Planning a Program

During Orientation each first-year student receives a partial schedule for the year. This schedule includes Literature Humanities as well as Frontiers of Science or University Writing. First-year students are preregistered for either Frontiers of Science or University Writing in the fall term take the other course in the spring term). After the advising parts of the Orientation Program are completed, each student registers for electives and/or additional required courses to complete the fall term schedule. Suggested programs directed toward professional or graduate studies are described under Special Programs and serve as guides. Some majors and concentrations require that certain introductory courses be completed before the start of the junior year. Students should read carefully the degree requirements for their proposed major or concentration.  All students should:

1. Become thoroughly familiar with the requirements for the degree and with the College regulations;
2. Arrange, if possible, to complete certain required Core and major courses by the end of the sophomore year (Contemporary Civilization COCI C1101 - COCI C1102 and Literature Humanities HUMA C1001 - HUMA C1002 must be completed by the end of the junior year); and
3. Choose a major or concentration during the spring term of the sophomore year. Students must submit the completed major declaration form on-line or to the Center for Student Advising. Some majors and concentrations require departmental approval. A major or concentration may be changed at any time; if a different major or concentration is decided upon, a new form must be filed.

On-Line Resources for Planning a Program

Information for planning a program and for most majors and concentrations is available on the Columbia College Web site within the Academics area. The Columbia College Web site’s Academics area includes information on B.A. requirements, the Core Curriculum, a number of ongoing multimedia projects that supplement the Core Curriculum, programs of study, special programs, and study abroad.

The College’s Web site includes a fully searchable version of the bulletin course listings, full scheduling information that integrates the University’s on-line Directory of Classes, major advising information, and links to departmental home pages.

Departmental home pages may contain faculty listings as well as fields of specialization and/or research; detailed curricular information and on-line instructional resources (such as course syllabi, multimedia resources, links to research readings, library resources, and other useful sites); and departmental news, events, and lectures.

Placement and Credit

Placement Examinations

First-year students can select appropriate levels in French, German, Latin, Italian, or Spanish on the basis of scores on SAT II: Subject Tests or Advanced Placement Examinations in these subjects. All continuing language students who have not taken one of these tests must take a Columbia placement examination in order to enroll in language study at Columbia. The exact times and dates of examinations are provided in the orientation schedule distributed to first-year students when they arrive on campus. Upperclass students should contact departments before the beginning of each semester to inquire about other placement examination possibilities.

Credit

The College grants up to one semester (16 points) of college-level work completed before matriculation at Columbia College. This work may be done under the auspices of the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board, GCE Advanced Level Examinations, the International Baccalaureate Examination, or other national systems described below. In addition, the College considers a maximum of 6 points for college courses taken after graduation from secondary school and prior to matriculation at Columbia. Those who enter as first-year students are subject to all rules for first-year students in their first two terms regardless of how many credits are earned from any of the approved advanced standing programs. Students who wish to receive advanced credit may not take courses at Columbia that cover similar or more basic material than the advanced work already completed, nor may a student receive credit for two exams that cover the same material (for example, Calculus Advanced Placement and Mathematics GCE Advanced Level Exam). In some cases, credit is awarded when a student successfully completes the course into which placement was awarded (or, in some cases the College requires a student to complete a particular course in order to receive advanced credit). The actual determination of advanced credit is done after the student matriculates in accordance with stated departmental and College policies and is awarded upon completion of the first year at Columbia. A more detailed explanation of particular programs follows.

Advanced Placement Examinations

College Board Advanced Placement scores cannot be used toward exemption from any of the Core Curriculum courses; however, scores may be used toward satisfying the foreign language requirement (see The Core Curriculum—Foreign Language Requirement).

Each year individual departments review the College Board Advanced Placement curriculum and make determinations as to appropriate placements, credit, and/or exemptions. For students entering the College in the 2009–2010 academic year,  Advanced Placement credit may be awarded in the following subjects.  Students should refer to the department sections in this bulletin for specific information on credit granted, placement, and exemptions.

