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SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

COLLEGE OF GENERAL STUDIES

Given the unique institutional structure of the College of General Studies (CGS) and the diverse constituencies it serves, the College has interlocking missions: first, to advance the University's reputation as an institution devoted to community service, and second, to facilitate access to the University's vast academic resources for individuals and organizations who require a nontraditional approach. The College of General Studies uses the same faculties as the College of Arts and Sciences and the professional schools of the University to provide instruction. Students who enroll in the College of General Studies can complete a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree in a variety of career-oriented fields as well as in the arts and sciences. In addition to a degree, students may prepare for transfer to any of the University's upper division and professional schools. For those students who already have a degree but desire career-related study or to prepare for graduate study, the College of General Studies permits them to register in a nondegree program. The College also offers a wide range of nondegree certificate programs in specialized fields such as professional writing and information sciences.

The student body of the College of General Studies is comprised of individuals ranging in age from 17 to 70, with a majority of the students being between the ages of 20 and 27. Most of the students attending the College have full-time work or family responsibilities and therefore take full advantage of the unique delivery systems available for instruction. Students may enroll in traditional day classes, evening classes, or Saturday classes; may attend one of the suburban locations; or may enroll through the University External Studies Program (UESP).

CONTACT INFORMATION

College of General Studies
407 Cathedral of Learning
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone (412) 624-6600
Fax (412) 624-3836
cgs+@pitt.edu
http://www.pitt.edu/~cgs/

FINANCIAL AID

Although the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid handles all financial aid processing for College of General Studies students, a CGS consultant is available to provide financial aid resource information and assistance with completing the forms. Consultants can be contacted by calling (412) 624-7305.

PLACEMENT INFORMATION

A full-time placement information consultant is available to assist students with the formulation of career objectives and preparation for the job search. Various placement seminars are offered throughout the year and a variety of resource materials are available for student use. Consultants can be contacted by calling (412) 624-7305.

REGISTRATION

College of General Studies students have the option of handling the registration process in the College of General Studies Registration Office. That office can be reached by calling (412) 624-6600.

CLASS LOCATIONS AND TIMES

Students in the College of General Studies have an array of options for where and when to pursue their course work:

PITTSBURGH CAMPUS

The full range of courses offered by the College of General Studies is available at the Pittsburgh campus. The 120-acre campus is located in Oakland, the cultural center of the city.

OFF-CAMPUS PROGRAM

Off-campus classes are currently offered in Manchester (Harbor Gardens), Mt. Lebanon and Monroeville to increase accessibility to higher education. Courses are offered for degree credit in the arts and sciences and in a few professional areas, but full majors are not available at these off-campus sites. Faculty for all off-campus courses are provided by the academic schools and departments of the University.

EXTERNAL STUDIES PROGRAM

Through the University External Studies Program (UESP), students study at home at their own pace using specially prepared instructional materials. Each course has at least three on-campus Saturday workshops per term. CGS courses taken through external studies carry the same credits as those offered on campus; they are taught by University faculty. Various support mechanisms have been developed to provide for additional instructor contact and for course-related communication to students via mail and telephone.

SATURDAY AND DAY CLASSES

Saturday classes are offered on the Pittsburgh campus for students who find Saturday a convenient time to attend class. A selection of courses is also offered on weekday mornings and afternoons for persons who can better attend during the day.

CLASS MEETING TIMES

In general, courses meet 50 minutes per week for each credit hour awarded. Most courses are three credits and meet once a week for two-and-a-half hours. The most common class periods are the following: 9-11:30 a.m., 1-3:30 p.m., and 5:45-8:10 p.m. Courses including recitations or lab sections may have longer class times.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to the College of General Studies is handled entirely by the College. The requirements vary based on the program the student is making application to and are detailed as follows.

DEGREE-SEEKING STUDENTS

Those students who desire to complete a degree at the University of Pittsburgh, either in the College of General Studies or ultimately transferring elsewhere in the University, are required to make application as a degree-seeking student. Students applying as degree-seeking students must

  • complete a College of General Studies application
  • provide the $35 application fee
  • provide a high school transcript
  • provide transcripts from any and all colleges or universities attended

Once this information has been provided, students will be reviewed for admission. The College of General Studies makes all admission decisions on an individual basis, with past performance and future potential considered. For those students who have recent college experience, a minimum of a 2.00 grade point average is required for admission without academic restrictions. Other students may be considered and admitted under special conditions that require a limited academic schedule and specific performance. While not required, students may supply a personal statement to explain any exceptional circumstances that they believe the Admission Committee of the College should take into account in reviewing their records.

Students must meet a number of specific admissions criteria, depending on their previous experience:

  • Less than two years since high school graduation. To be considered for admission, recent high school graduates must make application for a specific College of General Studies major and must meet the regular standards for admission as defined by the College of Arts and Sciences. See Pittsburgh Campus Freshman Admissions section of this bulletin for details.
  • More than two years since high school graduation. Less weight is given to high school performance. Evidence of maturity, motivation, ability, and consistency as reflected in the fulfillment of adult responsibilities are an important basis for the admission decision.
  • GED/high school equivalency. Students scoring at the 50th percentile or higher are granted full status admission. Those scoring below the 50th percentile may be considered for provisional status.
  • Disciplinary dismissal. Students who are dismissed from a college or university for disciplinary reasons must provide documentation from a college official stating the reason(s) for dismissal, in addition to providing the regular information for admission consideration. In addition, they are required to meet with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, submit letters of recommendation, and provide a written appeal explaining their dismissal and why they should be permitted to resume academic work.

