JUNE ADVISING What is June Advising? June Advising takes place during five days set aside for incoming first-year students and their families to get to know the Lehigh Valley, the Muhlenberg campus and faculty, and future classmates and friends. You will begin the day of your visit at 8:15 a.m. in the Baker Center for the Arts with Registration at our Coffee and Danish Reception. At 9:00 a.m. President Peyton Helm, Provost John Ramsay, Dean Christopher Hooker-Haring, and Dean Michael Huber will officially welcome you to the Muhlenberg community. Immediately after, you and your parents will attend a session entitled Adjusting to College Academics: A Conversation Among Faculty, Students, Parents, and the Dean. Panelists will be Dr. Michael Huber, Dean of Academic Life; faculty members; and a student advisor. This student will share personal experiences and advice about the successful transition to college academics and campus life. At 10:40 a.m. you will attend What’s the AIC? Where’s the TP? Who’s Shuttle Steve? Student-led discussion. If you have not already taken the online foreign language placement exam, you will be scheduled to take a foreign language placement exam on campus during this program. Please make sure you complete your mathematics and foreign language placement questionnaires and exams online at www.muhlenberg.edu/placement by May 19, 2013. While you are attending What’s the AIC? Where’s the TP? Who’s Shuttle Steve? Student-led discussion or taking your language placement exam, we invite your parents to attend Parenting College Freshmen: Consulting for Adulthood presented by Dr. Linda Bips, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Licensed Psychologist, at 10:40 a.m. At 11:45 a.m. you will meet your parents for lunch and the Academic Fair in Seegers Union. After lunch, you will meet with a faculty advisor for a 30-minute session. The exact time of your advising session will be given to you at registration. Your advisor will be assigned by your indicated area(s) of interest(s) (e.g. Pre-health, History, Undecided). Guided by your interests, your academic record, and your placement test results, this advisor will help you plan your fall schedule. This is the central reason for your visit. While you are attending your advising session, we invite your parents to attend Campus Life – Getting Started presented by the Dean of Students Office. The advising session is for you. Parents are NOT ALLOWED in the advising session. During the afternoon of your advising day, President Helm invites you and your parents to his home for a welcoming reception. As an important part of Muhlenberg tradition, you will sign the Class of 2017 Matriculation Ledger at the President’s home. For hotel and restaurant information, please visit our website www.muhlenberg.edu, keywords “hotel” and “restaurant”. Must I attend? What if I cannot come on my appointed day? If possible, you must attend one of the five advising days. Your scheduled day appears on the return postcard, located on the cover of this book. If attendance on your scheduled day is impossible, call the Dean's Office at 484-664-3130 before May 18, 2013, to change your session to one of the other four days. In rare circumstances, phone advising can be arranged. Any student advised by phone will have additional responsibilities when s/he arrives in the fall. 1 Why must I attend? The exciting transition to college can bring some anxiety and involves lots of questions and concerns. June Advising is an excellent opportunity for you and your family to become better acquainted with Muhlenberg, thereby answering many of your questions. You will also begin to make lifelong friends. Perhaps the most important task you will accomplish during June Advising is to meet with a faculty advisor to plan your fall schedule. This is an all-important first step in your transition to College. What should I do to prepare for my advising day? 1. Return the postcard from the front cover before May 18, 2013 to confirm your appointment or call the office at 484-664-3130 to reschedule your day if necessary. Highlight that day on your calendar and call the office immediately should any conflicts arise. 2. Look over the list of fall semester courses that are available to first-year students. You can find further course descriptions in our catalog at www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/catalog. 3. Examine the form and website for First-Year Seminars. First-year students are required to roster one First-Year Seminar, either in the fall or the spring semester. Carefully read each description and choose eight seminars. Rank them in order of your preference on the First-Year Seminar Registration Form by assigning them numbers one through eight. Make sure that you would be comfortable taking all of your eight selected seminars. (If you are a Muhlenberg Scholar, DANA Scholar or RJ Fellow, you will be pre-assigned to an appropriately designated First-Year Seminar. 