Canisius College

Pre-Professional Programs
Canisius College offers pre-professional training for students wishing to pursue a graduate degree in a number of professions. Programs and/or concentrations are available in the following areas:

• Medicine
• Dentistry
• Law

Dual Degree Programs
Canisius College also offers Dual Degree programs in a number of areas. These programs allow for the completion of a bachelor’s degree in four years, followed by a master’s degree in approximately one year. These programs are as follows:

• A Dual Degree program leading to a Master of Business Administration degree is offered for students majoring in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Communication Studies, Computer Science, Economics (B.A.), English, French, German, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology/ Anthropology and Spanish.
• A Dual Degree program leading to a Master of Business Administration degree in Professional Accounting is offered for students majoring in a number of liberal arts or natural science areas.

Dual majors are also available in a number of areas. Further details are given below.

To earn a bachelor’s degree from Canisius College, the student must complete a minimal total of 120 credit hours. Within each curriculum these courses are distributed into three areas: (1) Core Curriculum; (2) Major Field Requirements; and (3) Free Electives.

To earn a degree of associate of arts, a student must complete a minimum of 20 courses of at least three credits each and a minimum of 60 credit hours.

Courses of Instruction
The college year consists of two semesters, fall and spring. The unit of instruction is the semester hour or credit hour, which consists of one lecture period of 50 minutes length each week for the entire semester. A course having three 50-minute class periods a week will, therefore, earn three semester hours of credit. A two- to three-hour period of laboratory work in the sciences or education each week is considered equivalent to one lecture period, and therefore, to one semester hour.

The number of semester credits to be earned in a given course is always indicated by the number after the course title.

Prerequisites: Some courses have prerequisites that must be met before a student can register for the course. Prerequisites include such requirements as the successful completion of previous courses, concurrent registration in another course, permission of the instructor or chair, and specific G.P.A. and course grade requirements. A stdent may not register for a course where prerequisites are indicated unless the prerequisites have been successfully completed.

Note: For two-semester courses that are listed with one title and description (e.g., BIO 107-108 Human Anatomy and Physiology), it is understood that successful completion of the first semester is a prerequisite for admission to the second half of the course.

The numerical sequence used at Canisius College indicates the following: Courses numbered 100-199 and 200-299 are freshman/sophomore courses; 300-399 and 400-499 are junior/senior courses. Upperclassmen, on the approval of the department chair, may take courses in the 500-599 category. Courses in the 600 category are restricted to graduate students only.

All courses described in the catalog are scheduled for both 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 unless otherwise indicated. The college reserves the right to cancel a course because of inadequate registration or for reasons that cannot be foreseen. This is especially true of courses that are listed for 2006-2007. Because of the brevity of course descriptions, further information concerning the content of each course should be obtained from the individual department.

Cassette Studies
The Cassette Studies Program is a unique way of beginning or continuing one’s education when attendance at day or evening classes becomes difficult or impossible. The intent of the program is to assist individuals in pursuing an academic career that will lead to a Canisius College associate and/or bachelor degree. Most students served by CSP are adults whose life commitments make it difficult to follow a traditional college program. CSP is made up of both audio and video cassette courses that may be utilized at home, at the office or in any other convenient location.

Students must demonstrate a legitimate need to utilize this alternative mode of learning. Such students must receive authorization from the dean responsible for their academic program of study before registering for a cassette course. A minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 is required prior to enrollment in any cassette course. Course registrations are limited. Students should contact their associate dean for a list of courses available on cassette. In addition to tuition, a Cassette Program fee of $225 is charged.

Core Curriculum
In keeping with its liberal arts ideals and objectives, Canisius College requires that all its students complete a rounded program of humanistic studies embracing art and literature, the physical and social sciences, oral and written communication, history, philosophy, religious studies, mathematics and foreign languages. This core curriculum has two parts.

PART I includes four General Studies courses in the fields of composition and literature (ENG 101 and 102), religion (RST 101) and philosophy (PHI 101). This group, which totals 12 credit hours, should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. ENG 101 and 102 are required to be taken during the freshman year. RST 101 and PHI 101 are recommended for either freshman or sophomore year, except that RST 101 may not normally be taken in the fall semester of freshman year.

PART 2 includes area studies courses in the natural sciences, social sciences, art and literature, history, philosophy, religious studies, mathematical sciences and foreign languages. The student must select two courses from each area, excluding the area related to their major field, for a total of 14 courses and 42 credit hours. At least two of these courses must be on the list of those designated as satisfying the International and Cultural Diversity requirement. Courses in Part 2 should be distributed throughout all four years of a student’s academic career.

Certain four-credit interdisciplinary courses have been approved by the Core Curriculum Committee as satisfying the criteria for two different areas. These courses may count as one course in each of those two areas. Students may include no more than three such courses toward fulfilling their area studies requirements. These courses will be listed in the Registrar’s course schedule each semester.

The core curriculum requirement totals 54 hours.

Major Field Requirements
The student must take at least ten courses of at least three credits each in the field of major concentration or in fields related to or associated with the major field.

Pre-Major Requirements: Before admission to a specific major concentration, the student must complete all courses specified as prerequisites by the department in which he or she intends to major.