The College of General Studies has special access programs for qualified students. Students do not make application to these programs but are considered through the normal admission process. Based on a review of their credentials and any supporting documentation, the Admission Committee for the College of General Studies may offer admission subject to a strict set of attendance and performance guidelines. Students admitted under these programs are closely monitored for performance and are required to participate in skills assessment and development programs.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM ADMISSION

Students who desire to complete one of the certificate programs in the College of General Studies must follow the same application and admission procedures as those students seeking a degree. The only exception for these students is that they are not required to provide high school transcripts. They are required to provide transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. The certificates offered by CGS are as follows:

  • Accounting (post-baccalaureate program)
  • Communications
  • Information System Design
  • Professional Translation
  • Statistical Quality Control
  • Women's Studies
  • Writing

NONDEGREE ADMISSION

Students who already hold a bachelor's degree and desire to complete University course work as preparation for graduate study or for personal or professional interest, but do not desire to complete a second degree, may apply for admission as nondegree students. These students need only complete the application for admission; no transcripts are required for admission. Students who enroll under this program and later desire to earn a degree must provide all transcripts and be reviewed for admission under the normal admission criteria.

ADMISSION CATEGORIES

Students are admitted to the College of General Studies under one of the following categories:

FULL STATUS

Full admission entitles students to enroll in classes on a full- or a part-time basis.

PROVISIONAL

Provisional admission is granted to those students who do not meet the normal criteria for admission. Students admitted under this status may be limited to six credits until they have completed 18 University credits with a 2.00 grade point average or higher. Students admitted as provisional are also limited in their ability to withdraw from classes and make other adjustments to their academic schedules.

INACTIVE STUDENT READMISSION

Readmission is necessary for students who have not registered for at least one course in three consecutive terms. Such students are considered "inactive" and must reapply to the College of General Studies before they can register for class, completing all applications and resubmitting all official transcripts, if necessary, and paying the application fee. Students who have not been enrolled in CGS or some other college or school within the University for more than six terms or two calendar years must follow all academic policies in effect at the time of their readmission to CGS. Students who have not been enrolled for less than the six terms or two calendar years will be treated as continuously enrolled students and as such will have a choice to follow any new policies or those in existence prior to the end of their previous enrollment.

INTERNATIONAL ADMISSION

International students (applicants from other countries on student visas) who are interested in full-time attendance in programs offered only in the College of General Studies must first contact the International Student Admissions Officer, Office of International Services, 725 William Pitt Union, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. See International Student Admissions.

ADVANCED STANDING POLICY

Applicants must submit official transcripts from each accredited college or university attended whether or not it is intended that the courses be counted toward a degree. Grades for credits transferred are not used in computing a student's quality point average (QPA). All credits eligible for transfer are subject to the following regulations:

  • All credits must have been earned at an accredited institution.
  • Courses must correspond with those offered by the University in objectives and content.
  • The number of credits granted for a given course cannot exceed the number on the transcript from the school where they were earned, nor can it exceed the number earned in the corresponding courses at the University of Pittsburgh.
  • A maximum of 90 credits may be transferred from a four-year institution and 60 credits from a two-year institution. The last institution a student attended before transferring determines this limit.
  • While the College of General Studies does not have a statute of limitations, it does reserve the right to invalidate some courses for transfer in which the content is outmoded.
  • The final 30 credits must be taken in the College of General Studies, and at least one-half of the credits for the student's major.
  • Students majoring in the liberal arts may transfer up to 18 credits of professional courses (e.g., business, engineering, nursing, etc.).
  • All transfer credits are subject to reevaluation if a student transfers from one school to another or from one major to another within the University of Pittsburgh or becomes inactive and is subsequently readmitted.
  • If a course for which advanced-standing is given is repeated at the University of Pittsburgh, the advanced-standing credit is cancelled.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND CREDIT BY EXAMINATION

Students in CGS may also earn advanced standing credits through the following means:

COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP)

The CLEP program provides a way of earning college credits through testing. Specific regulations governing the awarding of CLEP general examination credits can be requested from Student Services on the fourth floor of the Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, (412) 624-6600, or from an academic consultant.

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION

Students may earn credits toward graduation by successfully completing advanced-standing examinations in courses offered in the College of General Studies. Such examinations must be arranged through both the office of the CGS dean and the department teaching the course for which credit is desired. Many courses, except those with laboratories, special restrictions, or in the performing arts, may be challenged by examination. Course-specific credit by examination is open to all students enrolled in the College of General Studies who are in good academic standing. Costs may vary for different examinations.

Once a student has enrolled in a course at any institution (including the University of Pittsburgh) and received a grade, including a grade for incomplete work, the student cannot be given credit toward graduation by taking a challenge examination for that course.

Students may not be given credit by challenge examination for credits appearing on the high school transcript except those advanced-standing courses for which the student has successfully completed the advanced-standing tests of the College Entrance Examination Board.

Students may request up to three credits by challenge examination for internships, providing the department and the CGS dean approve. Work performed as a requirement for such a challenge, whether paid or volunteer, must have been performed in the United States during the most recent three-year period.

