Harpur College strives to provide its students with a sound liberal
education as well as specialization in some area of the humanities, social
sciences, arts, or sciences.
Prospective applicants should see the general section on Admissions in
this Bulletin.
The program fosters development of knowledge, skills, and interpretive
abilities and offers other opportunities for growth outside the classroom.
1. Substantive knowledge. The quantity of substantive knowledge that a
student can assimilate in four years is limited. Harpur deems no single
body of knowledge indispensable. Each student, however, is encouraged,
and given the opportunity, to acquire understanding of the physical and
biological world in which we live; of humankind as individuals, creators,
and philosophers; and of human relations and arrangements in past and contemporary
societies.
2. Skills. Students of the liberal arts are expected to master a number
of academic skills necessary for rational discourse. The most essential
of these are logical argument and clear expression. Such skills are normally
supplemented by particular kinds of competence-mathematic, linguistic,
and the like-as required by individual fields of study.
3. Interpretive ability. In the application of learned skills to subject
matter, it is assumed that students acquire theoretical understanding and
the power of interpretation. The premise here is that theory provides a
means of comprehending and extending fundamental knowledge and perspective.
4. Supplementary opportunities. Since students do not now and will not
in years to come exclusively inhabit classrooms, libraries, or laboratories,
Harpur encourages and provides for a wide range of extracurricular and
credit-bearing activities to aid in the continued growth of individual
talents, social competency, and participatory government among its students.
In addition, Harpur believes that physical education courses equip students
with skills and experience in a variety of physical activities that will
continue to be of value to them after graduation.
Most departments of Harpur College are contained administratively within three principal divisions: humanities (including fine arts), science and mathematics, and social sciences. For most matters, the principal academic and administrative unit is the department. Several interdisciplinary major programs are not attached to any division. Students ordinarily pursue academic major programs supervised by departments, although several interdepartmental majors are available.
The all-college distribution requirements, determined by the faculty,
provide for exposure to broad areas of learning. Usually, students complete
the distribution requirements as early as possible, both because they provide
a general introduction to the Harpur College curriculum and because they
provide a basis for choosing a major program.
During the first few semesters at Harpur College, students may seek academic
advice on planning a program of study from several sources: the Academic
Advising Office, relevant academic departments, and/or individual faculty
members. These academic advisors help to guide students toward a planned
and organized program, rather than a random selection of courses.
Normally, students declare a major program by their fifth semester of residence.
Those students who receive state financial aid are encouraged to read in
the "Financial Information" section of this Bulletin about the
academic progress required to maintain state or federal aid. Timely declaration
of the major is an important consideration for such students. The declaration
process is initiated by students through the Academic Advising Office.
When this is done, students are assigned to a faculty academic advisor
within the major department program for information about and guidance
in the major. The Academic Advising Office remains available to all students
throughout their education for information about all-college requirements
and other aspects of the undergraduate degree.
In addition to the bachelor of arts (BA) degree, Harpur College offers a bachelor of fine arts (BFA), bachelor of music (BMus) and bachelor of science (BS) degree in some fields. The general requirements and the all-college distribution requirements for these degrees are the same, but more courses are specified for major requirements for a BS degree than for a BA degree. Whereas no more than 15 courses may be required for a major program leading to the BA, a minimum of 16 courses is required for a major program leading to the BS. Except for interdisciplinary programs such as biochemistry, and psychobiology, every department that offers the BS also offers the BA. More courses are also required for the BFA and BMus degrees. Students must choose whether to earn a BA, BFA, BMus, or BS degree, since two degrees may not be earned simultaneously. Note that although students may receive only one degree from Harpur College, they may have two majors or more.
To qualify for a bachelor of arts, bachelor of fine arts, bachelor of
music, or bachelor of science degree from Harpur College, the following
conditions must be met:
1. Students must complete the General Education requirements. These are
described in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this Bulletin
under the heading "Undergraduate General Education Program."
General Education courses may also satisfy all-college and major requirements.
2. Students must have credit for a minimum of 31-1/2 academic courses (126
credits). (Note: In Harpur College a course is defined as four credits.
