Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degree - Scripps College

Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degree
Students are held to the requirements of the catalog in effect at the time they first
enroll as a degree or certificate-seeking student.
The Bachelor of Arts degree at Scripps is earned by satisfactory completion of a
minimum of 32 courses to include the following:
1. General education requirements as follow:
• Three-semester Core Curriculum;
• Writing 50 – Critical Analysis requirement;
• Breadth of study requirement;
• Race and ethnic studies requirement;
• Feminist, gender, and sexuality studies requirement;
• Foreign Language competency; and
• Mathematics competency
All general education requirements must be completed by the end of the first semester
of the senior year.
2. Completion of a major (nine or more courses - minimum of eight courses plus senior
thesis - as defined in this catalog).
3. Additional elective courses, to bring total to 32 minimum.
Each requirement addresses important elements in the building of a student’s
educational foundation. They are designed to introduce each student to a variety of
formal ways of thinking, to provide a reasonable base of understanding of, and
participation in, the world of the 21 st century, and to encourage a commitment to
lifelong learning. Upon entering Scripps College, a student is assigned a faculty adviser
who will aid in arranging a program of studies suitable to the student’s interests,
previous training, and academic objectives. The student is expected to consult with an
adviser throughout each year regarding academic plans.
General Education Requirements
All general education requirements must be completed by the end of the first semester
of the senior year.
Core Curriculum in Interdisciplinary Humanities (three courses)
• Core I to be taken fall semester of the first year;

• Core II to be taken spring semester of the first year
• Core III to be taken fall semester of the second year.
Writing (one course)
• WRIT 050 - Critical Analysis, to be taken fall semester of the first year.
Breadth of Study
Scripps College believes that it is important for all students to understand that there are
different ways of thinking about knowledge and of defining and examining problems.
The goal of the breadth of study requirement is to introduce students to different ways
of knowing and different ways of thinking. All students are required to complete one
course in each of the areas below. A course may meet only one of the four Breadth of
Study requirements (i.e., Fine Arts, Letters, Natural Sciences, or Social Sciences).
1. Fine Arts (one course from among the following):
• Any art course;
• Dance (full course only which includes dance history and theory);
• MUS 003, MUS 081, or any other music theory or music history course;
• THEA 001A, THEA 001C, THEA 001E, THEA 001F, THEA 002, THEA 023, THEA 024,
THEA 115D, THEA 115J, THEA 115M, THEA 115N, THEA 115O, THEA 141; or
• An equivalent course.
2. Letters (one course from among the following):
• Any art history course
• Any literature course completed in English or a foreign language, but not writing;
• Any philosophy course except logic;
• Any classics course except Greek, Hebrew, and Latin language through the
intermediate level;
• Any religious studies course;
• An equivalent course.
3. Natural Sciences (one course from among the following):
• Any Keck Science course numbered 50–89 for nonscience majors; or
• Any introductory science course for majors in biology, chemistry, neuroscience,
or physics; or
• An equivalent course with a lab.
4. Social Sciences (one course from among the following):

• Anthropology below 100;
• ECON 051 or ECON 052;
• History (any full course);
• POLI 100, POLI 110, POLI 120, POLI 130 or POLI 140;
• PSYC 052; or
• An equivalent course.
Race and Ethnic Studies (one course)
• The race and ethnic studies requirement assesses the systematic discrimination
and exploitation of African Americans, Latino Americans, Native Americans,
Asian Americans, and Arab Americans that have figured so critically in the history
of this country. This requirement is met by taking one course that focuses
primarily on one or more of these five groups in the United States.
• A list of courses approved to meet this requirement is maintained on the
registrar’s web page and a link to the currently available courses appears near
the bottom of the “Course Area” list (SC Race and Ethnic St Req) on the academic
portal schedule of courses for each semester.
Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (one course)
• Students must complete one course in feminist, gender and sexuality studies.
The requirement may be met by passing any course in the Scripps Feminist,
Gender, and Sexuality Studies program or any other course approved by
Intercollegiate Women’s Studies. Courses that fulfill this requirement will be
identified in the biannual registration materials.
Language Requirement Statement
Students are strongly encouraged to fulfill their language requirement in an
uninterrupted sequence. In all cases, however, the language requirement must be
completed by the end of the first semester of the senior year.
Foreign Language (three courses should be completed in an uninterrupted sequence)
• Three semesters of one language (through intermediate level);
• Equivalent courses or competency
Mathematics (one course)
• MATH023 SC;
• BIOL 175BIOL175 KS , ECON120 SC, or PSYC103 SC;
• Logic (in philosophy); or
• An equivalent course.

