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Undergraduate Programs

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The Core Program for the B.E. and B.S. degree students

The College of Arts & Letters (CAL) offers a broad education in the liberal arts for every Stevens student. It provides a wide range of introductory and advanced courses in traditional disciplines - literature, history, philosophy, the social sciences, and the arts. As befits the history and mission of Stevens, the College of Arts & Letters seeks to encounter the traditional humanities, social sciences, and fine arts through the lens of science and technology. Study of the liberal and fine arts is aimed at the development of an open and inquiring mind and to prepare the Stevens student to confront today?s world to the fullest. This requires cultural and historical literacy, a knowledge and appreciation of the rich intellectual, social and artistic heritage of humanity, and a thoughtful examination of its ethical and aesthetic values. A liberal education of this nature also demands the ability to reason clearly and analytically, and to write effectively. Therefore, the program emphasizes the practical exercise and development of these logical and communication skills. Reflecting the traditional values of the liberal arts, the program is fully committed to the principle of free and unfettered intellectual inquiry.

 

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100-Level Distribution Requirements

Every student in every program must complete or receive transfer credit for four 100-level humanities courses before taking upper-level (300/400-level) electives to complete the requirements for their B.E. or B.S. degrees.
    
Two of these 100-level courses must be chosen from the following list of courses in Group A (Literature and Philosophy) and two from Group B (History/Social Sciences). All 100-level courses are designated as writing intensive and include  significant composition and oral communication requirements.

Group A: Literature/Philosophy

HUM 103 Freshman Writing and Communications I
HUM 104 Freshman Writing and Communications II
HPL 111 Philosophy I: Theories of Human Nature
HPL 112 Philosophy II: Knowledge, Reality, and Nature
HLI 105 Special Topics in Literature
HLI 113 Western Literature I
HLI 114 Western Literature II
HLI 115 English,  the Language of Ideas
HLI 116 English : Introduction to Literary Forms
HLI 117 American Literature I
HLI 118 American Literature II
HMU 192 (formerly 392) Music Appreciation I(3-0-3)
HMU 193 (formerly 393) Music Appreciation II(3-0-3)

Group B: History/Social Science

HUM 103 Freshman Writing and Communications I
HUM 104 Freshman Writing and Communications II
HUM 107 Modern Civilization and its Sources
HUM 108 Studies in History and Social Science
HSS 121 Cities and Civilization I
HSS 122 Cities and Civilization II
HHS 123 History of European Society and Culture to 1500
HHS 124 History of European Society and Culture Since 1500
HHS 125 United States Social and Economic History to 1900
HHS 126 United States Social and Economic History Since 1900
HSS 127 Political Science I
HSS 128 Political Science II
HHS 129 Topics in the History of Science and Technology
HHS 130 History of Science and Technology
HHS 135 Survey of the Islamic World
HSS 175 Fundamentals of Psychology I
HSS 176 Fundamentals of Psychology II
HAR 190 History of Art: Prehistory to the Modern Era
HAR 191 Modern Art History and Theory
HMU 101 Music History I
HMU 102 Music History II

Elective Courses

Upon completion of your 100-level humanities requirements, you will take 2-4 elective courses, depending on your program of study. (See below.) Not all 300/400-level courses offered in CAL will fulfill your general humanities requirements. Studio and ?skills? courses in Art and Music do not fulfill general humanities requirements, but may be taken as free electives in various programs. Please consult with your advisor or CAL faculty on fulfilling your general humanities requirements.

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The Minor Program

You can minor in the humanities or social sciences if you have a GPA of at least 2.00 and want to concentrate your studies in one of the following five fields: literature, philosophy, history, social science, gender and cultural studies, pre-law and public policy, music and technology, or art. Students who complete the minor receive a certificate upon graduation.

