Upon satisfactory completion of the requirements for graduation, Wheaton College confers upon the student one of four degrees—Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Music Education. A majority of majors within the Arts and Sciences award the Bachelor of Arts. Selected majors (chiefly in the sciences) award the Bachelor of Science, and the Conservatory offers the Bachelor of Music and the Bachelor of Music Education. See the description of each major for the specific degree awarded. A student can earn a second baccalaureate degree provided that the degree (i.e., BA, BS, BM or BME) is a different type from the first, all requirements for each degree are satisfied, and at least 30 hours beyond those required for the first degree (minimum of 154 semester hours) have been completed. Contact the Registrar’s Office for further details.

A student is subject to the requirements listed in the catalog for the year in which the first enrollment occurred or to the requirements of a subsequent catalog under which the student is enrolled. All requirements must be met, however, under the same catalog. The College reserves the right to change academic policies and procedures during a student's time of enrollment.

Students are expected to complete the general education, major, minor, and/or certificate programs with the listed catalog courses. Course substitutions can be made by departmental recommendation (see department); exceptions to policy, procedure, or general academic requirements are handled with the academic petition process (form available in the Registrar's Office).

Graduation Requirements

The following requirements must be met for graduation:

Students must satisfactorily complete 124 semester hours. No more than six hours of Applied Health Science Physical Activity courses or Dance courses can be included in the 124 hours. The course requirements for some majors exceed 124 hours.

A cumulative grade point average of 2.00 must be maintained. A 2.00 average is also required for a major with a maximum of four hours of D grades allowed toward a major (maximum of eight hours of D grades in major courses for the B.M. and the B.M.E. degrees).

A total of 36 semester hours must be earned in upper division courses—those numbered 300 and above.

At least 48 semester hours must be satisfactorily completed from Wheaton College. Irrespective of the total number of hours taken from Wheaton College, at least 30 of the last 60 and at least 12 of the last 21 hours earned toward the degree must be taken from Wheaton.

The requirements for one major must be satisfactorily completed. Specific requirements for majors are stated in the Arts and Sciences and Conservatory of Music sections of this catalog. The 124 hours required for graduation may contain no more than 52 hours within a student’s major prefix, (e.g. BIOL) and no fewer than 72 hours outside the major prefix. Students must complete a minimum of 15 semester hours plus the capstone course in their major from Wheaton College, except in the case of Foreign Language majors who complete their study-abroad requirement in an accepted non-Wheaton College program; these students must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours plus the capstone course in their major from Wheaton College.

For all students graduating under catalogs prior to the 2016-17 catalog, students must satisfactorily meet all legacy general education requirements in the areas of competency, Applied Health Science, and five learning clusters that include Studies in Faith and Reason, Nature, Society, Diversity, and Literature and the Arts; as well as a senior capstone course in the major.

For all incoming freshmen, new students or transfer students, graduating under the 2016-17 catalog or later; students must satisfactorily meet all Christ at the Core general education requirements.

Some departments require that students in their major take comprehensive examinations as a part of their graduation requirements. Other assessment measurements may be required by individual departments or the college administration.

An Application for Degree must be filed with the Registrar's Office by the beginning of the student's senior year.

Completion of the Bachelor’s degree must be within ten years of initial enrollment.

Participation in Commencement

Commencement is a public event for recognizing and celebrating graduating students. A student who completes degree requirements in December, May, or summer may participate in the annual May commencement. Completion of degree requirements means that a student will have completed all the requirements as noted above.

Students who will be completing degree requirements during the summer must be registered for the appropriate courses prior to the commencement ceremony as confirmed by the Registrar’s Office. In order to walk in commencement, it is assumed that a student will receive, or will be eligible to receive, a diploma no later than August of the academic year of commencement participation.

Some students will be allowed to participate in commencement without having completed all of the above criteria. The exceptions are:

Elementary education, secondary education, or music education students who have completed everything except the student teaching semester;

Liberal arts engineering students who have completed 30 semester credits of the engineering program at IIT or one year at other engineering schools;

Liberal arts nursing students who have completed one year of the nursing program from a nursing school; and

Students who are registered to complete one graduation requirement during the following fall semester on Wheaton’s campus.

Liberal arts engineering and nursing students are not eligible to participate in commencement after 8 semesters of enrollment if the above criteria for Wheaton requirements are not completely met.

Students who do not meet the stated criteria will not be permitted to participate in commencement. While requests for an exception to the stated criteria may be submitted by a student, such exceptions are rarely approved and only for very unusual and extenuating circumstances. The "Request to Participate in Commencement" (available in the Registrar's Office) must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by March 1. All requests will be reviewed by the Provost’s Office.

General Education Statement of Purpose

The purpose of our general education program, Christ at the Core, is to introduce men and women to an understanding and appreciation of God, His creation and grace, and to our place of privilege and responsibility in the world He has made. To this end, the curriculum encourages students to ground all aspects of life in the Word of God, leading to a firm commitment to Christ and His Kingdom.

Christ at the Core general education exposes students to the fundamental ideas of their shared theological, cultural, intellectual, and scientific traditions, and also to concepts and issues outside the framework of their own cultural background. It engages students in various disciplines with their means of discovery, helps students grasp relationships between different fields of knowledge, and encourages them to appreciate and experience the unity of God's truth.

The Christ at the Core general education curriculum is designed to develop the student's ability to be creative, to think critically, and to reason analytically and quantitatively. It enables students to develop proficiencies in research methodologies, in oral and written expression, and in aesthetic appreciation. More specifically Christ at the Core prepares a student:

To pursue an integration of faith, life and learning:

By employing a Christian world view of God, humanity, nature, and the arts

By seeking to obey Christ in personal, professional, occupational, and social activity

By understanding and applying biblical perspectives to all areas of knowledge and life

By interconnecting knowledge, concepts, and actions through critical analysis of historical, cultural and scientific backgrounds

Christ at the Core encourages independent thought and action, nurturing the desire and capacity for informed moral choices and lifetime learning. It supports the general goal of the College to prepare students—intellectually, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and socially—for life in church and society, for involvement in Christ's redemptive work in creation, and for lives of joy and service to the glory of God.

