weinberg.northwestern.edu

The Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences—oldest of Northwestern’s 12 schools—has been the center of the University’s academic and intellectual life since the 1850s. Weinberg College offers a liberal arts education that combines broad exposure to the insights and methods of multiple academic disciplines with focused study in one or more areas. The Weinberg College faculty is dedicated to superior teaching informed by advanced research. Nearly all members of the faculty, including the most senior, regularly teach undergraduates in a curriculum that includes seminars, lectures, supervised laboratory experiences, field studies, and other forms of instruction. Undergraduate students in arts and sciences enjoy a great deal of choice, with access to departments and programs offering majors, adjunct majors, and minors. Among these are several majors and minors that are interdisciplinary within the College or represent curricular collaboration across schools.

The Weinberg College degree requirements are guided by a set of overarching imperatives that students develop in their undergraduate studies and continuously throughout their lives - observe, critique, reflect, and express. Rather than representing distinct skills or competencies that can be clearly delineated from each other, we view this set of four imperatives as characterizing the active process of understanding, or intellection, that Weinberg students develop in their courses as well as in their extra- and co-curricular activities. The result is an interdisciplinary degree that prepares students for success in a complex world. Beginning in 2023 new students will achieve these College goals through the fulfillment of a set of degree requirements that are themselves driven by learning goals established by the Weinberg College faculty. Distinct as they are, these requirements are interconnected.

Students complete a major by the time they graduate; intensive coursework in a major develops an understanding of advanced concepts and lays the groundwork for original research. Deep study of one subject leads to mastery of the College learning goals in the context of a particular academic discipline. But in addition to their major, Weinberg students do much more.

All incoming first-year students take a College seminar in the fall. The College seminar is where most students create their first Northwestern community as they acclimate to Northwestern together and develop the academic and life skills that will help them thrive for the next four years. In College seminars, the goals of observation, critique, reflection, and expression are introduced.

All students will demonstrate at least an intermediate proficiency in a language other than English, enhancing their ability to communicate, as well as experience another culture through its language. As students gain proficiency in a language other than English, they will hone skills of reflection and expression.

Students take courses across six foundational disciplines that span the entire Weinberg curriculum. In doing so they look through a multitude of disciplinary and interdisciplinary lenses and acquire breadth in the arts and sciences. Foundational disciplines support the College learning goals, with the emphasis varying across the individual disciplines.

By taking two courses in perspectives on power, justice, and equity (one from a U.S. perspective, one a global perspective) Weinberg students observe and critique structures and histories that have created inequities and injustices and reflect on their own position in these structures and histories.

Through a two-part requirement in written and oral expression, students advance their analytical and critical skills, as well as their ability to express themselves in (for example) a well-crafted written argument, an oral presentation, or in an artistic medium. In first-year writing seminars, students improve skills in critique and expression. As students fulfill advanced expression, they master goals of expression.

Beyond the degree requirements, a period of study abroad is encouraged in order to develop firsthand knowledge of other cultures and greater intellectual and personal independence. Students are also encouraged to undertake independent research projects that help them move beyond coursework and synthesize what they learn in their majors. Undergraduate research opportunities abound for Weinberg students, as well as robust funding, especially for summer research projects. Students can experience the excitement of discovery in the sciences, humanities, and social sciences through special projects developed under faculty guidance or by assisting faculty in their research. Northwestern's strong undergraduate preprofessional schools and its graduate and professional schools offer liberal arts students enhanced opportunities to extend their interdisciplinary studies and pursue applied work in several areas. In some cases this may lead to a minor or a certificate. The University's outstanding libraries and its research centers further support and enrich the educational pursuits of liberal arts undergraduates.

Our data show that Weinberg College graduates are equipped to launch careers and explore options in a rapidly changing work environment that values the critical thinking skills, communication skills, intellectual nimbleness, and ability to think empathically that they have cultivated throughout their studies in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts

NOTE: This Catalog describes Weinberg College BA requirements that pertain to students who matriculated at Northwestern after spring quarter 2023. Refer to the Archives if you are following BA requirements described in the 2018-2019 through 2022-2023 editions.

Weinberg College offers courses of study in the arts and sciences leading to the degree of bachelor of arts. Students have extensive flexibility in structuring their academic programs within a framework of general education and major requirements specified in this catalog, which collectively support the learning goals for the degree: observe, critique, reflect, and express. Curriculum planning guidance is available from several sources; see Academic Advising.

