Brooklyn College Undergraduate Programs

Brooklyn College

Undergraduate Programs

2012–2013

Disclaimer

The 2012–2013 Undergraduate Bulletin represents the academic policies,

services, and course and program offerings of Brooklyn College that are in

effect through August 2013. The most current information regarding academic

programs and course descriptions, academic policies and services available to

students can be found on the

Brooklyn College website

.

For matters of academic policy (e.g., applicable degree requirements), students

are also advised to consult the Center for Academic Advisement and Student

Success, the Office of the Associate Provost for Academic Programs, their major

department adviser, and/or the registrar for additional information.

For policies and procedures related to administrative and financial matters

(e.g., tuition and fees), students are advised to consult with the Enrollment

Services Center.

C o n t e n t s

About Brooklyn College ... 3

Admission ... 4

Special Programs and Opportunities ... 10

Tuition and Fees ... 19

Financing Your Education ... 23

Scholarships, Awards and Prizes... 33

Academic Regulations and Procedures ... 34

Student Rights and College and University Rules ... 53

Cocurricular Programs and Activities ... 59

Academic Resources ... 61

Additional Campus Services and Facilities ... 65

Programs of Study... 71

Core Curriculum ... 71

Accounting ... 82

Africana Studies ... 88

American Studies ... 97

Anthropology and Archaeology ...102

Art ...112

Biology...123

Caribbean Studies ...133

Chemistry ...135

Children and Youth Studies ...143

Classics ...149

Communication ...158

Computer and Information Science ...160

Earth and Environmental Sciences ...175

Economics ...182

Education, Childhood, Bilingual and Special Education ...189

Education, Early Childhood and Art Education ...194

Education, Secondary Education ...198

English ...204

Environmental Studies...222

Film ...225

Finance and Business Management ...234

General Science ...245

Health and Nutrition Sciences ...247

History ...257 Honors Academy ...273 Interdisciplinary Studies ...277 Judaic Studies...279 Library ...287 Linguistics ...288 Mathematics ...291

Modern Languages and Literatures ...302

Music ...339

Philosophy ...353

Physical Education and Exercise Science ...367

Physics ...377

Political Science ...384

Psychology ...395

Puerto Rican and Latino Studies ...404

Religion ...413

SEEK ...417

Sociology ...419

Speech Communication Arts and Sciences ...429

Television and Radio ...436

Theater ...443

Women’s Studies ...453

About Brooklyn College 3

About

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn College is recognized for its academic excellence,

innovative programs, urban engagement and outstanding

alumni accomplishments. The college offers more than 125

undergraduate degree programs and more than 100 graduate

degree and advanced certificate programs in business;

education; the humanities and social sciences; natural and

behavioral sciences; and visual, media and performing arts..

For more than 80 years, Brooklyn College men and women

— many of them immigrants or the children of immigrants

— have received a superior, affordable education leading to

productive careers and fulfilled lives. Noted for its renowned

faculty, talented and diverse student body, and beautiful urban

campus, Brooklyn College has been designated as one of

“America’s Best Value Colleges” by the Princeton Review.

Brooklyn College is accredited by the Middle States

Commission on Higher Education (3624 Market Street,

Philadelphia, PA 19104; 267.284.5000;

[email protected]

), the

Council on Education for Public Health, the American Dietetic

Association, and the National Council for Accreditation of

Teacher Education. The master’s program in school counseling

is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling

and Related Educational Programs, the master’s program in

speech-language pathology is accredited by the Council on

Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language

Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing

Association, and the Au.D. program in audiology at the CUNY

Graduate Center is accredited by the Council on Academic

Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of

the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Brooklyn College’s academic programs are registered by the

New York State Department of Education.

Each academic program at Brooklyn College is administered

by one of five schools. The deans have primary responsibility

for administrative and academic oversight of undergraduate

and graduate programs. The departments within each school

are listed below. Details of degree programs, including majors,

minors and interdisciplinary programs, are listed under their

respective departments in the Programs of Study portion of

this Bulletin.

School of Business Willie Hopkins, Dean

Accounting

Economics

Finance and Business Management

School of Education Deborah Shanley, Dean

Early Childhood Education/Art Education

Childhood Education/Bilingual Education/Special Education

Secondary Education

School Psychology, School Counseling, and

Educational Leadership

School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences

Kleanthis Psarris, Dean

Anthropology and Archaeology

Biology

Chemistry

Computer and Information Science

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Health and Nutrition Sciences

Mathematics

Physical Education and Exercise Science

Physics

Psychology

Interdisciplinary Program

• Environmental Studies

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Kimberley Phillips, Dean

Africana Studies

Classics

English

History

Judaic Studies

Modern Languages and Literatures

Philosophy

Political Science

Puerto Rican and Latino Studies

Percy E. Sutton SEEK Program

Sociology

Speech Communication Arts and Sciences

Interdisciplinary Programs

• American Studies

• Caribbean Studies

• Children’s Studies

• Linguistics

• Studies in Religion

• Women’s Studies

School of Visual, Media and Performing Arts

Maria Ann Conelli, Dean

Art

Film

Music

Television and Radio

Theater

Interdisciplinary Programs

• Communication

• Performance and Interactive Media Arts (PIMA)

For more information, visit the

Brooklyn College website

.

Admission

This chapter outlines procedures and requirements for

admission consideration to regular and special programs for

freshman, transfer and nondegree applicants.

As one of the senior colleges of the City University of New

York (CUNY) Brooklyn College participates in centralized

application procedures for freshman, SEEK and transfer

students. Access to the online application for degree

admission is available on the

admissions website

. Nondegree

student applications are processed by the Brooklyn College

Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The application may

be downloaded from the

admissions website

. Applications

for nondegree status are also available in the Office of

Undergraduate Admissions, 222 West Quad Center.

Student enrollment status

Undergraduate students may be enrolled as matriculated,

nondegree, visiting or CUNY e-permit.

Matriculated students

A matriculated student is one who is accepted and recognized

by the college as working toward a degree. Matriculated

students may attend Brooklyn College on a full- or

part-time basis. Two types of students may apply for admission

as matriculated students: first-year (freshmen) and transfer

students.