Christ at the Core General Education Requirements

The general education requirements listed below apply to students in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs. Requirements for Music degrees are listed in the Conservatory of Music section of the catalog. The credit hours listed for each requirement are based on Wheaton College course offerings. Variations may occur when requirements are met through testing and/or with transfer credit.

Core Competencies - (up to 20 hours)

Competencies are essential academic skills for advanced study in the Christian liberal arts. Each student must satisfy up to 20 hours of Core Competencies over four different disciplines (First Year Writing, Oral Communication, Foreign Language, and Wellness). Some students test out of part of the requirements through validation tests administered by the appropriate department or by AP, IB, ACT, or SAT Subject scores. Since these skills are foundational for further study, students should complete them no later than the end of their sophomore year, with the exception of the foreign language requirement, which should be completed by the end of the junior year.

1. First Year Writing (0-4 hours)

Students should fulfill this requirement in their first year so that they will be introduced to ideas and skills that will be crucial for their progress through their liberal arts education. All students should complete the writing requirement by the end of their sophomore year. Since writing is a life-long skill, students are encouraged to take additional writing courses beyond Composition and Research. Successful completion of the First Year Writing requirement is a prerequisite for enrollment in any upper division writing course.

Meeting the Writing Requirement:

You may satisfy the writing requirement by taking ENGW 103 (4 hours) and earning a grade of C or higher.

You may satisfy the writing requirement by taking ENGW 104 (2 hours) and earning a grade of C or higher if:

1. You score a 3 on the LANGUAGE/Composition Advanced Placement exam.

2. You score a 10, 11, or 12 on the ACT Writing Test taken before September 2015.

3. Your ELA score (an average of your English, Reading, and Writing scores) is 32 or higher on an ACT exam taken on or after September 1, 2015.

4. You score a 10, 11, or 12 on an SAT Essay taken before March 2016.

5. You score a minimum of 6 on each category (reading, analysis, and writing) of the SAT Essay taken on or after March 1, 2016.

Options to Fulfill the Requirement with Academic Credit:

If you score a 4 or 5 on the LANGUAGE/Composition Advanced Placement exam, you earn 4 semester hours of writing credit and have completed the writing requirement.

If you score a 3 on the LANGUAGE/Composition Advanced Placement exam, you earn 2 semester hours of writing credit. You may complete the 4-hour requirement by taking ENGW 104 (2 hours) or passing the Writing Competency Exam ($30 charge for the exam) that is given each semester to freshmen or transfers only during their first year at Wheaton. No academic credit is given for passing the exam but part of the First Year Writing requirement will have been met.

Option to Fulfill the Requirement without Academic Credit:

The Writing Competency Exam is given each semester (on a date to be announced through email) and is open only to freshmen and transfer students. Students have one opportunity to take the exam in the fall or spring of their first year at Wheaton. The cost of the exam is $30. After taking the competency exam, if students do not qualify to fulfill the First Year Writing requirement, they will be placed in ENGW 103 or ENGW 104 based on their score. Students who have not taken the exam during their first year at Wheaton MUST take either ENGW 103 or ENGW 104, based on previous test scores (see “First Year Writing” above). No academic credit is given for taking the Writing Competency Exam.

2. Oral Communication (0-4 hours)

The Oral Communication requirement should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. If you have had extensive speech training or experience, take the oral competency exam offered by the Communication Department.

Options to Fulfill the Requirement:

Pass oral competency exam offered by the Communication Department (offered every A quad),which consists of presenting a persuasive speech to a jury composed of one or more members of the Communication faculty (fulfills requirement; no credit)

Take one of the following courses:

1. COMM 101 - Public Speaking (2 hours)

2. COMM 201 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication (4 hours) [for COMM majors and minors only]

3. COMM 252 - Argumentation and Debate (4 hours)

3. Foreign Language (0 - 12 hours)

The Christ at the Core Foreign Language requirement is comprised of two components: demonstrating intermediate-level Language Competency and showing Cultural Understanding. Fulfilling this requirement may be done in a number of ways depending on how many years of foreign language study you had in high school and whether you have done other qualifying work prior to entering Wheaton College.

IF YOU STUDIED A LANGUAGE TAUGHT AT WHEATON:

If you studied French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, or Spanish, and did NOT take the AP, SAT Subject, or IB tests in a foreign language, then satisfying the Foreign Language Requirement will depend on how many years of high school study you had.

If you had less than two years of language study in high school (or if you wish to study a language that is completely new to you), take 101, 102, and 201 in French, German, Greek, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, or Spanish; or 301, 302, and 401 for Hebrew; and pass the Language Competency Exam administered in all 201 courses (401 for Hebrew).

If you studied only two years, take 103 and 201 in the same language and pass the Language Competency Exam administered in all 201 courses. (*If you had two years of Latin, Greek or Hebrew, you should take the Ancient Languages Placement Test to determine correct placement.)
http://www.wheaton.edu/Academics/Departments/Foreign-Languages/Language-Placement-Testing

If you studied three or four years of regular level language in high school, you should take 201. Take the Language Placement Test if you were in honors level language courses.
http://www.wheaton.edu/Academics/Departments/Foreign-Languages/Language-Placement-Testing

If you are considering enrolling in a 300-level course you must take a Language Placement Test and follow the recommendation of the department.

If you have high school dual enrollment credit that you are transferring to Wheaton you must take a Language Placement Test in order to validate your credit with the Registrar's Office.

