In order to participate in commencement exercises students must be registered for all courses needed to complete degree and university requirements. If a student is granted permission to enroll in a course prior to graduation at an institution other than Mount Saint Mary’s University, the official transcript must be received by June 30 for a spring graduation date.
All courses used to fulfill General Education requirements must be passed with a grade of C- or above, with the exception of ENG 1A and ENG 1B, which must be completed with a grade of C or better and ENG 5H with a grade of B or better.
The general rule at MSMU is that students are governed by the catalog under which they enter the University. In cases when subsequent catalogs have small changes in major/minor or general education requirements, which are in the student’s favor, they may be substituted at the option of the student with the approval of the department chair, and in addition, Deans in case of general education.
In some special circumstances a student may choose to adopt a future catalog but this can be done only once during the student’s undergraduate years at MSMU. When students move to a subsequent catalog, the policy dictates that they will be held to all requirements of this catalog, including major, minor, and general education. A catalog-change form is available at the Registrar’s office. It is strongly recommended that catalog changes be made by the end of a student’s junior year. Changes in University policies and procedures apply to all students regardless of their Catalog year.
General Education Curriculum Liberal Arts Core Education LACE
The purpose of LACE is to offer a liberal education intentionally grounded in the ideals of the CSJ Core Values and the Mission of Mount Saint Mary’s University. The goal of the curriculum is to emphasize leadership and a spirit to serve while enabling students with the knowledge and skills needed to better themselves, their environments, and the world. In the pursuit of this goal, innovative teaching and learning surround the principles central to a Mount education: the Spirit of our Founders, Community, Global Awareness and Understanding, and Women and Gender.
Student success is measured through the following LACE learning outcomes:
- Written Communication: Students will be able to effectively express ideas in written form.
- Quantitative Reasoning: Students will be able to solve problems and draw conclusions.
- Critical Thinking: Students will be able to recognize assumptions, their underlying values, as well as assess and develop arguments.
- Language: Students will be able to show basic competence in the following four areas of the target language: oral expression, listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and written expression.
- Spirit of the Founders: Students will engage in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition as expressed in the CSJ mission of serving God and Neighbor as one by analyzing and applying this knowledge to advance core values of social justice, human rights and engagement.
- Community: Students will critically analyze and apply disciplinary perspectives and contexts to the studies of communities, in order to build a sense of responsibility and skills necessary to serve.
- Global Awareness and Understanding: Students will evaluate or apply modes of academic inquiry to historical and/or current global contexts.
- Women and Gender: Students will critically evaluate the role of women and gender in society.
- Integrative Scholarship: Students will demonstrate interdisciplinary knowledge and ability to connect diverse academic perspectives by critically examining topics related to the human condition under any of the central themes of LACE: Spirit of the Founders, Community, Global Awareness and Understanding, and Women and Gender.
Liberal Arts Core Education LACE Requirements
The following structure and content for the LACE General Education Curriculum applies to all Bachelor degrees with the exception that there is no modern language requirement for the Bachelor of Science degree.
Students may not take general education courses on a Credit/No Credit basis. All courses used to fulfill General Education requirements must be passed with a grade of C- or above, with the exception of ENG 1A and ENG 1B, which must be completed with a grade of C or better, or ENG 5H with a grade of B or better.
The university policy on challenge examinations will prevail in the General Education Curriculum.
First-Year Seminar (4 units) - GE 1:
The First-Year Seminar (FYS) is comprised of two semester-long courses designed to intellectually empower new students in their introduction to Mount Saint Mary's University. Both semesters provide a liberal arts learning environment that is grounded in innovative teaching and learning and incorporates a variety of academic and co-curricular subjects. Successful completion of both semesters of FYS within their first year is required for graduation from MSMU for all students entering the University with fewer than 24 units (graded). Completion of both semesters with at least a “C-“ is required. FYS 1 is a pre-requisite for FYS 2.
| FYS 1 | First-Year Seminar Foundations | 2 |
| or | |
| FYS 1H | First-Year Seminar Foundations Honors | 2 |
| and | |
| FYS 2S | Introduction to Integrated Scholarship: Spirit of the Founders (CSJs) | 2 |
| or | |
| FYS 2C | Introduction to Integrated Scholarship: Community | 2 |
| or | |
| FYS 2G | Introduction to Integrated Scholarship: Global Awareness and Understanding | 2 |
| or | |
| FYS 2W | Introduction to Integrated Scholarship: Women and Gender | 2 |
Written Communication (3 – 6 units) - GE 2:
LACE includes 3 - 6 units of Written Communication. This includes either ENG 1A (3 units) and ENG 1B (3 units), both of which must be completed with a C or better; or ENG 5H (3 units) alone if completed with a B or above.
Reasoning (6-9 units) – GE 3
LACE includes 6-9 units of Reasoning, with 3-6 units of Math and 3 units of Critical Thinking.
