Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree

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A candidate for the Bachelor of Arts degree must complete the following requirements:

General College Requirements:
I. The student must have:

• A. a total of 122 semester hours;
• B. a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above on all course work completed at Blackburn College;
• C. completed the last 30 hours or 36 of the last 45 hours as a Blackburn-enrolled student.

II. General Education Program Requirements

• A. 30-32 semester hours in Foundations of Learning. Students are introduced to various academic disciplines represented in the college curriculum, which serves as foundations for further learning. See section following for Foundations of Learning course requirements and options.
   
• B. Two years of Foreign Language OR an 18 hour approved concentration OR an approved minor. This component enables students to explore relationships between different fields of knowledge and supports the specialized coursework in their major.

III. All students must complete an academic major, with a 2.0 or C average for all courses taken in the major that are used to fulfill requirements of the major. Individual departments may set higher minimum standards for classes counted for the major. Students electing a second major may use coursework fulfilling the requirements for that major to fulfill any other degree requirement.

An academic minor is not required for graduation; students who select a minor must earn a 2.0 or C average for all courses taken in the minor that are used to fulfill requirements of the minor. No student may both major and minor in the same discipline.

Foundations of Learning
The Foundations of Learning courses should be completed by the end of the sophomore year, except the requirement in Philosophy or Religion. All of the courses included, except those in Philosophy and Religion, are open to qualified freshmen.

Any of these courses may also be counted in a student’s academic major where they are appropriate.

• 6 semester hours in CO 111, Freshman Inquiry I/CO 112, Freshman Inquiry II. (Must be taken during the freshman year with a minimum grade of “C” required).

• Natural Science Division (10-12 semester hours):
One laboratory course from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics: BI 100, 151, 201, 202, 203; CH 100, 101, 102; PH 201, 202.
One course in either Math or Computer Science: CS 120, 211, 212; MA 120, 140, 240, 254.
One additional course from a third discipline listed above in the Natural Sciences. All courses must be a minimum of three credits.

• Social Science Division (9 semester hours):
Three courses from three different departments with at least one course with a multicultural focus: EC 110, 200, 202; ED 200; GE 212; HI 151, 152, 211, 212, 221; PS 102, 103, 104; PY 101; SO 104.
Courses with a multicultural focus are: ED 200, GE 212; HI 151, 152, 221; PS 103; SO 104.

• Humanities Division (9 semester hours):
One 3-semester hour course from Philosophy or Religion (excluding PR 210, Work: Labor and Leaders)
One Literature course: EN 140 or 161 (ED 232, Children’s Literature, may fulfill this requirement for Elementary Education majors only.)
One 3-semester hour course from AR 109, 110, 170, 180; CO 207, 212, 251; MU 171, 200; OR three semester hours in any combination from MU 110, 120, 130, 240, 250, 260; CO 290.

• Physical Education and Fitness (2 semester hours).
Any activity courses PE 040 through PE 099. Students who complete a full season of varsity sports participation may receive one semester hour toward fulfillment of the Physical Education & Fitness requirement. A maximum of two hours may be earned in this way. Not more than 8 hours of P.E. activity courses may be used for graduation.

• Foreign Language OR Concentration OR Minor
1) Students should begin foreign language study during the freshman year, or attend the Mexico Semester in the sophomore year. The courses to be taken include Spanish 101, 102, 201, and 202. This foreign language option can also be completed in any of the following ways:

a) Receive a satisfactory score on a College Placement Test in Spanish. This test is administered at the beginning of the Fall Semester to new students who have completed two or more years of high school Spanish.

b) Achieve a grade of “3” or better on a CEEB Advanced Placement Test in a modern foreign language.

c) Be exempted from this requirement by the Committee on Academic Standing because English is not the native tongue, and the student has a good command of the native tongue. This exemption does not lower the total number of hours required for graduation.

d) Complete 12 hours of intensive study of Spanish in conjunction with the Mexico Semester Program. Students wishing to take upper division Spanish classes at Blackburn must also complete Spanish 202.

OR

2) Students may complete an approved concentration. Approved concentrations may be 18 hours of coursework (9 hours must be at the 300 level) in any academic program outside of the major area. Elementary education majors should refer to the education listings for approved concentrations or consult the Department of Education.) Requests for approval of an interdisciplinary concentration should be forwarded to the Provost.

OR

3) Students may complete an approved minor. Approved minors are listed on pages 11-12.

DIVISIONS AND COURSES OF INSTRUCTION

Course offerings are organized on a divisional basis with instruction provided through the following departments and program areas:

I. The Division of the Humanities
Art, Modern Language,
Communications, Music
English, Philosophy and Religion,
Freshman Studies

II. The Division of the Natural Sciences
Biology, Medical Technology
Chemistry, Physical Education
Computer Science, Physics
Mathematics

III. The Division of the Social Sciences
Business Administration & Economics, History
Careers, Political Science
Education, Psychology
Geography
 

The course offerings under each department or program of instruction are listed on the following pages. The College reserves the right to withdraw courses for which there is insufficient registration or staff and to make curricular, staff or other changes without prior notice in the catalog. The official list of scheduled courses prepared each semester by the Records Office for the ensuing registration period takes precedence over the listing of the catalog.