Academic Affairs
Churchill 130
541-552-6213 (Academic Advising)
541-552-6114 (Academic Affairs)
Charles Lane, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Arts and Sciences Programs

At SOU, the arts and sciences are centered in three schools: Arts and Letters; Sciences; and Social Science, Education, Health and Physical Education. Two types of degree programs are available. For subject matter degrees, the major field of study is concentrated within one academic department. In the case of interdisciplinary degrees, the major work is drawn from two or more fields of study from different departments (see printed catalog page 152). See printed catalog page 4 for a complete listing of these degree programs.

Professional Programs

SOU professional programs are centered in two schools: Business and Social Science, Education, Health and Physical Education. The professional degree programs emphasize in-depth coursework within these schools and also draw upon the arts and sciences programs for supporting coursework and a strong general education component. A wide variety of emphases is available within the professional programs. Please refer to printed catalog page 4 of this catalog and to the appropriate academic section.

Program Planning

Students should consider the following when planning a degree program:

1. Core Curriculum. The SOU core curriculum has three parts: (a) general education requirements, (b) special requirements for the bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (BS) degree, and (c) upper division writing and capstone experience requirements in each major. The general education requirements are related to specific writing, speech, and quantitative skills set in the context of critical thinking. These requirements are met by the University Colloquium or equivalent and by selecting approved Explorations sequences, Quantitative Reasoning courses, and Synthesis courses. The general education requirements include approximately 9 credits of coursework, the equivalent of about one year of full-time college work. The special requirements for the BA or BS degree are listed under BA/BS Requirements on page 35. The upper division requirements for writing, research, and the capstone experience vary according to the major (see the appropriate section in the catalog for a particular major).
   
   
2. Academic Progress. Students planning to complete the bachelor's degree in four years should take at least 15 to 16 credits a term each year.
   
   
3. Class Schedule. Provided by the Registrar's Office, the class schedule lists the classes available each quarter. Before preregistering, students should check the closed class list posted in the Office of the Registrar or Academic Advising to be sure their desired classes are available.
   
   
4. Course Content. For specific information about a course, consult the course description in this catalog or request a syllabus from the department or instructor offering the course. Texts for a course may be reviewed in the University Bookstore.
   
   
5. Special Course Scheduling Considerations. Many language and science course sequences begin fall quarter and cannot be entered midyear. Some courses have laboratory work that must be taken concurrently with the lecture component of the course. Students intending a major with a science specialty should consult departmental advisors early on about supporting coursework requirements in mathematics and science.
   
   
6. Approval of Registration. Students with a declared premajor or major must obtain approval of the proposed schedule from their advisor before registration. Undeclared students and students majoring in interdisciplinary studies must obtain this registration approval from the Academic Advising Office in Stevenson Union 134.

Placement Exams

The appropriate SOU placement level is determined by placement exams in foreign languages and mathematics. For more information on these exams, contact the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department or see printed catalog page 96 for mathematics.

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

1. Minimum term credits: 180.
   
   
2. Completion of the core curriculum requirements. See the following section, Core Curriculum Requirements.
   
   
3. Work in upper division courses: Minimum of 60 credits.
   
   
4. Satisfaction of the departmental requirements for a major. This must be certified by the department chair.
   
   
5. Work in residence: Minimum 45 credits of last 60; last 15 on campus.
   
   
6. Registration is blocked for any student who has completed 91 credits and does not have a declared major on file in the Registrar's Office.
   
   
7. Students completing a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree must complete the special requirements for these degrees. See BA/BS Requirements on printed catalog page 35.
   
   
8. Grade Point Average: Minimum 2.0 in the major, minor, and overall. Some departments have a higher minimum GPA requirement for their majors and minors (see requirements for the major and minors in the departmental listing).
   
   
9. Restrictions:
   1. Courses numbered below 100 that are taken after fall term 1982 do not apply toward graduation requirements.
      Note: Courses taken prior to fall term 1982 numbered 0 - 49 are not applicable toward graduation requirements; 50 - 99 are applicable toward graduation as electives only.
      
      
   2. Open course numbers limitation:
      
      
      1. 199, 299, 399, 401, 403, 405, and 407 courses are limited to 45 credits in the overall program.
         
         
      2. 409 practicum courses are limited to 15 credits a prefix (e.g., Wr, Sp, Anth), and 30 credits for the overall program.
         
         
      3. Courses that were taken as open-numbered courses but subsequently became regularly scheduled (non - open-numbered) courses should not be counted in the credit limits on open-numbered courses.
         
         
   3. Correspondence study: Maximum 24 credits.
      
      
   4. Extension study: Maximum 60 credits (including the above).
      
      
   5. Prior learning experience: Maximum 90 credits approved.

Core Curriculum Requirements

The faculty have developed a core curriculum that must be completed by all baccalaureate students regardless of the major or type of baccalaureate degree. This curriculum is designed to give each student the skills, knowledge, and understanding necessary to become a responsible and productive citizen of an increasingly international community. The core curriculum includes two sets of requirements: general education requirements and components in the major.

General Education Requirements

The University general education requirements are designed to provide undergraduates with effective critical thinking, communication, and research skills. These requirements develop in students an awareness of the connections and relationships among the social, artistic, cultural, and scientific traditions of human endeavor. The desired outcome of the general education program is a person who is capable of resolving complex issues with intelligence, compassion, and understanding.

The general education program includes both lower division and upper division requirements. The lower division requirements include the University Colloquium and various Explorations sequences. The upper division requirements include three Synthesis and Applications courses.

Outline of the General Education Curriculum

Lower Division

University Colloquium (Core 101, 102, 103) 12
Quantitative Reasoning* 4 - 8

Explorations Sequences

Arts and Letters 8 credit minimum
Natural Sciences 8 credit minimum
Social Sciences 8 credit minimum

Upper Division

Synthesis and Applications Courses

Arts and Letters 3 - 4
Natural Sciences 3 - 4
Social Sciences 3 - 4

Total credits** 49 - 56

*The Quantitative Reasoning requirement may be satisfied by completion of either a stand-alone course or an Explorations sequence designed to incorporate the learning objectives of the Quantitative Reasoning requirement.

**Total credits are at least 49, but are likely to range between 49 and 56.

For the most recent listing of courses and sequences in the general education program, see the latest class schedule or the SOU Web site.

General Education Policies

Courses in the major or minor may be used to meet general education requirements. General education courses may be used to satisfy the requirements of the major or minor at the discretion of the relevant department or program.

Courses Approved for General Education

Writing and Oral Communication

University Colloquium (Core 101, 102, 103) 12

Quantitative Reasoning

Elementary Linear Mathematics (Mth 158 ) 4

Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics I (Mth 211)* 4 and Fundamentals of Elementary Mathematics II (Mth 212)* 4

Elementary Statistics (Mth 243) 4

Calculus I (Mth 251) 4

Exploratory Data Analysis (Ec 232) 4

*Both Mth 211 and 212 must be taken to satisfy the Quantitative Reasoning requirement.

Explorations Sequence

Note: You must take 8 credits of a paired Explorations sequence in each of the following areas: Arts and Letters, Natural Science, and Social Science. See Course Prerequisites Policy on printed catalog page 30.

Arts and Letters

Introduction to Cultural Studies: Classic Texts and Contemporary Dynamics (AL 215) 4
Introduction to Cultural Studies: Classic Texts and Contemporary Dynamics (AL 216) 4

History of Art (ArtH 201) 4
History of Art (ArtH 202) 4

Communication Across Cultures (Comm 200) 4
Media Across Cultures (Comm 201) 4

Introduction to Literature (Eng 104) 4
Introduction to Literature (Eng 105) 4

World Literature (Eng 107) 4
World Literature (Eng 108) 4

World Literature (Eng 107) 4
World Literature (Eng 109) 4

World Literature (Eng 108) 4
World Literature (Eng 109) 4

Native American Myth and Culture (Eng 239) 4
Native American Narratives, Fiction, and Poetry (Eng 240) 4