INTERNSHIPS

An internship is a supervised, work-related experience, volunteer or compensated, which is related to an academic discipline and is sponsored, evaluated, and graded by a University faculty member. The internship is a new experience and does not represent credit for past work or continuation of the current employment situation. A detailed outline of CGS internship requirements is available from CGS academic consultants.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

The College of General Studies' Guidelines on Academic Integrity outlines obligations both of students and instructors for maintaining academic integrity in CGS classes. Copies of this publication, which lists the obligations, procedures, penalties, and remedies for maintaining such integrity, are available by contacting the CGS judicial coordinator.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

The Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree will be awarded upon the fulfillment of the following conditions:

  • Completion of at least 120 credits of University work in one of the prescribed curricular courses, by advanced standing, or by examinations.
  • Completion of at least one-half of the major or 15 credits, whichever is greater, at the University of Pittsburgh.
  • Completion of the senior year (30 credits) in the College of General Studies.
  • Attainment of at least a cumulative quality point average of 2.00 in courses taken in the College of General Studies.
  • Attainment of at least a cumulative quality point average of 2.00 in the major; some majors require a higher quality point average.
  • Satisfactory completion of all required CGS and major courses.

GRADUATION WITH HONORS

In order to qualify for honors, students must have earned at least 60 letter-graded credits. Or, if the student has taken an internship in his or her major, the student must have earned a minimum of 57 letter-graded credits with an S grade in the internship. All of these credits (including the internship) must be taken at the University of Pittsburgh.

For further information on honors criteria and QPA requirements, see general section on Graduation in this bulletin.

GRADING POLICY

There are two grading options available to students registering for courses offered by the College of General Studies: the Letter Grade option and the Satisfactory/Audit (S/N) option. See the Grading and Records section of this bulletin for additional details on the two systems.

Students must choose the grading option they desire by submitting a Grade Option/Audit Request Form by the end of the third full week of classes during a term (second full week of classes during Summer Sessions 1 and 2). This decision may not be changed. Grade Option/Audit Request Forms are available in the CGS Registration Center, Room 464 Cathedral of Learning. If the student does not fill out a Grade Option/Audit Request Form for a course in which more than one grade option is available, the default option (generally a letter grade) will automatically be selected.

SATISFACTORY/AUDIT (S/N) GRADE OPTION

There are two limitations to the choice of the Satisfactory/Audit (S/N) grade option in the College of General Studies:

  1. Departments may decide which courses are required for the major and if any may be taken as Satisfactory/Audit by majors. Departmental rules may cover not only courses within the department but those in other departments that are considered essential to the major. Students should be sure before selecting this grading option that their decision will not have an adverse effect on their plans for majoring in a particular field.
  2. Under certain circumstances, departments may declare a course available only on a Satisfactory/Audit basis. In such courses students may not elect to receive a letter grade.

G GRADE

The G grade signifies unfinished course work due to extenuating personal circumstances. Students assigned G grades are required to complete course requirements with the same instructor assigning the G grade. A course in which a student has received a G grade cannot be completed by sitting in the same course with the same or different instructor in a subsequent term. Exception to these conditions can be granted only by the CGS dean and must be approved before the G grade is issued.

At the time of requesting a G grade, the student should arrange with the instructor a plan and schedule for completing the course work. The instructor and student should sign the plan (a Course Completion Contract) and submit it to the CGS dean for approval. A G grade cannot be changed after two terms have elapsed from the term in which it was recorded. Course Completion Contracts are available in the CGS Registration Office, Room 464 Cathedral of Learning.

GRADE REPORTS

At the end of each term, a grade report is prepared by the Office of the University Registrar and mailed to the student, provided that all charges have been paid. This report shows the total credits carried, the grade received in each course, and total quality points earned. Shortly after the term ends, students can access their grades online via the secure server at http://student-info.pitt.edu.

ACADEMIC PROBATION

Students who have earned a minimum of 18 credits in the College of General Studies and whose cumulative quality point average falls below 2.00 at the end of any term will be placed on probation. Students placed on probation may be limited to six to 12 credits a term until they have regained good academic standing. Any students placed on probation who fail to regain good academic standing by the time they have completed an additional 18 credits of course work are subject to suspension.

DEAN'S LIST

The Dean's List, a recognition of high academic performance, is achieved by degree students each time they complete 12 credits in continuous active status in the College of General Studies with a quality point average of 3.25 or higher. A maximum of three credits of S (satisfactory) grades are acceptable for a person to quality for the Dean's List.

DEGREES CONFERRED

The College of General Studies awards Bachelor of Arts degrees in the following majors:

  • Administration of Justice
  • Humanities Area
  • Legal Studies
  • Liberal Studies
  • Media Communications
  • Public Administration
  • Social Sciences Area

Bachelor of Science degrees are awarded in the following majors:

  • Dental Hygiene
  • Health Services
  • Liberal Studies
  • Natural Sciences Area

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

To earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of General Studies, you must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 120 credits (approximately 40 courses), at least 30 credits of which must be in upper-division (1000-level) courses. These 1000-level courses may come from any of the requirements for the degree listed below. Requirements are subject to change; students should check with an academic consultant before registering.

SKILLS (14-16 CREDITS MINIMUM)

Certain tools of knowledge are required of all students in the baccalaureate degree program-ability to use the English language orally and in writing and the ability to understand and use basic mathematical symbols. The courses required to satisfy each of the skills requirements are listed below:

  • Oral Communication - 3 credits

    Communication 0520 - Public Speaking

  • Writing - 9 credits minimum

    English composition - any general writing course and two other courses from English composition, English writing, or those designated W (writing). (At least 3 credits of composition/writing must be from the University of Pittsburgh.)