Students may apply a maximum of 32 external examination credits toward
the Harpur College degree. See "Advanced Placement," in this
Bulletin.)
3. Students must complete either a third semester level course in one foreign
language or a second semester-level course in each of two foreign languages.
This requirement may be fulfilled prior to entry into Harpur College and
while in high school by having taken and passed three years of one language
or two years each of two different languages.
Make-up of any admission deficiencies in mathematics must also be completed;
that is, students must earn four credits of mathematics. (See page 21 of
this Bulletin and item 6 in "All-College Distribution Requirements,"
below.)
4. Students must complete the all-college distribution requirements and
the requirements of their major field.
5. Students must complete the all-college writing requirement described
later in this section.
6. Students must complete at least 30 credits in residence.
7. Students must be in residence at Harpur College during the last 7-1/2
courses (30 credits) immediately preceding graduation, unless specifically
exempted from this requirement by the Harpur College Academic Standards
Committee.
8. Students must be in good academic standing, i.e., must present a minimum
cumulative grade-point average of 2.0.
9. Students must pay or satisfactorily adjust all fees and bills.
10. Students must not be under any disciplinary action.
11. Students must be duly recommended by the faculty.
12. Finally, the State University Trustees by formal action must admit
the student to the degree.
Harpur College reserves the right to make changes in the requirements for
graduation, except that no increase in total courses required for graduation
shall retroactively affect any student already matriculated when the change
is made.
The following distribution among courses is required of all students
for the BA, BFA, BMus, or BS degree from Harpur College. Courses counted
as part of an academic major may also be used to fulfill the all-college
distribution requirements.
1. Two courses in the Division of Humanities.
2. Two courses in the Division of Science and Mathematics.
3. Two courses in the Division of Social Sciences.
4. An additional four liberal arts courses chosen from the two divisions
other than the division of the student's major department. Interdisciplinary
courses may be included among these four courses if they are cross-listed
with a division not encompassing the student's major. (See section on interdisciplinary
courses.) Physical education courses may not be included among these four
courses.
5. Students may apply a maximum of six physical education activity credits
toward the 126 required for graduation. Theoretical courses in physical
education (listed as PENR) do not enter into the six-credit limit.
6. The following courses are ineligible for fulfillment of the all-college
distribution requirements:
a. Developmental courses, as designated by the Educational Planning and
Policies Committee (currently, BIOL 100, HARP 105; MATH 101, 102, 103,
104; RHET 100; RHET 101; CHEM 100; PHYS 100; ESL 110, 205, 210). No student
may be permitted to apply more than 16 credit hours of developmental courses
toward a Harpur College degree;
b. Mathematics or language courses used to fulfill admission deficiencies;
c. Independent study courses, which comprise courses of independent studies,
internships, and teaching practica as well as honors theses courses (-91,
-95, -97, -98, 99).
d. Innovational Projects Board (IPB) courses and courses labeled "HARP";
e. Other courses as designated by departments and then recommended by the
curriculum committee and approved by the Harpur College Council.
Note: Four credit hours in one division will be counted as one course.
To ensure that all students obtain considerable experience and receive
significant guidance or instruction in writing during their baccalaureate
studies, Harpur College establishes the following requirements relating
to enrollment in writing-emphasis (E) and writing (W) courses:
All candidates for a baccalaureate degree from Harpur College must present
one of the following combinations of E and W courses for completion of
the writing requirement at the minimum level:
two E and three W or
three E and one W or
four E
Transfer credit in English expository writing (composition, rhetoric, or
literature) may be applied to this requirement up to a maximum of three
courses, of which only one may count as an E course.
Harpur College believes that writing is central to a liberal arts education.
The labels E (writing-emphasis) and W (writing) in the listing of Harpur
College courses each semester guide students in the selection of courses
that should help them to develop their writing. These labels also appear
on student transcripts to document the extent of students' structured experience
in college-level writing. Students are strongly urged to take at least
one four-credit E course within their first two semesters (32 credits)
at Harpur College.
Writing-emphasis (E) courses provide substantial experience in writing
as well as guidance or explicit instruction designed to develop writing
expertise sufficient to the demands of college-level thinking and learning
in the particular discipline in which the course is offered. Written assignments
in E courses constitute 60-100 percent of the basis for the grade in the
course and typically comprise a minimum of 20 pages (5,000 words) of writing.