If you have taken either the AP, the SAT Subject or IB tests in a foreign language offered at Wheaton (French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Greek, Hebrew or Latin), you may satisfy your Foreign Language Requirement as follows: (Please note that results must be sent to Wheaton College prior to enrollment.)

Advanced Placement Test (AP):

	Score 1 or 2	Take 201 or take the Language Placement Test offered by the Modern and Classical Languages Department and follow the recommendation of the department.
	Score 3:	Language Competency is met but Cultural Understanding needs to be demonstrated (see section below on Cultural Understanding). Four (4) hours of credit earned.
	Score 4 or 5:	Foreign Language Requirement is met (both Language Competency and Cultural Understanding). Eight (8) hours of credit earned.

SAT Subject Test in a Language taught at Wheaton:

FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH

	Score 580+	Language Competency is met but Cultural Understanding needs to be demonstrated (see section below on Cultural Understanding). Four (4) hours of credit earned.
	Score 450-570	Take 201 and pass the Language Competency Exam administered in all 201 courses.
	Score below 450	Take 103, then 201 and pass the Language Competency Exam administered in all 201 courses.

MANDARIN CHINESE

	Score 500+	Language Competency is met but Cultural Understanding needs to be demonstrated (see section below on Cultural Understanding). Four (4) hours of credit earned.
	Score 440-490	Take 201 and pass the Language Competency Exam administered in all 201 courses.
	Score below 440	Take 103, then 201 and pass the Language Competency Exam administered in all 201 courses.

HEBREW

	Score 500+	Language Competency is met but Cultural Understanding needs to be demonstrated (see section below on Cultural Understanding). Four (4) hours of credit earned.
	Score 440-490	Take 401.
	Score below 440	Consult with Classical Languages faculty for class placement.

LATIN

	Score 580+	Language Competency is met but Cultural Understanding needs to be demonstrated (see section below on Cultural Understanding). Four (4) hours of credit earned.
	Score 440-570	Take 201
	Score below 440	Consult with Classical Languages faculty for class placement.

IB TEST:

IB Higher:

	Score 5:	Language Competency is met but Cultural Understanding needs to be demonstrated (see section below on Cultural Understanding). Six (6) hours of credit earned.
	Score 6 or 7:	Foreign Language Requirement is met (both Language Competency and Cultural Understanding). Six (6) hours of credit earned.

IB Subsidiary:

	Score 5:	Language Competency is met but Cultural Understanding needs to be demonstrated (see section below on Cultural Understanding). Four (4) hours of credit earned.
	Score 6 or 7:	Foreign Language Requirement is met (both Language Competency and Cultural Understanding). Four (4) hours of credit earned.

IF YOU STUDIED A LANGUAGE NOT TAUGHT AT WHEATON:

If you took a SAT Subject Test in a language not taught at Wheaton and scored 500 or above, Language Competency is met but Cultural Understanding needs to be demonstrated (see section below on Cultural Understanding). If you scored below 500, consult with the Modern and Classical Languages Department. Please note that results must be sent to Wheaton College prior to enrollment.

If all four (4) years of your high school instruction, written and oral, were in a language other than English, you may apply to waive the Foreign Language Requirement – both Language Competency and Cultural Understanding.

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages has access to examinations for many world languages, but cannot guarantee that it can provide a language competency exam for every request. If you hope to take a language competency exam in a language NOT taught at Wheaton, in order to ensure that an exam is available, you must turn in your request/application form as soon as possible at the beginning of your first semester as a student here.

The exam must be taken by the end of your sophomore year or by the end of your second semester if you enter Wheaton as a transfer student with junior or senior status. Test availability may change without notice; thus, the Modern and Classical Languages Department offers language competency examinations in languages not taught at Wheaton only when an acceptable examination and a qualified examiner are available. Exam fees will vary depending on the provider and no academic credits will be given for passing. NOTE: Cultural Understanding will still need to be demonstrated (see the following section on Cultural Understanding).

Cultural Understanding

Students who meet Language Competency via independent testing (no coursework at Wheaton College) will need to demonstrate Cultural Understanding via one of the options listed below:

Completing an upper-division course (4 credits) in the language for which Language Competency has already been demonstrated

Taking a course in a new language

Participating in an approved non-English based Global and Experiential Learning (GEL) experience

Passing the Cultural Understanding Exam (CUE)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE COURSE SEQUENCE

Sequence for all languages except Hebrew:

101, 102, 201 and pass the Language Competency Exam administered in all 201 courses

OR 103, 201 and pass the Language Competency Exam. The 103 course is an accelerated elementary course that covers the same material in one semester as the 101 and 102 courses cover in two semesters.

Sequence for Hebrew:

301, 302, 401, and pass the Language Competency Exam administered in Hebrew 401

NOTE: Students may not take any classes for the purpose of preparing for the Language Competency Exam as a pass/fail course, nor as an audit. Students who withdraw from a 201 intermediate language class after Fall or Spring Break will not be eligible to take the Language Competency Exam that same semester.

4. Wellness (0-2 hours)

All students should fulfill the Wellness requirement their freshman or sophomore year.

Meeting the Wellness Requirement:

Most students will fulfill the Wellness requirement by taking AHS 101 Wellness during their freshman or sophomore year.