A. Math (3-6 units):
| MTH 1 | Precalculus With Trigonometry | 4 |
| MTH 10 | Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematical Ideas | 3 |
| MTH 28 | Mathematical Analysis for Business | 3 |
| MTH 38 | Elements of Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| | |
| MTH 50 | Elementary Number Systems and Statistics | 3 |
| and | |
| MTH 51 | Elements of Geometry and Algebra | 3 |
| | |
| MTH 5A | Calculus I | 4 |
| PSY 40 | Basic Statistical Methods | 3 |
| MTH 120 | Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| SW 38 | Social Statistics and Data Analysis for Social Workers | 3 |
B. Critical Thinking (3 units):
Language (BA only, 8 units) – GE 4:
LACE includes 8 units of the same Language for the Bachelor’s of Arts degree only. B.S. degree programs do not require a second language because of the additional science courses required by the related departments or outside professional accrediting agencies. All students are strongly encouraged to take a second modern language to enhance their personal and professional communication in our current multilingual society. Students whose language placement scores indicate eligibility for the third semester of a language are waived from the Modern language requirement but with no units awarded.
| ARB 1 | Arabic I | 4 |
| ARB 2 | Arabic II | 4 |
| ASL 1 | American Sign Language I | 4 |
| ASL 2 | American Sign Language II | 4 |
| CHI 1 | Elementary Chinese I | 4 |
| CHI 2 | Elementary Chinese II | 4 |
| FRE 1 | Elementary French I | 4 |
| FRE 2 | Elementary French II | 4 |
| FRE 3 | Intermediate French III | 3 |
| FRE 4 | Intermediate French IV | 3 |
| FRE 103 | Intermediate French III | 3 |
| FRE 104 | Intermediate French IV | 3 |
| ITA 1 | Elementary Italian I | 4 |
| ITA 2 | Elementary Italian II | 4 |
| JPN 1 | Elementary Japanese I | 4 |
| JPN 2 | Elementary Japanese II | 4 |
| JPN 3 | Intermediate Japanese III | 3 |
| KRN 1 | Elementary Korean I | 4 |
| KRN 2 | Elementary Korean II | 4 |
| LIN 105 | American Sign Language I | 4 |
| LIN 106 | American Sign Language II | 4 |
| POR 1 | Elementary Portuguese I | 4 |
| POR 2 | Elementary Portuguese II | 4 |
| SPA 1 | Elementary Spanish I | 4 |
| SPA 1A | Elementary Spanish I for Native Speakers | 4 |
| SPA 2 | Elementary Spanish II | 4 |
| SPA 2A | Elementary Spanish II for Native Speakers | 4 |
| SPA 3 | Intermediate Spanish III | 3 |
| SPA 3A | Accelerated Spanish III/Spanish for Heritage Speakers | 3 |
| SPA 4 | Intermediate Spanish IV | 3 |
| SPA 103 | Intermediate Spanish III | 3 |
| SPA 103A | Accelerated Spanish III/Spanish for Heritage Speakers | 3 |
| SPA 104 | Intermediate Spanish IV | 3 |
| SWA 1 | Elementary Swahili | 4 |
| SWA 2 | Elementary Swahili II | 4 |
Central Core (12 units) – GE 5
LACE includes 12 units of course work in the Central Core category, with 3 units completed in each core: Spirit of the Founders, Community, Global Awareness and Understanding, and Women and Gender. Courses may not be taken directly within, or cross-listed within, a student’s major department. No more than 2 courses may be taken within a single department. Courses may be either upper or lower division.
A. Spirit of the Founders (3 units)
This includes coursework that deepens students’ understanding of the Mission of the University and the spirit and charism of its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Courses are rooted in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, and the CSJ charism to “serve God and Neighbor as one.”
| BUS 169 | Issues of Corporate Responsibility & Ethics | 3 |
| GLP 111 | Migration and Health | 3 |
| HCP 111 | Migration and Health | 3 |
| PHI 15 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 124 | Wisdom of the Ancients | 3 |
| PHI 192 | Business Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 160 | Philosophy of Religion: The Nature of Divinity and the Divinity of Nature | 3 |
| PHI 168A | Contemporary Moral Problems | 3 |
| POL 111 | Race and Ethnicity Politics | 3 |
| RST 21 | Christian Thought: 21st Century Catholicism | 3 |
| RST 121 | Christian Thought: 21st Century Catholicism | 3 |
| RST 23 | Christian Thought: Spiritual Journeys of Women | 3 |
| RST 123 | Christian Thought: Spiritual Journeys of Women | 3 |
| RST 41 | Christian Ethics: Introduction to Christian Ethics | 3 |
| RST 141 | Christian Ethics: Introduction to Christian Ethics | 3 |
| RST 45 | Christian Ethics: Contemporary Issues in Christian Ethics | 3 |
| RST 145 | Christian Ethics: Contemporary Issues in Christian Ethics | 3 |
| RST 49 | Biomedical Issues in Christian Ethics | 3 |
| RST 149 | Biomedical Issues in Christian Ethics | 3 |
| RST 146 | Christian Ethics: Peace and Justice Traditions | 3 |
| SJSD 1 | Introduction to Social Justice and Sexual Diversity | 3 |
| SJSD 12 | Sexuality and Religion in the Arts | 3 |
| SJSD 146 | War, Revolution, Genocide and Sexual Identities | 3 |
B. Community (3 units)
This includes courses designed to develop each student’s sense of responsibility along with the skills and knowledge necessary to serve the communities in which we live and work. In addition, some courses include learning experiences that provide opportunities for students to contribute to the well-being of the cities and neighborhoods in which they live.
