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WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY
CURRICULAR ADVICE FOR NEW STUDENTS, FALL 2009
(last modified on July 2, 2009)
Send questions and comments to registrar@wlu.edu

W&L Requirements and Incoming Credits

Course Recommendations by Academic Disciplines

Degree & FDR Requirements for the First Year [return to top]

• at least 113 credits, including 57 at W&L
• at least a 2.000 grade-point average
• completion of the Foundation and Distribution Requirements (FDR): the basic liberal-arts requirements
• completion of at least one major

Quick FDR summary
Specific courses are marked with FDR codes in the course listing and academic catalog

Limits on External Credits [return to top]

• External credit upon entry to W&L: Entering first-year students may receive a maximum of 28 credits from any and all non-W&L courses (AP, IB, college courses while in high school, etc). Of the 28, no more than nine credits may be counted toward the requirements for a particular major with departmental approval; individual departments may set a limit of less than nine credits counted toward the major.
• Total external credit toward W&L degree: No more than 56 of the 113 credits required for the W&L degree may be earned elsewhere or by any other means than through courses offered at W&L or through formal exchanges (e.g. VMI, Mary Baldwin Spelman, etc.).  In other words, first-year incoming credits, transfer credits, courses taken abroad, etc. will not count in the 57 credits to be taken at W&L.
• Last date to receive credit on entrance: All paperwork must be in the University Registrar's Office by the last day of fall-term classes, Friday, December 11, 2009.

Advanced Placement credit (AP, IB, and GCE)  [return to top]

• Advanced Placement Program (AP): Score of 4 or 5 required, depending on department. See registrar.wlu.edu/policies/ap.htm.
• International Baccalaureate (IB): - Higher-level score of 5, 6 or 7 required. See registrar.wlu.edu/policies/ib.htm.
• GCE A-level credit: See registrar.wlu.edu/policies/gce.htm .
• Questions? - Questions may be addressed to University Registrar Scott Dittman, ext. 8455 or registrar@wlu.edu.

First-year Student Requests for Transfer Credit  [return to top]

• Complete the First-year Student Credit Transfer Form and return it with the requested information (course description and syllabus, official college transcript, information on instructor, location, and texts) to the University Registrar.
• Due date: Forms and transcripts received by August 15 will be evaluated by the appropriate department heads in time for the initial advising session with each student. These courses are often prerequisites for work first-year students plan to undertake in their first term, so it is important for students to have records sent as soon as possible. Last date to receive credit on entrance: All paperwork must be in the University Registrar's Office by the last day of fall-term classes, Friday, December 11, 2009.
• What does not transfer: No college course will be transferred if it has been used to meet one of W&L's entrance requirements. Only work comparable to that at Washington and Lee in level, nature, and field may be accepted for degree credit.

Placement Testing at W&L [return to top]

• Taken during orientation - Students undergo placement testing during Orientation. In many fields optional placement tests for entering first-year students and advanced placement reports will determine what level of work the student should pursue. Details about placement testing are presented at the Orientation Academic Advising session and placement test results are listed on WebAdvisor and shared with advisers.
• Foreign language - Students who wish to continue studying at W&L a foreign language studied for two or more years in high school must take a placement test in that language during orientation. The test score will determine the language class you will be required or eligible to take during the Fall 2009 term.
• Math and English - The Mathematics and English departments also administer placement tests. Full details about the times and test recommendations can be found on the Orientation Schedule. 

Other Information [return to top]

• Normal Course Load: The academic load for first-years is normally between 12 and 14 credits for the fall and winter terms (usually four courses, exclusive of physical education) and four credits for the spring term. A candidate for any undergraduate degree must present a total of 113 credits, which averages out to 12-12-4 each year.
• Academic Planning Grid: A useful tool for keeping track of changes in graduation requirements (link to grid).
• Choosing courses for the first year: Within Washington and Lee's curriculum, first-years have a large measure of choice in selecting courses. They should distribute their work in such a way as to acquire the fundamentals of a liberal education, selecting courses which will begin to satisfy the Foundation and Distribution Requirements (FDRs) and enable them to explore possibilities for a major or to continue study in a field of special interest.
• Language and Mathematics proficiency: In choosing courses, first-years should consider that their skills in mathematics and language study may deteriorate if they do not continue work in them immediately. Similarly, popular science courses are often closed during junior and senior year; complete these requirements early.
• Declaring a Major: Students declare their major near the end of the sophomore year. All undergraduates are members of the College unless they choose one of the majors in the Williams School.
• Taking Courses Pass/Fail: First-year students are not allowed to take a course under the Pass/Fail grading option in any course which is offered on a graded basis, with the exception of 100- and 200-level physical education and certain courses offered only on a Pass/Fail basis.
• First-Year Seminars: Courses designed as in-depth explorations of a field of study with a small group of your peers. These seminars are reading- and discussion-based with an emphasis on papers, projects, studio work, or hands-on field experience rather than exams. They may be found in the course listing each term with "FS:" at the beginning of the course title.