First-year students. First-year students are students

who have not attended any college since graduating from high

school or receiving a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).

All recent graduates from domestic high schools who apply

to Brooklyn College baccalaureate programs are required to

submit SAT or ACT scores.

Applicants are considered for admission on the basis of

their high school academic average, academic units, course

selection, SAT scores and/or GED scores. A diploma from an

accredited high school, an equivalency diploma, or a United

States Armed Forces Institute diploma is required for entrance

to the college. A high school certificate or an IEP diploma is

not acceptable.

Academic preparation

Preparation for baccalaureate study should include the

following high school academic units:

• English: four units.

• Social studies: four units.

Admission 5

• Mathematics: three units of college preparatory mathematics.

(It is recommended that students intending to major in

a math- or science-related area have four units each of

science and math.)

• Science: three units consisting of one unit of any of the

following: general biology, advanced biology, botany,

chemistry, general science, physics, physiography or earth

science, or zoology. (It is recommended that students

intending to major in a math- or science-related area have

four units each of science and math.)

First-year students will be considered for admission with a

minimum high school academic average of 81 percent and a

minimum combined SAT/ACT score of 1000 (critical reading

and mathematics). Students with a GED diploma will be

considered for admission with a minimum score of 3000,

provided they have successfully completed two units of college

preparatory mathematics.

Admission criteria are subject to change.

City University of New York Assessment Program Requirements

In addition to meeting the college’s admission criteria, each

student must meet the standards of proficiency in the areas of

mathematics, reading and writing as established by the college

and CUNY prior to admission to a senior college.

Specific Academic Foundations proficiency requirements

and exemptions may be found in the chapter “Academic

Regulations and Procedures.”

Advanced placement

Students who have completed college-level courses in high

school may be considered for exemption, with or without

credit, from equivalent college courses. Such exemption is

granted on the basis of Advanced Placement Program tests

given by the College Entrance Examination Board or the

International Baccalaureate upper-level subject area exams.

Students who have taken the Advanced Placement Program

tests, College-Level Examination Program tests, and/or

the International Baccalaureate exams must request the

administering agency to forward their official score reports

to the Registrar’s Office, 306 West Quad Center, Brooklyn

College, Brooklyn, NY 11210, within their first semester of

enrollment at Brooklyn College. In some cases (e.g., physics),

test booklets must be provided as well.

Transfer students. Applicants who have attended an

accredited college or university are considered for admission

with advanced standing if they have completed 25 or more

credits with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.30

or higher. Applicants who have completed fewer than 25

college credits will be considered for admission provided

that they have a 2.30 GPA or higher and also satisfy our

current freshman criteria for admission. Applicants awarded

an associate’s degree from a CUNY community college will

be considered for admission with a 2.00 or higher GPA.

Applicants awarded a bachelor’s degree from an accredited

college or university will be considered for admission with a

2.00 or higher GPA. In addition to meeting the admissions

criteria, transfer students must also fulfill the City University

of New York Assessment Program requirements for senior

college admission.

Admissions criteria are subject to change.

The college has established equivalencies regarding the

fulfillment of Core Curriculum requirements by transfer

students. These equivalencies, listed below, refer only to

courses completed at another college before entering

Brooklyn College. Transfer students must also satisfy Academic

Foundations requirements (see the section “Academic

Foundations requirements” in this Bulletin).

Transfer students from a four-year college may be exempt

from the lower-tier Core Curriculum after examination

of their transcript. When a senior college transfer student

transfers 60 or more total credits from a domestic, not

foreign institution, at least 30 of which are traditional liberal

arts credits from a broad range of departments, he or she

is assumed to have fulfilled the lower-tier Core Curriculum

requirements. Such students must fulfill the 6-credit upper-tier

Core requirements at Brooklyn College.

A student who transfers to Brooklyn College with an A.A. or

A.S. or bachelor’s degree from another college in the United

States is exempt from the lower-tier Core requirement

but must fulfill the 6-credit upper-tier Core requirement at

Brooklyn College. This lower-tier exemption policy does not

apply to students transferring with an A.A.S. degree or to

transfer students from outside the United States.

Transfer students who enrolled at Brooklyn College prior to

fall 2006 and who are exempt from lower-tier Core course

requirements are also exempt from one of the two upper-tier

Core courses. They need only complete one upper-tier Core

course to meet the Core Curriculum course requirement. This

policy does not apply to students with an A.A.S. degree. This

policy does not apply to students who readmitted in fall 2006

or thereafter.

Evaluation of transfer credit

The maximum number of credits that may be transferred from

a two-year institution is 60. The maximum number of credits

that may be transferred from a four-year institution is 90.

Transfer credit will be granted only from institutions that are

listed on the student’s admissions application. Transfer credit

for institutions not listed on the admissions application may be

denied. In addition, failure to list all postsecondary institutions

attended will subject a student to disciplinary action and a

review of the admission decision.

Applicants are required to provide official copies of transcripts

for every institution attended, including a transcript(s) for

course work that was in progress at the time of application. As

soon as “in progress” courses are completed, a final transcript

must be submitted to Brooklyn College.

Credit is given only for courses taken at institutions that are

accredited by one of the regional accrediting commissions.

Credit may be assigned for courses equivalent to courses at

Brooklyn College that were completed with a grade of D- or

higher at CUNY colleges and/or with a grade of C- or higher

at other accredited colleges.

For courses for which there are no specific equivalents

at Brooklyn College, credit may be assigned at the

recommendation of the department. For departmental review,

students are required to provide course descriptions and/or

additional information, such as the course syllabus.

Transfer students who have taken courses on a pass/fail

basis at another institution must provide a letter from that

institution stating that a Pass (P) grade represents competence

of a level of C- or better in the course or indicating what

criteria were required to obtain a pass grade.

If additional course information is needed to evaluate the

course(s), students must submit the supporting documentation

within the first semester of attendance. Failure to do so may

result in the loss of opportunity to receive transfer credit for

the course(s).