 

Subject Biology Chemistry Computer Science Economics English French German Government and Politics History Italian Latin Mathematics Music Physics Spanish Statistics

Department Biological Sciences Chemistry Computer Science Economics English and Comparative Literature French and Romance Philology Germanic Languages Political Science History Italian Classics Mathematics Music Physics Spanish and Portuguese Statistics

International Baccalaureate

Entering students are granted 6 points of credit for scores of 6 or 7 on IB Higher Level examinations if taken in disciplines offered as undergraduate programs at Columbia College.

British Advanced Level Examinations

Students with grades of A or B on British Advanced Level examinations are granted 6 points of credit if the examinations were taken in disciplines offered as undergraduate programs at Columbia College. The appropriate transcript should be submitted to the Center for Student Advising, 403 Lerner.

Other National Systems

Pending review by the appropriate department at Columbia, students whose secondary school work was in other national systems (such as the French Baccalauréat or the German Abitur) may be granted credit in certain disciplines for sufficiently high scores. The appropriate transcript should be submitted to the Center for Student Advising, 403 Lerner.

Advanced Standing

Entering first-year students are not granted credit for courses taken at other colleges before graduation from secondary school. Six points of credit is the
maximum allowed for college courses taken after graduation from secondary school. The appropriate transcript should be submitted to the Center for Student Advising, 403 Lerner. Credit is not given automatically, but only after a review of the course description. A grade of B– or better is also required.

For information about SAT II: Subject Tests and about courses in other divisions of the University, see Admission and Programs of Study. For information about advanced standing for transfer students, see Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts.

Majors and Concentrations

Interdisciplinary and Interdepartmental Majors and Concentrations

Interdisciplinary and interdepartmental majors and concentrations combine course work in two or more areas of study. Interdisciplinary majors and concentrations are linked to the interdisciplinary programs (see Departments of Instruction). Interdepartmental majors and concentrations are linked to two or more departments (see Departments of Instruction).

Independent Majors and Concentrations

A student who wishes to arrange an independent major or concentration must receive written permission from the Committee on Instruction. Interested students should meet with the Coordinator for Academic Affairs as early as possible in the academic year to discuss the procedures for submitting a formal proposal to the Committee. Proposals must be submitted in the sophomore year no later than March 31.

Double Majors/Concentrations

All students attempting to complete double majors, double concentrations, or a combination of a major and a concentration should keep in mind that they must complete separate sets of required and related courses for each field. A single course may not be counted twice.

 

Rules and Procedures Governing Programs of Study

Attendance

Students are expected to attend their classes and laboratory periods. Instructors may take attendance into account in assessing a student’s performance and may require a certain level of attendance for passing a course. Students are held accountable for absences incurred owing to late enrollment. For additional information see College and University Policies—Religious Holidays.

Points per Term

A student must register for no fewer than 12 points per term. Students must petition the Committee on Academic Standing in order to register for more than 22 points. First-year students may not petition to register for more than 22 points in their first semester.

Supervised Independent Study

Supervised individual work on a special topic is available to qualified students as an alternative or as a supplement to courses and seminars in the field of specialization. The student must develop a plan of study with a faculty adviser and then obtain the approval of the department. Progress reports are submitted as required. From 1 to 6 points of credit may be awarded for this work; the exact number of points is to be determined in consultation with the department.

Ordinarily, only seniors are allowed to register for independent study, although other students may be admitted at the discretion of the departmental representative. Acceptance depends on both the quality of the proposal and the student’s own qualifications.

Study Outside Columbia University

Permission to study at another school for a term or a year is granted only for study at institutions outside of the United States and must be part of an approved study abroad program. Exceptions may be granted for study during the summer. Please see Programs of Study—Summer School Courses Taken Outside Columbia, below for more information.

The Columbia Summer Session

Normally credit for summer school is given to College students only for courses taken in the Columbia Summer Session. There is a 16-point limit for the entire Summer Session, with no more than 8 points in any Summer Session period or in overlapping periods.

