Introduction
For students pursuing a program of study at York College, the catalog is the official guide to the academic standards, policies, and procedures of the institution. It provides essential information and should be used regularly in working with the student’s academic advisor.
The information contained in this catalog applies to individuals entering York College of Pennsylvania in the academic years for which the general catalog is dated. Revisions to the published information may be made during those academic years. The material in the Academic Standards section clarifies the academic standards, policies, and procedures in effect at the time of publication. Students are reminded of their obligation to comply with these institutional standards. Admission to and attendance at the College are conditional upon compliance with these regulations. Additional information regarding academic matters is available through the Academic Affairs Office, the Academic Advising Center, the Registrar’s Office, and the Records Office.
Students are required to complete the program of study as outlined in the catalog in effect at the time of their admission to that program of study. Although this catalog was prepared on the basis of the best information available at the time of publication, the College reserves the right to change any provisions, regulations, or requirements set forth within, without notice or obligation.
York College is dedicated to serving the needs of its students by providing a quality learning experience that prepares graduates for productive roles in society. At York, we believe the collegiate experience for students should both facilitate intellectual and personal growth, and encourage the development of lifelong learning skills. In support of this philosophy, the College offers a program of studies that provides over 50 degree options in baccalaureate disciplines, plus associate degree and minor programs.
Satisfying Program Requirements
Students are reminded of their responsibility to monitor degree program requirements and to plan their schedule of courses according to the degree program requirements in effect at the time of their matriculation into the academic program. Students should work with their academic advisors when planning or changing schedules and should contact the Office of Academic Advising or the Registrar if they have questions or concerns regarding program requirements. While academic advisors and other staff make every effort to be conscientious and informed, the student has a personal responsibility for ensuring that all graduation standards and requirements will be met during their program of study.
Baccalaureate Degree Requirements
Specific requirements and recommended curricula for each baccalaureate degree program are described in the Programs of Study section of this catalog. The general requirements for earning a baccalaureate degree at York College, which apply to all departmental bachelor’s degree programs, are:
- Successful completion of at least 120 credit hours and matriculation in a specific academic program. To satisfy the College’s residence requirement, the last 30 of these credits must be earned at York College.
- Achievement of a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher. In certain majors, a higher minimum grade point average may be required for degree completion.
- Successful completion of the designated program requirements for a specific major and achievement of the appropriate grade point average in the major as specified by the departmental curriculum in the Programs of Study section of this catalog.
- Completion of the General Education Requirements for baccalaureate majors and achievement of the appropriate grade point average in these courses as specified in the General Education Requirements section below.
At the beginning of the semester in which the student hopes to complete all degree requirements, the student must submit an application for a degree. This application should be obtained from and returned to the Records Office during the first three weeks of the semester.
Associate Degree Requirements
Specific requirements and recommended curricula for each degree program are described in the Programs of Study section of this catalog. The general requirements for earning an associate degree at York College, which apply to all departmental associate degree programs, are:
- Successful completion of at least 60 credit hours and matriculation in a specific academic program. To satisfy the College’s residency requirement, the last 30 of these 60 credits must be earned at York College.
- Achievement of a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher. In some associate degree majors, a higher minimum grade point average may be required for degree completion.
- Successful completion of the designated program requirements of a specific major and achievement of the appropriate grade point average in designated courses in the major as specified by the departmental curriculum in the Programs of Study section of this catalog.
- Completion of the General Education Requirements for associate degree majors and achievement of the appropriate grade point average in these courses as specified in the General Education Requirements informatio below.
At the beginning of the semester in which the student hopes to complete all degree requirements, they must submit an application for a degree. This application should be obtained from and returned to the Records Office during the first three weeks of the semester.
General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree Programs
All baccalaureate degree candidates must complete the Common Core Requirements, Area Distribution Requirements, and General Education Elective Requirements for the General Education program as described below. Courses used to complete General Education Requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.
Common Core Requirements
Courses in the common core of study must be completed with a minimum grade of 2.0. Based on previous educational performance, students may be required to complete additional courses in the core to achieve the required level of competency in each area, or they may be exempted through the admissions placement or credit by examination process. The mathematics requirement may be satisfied by the completion of MAT 111 .
WRT 102 Analytical Reading and Writing Fall-Spring Semesters
This course provides students with guided practice in the types of analytical reading necessary for mature academic writing and for success in upper-division courses in all disciplines. Students will learn strategies for summarizing and analyzing complex reading materials and for incorporating reading material into their own writing. They will also analyze similarities and differences in various academic styles, develop processes for producing thoughtfully revised prose, and practice standard conventions of academic writing.
3 credit hours
WRT 202 Academic Writing Fall-Spring Semesters
Building upon the skills learned in WRT 102 , this course provides students with guided practice in writing academic papers and in using their research toward public modes of writing. Students will learn techniques crucial to the writing required in upper-division courses and future careers: focusing a topic and line of inquiry, developing and following a research plan, incorporating researched materials into a scholarly argument, developing a consistent and appropriate style, and revising carefully to produce polished documents. Prerequisite: WRT 102 with a grade of 2.0 or higher.
3 credit hours
CM 104 Human Communication Fall-Spring Semester
This course provides an introduction to the dynamics of human communication and addresses communication needs in the student’s professional and personal life. In order to meet this goal, Human Communication focuses on (1) effective communication when speaking to another person, (2) communicating effectively when making decisions in a group setting, and (3) speaking effectively to an audience. Speaking, listening, and writing critically are expected in all course activities.
3 credit hours
MAT 111 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving in Mathematics Fall-Spring Semesters
The course will emphasize the use of mathematics to solve problems and will present situations where students develop critical-thinking skills. Topics may include inductive and deductive reasoning, statistics, financial management, units, percentages, probability, and exponential growth. Prerequisite: Placement into MAT111 is based on MSAT and high school mathematics background. Students who believe that they need additional mathematics preparation before taking MAT111 should consult the Mathematics Coordinator to determine if they will need to take MAT 102 Preliminary Mathematics .
3 credit hours
PE Physical Education Courses
Physical education courses are either 1/2 credit (half of a semester), one credit, or two credit hours. Two credit hours of physical education are required for graduation, and students should select the course or courses of their choice to fulfill this requirement.
2 credit hours
Area Distribution Requirements
Each student must select courses to satisfy the following Area Distribution Requirements from the list developed by the department and approved by the Academic Programs Committee (see below). A minimum of 12 credits must be at the 200 level or above. Courses may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.
Area I: Fine Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
Area II: Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)
Area III: Laboratory Sciences (6-8 credits)
Area IV: American Civilization/Government; Western Civilization (6 credits)
Area V: International Studies/Foreign Language:
(6 credits in one of these two areas of study; if language is selected, both courses must be in the same language)
Courses That Will Satisfy Area Distribution Requirements
Courses that can be used to satisfy the Area Distribution Requirements of the General Education program have been developed by individual departments and approved by the Academic Program Committee of the Academic Senate. These courses are marked in the Course Descriptions section of this catalog, and are presented by course code in the list below.
General Education Electives
Students must complete a minimum of 12 elective credits. These elective courses may be used to complete a minor, but no more than six credits of electives may be satisfied by physical education activity courses.
General Education Requirements for Associate Degree Programs
All associate degree candidates must complete all courses in the Common Core Requirements (WRT 102 , WRT 202 , CM 104 , MAT 111 , Physical Education), and achieve a grade of 2.0 or higher in each course. In addition, associate degree candidates will complete a minimum of three credits in each distribution requirement area, and two of the five courses completed must be at the 200 level or above.
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