Credit cannot be earned twice for the same course.

After the completion of 60 credits, no credit will be given

toward the baccalaureate degree for work completed at a

two-year college.

SEEK students. For information on how to apply to

the Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK)

program, see the section “Special Programs” in this chapter.

Nondegree students

A nondegree student is one who is registered for

credit-bearing courses but is not pursuing a degree program.

Postbaccalaureate and certificate students may be admitted

to this status. Nondegree students must meet all academic

admission criteria and complete the nondegree admissions

application. Students may obtain the application, requirements

and materials by consulting the

admissions website

, or

by contacting the Office of Undergraduate Admissions,

718.951.5001.

Nondegree students may attend class during day or evening

sessions. Students with nondegree status may transfer their

credits to a degree program by filing an application for

status change with the Admissions Office. Requirements for

matriculation are listed in the “Status change requirements”

section of the “Academic Regulations and Procedures” chapter

in this Bulletin.

Visiting students

Students in attendance at colleges other than a CUNY college

who wish to take courses at Brooklyn College may enroll

as visiting students. They must submit to the Enrollment

Services Center an official letter certifying that they are in

good academic standing at their home college or an unofficial

transcript from their home college, file a Brooklyn College

visiting student application, and satisfy the New York State

immunization requirements specified by the Brooklyn College

Health Programs/Immunization Requirements Office. There

are no immunization requirements for the summer sessions.

Visiting-student status is valid for only one semester.

CUNY e-permit students

Students in attendance at CUNY colleges who wish to take

courses at Brooklyn College may file an e-permit. The home

college will have instructions and procedures on how to file

an e-permit. Once the e-permit is approved, students need

to register at Brooklyn College. Students receive registration

instructions via e-mail. If they fail to receive such instructions,

they should contact the e-permit unit of the Office of the

Registrar, 306 West Quad Center.

International students

All students educated abroad, including permanent residents

and foreign nationals, should file the appropriate CUNY

application online as specified on the Brooklyn College

admissions website

. Freshman applications should be

filed by students who have never attended postsecondary

institutions; transfer applications should be filed by those who

have attended postsecondary institutions. For admission in

September, both freshman and transfer applicants must file

Admission 7

complete applications by Feb. 1. For admission in January, both

freshman and transfer applicants must complete applications

by Sept. 15.

Applications are not complete until all required documents

have been submitted. Official translations must be submitted

for all documents not written in English. Official transcripts

from all postsecondary institutions must also be submitted.

Foreign nationals who were educated in a non-English

speaking environment must demonstrate proficiency in the

English language by submitting test scores from either the

Test

of English as a Foreign Language

(TOEFL) or

International

English Language Testing System

(IELTS academic format test).

Applicants with F-1 student status must attend full time and

pay tuition as stated in the chapter “Tuition and Fees.” In

order to obtain the I-20 Certificate of Eligibility from the

college, students must present a documented Certificate

of Finance. Students must subscribe to a medical insurance

plan and arrange for their own housing.

The Office for International Students, 1600 James Hall,

718.951.4477, provides counseling and other special services

for international students enrolled with F-1 visas, including

processing of United States Citizenship and Immigration

Services (USCIS) and other forms for travel, employment,

practical training, transfer of funds and spouse/dependent

visas. Students must apply at least one week in advance for

processing of these requests. International students should

report to this office upon arrival and send notice of any

change of address or status. For more information, visit the

international students section of the

admissions website

.

Additional information may be found on the

USCIS website

.

General information

Readmission

Information on readmission after a term or more of absence is

in the chapter “Academic Regulations and Procedures.”

Student immunization requirement

New York State Law requires all students to submit documentation

proving immunity to measles, mumps and rubella. The

following constitutes proof of immunity: two doses of measles

vaccine and one dose each of mumps and rubella; blood test

results showing immunity to each disease or an exact date of

having had mumps or measles with a copy of the blood test

showing immunity. (Disease history is not considered valid

proof of immunity for rubella.)

Students may obtain immunization

information and forms

online or in the Health Programs/Immunization Requirements

Office, 0710 James Hall, 718.951.4505.

While certain students may be exempt because of age,

medical reasons or religious belief, they must still submit

documentation of exemption before registering. Students who

are not exempt must submit proof that they have received

one dose each of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine before

registering; they have 30 days to submit proof of the second

dose of the measles vaccine.

After 30 days, students who have not submitted complete

documentation will be prohibited from attending classes and

will receive a grade of WA (withdrew for failure to satisfy

immunization requirements; no academic penalty) in all

courses for the semester. Tuition will not be refunded, and

there may be consequences with regard to financial assistance.

New York Public Health Law 2167 requires all students to

submit a Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccination Response

Form signed by the student or student’s parent or guardian

to the Health Programs/Immunization Requirements Office.

Students who fail to return this form within 30 days from the

beginning of the semester may not attend classes. The form

acknowledges the receipt of mandatory meningococcal disease

and vaccination information. Vaccination is not required.

Special programs

Several Brooklyn College programs require special admissions

applications: the Honors Academy, the SEEK program, and the

ESL program and certificate programs.

The Honors Academy

The Brooklyn College Honors Academy comprises six

programs, described in detail in the chapter “Special Programs

and Opportunities” in this Bulletin: the William E. Macaulay

Honors College, the Scholars Program, the Coordinated

B.A.-M.D. Program, Engineering Honors, the Mellon Mays

Undergraduate Fellowship program and Minority Access to

Research Careers (MARC).

William E. Macaulay Honors College. The William

E. Macaulay Honors College accepts applications only for

freshman admissions in the fall semester. Students may

apply

online

to the Honors College at only one participating CUNY

college. This application serves as both the freshman admission

application to CUNY and to the Honors College and for

Brooklyn College scholarships.

Admission to the Honors College will depend on high school

grades, SAT/ACT scores, an essay, recommendations and, in

some cases, an interview.

For more information, contact the

Admissions Office

,

718.951.5001.

Scholars Program. The Scholars Program is the

oldest honors program in the City University of New York.