  • Mathematics - 2 credits minimum

    Mathematics 0010 - Algebra 1 & 0020 - Algebra
    or Mathematics 0025 - Applied College Algebra
    or Mathematics 0031 - Algebra or equivalent

QUANTITATIVE AND FORMAL REASONING (3 CREDITS MINIMUM)

In addition to the acquisition of certain tools of knowledge through the skills requirements, students also need to acquire the ability to apply logic and formal reasoning to reading, writing, and thinking. Choose one course from the following list:

  • Computer science (any course - 3 credits)
  • Information science (one introductory course: 0010 or 0011 - 3 credits)
  • History & Philosophy of Science 0611 - Principles of Scientific Reasoning (3 credits)
  • History & Philosophy of Science 0621 - Problem Solving (3 credits)
  • Philosophy 0500 - Introduction to Logic (3 credits)
  • Mathematics 0120 - Business Calculus or a more advanced course (4 credits)
  • Statistics (any course - 3-4 credits)

UNDERSTANDINGS (27 CREDITS)

A liberal education provides broad exposure to the three major bodies of knowledge-humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Students are exposed to social, scientific, esthetic, moral, and religious information, the purpose of which is to furnish insight into how the concerns of people are interrelated, how knowledge has been accumulated, and how unsolved problems still challenge humanity. The courses needed to fulfill the understandings requirements are listed below. Note that a course can only be used to fulfill one of the following requirements for the degree: understandings, literature, history, or international perspectives.

  • Humanities (9 credits)

    Three courses (one at the 1000 level) distributed over three of the disciplines listed below:

    Africana Studies Music
    Classics Philosophy
    Communication Religious Studies
    German, Literature/Culture Spanish, Literature/Culture
    History of Art & Architecture Studio Arts
    Linguistics Theatre Arts

  • Social Sciences (9 credits)

    Three courses (one at the 1000 level) distributed over three of the disciplines listed below:

    Africana Studies Political Science
    Anthropology Psychology
    Economics Religious Studies
    History Sociology
    Jewish Studies Urban Studies
    Legal Studies Women's Studies

  • Natural Science (9 credits)

    Three courses distributed over two or three of the disciplines listed below:

    Anthropology History & Philosophy of Science
    Astronomy Neuroscience
    Biological Sciences Physics
    Chemistry Psychology
    Geology & Planetary Science

LITERATURE (3 CREDITS)

This requirement introduces students to works of literature that have abiding value and, in the process, to the techniques of literary interpretation. This one-course requirement may also be fulfilled from disciplines other than English.

HISTORY (3 CREDITS)

The study of history provides the perspective to enable understanding of contemporary society from the viewpoint of long-term change. This one-course requirement may also be fulfilled with courses other than those offered by the Department of History.

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES (6 CREDITS MINIMUM)

Today's world is economically, politically, and culturally interdependent, and knowledge of the world's countries is essential. This two-course requirement may be fulfilled from a variety of disciplines: Africana studies, anthropology, classics, economics, English literature, French, German, history, history of art and architecture, Italian, Japanese, Jewish studies, Latin, linguistics, music, philosophy, political science, Portuguese, religious studies, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Slovak, sociology, and Spanish.

SPECIALIZED STUDY - THE MAJOR (24-36 CREDITS)

The baccalaureate degree, in addition to providing certain skills and broad exposure to the major bodies of knowledge, also allows the opportunity to specialize in a particular field, providing depth of experience essential for vocational competence or further graduate study. An outline of each major may be obtained at the CGS information display on the 4th floor of the Cathedral of Learning.

Students admitted to CGS prior to Fall 1997 (98-1 Term) can choose from 27 majors and graduate from CGS. Students admitted to CGS for Fall 1997 or later can choose from the following 10 majors in CGS in the evening and three on Saturday (the latter indicated by *):

  • Administration of Justice*
  • Dental Hygiene (for licensed dental hygienists)
  • Health Services (for graduates of allied health programs)
  • Humanities Area*
  • Legal Studies
  • Liberal Studies
  • Media Communications
  • Natural Sciences Area
  • Public Administration
  • Social Sciences Area*

Students who want a major in an arts and sciences field can begin in CGS and transfer to the College of Arts and Sciences after completing 24 credits with a minimum quality point average (QPA) of 2.00. Thirteen CAS majors are offered in the evening: chemistry, communication: rhetoric and communication, computer science, economics, English literature, English writing, history, history of art and architecture, mathematics, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology.

ELECTIVES

Any credits not used specifically to satisfy the previous requirements are considered electives. Electives can be taken in a wide variety of subjects to complement, reinforce, or add further breadth to the chosen program of study.

    Professional Electives

    Students majoring in a liberal arts area may have no more than 18 credits in professional courses such as administration of justice, business, education, engineering, information science, public administration, and social work. Students majoring in a professional area may not have more than 42 professional credits within their degree program.

