Academics
Degree and McDaniel Plan Requirements
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree
Note: Students who declare, change, or add majors, minors, and/or specializations follow program requirements in the catalog in effect for the academic year in which the student was admitted. Should the College impose changes to the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts degree, including the McDaniel Plan, students may request to follow the requirements in a newer catalog; however, students may not request to update to a catalog prior to the academic year in which the student was admitted.
Students must meet the following requirements to graduate from McDaniel College with a Bachelor ‘s degree:
Completion of at least 128 credit hours. The 128 credit hours are distributed among the requirements for Integrated Study in the Liberal Arts, the Major, at least one January Term course, and electives. In keeping with the spirit of a liberal education, it is strongly recommended that no more than 52 credit hours in any one discipline be counted toward the 128 hours required for graduation.
Completion of the requirements of The McDaniel Plan for Integrated Study in the Liberal Arts, including requirements for January Term.
Completion of at least one of the academic majors, including the Capstone Experience, offered by the College with an overall 2.00 GPA in the major. Students must have a 2.00 or better average in all courses required for the major, including supplementary courses outside the department or program of the major. The major GPA for double majors is calculated separately for each department. To complete a double major, students must have at least a 2.00 GPA in each subject area and supplementary courses.
A cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (“C”) or above in all work taken at the College.Completion of the last 32 hours in residence at the College. (See the College Catalog for more information.)
(Transfer students and others seeking advanced placement should consult with the academic directors for more information.)
Certain requirements in Integrated Study in the Liberal Arts, the major, or minor may be satisfied or reduced by earning minimum scores on Advanced Placement (AP) exams, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams, or International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher Level (HL) exams. For a list of minimum scores and corresponding course credit, visit Academic Policies and Grading.
Disclaimer: The College reserves the right to change any provision or requirement at any time within a student’s period of residence.
Academic Program: The McDaniel Plan
The McDaniel Plan provides a liberal education that combines a comprehensive program of general education and a rigorous program in the major, complemented by electives and a range of special opportunities.
Many courses may be counted in fulfillment of more than one requirement. Please consult the listing of courses by department and the McDaniel Plan designation(s) after each course.
I. McDaniel Commitment
The McDaniel Commitment guarantees that every student will engage in strategic, guided exploration to complete a program of courses and experiential learning that will prepare them for personal and professional success.
The McDaniel Commitment has four components—My Place, My Design, My Experience, and My Career—that provide students with a sustained, intensive, and scaffolded process leading to both the identification of career and life goals and the mapping of a path forward to pursue those goals. All students must complete the four components of the McDaniel Commitment.
1. My Place. On the Budapest campus, during new student orientation and in the First-Year Seminar course, first-year students will engage in guided self-discovery, community exploration, and academic planning.
2. My Design. In this 2-credit course normally completed in the first year, students will identify their strengths, life goals, and areas for personal improvement, and learn how the liberal arts can help them identify and achieve their vocation. First-year students should complete My Design during the January Term during their first year and the course fulfills the Jan Term requirement. My Design is a recommended option for transfer students.
3. My Experience. Participation in experiential learning (i.e., courses, internships, study abroad, independent studies designated as EXP) requires the application of classroom knowledge to experiences beyond the traditional classroom setting. All students must complete 2 experiential learning opportunities. Experiential learning requirements are typically fulfilled by an internship, study abroad, Jan Term travel courses, a course with a substantial experiential learning component, summer student-faculty research, peer leadership positions, sustained community service or professional experience, or other approved opportunity. Transfer students must complete at least one requirement.
4. My Career. All students must complete an approved My Career course. MDC-3100: My Career, a one-credit online course typically taken during the senior year, is one option. My Career approved courses in specific disciplines guide students through the next steps for professional success by providing support as they research and identify their next pursuit after graduation (e.g., career, graduate school, fellowship), prepare for interviews, and learn to write resumes and cover letters.
II. Integrated Study in the Liberal Arts
A. First-Year Seminar. First-Year Seminar provides an introduction to the liberal arts and an academic transition to college. It focuses on fundamental skills necessary for academic success: critical thinking, effective writing, analytic reading, and oral communication. FYS also engage students as members of the McDaniel Community by introducing them to important dimensions of the College: the nature of the liberal arts and sciences, the Honor System, academic expectations, information literacy, study skills and time management, and cultural and co-curricular opportunities on campus. All first-year students must enroll in a First-Year Seminar in the fall semester and may not drop or withdraw from the First-Year Seminar course.
B. Intro to College Composition. All first-year students will be given introductory instruction in writing through course work offered by the English Department. Students must complete ENG 1101 with a grade of “C” or higher. If a student does not earn a grade of “C” after their first attempt at taking ENG 1101, they must retake ENG 1101 until earning a grade of “C” or better.
English placement is required for every student except those who submit official scores/transcripts meeting one of the following conditions:
C. Global Citizenship. A McDaniel education is multicultural and international in scope. Students must develop an understanding of the world within and beyond the United States to develop into critical, sensitive, respectful, and compassionate global citizens. To fulfill the Global Citizenship requirement, students must take one course with a multicultural focus, and two courses with an international or cross-cultural focus.
1. Global Citizenship: Multicultural. Multicultural education will give students an understanding of the cultural pluralism of American society or other societies. Multicultural courses focus on the cultures and experiences of diverse groups in the United States and outside the US that have been historically subordinated or marginalized and defined by such categories as race, gender, sexuality, class, religion, and disability. Students must complete one course with a multicultural focus.