Writing (W) courses provide considerable experience in and feedback on
writing as a tool of college-level teaching and learning. Written assignments
in W courses constitute 30-100 percent of the basis for the grade in the
course and typically comprise a minimum of 10 pages (2,500 words) of writing.
All students must pursue an approved academic major. Because it is often
difficult to complete all requirements for an academic major by the end
of the senior year unless a concrete plan is developed early in the academic
career, students normally declare a major program before their fifth semester
of residence. Although the declaration of major is initiated by students
in the Academic Advising Office, students should contact appropriate persons
in individual departments or programs for advice prior to declaring.
The following major programs are available.
Within the Division of Humanities, the BA degree in:
Africana Studies German
Arabic Hebrew
Art Italian
Art History Judaic Studies
Cinema Music
Classical Studies Philosophy
Comparative Literature Spanish
English Theater
English and Rhetoric
French
the BFA degree in: Studio Art
the BMus degree in: Music
Within the Division of Science and Mathematics:
Biochemistry, BS
Biological Sciences, BA, BS
Chemistry, BA, BS
Geological Sciences, BA, BS
Mathematical Sciences, BA, BS
Physics, BA, BS
Psychobiology, BS
Psychology, BA
Within the Division of Social Sciences:
Anthropology, BA
Economics, BA, BS
Geography, BA
History, BA
Political Science, BA
Sociology, BA
In interdisciplinary major departments and programs, the BA degree in:
Environmental Studies
Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies
Interdepartmental Studies Program
(see Innovational Projects Board)
Medieval Studies
Philosophy, Politics, and Law
Students taking Harpur College courses are graded in one of two ways:
1) normal option using grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, F, or
2) Pass/fail option using grades of P for pass and F for fail. In the pass/fail
option, P is defined as the equivalent of D or better.
1. For each course they enroll in, students choose (with some limited exceptions;
see points 2 and 3 below) one of the two grading options at registration.
The decision may be changed (either from normal to P/F or vice versa) at
any time up to the last day for dropping courses, usually during the ninth
week of the semester. The registrar informs the course instructor of the
students' grading choices, and the instructor submits grades accordingly.
2. Students not on probation may elect to use the pass/fail option in a
maximum of 24 credits of coursework. Mandatory P/F courses are not included
in this 24-credit limit.
3. The instructor of any course may choose to limit the grading option
of any course exclusively to the pass/fail system. Such a limitation must
have approval of the appropriate department and of the Harpur College Curriculum
Committee, and must be noted in the preregistration schedule given to students.
An indication that P is the only available grade in the course is noted
on the student's transcript.
4. All transcripts are complete, semester-by-semester records of courses
carried beyond the drop deadline. The explanatory notes that accompany
the transcripts contain a clear description of the system used in recording
grades.
5. A notation of incomplete, rather than a grade, may be reported by the
instructor when a student has not been able to complete a course for what,
in the instructor's judgment, is a compelling reason. It is the student's
responsibility to request the incomplete in a timely fashion so that the
instructor can evaluate the circumstance before grades are due to the registrar.
The submission of an incomplete means that a student has made a substantial
commitment to the course, that is, has completed more than half of the
work required in the course, but some remainder of the work-less than half-must
still be accomplished before an evaluation can be made.
Students may not retake a course in order to complete an Incomplete. See
the "Repeating Courses" section of this Bulletin.
Students must determine with the instructor, consistent with the provisions
of the policy stated above, what work is necessary for completion of the
course and when the work must be submitted.
Ordinarily all incomplete notations must be replaced with grades by the
end of the next semester, whether or not the student is in college. Incomplete
notations change to an F grade at the end of the next semester unless an
official extension has been filed with the Registrar's Office. It is the
student's responsibility to initiate a request for an extension, having
reached agreement with the instructor for an alternate completion date.
The appropriate form, Request for Extension of Incomplete, may be obtained
from the Registrar's Office. An incomplete may be extended for only a limited
time. See point 7 below.
