2003-2004 Undergraduate Catalog

Students should satisfy the language requirement as soon as possible and take the necessary courses in consecutive semesters.

4. University General Education courses and requirements. See "General Education Courses and Requirements" in the "General Information" chapter earlier in this catalog.
5. Earn a specified number of credits in one or more major subjects, or in the case of the B.I.S., follow the official approved curriculum.

Students may complete any courses approved by the University General Education Course Certification Committee to meet University General Education requirements. In the Viewing A Wider World section, these courses must come from colleges outside the College of Arts and Sciences.

Second Language and Designated Degrees

Exceptions to the college's second language requirement for designated degrees (Fine Arts, Music and Music Education) are stated in the departmental descriptions of degree requirements. Criminal Justice has adopted a second language requirement.

S/U Grading Option

Instructors may establish individual standards for an S grade, but the minimum standard for an S grade in College of Arts and Sciences courses is a C.

Developmental and Applied Credit Limitations

The College of Arts and Sciences may accept up to 9 credits toward graduation of applied course work, which include Occupational Education courses, BOT, S A, UNIV (not including UNIV 150 and UNIV 350), ART (applied), DANC (applied), MUS (applied and participation), THTR (applied), NURS, A EN, AXED, AG I, AGME, COLL, CCDL, CCDS, all lower-division RDG. Credits earned in developmental courses (N suffix) are not counted toward any arts and sciences degree. Students should contact the dean's office regarding the acceptability of specific courses.

In addition to the above limitation, the college will also accept a maximum of 9 credits towards graduation of applied P E and PE P courses, and ANSC 190, 191, 290, 291, 380, and 381. This restriction does not apply to PE P 185, 280, 281, 285, 286G, 295, 309, 311, 320, 341, 342, and 411.

Independent Study Courses

Students are limited to six credits in any independent study course. Independent study courses include directed reading and special topic courses which do not carry a subtitle.

Distance Education Courses

The College of Arts and Sciences offers a variety of distance education courses each semster. Specific courses can be found under departmental course listings and the Las Cruces Extension section of the Schedule of Classes. Students who successfully complete NMSU distance education courses receive the same credit as students who take an equivalent course on the main campus. Distance education courses appear on a student's transcript in the same way as does a course taken on the main campus.

Departmental Majors and Minors

Students who wish to obtain a bachelor's degree must select a major field or fields or apply for admission to the B.I.S. program at the completion of 36 credits. For a listing of major fields, the student should see the first page of this chapter. Course requirements for majors are listed under individual departments. Students seeking to major in criminal justice must be officially admitted to the major by the department of Criminal Justice. Students should consult the department for current admissions requirements. Until a major or B.I.S. is selected, the student is designated as unclassified.

Each major consists of not less than 20 credits of upper-division courses (300 and above) in a specific field. Students must earn a grade of C or better for all course requirements for a major, minor, or supplementary major. Some departments also require specific courses outside the major field. Please refer to the departmental section of the catalog for specific nondepartmental requirements. These nondepartmental requirements must be passed with a grade of C or better. It is imperative that students consult the departmental sections of this catalog and the concerned department or departments for advice in planning to fulfill requirements for declared majors.

For information on meeting minor requirements, the student must consult the department offering the minor.

Most students have considerable latitude in choosing elective courses. These are the courses beyond college and major requirements that a student must take to bring her or his total credits to 128. This latitude provides students with opportunities to major in more than one field or to devise interdisciplinary programs tailored to individual interests or future career needs.

Regardless of the option elected, the student should have a degree check done in the dean's office and draw up a detailed graduation plan. The first degree check should be requested at the completion of 80 credits and the second the semester prior to graduation.

BACHELOR OF INDIVIDUALIZED STUDIES

Committee: Gregory Butler, Ph.D., Government; Laura Huenneke, Ph.D., Biology; Kevin McIlvoy, M.F.A., English; Walter Zakahi, Ph.D., Communication Studies

The most rewarding curricula for the majority of students in the college are found in the programs with traditional degree requirements for the B.A. and B.S. The B.I.S. degree, however, provides an alternative degree for those students who have special educational objectives that can only be met by an individually tailored program of studies. Students are allowed to design individualized curricula that may vary from the requirements of other degrees in the college.