2. Global Citizenship: International. International education is a critical component of global education. Students must understand, from contemporary and historical perspectives, their place in the global community and be prepared to navigate ever faster and more complex patterns of social and institutional interaction. International courses examine the perspectives and customs of cultures outside the U.S. or the relationship between the U.S. and world cultures. Students must complete two courses with an international focus. One of these courses must be nonwestern—that is, it must examine the cultures of Asia, Africa, the indigenous Americas, or the Pacific Rim, either exclusively or in explicit comparison with other regions. One of the two courses may be fulfilled by successful completion of an approved program of study abroad.
D. Second language. McDaniel students must demonstrate proficiency in a second language by one of the following:
•placing above the third semester of college-level language instruction through an approved language proficiency examination
•completing a second-semester elementary level language course, e.g. HUN 1102 Elementary Hungarian II
•completing an approved program of second language in a study abroad program
Students whose native language is other than English are exempt from this requirement; however, those students must complete the TOEFL/IELTS requirement.
TOEFL Requirement. All students whose native language is other than English are required to pass the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS test with an appropriate score (a minimum of 80* on the Internet-based TOEFL test or 6.5 band score on the IELTS test) by the end of the sophomore (2nd) year.
* a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 77-79 or IELTS band score of 6.0 may also be acceptable with a balanced distribution of scores among the four sections of the test, plus the passing of a written and oral exam before the English Proficiency Assessment Committee at the Budapest Campus
E. Departmental Writing. Students will further develop their abilities in writing through a program of departmental writing. Each department or major program at the College provides a course or courses or a strategy to develop writing skills appropriate for its majors. Students must complete the requirement in Departmental Writing as indicated in their declared major. In some cases, this is incorporated into the course requirements for the major; in other cases, it is in addition to the requirements for the major. For further information, see the listings for the individual departments and programs or consult with the chair.
F. Critical Inquiries in the Liberal Arts. Critical Inquiry courses explore vital areas of knowledge in ways that stretch students’ abilities to inquire and imagine. They focus on key practices and methodologies that are central to the academic search for knowledge and are designed to advance the capacity for clear, critical and creative thinking and communication across the breadth of the liberal arts. The areas of knowledge covered by these categories are important for the development of thoughtful, informed, and imaginative citizens. Students must take a total of seven courses in Critical Inquiries. Although some courses may count toward several different categories, a given course may be used in fulfillment of only one category.
1. Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning. Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning courses explore various areas of scientific knowledge and quantitative analysis. Scientific Inquiry courses teach students how scientists ask particular questions and the methods by which they attempt to answer these questions. Quantitative Reasoning courses teach students how to think logically and how to analyze problems. They provide students with the ability to read and use quantitative data, interpret quantitative evidence, and apply basic quantitative skills to problem solving. Students must take three classes in Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning: these three must include one course in Quantitative Reasoning and one Scientific Inquiry course that includes an approved laboratory component.
2. Social, Cultural, and Historical Understanding. Courses in Social, Cultural, and Historical Understanding explore the richness of human experience. These courses examine the myriad dimensions of human experience and achievement—ethical, historical, political, psychological, religious, and social—and teach students the methods of research and theoretical analysis necessary for the study of individuals, societies, or cultures. Students must take one course in Social, Cultural, and Historical Understanding.
3. Textual Analysis and Creative Expression. Human creativity may be defined by and explored from a broad range of disciplinary perspectives—the humanities, sciences, and the fine arts. Creativity usually results in new insights, understanding or aesthetic appreciation. Courses in this category require students to examine creativity from different perspectives. Textual Analysis courses focus on the interpretation of written texts. They provide students with extensive practice in the art of reading and close analysis of sophisticated writing. Creative Expression courses focus on the interpretation of creative texts or products, or on the reflective participation in the creative process itself. Students must take one course in Textual Analysis and one course in Creative Expression.
G. January Term. January Term (Jan Term) is a three-week term between the fall and spring semesters in which students and faculty explore new areas and expand their intellectual horizons. Students choose from specially designed courses offered on and off campus. Some students take advantage of Jan Term for independent off-campus study or join one of the popular study tours abroad.
All students, except transfer students, must complete one two-credit Jan Term course. This requirement can be met by My Design if it is completed during Jan Term. For a list of Jan Term courses, use Self-service, Search for Classes in the portal.
III. The Major
All students must complete a major. Each major offers a basic program, generally involving up to 50 credit hours of required course work within a single discipline and sometimes from supplementary disciplines. The McDaniel Plan provides a liberal education that combines proportionate general education and major programs of study, in addition to complementary electives and a range of special opportunities. In keeping with the spirit of a liberal education, it is strongly recommended that no more than 52 credit hours in any one discipline be counted toward the 128 hours required for graduation. A student must have a 2.00 or better average (on a 4.00 scale) in courses required for the major. In addition to the basic major, many departments offer additional programs that involve particular courses to help students focus on or achieve specific goals.
A double major, which requires the completion of all requirements in two separate majors, is allowed. Students who successfully complete more than one major under the Bachelor of Arts receive one diploma.
New students may declare a major at the time of intake. Second-semester sophomores who have not selected a major must do so. Please see the academic directors for more information.
IV. Electives and Special Opportunities
Electives
In addition to completing the McDaniel Plan required courses for Integrated Study and the Major, students are encouraged to take electives courses in departments across the College. Electives should be selected with care and imagination in consultation with the academic advisor to provide valuable perspectives, information, and skills.
Student-Designed Major and Minor
The option of a student-designed major/minor is available to students whose academic interests and goals cannot be served by existing programs. Such a major/minor, designed by the student to meet particular goals, must be comparable in size and expectation to the conventional major/minor. Particularly, it must be cohesive, integrated, and possess significant breadth and depth. For more information about this, please see the academic directors.