Students demonstrating physical competency through participation in ROTC or Intercollegiate athletics may satisfy the Wellness requirement (fulfills requirement, no credit) by completing all the following:

1. Complete the Wellness competency exam with a score of 70% or higher (this exam will include an essay of how wellness can be shaped by Christian faith and practice)

2. Successful completion of one year of ROTC program OR one season of Intercollegiate athletics program

Students who are not formal participants in ROTC or Intercollegiate athletics may satisfy the Wellness requirement (fulfills requirement, no credit) by completing all the following:

1. Complete the Wellness competency exam with a score of 70% or higher (this exam will include an essay of how wellness can be shaped by Christian faith and practice)

2. An activity log

3. A dietary analysis

4. A sleep log

Shared Core - (18-24 hours)

The Shared Core fosters students’ developmental learning of the integration of faith and learning and liberal arts study. These common courses are required of all students as either pre-requisites or as a required course which explore topics and cultivate skills valued in the development of Christian perspectives on all of life and learning. Shared Core courses are expected to be taken at Wheaton College. (Transfer students who have taken in-person courses at a residential Christian college may meet 2 of the BITH requirements with transfer credit.)

1. First Year Seminar: Enduring Questions (CORE 101, 4 hours)

All freshmen will take CORE 101 First Year Seminar: Enduring Questions in the fall semester. This course is intended to present a framework to help students understand the nature of a Christian liberal arts education and the integration of faith with learning. The First Year Seminar is composed of 2/3 shared content and 1/3 specialized content unique to the faculty member and course section.

Students will be able to….

articulate how life in Christ shapes the way one addresses enduring questions (including “What is the good life?”) in conversation with alternative approaches.

analyze significant factors that influence the development of character.

articulate the value of Christian liberal arts education.

explain the Gospel in light of the biblical narrative using basic theological vocabulary.

critically engage the ideas of vocation as they concern God’s general calling on all Christians, their calling as students, and the distinctive vocations each of them pursues.

2. Old Testament (2-4 hours)

To meet the requirement in Old Testament:

Take BITH 211 (4-hour Old Testament course) or ARCH 211;

3. New Testament (2-4 hours)

To meet the requirement in New Testament:

Take BITH 213 (4-hour New Testament course) or ARCH 213;

4. Christian Thought (4 hours)

To meet the requirement in Christian Thought:

Take BITH 315 - Christian Thought (4 hours)

5. Advanced Integrative Seminar (CORE 3XX, 4 hours)

Students should take the Advanced Integrative Seminar CORE 3XX after the First Year Seminar and before the Capstone Experience, ideally during their sophomore or junior year. The Advanced Integrative Seminar builds upon the work of the First Year Seminar and fosters advanced skills in Christian liberal arts learning. These courses focus on a complex topic that requires integrative perspectives and may encourage interdisciplinary work while modeling a sophisticated approach to the integration of faith and learning. Students will be expected to read, discuss, and write with rigor and increased maturity. They should demonstrate increasing independence and resourcefulness in the development of informed and committed Christian responses to the content and questions of each seminar’s topic.

Students will be able to….

demonstrate increasing maturity in their ability to show how the Christian faith informs and is informed by their understanding of a complex issue.

exhibit research skills involving different forms of inquiry, investigation and analysis in order to address the course topic.

6. Capstone Experience: Disciplinary Questions and Vocational Challenges (2-4 hours)

Students will complete a Capstone course in their major, as designated by that department. The Capstone Experience allows students to pursue deep integration of their major and the concepts they have explored throughout the entire Christ at the Core curriculum. The Capstone Experience also considers how the First Year Seminar, the Advanced Integrative Seminar, and coursework in their major prepares them for their vocations after Wheaton.

Students will be able to….

integrate their major’s discipline with their Christ at the Core learning.

articulate how their understanding of vocation as it concerns God’s general calling on all Christians, their calling as students, and their distinctive vocational callings has developed while at Wheaton College.

discuss how studying the Christian liberal arts has shaped their growth in knowledge, wisdom, and Christian character during their time at Wheaton College.

Thematic Core (12-40 hrs)

The Thematic Core offers broad exposure to the liberal arts while allowing for multidisciplinary courses. The Thematic Core courses encourage students to interact with disciplines across the academic spectrum while focusing on the integrative goals of a Christian liberal arts education and helping students develop a distinctly Christian understanding of creation, culture, and the pursuit of truth.

The Thematic Core requirement is fulfilled by taking one course from each theme (aka tag) unless otherwise noted. Courses that fulfill Thematic Core themes will have this designation in their course description. Some courses will have more than one tag.

Themes:

Applied Abstract and Quantitative Reasoning - AAQR

Diversity in the United States - DUS

Global Perspectives - GP

Historical Perspectives - HP

Literary Explorations - LE

Philosophical Investigations - PI

Scientific Issues and Perspectives - SIP

Scientific Practice - SP

Social Inquiry - SI

Visual and Performing Arts - VPA

Take one 4-hr VPA course or two 2-hr courses with 2 different tags: VPAV (art), VPAM (music), VPAT (theater)

Courses may carry up to 2 Thematic Core tags. A maximum of three themes may be applied to meet both Thematic Core requirements and major requirements.

Christ at the Core requirements for individual Music degrees are listed in the Conservatory of Music section of the catalog.

Legacy General Education Requirements

"Legacy" general education requirements apply to students in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs graduating under catalogs prior to the 2016-17 catalog. These general education requirements do not apply to incoming freshmen or transfer students 2016-17 or later, who will graduate under Christ at the Core general education requirements. General education requirements for Music degrees for students graduating under catalogs prior to the 2016-17 catalog, please see the Office of the Registrar or the Conservatory of Music for requirements listed in older catalogs. The credit hours listed for each requirement are based on Wheaton College course offerings. Variations may occur when requirements are met through testing and/or with transfer credit.

Legacy Competency Requirements

Competencies are essential academic skills indispensable to advanced study in the liberal arts. The Departments of Biblical and Theological Studies, Communication, English, Foreign Languages, and Mathematics have identified specific basic skills and literacies that should be characteristic of the Christian educated in the liberal arts. All students will demonstrate competency in these skills areas, whether by testing in lieu of coursework or by completing appropriate courses whose final evaluation will be a version of the competency test in that area. All competencies should be completed by the end of the sophomore year, unless otherwise noted. To be met as follows:

Biblical Content - (4 hours) (Legacy)

See requirements listed under Studies in Faith and Reason.