Admission Requirements

Application for admission to the B.I.S. program must be filed in the office of the dean of arts and sciences no later than October 31 (fall semester) or March 31 (spring semester). Applicants must include a letter of support from a potential faculty adviser. Admission to candidacy is subject to the approval of the program director who is advised by the B.I.S. Admissions Committee. Acceptance is based upon these criteria:

1. The candidate must have earned at least 28 and not more than 91 credits at the time of enrollment in the program. Some advanced students who have earned more than 91 credits, but who propose to pass approximately 40 additional credits while in the B.I.S. program may be accepted.
2. The candidate must be in good standing; that is, have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0.
3. The candidate must have met the university basic skills requirement.
4. The candidate must have clearly defined educational goals that cannot be met by traditional degree programs.
5. The candidate must submit a study plan appropriate for accomplishing the stated educational goals. All courses approved for the study plan must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
6. A candidate for the B.I.S. degree may not be simultaneously a candidate for another degree. A student may not apply for a B.I.S. degree after having received another baccalaureate degree.
7. A B.I.S. student who has been out of the university for two years must apply for readmission to the B.I.S. Admissions Committee upon returning to the university.
8. A B.I.S. student will participate in Outcomes Assessment of his/her learning through enrollment in this program.

Degree Requirements

1. Completion of a total of at least 128 credits to include
   1. 80 credits in courses taught in arts and sciences,
   2. 55 credits in courses numbered 300 and above. Of these, 30 must be in courses taught in arts and sciences,
   3. fulfill the university general education requirements.
2. Regular consultation with the approved B.I.S. adviser. Failure to meet with the adviser and obtain the adviser's signature on each course request card submitted during candidacy will result in disenrollment from the program.
3. Compliance with university academic regulations.

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS REQUIREMENTS

English Composition.

ENGL 111G, Rhetoric and Composition

Mathematics Basic Skills.

Completion of mathematics basic skills as described under "Basic Academic Skills," in the "General Information" chapter of this catalog.

Liberal Studies.

Three courses are required and must be selected from three different liberal studies areas: English literature, fine arts, (nonapplied art, theatre, and music courses), languages (over 300), history, philosophy, or W S 202G.

Sciences.

Three courses are required and must be selected from three different science departments: astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, geology, mathematics, physics, or physical geography.

Social Sciences.

Three courses are required and must be selected from three different social studies departments: anthropology, communication studies, economics, social geography, government, psychology, sociology, JOUR 105G, LING 200G, or W S 201G.

Electives to bring total credits, including upper-division credits but excluding developmental credits, to 66.

Admission, grade point, and application requirements are the same as for all other degrees. The last 15 credits must be taken in residence at a campus of New Mexico State University.

Students who plan to earn a bachelor's degree at NMSU are strongly encouraged to select courses that will satisfy the university general education requirements when choosing courses for the Associate of Arts degree.

SUPPLEMENTARY MAJORS Applied Mathematics

Committee: Caroline Sweezy, Ph.D., Mathematics, Adviser; John Harding, Ph.D., Mathematics; Hing Leung, Ph.D., Computer Science; Ronald J. Pederson, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering; Krist Petersen, Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering; Tony Wang, Ph.D., Mathematics

The Department of Mathematical Sciences coordinates a supplementary major in applied mathematics that may be taken in addition to a regular major in any college. This program is designed to provide a multi-disciplinary education in the applications of mathematics for undergraduates intending to go to graduate school or who are interested in entering professions that require a strong background in applied mathematics, such as engineering, physical science and economics. Please refer to the entry under the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

Chicano Studies

Committee: Laura Gutiérrez Spencer, Ph.D., Chicano Programs, Adviser; John Nieto-Phillips, Ph.D., History; Diane Prindeville, Ph.D., Government; Cecilia Rodríguez Pino, M.A., Languages and Linguistics

The supplementary major in Chicano Studies is an important interdisciplinary addition to the undergraduate preparation offered in several areas of the social sciences and humanities. Students completing traditional majors in such fields as social work, economics, sociology and anthropology, history, government, theater arts, art, English, languages and linguistics, nursing, mass communications, and criminal justice should consider the possibility of completing a supplementary major in Chicano Studies. This is due to the close relationship among the fields and in light of the need professionals have to deal with the cultural background of the Mexican American/Chicano inhabitants of the state, the Southwest United States, and population centers throughout the nation where Mexican American/Chicano culture is a contemporary reality. For a full description of the supplementary major in Chicano Studies and information on specific requirements of the major, please refer to the entry under the Department of Languages and Linguistics.

