Degrees and Curriculum Requirements

The Traditional Undergraduate Program offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of Fine Arts. For each of these degrees there are core and general education requirements, specific major requirements and other requirements, as detailed below:

The College’s General Education Program

Albertus Magnus College is committed to providing a liberal arts education that promotes the pursuit of truth in all its dimensions. We seek to provide an education that helps students develop the skills and knowledge necessary for ongoing insight into the self and the world, and that prepares them for leading a life that is personally and professionally fulfilling and socially responsible. The College recognizes the importance of cultivating core competencies and knowledge if students are to meet the challenges and opportunities that they will encounter in the contemporary world—including the challenges of being of service to self and others, and for living a well-lived life.

Because it is an institution of higher learning in the Dominican tradition, dedicated to nurturing the life of the mind and promoting the pursuit of truth, Albertus embraces as a fundamental goal partnership with students in pursuit of this developmental project.

The Insight Program seeks to realize potential for human flourishing through an intentional and interactive course of study rooted in the concept of the “arts that liberate”. It explores human beings’ relation to the world and affords a context in which students may discover how to make meaningful contributions in public life and in a chosen career. Offering the foundation for a life marked by ongoing insight into the human condition, the program promotes the liberation of mind and heart. Through successful completion of the program, students will:

Demonstrate the ability to meet College benchmarks in core skills, including:
written and oral communication
reading comprehension
information literacy
Demonstrate the ability to meet College benchmarks in critical thinking, including:
interpretation
analysis
evaluation
Demonstrate the capacity for creative thinking
Demonstrate the ability to apply effectively the methods and insights of the following disciplines to an understanding of the world:
fine arts
literature
mathematics
natural science
philosophy
religious studies
history
social science
Demonstrate an ability to formulate ethical questions and engage in moral decision making at the individual and societal level.

Through participation in the Program, students can build a thinking framework that will support them throughout their lives as they discover goals they want to pursue and set a course for realizing them.

The foundation for the Program is the first year, the heart of which is a two semesterlong, interdisciplinary Seminar that explores the question, “How does the human being fit into the universe?” This Seminar invites the student’s engagement with the story science and scholarship reveal about the evolution of the cosmos, of life, of the human species, of human society, and of human consciousness. In learning “everybody’s story,” the students will discover the fundamental oneness of humanity with all of life and with the stuff of the cosmos itself, and will gain the perspective of “Big History” on the trajectory of human society from the earliest tiny bands to an immense interconnected planetary population. The seminar will ask the student to address the major benefits and challenges that will confront college graduates in a globalized world. In general, the students will be given the opportunity to demonstrate skill at the craft of organizing a large, complex body of information into a variety of formats as they are introduced to the ways various disciplines seek to understand the world and define and solve problems. The atmosphere of the Seminar encourages close collaboration and good-spirited debate that stimulates critical engagement with multiple perspectives. The seminar both encourages and stimulates a sense of wonder at the interlinked stories of the cosmos and the human being.

In addition to the First Year Seminar, designated courses (A Courses) are designed to build the competencies necessary to succeed in the Insight Program and in the student’s major, and, ultimately, to flourish in personal and professional life.

During the sophomore and junior years, students work closely with a faculty advisor to build an individualized course of study, choosing from a variety of designated courses that fall into two broad categories:

(1) B Courses: Courses that introduce and model how different academic disciplines offer distinctive approaches for gaining insight into the world and which examine the role that culture plays in informing one’s understanding of self, society, and the world. (This category consists of courses in Literature, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, and the Social Sciences);
(2) C Courses: Courses that undertake an interdisciplinary or cross-cultural study for deepening students’ capacities for responsive and responsible dialogue in a pluralistic society. (This category consists of selected courses that draw upon a variety of different disciplines and perspectives.)