| ART 7 | Experiences in the Visual Arts, L.A. Artland: Artists, Galleries, and Museums | 3 |
| ART 107 | Experiences in the Visual Arts, L.A. Artland: Artists, Galleries, and Museums | 3 |
| ART 181 | Yes We Can Art and Social Change | 3 |
| BIO 155 | Cancer and Society | 3 |
| BUS 129 | Modern Leadership Practice | 3 |
| ECO 1 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECO 2 | Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECO 44 | Personal Finance | 3 |
| EDU 105 | Language and Power in Schools | 3 |
| ENG 15 | Literature and Society | 3 |
| ENG 115 | Literature and Society | 3 |
| ENG 33 | The Graphic Novel in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 133 | The Graphic Novel in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 37 | Mental Illness in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 137 | Mental Illness in Literature | 3 |
| ENS 10 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| FLM 171/FLM 252A | Film Noir and the City | 3 |
| HCP 10 | Solving Problems in Healthcare (Introduction to Healthcare Policy) | 3 |
| HCP 158 | Ethics in Health Policy | 3 |
| HIS 102 | Constructing the History of the United States | 3 |
| HIS 176 | The Harlem Renaissance | 3 |
| MUS 6 | The Music Community: Exploring Sound and Meaning | 3 |
| MUS 106 | The Music Community: Exploring Sound and Meaning | 3 |
| MUS 120 | Rock Communities | 3 |
| MUS 42 | American Musical Theater | 3 |
| MUS 142 | American Musical Theater | 3 |
| PHI 16 | Philosophy Through Popular Culture | 3 |
| PHI 21 | Moral Values and Ethical Decisions | 3 |
| PHI 134 | Philosophy of the Americas | 3 |
| PHI 168B | Bioethics | 3 |
| PHI 168C | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 170 | Social and Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 171 | Philosophy of Race | 3 |
| POL 1 | American Politics and Government | 3 |
| POL 109 | Individual Rights | 3 |
| POL 111 | Race and Ethnicity Politics | 3 |
| POL 113 | Politics of Los Angeles | 3 |
| POL 179 | California Politics | 3 |
| POL 180 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| PSY 1 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 12 | Lifespan/Human Development | 3 |
| PSY 121 | Grief and Bereavement | 3 |
| RST 45 | Christian Ethics: Contemporary Issues in Christian Ethics | 3 |
| RST 145 | Christian Ethics: Contemporary Issues in Christian Ethics | 3 |
| RST 135 | Christian Thought: Women and Christianity | 3 |
| RST 172 | World Spiritualities: Jesus and the Buddha | 3 |
| SJSD 146 | War, Revolution, Genocide and Sexual Identities | 3 |
| SJSD 166 | Service, Ministry and LGBTQ+ Community | 1.5 |
| SOC 1 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SPA 45 | Cultures of the Spanish-Speaking Peoples in the United States and California | 3 |
| SPA 145 | Cultures of the Spanish-Speaking Peoples in the United States and California | 3 |
| SW 1 | Social Justice & Social Change | 3 |
| SW 6 | Child, Family, & Community | 3 |
| WST 101 | Introduction to Women's Studies | 3 |
C. Global Awareness and Understanding (3 units)
This involves coursework that enables students to analyze global systems, understand world cultures and events in historical or current contexts, and value cultural differences. The U.S. may be a point of comparison, but it is not be in itself the focus of the course.