Intermediate French Language and Culture (Fr 202) 4
Intermediate French Language and Culture (Fr 203) 4

Intermediate German Language and Culture (GL 202) 4
Intermediate German Language and Culture (GL 203) 4

Seminar: The Ancient World ¹ (Ho 291) 4
Seminar: The Rise of the Individual Renaissance and Enlightenment Periods ¹ (Ho 292) 4

Seminar: The Ancient World ¹ (Ho 291) 4
Seminar: The Modern World ¹ (Ho 293) 4

Seminar: The Rise of the Individual Renaissance and Enlightenment Periods ¹ (Ho 292) 4
Seminar: The Modern World ¹ (Ho 293) 4

Intermediate Spanish Language and Culture (Span 202) 4
Intermediate Spanish Language and Culture (Span 203) 4

Music of Western Culture (Mus 201) 4
Music of Nonwestern Culture (Mus 202) 4

Music of Western Culture (Mus 201) 4
American Jazz (Mus 203) 4

Music of Nonwestern Culture (Mus 202) 4
American Jazz (Mus 203) 4

Introduction to Philosophy (Phl 201) 4
Ethics: Moral Issues (Phl 205) 4

Religion and the Human Experience (Rel 201) 4
Religion and the Human Experience (Rel 202) 4

English as a Second Language (Wr 101) 4
English as a Second Language (Wr 102) 4

Natural Sciences

General Biology: Cells (Bi 101) 4
General Biology: Organisms (Bi 102) 4

General Biology: Cells (Bi 101) 4
General Biology: Populations (Bi 103) 4

Principles of Biology: Molecules, Cells, and Genes (Bi 211) 4
Principles of Biology: Evolution and Diversity (Bi 212) 4

Fundamentals of Chemistry (Ch 100) 4
Environmental Chemistry (Ch 101) 4

Survey of Chemistry (Ch 104) 4
Survey of Chemistry (Ch 105) 4

General Chemistry/Lab (Ch 201/204) 3/1
General Chemistry/Lab (Ch 202/205) 3/1

Geology (G 101) 4
Geology (G 102) 4

Earth Science (G 111) 4
Earth Science (G 112) 4

Physical Geography I (Geog 111) 4
Physical Geography II (Geog 112) 4

Fundamentals of Physics/Lab (Ph 100/104) 3/1
Astronomy: The Solar System/ Workshop: The Solar System (Ph 112/114) 3/1

Fundamentals of Physics/Lab (Ph 100/104) 3/1
Astronomy: The Stars/Workshop: The Stars (Ph 113/115) 3/1

Astronomy: The Solar System/Workshop: The Solar System (Ph 112/114) 3/1
Astronomy: The Stars/Workshop: The Stars (Ph 113/115) 3/1

General Physics I/Lab (Ph 201/224) 3/1
General Physics II/Lab (Ph 202/225) 3/1

Social Sciences

Business, Government, and Society (BA 110) 4
America and Globalization (PS 110) 4

American Criminal Justice System (Crim 230) 4
Introduction to Criminology (Crim 231) 4

Microeconomics (Ec 201) 4
Macroeconomics (Ec 202) 4

Introduction to Geography: The Rogue Valley (Geog 101) 4
Introduction to Human Geography (Geog 107) 4

Introduction to Geography: The Rogue Valley (Geog 101) 4
Global Land and Livelihoods (Geog 108) 4

Introduction to Human Geography (Geog 107) 4
Global Land and Livelihoods (Geog 108) 4

World Civilizations (Hst 110) 4
World Civilizations (Hst 111) 4

American History and Life (Hst 250) 4
American History and Life (Hst 251) 4

Power and Politics (PS 201) 4
Authority and Law (PS 202) 4

General Psychology (Psy 201) 4
General Psychology (Psy 202) 4

Physical Anthropology and Archaeology: Perspectives on Humanity's Past (Anth 211) 4
Cultural Anthropology: Perspectives on Humanity (Anth 213) 4