High school applicants to Brooklyn College may apply for

membership in the Scholars Program by completing an online

application in addition to filing a CUNY application. The

application asks for an essay, a high school transcript, SAT/

ACT scores and two formal letters of recommendation.

Letters may be from teachers of any subject who are familiar

with students’ academic writing and should mention courses

that students have attended, evaluate the quality of their

work, and illustrate that quality with a significant example.

Applicants to the William E. Macaulay Honors College or

the Coordinated B.A.-M.D. Program will automatically be

considered for admission to the Scholars Program.

Matriculated Brooklyn College students may also apply to

the Scholars Program during their first three semesters at

the college, up to the completion of 48 credits. Both day

and evening students are eligible to apply.

Transfer students may apply to the program when they apply

for transfer to or after they begin study at Brooklyn College.

Matriculated and transfer applicants should complete the

application form available from the Honors Academy. The

application asks for a short autobiographical essay, a paper

written for a college course, an up-to-date college transcript

and letters of recommendation from two college teachers.

Further information, a complete description of the Scholars

Program and assistance in filling out the entrance application

are available in the Honors Academy, 2231 Boylan Hall, and

on the

Brooklyn College website

.

Coordinated B.A.-M.D. Program. This honors

program leads to a baccalaureate degree awarded by Brooklyn

College and to an M.D. degree granted by Downstate College

of Medicine of the State University of New York (SUNY)

Health Science Center at Brooklyn.

The program is limited each year to 15 highly qualified

students who are admitted only in the fall term following

their graduation from high school. Applicants generally have a

combined SAT math and verbal score of at least 1400 and a

college admission average of at least 95. Subsequent admission

to SUNY Downstate College of Medicine is contingent on

maintaining a minimum grade point average of 3.50 overall and

3.50 in the required science courses; completing the courses

outlined in the program; achieving a minimum score of nine on

each of the biomedical sciences, physical sciences and verbal

reasoning sections of the Medical College Admission Test

(MCAT); completing other program requirements; and having

the approval of the program director. The entire program

takes eight years to complete.

Additional information may be obtained from the Brooklyn

College Admissions Office, 222 West Quad Center,

718.951.5001; the B.A.-M.D. office, 2231 Boylan Hall,

718.951.4706; and the

college website

.

Engineering Honors. Brooklyn College has three

coordinated four-year engineering programs — with the City

College School of Engineering, the College of Staten Island

Engineering Science Program and Polytechnic Institute of New

York University.

In these programs, the student attends Brooklyn College for

the first two years of the four-year engineering curriculum.

Upon completion of the Brooklyn College component, the

student is guaranteed transfer to these institutions. Students

interested in any of these programs must meet the eligibility

criteria for admission to Brooklyn College and should use code

0524, the Brooklyn College engineering code, on their City

University admission application form. High school applicants

may apply for membership in the Engineering Honors Program

by completing an online application form, in addition to the

CUNY application. The application asks for a short essay

about what led to the applicant’s interest in engineering as

a career, a high school transcript, SAT/ACT scores and two

formal letters of recommendation. Letters may be from

teachers of any subject who are familiar with the applicant’s

work and should mention courses that the applicant has taken,

evaluate the quality of the applicant’s work, and illustrate that

quality with a significant example. To join the Engineering

Honors Program, applicants should also file a CUNY universal

honors application. Matriculated Brooklyn College students

may also apply to the Engineering Honors Program during

their first three semesters at the college. Transfer students

may apply when they apply for admission to Brooklyn College

or after they begin their studies at the college.

For more information, see the chapter “Special Programs and

Opportunities” in this Bulletin; contact the Brooklyn College

Department of Physics, 718.951.5418, or visit the

Brooklyn

College website

.

SEEK program

The Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge

(SEEK) program of the City University of New York offers

economically and educationally disadvantaged students

opportunities for higher education. The program at

Brooklyn College provides support through financial aid,

academic support, and instruction, tutorial services and

specialized counseling.

Admission 9

The SEEK application procedure and the CUNY admissions

application procedure are the same. Applicants should

complete the special SEEK section of the CUNY admissions

application. Prospective SEEK students must demonstrate

both financial and educational eligibility as well as New York

State residency.

The SEEK Program Office is located in 2208 Boylan Hall.

Information about the program and its services may be found

on the

SEEK website

.. Students enrolled in the SEEK program

have access to the following program services and facilities:

SEEK Counseling, 2207 Boylan Hall,

718.951.5931. SEEK counselors provide students with

orientation, registration and financial aid information; academic

planning assistance; and information about graduate education

and career opportunities. Counselors assess and encourage

each student’s progress. Students meet individually and in

groups to discuss their concerns. Students monitor learning

through the Benchmark for Success program.

SEEK Tutorial Center, 1424 Ingersoll Hall,

718.951.5135. The center offers SEEK students tutoring

and supplemental instruction in basic skills, Core courses,

and introductory and advanced courses in all majors. It assists

students in adapting to the college curriculum. The tutorial

center is staffed primarily by professional supplemental

instructors and by peer tutors who have demonstrated

success in their own academic programs. The center provides

services and computer labs for SEEK students. SEEK students

may visit the center to schedule individual or small-group

sessions.

SEEK Study and Reading Laboratory,

2432 Ingersoll Hall, 718.951.4123. Faculty members

and tutors guide students in improving their comprehension,

reading speed, vocabulary, study skills, and analytical and

test-taking abilities; they also provide supplemental ESL and writing

instruction in conjunction with the SEEK Tutorial Center.

The laboratory is used by compensatory classes as well as

individual students.

ESL program

The recommendation that applicants present four units of high

school English and the requirement that students both meet

the basic skills proficiency standards in reading and writing and

hold a high school average of at least 80 percent does not

apply to ESL students who (1) have spent at least one year

outside the United States receiving their secondary education

in a language other than English, (2) present at least three

units of high school mathematics, and (3) meet the basic skills

proficiency requirements in mathematics. Such students are

eligible for admission to Brooklyn College where they will be

assigned appropriate programs of study, including ESL course

work, as determined by the Office of the Associate Provost

for Academic Programs and the ESL program.

The ESL application procedure is the same as the freshman

application procedure.

Certificate programs

Credit-bearing certificate programs are offered in accounting,

computers and programming, film production, and nonprofit

fiscal management.

Undergraduate students who wish to enroll in these

programs must have received a high school diploma or the

equivalent and must successfully complete the University Skills

Assessment Tests as described in the chapter “Academic

Regulations and Procedures.”

Students with baccalaureate degrees are eligible to enroll in

the certificate programs. For more information, contact the

appropriate academic department.

Special Programs

and Opportunities

First College Year

The First College Year program facilitates the transition to

college and integrates students into the college community as

engaged learners and participants in campus life. It fosters a

sense of belonging and an appreciation of social differences.

Students are encouraged to understand and value the

meaningful connections between the liberal arts and their

career aspirations and challenged to reflect critically on the

educational process. A coherent curricular and cocurricular

program strengthens the academic, personal and civic skills

that will set students on a successful path to graduation.

First College Year begins in the summer. The Pre-freshman

Academy strengthens skills in college-level reading, writing,

critical thinking and/or mathematics, and prepares ESL and

SEEK students to pass the CUNY Assessment Tests. The

Unified Science Bridge introduces entering students interested

in science, technology, prehealth sciences or math to a

supportive instructional environment that includes a specially

designed precalculus course, exploration of careers in science

and hands-on Math-Science link activities.

The Freshman Common Reading provides a shared intellectual

experience around a text that students read during the

summer. Early in the first semester, the author visits campus

to discuss the book and the process of writing it. Students use

the text as a springboard for their first college writing course,

and it is often the basis of the first paper in that course.

First College Year includes comprehensive and ongoing

student orientation and advising programs implemented

by professional academic advisers prior to first-semester

registration and continued through Students Engaged in

Responsible Volunteer Action/The Orientation Project

(SERVA/TOP) and the Center for Academic Advisement

and Student Success. Benchmarks for the first and second

years guide students through a curricular and cocurricular

path leading to declaration of major, internships and roles

in campus leadership and service. First-year students are

encouraged to enroll in Learning Communities, which

strengthen bonds among new students and between

students and faculty and create opportunities for integrated

and experiential teaching and learning. Course work in the

communities, which includes courses in English composition

and the Core Curriculum, an interdisciplinary first-year seminar

and gateway sciences, is coordinated with the college’s

Learning Center, where students are offered one-on-one and

small-group tutoring and computer-assisted instruction. Peer

mentors, career advisers and library faculty provide additional

academic resources.

For information, contact the Office of the Associate Provost

for Academic Programs, 3208 Boylan Hall, 718.951.5771.

Honors Academy

The Brooklyn College Honors Academy, 2231 Boylan Hall,

serves exceptionally well-qualified, eager, imaginative students

who are flexible in their interests and open to new discoveries

and experiences. Its purpose is to stimulate students to

develop their potential and to assume responsibility for

educating themselves and, by learning collaboratively, for

educating one another. The academy shares a suite of rooms

with the Ethyle R. Wolfe Institute for the Humanities.

The Honors Academy brings together in one location

distinctive, separately directed honors programs: the William

E. Macaulay Honors College, the City University of New York

intercollege honors program; the Scholars Program, a four-year

program in interdisciplinary honors studies; the Coordinated

B.A.-M.D. Program, a four-year program for students

guaranteed entrance to the State University of New York

Downstate College of Medicine; Engineering Honors, a

two-year engineering curriculum leading to transfer to engineering

studies elsewhere; the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship

program, a two-year upper-division program for students

from underrepresented groups considering scholarly study

in the humanities and other fields; and Minority Access to

Research Careers (MARC), a program in the sciences for

minority students.

The academy provides a coherent curriculum relevant to

the needs of more than 600 students. It offers access to

faculty members through smaller classes, closely monitored

apprenticeships and working relationships with successful

local professionals; a student commons room; a collaborative

community of students similarly interested, ambitious and

talented; computer facilities and room to work and study

together; access to the scholarly and cultural resources of

New York City; tutoring experience; and programmatic

guidance ensuring that students follow academic paths

appropriate to their interests and talents.

The Honors Academy curriculum that is open to all members

of the Honors Academy includes honors sections of English

1010 and 1012 and of Core Curriculum 1110, 1210, 1220,

1230, and 3101 through 3111; an interdisciplinary sophomore

seminar (priority registration is given to members of the

Special Programs and Opportunities 11

Scholars Program); Honors Academy Research Colloquium

seminars; and the senior colloquium for senior thesis support

(priority registration is given to members of the Scholars

Program). Additionally, a colloquium is offered for students in

the Coordinated B.A.-M.D. Program, and four interdisciplinary

seminars are offered for students in the William E. Macaulay

Honors College.

Application forms may be obtained in the Honors Academy

office and in the Admissions Information Center. Admission

criteria for the four-year programs may be found in the

“Special programs” section of the “Admission” chapter in

this Bulletin. For information on scholarships, see the chapter

“Scholarships, Awards and Prizes.”

William E. Macaulay Honors College

The mission of the William E. Macaulay Honors College is

to meet the needs of an exceptional group of the most able

and highly achieving students in the City University of New

York. Membership in the Honors College earns a student

the designation University Scholar. Brooklyn College provides

University Scholars with a specially created common suite

of interdisciplinary courses designed to stimulate interest in

and deepen understanding of the institutions and people of

New York City. They pursue majors in a variety of fields and

are provided with funded opportunities for internship and

research. In addition, the Honors College arranges events

at artistic, cultural and scientific venues of New York City.

Distinguished faculty visit with students at both formal and

informal events.

University Scholars receive substantial financial and academic

support during their four years as undergraduates. All tuition

is paid by grants. A generous study grant funds opportunities

for study abroad and internships. Students are given a Cultural

Passport that provides them with free or sharply discounted

tickets to more than 100 artistic and cultural institutions in

New York City. They are also provided with state-of-the-art

laptop computers to facilitate research and communication.

As first-year students and sophomores in the Honors

College, University Scholars take an Honors College seminar

each semester and the balance of their course load in Core

Curriculum, Academic Foundations and major requirements.

The Honors College seminars are taught at Brooklyn College

by outstanding faculty. Students in the Honors College

complete a minimum of 12 credits of honors courses in

addition to the Honors College seminars. University Scholars

take honors in their majors, which may involve a senior thesis.

They are also required to complete an internship or

honors-level study abroad, and 30 hours of community service.

Over the course of their four years at Brooklyn College, they

will participate in a number of activities and events on other

CUNY campuses and around the city. University Scholars

must achieve an overall 3.30 grade point average (GPA) by

the end of their first year and a 3.50 GPA by the end of

their sophomore year. The 3.50 GPA must be maintained

until graduation.

Scholars Program

A four-year interdisciplinary liberal arts program, the Scholars

Program is designed for a select community of well-prepared,

academically ambitious students who are eager to extend

themselves beyond normal course requirements. Its honors

classes are small. Its curriculum encourages students to

develop and pursue new interests by exploring relationships

among different areas of knowledge. Students learn how to

formulate, discuss and write clearly about significant issues and

to evaluate their work independently and realistically.

Scholars Program students carry the same course load as

other students but each semester do honors-level work in

one or two of their courses. As first-year students, they take

an honors section of Freshman Composition that prepares

them to work independently on interdisciplinary honors

projects during their sophomore, junior, and senior years.

They also take honors sections of selected Core Curriculum

courses, a sophomore seminar and a senior colloquium. The

program encourages students in their junior year to broaden

their experience with study at other colleges, study abroad

or involvement in work-internship programs in the New York

City area.

Scholars Program students entering as freshmen receive a

Presidential Scholarship for eight semesters and a laptop

computer. They also have access to study abroad scholarships

and internship and research awards.

Courses that Scholars Program students take for honors

credi and pass with a grade of A or B are indicated on their

transcripts with an H. Scholars students must achieve a

cumulative 3.30 grade point average by the end of their

freshman year and a 3.50 by the end of their sophomore

year until they graduate. Graduation from the program is

marked with special recognition at Commencement, by a

transcript notation, and by a note on the diploma, “Honors

Academy Graduate.”

Coordinated B.A.-M.D. Program

This honors program leads to a baccalaureate degree

awarded by Brooklyn College and to an M.D. degree granted

by Downstate College of Medicine of the State University

of New York (SUNY) Health Science Center at Brooklyn.

The B.A.-M.D. Program offers an integrated course of study

designed to provide future physicians with the necessary

foundation in the sciences while also giving them a broad

background in the humanities and social sciences. Students

are encouraged to pursue diverse studies that suit their skills,

interests and aspirations; enrich their college experience; and

benefit from the intellectual and personal fulfillment often

missing from narrowly focused premed programs. Through

this broad-based educational approach, the program aims

to train future physicians who are concerned not just with

curing but also with caring for patients.

Students are admitted to the program only in the fall term.

Further information, including special application forms and

detailed requirements of the program, may be obtained

from the Admissions Office and from the B.A.-M.D. office.

Additional information is in the “Admission” chapter in

this Bulletin.

Engineering Honors Program

The Brooklyn College Engineering Honors Program prepares

students for careers in diverse fields of engineering. Areas of

specialization are aerospace, chemical, civil and environmental,

computer, electrical and mechanical engineering.

During their two years in the Engineering Honors Program,

students follow a course of study of more than 70 credits

in engineering and the liberal arts that provides a solid

foundation for transferring as juniors to major engineering

schools. Course work includes biology, chemistry, computer

science, mathematics and physics as well as liberal arts courses

in Brooklyn College’s Core Curriculum program. Students

also take courses in such subjects as engineering mechanics,

electrical circuit analysis, data structures and computer

organization. These courses are equivalent to courses required

during the first two years of study at most engineering schools.

Further details are described in the “Preprofessional studies in

engineering” section of this chapter.

Upon completion of the program, students are guaranteed

enrollment as juniors at City College School of Engineering,

the College of Staten Island Engineering Science Program or

NYU-Poly. They may also apply for admission to any other

engineering school.

For members of Engineering Honors who decide not to pursue

engineering, the program’s Core Curriculum requirements

enable students to continue in one of the more than 125

undergraduate programs available at Brooklyn College.

Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship

The goal of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship is

to reduce categorical underrepresentation in college and

university faculties and the educational consequences of these

disparities. The program is open to African American, Hispanic,

Native American and other undergraduates who will pursue

advanced study in the humanities and selected other fields.

The major requirements are those of the department in which

the student enrolls and will not be modified for this program.

Applicants must be full-time students in the second semester

of their sophomore year (45–60 credits). Requirements for

entrance include evidence of solid academic achievement, two

letters of recommendation from faculty members, a written

essay describing career interests and an interview by the

screening committee. Applications for admission and additional

information are available from the director.

Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC)

The MARC program is for minority honors students (including,

but not limited to, African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander

or Native American) who are interested in pursuing research

careers in the biomedical sciences. For more information, see

the section “Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC)”

later in this chapter.

Preprofessional studies

Brooklyn College provides individualized advising and other

services for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students

who are planning to pursue careers in medicine, engineering,

the allied health professions and law. Workshops are offered

on such topics as academic preparation, volunteer and

research involvement, internships, the application process,

writing personal statements and interviewing. Other resources

include current medical, allied health and law school

admissions materials, catalogs and information regarding

on- and off-campus volunteer, internship, mentoring and

research opportunities.

The Magner Center for Career Development and Internships,

1303 James Hall, 718.951.5696, is a major resource for

students interested in pursuing preprofessional studies and

provides a wide range of free career programs to Brooklyn

College undergraduates, graduate students and alumni.