| ART 2 | 2-Dimensional Art and Design: Global Perspectives | 3 |
| ART 169 | Fashion, Body and Identity | 3 |
| BIO 67 | Environmental Science | 3 |
| BIO 167 | Advanced Topics in Environmental Science | 3 |
| BIO 155 | Cancer and Society | 3 |
| BUS 147 | Global Culture and Business | 3 |
| ECO 112 | World Economic History | 3 |
| HIS 112 | World Economic History | 3 |
| ECO 195 | International Economics | 3 |
| ENG 15 | Literature and Society | 3 |
| ENG 115 | Literature and Society | 3 |
| ENG 27 | Women in Quest | 3 |
| ENG 127 | Women in Quest | 3 |
| ENG 28 | Contemporary Issues in World Literature | 3 |
| ENG 128 | Contemporary Issues in World Literature | 3 |
| ENG 33 | The Graphic Novel in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 133 | The Graphic Novel in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 36 | Human Trafficking in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 136 | Human Trafficking in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 56 | The History of the Book: Manuscript to Digital | 3 |
| ENG 156 | The History of the Book: Manuscript to Digital | 3 |
| ENG 70 | Western Literary Heritage | 3 |
| ENG 170 | Western Literary Heritage | 3 |
| ENG 71 | Global Shakespeares on the Page, Stage, and Film | 3 |
| ENG 171 | Global Shakespeares on the Page, Stage, and Film | 3 |
| ENG 124 | Fiction to Film | 3 |
| ENG 155 | Principles of Storytelling: An Introduction to Screenwriting | 3 |
| FLM 161 | Asian Cinema | 3 |
| FRE 33A | French Culture and Civilization | 3 |
| FRE 33B | French Culture and Civilization | 3 |
| FRE 140 | French /Francophone Women Writers in Translation | 3 |
| GLP 111 | Migration and Health | 3 |
| HCP 111 | Migration and Health | 3 |
| GLP 114 | The Politics of Democratization and Social Policy | 3 |
| POL 114 | The Politics of Democratization and Social Policy | 3 |
| GLP 128 | Politics of Globalization and Interdependence | 3 |
| POL 128 | Politics of Globalization and Interdependence | 3 |
| GLP 147 | Women and Development | 3 |
| POL 147 | Women and Development | 3 |
| GLP 183 | History of Black Nationalist Movements in Africa | 3 |
| HIS 183 | History of Black Nationalist Movements in Africa | 3 |
| HIS 1A | Western Civilization | 3 |
| HIS 1B | Western Civilization | 3 |
| HIS 2A | Civilizations, Empires, and Trading Networks | 3 |
| HIS 2B | Trade, Empires, Wars, and Revolutions | 3 |
| HIS 25 | Cultural and Historical Geography | 3 |
| HIS 182 | Introduction to the History, Language and Culture of Swahili | 3 |
| SWA 101 | Introduction to the History, Language and Culture of Swahili | 3 |
| HIS 189 | History of Medicine | 3 |
| HCP 189 | History of Medicine | 3 |
| HIS 190 | Disease and Epidemics: Pestilence, Poxes, and Plagues | 3 |
| LIN 101 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| MUS 16 | Music & Culture | 3 |
| MUS 116 | Music & Culture | 3 |
| MUS 144 | Mariachi Music | 3 |
| PHI 168B | Bioethics | 3 |
| PHI 168C | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 174 | Philosophy of Creativity | 3 |
| PHI 175 | Philosophy of Film | 3 |
| PHI 180 | The Philosophy of Change | 3 |
| POL 2 | Introduction to World Politics | 3 |
| POL 131 | International Relations | 3 |
| POL 136 | Revolutions and Social Movements | 3 |
| POL 137 | Ethnic Conflict and Civil War | 3 |
| PSY 15 | Global Lifespan Development | 3 |
| PSY 127 | Immigrant Experience | 3 |
| RST 11 | Scripture: Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures | 3 |
| RST 111 | Scripture: Hebrew Scriptures | 3 |
| RST 15 | Scripture: Introduction to the New Testament | 3 |
| RST 115 | Scripture: The New Testament | 3 |
| RST 25 | Sacred Thought: Relationships of Love, Marriage, and Family in World Religions | 3 |
| RST 125 | Sacred Thought: Relationships of Love, Marriage, and Family in World Religions | 3 |
| RST 61 | World Spiritualities: Introduction to World Religions | 3 |
| RST 161 | World Spiritualities: World Religions | 3 |
| RST 78 | World Spiritualities: Death and Afterlife in World Spiritualities | 3 |
| RST 178 | World Spiritualities: Death and Afterlife in World Spiritualities | 3 |
| RST 131 | Christian Thought: Woke Jesus | 3 |
| RST 172 | World Spiritualities: Jesus and the Buddha | 3 |
| RST 175 | World Spiritualities: Myth, Religion and Culture | 3 |
| SJSD 61A | World Religions and Sexual Identities | 3 |
| SJSD 161A | World Religions and Sexual Identities | 3 |
| SJSD 61B | World Religions and Sexual Identities | 3 |
| SJSD 161B | World Religions and Sexual Identities | 3 |
| SOC 1 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SPA 153 | Peeking Across Borders | 3 |
| SW 135A | International Experience for Social Workers | 1-6 |
| SW 135B | International Experience for Social Workers | 1-6 |
| SW 135C | International Experience for Social Workers | 1-6 |
| SW 135D | International Experience for Social Workers | 1-6 |
| SW 135E | International Experience for Social Workers | 1-6 |
D. Women and Gender (3 units)
This includes courses designed to empower and challenge students to strive for excellence, both as scholars and contributors to a more just society. Courses emphasize the development of women as leaders, with an awareness and understanding of the roles of women and/or gender in society.