PREPARATION FOR PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS

Prerequisite courses for the following programs may be taken through CGS: business, education, engineering, health and rehabilitation sciences, information sciences, nursing, pharmacy, and social work. Upon successful completion of the courses, students may apply to the school offering the program. See an academic consultant for further information about requirements and acceptance.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

A detailed description of each major offered by CGS is given below. All CGS students must fulfill the general degree requirements listed above as well as the specific requirements for fulfilling each major listed below.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

In American society, the justice system is a central, social institution. Its effects on individuals and social groups give it a pivotal role in a changing society. The administration of justice program, offering courses taught by faculty from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, is an upper-division undergraduate course of interdisciplinary study in the liberal arts and sciences which leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. The major goal of this baccalaureate program is to develop students' understanding of the evolution, theory, structure, functioning, and processes of change in the total system of criminal justice in our society. It is designed so that administration of justice majors may develop competence in one of three specialized areas:

  • Adult and Juvenile Corrections
  • Law Enforcement
  • Social Policy Planning and the Legal Process

Of the minimum total of 120 credits required for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in administration of justice, 30 credits (10 courses) must come in courses that satisfy the major requirements. Courses for the major are from various disciplines including administration of justice, legal studies, and public administration. An outline of these major requirements follows:

    Core Requirements: 12 credits (four courses)
    Administration of Justice
    0100 Society and the Law
    0500 Introduction to Administration of Justice
    1450 Critical Issues in Criminal Justice
    1900 Pre-Service Internship
    Area of Specialization: 9 credits (three courses)

    Choose one of the three areas of specialization. All courses listed under a given area are required.

    Adult and Juvenile Corrections
    Administration of Justice
    1220 Deviance and the Law
    1300 Introduction to Corrections
    Psychology
    1205 Abnormal Psychology
    (prerequisite: PSY 0160 - Personality)
    Law Enforcement Practice
    Administration of Justice
    1200 Introduction to Law Enforcement
    1265 Advanced Topics in Criminology
    1410 Introduction to Criminal Procedure
    Social Policy Planning and the Legal Process
    Legal Studies
    1155 Law and Social Change
    1355 Emerging Issues in Legal and Social Policy
    Public Administration
    0030 Introduction to Public Policy Analysis
    Major Electives: 9 credits (three courses)

    Administration of Justice

    0600 Introduction to Criminology
    1130 Minority Issues in Criminal Justice
    1200 Introduction to Law Enforcement
    1205 Introduction to Police Management
    1210 Juvenile Delinquency
    1220 Deviance and the Law
    1225 The Juvenile Justice Process
    1230 White Collar Crime
    1235 Organized Crime
    1236 International Organized Crime
    1240 Female Offender in Society
    1245 Terrorism
    1265 Advanced Topics in Criminology
    1300 Introduction to Corrections
    1350 Probation and Parole
    1400 Introduction to Criminal Law (also offered as LEGLST 1140)
    1410 Introduction to Criminal Procedure (also offered as LEGLST 1141)
    1900 Pre-Service Internship
    1901 Independent Study

Other related courses are offered by the disciplines of anthropology, legal studies, political science, psychology, public administration, and sociology. Check with a CGS administration of justice academic consultant for approved courses from these disciplines to satisfy the major's elective requirements.

DENTAL HYGIENE

Opportunities for health care professionals are becoming available as a result of the changes in health care delivery formats. To prepare dental hygiene graduates for employment opportunities created by these changes, the University of Pittsburgh's College of General Studies and the School of Dental Medicine have developed a course of study that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. This degree is intended for those students who have graduated from accredited dental hygiene programs with a certificate or associate's degree. See School of Dental Medicine listings in this bulletin for information on the dental hygiene certificate program. The Bachelor of Science degree enhances the already completed professional training and provides important exposure to the liberal arts. The combination of basic sciences, clinical experiences, and liberal arts strengthens the career opportunities for dental hygienists in business, sales, dental hygiene education, and research.

A distinct advantage of the Bachelor of Science degree is that hygienists can practice their profession following receipt of their certificate in dental hygiene and be employed while completing the requirements for the bachelor's degree. Class schedules can be tailored to work schedules. Classes are available in the evening, during the day, on Saturday, and through external studies, which require only three Saturday workshops while using specially developed course materials. Attendance can be on a full-time or part-time basis.

The following requirements must be met by students seeking admission to the Bachelor of Science program:

  • Successful completion of a program in dental hygiene accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation (such as the certificate program detailed above).
  • Submission of an official copy of a dental hygiene program transcript as well as transcripts from all other colleges attended.
  • Licensure to practice dental hygiene in at least one state or eligibility for licensure in Pennsylvania.
  • A minimum grade point average of 2.25 on a 4.00 scale.

The following program requirements must be met to receive the Bachelor of Science degree:

  • Completion of a minimum of 120 credits; of this total, a minimum of 30 credits must be at the junior/senior (1000) level. The courses must be completed within five years of enrolling in the program.
  • Individuals who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in 1996 or later can apply 82 credits from their Dental Hygiene Program toward the 120 credits required for the bachelor of science degree. The following areas make up the remaining 38 credits:

    -  English Composition or Writing 6 cr.
    -  Mathematics 2 cr.
    -  Humanities 6 cr.
    -  Social Sciences 3 cr.
    -  Literature 3 cr.
    -  History 3 cr.
    -  International Perspective 6 cr.
    -  Electives 9 cr.