The Sociological Imagination (Soc 204) 4
American Society (Soc 205) 4

The Sociological Imagination (Soc 204) 4
Cultural Anthropology: Perspectives on Humanity (Anth 213) 4

Health and Society I (HE 250) 4
Health and Society II (HE 275) 4

Synthesis and Applications

Arts and Letters

History and Theories of Cultural Studies (AL 301) 4

Inquiry and Imagination (AL 347) 4

Inquiry and Imagination (AL 348) 4

Art, Culture, and Technological Change (ArtH 330) 4

Art and Music of the Twentieth Century to Present (ArtH 311) 4

Class, Culture, and Feminism in Victorian and Edwardian England (Eng 341) 4

Teaching Global Perspectives Through Children's Literature (Eng 398) 4**

Art and Music of the Twentieth Century to Present (Mus 311) 4

Electronic and Computer Music (Mus 355) 3

Digital Tools for Interdisciplinary Synthesis: Music as Metaphor (Mus 358) 3

Information Technology: Legal and Ethical Issues (Phl 310) 4

History and Philosophy of Science (Phl 339) 4*

Death and Dying: Multidimensional Explorations (Phl 340) 4

Natural Sciences

Introduction to Complex Systems (Bi 381) 4

Biology and Society (Bi 382) 3

Forensic Science (Ch 300) 3

Information Technology: Legal and Ethical Issues (CS 310) 4

Metals and Civilization (G 330) 3

Oceanography (G 353/Sc 353) 3

Environmental Geology (G 360) 4

Energy and the Environment (Ph 308) 3

Acoustics, Sound, and Music (Ph 313) 3

Light, Vision, and Optical Phenomena (Ph 314) 3

Cosmology (Ph 315) 3

History and Philosophy of Science (Sc 339) 4*

History and Philosophy of the Environmental Movement (Sc 345) 3

* Choose either the Arts and Letters or the Science credit, but not both.

Social Sciences Business, Government, and Nonprofits (BA 320) 4

American Culture (Anth 310) 4

Pacific Cultures (Anth 317) 4

Cultures of the World (Anth 319) 4

Native North America: Special Studies (Anth 334) 4

Gender Issues in Economics (Ec 340) 4

Teaching Global Perspectives Through Children's Literature (Ed 398) 4**

Urban Environments (Geog 350) 4

Population, Development, and the Environment (Geog 360) 4

The Politics of Mass Media (PS 310) 4

Law, Science, and the Environment (PS 340) 4

Poverty, Family, and Policy (Soc 304) 4

Global Culture and Media (Soc 333) 4

People and Forests (Soc 350) 4

International Women's Movements (WS 301) 4

**Choose either the Arts and Letters or the Social Science credit, but not both.

Footnote

¹ The Honors sequences are approved for general education, but only for students who have been accepted into the Honors program.

Components in the Major

Each academic major leading to a bachelor's degree includes two upper division requirements for students completing that major.

Writing and Research Component. Demonstrate writing and research skills within the academic field of study chosen as a major. This upper division requirement is in addition to the writing requirement of general education.
It is met through coursework in the major that is designed to encourage the use of professional literature.

Students who have achieved the writing and research goals will be able to:

1. systematically identify, locate, and select information and professional literature in both print and electronic formats within the knowledge base of the specific discipline;
   
   
2. critically evaluate such materials;
   
   
3. use the materials in a way that demonstrates understanding and synthesis of the subject matter; and
   
   
4. develop cohesive research papers that use data and professional literature as evidence to support an argument or thesis following the style and conventions within the discipline of the major.

Capstone Experience: Complete a capstone experience designed to bring focus to and provide understanding of the major field of study. Each department specifies the manner in which its majors must meet these requirements. There is variation between fields of study. Please refer to the departmental listing of major requirements for details regarding the implementation of these requirements.