| ART 169 | Fashion, Body and Identity | 3 |
| ART 183 | Woman on Top: Women and the Media | 3 |
| ENG 27 | Women in Quest | 3 |
| ENG 127 | Women in Quest | 3 |
| ENG 28 | Contemporary Issues in World Literature | 3 |
| ENG 128 | Contemporary Issues in World Literature | 3 |
| ENG 33 | The Graphic Novel in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 133 | The Graphic Novel in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 36 | Human Trafficking in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 136 | Human Trafficking in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 37 | Mental Illness in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 137 | Mental Illness in Literature | 3 |
| FLM 124 | Gender and Media | 3 |
| FLM 136 | Disney Inc. and Mass Popular Culture | 3 |
| FLM 142A | Women in Hollywood | 3 |
| FLM 142B | Women in Hollywood | 3 |
| FLM 168 | Race, Sex & Hollywood | 3 |
| FRE 140 | French /Francophone Women Writers in Translation | 3 |
| GLP 114 | The Politics of Democratization and Social Policy | 3 |
| POL 114 | The Politics of Democratization and Social Policy | 3 |
| GLP 147 | Women and Development | 3 |
| POL 147 | Women and Development | 3 |
| HIS 191 | Major Issues in the United States Women's History | 3 |
| MUS 17 | Women and Gender in Music | 3 |
| MUS 117 | Women and Gender in Music | 3 |
| PHI 126 | Theories of Everything: Descartes to Kant | 3 |
| PHI 150 | Body and Mind: Self and the World | 3 |
| PHI 152 | Knowledge, Gender, and Justice | 3 |
| PHI 167 | Ethics and Film | 3 |
| PHI 176 | Philosophy of Literature | 3 |
| POL 102 | Gender and the Law | 3 |
| POL 155/HCP 155 | Politics of Women's Health Care in California | 3 |
| POL 156 | Women and Politics | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Gender Issues in Psychology | 3 |
| RST 21 | Christian Thought: 21st Century Catholicism | 3 |
| RST 121 | Christian Thought: 21st Century Catholicism | 3 |
| RST 23 | Christian Thought: Spiritual Journeys of Women | 3 |
| RST 123 | Christian Thought: Spiritual Journeys of Women | 3 |
| RST 25 | Sacred Thought: Relationships of Love, Marriage, and Family in World Religions | 3 |
| RST 125 | Sacred Thought: Relationships of Love, Marriage, and Family in World Religions | 3 |
| RST 41 | Christian Ethics: Introduction to Christian Ethics | 3 |
| RST 141 | Christian Ethics: Introduction to Christian Ethics | 3 |
| RST 70 | Christian Thought: Faith and Human Development | 3 |
| RST 170 | Christian Thought: Faith and Human Development | 3 |
| RST 131 | Christian Thought: Woke Jesus | 3 |
| RST 135 | Christian Thought: Women and Christianity | 3 |
| RST 137 | Sacred Thought: Challenges in Contemporary Theology | 3 |
| RST 175 | World Spiritualities: Myth, Religion and Culture | 3 |
| SJSD 1 | Introduction to Social Justice and Sexual Diversity | 3 |
| SJSD 11A | Sexual Diversities and Hebrew Scriptures | 3 |
| SJSD 12 | Sexuality and Religion in the Arts | 3 |
| SJSD 61A | World Religions and Sexual Identities | 3 |
| SJSD 161A | World Religions and Sexual Identities | 3 |
| SJSD 61B | World Religions and Sexual Identities | 3 |
| SJSD 161B | World Religions and Sexual Identities | 3 |
| SJSD 166 | Service, Ministry and LGBTQ+ Community | 1.5 |
| SPA 45 | Cultures of the Spanish-Speaking Peoples in the United States and California | 3 |
| SPA 145 | Cultures of the Spanish-Speaking Peoples in the United States and California | 3 |
| SPA 153 | Peeking Across Borders | 3 |
| SW 6 | Child, Family, & Community | 3 |
| WST 101 | Introduction to Women's Studies | 3 |
Integrative Scholarship (6 units) - GE 6
LACE includes 6 upper-division units of Integrative Scholarship, to be taken after completion of the Central Core. These courses may either be two 3-unit linked courses or two interdisciplinary courses (see below for more detail) and are designed to assist students in cultivating interdisciplinary and intercultural knowledge and competencies in the context of the LACE central themes. A student may take courses within their major department, but it cannot be double-counted towards the major.
A. and B. Linked Courses
Linked courses are defined as having a minimum of one common read/chapter and/or one shared assignment between two different courses of dissimilar disciplinary fields. Both linked courses must be taken in order to satisfy this requirement.