    • Three credits of electives must be taken in CGS courses and six credits must be taken from among the following Dental Hygiene Program core courses:
      Education Area courses
      1900 Introduction to Ethics for the Health Care Professional
      1901 Allied Health Education
      1902 Allied Health Education Practicum
      1905 Directed Study
      Research Area courses
      1900 Introduction to Ethics for the Health Care Professional
      1942 Scientific Literature Evaluation
      1944 Introduction to Research Analysis
      1947 Directed Study
      Health Management Area courses
      1900 Introduction to Ethics for the Health Care Professional
      1920 Gerontology
      1921 Health Management Seminar
      1922 Health Management Practicum
      1924 Directed Study

  • Individuals who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh Dental Hygiene Program in 1995 or earlier or from any other college or university can transfer many of their professional and liberal arts credits toward the bachelor's degree. The number of credits transferred is determined by an individual review of each applicant's academic credentials. Interested individuals should contact the College of General Studies dental hygiene academic consultant at (412) 624-6600.

Refer to the College of General Studies' Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree sheet for specific information about applicable courses. Check with an advisor before registering. Requirements are subject to change.

HEALTH SERVICES

Students interested in the health services major follow one of two tracks in their course work, depending on their professional and academic experience:

    Health Services I

    The Health Services I track is designed to provide the additional courses needed to fulfill the requirement for the bachelor's degree to those allied health professionals who have already received their technical education in diagnostic medical sonography, radiological technology, or respiratory therapy. Licensed allied health professionals in one of the above fields will be awarded 24 professional education credits towards the 120 required for the degree. The remaining credits will consist of the general requirements listed under Degree Requirements above, electives, and at least 12 credits worth of health-related courses required for the major as listed below. Credits earned at other colleges or universities will be evaluated for transfer.

    Health Services II

    The Health Services II track was created for community college graduates who have completed an allied health profession associate's degree in one of the following areas:

    • Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
    • Dietetics Technician
    • Health Information Technology
    • Medical Laboratory Technician
    • Nuclear Medicine Technologist
    • Occupational Therapy Assistant
    • Opthalmic Technologist
    • Pharmacy Technician
    • Physical Therapist Assistant
    • Radiologic Technologist
    • Radiation Therapy Technologist
    • Respiratory Therapist
    • Surgical Technologist

    The College of General Studies has an articulation agreement with area community colleges to accept courses from the allied health profession programs listed above. Students may transfer in excess of the usual 60 credits from a two-year college. These credits are applicable toward a bachelor's degree with a health services major from the University of Pittsburgh. Credits earned from other colleges or universities are accepted for transfer according to the CGS advanced standing policy. A grade of C or higher is required in all courses considered transferable.

    Students with questions about specific transfer credits should contact the CGS Admissions Office at (412) 624-6600 to schedule an appointment with the director or assistant director of admissions.

    Licensed allied health professionals who have not earned an associate degree from CCAC should see the Health Services I description above.

    Of the minimum 120 credits required for the degree under the Health Services II track, 36 must be earned in allied health profession courses, 12 credits of which must be in the health-related courses required for the major as listed below.

    All health services majors must take the following major field courses (for a minimum total of 12 credits) in the three areas listed below. Those listed as HRS are graduate-level health and rehabilitation sciences courses and permission is required from a CGS health services academic consultant.
    Health Field: 6 credits

    Choose any two courses from the following list. Contact an academic consultant for other appropriate courses that may be applicable:

    DENHYG 1414 Gerontology
    SOC 0477 Medical Sociology
    SOC 1450 Health and Illness
    PSY 1215 Health Psychology

    Administration/Management Field: 3 credits

    Choose one course from one of the three subcategories listed below.

    (1) BUSERV 1915 Introduction to Management
    PA 1130 Administrative Theory
    HRS 1009 Organizational Theory and Concepts
    (2) PA 1145 Administrative Behavior
    PSY 1635 Organizational Psychology
    (3) PA 1140 Public Personnel Management

    Related Field Course: 3 credits

    Choose one course from the list below or one course from the lists above that was not already used to satisfy the health field or the administration/management field requirements. If electing to satisfy the related field course requirement by taking a course from the administration/management field, students must choose a course from a subcategory other than the one used to satisfy the administration/management field requirement.

    PSYED 1001 Introduction to Education Psychology
    COMMRC 1802 Organizational Communication
    COMMRC 1810 Theories of Interpersonal Communication
    PSY 1255 Principles of Behavior Modification
    HRS 1006 Introduction to Nutrition (spring/summer)

HUMANITIES AREA

Humanities area is a liberal arts major students customize to meet their interests and career goals with a focus on the humanities. Of the minimum total of 120 credits required for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in humanities, 36 credits (approximately 12 courses) must come in courses that satisfy the major requirements. To satisfy those requirements, students choose from a variety of courses that must be humanities-related and concentrated in three areas from the following list of disciplines:

  • Africana Studies (courses must be humanities-related)
  • Classics
  • Communication
  • English Literature
  • English Writing
  • Foreign language (literature courses)
  • History of Art and Architecture
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Religious Studies (courses must be humanities-related)
  • Studio Arts
  • Theatre Arts

Students must adhere to the following requirements as they take courses for the humanities area major:

  • At least five courses must be taken from one discipline of concentration listed above and at least three courses from the other two disciplines of concentration.
  • At least one half of the major courses must be at the 1000-level.
  • All courses selected for the humanities area major must be approved by an academic consultant.

LEGAL STUDIES

The legal studies major is an interdisciplinary course of study that combines the theories and methods of several social science disciplines and of law. While not designed as a pre-law program, the major seeks to develop an understanding of the nature, content, and operation of American law and legal institutions.

