Optional Placement Test in Calculus
Advanced Placement Credit
International Baccalaureate and A-Levels
Acreditation Examinations
Credit for Courses Taken at Other Institutions
Academic Advising
College Advisers
Program: Area Counselor, Office, Extension
A Summary of Credit
In order to earn a degree from the College of the University of Chicago, a student must obtain credit for at least forty-two quarter courses, distributed among general education requirements, concentration requirements, and electives, as described in the previous section. All students receive credit toward their degrees by taking courses in the College. In addition, students may receive credit in the following ways: by placement test; by Advanced Placement (AP) examination; by accreditation examination; and by advanced standing, which is credit transferred from another institution. The limits and conditions placed on credit earned in these various ways are explained in the sections below. A student must complete a minimum of eighteen quarter courses in the College to graduate with a degree from the University of Chicago. At least half of the concentration courses must be taken at the University.
Placement Tests
Placement tests serve to adapt the needs and backgrounds of individual students to the College curriculum. They place entering students at the proper level of study in a given subject and may be used to award academic credit where appropriate. On the one hand, placement tests minimize the repetition of subjects already mastered and, on the other, they reduce the possibility that students might begin their programs with courses for which they are inadequately prepared. Placement tests measure skill in problem solving as well as general knowledge in a subject field. Students who have some background in the areas being tested are urged to review it, but incoming students without such knowledge are not expected to acquire it over the summer preceding entrance.
The College administers placement tests to entering students only during Orientation Week in late September. Placement tests may not be taken at a later date. Over the summer, information that describes these tests in detail is sent to all incoming first-year and transfer students.
Optional Placement Tests in Foreign Languages. Students who have studied any of the foreign languages below should take placement tests in those languages, even if they do not plan to continue the study of any of them. Students are free to begin another language in the College rather than continue in the language(s) taken for placement. Placement tests are offered in the following languages: Chinese, French, German, Classical Greek, Modern Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish.
Required Placement Test in Mathematics. On the basis of their performance on the required mathematics placement test, students begin their mathematics education in the College with one of the precalculus courses, with one of the two nonhonors variants of 100-level calculus, or with one of the approved noncalculus courses. Students who do not place into calculus must take the appropriate precalculus mathematics courses (through Mathematics 102 or 106) before taking any other courses offered by the Physical Sciences Collegiate Division. Precalculus is also prerequisite to the natural sciences sequences. The mathematics placement test covers all facets of precalculus mathematics: arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, and analytic geometry.
Optional Placement Test in Calculus. Entering students may take the optional calculus placement test and, on the basis of their performance, begin mathematics at a level higher than that indicated by their scores on the required placement test in mathematics or by their scores on the AP calculus examinations. Students with any knowledge whatever of calculus are urged to take this test, even though it is not required. NOTE: Students who wish to register for Mathematics 161-162-163 (Honors Calculus) or for Physics 141-142-143 (Honors Physics) must take this test.
Placement Test in Physical Sciences. Students who plan to concentrate in the biological sciences or the physical sciences fulfill their Common Core requirement in the physical sciences by passing a three-quarter sequence of 100-level courses in either chemistry or physics. The physical sciences placement test is required of students who seek to enroll in 100-level courses in chemistry or physics. Their performance on the physical sciences and mathematics placement tests will determine the chemistry and physics sequences for which they are eligible. A high score on the physical sciences test confers credit for three quarters of electives for students concentrating in the biological or physical sciences. Students who wish to register for Physics 141-142-143 must also take the calculus placement test.
This test is optional for students whose probable field of concentration is in the Humanities, Social Sciences, or New Collegiate divisions. For such students, a high score on this test confers credit for a three-quarter sequence of physical sciences courses in the Common Core.
Optional Placement Test in the Biological Sciences. The optional placement test in the biological sciences measures understanding of basic concepts of evolution, heredity, and regulation of processes at the macromolecular, cellular, organismic, and population levels. On the basis of their performance, students may place out of the Common Core requirement in the Biological Sciences. Students who concentrate in the biological sciences may use this credit to satisfy their Common Core biological sciences requirement; however, they must complete one of the Biological Sciences 170s, 180s, or 190s sequences as part of their concentration requirements.