6. No change may be made in a grade unless one of the following situations
occurs: (a) cheating is discovered; (b) the instructor testifies that a
mechanical error has been made; or (c) the instructor receives satisfactory
evidence that events beyond control prevented the submission of the student's
required work, and so changes the grade to incomplete.
7. No changes from one letter grade to another and no extensions of an
incomplete are permitted after 18 months from the date of the last day
of class in the semester in which a course was offered. However, faculty
are required to keep graded work not returned to students for only one
semester following the end of the course.
8. Harpur College students taking courses offered by other schools at the
University, such as management or nursing, are usually graded according
to the grading system of the school offering the course.
Academic progress is determined by grade-point average (GPA) calculation,
in which:
A = 4.0
A- = 3.7
B+ = 3.3
B = 3.0
B- = 2.7
C+ = 2.3
C = 2.0
C- = 1.7
D = 1.0
F = 0.0
GPA is based on all Binghamton University courses taken for credit, except
for courses with the grade of P or notations of W, I, MG, and AU. Physical
education activity courses are not included in the GPA calculation.
To maintain satisfactory academic progress, students are required to earn
a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all Binghamton University courses taken
for credit. Students who fail to meet this requirement are placed on probation
and are expected to raise their average to a 2.0 level or better within
a reasonable period of time. Students on probation may not elect to use
the pass/fail grading option. Academic probation does not imply dismissal
and does not preclude students from registering or from receiving financial
aid. For further information about financial eligibility, see the "Financial
Information" section of this Bulletin.
While students may carry an overall GPA slightly below a 2.0 and be allowed
to continue their studies "on probation," those who fall considerably
below a cumulative GPA of 2.0 are subject to dismissal. These decisions
are made in accordance with the following guidelines:
Minimum
Hours Attempted* Cumulative GPA
1-34 1.440
35-51 1.625
52-68 1.715
69-85 1.800
86-102 1.875
103-119 1.950
120+ 2.000
*"Hours attempted" includes all external credit (transfer credit,
external examination credit, advanced placement credit) evaluated and accepted
by Harpur College toward the student's degree program and all Binghamton
University course credits carried to the end of a semester, whether passed
or not.
Academic standing and intercollegiate athletics.
Students must be in good academic standing to qualify for participation
in intercollegiate athletics.
Students who have been dismissed by the college may apply for readmission in writing through the Admissions Office. Students are not eligible for readmission until at least two semesters have passed since their notification of dismissal. If readmitted, students will continue on probation until their overall GPA is a 2.0 or better. Readmitted students who fail to achieve an overall 2.0 in a reasonable period of time are dismissed permanently.
Students may retake courses in which they have received a passing grade
by special petition to the faculty member teaching the course and the Academic
Advising Office. This is to allow a student to demonstrate mastery of a
given subject matter most notably (but not exclusively) in foundation courses,
on which successful performance in later courses may depend. If approved,
the repeated course does not count toward rate of progress. That is, when
a student repeats a course previously passed, both grades will appear on
the transcript, but only the first grade will be counted in the GPA calculations
for rate-of-progress purposes.
Students may retake courses in which they have received a failing grade;
they are not required to do so by Harpur College, although major requirements
may dictate otherwise. When a student repeats a course previously failed,
both grades will appear on the transcript, and both will be counted in
the GPA. Students are encouraged to speak with the Academic Advising Office
as they make their decision about repeating any failed course.
When a student retakes a course whose content remains essentially the same,
on the transcript the first grade will bear a footnote reading "course
retaken."
Students may formally drop a course from their schedule without penalty,
if they do so by the announced drop deadline, i.e., five class days past
the midpoint of the semester. Students are permitted to drop courses after
the drop deadline only if they cite extraordinary extenuating circumstances
and they successfully petition the Harpur College Academic Standards Committee
through the Academic Advising Office. Courses dropped late by petition
will have a W notation on the transcript.
By filing a Withdrawal Form, Harpur College students may withdraw entirely
from the University up to the last day of classes. If the Withdrawal Form
is submitted before the drop deadline, registered courses are deleted.
If the Withdrawal Form is submitted after the drop deadline, a W grade
is assigned to each course. In either case, withdrawal results in a notation
on the transcript, "withdrew from the University."