Discussion of Requirements
Core Curriculum in Interdisciplinary Humanities
The Core Curriculum offered at Scripps gives students the opportunity to investigate
important issues of human existence in an interdisciplinary context. Each first-year
student is required to complete the three-course Core beginning in the first fall
semester. The courses are described under Core Curriculum in Interdisciplinary
Humanities: Histories of the Present.”
Students who transfer to Scripps will be placed into the Core Curriculum sequence
based upon their class standing at entrance.
• Students who transfer with the equivalent of four or fewer Scripps courses will
be required to begin with Core I and complete the three-course sequence.
• Students who transfer with the equivalent of five to eight courses will complete
Core II and Core III.
• Students who transfer as first-semester sophomores (eight to twelve courses)
must complete Core III.
• Transfer students entering Scripps with the equivalent of 12 or more Scripps
courses will be waived from the Core Curriculum requirement.
Foreign Language
One of the most important features of a liberal education is familiarity with the
language of a culture other than one’s own. Such familiarity not only clarifies a student’s
sense of cultural identity, but also enhances articulateness and enlarges the view of the
scope of thought and language. Languages currently available for study in Claremont
include Modern Standard Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean,
Russian, and Spanish. Classical Greek, Hebrew, and Latin are also available.
The Scripps language requirement is met by demonstrating competency and proficiency
in one foreign language, ancient or modern, by:
a. The achievement of a thorough knowledge of basic grammatical structure;
b. The ability to write a composition correctly; and
c. In the case of a modern language, the ability to understand a native speaker at a
moderate speed and to respond intelligently. The required level of language
competency must be demonstrated in one of the following ways:
• By passing the third-semester level course in one language through The
Claremont Colleges Modern Languages Program, the cooperative Classics

Department, or full-course American Sign Language credit. Students are strongly
encouraged to fulfill the language requirement in an uninterrupted sequence. In
all cases, however, the language requirement must be completed by the end of
the first semester of the senior year.
• By passing a departmental competency examination. Language placement tests
in French, German, Italian, Latin, and Spanish are held at Scripps during fall
Orientation, or by arrangement, to demonstrate competency for full or partial
waiver of the courses required using one of those languages. Placement exams
in Modern Standard Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Russian are
administered by other Claremont Colleges during Orientation.
• By scoring at or above the (recentered) scores indicated below on a SAT Subject
Tests Foreign Language Achievement Test:
Chinese 630
Italian 630
French 640
Japanese 620
German 630
Latin 630
Modern Hebrew 540
Spanish 630
The foreign language requirement will be waived for international students who
graduated from a non-English high school program. Other students may petition for a
waiver of the requirement based upon written verification of non-English language
proficiency by an interview with a Claremont faculty member who is fluent in the
language. Students may also petition to waive the language requirement by successful
completion of an off-campus examination at another college, verified by a letter bearing
that college’s seal, and forwarded in a sealed envelope to the registrar. (Any
examination fees will be paid directly to the other college by the student.)
Because of the importance of language to the study of the humanities, to work in most
majors, and to many future careers, students who have met the basic language
requirement in any one of these ways are strongly urged to continue their study of
foreign language and literature beyond the required competency level. Scripps students
may not receive credit for courses taken in the intercollegiate Self-Instructional
Language Program (SILP) because SILP has not yet been evaluated by Scripps faculty.
This policy will be evaluated at a later date.
Mathematics
The extensive use of mathematics in our lives as individuals and as a society indicates
that a knowledge of mathematics is essential for practical living and for professional
development. The math requirement may be met in either theoretical or applied