All students registered in Columbia College during the regular academic year may elect one course each semester during the regular academic year on a Pass/D/ Fail basis. This is in addition to any courses that are given only on a Pass/D/Fail basis. Students who do not utilize both Pass/D/Fail options during the academic year may elect, in the summer immediately following, to take one Summer Session course on a Pass/D/Fail basis. For additional information on and restrictions governing Pass/D/Fail credit, see Programs of Study—The Pass/D/Fail Option, in this bulletin.

Students who plan to take any courses toward their major or concentration must consult with their major department. Not all courses in the Summer Session Bulletin are creditable in Columbia College. Students should also consult the annually updated List of Approved Summer Courses in the Office of the Dean, 208 Hamilton, or in the Center for Student Advising.

Summer School Courses Taken Outside Columbia

Students who wish to receive credit for summer school courses taken outside Columbia must:

1. Read carefully the procedures to follow to apply for such credit. Copies are available in the Center for Student Advising.
2. Obtain a form from the advising center upon which students outline their reasons for wishing to take summer courses and list the specific courses in which they wish to enroll. This form is submitted to the Committee on Academic Standing in the advising center that determines whether or not summer school courses are approved for credit.
3. Follow the specific instructions students are given on how to proceed.
4. Students may not study abroad during the summer except in Columbia-sponsored programs, or approved language, archaeology, and field-studies programs. Students may obtain a Summer Study Abroad Credit and Course Approval Form from the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Study Abroad in 105 Carman.
5. Students applying for summer school credit for courses that they wish to use in partial fulfillment of the science or Global Core requirements must submit a science or Global Core course approval petition to 208 Hamilton for approval by the appropriate faculty committee. Approval to receive credit for summer school courses does not ensure approval of the course toward one of these requirements.
   

Courses Taken in Other Columbia Undergraduate Schools and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

None of the courses listed in this bulletin nor in the bulletins of Barnard College and the School of General Studies require any special approval unless so indicated in various programs and course descriptions.

Education Program

Courses are open only to students enrolled in the Education Program.

The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science

A maximum of four courses may be taken on a space-available basis. The four-course limit does not apply to students in an IEOR program or the 3-2 program.

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Courses may be taken by qualified undergraduates with the permission of the director of undergraduate studies in the department in which the course is taught.

Courses Taken in Other Divisions of the University

Students have available to them a number of courses offered by some professional schools of the University and may take a maximum of four courses for elective credit and apply those points toward the 124 points necessary for their degree.

Those students who wish to take such a course and not count it toward the 124 points necessary for the undergraduate degree need only receive the permission of their advising dean. In either instance, the student must follow the policies established by the various professional schools, must have the permission of the instructor of the course he or she wishes to take, and in some instances must have the permission of the school in which the course is offered. Following is a list of schools and programs that allow undergraduates to register for courses, with their policies regarding the enrollment of Columbia College students. Students wishing to take a course in a Columbia school not listed below should first consult with their advising dean.

Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation

Lectures may be taken on a space-available basis by qualified undergraduates. Undergraduates are not allowed to enroll in any seminars or studio courses.

School of the Arts

Graduate courses may be taken on a space-available basis by qualified undergraduates.

Graduate School of Business

Courses designed specifically for undergraduates can be found in Departments of Instruction—Business in the on-line Columbia College Bulletin. Other Business School courses may only be taken on a space-available basis by seniors who have completed the required prerequisites. Students must have signed permission from the Center for Student Advising. Deadlines are often earlier than the College registration and change-of-program periods.

School of Continuing Education

Columbia College students are not allowed to enroll during the academic year in courses offered through the School of Continuing Education. The School of Continuing Education sponsors the Summer Term at Columbia. For additional information on taking courses at Columbia during the summer please see The Columbia Summer Term section of this bulletin.

School of International and Public Affairs

Open Enrollment Courses are open to all Columbia students unless the class is full. Students interested in registering for a SIPA Open Enrollment Course may receive permission to enroll by completing a Registration & Drop/Add form and submitting it to the SIPA Registration site on the 6th floor of the International Affairs Building. If the class is not full, approval will be granted.