Assessment

Southern Oregon University is committed to improving the quality of instruction by assessing student outcomes. The University determines the progress of the learning process by relating outcomes to clearly defined learning objectives. During the course of their collegiate careers, students are active participants in the outcomes assessment process. Student participation contributes to curriculum design and the evolution of the learning community.

BA/BS Requirements

Undergraduate students completing a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree must satisfy the following requirements, as well as the other graduation requirements detailed earlier in this section.

Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA)

For this degree, students must:

1. Complete one year of study of a foreign language at the second year level or above at Southern Oregon University or another accredited college or university; complete four years of study of a single foreign language at the high school level; or successfully complete a proficiency examination administered by the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department. The exam is offered registration week of fall quarter. See printed catalog page 54 for further details.
   
   
2. Complete at least 48 credits in courses offered by the School of Arts and Letters. Note: Courses toward general education, the academic major, minor, and the above requirement may be counted toward these 48 credits.

Bachelor of Science Degree (BS)

For this degree, students must:

1. Complete at least two courses (8 or more credits) in mathematics, computer science (CS), designated statistics courses, or designated logic courses. The following statistics and logic courses have been approved for this requirement:
   
   Applied Business Statistics (BA 282)
   Exploratory Data Analysis (Ec 232)
   Quantitative Methods (Ec 332)
   Quantitative Methods of
   Geography (Geog 386)
   Elementary Logic (Phl 203)
   Qualitative Social Research
   Methods (Soc 326)
   Quantitative Social Research
   Methods (Soc 327)
   
   
2. Complete at least 48 credits in courses offered by the Schools of Business; Sciences; and Social Science, Education, Health and Physical Education (excluding education courses). Note: SOU courses toward general education, the academic major, a minor, and the above requirement may be counted toward these 48 credits.

Requirements for the BA and BS do not apply to students completing the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA).

Transfer Student Policies

You are eligible to use SOU's transfer policy for general education requirements if you transfer in with a minimum of 36 credits of accepted college coursework. Students coming to SOU as eligible transfer students will be assigned to one of the following categories:

1. AAOT: Oregon community college transfer students who have completed an Associate of Arts - Oregon Transfer degree, as certified by an Oregon community college, are accepted by SOU as having met all lower division general education requirements. These students must complete SOU's upper division Synthesis courses.
   
   
2. OUS transfer: Students who have completed all general education requirements from another Oregon University System (OUS) institution are accepted as having met all SOU lower division general education requirements. The OUS institution must confirm that the student satisfied all general education requirements at that institution. Students must complete SOU's upper division Synthesis courses, unless their university required similar upper division courses for general education.
   
   
3. Transitional transfer policy: SOU transfer students who can provide evidence of previous completion of a minimum of 50 percent of the University's former nine-goal program will be allowed to satisfy those requirements under the catalog option rules. This transitional policy will remain in effect until the end of calendar year 2002.
   
   
4. Transfers from colleges with SOU articulation agreements (non-AAOT): Credit will be given for completed general education courses and sequences as described in SOU articulation agreements. See the SOU Web page for details on a specific community college.
   
   
5. Students from institutions without an articulation agreement: Using the guidelines below, professional advisors from the Student ACCESS Center will individually evaluate the appropriate course credits and sequences from an accredited college or university to determine which courses are acceptable for meeting SOU general education requirements.

General Education Guidelines for Evaluation of Transfer Credit

Writing/Oral Communication
(9 - 12 credits)

Wr 121, 122 and a communication course equivalent to Interpersonal Communication (Comm 125), Public Speaking (Comm 210), Small Group Communication (Comm 225), or Advanced Public Speaking (Comm 310)

or

Core 101, 102, 103. C- or better in each class.

Note: Must transfer two of three classes and complete the requirement with Wr 121, 122 or a communication course (Comm 125, 210, 225, or 310), or take Core 101, 102, 103.

Quantitative Reasoning
(3 - 4 credits)

1. Transfer in one college-level mathematics course that has a prerequisite of at least intermediate algebra.
   
   or
   
   
2. Complete a Quantitiative Reasoning course from SOU's general education list.

   Note: You must take the math placement test or transfer in a course that meets the prerequisite.