4. The Muhlenberg College faculty have made some changes to the General Academic Requirements beginning in Fall 2013. While many of the course requirements are the same, additional opportunities and connections are being developed. While the requirements listed in the 2012-2013 catalog have been changed, you may familiarize yourself with the requirements on the handout which has been included in your packet. Taking a course that fulfills a requirement is a great idea. You are not only completing a graduation requirement but also gaining insight into which topics you might like to pursue even further. Note: If you have taken a College Board Achievement Test, Advanced Placement Test or International Baccalaureate exam or believe that you can demonstrate the required level of your proficiency in a subject area, see “Exemptions from Requirements” on page 9. If you have any questions about proficiency level, please contact the department chair by calling 484-664-3100 or talk with a representative from the department during June Advising. Possible exemptions and/or credit may be granted. 5. Build a tentative fall schedule. Pick four preferred courses (including a first-year seminar and a foreign language) and three alternate courses from the list of those available to incoming students included in your packet. Write these selections down and bring them with you to your advising session. The College suggests that incoming students take four courses during their first semester. However, you may register for a maximum of four and a half course units to include special experiences like Applied Music or Dance which are half units. Be certain to choose some alternate courses in the event that your first choices are unavailable. First-year students may not roster more that 4.5 units in the first semester and all students must have at least 3.0 units to be considered fulltime students and live in campus housing. Please note that Pre-Health students should choose BIO 150: Principles of Biology I: Organisms & Populations and either CHM 103: General Chemistry I or CHM 100: Introductory Chemistry as two of your courses. If your Math SAT≥600 or ACT≥27 and you are a Pre-Health student, you should take CHM 103: General Chemistry I. If your Math SAT<600 or ACT<27, we recommend that you take CHM 100: Introductory Chemistry in the Fall semester, and then take CHM 103: General Chemistry I in the Spring semester, noting that you will need to take CHM 104: General Chemistry II in the summer after your first year. 2 Be sure to let your advisor know if you are already admitted to or interested in any of the cooperative/combined programs, including the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine 3/4 Program, Jefferson PT and OT, Drexel University School of Medicine 4/4, State University of New York (SUNY) Optometry. For more information, please consult the Catalog. 6. Carefully review the checklist on the front cover of this book. Make certain that you complete the online mathematics and foreign language placement questionnaires and exams by May 19, 2013, make the necessary calls, complete the necessary paperwork, send or bring the necessary forms, and bring the necessary materials to your advising day. Don't forget the schedule you propose and a pen. 7. If you have several AP credits and/or are transferring in five or more courses and anticipate graduating in 3 years or less, your June Advisor will be Dean Huber. Please contact Ms. Lori Flatto at 484-664-3130 before May 31 to advise her of your situation. 8. Relax and enjoy your day! How do I know if I'm selecting the proper courses? Right now, you need only select courses that interest you. When you come to June Advising, even if you are only slightly interested in a possible major, be sure to tell your advisor. Certain programs (i.e. education, pre-health professions) require careful advising to assure proper scheduling for the first and subsequent semesters. If no one subject area interests you more than another, think about taking a few of the General Academic Requirements. Remember, a liberal arts education is often best approached with a desire for exploration. Come to your session with a passion for learning. Your advisor will use the results of your Mathematics and Foreign Language Placement Exams to help determine your appropriate levels in mathematics and foreign language. (See section on "Placement Testing in Math and Foreign Language" on pages 6-7 of this book.) However, if you believe that the suggested level is inappropriate, express your concern to your advisor who may wish to discuss this with the appropriate department chair. In subjects other than mathematics and foreign language, you will be placed in the introductory level unless you are extremely proficient (advanced levels of History or English, for example, if you've done well on the A.P. or I.B. exams). If this is the case, be sure to tell your advisor. Will my June advisor be my permanent advisor? Although some June advisors also advise during the academic year, the most probable answer to this question is no. When you arrive in the fall, you will have an advisor assigned according to your scheduled first-year seminar, not according to who advised you in June. The advisor assigned to your first-year seminar will be your advisor until you declare a major. Since you do not have to declare a major until your sophomore year, you may meet with this advisor to plan your schedule for up to three additional semesters. If problems should arise any time prior to declaring a major, please call Dr. Michael Huber, Dean of Academic Life, at 484664-3130 to discuss the situation and possible solutions. 