Students who request college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) courses taken in high school (that is, before a student matriculates in the College) are asked to submit an official report of their scores on the AP tests given by the College Entrance Examination Board. In most cases, credit is granted for a score of 4 or 5. The decision to grant credit is reported at the end of the first quarter in residence and units of credit awarded appear on the student's official academic record.
The credits earned may reduce the number of courses required for graduation and may be applied in various ways in the forty-two-course program. AP credit may meet certain of the Common Core requirements in general education. For example, AP credit in chemistry or physics will excuse a student from some or all of the Common Core physical sciences requirement, AP credit in biology will excuse a student from Common Core biology, and AP credit in foreign language will excuse a student from some or all of the foreign language requirement. Other AP credits may be considered elective credits provided that no more than six AP and/or College placement credits are used in this way.
While AP scores alone are sometimes used to establish placement or to confer credit, satisfactory performance on the College's own placement tests may supplement AP scores and lead to additional credit.
For further information on AP credit and how it relates to the Chicago degree program, a student should consult his or her College adviser or the appropriate faculty counselor.
AP in Biology. A score of 4 or 5 on the AP biology exam gives credit for the Common Core biological sciences requirement. Students who concentrate in the biological sciences may use this credit to satisfy their Common Core biological sciences requirement; however, students must complete one of the Biological Sciences 170s, 180s, or 190s sequences as part of their concentration.
AP in Chemistry. A score of 5 on the AP chemistry test gives credit for Chemistry 111-112-113. A score of 4 on the AP chemistry test gives credit for the physical sciences Common Core requirement for students whose field of concentration is in the Humanities, Social Sciences, or New Collegiate divisions.
AP in French. A score of 4 on the French language AP exam confers credit for French 101-102-103, and a score of 5 on the exam confers credit for French 101-102-103-201, if no further course work in French is taken. A score of 4 or 5 on the French literature AP exam also gives credit for French 101-102-103-201 if no further course work in French is taken.
AP in German. Credit for German 101-102-103 is earned by a score of 4 on the German language exam; a score of 5 on this test gives credit for German 101-102-103-201.
AP in Latin. A score of 4 on the Latin AP exam earns credit for Latin 101-102-103. Credit for Latin 101-102-103-204 is given for a score of 5 on the Latin AP exam.
AP in Mathematics. Students who submit a score of 5 on the AB AP exam in mathematics or a score of 4 on the BC AP exam in mathematics will receive credit for Mathematics 151. Students who submit a score of 5 on the BC AP exam in mathematics will receive credit for Mathematics 151 and 152. Students who wish to receive credit for Mathematics 153 or to register for Mathematics 161-162-163 or Physics 141-142-143 are required to take the optional calculus placement exam during Orientation.
AP in Physics. A score of 4 or 5 on the AP Physics C (Mechanics) test confers credit for Physics 121, and a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Physics C (Electricity and Magnetism) test confers credit for Physics 122, while a score of 4 or 5 on both parts of the AP Physics C test gives credit for the entire sequence, Physics 121-122-123. Additional laboratory work may be required. A score of 3 on both parts of the Physics C exam confers credit for the physical sciences Common Core requirement for students whose area of concentration is in the Humanities, Social Sciences, or New Collegiate divisions. NOTE: Students planning to concentrate in physics must forgo their AP credit and register for Physics 131-132-133 or Physics 141-142-143.
AP in Spanish. A score of 4 or 5 on the Spanish AP language or literature exam confers credit for Spanish 101-102-103-201 if no further course work in Spanish is taken. Students who have received scores of 4 or 5 on these AP language tests should note that a strong performance on the College's own placement test may confer additional credit.
AP in Other Areas. A score of 4 or 5 on other AP examinations in yearlong courses, such as U.S. History, European History, Art History, English Language, English Literature, Government and Politics, Computer Science, and Micro- and Macroeconomics, confers credit for three elective courses for each examination, thereby reducing the number of required electives. However, no more than a total of six credits may be earned by any combination of AP, accreditation, and placement credit.
