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Office: Second Floor, Heger Hall.
Telephone: (516) 463-5412
Bernard J. Firestone, Dean
Barbara Bohannon, Associate Dean
Steven R. Costenoble, Associate Dean
Barry N. Nass, Associate Dean

The Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is made up of the Division of the Humanities; the Division of the Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science; and the Division of the Social Sciences. In addition, Military Science and Saturday College are under the supervision of the College.

For the College Academic Organization, see below; for the University Academic Organization.

Students should consult the Class Schedule for specific offerings before registering for their programs.

Division Of The Humanities

The Division of the Humanities has three related objectives that apply to every student who takes courses within this area: first, to strengthen communication skills; second, to develop the capacities of logic, sensibility, imagination, and receptivity within the fields of experience common to all educated persons; third, to provide specialized preprofessional training that conforms to the preceding objectives and to departmental subject matters.

The following areas and departments make up this division:

Comparative Literature and Languages
Arabic
Asian Studies
Chinese
Classics
Comparative Literature
English Language Program
German
Greek
Hebrew
Japanese
Jewish Studies
Latin
Linguistics
Literature in Translation
Modern Greek
Russian
Swahili
Drama and Dance
English
Fine Arts, Art History and Humanities
Music
Romance Languages and Literatures
French
French Literature in Translation
Italian
Italian Literature in Translation
Italian Studies
Portuguese
Spanish
Ibero-American Studies
Spanish Literature in Translation

Division Of The Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Engineering And Computer Science

The Division of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science prepares students for careers in the sciences and for professional schools; gives students professional training in engineering; and offers courses to foster an understanding of science and mathematics to students outside the sciences.

The following areas and departments make up this division:

Biology
    Physician Assistant Studies
Chemistry
    Biochemistry
    Natural Science
Computer Science
Engineering
    Computer Engineering
    Electrical
    Engineering Science
        Biomedical
        Civil
        Environmental
    Industrial
    Mechanical
    Technology and Public Policy
Geology
    Environmental Resources
Mathematics
Physics and Astronomy
    Meteorology

Division Of The Social Sciences

The Division of the Social Sciences aims to provide its students with a coherent interpretation of human behavior. Reliable socialscientific knowledge is attained by careful examination, comparison and testing of rational, communicable hypotheses. Comprehension of this process leads to the student’s own discovery of the historical and philosophical development, sociopsychological structure, economic operations, and political organizations of the cultural environment that molds behavior of a socialized individual.

The following areas and departments make up this division:

Anthropology
Economics and Geography
    Labor Studies
History
Philosophy and Religious Studies
    Philosophy of Science
Political Science
    International Affairs
    Public Affairs
Psychology
Sociology
Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences

Additional Areas

Africana Studies
American Studies
Asian Studies
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Liberal Arts
Liberal Arts Colloquia
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
Military Science
Women’s Studies

The Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers undergraduate programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Science. Programs in teacher education are offered jointly with the School of Education through dual enrollment.

NOTE: Core Course Information

Distribution Courses

A number of Hofstra University bachelor’s degree programs include distribution requirements among their general degree requirements. The distribution requirements are designed to afford the student some familiarity with the subject matter and intellectual methods used in the various liberal arts and sciences. In addition, these requirements seek to expose students to a broad range of cultural traditions, and encourage students to partake in interdisciplinary studies that draw on the general resources of the liberal arts and sciences. The distribution categories and their identifying codes are listed below.

Courses taken on an optional Pass/D+/D/Fail basis may not be used to satisfy distribution requirements. Note, however, that some distribution courses are given only on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis and may be used to fulfill distribution requirements.

Transfer credit for distribution requirements is determined on a course equivalency basis.