| BIO 155 | Cancer and Society | 3 |
| and | |
| GLP 114 | The Politics of Democratization and Social Policy | 3 |
| or | |
| POL 114 | The Politics of Democratization and Social Policy | 3 |
| | |
| BIO 156 | Cancer and Molecular Techniques | 3 |
| and | |
| GLP 114 | The Politics of Democratization and Social Policy | 3 |
| or | |
| POL 114 | The Politics of Democratization and Social Policy | 3 |
| | |
| EDU 105 | Language and Power in Schools | 3 |
| and | |
| ENG 102 | Structure of Modern English | 3 |
| | |
| ENG 103 | Writing Histories | 3 |
| and | |
| HIS 102 | Constructing the History of the United States | 3 |
| | |
| MUS 145 | Music and Violence | 3 |
| and | |
| POL 143 | Terrorism and Political Violence | 3 |
| | |
| ART 198A | The Magic of Play=Designing Playful Learning Environments I | 3 |
| and | |
| ART 198B | The Magic of Play=Designing Playful Learning Environments II | 3 |
| | |
| PSY 198A | The Magic of Play=Designing Playful Learning Environments I | 3 |
| and | |
| PSY 198B | The Magic of Play=Designing Playful Learning Environments II | 3 |
| | |
| SW 148 | Contemporary Global Issues & Advancing Human Rights | 3 |
| and | |
| FLM 102 | Cell Phone Cinema | 3 |
| | |
| BUS 169 | Issues of Corporate Responsibility & Ethics | 3 |
| and | |
| PHI 192 | Business Ethics | 3 |
| | |
| BIO 167 | Advanced Topics in Environmental Science | 3 |
| and | |
| PHI 168C | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| | |
| BUS 180A | Advanced Advertising Seminar | 3 |
| and | |
| PHO 111 | The Art Director | 3 |
| | |
| POL 172 | Law and Literature | 3 |
| and | |
| ENG 173 | Shakespeare | 3 |
Non-Linked Courses
Non-linked interdisciplinary courses are independent of each other. They are defined as integrating / utilizing the perspectives, concepts and techniques of two or more distinct disciplinary fields in advancing the understanding of the core topic of the course.
| ART 197 | Play=Learning: Child Development in Community | 3 |
| PSY 197 | Play=Learning: Child Development in Community | 3 |
| BIO 167 | Advanced Topics in Environmental Science | 3 |
| BUS 147 | Global Culture and Business | 3 |
| BUS 169 | Issues of Corporate Responsibility & Ethics | 3 |
| ECO 112 | World Economic History | 3 |
| HIS 112 | World Economic History | 3 |
| ECO 195 | International Economics | 3 |
| ENG 115 | Literature and Society | 3 |
| ENG 124 | Fiction to Film | 3 |
| ENG 127 | Women in Quest | 3 |
| ENG 133 | The Graphic Novel in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 136 | Human Trafficking in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 137 | Mental Illness in Literature | 3 |
| ENG 155 | Principles of Storytelling: An Introduction to Screenwriting | 3 |
| ENG 156 | The History of the Book: Manuscript to Digital | 3 |
| ENG 171 | Global Shakespeares on the Page, Stage, and Film | 3 |
| ENS 110 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| GLP 128 | Politics of Globalization and Interdependence | 3 |
| POL 128 | Politics of Globalization and Interdependence | 3 |
| GLP 141 | Health and Human Rights | 3 |
| HCP 141 | Health and Human Rights | 3 |
| HIS 176 | The Harlem Renaissance | 3 |
| HIS 189 | History of Medicine | 3 |
| HCP 189 | History of Medicine | 3 |
| HIS 190 | Disease and Epidemics: Pestilence, Poxes, and Plagues | 3 |
| PHI 171 | Philosophy of Race | 3 |
| POL 137 | Ethnic Conflict and Civil War | 3 |
| SJSD 147 | Colonialism, Religion, and Sexual Diversity | 3 |
| SJSD 161A | World Religions and Sexual Identities | 3 |
| SJSD 161B | World Religions and Sexual Identities | 3 |
| SPA 129 | Don Quixote: The Impossible Dream | 3 |
Double Counting Courses
Within LACE General Education:
No courses within the LACE curriculum may double count for any other area of the LACE requirement.
Between LACE and Majors or Minors:
Courses fulfilling the LACE Written Communication, Reasoning and Language requirements may double count towards a student’s major and/or minor.
LACE courses satisfying the Central Core and Integrative Scholarship requirements may not double count towards a student’s major, however they may count towards a second major or any minors. Students must still fulfill the Double Major Policy and Minor Policy.
Note: An exception to the policy on double counting between LACE and a major is made for the Bachelors of Arts degree in Liberal Studies. Due to the nature of this major, courses used to meet BA Liberal Studies requirements may double count for LACE general education requirements.
Note: An exception to the policy on double counting between LACE and a major is made for the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Due to the nature of this major, up to 9 units of general education courses required to meet BS Nursing requirements may double count for LACE general education requirements, provided that the student meet all other Baccalaureate degree requirements and complete a minimum of 124 units.
Note: An exception to the policy on double counting between LACE and a major is made for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Due to the nature of this major, up to 6 units of general education courses required to meet BS Nursing requirements may double count for LACE general education requirements, provided that the student meet all other Baccalaureate degree requirements and complete a minimum of 124 units.
Between Double Majors:
When completing a double major, no more than 9 upper division units may be double counted to satisfy requirements for both majors.
Language Fulfillment Alternative
This requirement may be satisfied by any of the following alternatives:
- A student who begins a language must complete French 1 and 2, Japanese 1 and 2, or Spanish 1 and 2, or their equivalent. For other languages, students must complete the equivalent of the second semester or third quarter.