Application for admission to a major program is made to the chair of the department in which the student plans to major. This is normally done in the spring semester of sophomore year, though earlier in some programs. Details may be found in the curriculum description or obtained from the department chair. Permission of the department chair must be submitted to the appropriate dean before the student is admitted to a major program.

Major Requirements: Each major has its own specific requirements, which are listed by the individual department under the heading “Curriculum.” For each major there is also a “Recommended Schedule,” which outlines the preferred sequence in which the courses should be taken. Students should make sure that any restricted electives are chosen from among the courses approved by the department involved.

Minors are available in over 35 areas, as listed previously. The requirements for each minor are outlined in the appropriate departmental sections.

Dual Majors: For serious, above-average students who wish to concentrat departmental sections of the catalog; others can be arranged on an individual basis by the chairs of the two departments involved. In all cases the written approval of each chair and the dean is required. Some dual majors can be completed within the 120-credit-hour college minimum, but others will require additional coursework.

Electives
The remaining courses may be chosen in any area. These free electives complete the student’s requirements for the baccalaureate degree.

Substitutions
All degree requirements must be satisfied as stated in the catalog. Any substitutions must be approved in writing by the appropriate authority: the dean or associate dean for the core curriculum and the department chair for the major field requirements.

Writing
Writing is a way of learning as well as a way of communicating. The development of skill and fluency in the written use of language is inseparable from the development of skill and fluency in thought. As part of their learning experiences, students should expect to write in a variety of modes, from class notes, diaries and poems to examination essays and research papers. Opportunities for writing are a feature of every course in the college. To help develop skill and fluency in writing of various kinds, students may seek assistance from the staff of the Writing Lab.

Academic Support Services
Students whose prior academic record or performance on placement examinations indicates that they will need additional help to succeed in their college work will be counseled into special sections or courses that are designed to assist them in their future course of studies. Students may also be advised to take special courses or sections if their performance in the first year indicates such special attention may be helpful. When necessary, the college, working through the Academic Advisement Center, the Academic Development Center and the various departments, may require that such courses be taken.

Summer Session
The Canisius College Summer Session affords qualified graduate and undergraduate students educational opportunities of the same quality as the courses offered during the regular fall and spring semesters. Course offerings are planned especially for the following groups:

• Graduate students in Education and Business Administration.
• Undergraduate students who wish to complete required courses, acquire additional credits toward a degree, or make up deficiencies.
• Transient students, graduate and undergraduate, who are pursuing degree work at other colleges and universities.

A Summer Session catalog is published each spring and is available from the Office of Student Records. Students planning to take undergraduate courses should consult that office. Graduate Education students should consult the office of the School of Education and Human Services. Graduate Business offerings are coordinated through the office of the Richard J. Wehle School of Business.

Academic Advisement
Students come to the college with diverse needs and varied backgrounds. The college believes that this diversity calls for individualized assistance as students develop into self-directed, independent learners. The college’s Student Advisement Center is designed to provide professional assistance for students on an individual basis. Advisors help students understand the college’s expectations and foster in them a sense of independence as learners and responsibility for achieving their educational goals. The advisor helps students recognize their academic strengths and weaknesses, establish realistic educational goals, and identify the courses and resources necessary to achieve these goals. The advisor provides academic guidance by interpreting institutional requirements, recommending courses of action, and referring students to other people or departments for assistance.  The Student Advisement Center is located Bagen Hall, Room 103.

Freshmen: Each entering freshman is assigned an academic advisor who assists the student in the preparation of his/her initial course registration by explaining the college’s curriculum and discussing the particular program of study that interests the student. During the freshman year the student will meet with an advisor at least twice each semester to discuss performance, student needs, available resources and scheduling selections for subsequent semesters.

Undecided Students: Students who have not selected a major after their freshman year continue to receive academic advisement from the Student Advisement Center.

Part-time Students: Part-time students are required to meet with an advisor, and they are encouraged to use the services of the Advisement Center in selecting proper courses and understanding the resources that are available to assist them at the college.

Upperclass Students: Students who have selected a major should meet with a faculty member within the department of their major. The Student Advisement Center will coordinate the assignment of major advisors in conjunction with the student’s desires and the department’s resources.

Adult: Adult students are advised through the office for Adult Academic Services.

Second Degree
Individuals may enroll in a second baccalaureate degree if they can demonstrate that a second bachelor’s degree is necessary for their career. Individuals must fulfill the admissions requirements for the degree sought and must receive approval from the appropriate dean prior to matriculation in the program. These individuals, however, should be advised that in most cases it is unnecessary to receive a second baccalaureate degree; rather they merely need to complete a prescribed series of courses that apply to their career or life needs.

If they still wish to receive the second degree, the following policy will be the guideline for them: The credits received from the first bachelor’s degree will be applied as transfer credit to the second degree. The first degree need not have been completed at Canisius. The minimum requirements for the second degree include the completion of at least ten three- or four-credit hour courses at Canisius, with at least six of the courses being taken from the selected major. The student must complete all the departmental requirements for the degree, as well as the general graduation requirements, including a 2.00 quality point average for all courses taken at Canisius.

Individuals should meet with the appropriate dean or advisor to outline the program of courses necessary for the completion of the second degree.

Part 1 - General Studies Courses