New College Freshmen

a.    New College freshmen are on a block schedule in the fall and spring semesters.

b.    Block courses taken by New College freshmen fulfill the general B.A. degree requirements of the school described in B.1 and B.2, below.

c.    Once New College freshmen have completed their block courses, they follow the regular University undergraduate course schedule.

d.    Students who change majors from New College to other units of the University will be able to apply credits that they have earned in block courses toward satisfying the University’s English composition requirement or distribution requirements. (See Note 1)

e.    Freshmen may take block courses for a maximum of two semesters. For freshmen who take block courses for the first time at the start of the spring semester, the only block courses they may take are those offered in that semester.

f.    In the fall semester, freshmen must take Place and Identity and three other block courses.

g.    In the spring semester, freshmen must take Ways of Knowing, two other block courses and the First-Year Independent Project.

h.    Freshmen must take Place and Identity and Ways of Knowing in two different divisional categories.

i.    Freshmen may not take block courses on an individual basis. Students taking block courses must enroll in four such courses each semester.

j.    During the semester that they are enrolled in block courses, students may not take any other courses at Hofstra or elsewhere.

k.    Freshmen who move to New College from another school within Hofstra or transfer to New College should consult section D.1, below, for requirements.

All Freshmen

a.    Freshmen enrolled in schools other than New College may take block courses in the fall or spring semester or both.

b.    Freshmen invited to the Hofstra University Honors College, including those enrolled in New College, have the option to take block courses during their first year and Culture and Expression during their sophomore year.

c.    Students enrolled in schools other than New College are able to apply credits that they have earned in the appropriate block courses toward satisfying the University’s English composition requirement or distribution requirements (see Note 1).

d.    For additional requirements pertaining to block courses, see “New College Freshmen,” e-k, above.

a. Humanities - At Least 6 s.h.

At least six semester hours in courses from the Humanities division. At least three semester hours must be in the Literature (LT) category and at least three semester hours in the Appreciation and Analysis (AA) or Creative Participation (CP) category.

b. Natural Sciences/Mathematics/Computer Science - At Least 6 s.h.

At least six semester hours in courses from the Natural Sciences/Mathematics/Computer Science division. At least three semester hours must be in the Natural Sciences (NS) category and at least three semester hours in the Mathematics/Computer Science (MC) category.

c. Social Sciences - At Least 6 s.h.

At least six semester hours in courses from the Social Sciences division. At least three semester hours must be in the Behavioral Social Sciences (BH) category and at least three semester hours must be in the History, Philosophy, Religious Studies (HP) category.

d. Pass/D+/D/Fail

Courses taken on an optional Pass/D+/D/Fail basis may not be used to satisfy the New College 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.

a. Block Courses

All block courses, with the exception of foreign language courses, and all degree programs in New College are writing intensive and stress the importance of writing across the curriculum. With the exception of courses in foreign languages, in each New College block course, students will write a minimum of 5,000 words, including a significant amount of writing and revision in class (see Note 1).

b. WSC 1 and 2

In order to satisfy the University’s English composition requirement for WSC 1, New College students must earn a grade of C- or better in Place and Identity (4 s.h.) and a grade of P in the associated writing workshop (0 s.h.)  in the fall semester.  Otherwise, the student must take WSC 1. In order to satisfy the University’s English composition requirement for WSC 2, New College students must earn a grade of C- or better in the designated literature block course (4 s.h.) and a grade of P in the associated writing workshop  in the spring semester. Otherwise, the student must take WSC 2.

c. Writing Proficiency Exam

All New College students must take and pass the Hofstra Writing Proficiency Exam as a requirement for graduation. (See Note 2.)

Option A. 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.

Option B. 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

Sudents 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.