- Students whose native language is not English may demonstrate academic proficiency in English as a second language by passing the TOEFL examination with scores above 550.
- Students may take placement exams offered by MSMU’s Language and Culture Department in Spanish, French or Japanese to fulfill the requirement. Students whose language placement scores indicate eligibility for the third semester of a language are waived from the Modern language requirement but with no units awarded.
Graduating with a Double Major
Students who wish to earn a degree with a double major must observe the following requirements:
- The two majors may be in the same or different degree programs. The student must determine the primary major and satisfy the general education requirement for the degree of that major. The other major is considered the secondary major.
- All requirements for both majors must be met, including all upper division work, foreign language, and any additional requirements.
- The department chairpersons of both major areas must approve the student's completion of the requirements for the major.
- A second major may be earned in the same academic area, but no more than 9 upper division units may satisfy requirements in both majors.
Second Baccalaureate
In order to receive a second Baccalaureate degree, a student must fulfill the following requirements:
- Completion of a minimum of 24 semester units in residence beyond the requirements for the first baccalaureate degree.
- Completion of all departmental requirements, including a modern language if necessary, in the area of the major for the second degree.
- Completion of all other institutional requirements if the first degree has been earned elsewhere.
Minor Policy
A minor should enrich a student’s major, allow for specialization within a major, broaden a student’s career options, and encourage exposure to other academic disciplines. A minimum of 18 units is required for a minor, although some departments require additional units. In addition to the requirements for individual academic disciplines, a student must complete three upper division courses (9 units) for a minor that are not also being used to fulfill requirements for the major, general education, or another minor. The deadline for declaring a minor will be the end of the student’s junior year.
Graduation with Honors (Baccalaureate Degree)
Latin Honors are granted with Bachelor of Art (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees.
To be eligible, the student must have completed 45 letter-graded units at Mount Saint Mary’s University by the end of the term prior to the last term of attendance.
Graduation with Latin Honors is based on the cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the time of degree posting and will be determined according to the following scale:
Cum laude shall be granted to a student who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.50 - 3.69.
Magna cum laude shall be granted to a student who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.70 - 3.84.
Summa cum laude shall be granted to a student who has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.85 or higher.
In calculations for Latin Honors, GPA will not be rounded up, and will be based on the student’s actual GPA.
A preliminary Honors list is compiled based upon all units completed excluding the last term prior to graduation. Students who meet the Latin Honors requirements are indicated as candidates for Latin Honors in the Commencement program. The final Latin Honors list is established at the time of degree posting. All units accepted towards graduation (or degree completion) are considered in the calculation of Latin Honors including grades of courses that transferred in at time of matriculation and grades of courses during the last term.
The Honors Program
About the Honors Program:
The Honors Program at Mount Saint Mary’s University recognizes academic excellence and provides high-achieving students with opportunities for increased academic rigor to be intellectually challenged in an engaging and nurturing environment. We enable our students to explore their intellectual curiosities and enhance their leadership abilities through numerous offerings.
Honors Scholars participate in a robust honors curriculum and have opportunities for leadership development, service-learning, and co-curricular engagements in the community and around the globe.
How to Apply to the Honors Program:
In order to be eligible for and maintain status in the Honors Program, prospective Honors Scholars must have and maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA and must submit an application.
Students applying to the University as incoming traditional undergraduate freshmen or transfer students in pursuit of their baccalaureate degrees can apply to the Honors Program through the common application. Current traditional undergraduate Mount Saint Mary’s University students interested in applying to the Honors Program must ordinarily apply by the end of their sophomore standing year. Under some unique circumstances, highly motivated students may apply to the Honors Program at the end of their junior standing year, though only if time and space in the prospective Honors Scholars’ schedule permits for fulfilling the Honors Program requirements.
All prospective Honors Scholars interested in applying to the Honors Program must have at least 1 consecutive Fall/Spring year remaining, though preferably 2 consecutive Fall/Spring years remaining, at Mount Saint Mary’s University.
Honors Program Requirements:
Honors Curriculum: Honors Scholars admitted into the Honors Program as a first year student with “Honors at Entrance” must complete 24 units in Honors Curriculum. Honors Scholars admitted into the Honors Program as a current Mount Saint Mary’s University student must complete 22 units in Honors Curriculum.
- Honors Seminars. Fundamental to our Honors Seminars is the integration of a community immersion and service-learning component.
- FYS 1H: First Year Seminar Foundations Honors (only required of incoming first year students admitted into the Honors Program with Honors at Entrance)
- HON 198A/HON 198B: The Honors Capstone
- HON 199A/HON 199B: The Honors Thesis
- Honors Courses. Honors Courses receive an “H” designation on Honors Scholars’ transcripts and also fulfill University general education, upper division requirements, and major requirements.
- 15 units in Honors Courses (excluding Honors Seminar Courses) by Honors Sections or Honors Contracts.
- Honors Thesis. Honors Scholars will complete an individual original research project or produce an original creative piece under the mentorship and supervision of faculty readers.