International Baccalaureate and A-levels
Credit earned for courses in International Baccalaureate (IB) programs may be applied to certain Common Core requirements or to elective requirements. Grades of 6 or 7 on Higher-level IB exams will give credit analogous to the AP credit described above. Satisfactory performance on the College's placement tests may supplement IB scores and lead to additional credit. Students should note that special circumstances, as described under AP credit, apply to mathematics, chemistry, and physics. It is the student's responsibility to have IB exam scores sent to the Office of the Dean of Students in the College.
The College Curriculum Committee considers petitions for credit earned by A-level and other international examinations.
Credit is available by accreditation examinations to those students who have already studied certain subjects at the college level. Examinations are set by the appropriate faculty at the beginning of each quarter in which equivalent Chicago courses are offered. In the case of a course where both experimental and theoretical skills are involved, students may be required to fulfill the laboratory portion along with the rest of the class.
College credit achieved by accreditation examination is entered as units of credit on the student's official academic record. Letter grades are not assigned. An accreditation examination may be taken only once.
Chemistry. Students who are exceptionally well prepared in chemistry may earn credit for one or more quarters of chemistry on the basis of AP scores or accreditation examinations. More information is available under the heading Advanced Placement and Accreditation in the chemistry section.
Physics. Accreditation examinations are given for the content of Physics 121, 122, and 123 and Physics 141, 142, and 143. Students who pass the first examination (for Physics 121 or 141) will receive credit for the lecture part of the course only and are then eligible to try the next examination in the series. Entering students who have taken AP physics in high school but who do not receive AP credit from the College (and who do not plan to concentrate in physics) may take the Physics 121 accreditation exam. Students who receive AP credit for Physics 121-122-123 but whose planned concentration requires Physics 131-132-133 or Physics 141-142-143 are eligible to take the Physics 141 exam. Entering transfer students who choose a concentration requiring physics but who are not granted transfer credit for a completed calculus-based introductory physics course sequence may also be required to take one of these accreditation exams. NOTE: Accreditation exams in physics confer credit only for the lecture portion of the courses; additional laboratory work may be required. See further discussion under "Advanced Placement" in the physics section of the catalog.
Foreign Languages. (See also the preceding section on foreign language placement tests.) Accreditation examinations are available in foreign languages regularly taught at the University.
Students wishing to take such an accreditation examination must submit a petition to the Office of the Humanities Collegiate Division (G-B 129), which will then make arrangements for scheduling the examination and reporting the results. Please note that the examination in Biblical Hebrew is distinct from those in post-Biblical and modern Hebrew. Although students who perform well on these exams will receive appropriate course credit, they may not add these course credits together to satisfy a language requirement in Hebrew.
See the Foreign Languages in the Curriculum section for a list of languages for which accreditation examinations are regularly available. Students who are native speakers of one these languages must demonstrate adult literacy in the accreditation examination.
Courses Taken Elsewhere While in a Degree Program at the University of Chicago. Students who wish to take courses at other institutions after they enter the College should discuss their plans with their advisers. Before registering for course work elsewhere, students must submit to the Office of the Dean of Students course descriptions and a petition requesting tentative approval for transfer credit to be applied toward their graduation requirements. Upon completion of the course work, students should have an official transcript sent to the Office of the Dean of Students. Credit for language courses must be validated by accreditation examinations. Depending on the student's concentration and on the level of work to be evaluated, credit for some courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics may also be subject to examination. Only courses similar to those taught in the College may transfer; professional or technical courses do not transfer. Transfer credit is listed on the student's transcript only as units of credit.
NOTE: More than half the courses required by a student's concentration program must be taken at the University.
Courses Taken While in a Degree Program Elsewhere. Students transferring from other institutions must complete a minimum of eighteen courses in the College and must be in residence for at least six quarters. Generally, the College grants transfer credit for liberal arts courses carrying at least three semester hours or four quarter hours of credit and passed with a grade of C or better (in some cases, B or better) from an accredited institution.
Transfer credit is listed on the student's University of Chicago transcript only as units of credit. Courses and grades are not listed, nor do transferred courses contribute to the student's University of Chicago grade point average. Credit for courses in precalculus and calculus mathematics and in foreign language must be validated by College placement examinations. Depending on the student's concentration and on the level of work to be evaluated, credit for some courses in chemistry, physics, and biology may also be subject to examination.