The Insight Program culminates in the senior year with the Senior Humanities Seminar, an interdisciplinary capstone Seminar in which students engage in critical reflection and informed dialogue on the question of what it means to flourish as a human being in the contemporary world. It builds upon questions addressed in the first-year Seminar and provides a forum in which to employ the intellectual and cultural competencies developed in the program

The Insight Program thus consists of a set of selected courses and a range of designated electives. This combination assures that students will meet the objectives of the core while enabling them to pursue individual interests in various fields. The Program is structured as follows:

The First Year Program: Laying the Foundations for Insight

The First Year Humanities Seminar Invitation to Insight (6 credits)
Written Expression (6 credits)

A Courses: Designated Courses in Each of the Following:

Art, Communications, or Music (3 credits)
Mathematics (3 credits)
Natural Sciences (3 credits)

Sophomore and Junior Years: Assembling Disciplinary Expertise and Amassing Cultural Insight

B Courses: Designated Courses in Each of the Following:

Literature (3 credits)
History (3 credits)
Philosophy (3 credits)
Religious Studies (3 credits)
Social Sciences (3 credits)

Junior and Senior Years: Making Room for Others and Acquiring Insight through Dialogue

C Courses: Three 3-credit designated courses in three different disciplines

Senior Year: What It Means to Inhabit the World Today, to Flourish as a Human Being in Service to Self and Others

Senior Humanities Seminar

Other College Requirements

In addition to completing general education requirements in the Insight Program and major requirements, all students seeking a bachelor degree in the Undergraduate Program in the semester format at Albertus Magnus College must complete the following College Requirements:

First Year Requirement (1 credit)

Introduction to College Life

Transfer Requirement (1 credit)

Transfer Professional Development Seminar

Second Year Requirement (1 credit)

Professional Devlopment Seminar

College Languages and Cultures Requirement (6 credits)

Because the College recognizes that an understanding of languages and cultures enriches the student’s life and enhances career opportunities in an increasingly international world, the College has a languages and cultures requirement that may be satisfied in one of five ways:

Successfully completing three years of the same foreign language at the high school level;
Passing an examination demonstrating intermediate proficiency administered by the Department of Languages and Cultures;
Taking two semesters of a new foreign language at the college level;
Completing two courses offering various international cultural studies opportunities;
Continuing with two college semesters of a foreign language taken in high school for two years in Spanish, Italian, or Sign Language and concentrating on the practical, conversational aspects of that language.

“W” Course Requirements

The comprehensive Writing Program at Albertus Magnus College embraces the philosophy that writing facilitates learning and that writing is a craft demanding practice in multiple disciplines. Consequently, the significance of effective writing is emphasized across the curriculum, and students are required to complete a minimum of five writing intensives (“W”) classes during the course of their tenure at the College. Beginning with two semesters of Written Expressions I and II (“W”), students subsequently select two General Education courses (“W”) in the sophomore and junior year, followed by one “W” course in the major field. While writing intensive courses may vary in the number of writing/research projects assigned, all require that “W” students complete fifteen pages of polished writing and visit the Writing Center to consult with a Writing Associate about a drafted written assignment. Writing Associates are student peers who are thoroughly trained to offer individual consultations on prewriting, editing, and rewriting techniques across disciplines. They work closely with student writers, providing supplemental writing instruction throughout the writing and revision process.

Courses included in the Elective Core are selected by the relevant academic departments.

Requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree

The A.A. degree in Liberal Studies requires the successful completion of at least 60 credits of coursework, a minimum of 21 of which must be taken as a matriculating student at Albertus Magnus College. These 21 credits must be the last credits toward the degree. A matriculating student may earn the A.A. degree by completing 60 college credits as follows: 30 by fulfilling basic college requirements, 15 in a given discipline, and 15 in electives in other liberal arts courses. A general average of C (2.0) must be achieved in all work attempted at Albertus Magnus College.

Basic College Requirements (30 credits)

Written Expression I (3 credits)
Literature (3 credits)
Philosophy (3 credits)
Religious Studies (3 credits)
Social Sciences (3 credits)
Mathematics or Science (3 credits)
Three courses chosen from Business Administration and Management, Communications, English, Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, History, Literature, Mathematics, Science, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology (9 credits)

15 credits in a given discipline

III. 15 credits in electives in other liberal arts courses

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science Degree

The B.A. or B.S. degree requires the successful completion of at least 120 credits, including at least 60 credits in courses outside the major and its required correlatives. These 120 credits include general education requirements, college requirements and requirements for the major.

Candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science at Albertus Magnus College must fulfill the following requirements:

Pass the required core curriculum and general education courses as outlined above.
Complete the field of concentration with its major subject and correlatives.
Maintain a general average of C (2.0) in all work attempted at Albertus Magnus College as well as a C average in the major and minor.
Complete a minimum of 30 credits as a matriculating student at Albertus Magnus College. Matriculated students must complete their final 15 credits at Albertus Magnus College.
Complete at least 120 credits in course work, including 60 credits in courses outside the major and its required correlatives.

Major Department Requirement

No more than 45 credits are required for any major field offering a B.A. degree and no more than 60 credits for any major field offering a B.S. degree, including courses in the major department and required correlatives. A student must earn at least 12 credits toward the major in upper level courses (300 level) at Albertus Magnus College.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Art Major)

The B.F.A. degree offers a combination of liberal studies and professional art training. Although requirements for individual fields such as Graphic Design, Fine Arts, and Photography vary, a matriculating student may earn the B.F.A. degree by completing 127 credits. In addition to the General Education and General College Requirements outlined above, the student must take 12 credits in Art History and 60 credits in Studio Art.

Majors, Concentrations and Specializations

Albertus Magnus College reserves the right not to offer a particular major and/or concentration for which there is insufficient demand.

Albertus Magnus College offers the following majors, concentrations and specializations. A detailed description of each may be found below:

Programs of Study

Cyber Security

Cyber Security

Finance

Health Care Management

Sport Management

Supply Chain Management

Interdisciplinary Majors

Art Management

Digital Media Studies

General Studies

Global Studies

Interdisciplinary Studies

Correlatives for one major can be used as part of a minor or a second major. For a double major, the student must satisfy one set of College requirements and the requirements for each of the majors.

The Honors Program

Admission into the Honors Program as a first-year student is by invitation, based on a review of all application materials. Full-time students at the College who are not initially admitted to the program can become eligible to join after their first semester by securing a 3.5 cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.). While in the Honors Program, students engage in experiential opportunities and take on leadership roles, both on and off campus. Students not only achieve academic excellence, but embody all four of the Dominican Pillars - Study, Prayer, Community, and Service.

The Aquinas Scholars Program

Overview

Aquinas Scholars Program Description: Created to promote the habits of mind and foster the skills
necessary to pursue the truth in all of its dimensions, the Aquinas Scholars Program enables highly
motivated, self-directed students in all disciplines to pursue self-designed projects as part of their college
curriculum. The Program provides a unique opportunity for students to pursue their intellectual passions
and exercise initiative in the context of a vibrant, supportive learning community. The program’s
interdisciplinary design enables students to work with faculty from multiple departments while pursuing
their self-designed projects. In the spirit of Thomas Aquinas, the Aquinas Scholars Program emphasizes
the pursuit of knowledge and intellectual passions with the ultimate aim of contributing to society. To
this end, student projects will contribute to Albertus Magnus College’s learning community by raising
awareness or sharing knowledge on a particular topic, advocating for particular positions or interventions,
and/or offering new ideas and avenues to addressing existing issues. Students who successfully complete the program will be uniquely qualified to undertake advanced study in their chosen fields. The program requires a minimum of 8 credits- which includes two courses taken over the course of one academic year. However, interested students are encouraged to continue for subsequent semesters.