Specific course prerequisites are listed clearly in the course descriptions
of this Bulletin. Instructors may waive prerequisites in particular cases
if the student presents appropriate qualifying evidence.
Harpur College courses with numbers 100 through 199 are introductory courses
that normally have no prerequisites and are open to all students.
Courses with numbers 200 through 299 are intermediate-level courses that
may or may not have prerequisites.
Courses with numbers 300 through 399 are intermediate courses, normally
with prerequisites.
Courses with numbers 400 through 499 are advanced-level courses with specific
course prerequisites.
Certain numbers indicate special learning situations. Courses noted -80
are intended for special topics, -91 for teaching practica, -95 for internships,
-97 for independent study, and -98-99 for honors thesis.
Independent study accommodates advanced students who wish to pursue
individual research under the direct supervision of a faculty member, and
is normally reserved for students who cannot pursue their intellectual
interests through normal course offerings. Independent study registrations
must be signed by the sponsoring faculty member, the student, and the appropriate
department representative.
First-semester freshmen may not register for independent study courses.
Independent study courses may not satisfy all-college distribution requirements.
In addition to the University-wide attendance policy explained in this Bulletin, note that individual instructors are free to set more stringent attendance requirements in accordance with the academic needs of their classes.
Students may register for up to 18 academic credits without review. Those wishing to register for more than 18 credits must petition through the Academic Advising Office before exceeding the 18-credit limit. Physical education activity courses are not included in these provisions.
Arts and sciences courses numbered 500 and above are graduate courses,
ordinarily open only to graduate students. Harpur College students, however,
may be permitted to count any course they are qualified to take in the
Graduate School toward the 31-1/2 courses required for the baccalaureate
degree. The procedure must be initiated by petition and approved by the
instructor of the course, the department chair, and the Academic Advising
Office.
Undergraduate students at Harpur College who have completed all but two
courses required for graduation may register for up to two courses of graduate
credit to be recorded on a graduate transcript. Such students must be accepted
by the Graduate School prior to registering for the courses. Courses submitted
for graduate credit by such students may not be counted toward the undergraduate
degree. Interested students should consult the Academic Advising Office
for details.
Harpur College students may count up to a total of 32 credit hours of
non-liberal-arts courses toward the 126 credit hours required for the baccalaureate
degree. Within the 32-credit limit are included non-liberal-arts courses
taken at other institutions, courses in the Decker School, the School of
Management, the Watson School, the School of Education and Human Development,
and physical education non-activity (PENR) courses.
The School of Management has two programs of interest to Harpur College
students: an adjunct option in management science, as a supplement to appropriate
major programs in Harpur; and a master of business administration program,
with special provisions for Harpur undergraduates. Please see the School
of Management section of this Bulletin for details of these programs.
Harpur students interested in a minor in computer science should consult
the Watson School section of this Bulletin.
Many of the departments and major programs of Harpur College offer qualified students the opportunity to pursue special studies that, if successfully completed, lead to a degree with honors in that field, e.g., "Honors in English," or "Distinguished Independent Work in Chemistry." Students interested in such special programs should check appropriate sections of this Bulletin and then consult their major advisors. Normally, consultation with the advisor takes place no later than during the student's fourth semester of residence.
To qualify for the Harpur dean's list at the end of each regular semester, students must have a 3.5 or better semester grade-point average, at least 12 graded credits, and no missing grades or incompletes. Recognition is given for each semester in which students meet these criteria. The award is noted on the transcript.
Students with outstanding academic records receive college-wide honors
upon graduation. To qualify students must meet the cumulative grade-point
averages specified below, have at least 48 graded Binghamton University
credits, and no missing grades or incompletes. Honors are awarded as follows:
a) 3.50-3.69 GPA, cum laude
b) 3.70-3.84 GPA, magna cum laude
c) 3.85-4.00 GPA, summa cum laude
The appropriate graduation honors are indicated on the diploma and on the
finalized transcript.