Course Recommendations by Academic Disciplines [return to top]

ACCOUNTING  major  / individual courses [return to top]

Accounting and Business Administration

• Recommended for prospective accounting majors in the first and/or sophomore year:

• MATH 101

• ECON 101 and 102
  

• Recommended for prospective accounting majors in the sophomore year:

• ACCT 201 and 202

• INTR 201 and 202

Public Accounting

• Recommendations are the same as those for Accounting and Business Administration. In addition the prospective major should talk to the department head (Elizabeth Oliver, ext. 8637) and consider picking up as many extra credits as possible by going to summer school (each student may transfer in as many as 14 credit hours) or, possibly, by overloading.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES / minor  / individual courses [return to top]

• Students seeking to complete the Program in African-American Studies typically begin with AFAM 130: An Introduction to African-American Studies. However, other courses in the program may also be taken in any sequence, though generally we recommend that students should wait until the sophomore year to take those courses numbered at the 300 level.

• This program requires a student to complete 21 credits in seven courses.

• Students should consult with Professor Marc Conner, Director of the Program in African-American Studies, Payne 32B, ext. 8924.

ANTHROPOLOGY (see Sociology and Anthropology)  [return to top]

ART & ART HISTORY majors  /  minors  / individual courses  [return to top]

Recommended for prospective art majors:

• Art History: 101 and 102 (15 spaces held in 101 for first-years in fall term), 140, and 253, 254, 255, 258, 262, 263, or 267;
• Studio Art: 111 (12 spaces held for first-years in fall term), 112, 120, 131 (10 spaces held for first-years in fall and winter), 211, 217, 231

Recommended for first-year students taking art course for a humanities distribution, who have had some background in art or art history:

• Art History: 101 and 102 (15 spaces held in 101 for first-years in fall term), 140, 254, 258, 262, 263, or 267;
• Studio Art: 111 (12 spaces held for first-years in fall term), 112, 120, 131 (10 spaces held for first-years in fall and winter), 211, 217, 231

Recommended for first-year students taking art courses for a humanities distribution, but who have had no background in art or art history:

• Art History: 101 and 102 (15 spaces held in 101 for first-years in fall term), 140, (if background and interest in Asian art);
• Studio Art: 111 (12 spaces held for first-years in fall term), 112, 120, 131 (10 spaces held for first-years in fall and winter).

First-year students interested in studio classes should speak to the instructor and bring examples of their work if possible.

BIOLOGY majors  / minor  / individual courses   [return to top]

For first-year students taking biology for distribution requirements:

• Biology 101, 105, 111 and 113 (note: non-science majors are encouraged to take BIOL 111,113 in winter term)

Required for students planning to take advanced courses in biology:

• Mathematics 101, 102, Biology 111,113, and Chemistry 111 and 112.

For prospective biology, neuroscience, or environmental science majors in their first year, a desirable schedule is:

• BIOL 111/113 (fall) and BIOL 220 (winter, for biology and neuroscience majors)

• Mathematics (through MATH 102)

• English (complete the writing foundation)

• Foreign Language foundation

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION major  / individual courses   [return to top]

You are attending one of the finest liberal arts institutions in the country. 

• Accordingly, prospective business administration majors should fully immerse themselves in the liberal arts upon enrollment and continue to take courses outside business during their time at W&L.

• Students are also urged to take as much mathematics as they are capable of handling.

• Be aware, however, that MATH 118 will NOT satisfy the statistics requirement for Business Administration majors.

• It is recommended that prospective majors take ECON 101 and 102 in the first or second year.

• ACCT 201 and 202 and INTR 201 and 202 should be taken by the end of the second year.

