/Institutions/Simmons-College/json/2020-2021/Undergraduate-Course-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Simmons-College/json/2020-2021/Undergraduate-Course-Catalog.json

Graduation Requirements

Language Requirement

The language requirement applies to all students regardless of background. Learning another language develops cognitive skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and flexibility. Furthermore, as students become familiar with a particular language and its literature and culture, they develop knowledge of the intellectual and social history of the people who speak that language. Additionally, the knowledge and experience gained in the critical reading of foreign literature broadens students’ perspectives and provides a foundation for further study and travel. In so doing, they become aware of their own cultural assumptions and preconceptions. Finally, fluency in another language provides a significant advantage in the marketplace for students who want to advance in their careers.

Two semesters of coursework in the same foreign language taken sequentially is required of all students, regardless of incoming language proficiency. Students may pursue a previously studied language or start a new one.

Table 1: PLAN Requirements, Purpose, and Double Counting

	PLAN REQUIREMENT	PURPOSE	DOUBLE COUNTING
Year 1	The Boston Course fall semester, 4 credits The Simmons Course: Explore fall semester, 2 credits The Leadership Course spring semester, 4 credits	Engagement with Boston; communication essential capability Engagement with Simmons Communities; academic skill-building Leadership, teamwork
Year 2	Learning Community • 2 courses, 3 credits each • 1 integrated seminar, 2 credits The Simmons Course: Experience Fall or spring semester, 1 credit	Interdisciplinary and integrated learning Academic skill-building; 3D planning	• Learning Community courses may count as a KCA • One Learning Community course may count in major/minor. For students with multiple majors/minors, one LC course may count in each. • One 3-credit course from the LC may be included in a student’s 3D cluster
Years 3 and 4	3D–Design Across Diverse Disciplines	3 courses that are topically connected; interdisciplinary and integrated learning	• Each 3D course may count as a KCA • One 3D course may count in each major/minor course of study • 3D courses must be drawn from different disciplines • One 3D course may have been taken during first or second year
	Capstone	Expertise in student’s field of study	• The Capstone is in the major
	The Simmons Course: Excel 1 credit Fall or spring semester	Post-graduation support/ planning; careers, graduate school
Any year	Key Content Areas (4 courses) • Social/Historical • Artistic, Literary Aesthetic • Global/Cultural • Scientific	Exposure to content across disciplines	• Each KCA may be fulfilled through the Learning Community; 3D; in a major/ minor course of study (if applicable)
	Quantitative Literacy (1 course)	Critical thinking and problem solving; literacy in numeric systems	• The QL requirement may be fulfilled through a course in student’s major/minor course of study (if applicable)
	Language Requirement (2 consecutive courses in the same language)	Linguistic and cultural skill development	• Some language courses may fulfill a KCA

Exemptions/Alternate Requirement

• Dix Scholars are exempted from the language requirement.
• Students with a documented learning disability, or other disability, affecting their ability to acquire a language will fulfill the language requirement through the completion of two courses related to global perspectives and cross-cultural understanding. Such students should contact the Office of Accessibility Services and consult their academic advisor for the list of approved courses.

Starting a New Language

• Students who want to start a language which they have not previously studied can register for the 101 level in the following languages at Simmons: Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish.
• Typically, Arabic is offered through the Colleges of the Fenway. Please visit the Registrar’s Office for details.

Policies

• Students are strongly encouraged to finish the language requirement within their first two years of study.

Table 2a: Placement for Language Courses For students who want to continue their studies of Chinese, French, Japanese, or Spanish, the following methods will be used for placement:
LANGUAGE	REQUIREMENT
French	AP, IB or SAT exam or Online placement exam administered by the Office of Academic Advising
Spanish	AP, IB or SAT exam or Online placement exam administered by the Office of Academic Advising
Chinese	Online placement exam administered by the Office of Academic Advising
Japanese	Must consult with Professor Zhigang Liu, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
Students register for the level indicated based on their test score. Students cannot register for a different level without approval from the Modern Languages and Literatures Department. Students who have studied three or more years of the language will be automatically be placed into the 102 level, regardless of placement exam results. American Sign Language may be taken to fulfill the Language Requirement.