To earn the bachelor of arts degree, students:

• Complete a College seminar in fall quarter of the first year
• Satisfy the two-course requirement in written and oral expression by completing a first-year writing seminar, and later, a course meeting the advanced expression requirement
• Demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English
• Satisfy foundational disciplines via two units of course credit in each of six intellectual areas, for a total of 12 units
• Complete two courses addressing perspectives on power, justice, and equity, one focused on the U.S. and one with a global focus
• Complete the requirements of a Weinberg College major
• Meet or exceed the College- and the University-specified numbers and types of credits and quarters
• Meet or exceed grade requirements

Completion of these requirements ensures that students acquire important skills and gain breadth of knowledge spanning multiple disciplines, while also acquiring depth of understanding through intensive study within one area. Students may determine whether a course fits a certain requirement or requirements based on text in this Catalog, lists of approved courses on the Weinberg College website describing these requirements, and notations in the quarterly class listings on CAESAR and other Registrar's Office documentation. Weinberg College departments and programs frequently include supplemental information about courses applicable to majors and minors on their webpages.

College Seminar

Students take a College seminar in the fall quarter of their first year. In these small, discussion-oriented classes offered by many departments and programs, students explore a single topic or theme while also reflecting on the college environment and enhancing skills such as spoken and written communication, time management, and help-seeking that are necessary to thriving at Northwestern. College seminar instructors also serve as their students' first advisers in the College.

These seminars ordinarily supple­ment rather than replace standard introductory courses and usually do not provide the preparation necessary for advanced work in a field; most departments and programs exclude them from counting towards major or minor requirements.

Students admitted to the Kaplan Humanities Scholars Program take a seminar linked to a second course aligned with one of the foundational disciplines; students admitted into the Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences program complete the College seminar requirement as part of their first year MMSS coursework.

See also Policies and Grade Requirements pertaining to College seminars.

Written and Oral Expression

All Weinberg College students must take courses designed to improve their ability to articulate their ideas in oral, written, visual, digital, and other media. In these courses (two units, one designated first-year writing seminar, and one course satisfying the advanced expression requirement) students assemble narratives, explanations, data, and arguments that navigate carefully ordered evidence. In addition to the information below, see also Policies and Grade Requirements pertaining to the written and oral expression requirement.

First-Year Writing Seminar

Students are introduced to the basics of expression by completing a first-year writing seminar in winter or spring of their first year. These build on the base established by the College seminar, and special attention is paid to the process of writing and revision. These writing seminars ordinarily supple­ment rather than replace standard introductory courses and usually do not provide the preparation necessary for advanced work in a field; most departments and programs exclude them from counting towards major or minor requirements.

Advanced Expression

Higher-level proficiency in written and oral expression is demonstrated through completion of the advanced expression requirement. Courses meeting the learning objectives of the advanced expression requirement provide students with an opportunity to enhance their skills and to demonstrate high-level achievement in their ability to articulate their ideas and convey arguments through carefully ordered evidence. Courses are typically at the 300-level and taken after the first year. Some allow students to demonstrate their skill via work in a language other than English. Many departments and programs have course options available within a major, but students may also meet the advanced expression requirement with a course outside of their major. More information and a list of courses can be found in this catalog under Advanced Expression.

Proficiency in a Language other than English

Weinberg College students must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English at a level equivalent to two years of college-level language instruction (or higher). Proficiency includes the ability to make oneself understood in a language and in turn, understand others; knowledge and understanding of the history and culture of the community or communities in which that language is the primary means of communication; and the ability to function in culturally-appropriate ways within a community or communities using that language.

Ways to demonstrate language proficiency:

• Successful completion of designated Northwestern coursework (see also Policies and Grade Requirements pertaining to courses used to demonstrate proficiency)
• Submitting a designated score on a College Board Advanced Placement Examination
• Passing a regularly-scheduled Northwestern-administered placement examination (schedule varies, and departments may limit the number of times a placement examination may be taken; consult the relevant department for details)
• Providing required documentation that secondary schooling was completed in a language other than English
• Students who believe they are proficient in a language not regularly taught at Northwestern may petition to arrange a special placement examination in that language.

Additional details can be found on the Weinberg College website under Proficiency in a Language Other Than English. Students with professionally-diagnosed disabilities related to language acquisition should contact AccessibleNU about possible accommodations.

Foundational Disciplines

To ensure breadth of education and achieve learning objectives that support the BA learning goals, Weinberg College students must complete two academic units of credit representing each of the six foundational disciplines listed below, for a total of 12 foundational discipline course units. Each category is normally completed by taking two distinct Northwestern courses that have been formally approved by faculty governance process as supporting the area learning objectives. If a single Northwestern course approved for a foundational discipline is worth more than one unit of credit, only one of those units may be directed to the foundational discipline area. Non-Northwestern credits are generally not applicable towards foundational disciplines, but see Policies for exceptions and additional rules. See also Grade Requirements pertaining to foundational disciplines.