The minor requires a total of nine humanities courses. You must satisfy the requirements of the core humanities program for your degree and the following distribution and GPA requirements: five of the courses must be 300/400-level and five must be in the field of concentration; you must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 in the field of concentration; and the nine courses must cover three of the five fields of humanities or social sciences at Stevens.

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Writing and Communications

Proficiency in written English is a graduation requirement of all undergraduates. Evaluation of entering students takes place early in the first semester. Every 100-level humanities course incorporates substantial writing and oral communication components. Every upper-level (300/400-level) elective course likewise involves oral and written requirements. The College of Arts and Letters offers the resources of a Writing and Communications Center to help perfect students? skills.  Students are encouraged to take advantage of the various activities of the Center as much as possible especially when encountering difficulties with writing and communication assignments.  Students who would like a more foundational approach to writing and communication skills would benefit from taking HUM 103 and/or HUM 104, Freshman Writing and Communications I and II.   All students must pass the Stevens English Competence Exam (SECE) in order to graduate.

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Advanced Placement and Transfer Credit

Working with CAL faculty, the Office of Admissions evaluates AP and transfer credit for incoming students. After that, Stevens students are allowed to transfer credits for two lower- or upper-level humanities courses. Courses for transfer credit must be generally the equivalent of courses at Stevens, including notably requirements for written and oral communication. Credits for courses taken at community colleges will only be given for 100-level courses. You should get approval from an advisor in CAL before taking a course elsewhere for transfer credit. There is no transfer credit given for online courses

Requirements for Engineering and Science Students

If you are enrolled in the science program, the required core consists of eight courses: four 100-level courses during the freshman and sophomore years and four 300/400-level courses during the junior and senior years. Of the four 100-level courses, two must be in Group A (literature or philosophy) and two in Group B (history or social science). Students in the engineering program are required to take a minimum of six courses including the four 100-level courses described for science students, with two from Group A and two from Group B. Engineering students have three general education course slots in junior and senior years that can be used for additional 300/400-level courses as desired.

Requirements for Business and Technology Students

Since you are enrolled in a lock-step program, you must adhere to the required sequence of courses (see Business and Technology undergraduate program in this catalog), which includes two courses in Group A (literature or philosophy) and two in Group B (history or social science), as well as one humanities elective.

Cross-Registration with New York University

You may take courses in the College of Arts and Sciences at New York University through a special cross-registration program at no charge. To have the course count towards a Stevens degree, you must be enrolled full-time in a regular Stevens degree program. Please direct any questions to the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Academics at Stevens, (201) 216-5228.

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The Single B.A. Degree Program

Stevens offers a distinctive B.A. degree program in the humanities. You can earn a liberal arts degree in one of  fields of the humanities - English and American literature, history, philosophy, science and technology studies, in Art and Technology, in Music and Technologyor an interdisciplinary program of study.  Study towards the B.A. degree requires a secondary concentration in the sciences, including computer science, management, pre-medicine, or another humanities, arts, or social science subject. Thus, in addition to pursuing studies in one of the autonomous humanistic disciplines, you can also achieve a significant competence in a scientific, technological, or professional field. This degree program serves as a bridge between the two cultures - the literary-humanistic and the scientific-technological - and prepares you upon graduation, in a unique way, for a variety of careers. If you want to pursue an advanced degree, the program serves as preparation for graduate level work in the major field, for professional programs in law, medicine, or management, and for work in various hot industries.

In the first two years, you study the broad core that includes various sequences chosen among literature, history, philosophy, and social sciences, together with courses in computing, mathematics, and the sciences. During the first and second years you complete eight courses, four each in Groups A and B, including two courses in the major field of concentration. During this time, you also identify two areas of concentration. The major concentration must be in one of the humanistic fields.

For a secondary concentration you may build on the basic courses in computing, mathematics, and science, and draw on the resources and courses available in other departments at Stevens. Secondary concentration programs have been prepared in computer science, economics, management, mathematics, physics, and environmental engineering, as well as programs suitable for pre-law and pre-medical studies. Or you may complete a minor in a second field of study offered by CAL.