3 What if I am going to take or have already taken college courses? Some first year students take college courses elsewhere before beginning at Muhlenberg. These courses may frequently be transferred toward their degree at Muhlenberg. To seek this credit, students must submit an official college transcript, course description, and in some cases, other course materials. The Office of the Registrar, working with the appropriate Department Chair, will evaluate the coursework. Below is some important information to get you started. Additional details and appropriate paperwork may be obtained at the Office of the Registrar on the ground floor of the Haas College Center and on the Registrar’s web page (www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/registrar). Discuss the course(s) with your advisor during the summer advising period. On the initial registration worksheet in June there is an area to indicate whether you took college level work. At the end of June the Registrar’s Office will send a detailed letter to students who indicated their previous work, informing them of what to send to the Registrar’s Office for course transfer. You will be asked to submit the following materials to the Registrar’s Office before August 1: An official college transcript issued by an accredited college or university and the catalog course description. Departments may, at their discretion, request additional course materials for review. Should the course(s) be accepted for transfer, an advanced standing form will be completed detailing the course equivalent. All materials should be sent to Muhlenberg College, Office of the Registrar, 2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18104. If you receive any type of financial aid at Muhlenberg, you must also forward a financial aid transcript. Failure to do so may jeopardize your aid in the future. Please direct financial aid transcripts to Muhlenberg College, Office of Financial Aid, 2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18104. More information you should know: No more than 17 transferred course units may contribute to the 34 course units required to earn a bachelor's degree at Muhlenberg. The College will accept no more than 4 course units for summer work. Only courses for which you have earned a "C-" or better will be considered for transfer to Muhlenberg. Courses in which you do not earn a traditional letter grade (A-F) will only be considered for transfer if additional documentation detailing successful completion is provided. Grades earned in transferred courses will not be included in your general Muhlenberg grade point average. Many institutions may not use a course unit system similar to Muhlenberg's. Credit Hour to Course Unit Conversion Credit Hours Elsewhere Muhlenberg Course Unit 3, 4, or 5 1 2 .5 4 THE FIRST YEAR The Academic Program The first year of college is a time of adjustment to new ways of living and learning. The courses you select and your day-to-day effort will form the groundwork for the rest of your college education. To guide you in building a strong foundation, the faculty has set the General Academic Requirements, which form both the core and the basis of your liberal arts and sciences education. During the first year, you will be challenged to become an effective writer, speaker and thinker. Excellence in these areas is essential to success in your academic career and beyond. The College requires that you successfully complete a First-Year Seminar in order to enhance your writing and critical thinking skills. Within your first two years, the College expects you to acquire a working knowledge of a foreign language, not only because we live in a global community but because language study is a valuable discipline in itself. The College also invites you to venture into previously unexplored areas and to begin considering which major you might wish to pursue. At the same time, you will gain new perspectives on the fields of inquiry in the liberal arts and sciences by exploring requirements in the various distribution areas, Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences, during your first year. All of us at the College desire a rewarding academic experience for you. Certainly, academic success is important in all students' satisfaction with the College experience. The College endeavors to help you plan your academic program and will provide as much guidance as needed. In the end, however, you will be responsible for making your own choices. You are, moreover, responsible for making choices that will lead you to a timely completion of your degree. First-Year Advising: A Partnership Between Student and Professor Academic advisors who serve in June and during the academic year are regular members of the Muhlenberg faculty and are aware of the importance of advising in the academic life of the student. They receive special training and are fully apprised of College policies, procedures, and programs. Advisors keep regular office hours, are able to make suggestions and referrals, and are available just to talk things over with you. However, since the College Catalog stipulates that final responsibility for meeting all requirements rests with you and since you are in charge of your own academic program, as an advisee you have an equal role in the Advising Partnership. Advisors expect you to: 1. Seek them out during office hours or make an appointment for a meeting at another time. 2. Come prepared by thinking through goals and identifying your concerns ahead of time. 3. Acquire a working knowledge of academic requirements and policies by familiarizing yourself with official resource materials such as the Catalog and this Guide. 