Natural Sciences (FD-NS)

Courses in this foundational discipline convey our current understanding of the natural world and the methods by which this understanding is achieved through systematic hypothesis testing. Students learn to appreciate the evidence of our current understanding of nature; the scientific process; and the implications, utility, and limitations of scientific inquiry. A more complete description with learning objectives and list of courses, can be found under Natural Sciences.

Empirical and Deductive Reasoning (FD-EDR)

We learn about the world in two main ways: empirically, from observations, and by making logical deductions from what we already know or conjecture. Courses in this foundational discipline teach students to use these two modes of inference and to recognize both their power and their limitations. A more complete description with learning objectives and list of courses, can be found under Empirical and Deductive Reasoning.

Social and Behavioral Sciences (FD-SBS)

Social scientists use qualitative and quantitative methodologies to help us understand how we influence, and are influenced by, societal forces. Courses in this foundational discipline teach students about theories, methodological approaches, and empirical research findings pertaining to human experience, from the level of the individual to that of familial, cultural, political, and institutional structures. A more complete description with learning objectives and list of courses, can be found under Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Historical Studies (FD-HS)

Courses in this foundational discipline examine change over time in a wide variety of spheres, including beliefs, cultures, economics, intellectual thought, politics, and society. Students learn critical methods including: evaluation of evidence, understanding conditions under which historical actors operated, comprehending cause and consequence, tracing patterns, comparative analysis of sources, and historical argumentation. A more complete description with learning objectives and list of courses, can be found under Historical Studies.

Ethical and Evaluative Thinking (FD-EET)

All human cultures have produced systems of thought and belief concerning ways of being in the world and relating to one another. Courses in this foundational discipline help students recognize and reflect on ethical and evaluative questions, become aware of what standards they bring to bear in answering them, appreciate and respect their own and other cultural systems, and work through disagreements with others. A more complete description with learning objectives and list of courses, can be found under Ethical and Evaluative Thinking.

Literature and Arts (FD-LA)

Through courses in this foundational discipline, students come to understand and appreciate a range of artistic forms and media. They learn to describe, value, and critique artistic works; to identify and query the ideas and perspectives they represent; and to consider them as practices through which human beings have attempted to explore and transform their worlds. Students also develop essential skills in critical thinking and cultural analysis. A more complete description with learning objectives and list of courses, can be found under Literature and Arts.

Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity

This two-part (2 unit) transdisciplinary requirement is designed to infuse the Weinberg College curriculum with active discussions about how to navigate the local-global continuum amidst the complex and highly dynamic social and political movements of today and in the past. Students take one each from U.S. Perspectives and Global Perspectives categories. These courses ask students to reflect on their own perspectives as necessarily the product of interconnected webs of people, ideas, and events. Non-Northwestern courses are generally not applicable towards this requirement, but see Policies for exceptions and additional rules. See also Grade Requirements pertaining to the perspectives requirement. A more complete description, with learning objectives and lists of courses, can be found in this catalog under Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity.

Major Study Requirement

All students must fulfill the requirements of a Weinberg College major, which should be declared by the end of sophomore year. Requirements for majors are described in detail in the department and program sections of this catalog. Completion of an adjunct major (see Options & Support) does not satisfy the major study requirement, but adjunct majors, designed to be completed alongside a regular major, are otherwise governed by the same policies that pertain to other College majors. See Policies and Grade Requirements pertaining to College majors.

Most majors are declared by meeting with a designated department or program adviser to discuss opportunities and requirements, develop a course plan, and complete a Declaration of Major Form. Limited-admission majors require a special application; these include American studies, creative writing, integrated science, legal studies, and the adjunct major mathematical methods in the social sciences.

Occasionally Weinberg College students with well-defined interests are led to programs of study that do not fit neatly into a traditional major. They may develop a proposal for an ad hoc major that brings together courses from various Weinberg College departments and programs. Ad hoc majors must be approved by the Weinberg College Curricular Review Committee. For more information contact the Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising.

Units of Credit and Quarters of Enrollment

University and College policies specify that students spend a certain number of quarters at Northwestern and identify the total amount and type of credit needed to graduate.

Undergraduate Registration Requirement

All Northwestern undergraduates are subject to the university's Undergraduate Registration Requirement (URR). This requirement specifies how many quarters must be spent at Northwestern and how many units of credit must be earned at Northwestern in order to graduate with a Northwestern degree.

Weinberg College Credit and Quarter Requirements

Students must earn at least 45 units of credit in order to graduate with a Weinberg College BA. Almost all courses taught at Northwestern are worth one unit; those worth more or less than one unit also contribute to the total required units. Special credit rules apply to the Integrated Science Program and the dual bachelor's degree programs BA/BMus in liberal arts and music and BA/BS in liberal arts and engineering.