Foreign Language - (variable hours) (Legacy)

The student will demonstrate competency to perform basic functional survival/scholarly activities. In ancient languages these skills include reading, and grammar analysis and general knowledge of the ancient world relevant to the texts studied. In modern languages these skills include listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In addition to the languages taught at Wheaton (Chinese, French, German, Koiné Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and Spanish) competency examinations are currently available in many world languages. Test availability may change without notice; thus, the Department of Modern and Classical Languages offers competency examinations in languages only when an acceptable examination and a qualified examiner are available. This competency must be begun by the beginning of the sophomore year or earlier and finished by the end of the junior year.

Students may not take any classes for the purpose of preparing for the competency exam as a pass/fail course, nor as an audit. Students who withdraw from a 201 Intermediate language class after Fall or Spring Break will not be eligible to take the competency exam that same semester.

To fulfill the competency requirement the student must either:

Pass a foreign language competency exam offered by the Department of Modern or Classical Languages, (a qualifying pre-test may be required)

Pass the final exam in a Wheaton College 201 modern or ancient language course [401 for Hebrew].

Students who have completed fewer than two years of a high school language or who choose to begin a new language should take one of the following course sequences (passing the final exam in the 201 course meets the competency requirement):

	Chinese 101, 102, 201	Greek 101, 102, 201
	French 101, 102, 201	Hebrew 301, 302, 401
	German 101, 102, 201	Latin 101, 102, 201
	Spanish 101, 102, 201

Students who have completed two years (through level 2) of French, German, Spanish, or Latin in high school should take one of the following course sequences (passing the final exam in the 201 course meets the competency requirement):

French 103, 201; Spanish 103, 201; German 103; 201. Latin 102, 201 OR 201 with department’s permission.

Students participating in Wheaton's overseas programs in French or German may substitute the 209 intermediate course for 201.

Students who have taken more than two years of high school language or have acquired language ability without taking formal courses must take a language placement test to determine the appropriate course to be taken or whether the competency requirement has been met. Students who have a qualifying score on the SAT Subject Test or an AP score of 3 or above are not required to take the language placement test. Students with prior coursework in Chinese should consult the Department of Modern and Classical Languages regarding placement procedures.

Students with language SAT Subject test scores or AP scores determine appropriate coursework as follows:

SAT Subject Test:

Take 103, 201 in the same language (passing the final exam in the 201 course [Hebrew 401] meets the competency requirement) if score was below:

	French below 450	Hebrew below 440 (take 302, 401)
	German below 450	Latin below 440 (take 102, 201)
	Spanish below 450	Chinese below 440 (take 102, 201)

Take 201 in the same language (passing the final exam in the 201 course [Hebrew 401] meets the competency requirement) if score is in the following ranges:

	French 450-570	Hebrew 440-490
	German 450-570	Latin 440-570
	Spanish 450-570	Chinese 440-490

The competency requirement is met if score was as follows:

French 580+

Hebrew 500+

German 580+

Latin 580+

Spanish 580+

Chinese 500+

(Consult with Department for other languages)

Note: SAT II Subject Test scores will be accepted in fulfillment of the competency requirement only for incoming freshmen and transfer students; SAT II scores for continuing students will be accepted in fulfillment of the competency requirement only if the exams were taken prior to enrollment at Wheaton.

AP Language or Literature Test:

	Score of 3, 4, or 5 meets the competency requirement.
	Score of 1 or 2: take the placement test.

Quantitative Skills - (0-2 hours) (Legacy)

The student will be able to demonstrate an appropriate skill level in the following areas: 1) basic statistics, 2) simple algebra, 3) calculator usage, 4) areas and volumes, 5) ratio and proportion, 6) exponential growth and decay, 7) spreadsheets, 8) counting, 9) dimensions and units, 10) function and basic calculus concepts. This requirement must be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

Pass QUANTITATIVE SKILLS TEST offered by the Mathematics Department (waives requirement; no credit)

Pass MATH 101 Quantitative Skills (2) (no longer taught)

Pass one of the following courses at Wheaton or transfer in credit for one of the following:

MATH 221 Applied Calculus (4)

MATH 231 Calculus I (4)

MATH 232 Calculus II (4)

MATH 233 Calculus I (2)

MATH 263 Introduction to Statistics (4)

Take one course with an AAQR tag.

Students with AP Calculus AB scores of 3, 4, or 5, or AP Calculus BC score of 2, 3, 4, or 5 or IB Mathematics HL score of 5 or greater meet competency requirement.

Oral Communication - (0-4 hours) (Legacy)

The student will be able to demonstrate competency in 1) inventional speaking, 2) the effective organization of messages, 3) audience analysis and ethical adaptation, and 4) confident, extemporaneous delivery before an audience. This requirement must be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

Options to Fulfill the Requirement:

Pass one of the following courses:

COMM 101 Public Speaking (2)

COMM 201 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (4) (For Communication majors and minors only)

COMM 252 Argumentation and Debate (4)

Writing – (0-4 hours) (Legacy)

Writing helps to develop thoughtful reading, sound reasoning, and clear communication; therefore, it is an essential aspect for liberal arts education and life-long learning. Composition and Research promotes strong thinkers and resourceful writers who can construct convincing arguments written in effective prose for a variety of audiences. The general education requirement in writing seeks to help students learn how to write persuasively, clearly, and concisely; engage in critical thinking and reading; organize material with regard to audiences; undertake research using library resources and computers; and demonstrate competency in foundational editing skills.