During the last two years you complete eight 300/400-level courses in the major field, a Seminar in Writing and Research Methods, and a Senior Thesis. This amounts to a total of ten courses in the major field. A Senior Thesis is required as a culmination of the major concentration. While a limited number of electives are designated for the secondary concentration, the open electives can be utilized if greater depth is desired in the field. The formal requirements for the humanities program are listed in the following semester-by-semester schedule, including the Notes.

There are varying distribution requirements for the various majors, depending on the field of concentration. They are as follows:

  • Literature. Required: two courses in pre-1798 English literature, one of which must be an intensive introduction to Chaucer or Shakespeare; two courses in post-1798 English literature; two courses in American literature; and Senior Thesis (498). The other three courses are 300/400-level literature courses and are selected in consultation with your advisor. Recommended: a genre course; a course in literary or linguistic theory; a foreign language course (especially for future graduate work); and courses in fields related to the major, including philosophy, history, art, and music.
  • History. Required: one year of a freshman/sophomore history sequence: History of European Society and Culture I & II (123, 124), United States Social and Economic History I & II (125, 126), or History of Science I & II (129, 130); at least one course in American, European, or History of Science; Seminar in Writing and Research Methods (HHS o HUM301); Senior Thesis (498); and electives from among the history concentration (American, European, History of Science, and World), selected in consultation with your faculty advisor.
  • Philosophy. Required: Philosophy I: Theories of Human Nature (111) and Philosophy II: Knowledge, Reality, and Nature (112); Ethics (339), Social and Political Philosophy (340), or Aesthetics (348); Philosophy of Science (368) or Logic (442); Theories of Knowledge and Reality (347), Philosophy of Language (443), or Philosophy of Mind (444); and Senior Thesis (498). The other four are 300/400-level philosophy courses selected in consultation with your advisor.
  • Art and Technology - See web page for details.
  • Music and Technology - See web page for details.
  • Science and Technology Studies
    • HPL 368 Philosophy of Science
    • HPL 369 Science and Religion
    • HPL 370 Philosophy of Technology
    • HPL 455 Ethical Issues in Science and Technology
    • HUM 315 Great Works of Science and Technology I
    • HUM 316 Great Works of Science and Technology II
  • Individualized Major

Additional Requirements:
You are required to take a variety of other courses, including two in mathematics, two in science (non-laboratories), one in Writing and Research Methods (HUM 301), five courses as a secondary concentration, and ten courses at any level and in any field. The formal requirements for the humanities program are listed in the following semester-by-semester schedule, including the Notes.

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The B.A. Double Degree Program

In the double degree program you can earn a B.A. degree in humanities/social science while also obtaining a B.E. or B.S. degree.  You may complete the double degree in four years at no additional cost by maintaining a 2.80 GPA and taking two humanities or social science courses each semester, for a total of sixteen courses. See the section entitled "Academic Procedures" in this catalog for more information.

You may also complete the additional requirements within four years by taking summer or transfer courses. Many double degree students are co-op students or in accelerated programs. The double degree program is designed for students who are academically strong.

You must complete the sequence and major concentration requirements for the single degree B.A. program, including the senior thesis. Most students complete the program by taking two humanities or social science courses each semester.

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History Curriculum

Philosophy Curriculum

Social Sciences Curriculum

Literature & Communications Curriculum

Art and Technology Curriculum

Music and Technology Curriculum

Undergraduate Courses

Graduate Courses

On This Page

The Core Program for the B.E. and B.S. degree students

100-Level Distribution Requirements

Minor Program

Writing Program

Advanced Placement and Transfer Credit

Requirements for Engineering and Science Students

Requirements for Computer Science Students

Requirements for Business and Technology Students

Cross-Registration with NYU

The B.A. Single Degree Program

The B.A. Double Degree Program

 

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