO 006, AFRO 159, AFRO 175 or AFRO 775*, AFRO 176, and five (5) elective courses from the following: AFRO 101, AFRO 103, AFRO 115, AFRO 121, AFRO 122, AFRO 131, AFRO 132, AFRO 133, AFRO 134, AFRO 159, AFRO 163, AFRO 170, AFRO 175, AFRO 176, AFRO 185, AFRO 191, AFRO 192, AFRO 193, AFRO 195, AFRO 196, AFRO 197, AFRO 198, AFRO 199, AFRO 775,* AFRO 795.* All courses are not offered every semester. Majors and minors must plan their schedules in consultation with a departmental faculty advisor. A minimum of 18 credit hours is required for the minor in Afro-American Studies. Minors must take AFRO 005, AFRO-006, and four (4) additional departmental elective courses. *(NOTE: AFRO-775 and AFRO-795 are writing intensive courses in the discipline.)

Biology

Biology majors are provided the opportunity to concentrate in one of the three sub-specialties: molecular and cellular biology, anatomy and physiology, or evolutionary and ecological biology. To prepare for an emphasis in one of these concentrations, all students are required to complete a core of basic biology courses. These two core courses are: (BIOL 101 and 102, two semesters) and Genetics, BIOL 200. General Biology I and II, BIOL 101 and BIOL 102, are prerequisites for Genetics. After completing the core courses, students are also required to take two core elective courses (one from any two of the concentration areas: molecular and cellular, anatomical and physiological, or evolutionary and ecological biology) and a minimum of 14 credit hours of advanced elective courses. Senior Seminar (BIOL 493 or BIOL 494) is required of all majors, and is taken in the senior year. A student must earn a minimum of thirty-five (35) credit hours in Biology to fulfill the requirements for the major. Courses in chemistry, mathematics and physics must be taken as supporting courses for the departmental major. The supporting courses include mathematics through precalculus, one year of physics, one year of general chemistry including the laboratory component, organic chemistry I, organic chemistry II, and organic chemistry laboratory. A minor in Biology requires the completion of 17-18 credits including the following: BIOL 101, BIOL 102, BIOL 200, and one other core elective course.

Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry offers a normal program for majors consisting of 39 credits. A minimum of 10 additional credits must be taken by those majors who seek American Chemical Society (ACS) certification. Students planning to major in chemistry should begin their program in the freshman year. The following courses are required for majors: CHEM 003, CHEM 004, CHEM 005, CHEM -006, CHEM 122, CHEM 123, CHEM 126, CHEM 127, CHEM 141, CHEM 142, CHEM 145, CHEM 171, CHEM 172, CHEM 173, CHEM 174, MATH 015, MATH 156, MATH 157, MATH 158, PHYS 001, PHYS 002, and/or PHYS 013, PHYS-014 and the accompanying laboratories. For ACS certification students must take Chemistry CHEM-101, CHEM-105 and two additional advanced chemistry courses, or may substitute a mathematics course beyond calculus, or a physics course beyond general physics for one of the advanced chemistry courses. Students desiring ACS certification should minor in Mathematics, i.e., take mathematics courses through MATH 159. Students pursuing the normal chemistry major program may select their minor from biology, mathematics, physics, psychology, or an approved combination of these fields. Six hours credit in special laboratory projects are required for departmental honors CHEM 092 and/or CHEM 093.

Classics

The Classics Department offers major and minor programs in Latin, Greek, and Classical Civilization. 

Latin majors are advised to minor in Greek and are required to take 24 credits in Latin, including CLAS 152, 153, 154, and 6 credits in Classical Civilization: CLAS 104 and 105. The remaining courses should be selected in consultation with the department chairman. 

Greek majors are advised to minor in Latin and are required to take 24 credits in Greek, including CLAS 136, 137, 138, and 6 credits in Classical Civilization CLAS 104 and 105. The remaining courses are to be selected in consultation with the departmental chairman. 

The major in Classical Civilization offers a comprehensive study of the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome. Some study of the Greek or Latin language is required, but the program goes beyond linguistics and includes art, archaeology, literature, philosophy, and history. A minimum of thirty (30) credits is required: a two-semester sequence in Greek or Latin; CLAS 104 (Greek Civilization) and CLAS 105 (Roman Civilization); and 2 of the following 3 courses (CLAS 101, Greek Literature in English; CLAS 102, Roman Literature in English; CLAS 103, Classical Art and Archaeology); plus 12 hours of electives chosen with the approval of the chair. 

A classical language minor requires 15 hours (5 courses) in Latin or Greek; the courses are to be selected in consultation with the departmental chairman. 

A Classical Civilization minor requires no courses in the Greek or Latin language but consists of 15 hours (5 courses) in classical literature and civilization, to be selected in consultation with the departmental chairman. 

The department also offers hieroglyphs, and Egyptian archaeology, mythology, literature, and history. These courses may be used for the major or minor in Classical Civilization. 

Critical Languages

The teaching of critical languages, those not traditionally offered in American colleges, is supervised by the Language Coordinating Board of the Language Resource Center. The Board, composed of members from the language departments, also oversees the management and operation of the Language Resource Center. The languages currently offered under the Center’s auspices are Arabic, Chinese, Hausa, and Swahili.  

Comprehensive Sciences

The Comprehensive Sciences Program provides a series of basic science courses critical to the core general education curriculum requirements for students enrolled in University baccalaureate degree-granting programs. The Program effectively provides a vital interface between cultural and technical knowledge in the sciences through innovative pedagogical ideas and applied laboratory techniques. The courses utilize resources available in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and also employ the expertise of experts as guest lecturers on occasion. In addition, tutorial assistance is provided for students whose knowledge of the sciences may be limited.

Economics

All majors must complete 37 credits in economics. Electives may be chosen from general economics and economic theory, banking and monetary economics, public finance and fiscal policy, labor and social economics, economic development, mathematical economics and statistics, international economics, and urban economics. All majors must take the following courses: ECON 001, ECON 002, ECON 026, ECON 170, ECON 171, ECON 180, and ECON 181.

The department also offers a minor in economics, as well as a wide range of courses to satisfy program requirements in such fields as urban studies, engineering, architecture, political science, and sociology. Minors in economics must take 15 to 18 credits, including ECON 001 and ECON 002.

English

The student majoring in English must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours, including ENGL 101, ENGL 102, ENGL 103, ENGL 110, ENGL 114, ENGL 125, ENGL 167; (Group I) one course from ENGL 163, ENGL 164, ENGL 165, ENGL 166; (Group II) one course from ENGL 152, ENGL 156, ENGL 158, ENGL 169, ENGL 174, ENGL 184, ENGL 187, ENGL 190, ENGL 194, ENGL 196, ENGL 199; and one course from Group III ENGL 153, ENGL 154, ENGL 161, ENGL 162, ENGL 168, ENGL 172, ENGL 175, ENGL 177, ENGL 178, ENGL 179, ENGL 181, ENGL 182, ENGL 183, ENGL 186, ENGL 188 and ENGL 193.

A minimum of 15 to 18 credits is required for a minor in English.

Courses numbered in Group III may be taken for credit by both undergraduate and graduate students.

NOTICE: The courses and curriculum offered by the Department of English will be revised, and the changes will become effective in Fall 2001. Please contact the Department of English to obtain information concerning the revised courses and curriculum.