Students should fulfill this requirement in their first year so that they will be introduced to ideas and skills that will be crucial for their progress through their liberal arts education. All students must complete the writing requirement by the end of their sophomore year and before enrolling in any upper division writing course. Since writing is a life-long skill, students are encouraged to take additional writing courses beyond Composition and Research.

Meeting the Writing Requirement:

You may satisfy the writing requirement by taking ENGW 103 First Year Writing: Composition and Research (4) and earning a grade of C or higher.

You may satisfy the writing requirement by taking ENGW 104 First Year Writing: Composition and Research (2) and earning a grade of C or higher if:

1. You score a 3 on the LANGUAGE/Composition Advanced Placement.

2. You score a 10, 11, or 12 on the SAT Essay or ACT Writing Test subscore.

Options to Waive the Requirement with Academic Credit:

If you score a 4 or 5 on the LANGUAGE/Composition Advanced Placement exam, you earn 4 semester hours of writing credit and have completed the writing requirement.

If you score a 3 on the LANGUAGE/Composition Advanced Placement exam, you earn 2 semester hours of writing credit. You may complete the 4-hour requirement by taking ENGW 104 First Year Writing: Composition and Research (2) or passing the Writing competency exam.

Option to Waive the Requirement without Academic Credit:

The Writing competency exam is given each semester (on a date to be announced in the Broadcaster in the my.wheaton.edu portal or via campus email). The exam is open only to freshmen and to transfer students. Students have one opportunity to take the exam in the fall or spring of their first year at Wheaton.

Students must pass the first part of the exam (Library Research Skills) to qualify to take the second part of the exam (Research Essay). Students must pass both parts of the exam to fulfill the writing requirement. The total cost of the exam is $30.

If students do not qualify to waive the requirement, they will be placed in ENGW 103 or ENGW 104 based on their score. Students who have not taken the exam during their first year at Wheaton MUST take either ENGW 103 or ENGW 104 if a qualifying score via AP, IB, ACT or SAT was earned and ENGW xx1 is showing in their academic record.

Applied Health Science - 2 hours total (Legacy)

AHS 101 Wellness (2) is encouraged during the first or second semester of matriculation. It is normally to be completed before other Applied Health Science courses are taken.

Learning Cluster Requirements: 44-50 hours total (Legacy)

Studies in Faith and Reason - 14-18 hours total (Legacy)

To be met as follows: 10-14 hours in Biblical and Theological Studies and 4 hours in Philosophy

Biblical and Theological Studies (Legacy)

1. BITH 111 Gospel, Church and Culture (2) – (waived for junior/senior transfer students)

2. Old Testament - 2 or 4 hours

a. If student passes Old Testament competency test (see note #1), take 2 hours from BITH 331-349, or 433-449.

b. If student chooses not to take competency test, or takes test and does not pass, take

(1) BITH 211 Old Testament Literature and Interpretation (4), OR

(2) BITH 221 Old Testament Literature in Three Traditions (4) OR

(3) ARCH 211 Old Testament Archaeology (4), OR

(4) BITH 212 Old Testament Literature and Interpretation (2) plus 2 hours from BITH 331-349, or 433-449.

3. New Testament - 2 or 4 hours:

a. If student passes New Testament competency test (see note #1), take 2 hours from BITH 351-368, or 454-469.

b. If student chooses not to take competency test, or takes test and does not pass, take

(1) BITH 213 New Testament Literature and Interpretation (4), OR

(2) ARCH 213 New Testament Archaeology (4) OR

(3) BITH 214 New Testament Literature and Interpretation (2) plus 2 hours from BITH 351-368, or 454-469.

4. Christian Thought - 4 hours:

a. BITH 315 Christian Thought (4) is recommended, OR

b. BITH 316 Christian Thought (2) plus 2 hours from BITH 372-396 or 483-489 OR

c. BITH 376 Theologies of Transformation (4) (Wheaton in Chicago only)

NOTES:

1) Biblical Content Competency- The student will demonstrate an appropriate level of familiarity with the people and events, as well as the primary story line in the Bible, some of the principal theological themes in the Bible, and the culture, history, and geography of the biblical world as it enhances the meaning of the Bible. Competency tests are offered by the Biblical and Theological Studies Department.

2) Students must take 200-level courses before enrolling in 300- and 400-level courses.

3) BITH 317-318 Studies in Biblical Lands (4) may satisfy part of Bible general education requirements. See Biblical and Theological Studies Department.

Philosophy – 4 hours (Legacy)

PHIL 101 Introduction to Philosophy (4) OR

6 hours of other philosophy courses approved by the department OR

One PHIL course with a PI tag.

Studies in Society - 12 hours total (Legacy)

To be met as follows: 4 hours in history plus 8 hours in two social science disciplines. Society Cluster general education requirements must be met by selecting from the following courses:

1. History courses - 4 hours in world or multinational history

HIST 101 Exploring the Past (4), OR

HIST 105 World History (4), OR

HIST 111 World History: Ancient to Modern (4), OR

HIST 115 World History to 1600 (4), OR

One HIST course with an HP tag.

NOTE: AP or transfer credit in U.S. History does not satisfy the requirement.

2. Social Science courses - 8 hours required in at least two disciplines from only the following approved list:

ANTH 116 Introduction to Anthropology (4)

ANTH 319 Colonialism and Redemption: Native American Culture and Theology from 1492 to Wounded Knee (2)

ANTH 353 Biculturalism (4)

ANTH 354 Culture in the Contemporary World (4)

ECON 211 Principles of Microeconomics (4)

HNGR 112 Third World Issues (2)

HNGR 113 Transforming Poverty in the Majority World (2)

+ IR 155 Comparative Politics (4)

+ IR 175 International Politics (4)

+ PSCI 135 American Politics and Government (4)

+ PSCI 145 Political Philosophy (4)

PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology (4)

PSYC 241 Social Psychology (counts only for psychology discipline) (4)

PSYC 317 Developmental Psychology (4)

SOC 115 Introduction to Sociology (4)

SOC 251 Culture, Media, & Society (4)

SOC 356 The Family (4)

SOC 385 Social Change (for HNGR students only) (4)

URBN 112 Social Life of Cities (2)

URBN 231 Chicago (2) OR

8 hours of SI tagged courses from at least 2 different disciplines.