Sequences

Each Explorations sequence may be met in one of the following ways:

1. Transfer in a two- to three-term lower division sequence in each of the school areas of Arts and Letters, Sciences, and Social Science.
   
   
2. Transfer in a portion of a sequence and take the appropriate conclusion course at SOU.
   
   or
   
   
3. Take an SOU Explorations sequence.

Arts and Letters*
(6 - 8 credits)

Art, Communication, English and Writing, Foreign Languages and Literatures, General Humanities, Music, Philosophy, Theatre Arts

Science*
(6 - 8 credits, including two courses with laboratory)

Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, General Science, Geology, Physics

Social Science*
(6 - 8 credits)

Anthropology, Criminology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, General Social Science

Minimum total credits 24

*Some sequences (especially from community colleges) may total only 6 credits. Students with fewer than the required 24 credits may complete additional courses in any of the three areas to bring the total amount of required credits to 24.

Note: Courses used to meet these requirements may also be applied to major and minor requirements.

Synthesis Courses

Students must complete one upper division SOU Synthesis course in each of the following areas:

Arts and Letters 3 - 4

Social Science 3 - 4

Science 3 - 4

For the most recent listing of courses and sequences in the general education program, see the latest class schedule or the SOU Web site.

Guidelines for Normal Progress

The following serves as a guide for students and advisors to assess the rate at which students should complete general education and major requirements.

1. At the completion of 48 credits of study applicable to a bachelor's degree, the student should have:

a) a 2.0 or better cumulative GPA; and

b) completed 12 credits of the Colloquium and at least 8 credits of lower division Explorations sequences.

2. At the completion of 91 credits of study applicable to a baccalaureate degree, the student should have:

a) a 2.0 or better cumulative GPA;

b) completed all 24 credits of the lower division Explorations sequences and a Quantitative Reasoning course or sequence; and

c) declared a major. Registration is blocked for any student who has not declared a major after the completion of 91 credits.

3. At the completion of 144 credits of study applicable to a bachelor's degree, the student should have:

a) a 2.0 or better cumulative GPA;

b) completed at least one of the three upper division Synthesis and Applications courses;

c) completed at least half of the credits in the declared major; and

d) completed at least 30 credits of upper division coursework.

4. At the completion of 180 credits of study, the student should have completed all requirements for the baccalaureate degree.

Guidelines for Normal Progress Notes

1. Most baccalaureate degree programs at Southern Oregon University are designed to be completed in four academic years at an average academic load of 16 credits a quarter. Some students, however, pursue the degree at an average rate of fewer than 16 credits a quarter and complete the degree in a proportionately longer period of time. The guidelines above address the content of the program rather than the rate at which the student pursues the degree. Consequently, these guidelines are applicable to both full-time and part-time students.

2. The guidelines above are designed for a student whose total academic program is at Southern Oregon University. A transfer student's normal progress toward a degree should be evaluated on the basis of credits accepted for transfer to SOU by the Admissions Office plus credits completed at SOU.

3. Some majors, particularly in the sciences and preprofessional programs, require a heavy academic load in the major and supporting areas during the first two years due to the sequential structure of the major program. Students in these majors may need to delay certain elements of the general education program until their junior or senior year. These students and their advisors may need to modify items 1b, 2b, and 3b of these guidelines to accommodate the special needs of the major.

Accelerated Baccalaureate Degree

The University offers the Accelerated Baccalaureate Degree Program for those students who have the motivation, maturity, time-management skills, and academic strengths necessary to finish a degree in three rather than four years. Advantages of the program are earlier entry into the job market, a focused undergraduate program as preparation for graduate school, and financial savings of one full year of tuition and fees.

The following departments participate in the Accelerated Baccalaureate Program: Business, Chemistry, Communication, Computer Science, Criminology, Economics, English and Writing, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Geography, Health and Physical Education, Mathematics, and Physics. For more information, see the Accelerated Baccalaureate Degree Program section on printed catalog page 160.