• Of the 45 units, no more than 6 may be internship-linked credit. See the Weinberg College website for more information about internships for credit.
• Of the 45 units, no more than 9 may be independent study (typically listed using the course number 399) or advanced undergraduate seminar credits (typically listed using the course number 398). Certain independent study courses offered by some departments with course numbers different from 398 and 399 are also subject to this restriction. University policy is that students may register for no more than two units of independent study in one quarter (see Undergraduate Research).
• Weinberg College students may take advantage of courses offered by Northwestern’s other schools, but a minimum of 34 units must be earned in Weinberg College disciplines. These include the following:
  • Units of credit earned in Weinberg College academic areas of study, inclusive of all courses offered by the College as well as courses listed under the COMP_SCI and MAT_SCI subject codes.
  • Units of credit transferred from other institutions or granted based on test scores in academic disciplines represented by Weinberg College academic areas of study.  Transfer or test credits will count towards the 34 units if they appear on the Northwestern transcript with a designation corresponding to a Weinberg College area or as general credit (GEN_CRED).
  • Approved School of Professional Studies courses in Weinberg College disciplines. Note that students must obtain the advance permission of the Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising to register for courses in the School of Professional Studies.
• Additional units beyond 34 can be in disciplines taught at Northwestern in schools other than Weinberg College. These count towards the required 45 units for the degree, subject to certain limitations.
  • No more than 3 units may be instruction in applied music (see list under Bienen School of Music policies).
  • No more than 4 units may come from the military studies programs.
  • Certain School of Professional Studies (SPS) courses are not eligible to count towards College degree requirements. Students must consult their College Adviser if they are considering SPS courses. See also Enrollment in this Catalog.

Students must be degree candidates in Weinberg College for the last three quarters before receiving the BA degree. Students who start their Northwestern studies in one of the other undergraduate schools, but plan to graduate with a Weinberg College BA need to complete the inter-school transfer (see Student Status) in time. Students who complete a late inter-school transfer may request a waiver.

Grade Requirements

Students must achieve an overall grade point average of C (2.0) or higher in courses used to meet degree requirements. Full-time students in Weinberg College are permitted to enroll in a limited number of courses with the under­standing that in place of a regular letter grade they will receive the notation P (pass) or N (no credit), neither of which counts in the grade point average. No more than 1 course a quarter and 6 courses in all may be taken under this P/N option. No more than one-fifth of the total courses taken at North­western and offered for graduation may have grades of P or D.

Courses passed with grades of P or D are not always eligible to be applied to specific requirements. Restrictions include the following:

• College seminars cannot be taken under the P/N option.
• Written and oral expression courses must be passed with a grade of D or higher. Courses completed with a P (pass) cannot be counted.
• Language proficiency may be demonstrated through Northwestern coursework by earning at least a C- in the third quarter of the second-year language sequence, or in a higher-level course where instruction is in a language other than English. Courses completed with a P (pass) cannot be counted.
• Foundational discipline requirements are satisfied with two course credits in each of six discipline areas; up to two qualifying courses completed with a P (pass) may be directed to the foundational disciplines as long as the courses are applied in different foundational areas. At least one course in each foundational area must be completed with a regular Northwestern letter grade of D or higher posted to the student's Northwestern transcript.
• The two-part Perspectives in Power, Justice, and Equity requirement must be satisfied with courses passed with a grade of D or higher. Courses completed with a P (pass) cannot be counted.
• Students must earn at least a C– in all major courses, as well as courses used to satisfy requirements for an optional adjunct major or minor (see Options and Support), including all related courses for a major or adjunct major. If a major, adjunct major, or minor has prerequisites, students must earn at least a C– in these courses as well. Courses completed with a P (pass) cannot be counted toward a major or minor. Students who decide to declare a major in a field but already completed one course for a grade of P (pass) should consult an adviser in that major as soon as possible.

While some other undergraduate schools of the Uni­versity offer a Target Grade–P/N registration option, such registration is not available for courses offered by Weinberg College. Special rules govern registrations by Weinberg College students in courses of the under­grad­uate schools where this plan is available as well as by non-Weinberg College students who transfer into the college. Questions concerning this policy should be addressed to the Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising.

NOTE: This Catalog describes Weinberg College BA requirements that pertain to students who matriculated at Northwestern after spring quarter 2023. Refer to the Archives if you are following BA requirements described in the 2018-2019 through 2022-2023 editions.

Weinberg College Policies

Detailed policies & procedures are available on the Weinberg College website under Policies, Procedures, and Forms. Some policies related to degree requirements can be found in this Catalog under Requirements, and additional information can be found under Academic Options and Support.

Multiple Majors and Minors

Students may pursue two or more majors or minors by completing the requirements for each; generally, a student may not count any course towards more than one major or minor, but see Counting Courses Toward More than One Requirement for exceptions.

