Degree Requirements

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

All undergraduate students entering Whittier College will follow one of two paths to a Whittier degree: the Liberal Education Program or the Whittier Scholars Program. The completion of all requirements for a degree is a student's responsibility. A student has the option of completing graduation requirements prevailing at the time of admission or readmission, at the time of graduation, or any intervening year of continuous full-time enrollment. Graduation requirements cannot be selected from two or more catalogs.

Every junior must submit a Graduation Plan at pre-registration in the spring for fall semester. No junior will be allowed to register for his/her senior year until this plan has been submitted. All courses projected for the senior year should be included. Subsequent changes can be made by filling out the appropriate form in the registrar's office.

The Graduation Check Sheet, with any problems noted, will be returned by the start of the fall term. Students who do not fi nalize their Graduation Plans by the end of the add period for Spring Semester classes of their senior year may not be allowed to graduate with their class.

Students must monitor their own progress through frequent reference to the appropriate catalog. Consultation with faculty advisors as well as with the Registrar is suggested to assure satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree.

High school deficiencies may be met by enrolling in appropriate Whittier College courses, through a local high school or community college, through extended education or summer school courses, or by some other acceptable alternative.

Students with high school foreign language defi ciencies must take six credits of a single foreign language.

Both degree paths require a minimum of 120 credits for graduation, satisfaction of the College Writing Requirement (see College Writing Programs, page 76), and residence at Whittier College while completing a minimum of 30 credits of college work. Further, an overall grade point average of not less than 2.0 in Whittier College courses is required in order for a student to be eligible for graduation.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR

Every student, by no later than the Fall registration period for the Spring semester of his/her sophomore year, will declare a major and select an appropriate faculty advisor. Students who transfer in with 45 credits or more must declare a major upon entrance. At each registration, a student has the opportunity to confirm or change his/her major. During non-registration periods, this can be done in the Registrar's Office. A minimum of 30 credits is required in the major field. See each department for specific course requirements.

A maximum of 48 credits in a single discipline may be counted toward the 120 credits needed for graduation. At least 72 units must be completed outside of the major. In a department housing two or more recognized disciplines, a maximum of 60 credits may be counted from the department.

At least 12 credits in the major must be taken at Whittier College. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 is required in the courses taken from the major department.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR

Minors may be earned as part of a student's academic achievement but are not required for graduation. Students considering a minor should contact the faculty advisor for minors in their department of interest early in their academic career.

A minimum of 16 credits is required for a minor, and specifi c requirements are defined in this catalog for each department.

WHITTIER SCHOLARS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Six credits of College Writing (Freshman Writing Seminar and a second 3-credit approved writing course. Students admitted to the WSP may meet the secondsemester writing requirement by successfully completing WSP 101.)

  • An approved Educational Design
  • Whittier Scholars courses 101, 201, 301 and 401, all of which should be taken sequentially
  • An off-campus experience (study abroad or off-campus internship)
  • A Senior Project

Completion of 60 credits after the Educational Design has been approved. If a student transfers from the Whittier Scholars Program to the Liberal Education Program, the student must submit a formal letter signed by his/her advisor and the Director of the Whittier Scholars Program to the Registrar's Office. The Registrar will then evaluate the student's academic record as though the student were a transfer student with regard to the Liberal Education requirements. If a student chooses to enter the Whittier Scholars Program after his/her freshman year, then s/he must meet with the Director of the Program to review necessary requirements including completion of WSP 101, 201, 301 and 401, and the acceptance of an offcampus requirement.