Distribution Categories

Humanities Division

Comparative Literature and Languages* (CLL)
English (ENGL)
French Literature in Translation (FRLT)
Italian Literature in Translation (ITLT)
Jewish Studies (JWST)
Literature in Translation (LIT)
Romance Languages and Literatures* (RLL)
Romance Languages and Literatures in Translation (RLLT)
Spanish Literature in Translation (SPLT)
Hofstra University Honors College (HUHC)

*Some advanced literature courses in a foreign language may also be used to satisfy this requirement. See listings for courses in:

Arabic (ARAB)
Chinese (CHIN)
French (FREN)
German (GERM)
Hebrew (HEBR)
Italian (ITAL)
Japanese (JPAN)
Latin (LAT)
Modern Greek (MGRK)
Russian (RUS)
Spanish (SPAN)

The Arts (AA or CP)

Courses that may be used to satisfy this requirement are designated by either “AA” or “CP” before the course title in this Bulletin and in the class schedule published each semester. These designations signify a difference in the type of course that may be used to satisfy this requirement. Those courses that seek to enhance the student’s appreciation and analysis of a non-literary art form are designated “AA”; those courses that require a student to creatively participate in an art form are designated “CP.” These courses are offered in the subject areas listed below:

Art History (AH)
Audio/Video/Film (AVF)
Creative Writing (CRWR)
Drama (DRAM)
Dance (DNCE)
Fine Arts (FA)
Humanities (HUM)
Hofstra University
Honors College (HUHC)
Music (MUS)
Speech Communication and Rhetorical Studies (SPCM)

Natural Sciences, Mathematics/ Computer Science Division

Natural Sciences (NS)

Courses that may be used to satisfy this requirement are designated by “NS” before the course title in this Bulletin and in the class schedule published each semester. These courses are offered in the subject areas listed below:

Astronomy (ASTR)
Biology (BIO)
Biochemistry (BCHM)
Chemistry (CHEM)
Engineering (ENGG)
Geology (GEOL)
Meteorology (METR)
Natural Science (NSC)
Physics (PHYS)
Technology and Public Policy (TPP)

Mathematics/Computer Science (MC)

Courses that may be used to satisfy this requirement are designated by “MC” before the course title in this Bulletin and in the class schedule published each semester. These courses are offered in the subject areas listed below:

Computer Science (CSC)
Mathematics (MATH)

Social Sciences Division

Courses that may be used to satisfy this requirement are designated by “BH” before the course title in this Bulletin and in the class schedule published each semester. These courses are offered by the departments listed below:

Anthropology (ANTH)
Economics (ECO)
Geography (GEOG)
Political Science (PSC)
Psychology (PSY)
Sociology (SOC)
Speech-Language- Hearing Sciences (SPCH)
Hofstra University Honors College (HUHC)

Courses that may be used to satisfy this requirement are designated by “HP” before the course title in this Bulletin and in the class schedule published each semester. These courses are offered in the subject areas listed below:

History (HIST)
Philosophy (PHI)
Religious Studies (RELI)
Hofstra University Honors College (HUHC)

CROSS-CULTURAL (CC)

Courses that may be used to satisfy this requirement are designated by “CC” before the course title in this Bulletin and in the class schedule published each semester. Currently these courses are offered in the following subject areas.

Anthropology (ANTH)
Economics (ECO)
English (ENGL)
French Literature in Translation (FRLT)
Geography (GEOG)
History (HIST)
Linguistics (LING)
Literature in Translation (LIT)
Middle Eastern and Caribbean Studies(MECA)
Philosophy (PHI)
Political Science (PSC)
Religion (RELI)
Sociology (SOC)
Spanish Literature in Translation (SPLT)

Courses that may be used to satisfy this requirement are designated by “IS” before the course title in this Bulletin and in the class schedule published each semester, and are regarded by the College as employing an interdisciplinary approach to their subject matter. Currently courses with the designation “IS” are offered in the following subject areas only.

Africana Studies (AFST)
American Studies (AMST)
Asian Studies (ASST)
Jewish Studies (JWST)
Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS)
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies (MECA)
Labor Studies (LABR)
Religious Studies (RELI)
Technology and Public Policy (TPP)
Women’s Studies

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor Of Arts

The candidate for the B.A. degree pursues studies that have elements both of breadth and of depth. The element of breadth is made up of inquiry that ranges widely over the arts and sciences. Students are encouraged, beyond the fulfillment of minimal requirements, to explore various fields as their developing interests lead them. The element of depth in the B.A. program is mainly to be found in the field of specialization or academic major, chosen by the student from one of the fields listed below, after a year or two of college work. For the major, each academic department defines the special pattern of required and suggested study that suits its discipline.

