Mar 28, 2024  
2008-2009 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2008-2009 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Bachelor’s Programs


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Bachelor’s Programs

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Hofstra University offers the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science in Education.

Students who have not decided on a field of specialization (i.e., major) when they enter as freshmen will be advised on academic planning by the Center for University Advisement. Students must choose their field of specialization by no later than the completion of 60 student semester hours. After meeting with a staff member at the Center for University Advisement, students should apply to the chairperson of the department of specialization and submit the appropriate documentation to the Office of Academic Records. Students can change their major at any time. However, the timing of that change might affect a student’s graduation date and scholarship awards/ In order to facilitate orientation and advisement of a student to his or her new major, students must report any change in their major, minor, specialization, concentration, or degree on the official Change of Study form to the Office of Academic Records. Any change requires a signature from the new department indicating that the student has notified the new department and has been made aware of all requirements. Students are not required to obtain a signature from the program or major they are leaving.

For students interested in teaching in elementary and secondary schools, see the Undergraduate Preprofessional Programs section of this Bulletin. Students who think they may wish to pursue a preprofessional program other than education (premedical, prelaw, etc.) should consult with the preprofessional adviser in the University Advisement Office early in their college career.

Evening students will normally choose their major field after completing 12 semester hours. They will be given an appointment with a divisional adviser at the University Advisement Office.


Degrees and Major Fields

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Programs are listed under the major department or area. For information on all teaching fields (e.g., early childhood, elementary or secondary), see the teaching fields section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts

  • African Studies
  • American Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Art History
  • Asian Studies
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese
  • Chinese Studies
  • Classics
  • Comparative Literature
  • Computer Science
  • Dance
  • Drama
  • Early Childhood Education*
  • Economics
  • Elementary Education*
  • Engineering Science
  • English
  • Fine Arts
  • French
  • Geography
  • Geology
  • German
  • Greek
  • Hebrew
  • History
  • Ibero-American Studies
  • Italian
  • Jewish Studies
  • Journalism
  • Labor Studies
  • Latin
  • Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • Liberal Arts
  • Linguistics
  • Mass Media Studies
  • Mathematical Economics
  • Mathematics
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Public Relations
  • Radio, Television, Film
  • Religion
  • Russian
  • Secondary Education*
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Speech Communication and Rhetorical Studies
  • Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
 

Bachelor of Business Administration

  • Accounting (leading to eligibility for CPA certification)
  • Business Education (administered by Education)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Finance
  • Information Technology
  • International Business
  • Legal Studies in Business
  • Management
  • Marketing

Bachelor of Engineering

  • Engineering Science

Bachelor of Fine Arts

  • Theater Arts

Bachelor of Science

  • Applied Physics
  • Athletic Training
  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Community Health
  • Computer Science
  • Computer Science and Mathematics
  • Economics (Business)
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Environmental Resources
  • Exercise Specialist
  • Fine Arts
  • Forensic Science
  • Geology
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Mathematical Business Economics
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Music
  • Physician Assistant Studies
  • Physics
  • Professional Studies
  • Radio, Television, Film
  • School Health Education

Bachelor of Science in Education

  • Art Education
  • Music Education
  • Physical Education

* Dual enrollment is required for co-majors.


Dual Majors and Dual Degrees

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It may be possible for a student to complete two majors as part of one degree, and in rare instances it may be possible for a student to complete two undergraduate degrees simultaneously. Students interested in either of these options must register with the University Advisement Office where they will be advised and given specific information on dual major or dual degree requirements.


Second Bachelor’s Degree

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Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree may earn a second one by satisfying the following requirements:

  1. The student must apply and be accepted in a program of study toward a second degree by the Office of Admission;
  2. the work for a second degree must be completed in a major or program distinctly different from the one in the first degree;
  3. the work in the major area of concentration must be completed in accordance with the requirements listed in this Bulletin;
  4. all University and degree requirements not met on admission must be completed;
  5. at least 30 credits over and above any used to satisfy the first bachelor’s degree must be completed at Hofstra. A minimum of 15 of these 30 credits must be in the new major field of concentration;
  6. a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 must be earned in the courses taken at Hofstra for the second degree.