Professional or technical courses, such as journalism, business, law, musical performance, speech, and nursing do not transfer; only courses similar to those taught in the College may transfer. The College grants credit for CEEB Advanced Placement examinations with scores of 4 or 5, but not for CLEP, USAFI, or correspondence course work.
Most transfer students can complete their studies with no more than one extra quarter beyond the usual four college years, although this may depend on how course work elsewhere relates to the structure of a Chicago degree program. College housing and financial aid are available to all transfer students. After matriculation in the College, transfer students may not earn additional credits from schools other than the University of Chicago, except for foreign study programs sponsored by the University of Chicago. However, these foreign study courses cannot count toward the minimum of eighteen courses that are required to be taken in the College.
NOTE: More than half the courses required by a student's concentration program must be taken at the University.
The College. Every student is assigned to an academic adviser on the staff of the dean of students in the College. The professional staff offers support to students as they address the whole range of decisions they will make throughout the college years. Working with an adviser, each student discovers how to pursue his or her own interests in relation to the curricular requirements of the College.
The College adviser's foremost responsibility is to help students map out an appropriate program of study leading to a degree in the selected area of concentration. Advisers are familiar with College academic procedures, such as the interpretation of AP and placement test results and the details of course registration, and they understand University rules and regulations. Students with questions about the Collegiate Divisions, the concentration programs, and the various special options and degree programs described in this catalog should not hesitate to consult their College advisers.
Because advisers know the College and campus life well, they can also help students with other kinds of questions, either directly or by referral to appropriate sources of advice. For example, if students need additional help in biology, chemistry, mathematics, or writing, their advisers can refer them to tutors. Advisers are also a good first source of help with problems, personal and otherwise, that arise from time to time.
In addition, advisers help students learn about and select among the many educational programs and opportunities available in the University community. Some advisers have special responsibility for a particular area of expertise such as foreign study, fellowships and scholarships, and careers in the health professions, law, or business. Advisers will help students learn about application procedures for fellowships, schools, and jobs, and can assist students in planning for graduate work and careers.
Dean of Students in the College
Katie Nash, HM 281, 2-8629
Associate Deans of Students
Lewis Fortner, HM 286, 2-8613
Ann Harvilla, HM 265 2-0866
Manfred D. E. Ruddat, HM 254, 2-8623
Jean Treese, HM 235, 2-8614
Keith Anderson, HM 263, 2-9483
Susan Art, Asst. Dean of Students, HM 268, 2-8609
Tim Blackman, HM 252, 2-9134
Grace Chan, HM 237, 2-8621
Cynthia Fearn, HM 272, 2-3818
Kathleen Forde, HM 266, 2-0569
Nancy Gilpin, HM 233, 2-8612
Ronald Gorny, HM 264, 2-8624
Audrey Grzywinski, HM 269, 2-8610
Eleanor Hannah, HM 273, 2-8622
Shawn Hawk, HM 270, 2-8619
David Owen, HM 267, 2-3213
Douglas Patton, HM 271, 2-3419
Eileen Talluto HM 262 2-7830
The Collegiate Divisions. The master of each Collegiate Division administers curricular and faculty matters for the Division and oversees the offerings of the Common Core. The senior adviser of each Collegiate Division, with the aid of appropriate faculty committees, provides direction for College advisers and students when questions arise in planning student programs, interpreting requirements, and evaluating work done elsewhere.
Biological Sciences
Master, José Quintans, BSLC 104A, 2-7964
Administrative Assistant, G. Karen Shrode, BSLC 104C, 2-7962
Senior Adviser, Manfred D. E. Ruddat, HM 254, 2-8623
Humanities
Master, Philippe Desan, HM 230, 2-8030
Administrative Assistant, Rose Watson, HM 228, 2-8032
Senior Adviser, Herman Sinaiko, G-B 505, 2-7987
New Collegiate Division
Master and Senior Adviser, Dennis Hutchinson, C 330, 2-3093
Secretary, Delores A. Jackson, C 330, 2-7148
Physical Sciences
Master and Senior Adviser, Peter O. Vandervoort, HM 222, 2-8320
Administrative Assistant, Sheila Naughten, HM 224, 2-8321
Social Sciences
Master, To be announced, HM 250, 2-7925
Administrative Assistant, Toni Ewing, HM 248, 2-7925
Senior Adviser, To be announced,
The Concentrations. Questions specific to the areas of concentration or special programs are usually directed to the faculty counselors (variously known as directors of undergraduate studies, departmental counselors, or concentration chairmen) attached to the various programs. Once students have decided on a field of concentration, they should consult the appropriate counselor as soon as possible regarding their plans and the satisfaction of concentration requirements. Up-to-date information on how to reach faculty counselors is available at the Advisers' Appointment Desk (HM 280).