Academic Majors

Africana Studies
American Studies
Anthropology
Art History
Asian Studies
Biology
Chemistry
Classics
Comparative Literature
Computer Science
Dance
Drama
Early Childhood*
Economics
Elementary Education*
Engineering Science
English
Fine Arts
French
Geography
Geology
German
Hebrew
History
Ibero-American Studies
Italian
Jewish Studies
Labor Studies
Latin
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Liberal Arts
Linguistics
Mathematics
Music
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Russian
Secondary Education*
Sociology
Spanish
Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences

* Dual enrollment required

Academic Minors

In addition to a major, a student may choose a second field of lesser specialization, an academic minor. Minors are generally available in departments and programs that offer majors. In addition, some interdisciplinary programs offer minors alone. Like the major, a completed minor field will be listed on the student’s record. In general, the requirement for the optional minor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the successful completion of 18 semester hours of courses in the program, with at least six hours in residence. Only courses acceptable for the major may be applied toward the minor, and only with grades of C- or better. Pass/D+/D/Fail credit will be given toward an academic minor for courses offered only on this basis. For optional minors see the Zarb School of Business, School of Communication; and School of Education and Allied Human Services. Refer to the Pass/ D+/D/Fail option and the department of minor specialization for specific requirements.

Major and Preprofessional Advisement

Each academic department has faculty advisers for its student majors and minors. There are also special advisers for students who are interested in professional and preprofessional programs of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, law and education. These specializations usually call for the student to follow a B.A. or B.S. program, using the options within it in appropriate ways. Such is the case, for example, for most students who plan to become secondary or elementary school teachers. Students should consult their preprofessional advisers early in their college work and remain in touch with them thereafter.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for graduation with the degree of Bachelor of Arts must fulfill the following requirements, including :

1. Semester Hour Requirement
   The successful completion of at least 124 semester hours and a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 in work completed at Hofstra.
2. Liberal Arts Requirement
   At least 94 semester hours (93 hours for the B.A. specialization in Elementary Education and a liberal arts major) of the total must be in liberal arts. Beyond this minimum, the student may elect either nonliberal arts courses or additional liberal arts courses.
3. Residency Requirement
   There are two requirements that must ordinarily be completed in residence at Hofstra: 15 semester hours in the major field of concentration, and the last 30 semester hours. The 15 semester hours in the major need not be included in within the last 30 hours.
4. Distribution Requirement
   The fulfillment of 33 semester hours of distribution requirements as follows
   NOTE: No student may use the same course to satisfy two separate distribution requirements, nor may a student use the same course to satisfy the distribution requirement and foreign language requirement.
   1. Nine semester hours of distribution courses in the humanities. The nine semester hours must include at least three from the Literature category and at least three from the Arts category. No more than three semester hours of Creative Participation courses may be used to satisfy this requirement.
   2. Nine semester hours of distribution courses in the natural sciences and mathematics/computer science. At least three semester hours must be chosen from each category.
   3. Nine semester hours of distribution courses in the social sciences. The nine semester hours must include at least three from the Behavioral Sciences category and at least three from the History, Philosophy, Religion category.
   4. Three semester hours of distribution course credit in the cross-cultural category.
   5. Three semester hours of distribution course credit in the Interdisciplinary Studies category. A student may satisfy this requirement with three semester hours of Interdisciplinary Studies course credit or with three additional semester hours taken from A-D, above.
5. English Composition Requirement
   Satisfactory completion of ENGL 1 & 2 and the Hofstra English Proficiency Exam.
6. Foreign Language Requirement
   Completion of level 4 of a foreign language, placement above level 4, or completion of the Special Language Option.
   Students continuing a language studied in high school should follow option A below. Students who do not wish to continue the study of a foreign language studied in high school should follow option B below.
   International students may satisfy the language requirement either by completing ELP 36 or by placing out of the requirement by taking the placement examination in their native language.
   1. Continuing a Language Studied in High School: For students continuing the same language studied in high school, the successful completion of level 4 of that language will satisfy the foreign language requirement
      Placement for students continuing a language studied in high school
      • Students without transfer college credit in the foreign language studied in high school must take the language placement test (administered by the Language Laboratory) to determine placement in the proper level. No student shall receive credit toward graduation for any course below his or her level of placement in that language
      • Students with transfer college credit in the foreign language studied in high school should continue in the next level which follows that in which they have received credit.
      For both transfer and non-transfer students continuing the same language studied in high school, the foreign language requirement can only be satisfied by completing level 4.
   2. The Special Language Option: Students who do not wish to continue the study of a foreign language studied in high school may take levels 1 and 2 of a foreign language not previously studied and six semester hours chosen from the following:
      