School of Journalism

Courses may be taken on a space-available basis. Students must have signed permission from the School of Journalism Office of the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, 407E Journalism.

Law School

Courses may be taken only by students in the AILE program. Students must have signed permission from the Law School Office of the Assistant Dean of Academic Services, 500 William and June Warren Hall.

School of Social Work

Courses may be taken on a space-available basis.

Teachers College

Normally, students are not allowed to enroll in courses offered through Teachers College. Exceptions to this policy may be granted under the following circumstances by submitting a petition to the Dean of Academic Affairs of Columbia College, 208 Hamilton Hall:

1. Courses that are not offered at Columbia but are deemed essential to a student’s undergraduate program of study.
2. Instrumental music instruction course (e.g., piano). In this instance, students are charged per credit for the course over and above their Columbia tuition.

Graduate Courses Taken by Undergraduates for Graduate Credit

An undergraduate in the College may take graduate courses at Columbia and apply the earned credit toward a Columbia M.A. or Ph.D. degree, assuming admission to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, under the following
conditions:

1. The work must be in excess of the 124 points required for the B.A. degree.
2. The student must obtain the approval of both the graduate department(s) offering the course(s) and the undergraduate department in which he or she is majoring or concentrating.
3. A course used to fulfill a requirement for the B.A. degree may not be counted toward graduate credit.
4. The maximum amount of graduate credit that an undergraduate can earn is two Residence Units toward the Ph.D. degree requirement, only one of which may be applied toward the M.A. degree requirement.
5. Courses that a student completes while registered in the Columbia Summer Session may not be credited toward the completion of degree requirements in the Graduate School.

Examinations

Midterm Examinations

These are generally scheduled by instructors in late October and the middle of March.

Final Examinations

These are given at the end of each term. The Master University Examination Schedule is available on-line at http://ssol.columbia.edu/. This provides a tentative guide to final examinations. The definitive schedule of final examinations is usually available by November 1 for the fall term and by April 1 for the spring term. This schedule is sent to all academic departments and is also available for viewing on ColumbiaNet, as well as ColumbiaWeb. Examinations will not be rescheduled to accommodate travel plans.

Examination Conflicts

If a student has three examinations scheduled during one calendar day, as certified by the Registrar, the student may request an arrangement be made with one of the student’s instructors to take that examination at another, mutually convenient time during the final examination period. This refers to a calendar day, not a twenty-four hour period. Students unable to make suitable arrangements on their own should contact their advising dean for assistance.

Grades

The grading system is as follows: A, excellent; B, good; C, fair; D, poor but passing; F, failure (a final grade, not subject to reexamination). Plus and minus grades may also be used, except with D or F. P, pass, is used for students who elect this option.

The Committee on Instruction of Columbia College has instructed the Registrar to calculate a cumulative grade point average for external purposes such as official transcripts. The Registrar also calculates term and cumulative grade point averages for internal purposes such as determining eligibility for the Dean’s List.

Percentage of A Grades Calculation

College transcripts note the percentage of grades in the A range in all classes with at least twelve students, in accordance with the grading policies of the Faculty of Columbia College. (R grades are excluded from this calculation.)

When the Registrar computes a student’s Columbia College grade point average, only grades earned while enrolled in the College in the fall, spring, and summer terms are counted. Courses are weighted according to the number of credits.
The following scale is used:

A+ = 4.33		B+ = 3.33		C+ = 2.33		D = 1.0
A = 4.0		B = 3.0		C = 2.0		F = 0
A- = 3.67		B- = 2.67		C- = 1.67

The Pass/D/Fail Option

All students registered in Columbia College during the regular academic year may elect one course each semester during the regular academic year on a Pass/D/Fail basis. This is in addition to any courses that are given only on a Pass/Fail basis. Students who do not utilize both Pass/D/Fail options during the academic year may elect, in the summer immediately following, to take one Summer Term course on a Pass/D/Fail basis. Courses used to meet the stated degree requirements (except those only given on a Pass/Fail basis) may not be taken Pass/D/Fail. All courses used to meet the requirements of a major or concentration, including related courses, are also excluded from this option, except the first such one-term course taken by the student in his or her eventual major, unless otherwise specified by the department.