CHEMISTRY  majors  / individual courses  [return to top]
For first-year students taking chemistry courses for foundation and distribution requirements:

• CHEM 100 (fall term, alternate years) and CHEM 106 (spring term) both provide a four-credit laboratory science course.

• CHEM 111 and 112 also meet a distribution requirement, but they are intended only for students who plan to use science professionally (e.g., scientists, engineers, doctors, and other health professionals).

For first-years taking chemistry courses as part of any science major or in preparation for health professions:

• CHEM 111 and 112;

• MATH 101 and 102 are required in most science majors.

For prospective chemistry or biochemistry majors in their first year, a desirable schedule is:

• CHEM 111, 112.

• Mathematics (for health professions, through MATH 102; for B.S. in chemistry or chemistry-engineering, MATH 221).

• English (complete the Writing Foundation).

• Foreign Language Foundation.

CHINESE (see East Asian Languages and Literatures) [return to top]

CLASSICS  major  / individual courses   [return to top]

Who should take the placement test in Latin?

• All incoming students with academic experience in Latin and intending to study Latin at Washington and Lee should take this diagnostic test.

• Those who intend to continue their studies in these languages must take the placement exam. 

• Students with no prior experience of Latin need not take the placement test.

• Also, students who have scored 5 on the Advanced Placement Latin test need not take the diagnostic test.  Such students should consider studying Latin at the advanced (or 300)-level.

• Finally, students not intending to study Latin at Washington and Lee need not take the diagnostic test.

Students with academic experience of ancient Greek and wishing to continue their study at Washington and Lee should consult Professor Kevin Crotty, ext. 8910.  A good time to do this is during orientation - the morning that the Latin diagnostic test is administered.

Recommended for prospective classics majors:

• Latin and/or Greek;

• Courses in classics, ancient art, ancient philosophy, and ancient history.

Suggested for first-year students taking classics for FDRs:

• Classics/Literature in Translation 200, 201, 203, 204, 238

• Latin and/or Greek at appropriate level to satisfy either the language or the literature requirement.

LATIN - Students interested in taking Latin are offered a placement test. On the basis of this test result, sometimes combined with a review of the student's secondary experience, a placement recommendation is made. If there is any reason to doubt the appropriateness of this placement recommendation the adviser should send the student to see a representative of the Classics Department. Students with no prior Latin study are welcome in Latin 101, and one might point out that the language requirement can be met by successful completion of only twelve credits. All upper levels of Latin are open to first-year students based on qualifications.

A note of caution to advisers: It is not a good idea to recommend Latin to students who claim that they are not good at languages.  Students signing up for Latin 101 should be made aware that it is a very challenging course, and requires considerable diligence if the student is to do well. Please explore with your advisee his or her language needs. Latin is indeed a very useful course for understanding many European languages, and for offering insights into the structure of language as such.  Any student undertaking the study of Latin, however, will find it necessary to make a determined effort from the very beginning to master the assignments.

GREEK - It is unusual for an entering student to have studied Greek on the secondary level. Any such student who expresses a desire to continue study of this language should be referred to a representative of the Classics Department. First-years are welcome in Greek 101.

CLASSICS - Classics/Literature in Translation 200, 201, 203, 204 and 238 are appropriate for entering students with a normal secondary background. In the case of Classics 221, 224, and 295, first-year students should consult the professor, since the subject matter may presuppose a certain level of sophistication.

COMPUTER SCIENCE majors  / minor  / individual courses  [return to top]
Computer Science Courses for First-Year Students - Advice for Fall 2009

• Students may satisfy the Foundations Mathematics requirement by taking Computer Science 101 (Survey of Computer Science), Computer Science 111 (Fundamentals of Programming I), or Computer Science 121 (Scientific Computing)

• Computer Science 101 is intended for students who want an overview of the field in breadth and depth.

• Students who simply want to fulfill the FM requirement should enroll in CSCI101.

• Computer Science 111 is intended for students who want a first course in programming and problem solving that assumes no prior programming experience. Topic areas include data encryption, graphics, image processing, and networks. 

• Students who are potential majors or who want programming experience for other coursework should take CSCI111. Note that Computer Science 111 is a requirement for a major in Mathematics. The content and approach of both introductory programming courses (CSCI111 and its follow-up CSCI112) are similar to the AP A and AP AB courses in computer science, except that the programming language used is Python, which is similar to Java.  For potential computer science majors in their first year, the ideal schedule is CSCI111 in the fall and CSCI112 in the winter.