University Degree Requirements

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To obtain a degree, each student successfully completes the following three distinct sets of requirements:

I. The general University requirements, which must be fulfilled by all students working for a baccalaureate degree:
  A. The completion of the total number of semester hours and the specific degree requirements as specified by the major or school;
  B. The completion of the number of semester hours in liberal arts courses as required by the major or school;
  C. At least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in work completed at Hofstra;
  D. All students must take and pass the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam as a requirement for graduation. (For the only exceptions, see E. 3 and 5, below.)
  E. 1. The satisfactory completion of Writing Studies and Composition (WSC) 1 and 2, which includes the Writing Proficiency Exam. Passing this test is a requirement for graduation. The Writing Proficiency Exam is administered at the midpoint of WSC 2. All students who do not pass the exam are required to take WSC 2A to receive individualized tutoring; they must retake the Writing Proficiency Exam at the end of WSC 2A. Students who fail the exam in WSC 2A must enroll in English 4 and retake and pass the Writing Proficiency Exam in order to fulfill the writing requirement for graduation. Students must take the Writing Proficiency Exam prior to the semester in which they are scheduled to graduate.
    2. WSC 1 & 2, whether taken at Hofstra or at any other institution, must be completed with a minimum grade of C- in each course. These courses may not be taken on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis.
    3. Students entering Hofstra University with no credit in composition must, under advisement, register for WSC 1 & 2 or the appropriate course immediately and continue until the WSC 1 & 2 requirement is completed. There is an exception for students with outstanding ability in English (SAT Verbal scores of 660 or above) who may qualify for exemption from WSC 1 & 2 if they demonstrate exceptional ability in the Writing Studies and Composition Department’s Exemption Exam before the end of their first semester at Hofstra. Students who pass Hofstra’s Exemption Exam are not required to take the Writing Proficiency Exam.
    4. Students entering Hofstra with full credit for WSC 1 and 2 must take and pass the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam as a requirement for graduation. Such students are strongly encouraged to take the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam during their first semester at Hofstra. Students who do not pass the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam in WSC 2A are required to register for English 4 and retake and pass the exam. Students must take the Writing Proficiency Exam prior to the semester in which they are scheduled to graduate. Students who entered New College for Interdisciplinary Studies prior to fall 2006 must complete all requirements as stipulated in the Bulletin of first registration and follow the procedures stated in the New College for Interdisciplinary Studies Writing Program and Style Manual. NOTE: transfer students may receive credit for WSC 1 and 2 on the basis of equivalent courses taken at other institutions. See the criteria for accepting transfer credit section of this Bulletin.
    5. Students who entered New College for Interdisciplinary Studies or transferred into it from another Hofstra program or another college or university prior to fall 2006 must complete all requirements as stipulated in the Bulletin of first registration and must satisfy the First and Second Aspects of the New College for Interdisciplinary Studies Writing Requirement. See New College for Interdisciplinary Studies Addendum.
    6. The following is for students who entered New College for Interdisciplinary Studies prior to fall 2006 and transfer from New College for Interdisciplinary Studies to another school/college of the University:
      a.) Students who were placed in and successfully completed CSWA 18 have fulfilled the Expository Writing Requirement (the First Aspect-WS 1) and have completed the equivalent of WSC 1.
      b.) Students who have successfully completed WSB 1, WSB 2 or WSG 2 register for WSC 2 and 2A and the Proficiency Test. When they have successfully completed these, they will receive credit for WSC 1 & 2.
      c.) Students who fulfilled the Scholarly Writing Requirement (the Second Aspect-WS 2A and WS 2B) have completed the equivalent of WSC 2.
      d.) Students who have not completed the Scholarly Writing requirement register for WSC 2.
    7. Students entering with partial credit for WSC 1 & 2 (fewer than four semester hours of Advanced Placement, CLEP or transfer credit, see these sections of this Bulletin) must complete the requirement and pass the Writing Proficiency Exam within two semesters after admission. Students must take the Writing Proficiency Exam prior to the semester in which they are scheduled to graduate.
  F. A minimum of 6 semester hours each in humanities, natural science/mathematics and social science. Many particular degree programs require that some or all of the courses in these required areas be distribution courses; distribution courses may not be taken on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis, except for courses given only on that basis. (See Pass/D+/D/Fail in the “Policies” section of this Bulletin; Distribution courses can be found in the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of this Bulletin.)
  G. A maximum of 8 credits of physical education skills courses may be applied toward the total number of required degree credits for nonphysical education majors. (See the listing of skills courses in the School of Education, Health and Human Services section of this Bulletin.)
II. In introductory work in any particular subject, the student must have a 2.0 grade point average (unless a higher average is required by the department).
III. Only grades of C- or better in subjects required in the specialization will count toward the total semester hour credit needed for completion of that specialization unless approved in writing by the chairperson of the major department and the Dean who is the administrator of the major department.