NOTES:

1) HNGR students meet Society Cluster requirements with HNGR courses plus 4 hours of history.

2) Students may not take both PSCI and IR (noted above with a +) in fulfillment of the eight-hour social science requirement.

Studies in Diversity - 2 Courses (4 - 8 hours) (Legacy)

Diversity courses substantively interact with one or more of the following: races, genders, ethnicities, religions, and cultures other than Anglo-American and white majority European as their major content or subject matter.

Student will grow in their ability to a) Identify the role of plural races, genders, ethnicities, religions, and cultures in shaping human knowledge; b) gain an understanding of their perspectives and attempt to “see” the world through another’s eyes; and c) experience engagement with, concern for and commitment to the worth and welfare of those from diverse ethnic, racial, religious and cultural heritages.

Select two courses from the following approved list:

Anthropology: ANTH 116, 262, 319, 324, 353, 354, 361, 362, 381, 435, 478, 482

Applied Health Science: AHS 391

Art: ART 329, 354

Astronomy: ASTR 303

Biology: BIOL 317x, 381

Bible: BITH 221, 317, 318, 354, 355, 383

Business Economics: ECON 365

Communication: COMM 223, 253

Education: EDUC 136

English: ENGL 105, 285, 342, 343, 375, 379

French: FREN 334, 439

Gender: GEND 494

German: GERM 431, 432

History: HIST 105, 111, 131, 292, 331, 334, 355, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365 461, 463

HNGR: HNGR 112, 113

International Relations: IR 155, 354, 412

Music: MUCS 103, 264, 335, 336, 356

Philosophy: PHIL 226, 251, 317, 347

Political Science: PSCI 337, 355, 385

Religion: RELI 212, 214

Sociology: SOC 115, 251, 337, 355, 341, 356, 359, 371, 376

Spanish: SPAN 331, 335, 337, 338, 439

Urban Studies: URBN 231, 385x, 451 OR

2 courses tagged as GP or DUS.

NOTES:

1) Careful selection of two courses will result in no additional hours for the degree.

2) Diversity courses may also be counted for general education, major, minor or elective credit.

Studies in Nature - 8 hours total (Legacy)

To be met as follows:

At least one 4-hour lab course plus 2 hours at *300-level to be selected from the lists below.

A minimum of 2 hours must be in biology, environmental studies, or geology.

A minimum of 2 hours must be in astronomy, chemistry, or physics.

Any general education laboratory course is prerequisite for any 300-level course in this listing. Exceptions must be approved by the Science Coordinator. Nature Cluster general education requirements must be met by selecting from the following courses:

1. Laboratory courses - 4 hours required

	Note: These CHEM courses are no longer taught.
BIOL 201	CHEM 201	ENVR 221	PHYS 221
BIOL 241	CHEM 221	GEOL 201	PHYS 222
BIOL 242	CHEM 222	GEOL 211	PHYS 228
	CHEM 236		PHYS 229
			PHYS 231
			PHYS 232
OR one course with an SP tag.

2. Non-laboratory courses

*ASTR 301 Planetary Astronomy (2)

*ASTR 302 Stellar Astronomy (2)

*ASTR 303 History of Cosmology (2)

*BIOL 303 Contemporary Issues in Biology (2)

*BIOL 314 Issues in Environmental Science (2)

*BIOL 315 Special Topics for General Education (2)

*BIOL 319 Introduction to Environmental Ethics (2)

*BIOL 381 Public Health and Nutrition (2)

CHEM 203 Drugs and Society (2) (no longer taught)

CSCI 231 Introduction to Computer Science Concepts (2) (does not count for either Biology/Environmental Studies/Geology or Astronomy/Chemistry/Physics area distribution requirement, but does count toward Nature Cluster requirement)

*ENVR 319 Environmental Ethics

GEOL 208 General Oceanography (2)

GEOL 215 Environmental Geology in the Field (2)

*GEOL 305 Natural Disasters (2)

*GEOL 306 Earth Resources and Environment (2)

*GEOL 311 Geology of National Parks (2)

*GEOL 322 Geoarchaeology (2)

*GEOL 381 Global Warming: Science

PHYS 205 Physics of Music (2)

*PHYS 301 Origins of Science (2)

*PHYS 302 Ideas of Science (2)

*PHYS 315 Topics in Physical Science (2)

SCI 211 Natural Systems of the Northwoods (2) (only for students seeking teacher certification) Taught summers at HoneyRock.

*SCI 301 Natural Science: Foundations, Methods, Challenges (4) (meets both area distribution requirements)

*SCI 311 Theories of Origins (4) (meets both area distribution requirements)

OR one 4 hour course with an SIP tag.

*Course meets 300-level science requirement.

NOTES:

1) The entire Nature Cluster requirement may be completed in one 8-week summer session at the Black Hills Science Station in South Dakota. One 4-hour course and two 2-hour courses should be taken from the general education offerings.

2) Students who have at least twelve hours of courses (with the appropriate cluster distribution of courses described above) from among the following are exempt from the required 300-level course described above: BIOL 241, 242, CHEM 221, 222, 236, 237, ENVR 221, GEOL 201, 211, 221, PHYS 221, 222, 231, 232. Credit earned through Advanced Placement tests, or via transfer from other institutions does not apply to this general exemption.