An academic minor is an approved course sequence within an area of study,
providing a degree of specialization in that area, a specialty within a
discipline, or a specialty integrating more than one discipline. The area
in which a student takes a minor is recorded on the student's transcript
at graduation as certified by the minor department or program. Students
may not declare more than two minors. Students in Harpur College are not
required to take an academic minor. Departments are not required to offer
a minor.
Minors are declared in the Academic Advising Office. Minor requirements
are described in detail in this Bulletin under each departments listing.
The completed minor(s) will appear on the transcript when the degree is
certified. Students may not complete minors after graduation.
1. A minimum of 24 credits. (In Harpur College a course is defined as
four credits.) Each department or program establishes requirements for
its minor. A minor program must include not more than two introductory-level
courses and at least two upper-level courses (numbered 300-499).
2. Courses counted as part of the academic minor may also be used to fulfill
the all-college distribution requirements.
3. At least four of the courses in the student's minor program must be
in addition to those counted toward fulfillment of the requirements for
the student's major (and for the other minor if the student pursues two).
4. If a student declares two minors, at least two divisions must be represented
in the three fields of study (major and two minors).
5. If a student wishes to minor in a separate specialization or track within
the department or program of the major, the proposal must be consistent
with stated policies of that department or program.
The Innovational Projects Board (IPB) is a standing committee of the
Harpur College Council composed of faculty, students, and administrative
personnel. The IPB has authority to grant credit for innovative and interdisciplinary
courses and group study projects. In addition, IPB may approve interdisciplinary
majors for programs of study not listed in the Bulletin, such as Chinese
studies, biological anthropology, human social interaction, and biophysics.
Courses sponsored by the IPB are labeled IPB, and students may earn up
to 32 IPB credits during their undergraduate careers. Although these credits
count toward the 126 credits required for a degree, they do not fulfill
all-college requirements; nor do they fulfill departmental requirements
unless specific arrangements have been made with the departments involved.
Students may register for IPB courses through standard registration procedures.
Interdisciplinary major programs approved by the IPB usually consist
of regular courses and independent study credits from Harpur College departments.
Students with approved IPB majors are not permitted to select the pass/fail
grading option in courses to fulfill their major requirements except with
permission of the Innovational Projects Board. Students who complete approved
IPB majors are eligible for the BA degree.
Proposals to the IPB must be sponsored by at least one Harpur College faculty
member and are reviewed initially by the IPB advisor in the Dean's Office
of Harpur College before submission to IPB for further consideration. Since
specific procedures and submission deadlines are established semester by
semester, students considering making an IPB proposal should consult early
in their planning with the IPB advisor. Copies of application forms, guidelines,
and procedures are available from the Academic Advising Office.
For admission to an IPB departmental honors program, a candidate must:
a. be an undergraduate IPB major who has completed sufficient course work
to submit a prospectus for the integrative project;
b. have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 from all courses
taken at Binghamton University;
c. have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 in all courses taken in the
major;
d. be recommended for the honors program by the faculty member(s) who sponsor(s)
the major and integrative project;
e. select a three person committee, (comprised of the student's sponsor
(as chair), one member of the IPB, and one other reader drawn from the
University faculty), acceptable to the student;
f. complete an honors project which represents work substantively in excess
of that required by the integrative project.
Applications must be made to the Innovational Projects Board no later than
the end of the first week of classes of the penultimate semester. A candidate
whose project the Innovational Projects Board accepts and who successfully
completes an oral defense of the project before his or her honors committee
will be awarded "Honors in Interdisciplinary Studies."
Broome Area Community Studies is part of a larger program of field-study
opportunities. Off Campus College identifies internship opportunities in
the local community and in selected out-of-state areas and plans student
participation.
The internships give students direct experience in agencies and public
service organizations. Internships generally are one-semester, four-credit
learning and working experiences. Students work 8-12 hours a week in their
agencies under the day-to-day supervision of agency supervisors. Interns
also meet weekly with faculty mentors who encourage the synthesis of field
work and formal academic training.
Students interested in internships may fill out an application available
in the Off Campus College office. A complete list of internships and courses
is published each semester prior to registration and is available from
that office.
HARP 105. COLLEGE SKILLS
Instruction and laboratory in reading. Instruction and practice in
other developmental skills such as studying, notetaking, use of library,
preparing research papers. Not open to students without prior consent of
instructor. Does not satisfy major or all-college distribution requirements.