The purposes of this option are to encourage students to take courses of interest to them outside of the field of specialization and to permit those who have not decided upon a major to test their talents in a particular field that may be of interest. Students who wish to exercise the Pass/D/Fail option must designate a course for the grade of Pass/D/Fail when registering for each term in the College. A Pass/D/Fail course may be changed to a regular course or a regular course to a Pass/D/Fail course until November 19 in the fall term and until March 25 in the spring term during the academic year 2009–2010 regardless of whether a student has received a midterm grade for the class before that date.

In order to encourage students to engage more fully in the courses they elect to take for a grade of Pass/D/Fail beginning with courses taken in the Fall 2007 semester students are allowed to uncover a grade of Pass within two weeks of the start of the semester immediately following that in which the grade of Pass was received. Students have until the end of the add period in the spring semester to uncover the grade of a fall course and until the end of the add period in the fall semester to uncover the grade of a spring or summer term course.

The grade of Pass will not be used in calculating grade point average; the grades of D and Fail will be so used.

The Grade of D

No more than 6 points of D may be credited to the degree in any academic year and no more than a cumulative total of 12 points of D may be credited toward the degree. Degree credit for D work is awarded only for courses listed in this bulletin and for other courses taken while the student is enrolled in Columbia College. The decision as to whether or not a D may be used to satisfy the requirements for the major is made in each department.

The Grade of UW (unofficial withdrawal)

Given to students who have not officially dropped a course and who have not completed any substantive work in the course. However, for students who have not officially dropped a course but who have completed substantive work, such as a paper or a midterm examination, the uncompleted work may be averaged into the final grade as a “zero’’ or an “F,’’ and the instructor may compute and award a final course grade. A UW is a permanent grade and will remain on the transcript even if the student repeats the course.

The Mark of AR (administrative referral)

Given to students as a temporary grade in circumstances when a student’s irregular academic behavior in class merits something other than grades A through F. A grade of AR will alert the advising deans, who will follow up with the individual student and with the instructor to help determine what final grade (A through F or, if applicable, UW) is appropriate.

Ultimately, the decision as to what the final grade should be will rest with the individual instructor. AR is not a permanent grade but, rather, is designed to allow faculty a reasonable default grade for use until an appropriate permanent grade can be submitted.

The Mark of INC (incomplete)

Granted by the Committee on Academic Standing, for students who cannot complete their course work or are unable to take a final examination. The only reasons for which an INC will be granted are incapacitating illness, as certified by Health Services at Columbia, serious family emergency, or circumstances of comparable gravity. Students who wish to receive the mark of INC must petition the Committee in writing (petition forms are available in the class center offices) before the last day of classes, in the case of course work, or no later than the day before the final examination when requesting permission to miss the examination. To be granted an INC, it is expected that students will have completed all work in the class with the exception of the final project or exam. Students who are granted an INC are assigned a deadline for completion of the overdue work or a date by which a deferred examination must be taken. Those who fail to meet the assigned deadline or miss the deferred examination will then have the missing work graded as a “zero” and the grade for the course calculated accordingly.

The Mark of R (registration credit)

No point credit is given for R credit.  Students who take a course for R credit may be required to complete certain work as specified by the instructor. The exact nature of the work should be determined by the instructor when the student registers for the course. An instructor may fail a student who has not completed assigned work. The deadline for registering for R credit is November 19 in the fall term and until March 25 in the spring term during the academic year 2009-2010. Registering for R credit is allowed only when:

1. the courses are in excess of the 124 points required for the B.A. degree;
2. the courses are taken in the last two terms of the student’s attendance in Columbia College;
3. the courses are not used to fulfill a requirement for the B.A. degree;
4. the student has the permission of the academic adviser and the instructor involved.

The Mark of YC (year course)

A mark given at the end of the first term of a course in which the full year’s work must be completed before a qualitative grade is assigned. The grade given at the end of the second term is the grade for the entire course.