- 3 units in directed/independent study for your Honors Thesis (in conjunction with HON 199B). As part of the Honors Thesis, Honors Scholars are required to present their final Honors Thesis during the University’s Academic Symposium.
Honors Contracts:
Only students who are enrolled in the Honors Program and are in good academic standing are eligible to turn their academic courses into Honors courses. Only academic courses while enrolled at Mount Saint Mary’s University during the fall or spring semesters may be turned into Honors. Faculty are not obligated to fulfill an Honors Scholar’s request to complete an Honors Contract to turn a course into Honors. Converting a course into an Honors Course is at the discretion of the faculty or the department as faculty and departments may recommend that certain courses are not converted for various reasons.
Honors Scholars wishing to convert a course into an Honors course must ordinarily first receive support and approval from the course’s respective faculty by communicating with the faculty their intentions for the course’s Honors component. In order to turn an academic course into an Honors course, Honors Scholars must complete and submit an Honors Contract obtained from the Honors Program to the Director of the Honors Program by the end of week 3 during the start of the semester. Upon approval from the Honors Program, the original Honors Contract must then be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the end of week 4. Once your paperwork has been properly filed, your program evaluation and transcript should reflect an “H” designation next to your course number.
Honors Petition:
Honors Scholars may petition to drop the “H” designation without dropping the course entirely with good reason, which must be documented and discussed directly with the faculty and in some instances with the Department Chair of the course, and then with the Director of the Honors Program for final approval. Honors Scholars must petition to drop the “H” designation no later than the end of week 8. However, once Honors Scholars have submitted or completed their Honors components, they may not petition to drop the “H” designation. A petition to drop the “H” designation may not be retroactive.
Honors Scholars are expected to have due diligence and frequent open communication with their faculty regarding Honors component expectations, deadlines, grading component, etc. As an Honors Scholar, once an Honors Contract has been submitted, Honors Scholars are required to fulfill their Honors component in its entirety. If Honors Scholars do not complete their Honors component, the faculty should adjust their grades accordingly or may request that the Honors Scholar petition to drop the “H” designation, if within the allowed timeframe.
Honors Advisement:
In addition to the requirement that all Mount Saint Mary’s University students meet with their Academic Advisors prior to registering for the upcoming semester, Honors Scholars are also required to meet with the Director of the Honors Program each semester to discuss their progress in the Honors Program. Only Honors Scholars who fulfill their Honors Advisement requirement will receive priority registration for each respective registration period.
Honors Program Community:
The Honors Program provides its students with a variety of exclusive co-curricular activities and social events both on and off campus. We are committed to the creation of an Honors Program community akin to an “extended family” to offer academic and social support. As a result, Honors Scholars are required to participate in at least two Honors Program events per semester.
Honors Program Handbooks
All Honors Scholars are required to adhere to the guidelines described in the Honors Program Handbooks.
For more detailed information about the Honors Program, please refer to the Mount Saint Mary’s University website. Any inquiries about the Honors Program can be made with Dr. Michelle Melendres, Director of the Honors Program at honors@msmu.edu.
Global Women in STEM & Policy Undergraduate Research Training Honors Program
Student Requirements:
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Complete application for admittance to program (see Directors of GWSTEM for application).
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Students should have a 3.5 GPA in their major, and must be available for three semesters plus a fieldwork experience.
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Students must be majoring in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry or any major in the Department of History and Political Science (HCP, POL, HIS, GLP). Students pursuing a minor in the Department of History and Political Science may petition for admittance to the program.
A. Theory (6-7 units)
To be taken in students first semester with Cohort. Theory courses must be approved by the GWSTEM Honors Advisor.
- Must take ONE of the following:
GLP 114/POL 114 Democratization and Social Policy (3 units) OR
GLP 128/POL 128 Politics of Globalization (3 units) OR
GLP 193 Special Topics*
*(this must be approved by the GWSTEM Honors Advisor in the Department of History and Political Science)
- Must take ONE of the following:
BIO 155 Cancer and Society (3 units) OR
BIO 167/BIO 167L Advanced Environmental Science with Lab (4 units) OR
BIO 156 Cancer and Molecular Techniques (3 units)
B. Methods (0-3 units)
GLP 160 Advanced Survey Methods Lab (0-3 units variable)
C. Applied (3 units)
BIO 194 Data Analysis and Leadership Training (3 units) OR
GLP 194 Data Analysis and Leadership Training (3 units)
Honor Societies
Alpha Mu Gamma
National Foreign Language Honor Society
Alpha Tau Delta
National Honor Fraternity in Nursing
Delta Epsilon Sigma
National Scholastic Honor Society
Kappa Gamma Pi
National Catholic College Graduate Honor Society
Lambda Iota Tau
National Literature Honor Society
Phi Alpha Theta
International History Honor Society
Pi Delta Phi
National French Honor Society
Pi Theta Mu
Service Honor Society
Psi Chi
National Honor Society in Psychology
Sigma Delta Pi
National Spanish Honor Society
Omicron Pi
National Honor Society for Adult Students