      - levels 3 and/or 4 of that language
      - levels 1 and/or 2 of any other foreign language not previously studied - literature in translation
      - comparative literature
      - linguistics
      - Jewish Studies, excluding JWST 15, 16
      
      Students who wish to use option B should file the Special Language Option Form with the Advisement Office. If the student’s high school transcript is not on file, the student must supply one in order to complete the process
      NOTE: The Pass/D+/D/Fail Option is not available for courses taken in fulfillment of any language requirement.
7. Major Requirement
   The fulfillment of major requirements as listed in the Bulletin under the department of specialization. A student may not count more than 45 semester hours within a single major discipline toward the 124 credits for the B.A. without special permission from the appropriate academic dean, except that this limit shall be 48 semester hours for those students qualifying and electing to undertake departmental honors courses. Where the major department requires more than 124 semester hours for the degree, the excess over 124 may include required work in the department additional to this 45/48 hour maximum.

B.A. Distribution Requirements
A total of 33 semester hours

Semester Hours

Humanities                                    9

Literature (LT)                               3

The Arts:

    Appreciation & Analysis (AA)              3

               or

    Creative Participation (CP)

LT or AA                                      3

* Only three of the nine credits in the Humanities may be satisfied with Creative Participation courses.

Natural Sciences,Mathematics/Computer Science 9

Natural Sciences (NS)                         3 

Mathematics/Computer Science (MC)             3 

NS or MC                                      3

Social Sciences                               9 
Behavioral Social Sciences (BH)               
3 

History, Philosophy, Religious Studies (HP)   3

BH or HP                                      3 

Cross Cultural (CC)                           3 

Interdisciplinary Studies/Other* (IS)         3

* This requirement may be satisfied by three credits of Interdisciplinary Studies or by three credits in any of the above categories, including a Creative Participation Course.

Note: Students who may select a co-major in teacher education will find specific New York State Education Department liberal arts requirements within the School of Education and Allied Human Services sections of the Bulletin. Please consult the specific education program requirements before planning the HCLAS Distribution course work.

Transfer Credit

Students who receive transfer credit for courses 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.

Bachelor Of Engineering

The Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers a day and evening program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Engineering with a specialization in Engineering Science. An important objective of this curriculum is to provide a broad and liberating education as well as depth and competence in the engineering field.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for graduation with the B.E. degree, must fulfill the following requirements:

1. The successful completion of the required semester hours for the major and a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 in work completed at Hofstra.
2. The liberal arts requirement for the specialization.
3. There are two requirements that must ordinarily be completed in residence at Hofstra. See specific program for these requirements.li>
4. The fulfillment of the following general requirements for the B.E.
   1. Satisfactory completion of ENGL 1 & 2
   2. Humanities, as stipulated under specialization
   3. Social Sciences, as stipulated under specialization
5. The major and additional requirements as listed under the field of study.

Bachelor Of Fine Arts

The Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater Arts.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for graduation with the B.F.A. degree in Theater Arts must fulfill the following requirements:

1. The successful completion of at least 132 semester hours and a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 in work completed at Hofstra.
2. At least 62 semester hours of the total must be in liberal arts.
3. Candidates normally spend the last six semesters of fulltime study in residence at Hofstra.
4. The fulfillment of the general B.A. requirements.
5. Demonstration of proficiency satisfactory to the drama faculty as determined by the following: annual screening of majors, a senior project and a comprehensive examination.
6. The major requirements as listed under the Department of Drama.

