Requirements

Academic Requirements

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

The College awards the bachelor’s degree to students who have fulfilled the following requirements:

1. Completion of all study required in one of the five degree programs offered. (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration or Bachelor of Music).

2. Completion of 120 semester hours of credit for graduation in major programs unless otherwise noted for a major degree program.

3. A minimum average of C (grade point average of 2.0) on all work taken at the College and a minimum average of C (grade point average of 2.0) in those courses constituting the major subjects or field. These are minimum requirements, some programs may require higher levels of achievement. By definition, the major subject or field consists of all courses listed as “major requirements” in the major program curriculum plus all additional courses taken in the same discipline as the major, except those courses which may be specifically excluded by the major department. Students choosing to minor in a field of study must have a 2.0 GPA in courses in that field of study.

4. All students will take at least 2 writing-intensive courses.

5. Removal of any communication condition.

6. All students must pass proficiency tests in computer competencies.

7. A minimum of 25 percent of the degree credit must be earned at Longwood, with 30 credit hours at the upper level. (Exceptions: A. Biology majors with a concentration in Medical Technology, pre-physical therapy, pre-medicine, pre-dentistry or pre-veterinary medicine who take 300-400 level courses at affiliated institutions will be allowed to count that course work toward fulfilling the 30 hours upper-level graduation requirement; B. students who participate in international exchange programs may request an exception to the 30 hour upper-level graduation requirement. Exceptions must be approved in writing by the student’s school dean prior to the study abroad.)

8. Not more than 14 hours of credit by correspondence.

9. Approval of the individual by the general faculty as a candidate for graduation.

10. A formal Application for Degree. This application for graduation must be filed in the Office of Registration at least one full year prior to the date of graduation.

Freshman Year Requirements

Longwood Seminar (LSEM 100) is a one-credit orientation course required of all first-time entering freshmen and transfer students who are entering at the freshman level. Through Longwood Seminar, students can expect to learn academic strategies that will promote college success; become more aware of interpersonal strategies that will enhance personal and social success; explore the methods, techniques, and philosophies relevant to an academic field of study; identify personal strengths and values and their relationship to career goals; build a network of strong support relationships within the Longwood community.

LSEM 100. Longwood Seminar. The goal of the Longwood Seminar is to help develop citizen leaders for the common good by promoting critical thinking and analysis in all aspects of the students’ lives and by developing the knowledge and skills that lead to college success. 1 credit.
Students must pass computer proficiency tests. Students are strongly encouraged to satisfy this requirement by the end of their sophomore year. Major programs may specify additional computer competencies.

General Education Requirements

The purpose of the General Education Program of Longwood College is the development of disciplined, informed, and creative minds. The program is defined by ten goals (see the General Education section for a complete description of this program). Students may choose among the core courses listed for each goal. Each of the courses listed under each goal has been specifically designed to address that goal. A course used by the student to satisfy a general education requirement may not be used by that student to satisfy a major program requirement except for Goal 10. The Dean may authorize an exemption for any goal when a student, due to major requirements, must take at least two courses listed for that goal. A total of 33 hours of core courses is required for the General Education Program.

Additional Requirements for Specific Degrees

In addition to the 33 hours of core courses required for the General Education Program, students must fulfill the following requirements for specific degrees:

1. Bachelor of Arts Degree
Humanities (6 credits) – in at least two disciplines and not in the discipline of the major.
Foreign Languages (3 credits) – at the 202 level or above
Modern Language majors must complete the degree requirement in a language other than their language of concentration.
Students who are not native speakers of English may be exempted from the B.A. language requirement provided that they have received their high school diploma, or its equivalent, from a school in their native land where the language of instruction was other than English.

2. Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree
Humanities (6 credits) – in at least two disciplines and not in the discipline of the major
Foreign Language/Social Science (3 credits) – students must take one of the following courses: 3 credits at the 202 or above level in a foreign language or History 200, 320, 325, 336, 354, 359, 360; Geography 241, 352; Political Science 314, 336, 337, 375, 395, 469.

3. Bachelor of Science Degree
Mathematics or Computer Science (3 credits)
Social Science (3 credits)
Natural Science (4 credits)

4. Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Degree
Mathematics 181 or 261 or 267 (3 to 5 credits)
Economics 217 (3 credits)
Natural Science (4 credits)

5. Bachelor of Music Degree
Humanities (9 credits) – in at least two disciplines and not in the discipline of the major

The following disciplines fall within the categories of Humanities or Social Sciences:

Humanities   Social Sciences

Art    Anthropology

Communication Studies Economics

Dance Geography

Literature History

Modern Language   Political Science

Music Psychology

Philosophy Sociology

Religion

Theatre

Major Program Requirements

The specific major requirements of individual disciplines are listed separately in the Academic Programs section of this catalog. A few majors require a general education core course as part of their major program; in those cases, that core course satisfies a major program requirement and cannot be used to satisfy a general education requirement. The Dean may authorize an exemption for any general education goal when a student, due to major requirements, must take at least two courses listed for that goal.

The Writing Intensive Course Policy

All students will take at least two writing-intensive courses beyond courses required for General Education. Writing-intensive courses shall be designated in the Catalog, in the registration schedule, and on the course syllabus. Each major discipline should offer at least one writing-intensive course each year. Class sizes normally should not be larger than 25 to 30 students for writing-intensive courses.

To qualify as writing-intensive, a course must meet the following guidelines:

1. Writing-intensive courses should require at least 10 pages of formal writing from each student, preferably over three or more papers so students have an opportunity to apply faculty feedback to future written work. (This does not include essay examinations.)

2. Instructors in writing-intensive courses are encouraged to require informal writing (reading journals, brief in-class writings, pre-writing for formal papers) to lead students to explore and articulate course content. Students could use this informal writing to develop ideas for formal papers.

3. Students in writing-intensive courses should be assigned and instructed in specific forms and processes of writing used in professions related to the course discipline.

4. Instructors in writing-intensive courses should give explicit instruction in how to complete the required writing assignments. This explicit instruction must include giving detailed written assignment sheets and a scoring guide showing the explicit criteria, including grading scale, used to score the assignment. If possible, this information should be attached to the course syllabus. Other explicit instruction might include discussing procedures for gathering and organizing information, providing models of appropriate forms, assigning and responding to drafts, and encouraging revision and editing.

5. Instructors in writing-intensive courses should note major errors in Standard Written English, but not be responsible for instruction in how to correct them. If students have problems with correctness, they should be referred to the Learning Center. Students with an average grade of D or F on written work must be referred to the English Proficiency Committee for testing and possible placement on communication condition. A statement to this effect must be included on the syllabus.

6. The quality of writing must be a factor in the grading of papers for a writing-intensive course. Instructors must return graded work before the next paper is due or before the exam period (if only one paper is assigned), noting areas of strength and weakness on the scoring guide along with the overall grade.

Responsibility

It is solely the responsibility of the candidate for graduation to meet all of the above requirements, including the completion of 120 semester hours, unless otherwise noted for that major degree program.

Graduation

Only those students who have completed the degree requirements established by Longwood College will participate in graduation ceremonies. Graduating students will receive their diplomas on the day of Commencement.

Graduation Honors

Those students who have earned 57 or more hours at Longwood College and whose general averages for all Longwood credits offered for a degree are 3.35 or above are graduated with the following honors:

Cum Laude -- 3.35-3.54
Magna Cum Laude -- 3.55-3.74
Summa Cum Laude -- 3.75-4.00

The College also recognizes graduating seniors who have successfully completed an honors program in a specialized academic area.

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