A student's total number of majors plus minors may not typically exceed three. Exceptions require permission from the Weinberg College Advising Office and cannot be granted during the first year.

Counting Courses Toward More than One Requirement

A single course at Northwestern may fit more than one requirement. A course being applied towards the major requirement (or towards an optional second major or a minor) may at the same time be directed towards satisfying another Weinberg College degree requirement if it is eligible, but there are limitations on double-counting between majors, between majors and minors, between minors, and between other degree requirement categories.

See below for a list of restrictions.

• A course applied to the College seminar requirement...
  • cannot be double-counted towards the written and oral expression requirement, a foundational discipline requirement area, proficiency in a language other than English, or perspectives on power, justice and equity.
• A course applied to the first-year writing seminar component of the written and oral expression requirement...
  • cannot be double-counted towards the College seminar requirement, the advanced expression component of the written and oral expression requirement, a foundational discipline requirement area, proficiency in a language other than English, or perspectives on power, justice, and equity.
• A course applied to the advanced expression component of the written and oral expression requirement...
  • cannot be double-counted towards the College seminar requirement or the first-year writing seminar component of the written and oral expression requirement, but otherwise can simultaneously count towards another requirement or requirements for which it is approved.
• A course in language instruction at the introductory (first-year) or intermediate (second-year) level...
  • cannot be counted towards the College seminar, written and oral expression, foundational disciplines, or perspectives on power, justice, and equity requirements. Sufficient performance (see Grade Requirements) in a final course of an intermediate (second-year) sequence counts as demonstrating language proficiency.
• A  course taught in a language other than English beyond second-year level...
  • cannot be used to fulfill a College seminar or first-year writing seminar, but it can be used to demonstrate language proficiency (see Grade Requirements) while also counting towards another requirement or requirements for which it is approved.
• A course applied to one of the foundational disciplines...
  • cannot be double-counted in a second foundational discipline area, even if it is eligible in two foundational areas. If it is eligible in two areas, students can choose in which one area to count it.
  • cannot be double-counted towards the College seminar requirement or the first-year writing seminar component of the written and oral expression requirement.
  • cannot be taken under the P/N grading option if it is to double-count for a degree requirement that requires a letter grade of D, C-, or higher.
• A course applied to U.S. or global perspectives on power, justice, and equity...
  • cannot be double-counted to both U.S. and global perspectives at the same time.
  • cannot be directed to the College seminar or the first-year writing seminar component of the written and oral expression requirements, but otherwise can simultaneously count towards another requirement or requirements for which it is approved.
• A course that is being applied towards a Weinberg College major (or adjunct major)...
  • cannot be double-counted with an additional major (or adjunct major) unless designated as a related course requirement for one or both majors, designated a prerequisite/basic course requirement for one or both majors, or there is otherwise a special rule allowing a limited number of courses to double-count.
  • cannot be double-counted with a minor unless designated as a related course requirement for that major, designated a prerequisite/basic course requirement for the major or a prerequisite for the minor, or there is otherwise a special rule.
• a course that is being applied towards a Weinberg College minor...
  • cannot be double-counted with an additional minor unless designated as a prerequisite for one or both minors.
  • cannot be double-counted with a major unless it is a prerequisite for the minor, designated as a related course requirement for the major, designated a prerequisite/basic course requirement for the major, or there is otherwise a special rule.

For more information refer to the following resources:

• This Catalog, particularly Requirements but also rules specified for individual Weinberg College majors and minors.
• The Weinberg College webpage Frequently Asked Questions about Double-Counting.
• The Weinberg College Advisers at the Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising.

Non-Northwestern Academic Credit Applied to Foundational Disciplines and Perspectives Requirements

Normally students can apply only coursework completed at Northwestern towards satisfying foundational disciplines and perspectives on power, justice, and equity, but there are a few exceptions. See Transfer Students- Special Policies, and the exceptions described below. Note also at least one course in each foundational area must be completed for a regular Northwestern letter grade (A,B,C,D-scale) so students should carefully plan if they intend to use both test-based (AP or IB) and Study Abroad coursework towards foundational disciplines, and/or complete some courses at Northwestern under P/N grading.

Test-based Credit (AP and IB)

A maximum of two of the 12 units applied towards the foundational discipline requirements can be credits awarded based on sufficiently high scores in College Board Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate (HL) subjects, but two may not be applied to the same foundational area. Qualifying scores and subjects are reevaluated annually based on revisions to the AP and IB curricula, and revisions to the Weinberg College curriculum. Because one course in each foundational area must be completed for a regular letter grade (A,B,C,D-scale) a test-based credit cannot be paired with a second test-based credit or with a course taken at Northwestern under the P/N grading option. Additional information can be found on the Weinberg College webpage under AP and IB Exams.