• Computer Science 121 (Scientific Computing), offered winter term, is intended for science students wanting a programming course with scientific applications.  This course also satisfies FM. Programming is done in MatLab, a scientific-computing software package. Note that Computer Science 121 is a requirement for a major in Neuroscience.

• For more information about the courses and major, see our department web site, http://www.cs.wlu.edu, or call Professor Levy at ext 8419.

CREATIVE WRITING  minor   [return to top]

Recommended for prospective Creative Writing minors in their first year:

• After satisfying the first-year writing requirement, students may enroll in any 200-level creative writing workshop (English 203, 204, or 205 or Theater 220), and/or in any 200-level literature class in English except for 299. Both workshops and literature courses at the 200-level may be used towards minor requirements.
  

DANCE   individual courses  [return to top]

• For first-year students taking dance courses: Dance 110, 120 and 292.

• Dance 110 is required of all students interested in performing in the W&L Repertory Dance Company Concert.

• Dance 292 is open only to students with previous ballet training.

• All dance courses, except Dance 220, require permission of the instructor.  

EAST ASIAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES  majors  / individual courses  [return to top]

EAST ASIAN STUDIES  minors / individual courses  [return to top]

• Students concentrate on either China or Japan and are encouraged, but are not required, to pursue language-study to fulfill part of the minor.

• Either History 103 (China), or History 104 (Japan), is the only specifically required course for the minor.

• For more information about the minor, consult the catalog, contact the EAS director, David Bello (bellod@wlu.edu), or visit the EAS website.

ECONOMICS   major  / individual courses  [return to top]

EDUCATION (Teacher Licensure)  individual courses   [return to top]

• First-years wishing to qualify for the Virginia state license for teaching in public schools must take a variety of course in three areas – general education, professional education, and student teaching – under the guidance of an approved program. 

• Key foundation and distribution courses that will assist in gaining licensure are Psychology 113, Principles of Development, History 107, and 108, History of the United States, and any 100 level mathematics course. 

• Currently, completing the coursework for licensure requires taking advantage of the exchange program we have with Mary Baldwin College. Thus, students pursuing teacher licensure complete the majority of their coursework at Washington and Lee but also must enroll in one or two courses at Mary Baldwin.  

• Careful planning and time management are needed to prepare for teaching while also fulfilling all Washington and Lee degree requirements

• First-year students interested in teaching should see Lenna Ojure, Director of Teacher Education, as soon as possible during the first year to discuss sequencing for education courses.

ENGINEERING (see Physics and Engineering for complete information) [return to top]

• Students considering an engineering major should plan on taking the introductory physics sequence Physics 111A and Physics 112A and associated laboratories (Physics 113 and 114) during their first year. If these courses are not completed during the first year, engineering course work typically will not commence until the junior year. 

• Consult with faculty in the Physics and Engineering department during the first year.

ENGLISH  major  / individual courses    [return to top]

Who should take the placement test? A placement test, consisting of an essay, will be given during orientation week to determine either exemption from the requirement in English composition or placement in an appropriate course.

• Students who have received credit from Washington and Lee through Advanced Placement examination results in English need not take the test;

• for most other students the test is mandatory;

• for students with an SAT verbal score or SAT II Writing score of 700+ or an ACT English or Combined English/Writing score of 32+, the test is optional.

• Students will be notified by e-mail and by dorm counselors whether they are in the mandatory or optional groups (see Exemption information).

• A list of the results of the test will be sent to all faculty advisers in time for registering their advisees. Students who are not exempt must take a composition course during the fall or winter term of their first year.

Recommended for prospective English majors in their first year:

• Any 200-level literature course (English 203-294) may be used to fulfill major requirements at that level.
• After taking one 200-level literature course, a prospective major may elect to enroll in English 299, Seminar for Prospective Majors, which is the gateway to upper-level courses. Sections of English 299 are offered in fall and winter.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES  major  / minor  / individual courses   [return to top]

• Students may pursue environmental studies through either a 44-credit major or a 25 or 26 credit minor.

• Students interested in either option should choose courses listed in the catalog as environmental studies which also meet FDR requirements. Choosing courses to meet both also helps to create flexibility later in your schedule. Courses that satisfy both environmental studies and FDR requirements and are available to first-year students include ENV 110, BIOL 111/113, ECON 101, GEOL 100 or 101, and PHIL 108.

FRENCH (see Romance Languages)   [return to top]