Of the minimum total of 120 credits required for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in legal studies, 30 credits (10 courses) are in courses that satisfy the major requirements. An outline of these major requirements follows. (Note: some legal studies courses fulfill CGS social science curriculum requirements. See the current Schedule of Classes for specific information.):

    Core Requirements: 9 credits (three courses)
    Administration of Justice
    0100 Society and the Law
    Legal Studies
    0080 Introduction to Legal Studies
    Legal Studies or Political Science (one of the following)
    1210 Law and Politics (Legal Studies)
    1213 Law and Politics (Political Science)

    Legal Studies Electives: 15 credits (choose five courses)
    Legal Studies
    0020 Public Law and Moral Reasoning
    1140 Introduction to Criminal Law
    1141 Introduction to Criminal Procedure
    1150 Lawyers and the Legal Profession
    1152 Law for Public Administrators
    1155 Law and Social Change
    1160 Comparative Judicial Processes
    1230 Psychology and Law
    1260 Law, Literature, and Cinema
    1261 Language and the Law
    1310 Constitutional Choices
    1315 Sex, Law, and Marriage
    1318 Separation, Divorce, and Custody
    NOTE: Students may not receive credit for both LEGLST 1318 and SOC 1456 - Separation, Divorce, and Custody.
    1320 Law and Environment
    1325 Consumer Law
    1327 International Law
    1330 Law and Business Corporations
    1340 Introduction to Civil Rights
    1355 Emerging Issues in Legal and Social Policy
    1410 Introduction to Legal Research
    1900 Preservice Internship
    1901 Independent Study

    Outside Electives: 6 credits (choose two courses)

    The final degree requirement is completion of six credits (two courses) from a list of approved electives outside legal studies. The following represents approved elective courses from various disciplines:

    Administration of Justice
    0500 Introduction to Administration of Justice
    1130 Minority Issues in Criminal Justice
    1220 Deviance and the Law
    1450 Critical Issues in Criminal Justice
    Anthropology
    1760 Anthropology of Law
    Communication
    1114 Freedom of Speech and the Press
    Economics
    0810 Consumer Economics
    History
    1163 Women and the Law
    1190 Medieval Law, Society, and Politics
    1191 English Origins of American Law
    1690 American Legal History
    Philosophy
    1390 Philosophy of Law
    Political Science
    1211 The Legislative Process
    1614 Theory of Justice (Honors)
    Psychology
    0182 Law and Social Psychology
    Public Administration
    1135 Law and the Administrative Process
    Sociology
    0471 Deviance and Social Control
    1472 Conflict Resolution

LIBERAL STUDIES

The Liberal Studies major allows students the flexibility to explore a wide range of subjects while tailoring their studies to career or educational goals. This makes the baccalaureate study more meaningful and practical to the individual with specific professional or intellectual interests. Students who wish to pursue this major must choose their courses around a central theme. A theme could involve courses from a single discipline or related courses from several disciplines.

School of Education Certificate Programs:

The College of General Studies and the School of Education have collaborated on a curriculum under the Liberal Studies program that incorporates all of the prerequisite coursework needed for admission into the Certificate Programs in Early Childhood, Elementary, Comprehensive English, Earth and Space Science, and General Science Education. These options may be used by students interested in the Professional Year or the Master of Arts in Teaching programs offered in the School of Education. Completion of the prerequisites for the School of Education does not guarantee acceptance to their programs. See an academic consultant for specific requirements.

Students must adhere to the following requirements as they take courses for the liberal studies major:

  • Students should declare their intention to pursue the liberal studies major before they earn 60 credits.
  • Students must submit a rationale for the theme selected and the courses that will constitute it to the liberal studies committee for approval.
  • Students must take a minimum of 36 credits (12 courses) in the central theme that they choose.
  • Eighteen of the 36 approved credits that constitute the central theme must be at the 1000 level.
  • No more than six professional credits can be used in the major.

MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

The media communications major is designed to meet the needs and interests of persons engaged in or aspiring to careers that employ competency in communicating in business, in government, or through print or other media, such as newspapers and magazines, television and radio. While journalism is included, this major is more broadly conceived than many programs elsewhere bearing that designation, addressing not only a medium, but also the social context and value system of communications. Heavy emphasis is given to writing capabilities. The major consists of courses taken primarily from the communication and English departments.

A minimum total of 120 credits is required for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in media communications. Of this total, students must take 30 credits (approximately 10 courses) to satisfy the major requirements and 21 related credits (7 courses) as listed below. (Note: A grade of C or higher is required in English composition and writing courses.)

    Prerequisite Courses: 9 credits (three courses)
    Communication
    0320 Mass Communication Process
    English Composition
    0400 Written Professional Communication
    English Writing
    0550 Introduction to Journalism

    Core Courses: 18 credits (six courses)

    Choose two courses from communication, two from English writing, and the remaining two from either area.