Study Abroad Credit

Northwestern courses taken abroad, if designated for foundational discipline and/or perspectives requirements, may be applied in the same way as courses taken on campus. Students who take non-Northwestern courses on endorsed study abroad experiences transfer back units of credit (no grade is posted to the Northwestern transcript), and students may petition to apply a limited number of transfer course units towards foundational disciplines and/or perspectives. Only one course unit for each study abroad term, for a maximum of two units, may be applied to these requirements.

A student who studies abroad for one term and transfers back credits may, upon review and approval, apply a maximum of one course unit to:

• A foundational discipline, or...
• Perspectives on power, justice, and equity, or...
• A foundational discipline and perspectives on power, justice, and equity, if the course is deemed applicable to both.

A student who studies abroad for more than one term and transfers back credits may, upon review and approval, apply a maximum of two course units in one of the following ways:

• Two different foundational discipline areas, or...
• One to a foundational discipline, and one to perspectives on power, justice, and equity, or....
• Two different foundational discipline areas, with one of those units also applied to perspectives on power, justice, and equity, if the course is deemed applicable to both.

Taking Courses at Other Institutions

Students must secure prior approval from the Weinberg College Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising before taking courses at other U.S. institutions that they will submit for Northwestern credit. University, College, and department and program rules govern how many courses taken at other institutions a student may count toward requirements, where they may be taken, in which areas of study they may be, and which requirements they may fulfill. Information about credit from other institutions is available from the Office of the Registrar. Courses taken at other institutions but not accepted for credit by Northwestern cannot count toward a Weinberg College degree.

Many Weinberg College students spend time studying abroad, most often for a summer or for part or all of junior year. The University’s Global Learning Office (GLO) is an essential source of information about programs around the world as well as about the rules and process for going abroad. Advisers in GLO, the College’s Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising, and the departments and programs can help students select programs that fit their academic needs.

Transfer Students - Special Policies

Students admitted to Northwestern as transfer students from another college or university are generally covered under the same policies as students admitted as first-year students, with a few exceptions. Any additional study away from Northwestern after matriculation (for example study abroad) needs to be planned particularly carefully in consultation with advisors.

• The university Undergraduate Registration Requirement contains special rules for transfer students.
• Transfer students are exempt from the College seminar and first-year writing seminar.
• Students must take at least four 300-level courses at Northwestern in their major. If the major requires fewer than four 300-level courses, then all required 300-level courses must be completed at Northwestern.
• Upon transfer to Northwestern, credits from the prior institution(s) will be evaluated and some may be eligible to be directed to various Weinberg College degree requirements. For the two-unit foundational discipline areas, transfer students are subject to the same rules as all other students limiting the number of credits based on Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) testing, and likewise for the rules limiting courses completed with a grade of P. A pre-matriculation transfer unit is allowed to be paired with an eligible test-based credit or an eligible course completed with a P, and two transferred units may be used to satisfy a foundational discipline area. After matriculation at Northwestern, any work completed outside Northwestern and transferred back (see Registrar's webpage, Transfer Credit after Matriculation) is subject to the same policies that apply to students admitted as first-year students (see Taking Courses at Other Institutions).

Interschool Transfer Students - Special Policies

Some students begin at Northwestern as degree candidates in one of the other undergraduate programs and enter Weinberg College through the interschool transfer process.

• Students who begin their studies in another school at Northwestern before interschool transfer to Weinberg College are exempt from the College seminar requirement.
• Students who begin their studies in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and have completed both ENGLISH 106-1 and ENGLISH 106-2 have satisfied the first-year writing seminar component of the written and oral expression requirement.

Class Registration and Changes to Registration

University-wide information about registration and registration changes is updated on the Registrar's Office website (see Registration Guidelines).

College-specific information about adding, dropping, or withdrawing from classes is updated on the Weinberg College website (see Adding and Dropping Classes).

Grade Changes

Final grades generally cannot be changed except in the case of approved incompletes. More information can be found on the Weinberg College website under Changing Grades.

Academic Probation and Dismissal

The assignment of probation is notice that progress toward the degree is unsatisfactory. It is not noted on the student's official transcript and does not jeopardize eligibility to participate in extra-curricular activities. Criteria for being placed on probation, steps students should take in response to a notice of probation, and criteria for removal from probation are summarized on the Weinberg College website under Academic Probation. See also Academic Standing in this Catalog. Students who do not correct the academic deficiency within the period of probation may be dismissed from the University, generally for a period of one year.

Interruption of Program of Study

Students who were making satisfactory progress under the prior formulation of the BA (as spelled out in the 2022-2023 or earlier Catalog editions) and resume their studies after a brief interruption continue to follow their original degree requirements. University policy (see Readmission to the University) states that if a student returns after an extended period of absence and degree requirements have changed, the new requirements must normally be met.

