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Bachelor
of Arts (B.A.)
Students in
the College of Arts and Sciences pursue a program of study leading
to the Bachelor of Arts degree. The Arts and Sciences curriculum
is comprised of three divisions:
Art and Humanities
Division: Art, Cinema Studies, Classics, Comparative Literature,
Creative Writing, East Asian Studies, English, German and Russian,
Jewish Studies, Music, Philosophy, Religion, Romance Languages,
and Theater and Dance. (All courses designated HU.)
Social and Behavioral
Sciences Division: African American Studies, Anthropology, Economics,
History, Politics, Psychology, Sociology, and Women's Studies.
(All courses designated SS.)
Natural Sciences
and Mathematics Division: Astronomy, Biology, Biochemistry,
Biopsychology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, Mathematics,
Neuroscience, and Physics. (All courses designated NS.)
Most of these programs
offer majors leading to the B.A. degree; many also offer minors.
Interdisciplinary majors are offered in Archeological Studies, Environmental
Studies, Latin American Studies, Law and Society, Russian and East
European Studies, and Third World Studies. Concentrations are offered
in International Studies and Cognitive Sciences.
Double-Degree
Program
Students may participate in the double-degree program,
in which they choose a major leading to a B.A. degree in the College
of Arts and Sciences, and a B.Mus. degree in the Conservatory of
Music. Prospective double-degree students apply for admission to
each division separately. Students already enrolled in one division
may apply for admission to the other division at the appropriate
Admissions Office. Admissions requirements and standards are the
same as those for single-degree students. The Academic Standing
committees of both the College of Arts and Sciences and the Conservatory
of Music review the records of double-degree students at the end
of each semester.
Normally it will
take five years to complete requirements for two degrees, and normally
both degrees are awarded at the end of the fifth year of study.
If a double-degree student elects to graduate from each division
in separate semesters, the full requirements for the first degree
as a single degree must be met. Requirements, regulations and procedures
relating to academic standing, advising, major study, etc., for
both divisions will apply.
To earn two degrees
under this program a student must complete the requirements for
one or more majors leading to the B.A. degree and the requirements
for one or more majors leading to the B.Mus. degree, as well as
a minimum of 152 semester hours of course credits.
For further information
please consult the following sections of this catalog: "Requirements
for Graduation" in College of Arts and Sciences, "Double-Degree,"
and "Requirements for Graduation" in Conservatory of Music.
Combined
Liberal Arts and Engineering Program
Oberlin College has cooperative arrangements with three
engineering schools whereby qualified students may obtain both the
Bachelor of Arts degree from Oberlin and the Bachelor of Science
in Engineering degree from the engineering school. In this program,
students spend three years at Oberlin and then two years at the
engineering school. For further details please see "Engineering."
Pre-Business
Many Oberlin graduates pursue business or graduate
programs in business. The better graduate schools of business welcome
Oberlin applicants as students with a solid liberal arts background.
An undergraduate degree in business is neither required nor, in
many cases, desired for acceptance into these schools. Students
considering graduate work in business may major in virtually any
area of the liberal arts. They are advised to take introductory
courses in economics, mathematics and computer science--areas often
required for admission to, and recommended as preparation for, the
better graduate programs. Please see the Office of Career Services
for further advice.
Pre-Law
Many Oberlin students enter law school after graduation.
Information on general requirements for law admissions can be found
in the Office of Career Services or by asking faculty designated
as pre-law advisors. A list of these advisors is available in the
Office of Career Services and the Office of Student Academic Affairs.
Normally, a student is expected to take the Law School Admission
Test (LSAT) in either the second semester of the junior year or
in the first semester of the senior year.
No one major, including
the Law and Society Major, should be considered as key for preparing
for the study of law. However, students interested in law school
may wish to look over the core courses, core research seminars,
and related courses listed under "Law and Society." These courses
contain subject matter relevant to the law, and are helpful in developing
analytic skills essential to the study of law.
Pre-Medical
Students planning to apply to medical school may major
in any subject provided they also complete pre-medical requirements.
Early in their academic careers at Oberlin they should discuss their
plans with one of the Health Careers advisors: Mr. Egloff and Mr.
Braford in Biology, Mr. Fuchsman and Mr. Matlin in Chemistry, Mr.
Peek in African American Studies, and Mr. Smith in Neuroscience
and Psychology.
Most medical schools
require one year of biology with laboratory, one year of physics
with laboratory, and chemistry with laboratory through organic chemistry.
Students intending to take this work at Oberlin should note:
1. Chemistry
101, 102, 205, and 254 normally are chosen to complete the chemistry
requirement. An alternative to Chemistry 254 is Chemistry 325, 326.
2. Biology
118/119 and 213/214 will meet minimum biology requirements. Premedical
students often elect additional biology courses, especially Biology
120 and 312.
3. The Physics
103, 104 sequence is the most common means of satisfying the physics
requirement. An alternative sequence is Physics 110, 111, 114.
Students should
consult the appropriate departmental listings for descriptions of
these offerings and their prerequisites. Most medical schools also
require a year of English and some require one or two semesters
of mathematics. A year of calculus or a semester each of calculus
and statistics usually satisfies the mathematics requirement. A
few schools specify or recommend one or more courses not mentioned
above. To determine requirements of specific medical schools students
should consult the most recent edition of the Medical School Admissions
Requirements (MSAR) published by the Association of American Medical
Colleges. This publication is available in Kettering Science Library
and the Office of Career Services.
The required Medical
College Admissions Test (MCAT) is administered at Oberlin and elsewhere
in April and August. Information about the test, including deadlines
for filing applications and application forms, is available from
the Office of Career Services. Students intending to enroll in medical
school immediately after graduation must complete the minimum science
requirements listed above by the end of their junior year and take
the MCAT in April (preferably), or in August (if more time is required
for review). Others defer the MCAT and applications to medical schools
until the senior year or later in order to complete premedical requirements
and explore other interests. In any case, it is not necessary or
advisable to take more than two mathematics or science courses in
either semester of the first year.
Pre-Education
Although there is no department of education at Oberlin,
students are offered a number of opportunities to pursue an interest
in teaching and other careers in education. The Curricular Committee
on Education has identified courses at Oberlin that are related
to the study of education. Students are encouraged to consider these
courses, along with a wide variety of other liberal arts and sciences
courses, to prepare for teaching in independent or public elementary
and secondary schools, and to help assess their interest in pursuing
professional programs at the graduate level.
For courses related
to the role of education in society, the role of education as a
profession, and educational pedagogy, please see the section of
the course listings entitled "Education." In the same section may
be found a description of Oberlin's affiliation with Bank Street
College's Five-Step Program in elementary and pre-school education.
Supervised experience in tutoring and classroom teaching is also
possible. The Education Committee maintains a list of faculty members
who are prepared to offer private readings in education, sponsor
Winter Term projects, or advise students on graduate education programs
and employment opportunities. The student organization Obies for
Education, the Center for Service and Learning, and the Office of
Career Services may also be consulted.
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