The Daily Bulletin Archive

At its February 14, 2020, meeting, the College Senate voted in favor of a resolution on the DOPS Policy for Upper Division Criteria and Collegewide Degree Requirements, Policy No. I:04:00, presented by the Standards for Students Committee:

ACTUAL DOPS POLICY LANGUAGE

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS
Policy Number: I:04:00
Date: September 2019
Subject: Collegewide Degree Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees Intellectual Foundations (IF 2006) Program and Requirements

The Intellectual Foundations program, or general education, was implemented fall 2006 for undergraduate students entering Buffalo State who began college as freshmen on or after fall 2006 to spring 2014. A student who has been advised at his other previous school based on GE2K requirements can petition to be placed in General Education 2000 (GE2K) if it is advantageous for graduation.

The Intellectual Foundations program promotes an understanding of the continuity of human history, the depth of inherited knowledge, the validity of diverse modes of inquiry, the value of artistic expression, and the richness of our collective experience. The purpose of the Intellectual Foundations program is to develop the skills and habits of the mind required for a life of intellectual curiosity and civic engagement.

The courses that meet the Intellectual Foundations requirement are listed in the current Undergraduate College Catalog in the Collegewide Degree Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees section. For current course listings, see http://intellectualfoundations.buffalostate.edu/.

Questions about the Intellectual Foundations requirements should be directed to a student’s department office or Academic Commons.

Categories and Credit Distribution after Provost Waivers

Students graduating in December 2014 or later will received Provost Waivers: The 3-credit Technology and Society requirement is waived and 3 credits in each of the four cognate areas (Arts, Humanities, Natural Science, and Social Science) are waived. These waivers are in addition to the previously granted waiver of BSC 101/301, for all students under the current Intellectual Foundations Program. Students do not need to apply for the waiver.

0-6 credit hours                   Basic Writing: CWP 101 and CWP 102 or equivalent 0-6 credit hours                                          Foreign Language: Proficiency at 102-level*

3 credit hours                      Cognate Foundations: Arts

3 credit hours                      Cognate Foundations: Humanities

3 credit hours                      Cognate Foundations: Natural Sciences

3 credit hours                      Cognate Foundations: Social Sciences

3 credit hours                      Foundations of Civilization: American History

3 credit hours                      Foundations of Civilization: Western Civilizations

3 credit hours                      Foundations of Civilization: Non-Western Civilizations 3 credit hours                                          Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning**

3 credit hours                      Diversity+

3 credit hours                      Basic Oral Communication+

0-6 credit hours                   Writing across the Curriculum+

*Proficiency may be wholly or partially completed prior to college.

**Students cannot be exempted from this requirement. Students must complete MAT 097 or MAT 098 or the equivalent before taking the Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning required course unless they have completed 3 years of high school math or attained an SAT math score of 460 or and ACT math score of 16.

+Can satisfy multiple requirements.

Intellectual Foundations (2014) Program and Requirements

The Intellectual Foundations 2014 program, or general education, is required of all new and transfer undergraduate students entering Buffalo State College summer 2014 and later.

The Intellectual Foundations program 2014 promotes an understanding of the continuity of human history, the depth of inherited knowledge, the validity of diverse modes of inquiry, the value of artistic expression, and the richness of our collective experience. The purpose of the Intellectual Foundations program is to develop the skills and habits of the mind required for a life of intellectual curiosity and civic engagement.

The courses that meet the Intellectual Foundations requirement are listed in the current Undergraduate College Catalog in the Collegewide Degree Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees section. For current course listings, see http://intellectualfoundations.buffalostate.edu/.

Questions about the Intellectual Foundations requirements should be directed to a student’s department office or Academic Commons.

Categories and Credit Distribution

0-6 credit hours                   Basic Written and Oral: CWP 101 and CWP 102 or equivalent 0-6 credit hours      Global Engagement*: Foreign Language, Proficiency Exam,

Study Abroad, and/or Service Learning Options

3 credit hours                      Cognate Foundations: Arts**

3 credit hours                      Cognate Foundations: Humanities**

3 credit hours                      Cognate Foundations: Natural Sciences**

3 credit hours                      Cognate Foundations: Social Sciences**

3 credit hours                      Foundations of Civilization: American History

3 credit hours                      Foundations of Civilization: Western Civilizations

3 credit hours                      Foundations of Civilization: Non-Western Civilizations 3 credit hours                                          Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning***+

3 credit hours                      Diversity+

0 credit hours                      Intellectual Skills & Competencies: Writing across the Curriculum 0 credit hours      Intellectual Skills & Competencies: Critical Thinking

0 credit hours                      Intellectual Skills & Competencies: Information Management

*Proficiency may be wholly or partially completed prior to college.