In cases of extended absence, the College may consider petitions for the following substitutions and exceptions:

• One first-year seminar completed with a passing grade: substitute for the College seminar. Two first-year seminars completed with a passing grade: substitute for the College seminar and the first-year writing seminar.
• Completion of the writing proficiency requirement: waiver of the advanced expression requirement. (If writing proficiency was not demonstrated before the absence, advanced expression cannot be waived.)
• Completion of distribution requirements with a grade of D or higher: substitute for foundational discipline courses according to the following system:
  • Distribution Area I in place of FD-NS courses for Natural Sciences
  • Distribution Area II in place of FD-EDR courses for Empirical and Deductive Reasoning
  • Distribution Area III in place of FD-SBS courses for Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Distribution Area IV in place of FD-HS courses for Historical Studies
  • Distribution Area V in place of FD-EET courses for Ethical and Evaluative Thinking
  • Distribution Area VI courses in place of FD-LA for Literature and Art
• If at the point of readmission the student has junior or senior standing (see Student Status for definitions): waiver of one or both parts of the Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity requirement.

NOTE: This Catalog describes Weinberg College BA requirements that pertain to students who matriculated at Northwestern after spring quarter 2023. Refer to the Archives if you are following BA requirements described in the 2018-2019 through 2022-2023 editions.

Academic Options and Support

For updates and additional information about academic options and support in Weinberg College, see the undergraduate section of the Weinberg College website.

Advising, Support, and Mentoring

The resources of the College work in concert with other advising, support, and mentoring opportunities at the university; see also Academic Support in this Catalog.

Academic Advising

Weinberg College provides an integrated academic advising structure centered in the college’s Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising, where faculty advisers are available throughout the year to assist students in all aspects of academic and career planning. Each first-year student is assigned an adviser who in nearly all cases is the student’s instructor in a fall-quarter College seminar. At the end of fall quarter each student is assigned a Weinberg College adviser, who will continue to be that student’s adviser through graduation. In addition, each Weinberg department and program has a corps of faculty advisers who counsel undergraduates about course selections, majors and minors, and research and career opportunities.

Career Pathways

Weinberg College offers excellent preparation for subsequent training in professions such as law, medicine, and management, and each year many graduates pursue professional study in these areas. Other students go on to graduate work in other areas or enter the workforce directly. All majors can furnish suitable preparation for professional schools, provided appropriate courses are taken. No major, however, is intended solely as pre-professional training.

The College advisers in the Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising, along with advisers in the departments and programs, help students design academic programs that combine the breadth of a liberal arts education with preparation for whatever they hope to do next. Northwestern Career Advancement is another resource; several career counselors specialize in helping Weinberg students identify career goals and paths toward achieving them.

Arch Scholars

The Weinberg College Arch Scholars programs are designed to welcome, engage, and support first-generation and lower-income college students, as well as students from high schools that offered little or no AP or IB preparation. Arch Scholars includes two summer programs for incoming students (Bio&ChemEXCEL and Bridge), two programs for first-year students interested in performing either laboratory (NU Bioscientist) or non-laboratory (Posner) research in the summer before their sophomore year, and a peer mentoring program where first-year students are matched with program alumni who will help them make the transition from high school to college.

Academic Options in Weinberg College

Students may customize their program(s) of study with various academic opportunities that intersect with, or can be completed in addition to, basic degree requirements.

Adjunct Majors

The Weinberg College adjunct majors are designed to accompany a regular major. More in-depth than a minor, an adjunct major facilitates exploration of an interdisciplinary academic area that complements a primary major. African studies, environmental policy and culture, global health studies, international studies, mathematical methods in the social sciences, and science in human culture are adjunct majors. An adjunct major by itself does not satisfy the major study requirement for the Weinberg College degree. See also Policies and Grade Requirements pertaining to College majors.

Minors

Students may choose to complete a minor at Northwestern, selecting from among Weinberg College minors or minors offered by other academic units (see Minors under Additional Baccalaureate Options section of this Catalog). Minor requirements are listed under the appropriate headings in this catalog. Completion of a minor is optional, not a degree requirement. See also Policies and Grade Requirements pertaining to College minors.

Study Abroad

Weinberg College students are encouraged to study abroad. The philosophy of the College is that the best foreign study experience combines continued work in a student’s chosen course of study with significant opportunities for immersion in the culture of the host country. For example, a political science student might study the European Union in France. The College encourages participation in full-academic-year programs that include extensive study of languages and culture. The Office of the Provost offers grants for intensive summer foreign language study abroad. As early as the first year, interested students should discuss study abroad plans with their advisers and obtain information from the Global Learning Office.