    Communication
    1103 Rhetoric and Culture
    1104 Political Communication
    1105 Television and Society
    1111 Theories of Persuasion
    1114 Freedom of Speech and Press
    1115 African American Rhetoric
    1117 20th Century Public Argument
    1118 Presidential Rhetoric 1
    1119 Presidential Rhetoric 2
    1121 History of Mass Media
    1122 Media Criticism
    1125 Media Theory
    1126 Media and Consumer Culture
    1732 Special Topics in Communication
    English Writing
    1310 Newspaper 1
    1320 Newspaper 2
    1330 Nonfiction 1
    1340 Nonfiction 2

    Specialization Courses: 12 credits (four courses)

    Choose one from this list of English writing courses:

    1390 Readings in Contemporary Nonfiction
    1391 Writing the Review
    1393 Sports Writing
    1394 Science Writing
    1395 Public Relations Writing
    1397 Creative Corporate Writing
    1398 Corporate Speech Writing
    1399 Topics in Nonfiction: Newspaper
    1401 Topics in Nonfiction: Magazine
    1403 Topics in Nonfiction: Electronic Media
    1405 Broadcast Writing

    And choose one from this list of English writing courses:

    1750 Senior Seminar in Nonfiction
    1900 Internship: News*
    (*Because internship experiences vary, students may register for an internship course more than once. Read the description for the course before registering.)

    And choose two from:

    Any English writing courses listed in the core or specialization not used to meet those requirements.
    English Writing
    1901 Independent Study

    Related Field: 12 credits (four courses)

    Students pursuing this major are required to have an approved focus of 12 credits in a related field such as history, history of art and architecture, political science, studio arts, literature, theatre, psychology, etc.

NATURAL SCIENCES AREA

Natural sciences area is a liberal arts major students customize to meet their interests and career goals with a focus on the sciences. Of the minimum total of 120 credits required for the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in the natural sciences area, 36 credits (approximately 12 courses) must come in courses that satisfy the major requirements. To satisfy those requirements, students choose from a variety of courses that must be natural sciences related and concentrated in three areas from the following list of disciplines:

  • Anthropology (natural sciences-related course)
  • Astronomy
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science (only courses numbered 0401 and above)
  • Geology and Planetary Science
  • History and Philosophy of Science
  • Mathematics (only courses numbered 0220 and above)
  • Neuroscience
  • Physics
  • Psychology (natural sciences-related course)
  • Statistics

Students must adhere to the following requirements as they take courses for the natural sciences area major:

  • At least five courses must be taken from one discipline of concentration listed above and at least three courses from the other two disciplines of concentration.
  • All courses selected for the natural sciences major must be approved by an academic consultant.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

The undergraduate major in public administration offers courses taught by the faculty of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. It is designed to prepare students for careers in the administration of public and semi-public organizations. The careers could be in service delivery systems or management operations of local, state, or federal governments, regional organizations, or quasi-public health, social, or welfare agencies.

The program's objectives are to increase the student's receptivity to new ideas; develop the student's ability to innovate within an administrative framework; further the individual's awareness of a complex environment that infringes upon his or her daily activities; and familiarize the potential administrator with the modern management techniques currently available. These techniques will aid the individual in organizing the voluminous data regarding the environment and in improving relations with colleagues and citizens, while developing programs and strategies to solve the problems identified in that environment.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in public administration. Of this total, students must take 31 credits (10 courses) to satisfy the major requirements as listed below:

    Core Courses: 13 credits (four courses)
    Public Administration
    0030 Introduction to Public Policy Analysis
    0070 Introduction to Public Administration
    1160 Financial Management
    Statistics
    0200 Basic Applied Statistics

    Electives: 18 credits (six courses)
    Public Administration
    1115 Governmental Framework
    1116 Leadership and Public Service
    1120 Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations
    1125 Strategic Management and Public Accountability
    1130 Administrative Theory and Behavior
    1135 Law for Public Administrators
    1140 Human Resource Management
    1145 Administrative Behavior
    1146 Urban and Regional Governance
    1150 Comparative and Developmental Administration
    1155 Minority Perspectives in Public Administration
    1165 Administration of Non-Profit Organizations
    1170 Accounting for Administrators
    1210 Introduction to Planning in the Public Sector
    1430 Information Technology in the Public Sector
    1440 Fundraising for Public and Not-for-Profit Organizations
    1445 Administration of International Organizations
    1452 Housing and Community Development
    1455 Environmental Policy and Management
    1900 Internship
    1901 Independent Study

    Related Field: 6 credits (two courses)

    Choose from courses in political science, psychology, sociology, or another discipline approved by an academic consultant. Although it is recommended that both courses be from the same discipline, a combination may be taken.

    Mathematics: 2 credits (one course)
    0031 Algebra (or equivalent)

    Computer Science or Information Science: 3 credits (one course)
    0004 Computer Science - sIntroduction to Programming with BASIC
    0131 Computer Science - Software for Personal Computing
    0010 Information Science - Introduction to Information Science

SOCIAL SCIENCES AREA

Social sciences area is a liberal arts major students can customize to meet their interests and career goals with a focus on the social sciences. Of the minimum total of 120 credits required for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in social sciences area, 36 credits (approximately 12 courses) must come in courses that satisfy the major requirements. To satisfy those requirements, students choose from a variety of courses that must be social sciences related and concentrated in three areas from the following list of disciplines:

  • Africana Studies (social sciences-related courses)
  • Anthropology (social sciences-related courses)
  • Economics
  • History
  • Jewish Studies
  • Legal Studies
  • Political Science
  • Psychology (social sciences-related courses)
  • Religious Studies (social sciences-related courses)
  • Sociology

Students must adhere to the following requirements as they take courses for the social sciences area major:

  • At least five courses must be taken from one discipline of concentration listed above and at least three courses from the other two disciplines of concentration.
  • At least one half of the major courses must be at the 1000-level.
  • All courses selected for the social sciences area major must be approved by an academic consultant.



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