The Mark of CP (credit pending)

With specific permission of the Columbia College Committee on Instruction, certain seminars may allow students to complete their research over the winter break and submit their final papers on a pre-arranged date after the start of the spring term. In such instances a grade of CP will appear on the students’ transcripts until the final grade is submitted. Please note that the grade of CP cannot be used for individual students but, rather, can only be granted on a course-wide basis.

Report of Grades

Grades are available via the Web (http://ssol.columbia.edu) on the first business day after they are received by the Registrar. Transcripts (no fee) may be ordered by currently enrolled students in 205 Kent or via SSOL. Students who find discrepancies in or have questions about their records should see or write the Academic Records and Grades Division, Office of the Registrar, 205 Kent, as soon as possible.

Academic Honors

Dean’s List

During each academic term, students who have earned a minimum GPA of 3.6 or better in 12 or more points of letter credit in the preceding term are placed on the Dean’s List.

The grade P is considered neutral when the averages are figured, and the dividing factor is reduced by the number of points taken for Pass credit. Students who have received grades of D, F, or UW during the term are not eligible for consideration. Students who receive the grade of INC, approved in advance by the Committee on Academic Standing, are eligible for Dean’s List only after all INC grades are changed to letter grades.

College (Latin) Honors

The Bachelor of Arts degree is awarded with honors in three categories (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) to no more than 25 percent of the graduating class, with no more than 5 percent summa cum laude, and the total of summa and magna cum laude not exceeding 15 percent. College honors is the highest academic recognition awarded by the College. The Committee on Honors, Awards, and Prizes reviews the academic records of the top 35% of the graduating class. Selection is based not on GPA alone, but on the breadth, depth and high quality of academic achievement, departmental recommendations, and outstanding academic work beyond that which is required for the degree. Students may not apply for honors nor may they solicit faculty for recommendations in this process.

There is no separate consideration of honors for October or February graduates. Each spring the Committee on Honors, Awards, and Prizes considers the October and February graduates along with those who are degree candidates for May. The report of those graduating with honors is in the May Class Day program. The honor is noted on the diploma and transcript. October and February graduates may ask the Registrar to add an honors notation to an already issued diploma.

Valedictorian and Salutatorian

The Committee on Honors, Awards, and Prizes reviews the academic records of the most exceptional students nominated by the faculty for Valedictorian and Salutatorian. Selections is based not on GPA alone, but on the breadth, depth, and high quality of academic achievement, departmental recommendations, and outstanding academic work beyond that which is required for the degree.

Departmental Honors

Departmental Honors may be established and awarded by any Columbia College department or academic program, and is recorded on a student’s final transcript.  Students should consult with their director of undergraduate studies no later than the beginning of the first term of their senior year if they wish to be considered for Departmental Honors. Students who are awarded Departmental Honors are notified by their department in mid-May. Not all departments and programs offer Departmental Honors.  College guidelines for Departmental Honors include the following three criteria:

1. Departmental Honors are awarded to no more than 10 percent, or, in small departments, one member of the graduating majors (including all October, February, and May degrees);
2. a grade point average of at least 3.6 in major courses is expected for a student to be considered for Departmental Honors;
3. an honors thesis or equivalent project of high quality should be required by each department or academic program in order to receive Departmental Honors.

Phi Beta Kappa

This academic society was founded in 1776 to recognize and celebrate friendship, morality, and learning. the Columbia College Delta chapter was formed in 1869. Each year 10 percent of the senior class is inducted into Phi Beta Kappa by faculty who are members of the society. Two percent is elected in November and the other 8 percent is elected in the spring. Selection is based not only on academic achievement, but also on evidence of intellectual promise, character, and achievement outside the classroom. Academic achievement is measured by strength and rigor of program as well as by grades and faculty recommendations. Students may not apply for Phi Beta Kappa nor may they solicit faculty for recommendations in this process.

As with graduation honors, October and February graduates are considered along with students graduating in May. Election to Phi Beta Kappa is noted on a student’s transcript.