**Courses must be outside of the primary major prefix

***Students cannot be exempted from this requirement. Students must complete MAT 097 or MAT 098 or the equivalent before taking the Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning required course unless they have completed 3 years of high school math or attained an SAT math score of 460 or and ACT math score of 16.

+Can satisfy multiple requirements.

Additional Degree Requirements

In addition to the general education coursework, all undergraduate degree candidates must meet the following collegewide graduation requirements:

• Successful completion of required coursework in the declared major.
• Successful completion of at least 120 credit hours, of which at least 45 must be upper division. At least 32 credits must be taken at Buffalo State College.
• Final minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.0.
• Final minimum major GPA or 2.0.
• Final minimum cumulative GPA for courses taken in a minor is 2.0.
• Successful clearing of all I, N, or X grades.

Course Coding System

A character code is used to identify which Intellectual Foundations requirement(s) a course fulfills. The Intellectual Foundations 2006 codes are as follows:

Code                IF 2006 Requirement Area

7          =        Basic Writing

X          =        Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning

J           =        Cognate Foundations: Arts

Q          =        Cognate Foundations: Humanities

K          =        Cognate Foundations: Natural Sciences

Y          =        Cognate Foundations: Social Sciences

I           =        Foundations of Civilizations: American History

4          =        Foundations of Civilizations: Western Civilization

5          =        Foundations of Civilizations: Non-western Civilization

L          =        Technology and Society

8          =        Diversity

P          =        Basic Oral Communication

W         =        Writing Across the Curriculum

F          =        Foreign Language

A four-character code is used to identify which Intellectual Foundations requirement(s) a course fulfills. The Intellectual Foundations 2014 codes are as follows:

Code                IF 2006 Requirement Area WO14  =                      Basic Written and Oral

MQ14   = Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning AR14    =            Cognate Foundations: Arts

HU14    =          Cognate Foundations: Humanities NS14    =          Cognate Foundations: Natural Sciences SS14  =   Cognate Foundations: Social Sciences

AH14    =          Foundations of Civilizations: American History WC14  =          Foundations of Civilizations: Western Civilization

NW14  =          Foundations of Civilizations: Non-western Civilization DI14     =          Diversity

GE14    =          Global Engagement

Department (Major) Requirements

A major consists of no fewer than 24 credit hours and usually no more than 42 credit hours in a particular field of study. Each department sets its own requirements. To receive a degree in a particular major, students must complete at least 6 credit hours in their major at Buffalo State College. Courses and sequences of a major are determined by individual departments with the approval of the College Senate, Academic Affairs, and the President.

Second Majors and Minors

Courses selected to satisfy the general education requirements may be used to fulfill any part of the requirements of a second major or a minor.

Electives

The number of unrestricted elective courses varies according to the individual program. These courses are needed to make up the 120 credit hours required for graduation. Check the individual program requirements to determine the number of electives allowed. These courses are taken in addition to general education Intellectual Foundations (2006 or 2014) and departmental credit hours.

Global Engagement Requirement

Discuss this requirement with your academic adviser. Refer to the Quick Guide at https://intellectualfoundations.buffalostate.edu/sites/intellectualfoundations.buffalostate.edu/fil es/uploads/Fact%20Sheet%20for%20Students_Global%20Engagement_2.pdf for more information. Students can satisfy the Global Engagement requirement through four options:

Option        Description

Option 1      Study a Foreign Language

Option 2      Pass a Proficiency Exam at the Novice-High Level Option 3      Participate in a Study Abroad Experience

Option 4      Participate in a Global at Home and Abroad Experience (Service Learning)

For Option 1, students must demonstrate proficiency in a single foreign language equivalent to the successful completion of one year of college-level work (102-level proficiency or equivalent).

Students who have successfully completed foreign language study on the high school level may register for the appropriate course. Successful completion of one language through the second year in high school satisfies the global engagement requirement. Proficiency in a foreign language also may be achieved by completing 6 credits on the College-Level Examination Program test.