Program: Area Counselor, Office, Extension
African and African-American Studies: Andrew H. Apter, H 318, 2-7735
Anthropology: Ralph Nicholas, H 314, 2-7721
Art and Design: Thomas Mapp, M, 753-4821
Art History: Thomas Cummins, CWAC 262, 2-0262
Biological Chemistry: Laurie Butler, RI 207A, 2-7206
Marvin Makinen, CLSC 359, 2-1080
Biological Sciences: Manfred D. E. Ruddat, HM 254, 2-8623
Chemistry: Laurie Butler, RI 207A, 2-7206
Cinema and Media Studies: Miriam Hansen, G-B 330, 2-8028
Classical Studies: Elizabeth Asmis, Cl 25B, 2-8517
Comparative Literatures: Françoise Meltzer, HME 688E, 2-8474
Computer Science: Donald E. Crabb, Ry 161B, 2-7173
Early Christian Literature: Jonathan Z. Smith, HM W403, 2-6022
East Asian Languages: Anthony C. Yu, S 330A, 2-8245
and Civilizations
Economics: D. Gale Johnson, SS 421, 2-8251
Robert Lucas SS 410, 2-8179
Grace Tsiang, SS 508, 2-3410
English: Lisa Ruddick, G-B 308, 2-8024
Environmental Studies: Theodore L. Steck, CLSC 721, 2-1329
Fundamentals: Issues and Texts: Leon R. Kass, HM E482, 2-8571
General Studies in the Humanities: Herman L. Sinaiko, G-B 505, 2-7987
Geography: Marvin Mikesell, P 323, 2-8313
Geophysical Sciences: Douglas R. MacAyeal, HGS 413, 2-8027
Germanic Studies: Andreas Gailus, G-B 406, 2-8023
History: Rashid Khalidi, P 202, 2-3013
History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Science and Medicine: Robert
J. Richards, SS 205, 2-8391
Jewish Studies: Michael Fishbane, S 205, 2-8234
Latin American Studies: Beatriz Riefkohl, KY 308, 2-8420
Law, Letters, and Society: Dennis J. Hutchinson, LBQ 411, 2-9575
Linguistics: Gene B. Gragg, Or 316, 2-9511
Mathematics: Diane L. Herrmann, E 212, 2-7332
Medieval Studies: Christina von Nolcken, G-B 331, 2-7977
Music: To be announced Go H 309, 2-8484
Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations: Gene B. Gragg, Or 316, 2-9511
Philosophy: Ted Cohen, HM W502, 2-8506
Physics: Joseph J. O'Gallagher, KPTC 201C, 2-7007
Political Science: Stephen Walt, P 518A, 2-8868
Psychology: Starkey Duncan, Br 204, 2-8862
Public Policy Studies: Richard Taub , G-B 223, 2-7927
Religion and the Humanities: Jonathan Z. Smith, HM W403, 2-6022
Romance Languages and Literatures: Elissa Weaver, Wb 205D, 2-8481
Russian and Other Slavic Languages and Literatures: Bill J. Darden, F 405,
2-8033
Russian Civilization: Richard Hellie, SS 204A, 2-8377
Sociology: Gerald Suttles, SS 325, 2-8685
Linda Waite, 1155 60th, 753-7381
South Asian Languages and Civilizations: Clinton Seely, F 213, 2-8645
South Asian Studies: Lloyd Rudolph, P 422A, 2-8056
Statistics: Per A. Mykland, E 128, 2-8044
Tutorial Studies: Dennis J. Hutchinson, C 328, 2-3093