Latin American Studies

Committee: Ricardo Aguilar-Melantzón, Ph.D., Languages and Linguistics; José Manuel García, Ph.D., Languages and Linguistics; José Z. García, Ph.D., Government; M. Lois Stanford, Ph.D., Sociology and Anthropology, and Janet Tanski, Ph.D. Economics; Elizabeth Zarur, Ph.D., Art

The supplementary major in Latin American Studies is an important interdisciplinary addition to the undergraduate preparation offered in several areas of the humanities and social sciences. Students completing traditional majors in such fields as Spanish, history, government, art, sociology and anthropology, linguistics, business, economics, health science, and mass communications, as well as students from other majors, should consider the possibility of completing a supplementary major in Latin American Studies. Due to New Mexico's strategic geographical position and the growing cultural and economic importance of Latin America, it will be advantageous for any professional in the areas mentioned above to have a solid background in the field. For a full description of the course offerings in Latin American Studies and information on specific requirements of the major, please refer to the entry under the Department of Languages and Linguistics.

Law and Society

Committee: Nancy Baker, Ph.D., Government; Lisa Bond-Maupin, Ph.D., Criminal Justice; Greg Butler, Ph.D., Government; Peter Gregware, Ph.D., Criminal Justice; G. Larry Mays, Ph.D., Criminal Justice; Ken Mentor, Ph.D., Criminal Justice; Steve Pasternack, Ph.D., Journalism and Mass Communications; Danny Scoccia, Ph.D., Philosophy; Kim Seckler, J.D., Government; William Taggart, Ph.D., Government; Russell Winn, D.P.A., Government

Students interested in studying the American legal system and issues in law and society may choose to pursue a supplemental major in Law and Society, sponsored by the Department of Government. The Law and Society program is designed to prepare students interested in the law by developing critical thinking skills, introducing methods and concepts involved in the study of law, and providing a context for understanding law in modern society. For a description of and information on specific requirements of the major, refer to the entry under "Government" later in this chapter. Additional information is also available from the Department of Government.

Linguistics

Committee: Patricia MacGregor-Mendoza, Ph.D., Languages and Linguistics, Adviser; David Farwell, Ph.D., Computer Research Laboratory; Peter Foltz, Ph.D., Psychology; Ana Huerta-Macías, Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction; Scott Rushforth, Ph.D., Sociology and Anthropology; Robert Weissberg, Ph.D., Communication Studies

The supplementary major in linguistics is a program whose offerings bridge two colleges and several departments. This interdisciplinary concentration offers an important supplement to the undergraduate preparation offered in several areas of the social sciences, humanities and education. Students completing traditional majors in fields that focus on understanding human nature such as communication studies, social work, sociology and anthropology, government, history, English, French, German, Spanish, journalism and mass communications, philosophy, psychology, early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education, bilingual education, TESOL, special education and communication disorders should consider completing a supplementary major in linguistics to heighten their awareness of the important role language plays in human interaction on individual and global levels. Moreover, in this day of digital text, computer science majors may also benefit from a greater understanding of linguistics. For a full description of the supplementary major in linguistics and information on specific requirements of the program, please refer to the entry under the Department of Languages and Linguistics.

Women's Studies

Committee: Janet M. Tanski, Ph.D., Economics, Director; Laurie Churchill, Ph.D., New Mexico Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate; Corinne Datchi, Ph.D., Counseling and Educational Psychology; Jenny Davison, Alpha Xi Delta; Paula Rian Herrera, Panhellenic President-Elect; Laura Foster Huenneke, Ph.D. , Biology; Mia Kalish, M.A., Computer Science; Christine Marlow, Ph.D., Social Work; Melanie Martin, M.A., Computer Science; Tammy May, Ph.D.; Edward Pines, Ph.D., Industrial Engineering; Grace Ann Rosile, Ph.D., Management; Elisa Sanchez, M.A. M.P.A., ENLACE; Karen Schaefer, Ph.D., Counseling Center; Elizabeth Schirmer, Ph.D., English; Natalie Strobach, Women's Studies & English; Monica Torres, Ph.D., English

Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary program which examines scholarship and theory on the history, contributions and experiences of women in diverse cultures, and on the importance of gender as a social construct. The curriculum includes a series of core courses as well as several cross-listed courses offered by other academic departments. By emphasizing knowledge of gender issues and cultural difference, the supplementary major and the minor help prepare students for a wide variety of careers including education, public policy, health, law, journalism, and social/community service. Information on specific requirements for a minor in Women's Studies is available in the department office.

A Supplemental major in Women's Studies consists of 24 or more credit hours of approved course work in Women's Studies, of which at least 18 are upper division (300 or above), all completed with a grade of C or higher.

Specifically required are WS 201, WS 202, WS 355, and WS 471; 6 credit hours from the following WS-designated courses: WS 450, WS 451, WS 454, WS 461, WS 465; and 6 additional credit hours of approved, upper-division (gender-related) electives.

The following is a list of the core and elective Women's Studies courses that are acceptable for the Supplementary Major: