The degree programs in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences are designed to introduce students to both the breadth and depth of the university's curriculum. This is accomplished by combining a wide distribution of courses with the opportunity to concentrate on course work in depth in a selected field. To achieve the first goal, students are required to take a wide range of lower-division courses that deal with the diversity of human knowledge. In the upper-division curriculum, students are relatively free to concentrate in depth in their major field of interest.
A major is a coordinated group of upper-division courses (courses numbered 100-199) in a field of specialization. The major may be a program of upper-division courses within a single department (departmental major) or a group of related courses involving a number of departments (interdisciplinary major) or, under certain circumstances, a group of courses chosen to meet a special interest (Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences individual major).
Before enrolling in certain upper-division courses, students may be required to gain appropriate knowledge by completing specific prerequisite courses. With the assistance of a departmental advisor, students are expected to select lower-division courses which prepare them for the advanced studies they propose to follow.
Students with 90 or more units toward a degree are expected to declare a major. Those who enter UCR after two years of work elsewhere may be in undeclared major status for one quarter. To declare a major, students must obtain an approval from the Student Affairs Office by filing a Petition for Declaration of Major. Students are expected to select a major by the beginning of their junior year (completion of 90 units).
If undeclared majors feel that their interests lie primarily in the areas of the natural sciences, mathematics, and statistics, or the agricultural sciences, advising can be obtained in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, (909) 787-7294. Those interested in engineering or computer science can be advised in the College of Engineering (909) 787-5651.
A declaration of two majors in different colleges must be signed by the deans of the colleges concerned and filed by the student with the college of the principal major. If the two majors lead to different degrees (B.S. and B.A.), that fact will be noted on the transcript, but only one diploma indicating both degree designations will be issued upon successful completion of such a program. Furthermore, if the double major is a mixed B.S./B.A., the college requirements for both majors must be met.
Students wishing to declare a second major must present an outline to the Student Affairs Office, indicating which courses are to be counted toward the requirements for each major before a petition is accepted for the addition of a major.
Normally, each local internship will not count for more than 4 or 5 units in a single term, larger numbers of units being reserved for quarter-away internships. Petitions for credit beyond 5 units in a single quarter for a local internship must have the sponsoring agency's approval and a written justification by the student's faculty sponsor. All such requests require the associate dean's approval.
A maximum of 16 units of credit toward the bachelor's degree may be obtained through internship courses, with a maximum of 12 units of internship scheduled in a single quarter for quarter-away situations. Students who are on academic probation may not enroll in internship courses.
Students who fail to attain a GPA of 2.00 ("C") in preparation for the major or courses required for the major may be denied the privilege of entering or continuing in that major.
The following credit limitations apply for all students enrolled in the college:
Courses taken in the department or program of a student's major (including courses cross-listed with the major) may not be applied toward the breadth requirements except for History majors in connection with the World History requirement, English majors in connection with the English Composition requirement, Ethnic Studies majors in connection with the Ethnicity requirement, and foreign language majors in connection with the Foreign Language requirement. However, courses outside the major discipline, but required for the major, may be applied toward satisfaction of these requirements.
Students who elect a double or interdisciplinary major may apply courses in one of the majors or departments toward satisfaction of the breadth requirements.
For the following requirements, a course is defined as a block of instruction which carries credit of 4 or more units.
No course may be applied to more than one breadth requirement, with the exception of the course taken to meet the Ethnicity requirement. Internship and independent studies courses may not be used to satisfy breadth requirements.
Courses cross-listed with Business Administration, Education, and Physical Education may not be used to satisfy breadth requirements.
English Composition | Varies | |
Humanities | 20 | |
Social Sciences | 16 | |
Ethnicity (4 units)(1) | -- | |
Foreign Language (level 4) |
16 | |
Natural Sciences and Mathematics | 20 | |
Total Units |
72 plus | English Composition |
English Composition | Varies | |
Humanities | 20 | |
Social Sciences | 16 | |
Ethnicity (4 units)(1) | -- | |
Foreign Language (level 3) | 12 | |
Natural Sciences and Mathematics | 20 | |
Total Units |
68 plus | English Composition |
(1) The 4-unit ethnicity requirement can be applied to either the Humanities or the Social Sciences requirement, depending on content.
Students with an overall GPA under "C" in the ENGL 001A, ENGL 001B, ENGL 001C sequence will be required to repeat composition courses as necessary in order to meet the required "C" average minimum. It may be necessary to repeat one or more of ENGL 001A, ENGL 001B, ENGL 001C courses in which a grade of "C-" was earned in order to fulfill the three-quarter English composition average of "C" or better. However, courses with a grade of "C-" cannot be repeated for credit to alter the transcript grade point average.
Students should enroll in an English composition course each quarter they are registered at UCR until the sequence of preliminary Basic Writing courses, if needed, and ENGL 001A, ENGL 001B, ENGL 001C is completed with satisfactory GPA. A student may not receive baccalaureate credit for any work in English composition taken prior to completing the Subject A requirement.
Transfer students who have credit for one semester of English Composition from another institution are required to take two additional quarters, i.e., ENGL 001B and ENGL 001C.
Students have the option of using a score of 3 on the College Board Advanced Placement Test in English to satisfy ENGL 001A; they must complete ENGL 001B and ENGL 001C.
Students with a score of 4 or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Test in English have satisfied ENGL 001A and ENGL 001B; they must complete ENGL 001C.
Students who have achieved a passing score on both parts of the California State University and College English Equivalency Examination taken prior to July 1, 1993, have satisfied ENGL 001A and ENGL 001B; they must complete ENGL 001C.
1. One course in world history (At UCR, courses that satisfy this requirement are HIST 010 or HIST 015 or HIST 020.)
2. One course in the Fine Arts (Art, Art History, Dance, Film and Visual Culture, Music, Theatre, or Creative Writing courses in poetry, fiction, or playwriting)
3. Two courses from among the following:
4. One additional course from the following:
1. One course in world history (At UCR, courses that satisfy this requirement are HIST 010, HIST 015, or HIST 020.)
2. One course from the following:
3. Three additional courses from the following:
Regardless of the student's college and major, the course may be counted toward the Humanities or the Social Sciences graduation requirements, depending upon the course's content as evaluated by the Committee on Educational Policy. Refer to the Courses and Curricula section for the courses that fulfill the Ethnicity requirement.
For the B.A. degree: course level 4 or equivalent
This requirement may be satisfied by students (except for foreign language majors who satisfy the spirit of the language requirement by majoring in one or more languages) by completing the fourth-quarter level or its equivalent in one language at UCR (or at another college or university) with a minimum grade of "C" or by demonstrating proficiency at the fourth-quarter level on a foreign language placement exam offered by one of the foreign language departments at UCR. This test does not yield unit credit; it only determines whether the Foreign Language requirement has been met, or in which course of the language sequence a student should enroll. The placement exam may be taken only once in each subject during a student's UCR career. Students continuing with the same foreign language they completed in high school must take a placement exam (see Schedule of Classes for dates and locations). Credit will be allowed only at the course level for for which they qualify according to the placement exam.
For the B.S. degree: course level 3 or equivalent
This requirement may be satisfied by students (except for foreign language majors who satisfy the spirit of the language requirement by majoring in one or more languages) by completing the third-quarter level or its equivalent in one language at UCR (or at another college or university) with a minimum grade of "C" or by demonstrating proficiency at the third-quarter level on a foreign language placement exam offered by one of the foreign language departments at UCR. This test does not yield unit credit; it only determines whether the Foreign Language requirement has been met, or in which course of the language sequence a student should enroll. The placement exam may be taken only once in each subject during a student's UCR career. Students continuing with the same foreign language they completed in high school must take a placement exam (see Schedule of Classes for dates and locations). Credit will be allowed only at the course level for for which they qualify according to the placement exam.
A major in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences shall consist of not fewer than 36 upper-division units. All courses applied toward the major and preparation for the major must be taken for a letter grade unless otherwise approved by the department chair. A 2.00 GPA in upper-division courses in the major is required for graduation. Once enrolled on this campus, students must complete all courses designated for a major in regular or summer sessions at UCR; exceptions to this policy must be approved by the department chair and by the associate dean.
Candidates for the B.A. degree may not receive more than 80 units of credit toward the degree for work taken in the major discipline (i.e., students must take at least 100 units outside the major discipline). Music majors may count a maximum of 102 units of music course work toward the B.A. degree (i.e., students must take at least 78 units outside the Music major).
Candidates for the B.S. degree may not receive more than 108 units of credit toward the degree for work taken in the major discipline (i.e., students must take at least 72 units outside the major discipline).
To receive the bachelor's degree, transfer students must complete a minimum of 16 upper-division units in the major on the Riverside campus.
Students who have been away from the university for several terms should consult with their major departmental advisor about the requirements under which they may graduate. See the Catalog Rights Policy for Undergraduate Degrees in the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.
Major advisors are available within each department or program. All departments assign an academic counselor to each major and require an advisor's approval before enrolling, submitting an academic petition, or making a change in the class schedule. Entering students who have not yet selected a major field of study should contact the Student Affairs Office.
College counseling services are located in the Student Affairs Office. A staff of academic counselors is readily available to assist with questions pertaining to academic regulations and procedures, selection of courses which satisfy breadth requirements, major options, and alternatives.
Many questions may be answered at the receptionist's desk or by phoning the Student Affairs Office at (909) 787-3683. Students who need to confer with a counselor about overall degree requirements, academic difficulty, program planning, or assistance in selecting a major may come in and make an appointment with a counselor.
The recommended study load for undergraduate students is 12 to 16 units (three to four courses) per quarter. A three- to four-course load (12 to 14 units) is recommended for students in the first quarter of the freshman year. The minimal program for an undergraduate student to be considered full time is three courses (12 units) per quarter. The normal progress for an undergraduate student is four courses (16 units) per quarter.
A class schedule of fewer than 12 units must be approved by the associate dean. (See the Schedule of Classes for details regarding fee reductions.) Students on academic probation may not enroll for more than 14 units or fewer than 12 units without approval of the associate dean. Students on probation may not take courses on an S/NC basis, regardless of the grading basis of the course, without approval of the associate dean.
After the first week of instruction, students may request changes by petition during a specified period. Such petitions must be approved by the faculty advisor and also, in the case of adds or drops, by the instructor concerned. Withdrawal from any course or a change in the class schedule outside the regular period requires the approval of the associate dean.
Courses (including Special Studies courses) cannot be added after the third week of instruction; courses cannot be dropped after the fifth week of instruction. The grading basis for a course cannot be changed after the eighth week of instruction. Courses dropped after the third week of instruction will appear on the record with a "W" notation. After the third week of instruction, a fee is required to file the petition to change the class schedule.
A student may elect "S/NC" or delete "S/NC" from a course by filing a petition (Add/Drop form) with the Registrar. The deadline is the end of the eighth week of instruction and is listed each quarter in the Schedule of Classes.
Regulations governing the S/NC option are described under Credit and Grades in the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.
An approved petition for a waiver or substitution in degree requirements represents an agreement between the student, the college or school, and in some cases, the department chair, granting the student an exception from the existing regulations.
Petitions are also used at UCR to change college or major, enroll in fewer units than regulations permit, make late changes to a class schedule, obtain credit by examination, concurrent enrollment, or withdraw from the university. Petitions for most of these exceptions are available in the Student Affairs Office.
Before the examination may be given, arrangements and approval for examination for degree credit must be made with the instructor appointed to give the examination, a faculty advisor (if the major department requires it), and the associate dean. Petitions must be filed with the Office of the Registrar no later than the third week of instruction. Credit by examination is not allowed for English Composition courses.
The results of all examinations for degree credit are entered on students' records as though they had actually taken the courses of instruction. There is a $5 service charge for each petition. The credit by examination procedure may not be used as a means of improving a previous grade.
Applications for graduation are available in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Science's Student Affairs Office and the major department or program office and must be filed in the students' major department by the deadline established for the quarter in which graduation is intended. The deadline for filing applications for graduation is printed in the Schedule of Classes each quarter.
Applications are not accepted after the deadline established for the quarter. If for any reason a student does not meet the requirements for graduation after announcing candidacy, or if a student fails to meet the deadline for filing, an application must be filed for a subsequent quarter.
Students graduating in absentia after an absence of one or more quarters must apply for readmission to the university and file an Application for Graduation with the Office of the Registrar.
Through the thorough practical training in each art field, an increasing number of UCR students are finding attractive career opportunities in the visual arts, writing, dance, music, and theater arts. Not that it has become any easier to practice as an artist or performer; these remain options best followed by the most talented and determined. However, the opportunities in many arts-related fields are increasing as the role of the arts continues to expand. Such opportunities include positions in teaching, music and dance therapy, graphics, theater management, costume design, performing arts management, fine arts publication, the recording industry, the arts, and criticism. Moreover, new professions, which will open yet wider vistas in coming years, are evolving for those trained in the arts.
UCR students who graduate with a major in one of the arts have consistently gained admission to graduate schools at outstanding universities, conservatories, and professional schools throughout the country.
At UCR, students may major in Art, Art History, Creative Writing, Dance, Film and Visual Culture, Music, or Theatre. At the graduate level, the M.A. degree is offered in Art History, and Music. An M.F.A. is offered in Dance, and a Ph.D. is offered in Dance History and Theory. A new M.F.A. degree is being developed in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts.
The Chancellor provides performance awards for excellence in the arts for students who have already achieved high proficiency upon entry into the university and who will continue to practice their art forms while students at UCR. For further information, contact the departments of Art, Dance, Music, Theatre, and Creative Writing.
The Gluck Fellows Program of the Arts at UCR provides Gluck Faculty, Graduate, and Undergraduate Fellows the opportunity to bring their respective art forms to elementary, middle, and high school students and nursing home residents who have little or no access to the arts. The departments of Art, Art History, Creative Writing, Dance, Music, and Theatre as well as the Sweeney Art Gallery and UCR/California Museum of Photography participate in the Gluck Fellows Program of the Arts. Students interested in the Gluck Fellows Program of the Arts should check with individual departments. ArtsBridge is an arts education and outreach program of the University of California. ArtsBridge provides scholarships to qualified UC undergraduate and graduate students to teach the arts and conduct arts-related workshops in art, dance, drama, music, and digital arts in the local communities.
It is also important to note that other majors in the liberal arts can serve as effective preparation for entry into the worlds of management and business. Any major curriculum that includes substantial emphasis on oral and written expression and analytic and critical thinking can serve this purpose, particularly if accompanied by a suitable cluster of courses in business and management topics. Internships, which are available in business and industry settings, can assist in clarifying educational and personal goals, allowing exploration of alternative career options, and providing the opportunity to apply academic background to a practical, real world experience.
Students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in the Business Administration field may wish to consider UCR's A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management.
Most law schools require applicants to take the Law School Admission Test, administered regionally by the Educational Testing Service. The test is administered at UCR on three occasions during the year. Applications for and information about this test may be secured in the office of the Department of Political Science or by writing to the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08540.
Students who are considering applying to law schools are strongly urged to consult with the prelaw advisor in the Department of Political Science, 2206 Watkins Hall.
In addition to career opportunities in public, school, and academic libraries, special librarians may work in government agencies, and in commercial and industrial firms, such as pharmaceutical companies, banks, and advertising agencies.
The UCR/California Museum of Photography is of significant value to those interested in photographic history and museum practices, as well as to those with creative interests in photography.
At UCR, students may gain valuable experience in government agencies through the Academic Internship Program. In addition to numerous local internship settings, there are quarter-away internships available in several Sacramento and Washington, D.C. offices. See the Career Services Center in the Student Services section of this catalog
The UC Washington Center program provides undergraduate students with a multidimensional educational experience in Washington, D.C. Students undertake academic pursuits as well as cultural and social activities. The program combines course work with field research and internship experience. See UC Washington Center in the About UC Riverside section of this catalog.
Students planning to seek employment in social welfare after completing the baccalaureate degree should prepare in the fields of psychology (particularly child and adolescent psychology and the study of personality), sociology (with emphasis on society and personality, social thought and social organization), economics, political science, anthropology, and statistical and research methods in the social sciences. The B.A. or B.S. degree in Social Relations is an excellent preparation both for direct entry into social welfare positions and for graduate professional training. Students who plan to enter a professional school of social work following undergraduate training should consult with an advisor at UCR for the best selection of classes.
Career opportunities for students with the B.A. or B.S. degree include positions as deputy probation officer, social worker, group counselor, corrections officer, substance abuse counselor, and community relations worker. Internships are very appropriate aspects of the undergraduate program in preparation for such careers.
Students who are considering working toward any teaching credential should attend one of the credential information seminars offered by the Teacher Education Services Office (1215 Sproul) for advice in the planning of an academic program.
The Bridge to Teaching Program is a pre-professional program open to undergraduates from all majors who are interested in teaching in California elementary schools. Students fulfill the subject requirement for the California elementary-school teaching credential by taking certain courses, thus waiving the requirement to take the Multiple Subjects Assessment for Teachers test. Interested students should contact the Liberal Studies and Interdisciplinary Programs office, (909) 787-2743, as early as possible in their academic career, as the required courses must be completed before finishing the bachelor's degree.