Bachelor Of Science

The Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers programs leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in the fields of specialization listed below. The objective of these curricula is to provide a broad and liberating education as well as depth and competence in a given area of knowledge. Thus, liberal arts courses are required in each program.

Applied Physics
Biochemistry
Biology
Business Economics
Chemistry
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Computer Science and Mathematics
Environmental Resources
Electrical Engineering
Fine Arts
Geology
Industrial Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Music

A student seeking a B.S. degree may earn a minor under the same guidelines as for the B.A. degree. Refer to the department of minor specialization for specific requirements.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for graduation with the degree of Bachelor of Science must fulfill the following requirements (see specific program for details):

1. The successful completion of the required semester hours for the major and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in work completed at Hofstra.
2. The liberal arts requirement for the specialization.
3. There are certain requirements that must ordinarily be completed in residence at Hofstra. See specific program for these requirements.
4. The fulfillment of the following general requirements for the B.S.
   a) Satisfactory completion of ENGL 1 & 2 (See University Degree Requirements)
   b) Humanities (at least 6 s.h.)
   c) Natural Sciences/Mathematics (at least 6 s.h.)
   d) Social Sciences (at least 6 s.h.) Some programs require the completion of distribution courses offered in the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Refer to specific program for details.

5. The major and additional requirements as listed under the field of study.

International Education

Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences regularly offers opportunities to study abroad. Each summer, Hofstra faculty conduct language and literature/culture programs in Nice, Madrid, Italy, China, Australia, Peru, Turkey, and Japan. In addition, a tropical marine biology program is offered in July in Jamaica, West Indies, and a theater program is offered in London during the January session. For further information, please refer to International Study.

Off-Campus Education

New College offers an opportunity for students in the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to propose off-campus projects for academic credit and to participate in study-abroad programs for academic credit co-administered by Educational Programs Abroad, the Institute for European Studies and Friends World College. Information is available from the Dean of New College.

All courses in the College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences are offered For Liberal Arts Credit unless otherwise noted.

Academic Chairs And Distinguished Professorships

The John Cranford Adams Chair In The Humanities is held byDr. Phillip Lopate, Professor of English.

The Joseph G. Astman Distinguished Professorship In The Humanities.

The Donald E. Axinn Distinguished Professorship In Ecology And Conversation At Hofstra.

The Sardarni Kuljit Kaur Bindra Endowed Chair In Sikh Studies is held by Dr. Arvind-pal Singh Mandair, Assistant Professor of Philosophy.

The Leo A. Guthart Distinguished Professorship In Teaching Excellence is held by Dr. Liora Pedhazur Schmelkin, Professor of Psychology.

The Harry H. Wachtel Distinguished Teaching Professorship For The Study Of Nonviolent Social Change is held by Professor D’Innocenzo, Professor of History.

The Augustus B. Weller Chair In Economics is held by Dr. Irwin L. Kellner.

Disability Studies (DSST)

Professor G. Thomas Couser, Department of English and Freshman Composition, Director

Disability is a fundamental facet of human diversity–people with disabilities make up the largest minority in the U.S. population–and disabled people have histories and cultures deserving of study on their own terms. Disability Studies is not primarily the study of disabled people as a distinct population, however; rather, it involves the comprehensive investigation of disability as a cultural construct that undergirds social practices and cultural representations in various media. Disability Studies, then, approaches disability as a system of representation (akin to race and gender) that assigns traits to individuals on the basis of bodily differences.

Disability Studies explores the complex phenomenon of disability from multiple disciplinary–and interdisciplinary–angles. At the heart of contemporary Disability Studies, however, is the “social paradigm” of disability, which locates disability at the intersection between individuals and their cultural and social environments. (It thus complements service-oriented approaches to disability.) It helps prepare students for careers in medicine, social work, public service, and teaching, in which they may deal with disabled persons; it also educates students about the way in which disability affects all citizens as it impinges on issues of broad public concern–such as abortion, capital punishment, genetics and eugenics, euthanasia, health care and health insurance, and welfare.

Women’s Studies (WST)

Assistant Professor Bogard (History), Hofstra College Director;
Associate Professor Longmire, New College Adviser.

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