Course Description

Overview:
Each year of Aquinas Scholars Program consists of two parts. Part I broadly focuses on identifying and
refining a project topic that will be the focus of the first semester and during Part 2 the following
semester. Projects should focus on topics that will not only enrich the student’s own comprehension of the
subject matter but will allow the student to impart knowledge to peers, the Albertus learning community,
and/or society at large. This may include topics that enable the student to contribute to the community’s
learning by raising awareness or offering a new perspective on important issues or topics, advocating for
particular policies or programs, providing education/sharing knowledge on a particular topic or area of
interest, and/or offering potential new ideas to addressing existing issues. Students will develop an
interdisciplinary topic and will identify a faculty member within each discipline to serve as their subject
advisor. The course instructor and subject advisor will work together to support the student in refining the
topics, locating and deconstructing articles, and crafting final projects each semester.
In addition to each student’s focus on his/her project, this program enhances each student’s engagement in the liberal arts and advances their understanding of how the liberal arts influence our society. This
additional aim is accomplished through independent and group trips to a variety of cultural, literary, and
historical events and locations in New Haven and surrounding communities. These events also help
strengthen the learning community. All students will provide support and guidance to one another
throughout the program.

Part 1:
In Part 1 students will identify a topic and conduct a literature search to gain a deep understanding of the
subject matter and its relevance to today’s society. During Part 1, students will learn how to: 1) identify a
compelling topic, 2) articulate the importance of their chosen topic, 3) conduct a literature search, 4) read,
summarize, and critique peer-reviewed journal articles, and 5) write a project significance paper to justify
the project’s merits.

Part 2:
In Part 2, students will use their findings from the annotated bibliography to organize and develop a
comprehensive paper on their topic that raises awareness on an issue, advocates for a particular policy,
intervention, or program, and/or proposes a novel idea or program to address the issue. During Part 2
students will learn how to : 1) formulate a strong and objective argument, 2) write a formal research paper
that adheres to MLA/APA, 3) create and organize a formal presentation of their work, 4) organize and
promote a small research symposium and/or present at Experiential Learning Day to showcase their
learning community’s work, and 5) articulate the skills that they gained from the program and its
relevance to their future careers.

Program Participation Criteria

To enter the program, students must:

Be nominated by a faculty member (students who wish to participate are encouraged to
seek nomination);
Submit a brief letter (1-2 pages) addressed to the Aquinas Scholars Program Director
outlining reasons for wanting to participate in the program, academic goals, and discussion
of why the candidate believes that he or she is suited for the program.
Interview with the Aquinas Scholars Program Director

To continue in the program, students must:

Successfully complete the requirements outlined each semester

Maintain a 3.2 G.P.A.

To complete the program successfully, students must:

Successfully earn the 8 course credits (two semesters)

Learning Outside the Classroom

Practica and Internships

Discover what it’s really like to work in the field, occupation or profession of your dreams. An academic practicum or internship can show you what your future career might hold — while you still have time to decide if you’re on the best path.

Practical, hands-on experiences in the workplace as part of your academic courses can change your life. You’ll learn what’s expected of you as a working professional while you immerse yourself in the excitement of your chosen field.

Practicum provides students with an opportunity to observe experts in a given field, introducing them to the practical applications of subject matter encountered through coursework. Designed as an initial experience for students, practicum may carry from 1 to 3 credit hours. Some departments require hands-on experience as part of the internship.

Internships offer students who have completed significant coursework in their chosen majors with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field under the supervision of an on-site professional. The purpose of internships is to enable students to draw intellectual connections between what they have learned in coursework and what they learn on the internship site, which they make explicit through a final project incorporating both academic work and insights gained through the internship experience. Internships can be designed such that they carry from 3 to 9 credit hours.

Independent Study

Independent study affords a highly motivated and sufficiently prepared honors student the opportunity to undertake research or to do a research project in an area not covered by course work. It is not a way of making up credits. The project should make a positive contribution to the student’s program, scholarly development and intellectual maturity. To be eligible, the student must be in good academic standing (not “Academic Review” status) and must have sufficient background to undertake the work. The independent study should not take the form of a tutorial. Refer to the Student Handbook for details.

Study Abroad

The Office of Career & Professional Development will provide assistance to students who wish to spend time studying abroad in any one of a number of approved American-college-sponsored programs. Credits received in these programs are transferable to Albertus. All students are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities for foreign study and travel. Language majors find residence in the country of the major particularly rewarding.

Planning for the program should begin at least one semester in advance of the student’s departure for foreign study. The Office of the Registrar must be notified.