Literature and the Arts Cluster - 8 hours total (Legacy)

To be met as follows: 4 hours of literature and 4 hours of fine arts.

1. Literature courses- 4 hours. Recommended English courses are

ENGL 101 Classics of Western Literature (4), OR

ENGL 105 Modern Global Literature (4), OR

One ENGL course with a LE tag.

The requirement may also be met by other English Department literature courses (except for ENGL 225, 226, 326, 327, 485 and 486) or by these foreign language literature courses:

FREN 346 or 347 Masterpieces of French Literature (4)

GERM 351 Topics in German Literature and Culture (4)

SPAN 336 Survey of Spanish Literature (4)

SPAN 337 Survey of Spanish-American Literature (4) OR

One SPAN/FREN/GERM course with an LE tag.

2. Fine Arts courses- 4 hours total, in TWO disciplines (Art, Music or Communication), from the following courses:

ART 101 Art Survey (2) OR

ART 102 Issues in Art (2) OR

ART 211 Painting I (3) OR

ART 221 Taking Pictures (3) OR

ART 231 Sculpture I (3) OR

ART 251 History of Art & Architecture I (Ancient - 1700) (4) (ART Majors only)

MUCS 101 Intro to Music: Historical Survey (2) OR

MUCS 102 Intro to Music: Interdisciplinary Emphasis (2) OR

MUCS 103 Intro to Music: Twentieth Century and World Music (2) OR

MUTC 101 Intro to Music: Reading and Analysis (2) OR

COMM 171 Intro to Acting (2) OR

One 4-hour course with a VPA tag OR

Two 2-hour courses from 2 different disciplines, with a VPAV/VPAM/VPAT tag.

Senior Capstone Requirement - 2-4 hours total (Legacy)

To be met as follows:

Students will complete a 494 course in their major, as designated by that department.

Double majors require a capstone in each major.

Competency, Advanced Placement/Credit

All prospective students are required to submit either ACT or SAT scores as a part of the admissions process. The writing subscores from ACT and SAT may be used to meet part of the competency requirements for writing.

Students commonly use the College Board SAT Subject Tests to waive college requirements although in most cases no college credit is given for them. Normally, students sign up for these examinations through their high school guidance counselors.

SAT II Subject Test scores will be accepted in fulfillment of the general education foreign language competency requirement only for incoming freshmen and transfer students; SAT II scores for continuing students will be accepted in fulfillment of the competency requirement only if the exams were taken prior to enrollment at Wheaton.

The Advanced Placement (AP) tests may be used to earn college credit. They are typically taken by students after taking an AP course in high school.

Some courses taken as a part of the International Baccalaureate program can be used for college credit if a grade of 5 or higher was earned.

More specific information concerning the tests accepted and scores that are needed to waive a course or receive credit is available from the Office of the Registrar/Office of Freshman Advising at Wheaton College.

Transfer Credit

Wheaton College welcomes students who wish to transfer from another college. Most credits earned at another accredited college will transfer to Wheaton if the courses are applicable to a liberal arts program. Courses of a vocational or technical nature or courses in which a grade below C- was earned are not transferable. College courses taken prior to high school enrollment are not transferable. Courses taken at an unaccredited college may receive some credit with the approval of the Registrar. The College reserves the right to decide the acceptability and applicability of degrees and credits earned at other institutions. Grades for credits accepted for transfer courses are not included when determining a student's cumulative grade point average at Wheaton.

A maximum of 40 credit hours earned prior to high school graduation may be applied to the undergraduate degree. Use of courses taken prior to college matriculation for major requirements will be at the discretion of the Academic Department.

Students who transfer credits from a community college can transfer a maximum of 62 semester hours of credit. Courses taken at two-year colleges may not be used to satisfy Wheaton's upper division course requirement.

A maximum of 30 semester hours of credit earned by online/distance learning may be applied toward a degree. Such work should be taken only from well-recognized programs through accredited institutions.

Accepting courses for transfer and applying them toward degree requirements are separate considerations. Courses may transfer as elective credits but not be applicable to specific requirements. Transfer students are expected to meet all graduation requirements and general education requirements as listed in the appropriate sections of the catalog. Students may be requested to supply specific course information for a department in order to receive transfer credit. In some cases, students may be requested to take additional courses if the department determines that the necessary areas of study were not included.

General education graduation requirements include passing a foreign language competency exam. If some foreign language has been taken at another college, students may continue that language at a level recommended by the department. Passing the final exam in an intermediate foreign language course at Wheaton will meet the competency requirement. Students who have completed one semester of intermediate language at another college must verify competency by taking Wheaton's competency exam. Transfer students who, before enrolling at Wheaton, completed at least one year at the intermediate level will be considered to have met the competency requirement. Once initial enrollment at Wheaton occurs, the competency exam must be passed even if the student takes an advanced level language course at another college. Transfer credit will not be granted for online modern language courses.

Transfer students seeking Illinois teacher certification are expected to take all required 300- and 400-level education courses at Wheaton. Exceptions may be granted with departmental approval.

Courses that have been taken more than eight years prior to transferring to Wheaton are subject to department approval for transfer if they are to be used to meet any general education, major, minor, or teacher education requirements.

Official Communication

Wheaton College uses Banner Self Service, a component of the College’s administration database system, and College-administered student email accounts for official communication between students and administrative offices.

Banner Self Service

Banner Self Service provides online registration for classes, and communication of class schedules, grades, student account balances, and financial aid information. Students access Banner Self-Service through the Wheaton Portal at http://portal.wheaton.edu. Data encryption and user authentication protect students’ personal information.

Electronic Mail

Students are given College email accounts upon enrollment. Official notifications will be sent to these accounts. Students are responsible for reading their College email, and must use their College email accounts in official correspondence to ensure proper identification.

Revision Date: June 1, 2017

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