OCC 395. INTERNSHIP
Internships are supervised, experienced-based learning opportunities in
an office or agency setting. Local internships are community-service oriented.
Potomac Area internships benefit from the unique relationship between current
students and Binghamton alumni who work in our nation's capital. Various
assignments are directed by faculty mentors in conjunction with agency
supervisors, including research on public policy questions and participation
in agency operations. Students must apply to Off Campus College for internships.
Open to all students, regardless of collegiate residence. Does not satisfy
major or all-college distribution requirements. Sponsored by Off Campus
College.
IPB 497. INNOVATIVE INDEPENDENT STUDY /2 to 16 credits
Tutorial or group seminar study of a particular topic. Students must submit
a proposal to the Innovational Projects Board one semester in advance according
to the guidelines of the IPB; guidelines available from the IPB office
in Academic Advising. Study must be supervised by a member of the Binghamton
faculty. Open to all students; offered each semester.
IPB 499. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH
Independent research under the supervision of the IPB three member
honors committee. Must be taken as a one-semester project. Includes an
oral defense. Prerequisite: support of the faculty sponsor, eligibility
for honors, and approval of the IPB.
The Cross-Registration Agreement is a cooperative arrangement permitting
full-time undergraduates at Binghamton University or Broome Community College
to register for one course each semester at the other's campus, excluding
the summer session or mini-semesters. Cross-registration is generally permitted
only for courses not available on the student's home campus.
Students must be enrolled full time at their home campus and pay full tuition.
No further tuition is charged. It is important to note that, for financial
aid purposes, a full-time student is one who is registered for 12 or more
credits on the home campus.
Students interested in cross-registration should contact the program coordinator
in the Academic Advising Office.
American professional training in engineering, law, teaching, medicine, dentistry, and the sciences is ordinarily built on a foundation of undergraduate education, usually including a program of four years leading to the bachelor's degree. Students contemplating graduate training for a profession should begin early to consult the bulletins of the graduate and professional schools. Students interested in preparing for a career in teaching and education at the primary and secondary levels should contact the School of Education and Human Development for information about graduate curricular options. Students eligible for the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) should contact the pre-health or pre-law advisors for academic and career information. Additional assistance is available through the CSTEP office (777-2678).
The pre-health professions advising office is a key resource for students
who wish to continue their studies in the health professions. Students
may consult, as often as they wish, with a full-time advisor who is a specialist
in the health professions. The office has professional school bulletins,
brochures, application forms, reference and study guides, videos, testing
materials, and current information on the health fields. The bulletins
and many items in this library may be borrowed for leisurely reading.
For more information about pre-medical education, see Medical School Admission
Requirements, published annually by the Association of American Medical
Colleges, 2450 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20037-1126. This book covers
all aspects of preparation for and admission to medical education, including
specific requirements of the individual schools. Although there is some
variation, most medical schools (allopathic and osteopathic) require the
following college-level courses: one year each of English, biology, inorganic
chemistry, organic chemistry, and general physics. Some medical schools
also require one year of calculus. These sciences must include laboratory
experience. With over twice as many applicants as there are positions available
in medical schools, it is unlikely that the above minimal requirements
will be sufficient.
Dental school requirements are similar. Students interested in dentistry
are referred to Admission Requirements of U.S. and Canadian Dental Schools,
published annually by the American Association of Dental Schools, 1619
Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036. This book presents pertinent
information about preparation for dental education as well as information
about individual dental schools.
Requirements for optometry and veterinary medicine are considerably more
varied.
Binghamton University has entered into agreements with five health professional
schools that make it easier for students to make a transition between Harpur
College and professional school. Students interested in any of these programs
should consult with the pre-health professions advisor in a timely fashion.
Medicine: early assurance. Binghamton University has established
agreements with two medical schools (the College of Medicine at SUNY Health
Science Center at Syracuse and the School of Medicine at SUNY-Buffalo)
that allow Binghamton students to participate in early assurance programs.
Second-semester sophomores accepted into an early assurance program will
be guaranteed admission into medical school upon satisfactory completion
of their remaining two years at Binghamton (i.e., receiving their bachelor's
degree). Interested students should contact the pre-health professions
advisor at the beginning of their sophomore year.
Medicine: rural primary care program. Through the cooperation of
Binghamton University, the SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse, and
four two-year colleges, this program was initiated and designed to address
the need for primary care physicians in rural and other underserved areas
of New York.
The Rural Primary Care Scholars Program recruits high school seniors from
rural areas of New York State. Participants are guaranteed admission to
both Binghamton University to earn the baccalaureate degree and the SUNY
Health Science Center at Syracuse for the medical degree. A scholarly research
project is required in the senior year at Binghamton University.
The Two-year College Rural Primary Care Recruitment Program enlists applicants
from rural areas of New York State who are freshmen at Broome Community
College, Corning Community College, Delhi College, or SUNY Cobleskill.
Students complete the associate's degree and are guaranteed admission to
both Binghamton University to complete a four-year degree and the SUNY
Health Science Center at Syracuse to earn the medical degree.
The Early Acceptance Program for UMEDS (Underrepresented Minority or Economically
Disadvantaged Students) recruits high school seniors from New York State
who are economically disadvantaged or are members of minorities underrepresented
in medicine, i.e., African American, Mexican American, Native American,
or Mainland Puerto Rican. Accepted applicants are simultaneously guaranteed
admission to Binghamton University and the SUNY Health Science Center at
Syracuse.
Each program provides three years of medical enrichment experiences for
students while in college. Questions about this program should be directed
to the Admissions Office or to the pre-health professions advisor.
Dentistry. Binghamton University and the School of Dental Medicine
at SUNY-Buffalo have established an early assurance program. This allows
students to be guaranteed admission to dental school at the end of the
sophomore year, providing they successfully complete their remaining two
years at Binghamton. Interested students should contact the pre-health
professions advising office.
Optometry. Binghamton University and SUNY College of Optometry have
a joint degree program leading to a BA in biology from Binghamton and an
OD from the College of Optometry. This program takes seven years instead
of the usual eight necessary to obtain both the liberal arts degree and
the professional school degree. After three years at Binghamton, participants
attend the optometry college, with the first year of professional school
counting also as the fourth year at Binghamton. The BA is awarded at the
end of the participant's first year of professional school. There are a
limited number of spaces (for prospective or current freshmen only) in
this program, and there are a number of steps to the admissions process
after acceptance into Binghamton (Harpur College). Interested students
are encouraged to contact the pre-health professions office or the Admissions
Office.
Health-related professions. Binghamton University and the College
of Health-Related Professions at SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse
have established an articulation agreement for a 2 + 2 program. Although
this agreement does not guarantee admission to the College of Health-Related
Professions, it does insure that Binghamton students will be able to apply
to the College of Health-Related Professions as transfer students without
the loss of credit and/or status that usually accompanies transfer admissions.
This program is available for the professions of cytotechnology, medical
technology, physical therapy, and respiratory care. Interested students
should contact the pre-health professions advisor as soon as possible,
because this program is highly structured and precise scheduling is important.
Chemical engineering technology. Binghamton University and Broome Community
College have entered into a joint degree program that allows students to
receive a bachelor's degree from Binghamton and an AAS degree in chemical
engineering technology from Broome in four years. Although open to all
students, this program is of special interest to pre-health professions
students because the pre-health courses comprise over half the coursework
necessary to obtain the chemical engineering technology degree. Interested
students should consult with the pre-health professions advisor.
The Pre-law Advising Office has services and materials available to
help students interested in a legal career. The pre-law advisor is available
to all students for individual counseling and assistance with the law school
application process. The Pre-law Advising Office provides a resource library,
law school admissions data, test preparation materials, and an annual law
school recruitment program. Unlike other graduate and professional schools,
law schools do not require specific courses for admission. Students interested
in legal careers may pursue a variety of majors. A well-rounded liberal
arts education that develops disciplined habits of study, analytical thought,
and expression skills is the best preparation for law school.
Additional information is available in the Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools,
prepared by the Law School Admission Council and Law School Admission Services,
Box 2000, Newtown, PA 18940.