Current students may not take courses at other educational institutions within reasonable commuting distance of the campus if the same or comparable course is being offered at Hofstra.

Students are advised that permission from the Office of Academic Records is required for any attendance at another institution while the student is enrolled in a degree program at Hofstra.


Completion of Baccalaureate Degrees - Residence Requirement

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Transfer students who expect to earn Hofstra degrees must meet the University residency requirements. All students must take and pass the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam as a requirement for graduation. At least 15 semester hours in the major field of study and the last 30 hours must be completed at Hofstra for the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering (the 15 hours need not be included within the last 30 hours). Students who transfer into New College for Interdisciplinary Studies in fall 2006 or after must meet the residency requirement as stipulated in the New College for Interdisciplinary Studies section of this Bulletin.

Most programs leading to a bachelor’s degree require distribution courses. Students who receive transfer credit for courses that are equivalent to those that satisfy distribution requirements may apply these courses to fulfill some or all of their distribution requirements. No student may satisfy distribution requirements at another institution once that student has matriculated at Hofstra University with the exception of students participating in an accredited study abroad program at another institution; with permission of the department offering the distribution course, such students may receive credit for one, and only one, distribution course upon successful completion of the course and the study abroad program. In acknowledgement of the experiential component of study abroad courses, it is recognized that distribution courses taken while participating in study abroad programs may not be exact equivalents to Hofstra courses that satisfy distribution requirements. A waiver and substitution form signed by the chairperson of the department offering the distribution course and the dean of the unit of the student’s major is required.

Students who enter New College for Interdisciplinary Studies in fall 2006 or after must meet the New College for Interdisciplinary Studies distribution course requirements as stipulated in the New College for Interdisciplinary Studies section of this Bulletin.

For the B.B.A. distribution course requirements, see the Frank G. Zarb School of Business section of this Bulletin.

For the Bachelor of Science in Education, the last 30 semester hours must be completed at Hofstra, and the residency requirement for the education specialization, which includes student teaching, is as follows: art (at least 29 hours), music (at least 30 hours), physical education (at least 25 hours).

The Bachelor of Fine Arts normally requires the last 6 semesters of full-time study be taken at Hofstra.


Retention and Graduation Rate

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As of fall 2008 Hofstra’s one-year retention rate was 80 percent and the graduation rate of the class entering fall 2002 was 55 percent. Note that these calculations are based on all students entering Hofstra as full-time first-time degree seeking students. If students transfer or leave Hofstra for any reason, they are counted as not retained and not graduated even if they graduate elsewhere. The graduation rate refers to a six-year period, in accordance with National Center of Education Statistics standards.