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A student must earn
a minimum academic average of 2.00 (C) for all
courses taken at Whittier, as well as an average of
2.00 (C) for all courses taken in the major field.
A full explanation of the curriculum is provided in
the Whittier College Catalog.
Students at
Whittier College can choose between two paths to
graduation: the more traditional Liberal Education
Program and the interdisciplinary Whittier Scholars
Program.
LIBERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
Whittier's Liberal
Education Program
consists of a set
of required courses, which ensure competency in
science, mathematics, and writing, and introduce
students to a broad base of academic disciplines.
Whittier
College, as a traditional liberal arts college,
believes that a good education includes a set of
experiences that allows students to understand the
complex world and the connections between different
areas of learning. While no one agrees on the exact
set of knowledge that constitutes the ideal
education, the faculty at Whittier College have
agreed that certain areas ought to be explored by
all students, who will then share a common basis to
draw from in their studies and discussions at
Whittier and after graduation.
Whittier College's
Liberal Education Program has received national
recognition because it provides connective
experiences for students and offers choice in all
areas of requirements over the four undergraduate
years. To satisfy the Liberal Education
requirement, students must complete the following:
Community (12 credits)
1. Freshman Writing Seminar linked with another
course. (Fall, Freshman Year, 6 credits).
2. Two thematically-linked courses (Spring,
Freshman Year) (6 credits).
Communication (9 credits)
1. Quantitative Literacy (3 credits).
2. Writing Intensive Course (3 credits).
3. Creative and Performing Arts (2 credits).
4. Senior Presentation (1 credit).
Cultural perspectives (12
credits)
One
course each from four of the following six
areas:
1.
African
2.
Asian
3.
Latin American
4.
North American
5.
European
6.
Cross-Cultural
Connections (10 credits)
1. Two Paired courses or a sequence or set of two
team-taught courses (6 credits).
2. A course that integrates scientific and
mathematical methods and ideas with analysis of
cultural or societal issues (4 credits).
WHITTIER SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The
Whittier Scholars Program provides an alternative
curriculum path for a liberal arts education.
Students in the program work closely with faculty
members and their peers to design a course of study
that is unique to each individual. While most
students in the Program follow a traditional major,
many develop their own individual majors not offered
by departments at the College.
The Whittier
Scholars Program is neither an honors program, nor
is it for all students. Rather, it is designed to
meet the needs of those who are independent and
highly motivated and who are willing to take
responsibility for their own education by actively
participating in the process of designing and
implementing their own educational program.
The Whittier
Scholars Program is built around the belief that all
of us – faculty and students – belong to a community
of learners. The Whittier Scholars Program allows
students to play the fullest possible role in that
community, by sharing ideas and thoughts with fellow
students, faculty and guest scholars.
The course of study
for the Whittier Scholars Program typically begins
first semester with a series of events designed to
introduce students to the goals of the Program,
students currently enrolled in it, and alumni who
have completed the Program successfully. This is
then followed by a series of courses that should be
taken in the sequence noted below. The culmination
of the Whittier Scholars Program is a Senior
Project, which is designed and completed, in close
collaboration with a faculty member and in
consultation with peers in the Program. The Senior
Project is shared with the College community at
large as part of the Whittier Scholars Program
Senior Symposium series.
Students in the
Whittier Scholars Program are also encouraged to
spend at least one semester studying abroad or
working in the community in an internship and/or
service learning program, typically first semester
junior year.
The combination of
courses, Senior Project and Senior Symposium and
off-campus experience results in a balanced
educational program that is unique to each
individual.
Whittier Scholars
courses include:
WSP 101 WSP
Foundation Course (2nd semester, freshman
year) 3 credits
WSP 201
Design Your Education (1st semester,
sophomore
year) 1 credit
WSP 301
Ways of Knowing (2nd semester,
junior year) 3 credits
WSP 401
Senior Seminar (1st semester,
senior
year) 3 credits
WSP 499
Senior Project (senior
year) Variable
THE MAJOR
A major
is a series of related courses designed to provide
depth in a particular field. The number of credits
required for the major varies from a minimum of 30
credits to a maximum of 59 credits. Most majors
concentrate on courses offered in one department,
but several interdisciplinary majors are offered at
Whittier, including child development and
international studies. Frequently, a major will
also include related courses from other departments
– for instance, chemistry majors will also need to
take courses in biology, physics, and mathematics.
Majors: Interdisciplinary Study:
Applied
Philosophy Anthropology
Art Global and Cultural Studies
Biochemistry Whittier Scholars Program
Biology
Business
Administration
Chemistry
Child
Development
Economics
English Pre-Professional Studies:
Environmental
Science Athletic
Training
French Dentistry
History
Education
Kinesiology and
Leisure Sciences Engineering-3/2
Programs
Mathematics Law BA/JD-3/3 Program
Mathematics/Business Administration Medicine
Music Optometry
Philosophy Pharmacy
Physics Physical Therapy
Political
Science Social Work
Psychology Veterinary Science
Religious
Studies
Social Work
Sociology
Spanish
Theatre Arts
The Whittier College Catalog
is your best
source of information on courses and requirements.
Students are expected to discuss interests with the
faculty member who will be assigned as the Mentor.
Students should also feel free to talk with faculty
members in departments offering courses of interest
during Orientation or individually during the
faculty member's office hours.
A Mentor
is your faculty advisor for your first year or until
you declare a major. You’ll be placed with other
new students in a group with a Mentor who typically
shares the same academic interests as you indicated
on the Advisement Data Form. Mentors know
the College requirements, will help you plan your
course selections, and will assist you when you
register for classes. Specially selected
upper-division students who serve as Orientation
Week Leaders (OWLs) assist mentors.
On the
first day of Orientation you will meet your
Orientation Week Leader (OWL) and your Faculty
Mentor. You will work together throughout the week
during daily mentor group meetings to work on your
fall schedule. Whittier College believes that the
advisement relationship between new students and
Mentors is important in the proper selection of
courses, so students register for classes with
direct faculty assistance during Orientation.
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HOW DO ADVANCED
PLACEMENT (AP) CREDITS WORK?
College credit
totaling a maximum of 30 semester hours may be
earned by satisfactorily completing approved
examinations. Acceptable examinations include
College Entrance Board Advanced Placement Tests and
International Baccalaureate Higher Level
Examinations. No more than eight units may be
awarded from a single department. Entering students
who have passed Advanced Placement Tests with a
score of four or five will receive credit toward
graduation, provided the tests are subject areas
taught at Whittier and the department approves. The
Registrar's Office can provide information on
specific departmental policies, on numbers of
credits awarded, and course equivalencies. Entering
students who have passed International Baccalaureate
Higher Level Examinations with a score of five or
above will receive credit toward graduation on a
case-by-case basis with the approval of the
department concerned. If you have questions about
Advanced Placement credits, please call your
counselor in the Office of Admission.
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IF I AM A
TRANSFER STUDENT, WHERE SHOULD I DIRECT
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EVALUATION OF COURSES AND
CREDITS THAT WILL TRANSFER FROM MY PREVIOUS
INSTITUTION?
Once the Office of
Admission has received final transcripts reflecting
Spring coursework, all transfer students will
receive an evaluation of the courses and credits
that will transfer to Whittier College from their
previous college or university, as well as
information about which Whittier College
requirements will be satisfied by these courses.
Orientation is your best opportunity to work with
your Mentor and the Registrar to understand your
standing and requirements. In the meantime, if you
have questions about the evaluation, please call
your counselor in the Office of Admission.
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