4. Make your own choices and accept responsibility for them. 5. Be assertive in discussing courses, plans and options. Ask questions. Advisors for the full academic year are generally responsible for a group of about fifteen first-year students whom they advise until the time of major declaration in the sophomore year. 5 First-Year Seminars What are first-year seminars? First-Year Seminars are small, discussion-oriented courses that introduce students to what it means to think deeply, to talk, read and write critically about ideas. Required of all first-year students, First-Year Seminars provide the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member and to read and write about a topic in depth. Taught by faculty from departments throughout the College, seminars vary in subject. Some examine a topic from an interdisciplinary perspective; others focus on particular issues within a discipline. What all First-Year Seminars share is an emphasis on writing and thinking critically about the values and assumptions underlying various approaches to knowledge. All First-Year Seminars are designated writing-intensive, and therefore, require frequent writing and reading. Seminars teach students how to formulate a thesis and develop an argument or an interpretation. In addition, students learn how to collect, evaluate and cite evidence that supports and qualifies a thesis. With the help of professor’s comments on preliminary drafts, students also learn how to revise their work. What distinguishes First-Year Seminars from other courses at Muhlenberg? First-Year Seminars are limited in size to fifteen. This small size creates a community of inquiry where participants share ideas. Often the professor serves as the academic advisor to the seminar participants. This arrangement enhances the effectiveness of the advising process and helps ease the transition to college life. In addition, First-Year Seminars are assigned a writing assistant, a trained writing tutor who assists first-year students with their writing, reading and critical thinking skills. Writing assistants (WAs) are highly motivated Muhlenberg students; all are skilled writers. They attend seminar classes and arrange one-on-one and small group conferences with students. Because WAs and professors work together closely, these peers provide first-year students with a writing specialist who understands the course material and the expectations of the seminar. If you have questions, please contact Dr. David Rosenwasser, Co-Director of Writing Program, 484-664-3334, rosenwas@muhlenberg.edu and Dr. Jill Stephen, Co-Director of Writing Program, 484-664-3312, stephen@muhlenberg.edu. Placement Testing in Math and Foreign Language The Online Mathematics Placement Test One question you might have is "What math course should I start with?" To assist with an answer, you are required to fill out a Mathematics Placement Questionnaire and complete a Mathematics Placement Exam. The questionnaire and exam will be used, along with any standardized test results you submitted to the College, to place you in appropriate mathematics courses. The questionnaire and exam are to be completed online between April 27 and May 19, 2013. You will need to use a computer connected to the Internet. You can work at home, at your school, or at a local library. Please use your full proper name when logging in and filling out the forms. Instructions for the mathematics placement exam are on the web at www.muhlenberg.edu/placement. Please read the General Information section on the web site first. You can then log in to complete the online questionnaire and take the exam. Please do so using your legal name. Once you have completed the questionnaire, the exam will be made available. You can take the exam immediately or, if you prefer, at a later time. The exam is a multiple choice, 25-question, timed test. You are allowed up to 60 minutes to complete the exam. You will need paper, pencils, and a scientific calculator, but books, notes, and outside help are not permitted. You do not need to study for this exam, but you should do your best in order to be properly placed. You can also review the catalog to see which mathematics course(s) may be required for your intended major. 