Services include career counseling and assessment, internship

preparation and placement, e-recruiting, and professional

school preparation and application advisement. Workshops

on résumé writing, interview training, job search skills, dressing

for success, choice of major and career, and finding the right

internship are available in addition to access to employment

recruiters, alumni mentors and information on the labor

Special Programs and Opportunities 13

market and occupations. Job and internship fairs are held

each semester along with numerous corporate-sponsored

workshops. For more information, visit the

Magner Center

website

.

Preprofessional studies in health-related careers

The director of Prehealth Professions Services monitors the

academic progress of all undergraduate and post-baccalaureate

prehealth professions students, meets with them individually

on a regular basis throughout their academic career at

Brooklyn College, and helps them plan suitable academic

programs, get ready for the MCAT, and prepare their

applications to professional schools. The Office of Prehealth

Professions Services also maintains a credential service for

forwarding letters of recommendation to medical and other

health professions schools.

Brooklyn College students pursuing medicine or other

health-related professions may major in any liberal arts discipline but

must complete the following minimum requirements in science

and mathematics: one year of general biology, one year of

general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one year

of general physics and at least one semester of precalculus

mathematics. Students should meet with a prehealth

professions adviser to ensure that they are meeting the

minimum requirements of the medical and health profession

schools of their choice.

Students who have completed at least 60 credits and other

specific requirements may apply for transfer admission to

health-related degree programs at the State University of New

York (SUNY) Health Science Center at Brooklyn and other

university health professions programs. The Health Science

Center offers programs in diagnostic medical imaging, nursing,

occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant and

public health. In addition, Brooklyn College has an articulation

agreement with the Health Science Center for the physical

therapy program. Students interested in the physical therapy

program should contact a prehealth professions adviser in the

Office of Prehealth Professions Services, 1122 Boylan Hall,

718.951.3360 or 718.951.3361.

A chapter of the American Medical Students Association is

active at Brooklyn College.

Coordinated B.A.-M.D. Program. Brooklyn College

and Downstate College of Medicine of the State University

of New York at Brooklyn offer the Coordinated B.A.-M.D.

Program for students who are graduating from high school and

entering Brooklyn College as first-year students. The program

is designed to produce physicians who are well educated in

the humanities and social sciences as well as in science.

Beginning in January 2003, Brooklyn College and the State

University of New York State College of Optometry

implemented an agreement whereby up to six Brooklyn

College students per year may be admitted into a

seven-year bachelor of arts or science (B.A. or B.S.) and doctor of

optometry (O.D.) program. Students accepted to the 3-4

Program are admitted to a designated, prescribed major at

Brooklyn College and simultaneously admitted to candidacy

into the SUNY College of Optometry’s professional program

of study. Students interested in the optometry program

should contact a prehealth professions adviser in the Office

of Prehealth Professions Services for further information.

Preprofessional studies in legal careers

A prelaw advisement team — composed of faculty advisers,

career advisers in the Magner Center for Career Development

and Internships, and a resource network of lawyers on and

off campus — provides individual and ongoing advisement

for students planning to pursue careers in legal professions.

Faculty advisers help students plan suitable academic programs

and guide them to courses that will help them prepare for

the LSAT. The Magner Center provides career assessment

and counseling, panels of special speakers, workshops for

professional development, opportunities for mentoring and

internships, and up-to-date information on areas of interest

related to the legal profession, the practice of law and the

status of law schools. Students interested in legal careers

should contact the prelaw program assistant in the Magner

Center for Career Development and Internships, 1303 James

Hall, 718.951.5696.

Preprofessional studies in engineering

Students who intend to major in engineering can complete

the first two years of requirements for a four-year engineering

degree by taking more than 70 credits at Brooklyn College in

chemistry, computer and information science, engineering, the

liberal arts, mathematics and physics. Well-qualified students

interested in engineering may also apply to the Honors

Academy. Students should consult the engineering counselor

about the entrance requirements of engineering schools.

Information may be obtained in the Physics Department,

3438 Ingersoll Hall. Additional information is in the

“Admission” chapter in this Bulletin.

Coordinated engineering programs. Brooklyn College has

three coordinated engineering programs with the City College

School of Engineering, the College of Staten Island Engineering

Science Program and NYU-Poly. In these programs, the

well-prepared student attends Brooklyn College for the first

two years of study in an engineering curriculum that includes

courses in chemistry, computer science, the liberal arts,

mathematics and physics. In addition, courses in mechanical

and electrical engineering are offered. Upon successful

completion of the Brooklyn College component, the student is

guaranteed transfer to NYU-Poly, the College of Staten Island

or the City College School of Engineering for an additional

two years to fulfill bachelor of science degree requirements

in one of the following fields: aerospace, chemical, civil and

environmental, computer, electrical or mechanical engineering;

or engineering science. The Brooklyn College courses in

these programs are fully transferable to City College, the

College of Staten Island or NYU-Poly, and they are generally

acceptable at other engineering schools. For information on

the Engineering Honors Program, see the section “Honors

Academy” in this chapter.

Brooklyn College/NYU-Poly Coordinated Engineering Program

Students must complete their engineering studies with a grade

point average of 2.50 or better in required computer and

information science, engineering, mathematics and science

courses in order to be guaranteed admission with junior-year

status in the specific, corresponding NYU-Poly engineering

program. Areas of specialization comprise chemical, civil and

environmental, electrical and computer, and mechanical and

aerospace engineering. Students transferring to NYU-Poly

through this program may be required to complete certain

courses during the summer before the junior year. The

engineering degree will be awarded from NYU-Poly.

For further information, call the Brooklyn College engineering

coordinator, 718.951.5418, or the NYU-Poly associate

director of admissions, 718.260.3100.

Brooklyn College/City College Coordinated Engineering Program

Students must complete their engineering studies with a grade

point average of 2.00 or better in required computer and

information science, engineering, mathematics and science

courses in order to transfer with junior-year status to the

City College School of Engineering. Areas of specialization

comprise civil, computer science, and electrical and mechanical

engineering. Students transferring to City College through

this program may be required to complete certain courses

during the summer before the junior year. For further

information, call the Brooklyn College engineering coordinator,

718.951.5418.

