Arts, Sciences, and Engineering 2010-2011 Bulletin - USS at Tufts

CO L L E G E O F L I B E R A L A R TS >1. WritingTwo semesters of college writing are normallyrequired for graduation in liberal arts. In general,students should complete this requirement in thefirst year. Most students do so by taking English 1(Expository Writing) in the first semester and, inthe second semester, English 2 (College WritingSeminar) or another approved writing course (suchas Philosophy 1). A Philosophy 1 class (or otherEnglish 2 substitute) transferred from another collegewill not count for English 2 or 4. Students takingcourses approved as English 2 substitutes maynot count them as English 2 if taken before or atthe same time as English 1. Students for whomEnglish is a second language may take English 3with consent of the instructor. Courses taken towardfulfillment of this requirement must be taken for lettergrades, except English 3, which is pass-fail.There are also other alternatives for satisfyingthe college writing requirement. In summary,the requirement may be satisfied in any of thefollowing ways:• Exemption from the entire requirement byattaining a score of five on the AdvancedPlacement Test in English Language andComposition or English Literature andComposition; an A on the British A-Levelexams; or a score of seven on the Higher-LevelInternational Baccalaureate.• Exemption from the first half of the requirementby attaining one of the following: a score of fouron the Advanced Placement Test in EnglishLanguage and Composition or EnglishLiterature and Composition; a score of 760 orabove on the SAT Writing exam, a score of fiveor six on the Higher-Level InternationalBaccalaureate, six or seven at the SubsidiaryLevel; or a B on the British A-Level exams.Students so exempted from the first half of therequirement must complete English 2 or anequivalent course.• Satisfactory completion of English 1 or 3 andEnglish 2 or 4, or an approved alternative course(which may not be taken concurrently withEnglish 1). These courses vary from year to year;students and their advisers should ascertainwhich alternatives are offered and approved inany given semester. Philosophy 1 offered at Tuftsis an approved alternative to English 2 or 4;however, courses equivalent to Philosophy 1transferred from another college are not approvedalternatives.• Completion of English 1 with a grade of A orA- (resulting in exemption from the second halfof the requirement). This exemption does notapply to writing courses equivalent to English 1that were taken at another college.2. Foreign Language/Culture OptionThis foundation requirement has two parts. First,every student must satisfy a basic language requirement,demonstrating knowledge of a foreign languageequivalent to three semesters of collegecourses. The second part of the requirement may besatisfied in several different ways. Students maytake advanced courses in the same foreign languageor they may undertake study of a second language.Students are offered the alternative of studying aforeign culture through courses taught in English.Students who speak, read, and write proficiently ina language other than English should consult theiracademic dean about possible exemption from thisrequirement. No credit is awarded.PART I. Basic Language RequirementEntering students are expected to demonstratecompetence in a second language equivalent tothree semesters of college courses. Secondaryschool transcripts are not accepted as evidence oflanguage competence. Language competence maybe determined on the basis of a placement examinationtaken at Tufts, SAT II Subject Test scores,or a college transcript. Entering students who donot demonstrate the required level of competencemust take college language courses until that levelis reached.PART II. Continued Language Study/Culture OptionAfter the basic language requirement has beensatisfied, the student has four options:1) To continue study in the foreign language used tofulfill the basic language requirement until twocourses have been completed at the third-year level;e.g., French 21-22 or French 31-32, German 21-22or German 33-44. Because the fourth-semester college-levelcourse (e.g., French 4, Spanish 4) is normallya prerequisite for courses at the advancedlevel, the option usually involves taking threecourses beyond the basic language requirement.11