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.
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.
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:
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.
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 compostition (C) and writing (W) courses:
All candidates for a baccalaureate degree from Harpur College must present
one of the following combinations of C and W courses for completion of
the writing requirement at the minimum level:
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 |
| |
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.
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.
| 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 |
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:
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.
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.
HARP 106. TEST-TAKING SKILLS 2 credits
Instruction, collaborative work, and practice in preparing for and taking quizzes/exams. The course emphasizes critical thinking and active learning in conjunction with other strategies. Not open to students without prior con
sent of instructor. Does not satisfy major or All-college distribution requirements.
HARP 107. READING STRATEGIES 2 credits
Instruction, collaborative work, and practice in reading strategies, including reading for different purposes, with particular emphasis on critical reading. 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.
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. In addition, pre-health students may join discussions on bing.prehealth, the Binghamton University pre-health newsgroup on Usenet. The newsgroup provides an Internet-based forum in which ideas and information can be exchanged with the pre-health professions adviser and among students themselves.
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: 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.Dentistry. 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 adviser at the beginning of their sophomore year.
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 ensure 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 adviser and the College of Health-Related Professions 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 more than half the coursework necessary to obtain the chemical engineering technology degree. Interested students should consult with the pre-health professions adviser.
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. The Pre-law Advising Office has services and materials available to help students interested in a legal career. The pre-law adviser 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.
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.