Brooklyn College/College of Staten Island Coordinated

Engineering Program

Students must complete their engineering studies with a

grade point average of 2.00 or better in required computer

and information science, engineering, mathematics and

science courses in order to transfer with junior-year status

to the College of Staten Island Engineering Science Program.

Areas of specialization comprise electrical, environmental

and mechanical engineering. For further information, call the

Brooklyn College engineering coordinator, 718.951.5418.

Professional option

Students who wish to enter professional school before

completing a baccalaureate program at Brooklyn College

may, in some cases, earn the B.A. or B.S. after the first year

of professional school. Students who wish to pursue this

option must have satisfactorily completed all requirements

at Brooklyn College except 30 elective credits and have

satisfactorily completed at least one year’s work in an

accredited dental, engineering, law, medical, optometry,

podiatry or veterinary school.

Courses offered to fulfill degree requirements, including

those completed in the professional school, must constitute

an acceptable degree program approved by the Center

for Academic Advisement and Student Success (CAASS).

A student’s professional school record is examined for

duplication of work done at Brooklyn College, the extent

of liberal arts work, the appropriateness of the professional

courses as supplementary work in a liberal arts program,

and the quality of the work.

Students interested in engineering should consult the

engineering coordinator in the Physics Department, 3438

Ingersoll Hall. Students interested in health professions

should consult the director of Prehealth Professions Services,

3223 Boylan Hall, 718.951.5000, extension 6209. Students

interested in legal professions should consult the faculty

adviser or a prelaw career counselor in 1303 James Hall.

Brooklyn College/New York College of Podiatric

Medicine Articulation Agreement. Brooklyn College

has an articulation agreement with the New York College of

Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM) whereby students who have

completed 90 credits of course work toward a B.A. or B.S.

degree are eligible for admission into NYCPM using Brooklyn

College’s professional option. Included in the 90 credits are at

least 6 credits in English with a grade of C+ or higher and at

least 8 credits in each of the following fields, with a grade of

C+ or higher: biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry

and physics.

Students must also fulfill the admission requirement of NYCPM:

a timely and satisfactory formal application, letters of evaluation

from the pre-health professions adviser, official MCAT and/

or DAT scores at or above NYCPM’s minimum requirement,

satisfactory evaluation in a personal interview, and at least an

overall GPA of 3.00 in undergraduate course work.

Special Programs and Opportunities 15

Brooklyn College accepts as transfer credits those courses

which compose part of the first-year curriculum toward the

degree of doctor of podiatric medicine at NYCPM up to the

number of credits needed to complete a B.A. or B.S. degree.

For further information, contact the NYCPM program adviser

in the Biology Department.

CUNY Baccalaureate Program

The CUNY Baccalaureate Program is a versatile program

that enables students to design their own program of study

leading to a B.A. or B.S. degree. Students who have completed

at least 15 credits of college-level work with a grade point

average of 2.50 or higher for their recent work may apply to

the program.

Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, chosen from a

relevant academic department, participants develop an

individual course of study. Every student must complete 90

credits in regular course work and at least 30 credits while

in the program. In some cases, credits may be awarded for

previous life experience.

Students who are admitted are eligible to study at any

combination of the 17 undergraduate colleges of the university.

The degree is awarded centrally by the City University of

New York. Students pay the same tuition and fees as Brooklyn

College matriculants.

Information and applicant forms may be obtained in the

Center for Academic Advisement and Student Success, 3207

Boylan Hall, 718.951,5471; from the CUNY Baccalaureate

Program, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016 (telephone:

212.817.8220); or from the

CUNY Baccalaureate Program

website

.

Special opportunities for

underrepresented groups in

undergraduate research

CUNY Pipeline Program

The CUNY Pipeline Program provides educational and

financial support to undergraduates from underrepresented

groups, including African American, Asian American, Hispanic

and Native American students, who are interested in careers

in higher education. The program is intended for students who

plan to pursue a doctorate in preparation for college-level

teaching and advanced research in any field except law or

medicine. Students apply as juniors and must be U.S. citizens

or permanent residents with a grade point average of 3.20

or higher. The program offers stipends, summer research

opportunities, help in preparing applications to graduate school

and tuition waivers for the first year of study in a CUNY Ph.D.

program. Applications and further information on CUNY

Pipeline may be obtained from the program coordinator,

2231 Boylan Hall, 718.951.4114.

Leadership Alliance

Brooklyn College participates in the Leadership Alliance, a

consortium of colleges and universities that seeks to increase

the participation of underrepresented minority students in

graduate programs oriented toward research careers in all

fields other than business, law or medicine. The Leadership

Alliance sponsors paid summer research fellowships through

its Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP),

which places undergraduate students in major research

universities for summer research experience. SR-EIP students

also have the opportunity to participate in other activities that

enhance their graduate school prospects. Application forms

and further information may be obtained from the program

coordinator, 4311 James Hall, 718.951.5610. Deadline for

application is early February.

Center for Achievement in Science Education

(CASE)

CASE is an organization that brings together a number of

science, science research and science-related programs at

Brooklyn College. The goal of CASE is to increase the number

of underrepresented, economically disadvantaged and

first-generation students who seek advanced degrees in science

toward careers in business, computer studies, industry, law,

medicine, scientific research and teaching.

CASE programs offer financial support, peer-assisted academic

assistance, faculty mentoring, academic counseling, research

opportunities and internships. Some CASE programs include a

summer sessions in addition to academic year activities.

CASE has multiple entry points for high school, incoming

first-year, continuing, transfer and graduate students interested in

science at Brooklyn College, as described below.

CASE programs for entering first-year students.

All programs listed below require that applicants be high

school seniors who have been admitted to Brooklyn College

for the fall term. Some programs require a summer session

in preparation for the fall. For additional information about

program requirements and benefits or to apply, contact the

program director or coordinator.

The New York City Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation

(NYC-LSAMP)

The NYC-LSAMP in science, technology, engineering and

mathematics is an alliance of 16 CUNY colleges and the CUNY

Graduate Center. The goal of the LSAMP program is to ensure