Upper Division Course Requirement

All students must complete a minimum of 45 credit hours of upper-division coursework (300 - 400 levels) to be eligible for graduation. An exception is made for foreign language courses. Specific information can be obtained through the appropriate major departments.

Intellectual Skills and Competencies

Writing, critical thinking, and information management represents a critical components of a Buffalo State education. The infusion of these skills and competencies into all types of courses across the curriculum is widely encouraged.

Basic Writing Requirement

The college requires all matriculated students to demonstrate college-level skills in composition.

Entering freshmen will be placed in the appropriate writing-level course through the College Writing Program’s placement policy. See http://writing.buffalostate.edu/ for the placement policy. Students are placed at one of the three levels:

CWP 099

CWP 101

CWP 102

Basic Writing Exemption

The writing program director will forward any basis writing exemptions to the registrar.

CWP 099 is a noncredit course and may not be used to meet any degree requirements. CWP 099, CWP 101, and CWP 102 will be graded on an A – E basis. A through D are officially passing grades; however courses with a prerequisite of CWP 101 or CWP 102 require a C or higher in the class. This means that a student cannot enroll in CWP 102 until he/she has earned at least a C in CWP 101. Course challenges will not be permitted.

Students who are considering taking a composition course at another institution that they expect will fulfill the Buffalo State basic writing requirement must seek prior permission from the College Writing Program Director. The basic writing requirement is usually completed by the end of the sophomore year.

Basic Writing Requirement for Transfer Students

If two composition courses equivalent to CWP 101 and CWP 102 are transferred, the basic writing requirement is satisfied. If one composition course equivalent to CWP 101 is transferred, the student must complete CWP 102. If no composition courses are transferred, the student must confer with an academic adviser and follow the requirement stated for freshmen. Transfer students must complete the basic writing requirement within their first 45 hours at Buffalo State College.

Basic Writing Requirement for International Students

International students registering at Buffalo State are required to take the placement examination administered by the College Writing Program if they do not have SAT/ACT scores. They must register for the appropriate College Writing Program course(s) designated for English as a Second Language (ESL) students. International students must complete the Basic Writing requirement before declaring a major. Information on these requirements and ESL instruction is available through the International Student Affairs Office. Individual and group supplemental instruction in English as a Second Language is available through the Academic Skills Center.

Graduation Requirements

The Registrar’s Office updated the graduation application process in December 2017. Undergraduate students are able to apply for graduation online through Banner Self-Service. Students are no longer required to drop off paper forms at Moot Hall. Graduate students should visit the Graduate School website for degree applications and information about applying for graduation. Students who apply for graduation after the application deadline will not be charged a fee.

After the application deadline has passed, the Registrar’s Office will review the records of students who have not applied for graduation but are likely to graduate and will administratively register these students for graduation. These students will be alerted via e- mail that they have been registered for graduation and that they may opt out of review for graduation by contacting the Registrar’s Office. All students expecting to qualify for a degree must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Meet all financial obligations to the college and return all college property.
2. Meet all curricular requirements. Students must have completed the prescribed curriculum for their major. If requirements have changed since they were admitted to a program, they may choose to graduate under the old or new requirements.
   a. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all coursework taken at the college. The minimum cumulative GPA for the courses taken in the major field must also be 2.0.
   b. Complete the 33-39 credit hours of Intellectual Foundations requirements.
   c. Completed a minimum of 45 credit hours of upper-division coursework, courses generally considered advanced and numbered 300 – 499.
   d. A minimum of 30 credit hours through the college.
   e. A minimum of 120 academic credit hours must be completed.
3. Education majors leading to certification for teaching in the early childhood and upper-elementary grades must fulfill a drug-education requirement and should file a certification application with the Teacher Certification Office.
4. No students will be cleared for graduation until all grades of I, N, or X have been replaced with an appropriate letter grade.

Undergraduate students can apply for graduation online through Banner Self-Service. Graduate students should visit the Graduate School website for degree applications and information about applying for graduation. Students who apply for graduation after the application deadline will not be charged a fee.

After the application deadline has passed, the Registrar’s Office will review the records of students who have not applied for graduation but are likely to graduate and will administratively register these students for graduation. These students will be alerted via e-mail that they have been registered for graduation and that they may opt out of review for graduation by contacting the Registrar’s Office.

I hereby accept the recommendation of the College Senate and charge the provost with responsibility for overseeing the implementation of this policy change and for communicating the change to the campus community.