mathematics. Theoretical mathematics involves methods of inquiry based on rigorous
deduction and formal proof that are different from those in other areas. Applied
mathematics is a fundamental tool in the social and natural sciences and in many other
areas. The math requirement may be satisfied in any one of the following ways:
1. By passing MATH 023, Precalculus, or a higher-level math course.
2. By placing into MATH 030 or a higher-level math course on the placement exam.
(The Math Placement Exam is administered during fall Orientation.)
3. By passing a course in the applications of mathematics, i.e., (Statistics); BIOL 175
- Applied Biostatistics; ECON 120 - Statistics; or PSYC 103 - Psychological Statistics.
4. By passing a course in formal logic (through the Philosophy Department).
Because of the importance of mathematics to the study of the social and natural
sciences and to work in many careers, students are strongly encouraged to continue
their study of mathematics beyond the required level.
Writing: Critical Analysis
Scripps College believes that its students should be able to read well and to express
themselves with precision, logic, and subtlety. WRIT 050 must be passed with a grade of
C or higher during the first semester of Scripps enrollment. Students earning less than C
will be required to enroll in WRIT 050 the subsequent semester and until passed with a
C or higher; all grades will be computed in the grade point averages.
• Transfer students who have completed a clearly identifiable and equivalent
college writing course with a grade of C or higher will have met this requirement.
• Transfer first-year and sophomore students who have not completed an
equivalent course will be required to enroll in WRIT 050 during their first
semester.
• Students who transfer to Scripps as juniors are waived from this requirement.
Requirements for the Major
Majors are offered in fields in which the senior thesis can be supervised by a member
of the Scripps faculty, and, if the major is offered at Scripps, the Scripps major
requirements must be met.
Before preregistration in spring of the sophomore year, each student must declare a
major by filing an approved junior major form in the registrar’s office. At the same time,
the student will select a faculty adviser within the major field who will assist in planning
the future program. Students who plan to complete two majors must also declare the
second major by filing a second approved junior major form assisted by a faculty
member in the second field. Students planning to complete a minor are encouraged to
formally declare the minor at the end of the sophomore year.

A major is an integrated program of study composed of courses and independent work
within a discipline or interdisciplinary program. It should have an inner rationale and
coherence of structure. The basic educational policy of Scripps is to enable students to
think independently and critically. In planning a major, a student should implement this
policy by seeking to fulfill the following goals:
1. Mastery of (a) skills and methods, (b) principles and theory, and (c) essential
materials in the field. This mastery will usually be accomplished by successfully
completing certain courses or a combination of courses and supervised
independent study as determined by the department faculty. Passing the
required courses for the major, a minimum of eight semester courses or their
equivalent, with at least a 6.0 (C) grade point average is the basis for this
standard.
2. Demonstration of competence in the field. In the areas of music, dance, and
theater, a senior performance and/or a thesis is required as a demonstration of
competence. In studio arts, a senior project is required. In all other fields,
competence must be demonstrated by writing a senior thesis. Senior theses
constitute an individual and independent work supervised by two faculty
members (one of whom must be a member of the Scripps College faculty): the
director of the thesis and a second reader chosen in the relevant field. Options
consistent with the basic educational policy of the College may be considered
equivalent to the thesis upon approval by two faculty members and petition to
the Committee on Academic Review. Due dates for senior theses are determined
by the faculty of each discipline. A minimum grade of D is required for the senior
thesis/project for graduation.
During September of the senior year, in consultation with a major adviser, the student
files an approved senior major form in the registrar’s office for each major the student
anticipates completing, indicating those courses which the student plans to use to
complete the major requirements. Seniors will be held to the specific courses indicated
on the senior major form. Written requests on a course substitution form (available in
the registrar's office) to change these intended courses must be approved by the major
adviser and forwarded to the registrar.
Choices for Majors
Scripps major requirements must be met if the major is offered at Scripps.
Requirements for majors at Scripps College are defined by departments and are listed in
the catalog under the descriptions of the departmental programs. All majors consist of a
minimum of eight semester courses or their equivalent, and a senior thesis (or senior
seminar or project). At least half of these courses must be taken at Scripps, except
where this regulation is specifically waived. Courses that fulfill major requirements will

e chosen by the student in consultation with the adviser and listed on the approved
senior major form.
Dual Major
• A dual major must fulfill all of the major requirements for each of the two
disciplines (unless an exception is specified in the catalog) and complete a senior
thesis that integrates the skills and knowledge of both fields. The two thesis
readers are from the faculty of the two fields represented by the dual major.
Normally, students who undertake a dual major would be required to complete
only one senior seminar, but two may be taken for credit if the thesis readers
recommend it. In the case of a dual major where each department requires
participation in a senior seminar, and in the event these seminars meet at the
same time, the student, with the assistance of advisers from each department,
will determine the senior seminar in which the student will enroll. Courses that
fulfill each major requirement will be listed on each of the two senior major
forms as approved by the adviser in each field. Courses that fulfill each major
requirement will be listed on each of the two senior major forms as approved by
the adviser in each field.
Double Major
• A double major must fulfill all of the major requirements for each of two
disciplines and complete two theses, one in each of the two subject areas.
Courses that fulfill each major requirement will be listed on each of two senior
major forms as approved by the student’s adviser in each field.
Self-designed Major
• A self-designed major may be created by a student from among many fields
offered at the colleges, provided that this major consists of a minimum of eight
semester courses or their equivalent to demonstrate mastery of skills and
methods, principles and theory, and essential materials in the field and to be
culminated with a thesis which will allow the student to demonstrate
competency in the proposed major. The student will work closely with a Scripps
academic adviser in at least one of the fields chosen for this special major in
order to plan the course of study. The proposal for this self-designed course of
study must include a description of the major and its learning objectives. It is to
be approved by a faculty member in each relevant field indicated by the list of
courses on an accompanying Junior Major Form. The proposal must be approved
by the Committee on Academic Review. The thesis will be read by two faculty
members in the appropriate fields including at least one from Scripps.

Up to two courses (including prerequisite courses) may double count towards each of
two majors (but not also a General Requirement). Students may exceed this double
counting limit if the total number of unduplicated courses on the approved Senior Major
Form for each major (excluding senior seminar and thesis) is at least six courses. (See
Double Counting Courses in this catalog.)
Majors are offered in fields in which the senior thesis can be supervised by a member of
the Scripps faculty. If the major is offered at Scripps or is an intercollegiate major in
which Scripps participates, the Scripps major requirements must be met and a Scripps
faculty member must serve as the major adviser. If a student wishes to major in a field
for which no provision is made at Scripps (for example, sociology), the student may
complete the major in part or entirely at one or more of the other Claremont Colleges,
and a faculty member of the off-campus college department must be the major adviser.
In this case the student must meet the specific requirements of the other colleges for
the major, to include at least eight courses, and also write a senior thesis. A Scripps
faculty member must serve as a thesis reader. Off-campus majors require the oncampus
adviser’s signature of approval plus the signature of the off-campus adviser in
the major field on the senior major form. All majors are subject to review by the dean of
the faculty and the Committee on Academic Review.
Honors in the Major
If an honors program in the major is offered at Scripps, the Scripps honors
requirements must be met. When the Scripps major does not offer honors, a student
may discuss with the department/program chair the possibility of creating an honors
program.
Off-Campus Majors
Scripps students may petition for honors in off-campus majors if that major offers
honors and the student meets both the off-campus honors requirements and the
Scripps minimum requirements for honors as follow:
• GPA requirement of 10.5 within the major (consisting of at least 8 major courses
plus thesis, excluding prerequisites); and
• An honors quality senior thesis with a grade of A or A– with a successful oral
defense to include at least one Scripps reader.
When the off-campus major has honors at one college and not at another, the student
should follow the program of the college that offers honors, but in unusual
circumstances may petition the Committee on Academic Review for an exception. In
both instances, the petition must include the minimum criteria required by the readers
(for example, additional or specific courses or minimum thesis length) and must be

acceptable both to the off-campus major adviser and reader(s) as well as the Scripps
adviser and reader(s).
Intercollegiate Programs
For intercollegiate programs where no honors major program has been defined in the
Scripps or another catalog, Scripps students may petition for honors in the major. The
minimum honors requirements will be as follow:
• GPA requirement of 10.5 within the major (consisting of at least 8 major courses
plus thesis, excluding prerequisites); and
• An honors quality thesis with a grade of A or A and a successful oral defense to
include at least one Scripps reader.
Self-Designed Major
In a self-designed major, it would be the decision of all faculty members involved in that
self-designed major to agree to an honors program and to determine the criteria for
honors provided the student meets the Scripps minimum requirements for honors as
follow:
• GPA requirement of 10.5 within the major (consisting of at least 8 major courses
plus thesis, excluding prerequisites); and
• An honors quality thesis with a grade of A or A– and a successful oral defense to
include at least one Scripps reader.
Minors
Scripps minor requirements must be met if the minor is offered at Scripps.
• Students planning to complete a minor are encouraged to declare the minor
formally at the end of the sophomore year. A completed form for declaring a
minor, including the approval of the student’s Scripps adviser and a professor in
the designated minor area of study, must be submitted to the registrar no later
than the deadline to add classes in the last semester of enrollment. Satisfactory
completion of a minor will be measured by passing grades in all required courses
with a minimum grade point average of 6.0 (C) or higher.
• Requirements for minors at Scripps College are defined by departments and are
listed in the catalog under the descriptions of the departmental programs. All
minors consist of a minimum of six semester courses or their equivalent. Up to
one course may double count between a major and a minor or between two
minors (but not also a major or General Requirement). Students may exceed this
double counting limit if the total number of unduplicated courses on the
approved declaration form for each minor is at least five courses. At least half of

the minor courses must be taken at Scripps, except where this regulation is
specifically waived.
• A few off-campus minors in disciplines not offered at Scripps are available at
Pitzer or Pomona Colleges. The requirements for the off-campus minor must be
met, but in all instances must consist of at least six semester courses or their
equivalent. The above double counting limits apply. The minor form must be
approved by the off-campus faculty minor adviser as well as the Scripps adviser
and major adviser.
• Students may petition to the Committee on Academic Review for a self-designed
minor, provided that the minor consists of at least six semester courses or their
equivalent. The student will work closely with a Scripps academic adviser in at
least one of the fields chosen for this special minor in order to plan the course of
study. This self-designed minor is to be approved by a faculty member in each
relevant field, Scripps adviser and major adviser(s), as well as by the Committee
on Academic Review.
Double Counting Courses
1. The Core may not double count to meet any other General Requirement.
2. No course may fulfill more than two requirements. Examples: Social Science plus
Race and Ethnic Studies; Social Science plus major. A course may meet only one
of the four Breadth of Study requirements (i.e., Fine Arts, Letters, Natural
Sciences, or Social Sciences).
3. A course used to demonstrate minimum language or mathematics competency
may be double counted toward major(s) and/or minor(s) under the conditions
outlined below.
4. Up to two courses (including prerequisite courses) may double count towards
each of two majors (but not also a General Requirement). Students may exceed
this double counting limit if the total number of unduplicated courses on the
approved Senior Major Form for each major (excluding senior seminar and thesis)
is at least six courses.
5. Up to one course (including prerequisites) may double count toward each of two
minors (but not also a General Requirement). Students may exceed this double
counting limit if the total number of unduplicated courses on the approved
declaration form for each minor is at least five courses.
6. Up to one course (including prerequisite courses) may double count between a
major and a minor (but not also a General Requirement). Students may exceed
the above double counting limits if the total number of unduplicated courses on
the approved Senior Major Form is at least six courses and the total number of
unduplicated courses on the approved minor declaration form is at least five
courses.

Residence Requirement for Graduation
A minimum of 16 courses, evidenced by a minimum of two years in regular, full-time
attendance, must be completed in residence at Scripps, including the final eight courses.
Affiliated off-campus study programs meet residence requirements. Normally, students
may enroll in an affiliated off-campus study program for a maximum of two semesters;
transfer students usually are allowed only one semester in an affiliated off-campus
study program. A petition for an exception to residence requirements will be considered
by the Committee on Academic Review.
Degree Completion and Commencement Participation
Students may participate in commencement exercises upon satisfactory completion of
all degree requirements as verified by the registrar. Satisfactory completion is
demonstrated by a minimum grade point average of 6.0 (C) in the major(s), minor(s),
and cumulatively and at least a C in WRIT 050. The cumulative grade point average is
calculated only on courses taken at The Claremont Colleges or on an affiliated offcampus
study program (study abroad) as a Scripps student. The grade point average in
the major(s) and minor(s) excludes grades received in courses prerequisite to the
major(s) or minor(s). Students are normally expected to complete degree requirements
published in the catalog and/or addendum of their first semester of enrollment.
Degrees are granted effective October 18 for students completing requirements over
the summer, effective January 20 for students completing requirements during the fall
semester, or effective in May at the end of the spring semester. Students completing
requirements the preceding October and January will be invited to participate in the
subsequent May commencement activities.