6 The Reasoning Requirement During your four years at Muhlenberg, you will be required to take one course from among the following: any course in Mathematics; any course in Computer Science; or Formal Logic or Principles of Reasoning and Argument (both taught in the Philosophy Department). Whether or not you intend to satisfy the requirement by taking a mathematics course, all students are required to complete the online mathematics placement exam. The Foreign Language Requirement You are required to successfully complete two semesters of one foreign language unless you meet the College’s language requirement through advanced placement or another form of exemption. Initial placement is determined by the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (DLLC). French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Russian, and Spanish are taught in the DLLC. Arabic and Chinese are also taught in the DLLC but only at the elementary level. Any of these languages is appropriate for fulfillment of the foreign language requirement. You must take a foreign language placement exam in the language you have studied in high school or outside of the high school classroom even if you choose to begin the study of a new foreign language at Muhlenberg. Please note that, if you have taken more than one foreign language in high school, we encourage you to take the language placement exam in each language studied. This includes taking the Hebrew Placement Exam if you have any knowledge of Hebrew or if you have attended any supplementary school to learn Hebrew. Your placement exam score will be combined with the number of years you have studied the language in high school to determine the most appropriate language level at which you should enroll. The use of electronic devices, dictionaries, grammar books, help from other people, or other aids and materials of any kind is not permitted on the Foreign Language Placement Exam. Please be aware that the Foreign Language Placement Exam is not an Exemption Test. Students will not be able to ‘place out’ of the language requirement through this test. Rather, they will be placed in an appropriate level of language between Elementary I and Intermediate II. Students who place high in the Intermediate II level will be invited to take the Foreign Language Exemption Exam, which will be administered in person during Orientation Weekend by members of the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. The questionnaire and exam are to be completed online between April 27 and May 19, 2013. You will need to use a computer connected to the Internet. You can work at home, at your school, or at a local library. The purpose of the questionnaire is to provide additional information regarding your background in foreign language. We will use this information along with your score on the Foreign Language Placement Exam in order to determine the appropriate level of foreign language placement that reflects both your ability and experience in the target language. Please read the General Information section on the web site first. You can then log in to complete the online questionnaire and take the exam. Please do so using your legal name. Native Speakers of Languages Other than English Students who have a native command of any language other than English may apply to Dr. Joan F. Marx, Chair of the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, for permission to use that language to satisfy the foreign language requirement. Students must demonstrate speaking, reading and writing skills. Please note, however, that the testing of any language other than the ones offered through the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures is subject to the availability of qualified personnel to perform the testing and evaluate the student’s performance. 7 OPPORTUNITIES IN MUSIC Applied Music: (Private Lessons) Private lessons in voice and most instruments are available for credit, for an additional fee. IF YOU WANT TO SIGN UP FOR LESSONS, PLEASE COME TO THE MUSIC OFFICE (CA Room 255) BETWEEN 11:30– 2:00 P.M. ON YOUR JUNE ADVISING DAY. YOU MUST REGISTER FOR APPLIED LESSONS PRIOR TO YOUR ADVISING SESSION. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT ANY ENSEMBLE, SEE DR. DIANE FOLLET DURING JUNE ADVISING. Chamber Orchestra: This group, which performs one concert each semester, consists of 20-30 members, which includes strings, winds, brass, and percussion. Rehearsals are Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Center for the Arts. Contact Daniel Boring for further information at dboring@muhlenberg.edu. Chamber Singers: Directed by Michael Schnack, this select group is for advanced singers, and admission is by audition only. The group performs on College Choir programs and at separate concerts during the semester. College Choir: Directed by Michael Schnack, this choral organization is open to all singers by audition. The ensemble sings at concerts in the fall and spring and at Candlelight Carol services before Christmas. Rehearsals are Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. in Room 101 of Rehearsal House. Auditions will be held at June Advising. To audition, please bring a prepared piece if possible. You will also be asked to sight read. Collegium Musicum: This ensemble is dedicated to the performance of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music. The members of the Collegium study early music performance practices and perform on period instruments. Rehearsals are Thursdays 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. in Egner Chapel. Contact Dr. Ted Conner for further information at conner@muhlenberg.edu. The ensemble performs one concert each semester. Jazz Ensemble (Big Band): The Muhlenberg Big Band is a group of 20-25 members which performs a wide variety of jazz styles. There is one rehearsal a week, Thursdays 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. in CA 246, the Band Room. The group performs once each semester. Big Band is directed by Mr. Tony Gairo. Jazz Improvisation Ensembles: There are currently 2 groups devoted to the study and performance of improvised music. Students participating in the ensemble explore traditional, progressive and experimental forms of jazz in order to develop a wide range of approaches to improvisation. Rehearsals are Mondays 6:30 – 8:30 pm, led by Tom Kozic and Gary Rissmiller, and Tuesdays 3:30 - 5:30 pm led by Dr. Ted Conner. You may contact Dr. Conner for further information at conner@muhlenberg.edu. Each ensemble performs one concert each semester. Musica da Camera: This ensemble, which meets Tuesdays from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., specializes in chamber music for strings and woodwinds from the Baroque to the 20th Century. Students collaborate with their coach, Dr. Diane Follet, to choose repertoire and make musical decisions. They perform one concert each semester, participate in community outreach, and play by invitation for events on campus. For more information contact Dr. Follet at dfollet@muhlenberg.edu. Opera Workshop: This ensemble meets only in the Spring semester, and is for advanced singers. Opera scenes or short operas are presented 2 times at the end of the semester. Directed by Megan Monaghan, and usually works in conjunction with the Chamber Orchestra. Percussion Ensemble: Directed by James Thoma, this ensemble meets on Wednesdays 7:00 – 8:30 pm. in the band room. They perform at student recitals throughout the semester, and usually at the Wind Ensemble concerts. All percussion players are welcome. Wind Ensemble: The Wind Ensemble consists of about 35 players and provides performance opportunities for interested and qualified wind and percussion players. During the academic year the Ensemble performs one concert per semester. Rehearsals are Mondays and Wednesdays 5 - 6:30 p.m. in the band room. The Wind Ensemble is directed by Mr. Albert Neumeyer. Women’s Ensemble: This women-only vocal group is directed by Ed Bara, and performs at least once each semester. Music from around the world in original languages is performed. Small Ensembles: Various types of small groups including flute ensemble, other woodwind ensemble, chamber music, etc. are also held as interest arises. 8 EXEMPTIONS FROM REQUIREMENTS Exemptions from general academic requirements may be granted to those students who can demonstrate a requisite level of proficiency or understanding by means of a College Board Achievement Test, an Advanced Placement Examination, International Baccalaureate Examination, or a Muhlenberg College exemption test. College Board Achievement Tests Exemption from the foreign language requirement will be granted to students who have completed at least three years of language (French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Spanish or Russian) in high school and have achieved a score of 650 or above on the College Board Achievement Test. College Board Advanced Placement Examinations (AP) Students who obtain an Advanced Placement (AP) score of 4 (well-qualified) or 5 (extremely well-qualified) will receive academic credit that will be applied to the 34 course units required for graduation and satisfy the corresponding general academic requirement at Muhlenberg. Some departments count AP awards toward their major requirements; some do not. Please consult with the appropriate department chair for more information. No student may receive credit for both an AP exam and the designated related course. Students registering for a course for which they have already received AP credit will forfeit the AP credit. Students who obtain an AP score of 3 (qualified) on the following tests can be exempted from certain requirements: Asian Civilization, Art (either test), Biology, Chemistry, Economics (either test), Music, Physics (A.B. degree candidates only), and Political Science (either test). Exempt status means that a student can enter an advanced course (if available) and that the corresponding general academic requirement at Muhlenberg is satisfied, but no course units are earned. Students who have taken Advanced Placement Examinations will be informed in July of their award. Inform your advisor of any tests completed, even though you may not yet have results. If you did not indicate Muhlenberg College as the recipient of your test scores at the time you took the test, you must contact AP Services (P.O. Box 6671, Princeton, NJ 08541-6671. Telephone: 609-921-9000) and request that a report be sent to Muhlenberg. Advanced Placement at Muhlenberg is coordinated by the Office of the Registrar, located on the ground floor of the Haas College Center. You may contact them at registrar@muhlenberg.edu or 484-664-3190. International Baccalaureate Program (IB) Students who receive a score of 6 or 7 on the higher level exam in the following areas will receive academic credit: Anthropology, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Economics, History, Music, Physics, Psychology, and Theatre. Students who receive a score of 5 or higher on the higher level exam in English and Philosophy will receive academic credit. Students who receive 4 or higher on the higher level exam or 5 or higher on the standard level exam will receive Foreign Language credit. The academic credit given will be applied to the 34 course units required for graduation and satisfy the corresponding general academic requirement at Muhlenberg. Some departments count IB credits toward their major requirements; some do not. Please consult with the appropriate chair for more information. No student may receive credit for both an IB exam and the designated related course. Students registering for a course for which they have already received IB credit will forfeit the IB credit. Mail official transcript to Muhlenberg College, Registrar’s Office, 2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA, 18104. Your transcript will be evaluated and you will be notified by mail of the results. You can also visit www.muhlenberg.edu/main/aboutus/catalog for course equivalents. 9 Muhlenberg Departmental Exemption Tests Exemption from selected introductory level courses may be achieved through successful completion of a series of departmental exemption tests which the College offers during the first week of the fall semester. In some cases these tests are open only to selected students who meet established criteria (as outlined below). Other tests are open to any student. Decisions to take these tests should be made in consultation with your advisor. In order to judge your own background in a particular subject, a brief description of each test is supplied below. If you elect to take one of the following exemption tests, please see the appropriate department chair listed below. Biology (Non-science majors) (Suggested minimum of 600 Biology Achievement test) Students who intend to pursue an A.B. degree and believe that they have a superior high school background in biology may qualify for exemption from BIO 100-149: Concepts of Biology, by passing a departmental test in the fall. Topics included in this test are: general ideas in microbiology (including immunity and disease), basic molecular genetics (DNA and RNA, replication, etc.), viruses, gene transfer systems (in bacteria and viruses), Mendelian genetics, cell structure, mitosis, tissues, basic botany, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and other basic areas in biology. It should be noted that BIO 100-149: Concepts of Biology is a special topics course in biology and the departmental exemption test is geared along these lines. Review from a college-level biology text that gives a survey of biology is recommended. Questions regarding the test should be directed to Dr. Elizabeth McCain, Chair of the Biology Department, 484-664-3255. Biology (Science majors) Students who intend to pursue a B.S. degree and believe that they have a superior high school background in biology may qualify for exemption from BIO 150: Principles of Biology I: Organisms & Populations and BIO 151: Principles of Biology II: Cells & Organisms by passing a departmental test in the fall. Topics included in this test are: characteristics of life, scientific method, hypothesis testing, basic cell biology, mitosis and meiosis, Mendelian genetics and theories of inheritance, evolutionary processes, natural selection, non-adaptive evolution, population genetics, systematics and taxonomy, organismal diversity and classification, life-cycles, ecological processes at all levels, conservation biology, plant and animal structure and function, genetic basis of development, transport systems, plant and animal nutrition, molecular biology, biochemistry, developmental biology, homeostasis and regulation, reproduction, physiology, and scientific writing. Presently, the textbook used in Principles of Biology is Biology - Neil A. Campbell and Jane B. Reece. Questions regarding the test should be directed to Dr. Elizabeth McCain, Chair of the Biology Department, 484-664-3255. Foreign Language - French, German, Modern Hebrew, Italian, Russian, Spanish If you have achieved a score of ≥650 on the College Board SAT II language test, you are exempt from the foreign language requirement. If you receive a score of 4 or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination (A.P. Exam), you are exempt from the foreign language requirement. If you receive a 4 on the A.P. Exam, you will also receive one course unit for Language 204. If you receive a score of 5 on the A.P. Exam, you will also receive one course unit for Language 301. 10 Or, upon the recommendation of the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, you may take a departmental exemption test during Orientation in August. If your performance on the exemption examination demonstrates a level of language competence at least equal to that required at the end of the Intermediate II language course, you will be exempted from the College foreign language requirement. Questions should be directed to Dr. Joan F. Marx, Chair of the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, 484-664-3343. Physics (A.B. or B.S.) (Minimum of 600 Physics Achievement Test or 5 on AP Physics) Students who believe that they have a superior high school background in Physics may qualify for exemption from PHY 121: General Physics I, and PHY 122: General Physics II (B.S. course) by passing a departmental test in the fall. This test is at the same caliber of the final exams in PHY 121: General Physics I, and PHY 122: General Physics II that students take in order to pass the course. The topics covered include: composition and resolution of vectors; rectilinear motion; Newton's first, second, and third laws; motion in a plane; work and energy; impulse and momentum; rotation; equilibrium; elasticity; harmonic motion; hydrostatics; waves; vibrating bodies; acoustic phenomena; laws of thermodynamics; Coulomb's law; electric field; potential; current, resistance, and electromotive force; direct-current circuits and instruments; magnetic field; magnetic forces on current-carrying conductors; electromagnetic induction; light; reflection and refraction at plane surface; images formed by single reflection or refraction; lenses and optical instruments; interference and diffraction; polarization; photons, electrons, atoms. Students should review for the exam using a college-level, calculus-based physics textbook such as Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Randall D. Knight. Questions regarding the test should be directed to Dr. Jane Flood, Chair of the Physics Department, 484-664-3411. ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER Muhlenberg College endeavors to support a student's attempt to successfully navigate the rigors of higher education. The Academic Resource Center provides this support to all students through the peer tutoring program, study skills seminars, workshops, and individual academic assistance with learning specialists. First-year study skills seminars are offered during the fall semester. Topics generally include test-taking, time management, textbook reading, note-taking, learning styles instruction and metacognition. Students may pick up requests for tutors after the add/drop period has ended. INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES Muhlenberg College is committed to ensuring that all qualified students with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services in order to fully access programs and services. Students with disclosed, appropriately documented disabilities who request accommodations are encouraged to identify these needs to the Office of Disability Services in advance of June Advising. Information regarding appropriate documentation and the process for its submission via the Disability Disclosure Document can be found on the Office of Disability Services website: www.muhlenberg.edu/students/acasrvcs/disabilities For further information and assistance, please contact Pamela Moschini, Director, Office of Disability Services, 484-664-3825. 11 MUHLENBERG COLLEGE ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2013-2014 FALL 2013 Orientation through Friday, Sunday, August 23 August 25 7 p.m. Sunday, August 25 Classes Begin Monday, August 26 Last Day for Add/Drop and Declaring Pass/Fail Wednesday, September 4 Friday, September 13 Saturday, September 14 Friday, Sunday, September 20 September 22 Friday, Wednesday, October 11 October 16 Wednesday, October 16 Opening Convocation Internship Registration Deadline 4 p.m. Yom Kippur Reunion/Homecoming through Fall Break Begins at conclusion of classes to 8 a.m. Second Quarter PE Begins Mid-Semester Grades Due 4 p.m. Friday, October 18 Deadline: Summer Incomplete Grades to the Registrar 4 p.m. Friday, October 18 Deadline: Course Withdrawals (W Grades) Last day to report Final Exam Conflicts 4 p.m. Tuesday, October 29 through Friday, Sunday, November 1 November 3 through Wednesday, Wednesday, November 6 November 20 Tuesday, Monday, November 26 December 2 Classes End Thursday, December 5 Performance Day Friday, December 6 Study Days Saturday, Sunday, December 7 December 8 Monday, Friday, December 9 December 13 Family Weekend Registration for Spring 2014 Thanksgiving Break Begins at conclusion of classes to 8 a.m. Final Exams through ALL FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS MUST BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE SEMESTER CONCLUDES AT 3:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13. Mid-Year Vacation Begins at the conclusion of exams Friday, December 13 Deadline: Final Grades 4 p.m. Monday, December 16 Deadline: Fall Incomplete Grades 4 p.m. Friday, February 14 12 MUHLENBERG COLLEGE ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2013-2014 SPRING 2014 Classes Begin Monday, January 13 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no classes) Monday, January 20 Last Day for Add/Drop and Declaring Pass/Fail Thursday, January 23 Internship Registration Deadline 4 p.m. Friday, January 31 Deadline: Fall Incomplete Grades to the Registrar 4 p.m. Friday, February 14 Friday, Monday, February 28 March 10 Monday, March 10 Spring Break Begins at conclusion of classes to 8 a.m. Second Quarter PE Begins Mid-Semester Grades Due 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 Deadline: Course Withdrawals (W Grades) Last day to report Final Exam Conflicts 4 p.m. Monday, March 24 Thursday, Tuesday, April 17 April 22 Friday, Wednesday, April 4 April 16 Honors Convocation Sunday, April 27 Classes End Thursday, May 1 Performance Day Friday, May 2 Study Days Saturday, Sunday, May 3 May 4 Monday, Friday, May 5 May 9 Easter Break at conclusion of classes to 8 a.m. Registration for Fall 2014 through Final Exams through ALL FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS MUST BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE SEMESTER CONCLUDES AT 3:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY, MAY 9. Final Grades Due Monday, May 12 Baccalaureate Saturday, May 17 Commencement Sunday, May 18 Friday, July 11 Deadline: Spring Incomplete Grades 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 13