• Courses taken to fulfill the language requirement
  • may not be taken pass/fail;
  • may not be taken online;
  • may fulfill a Key Content Area requirement;
  • may be part of a student’s 3D cluster;
  • may count towards the major or minor in French or Spanish if they are at the 245 level or above; in order to count towards the major or minor, French 245 and Spanish 245 must be taken at Simmons.
• Language courses taken during international study can be used to fulfill the language requirement. Pre-approval must be obtained from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. Please contact the Chair of the Modern Languages and Literatures Department for approval.
• Language courses transferred from other institutions may fulfill the language requirement pending pre-approval from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. Please contact the Chair of the Modern Languages and Literatures Department for approval. This applies also to languages not offered at either Simmons or the Colleges of the Fenway consortium. In that instance, placement will be decided by the host institutions if needed.

Table 2b: Placement/Credit by Language Exam Score
AP	IB	SAT
Score of 3: No credit; student is placed into 202	Score of 5: No credit; student is placed into 202	Score of 560 or higher: No credit; student is placed into 202
Score of 4 or 5: 4 general credits; student is placed into 245	Score of 6 or 7: 4 general credits; student is placed into 245 No credit or placement for the “ab initio” exam: students are required to take the placement exam	Score of 650 or higher: No credit; student is placed into 245

Math Competency Requirement

Students will be required to demonstrate competency in mathematics in one of the following ways before they are able to take a Quantitative Literacy course:

• Pass the mathematics competency exam administered by the Office of Undergraduate Advising numerous times during the year
• Successfully complete MATH 101 or a higher level mathematics course at Simmons
• Present evidence of satisfactory completion at another accredited college of a mathematics course at the level of MATH 101, or above, to the Registrar’s office
• Students must satisfy the math competency requirement during their first year at Simmons. Students who do not pass the mathematics competency exam during orientation, or who do not meet the math competency requirement in one of the other ways described above, may choose to take MATH 101 in their first year or to retake the test in November. If they do not pass the November test, they will enroll in MATH 101 in the spring semester. Students who matriculate in January who do not pass the mathematics competency exam, or do not meet the requirements in one of the ways described above, may take MATH 101 during their first semester or retake the exam in March. If they fail the test in March, they will enroll in Math 101 in the following spring semester.

Quantitative Literacy Requirement (QL)

Quantitative Literacy (QL) is a “habit of mind,” competency, and comfort in working with numerical data. Courses in this area will develop a student’s ability to reason and solve quantitative problems from a wide array of authentic contexts and everyday life situations. QL courses will develop the skills necessary to understand and create sophisticated arguments supported by quantitative evidence, and to clearly communicate those arguments in a variety of formats (using words, tables, graphs, mathematical equations, etc.., as appropriate).

Key Content Area (KCA) Requirements

The key content areas pertain to phenomena as objects of study across the disciplines, rather than modes of inquiry defined by a particular discipline or set of disciplines.

Indeed, these categories describe areas of knowledge from multidisciplinary perspectives. The phenomena included under each of the four areas listed below thus admit of a wide variety of ways of knowing or disciplinary approaches. Students must complete one course from each of the following areas:

1] Scientific Inquiry (SCI)

Courses in this area focus on phenomena in the natural and physical world and on ways of knowing these phenomena, particularly through experimental approaches. This requirement is primarily met by courses in the sciences and psychology; the requirement may also be met by courses in other disciplines providing perspectives on scientific phenomena. All courses meeting this requirement include a “hands on” component providing students the opportunity to understand and appreciate the scientific method.

2] Global Cultural (GC)

The term “global cultural” is broadly construed; it includes all cultures, past and present, within and beyond the U. S., and in their multiple forms of manifestation. Courses in this area offer our students the opportunity to understand and learn to appreciate cultural differences as they have made themselves manifest in humankind. This requirement can be met by courses in any discipline—from the liberal arts, to the sciences, and the professions–that provide a multicultural perspective of the world. For example, courses that focus on cross-cultural practices, or on minority cultures in the U. S., or on non-European cultures, or that provide world surveys of cultures would all meet this requirement.

3] Social and Historical (SH)

Courses in this area focus on phenomena in society and history as well as ways of knowing these phenomena. This requirement can be met by courses in the social sciences, including economics, political science, sociology, social psychology, social work, and history. Courses in other disciplines that provide perspectives of social and historical phenomena as defined above also meet this requirement. For example, a course that focuses on the social applications of management principles would provide such perspectives.

4] Aesthetic, Literary, and Artistic (ALA)

Courses in this area focus on phenomena in art and literature as well as ways of knowing or creating original works or aesthetic approaches to these phenomena. This requirement can be met by courses in any of the creative and performing arts as well as in any courses in the study of literature, art, and music. Courses in other disciplines that provide perspectives of aesthetic, literary, and artistic phenomena as defined above also meet this requirement. For example, a course that studies the digital or computational aspects of artistic creation would meet this requirement.