Undergraduate Research

Weinberg College is committed to facilitating student research and to helping undergraduates immerse themselves in challenging, intense explorations through well-focused projects. Courses in the College often include research components. In addition, many students work with faculty members as research assistants for pay, as volunteers, or for course credit (see Independent Study). Students who are eligible may work on research projects in pursuit of honors in their majors (see Honors in the Major).

The College, as well as some of its departments and programs, awards competitive grants to support research and creative projects of students working under faculty guidance. Academic-year awards cover some research expenses, and some summer awards also provide assistance with living expenses. Conference travel grants help fund travel to professional conferences to present research or creative work. The University’s Undergraduate Research Grant Program is another source of research funding for qualified students. See Support for Undergraduate Research Endeavors for information.

Types of Courses

Most courses taken by Weinberg College students are standard parts of the Northwestern curriculum - offered by the College and the other undergraduate schools. Most cannot be repeated for credit, but some are variable-focus, often with titles like "Special Topics" or "Introductory Topics," and allow faculty to share with students their enthusiasm for and knowledge about current areas of study. Other special categories of courses offered in the College are described below. Note that for certain types of courses there may be limitations on the number of units that may be applied to the degree; see Weinberg Credit and Quarter Requirements under Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts.

Independent Study and Undergraduate Seminars

Registering for an independent study course allows students to earn course credit by working on a research or creative project under the supervision of a faculty member. Consent of the department or program is required to take these courses (most often offered under the course number 399), and they are generally open to juniors and seniors though some students may qualify earlier in some academic fields. Upper-level undergraduate seminars (often offered under the course number 398) also require department or program permission, and some are linked to the process of writing a senior thesis.

University policy (see Undergraduate Research) is that students may not register for more than two units of independent study in a quarter. Students may not take independent study to make up for credit they lack as a result of failure or uncompleted courses. For limits on the number of units that may be applied towards the degree see Weinberg Credit and Quarter Requirements under Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts.

Internship-Linked Courses

Many students seek to enrich their education with practical experiences gained off campus. Chicago Field Studies administers several programs that combine seminars taught on campus with internships typically at Chicago-area organizations. Other Weinberg College departments and programs also offer opportunities for coursework combined with off-campus work. These are described in their sections of this catalog. For limits on the number of internship-linked units that may be applied towards the degree, see Weinberg Credit and Quarter Requirements under Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts. See Internships for Credit on the College website for a list of options counting toward the limit.

Professional Linkage Seminars

These seminars approach social and work-related concerns through the eyes of an accomplished nonacademic professional with an affinity for the liberal arts and a gift for intellectual inquiry. By linking liberal education to professional issues, these courses illustrate how theory and practice affect and enrich one another.

Student-Organized Seminars

Weinberg College students who desire to study topics in arts and sciences that are not covered in the College's course offerings may initiate their own courses under the supervision of sponsoring faculty members. Enrollment in these seminar courses is limited to 20 students. The student organizer or organizers must, in consultation with the faculty sponsor, prepare a plan for the seminar and submit it to the Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising before the middle of the quarter preceding the quarter in which the seminar is held. The plan must include a topic description, a reading list, specification of the work that will be graded (such as term papers and written examinations), prerequisites, and the meeting schedule. Students may enroll in only one Student-Organized Seminar (GEN_LA 298-0) a quarter, and enrollment must be on the P/N basis. Weinberg College students interested in organizing a seminar should consult rules for student-organized seminars on the Weinberg College website for further details.

Honors and Awards

Additional information can be found in this Catalog under Graduation Honors.

Honors in the Major

Each major in Weinberg College offers a program that may lead to the awarding of honors in the major to graduating seniors with outstanding records of achievement. Criteria vary by major, but all share certain features. Students recommended for honors in the major must

• Complete with distinction the regular courses required for the major and at least two quarters of 398 or 399 or their equivalent, or 400-level courses, or some combination thereof. (These courses may count toward major requirements in some departments and programs.) GPA criteria vary by major.
• Complete a research project or other type of integrative work under the guidance of a faculty adviser. The project must result in a research report, thesis, or other tangible record; coursework by itself is not sufficient. Simple data collection, computer programming, analysis of data with canned programs, and summaries of primary or secondary sources are not by themselves bases for the award of honors in the major.

Each major has an undergraduate honors committee responsible for administering its honors program and for preparing the final recommendations for honors submitted in May to the Weinberg College Committee on Undergraduate Academic Excellence. The faculty adviser proposes a student for honors and writes a letter describing and evaluating the student’s project. A faculty member typically unconnected with the project must submit another letter giving independent and substantive judgments. The departmental honors committee reviews nominations during spring quarter and takes a separate recorded vote on each candidate. Approved nominations are reviewed by the Committee on Undergraduate Academic Excellence, which makes the final decision.

Information on procedures for students pursuing separate honors in two departments or programs, or interdisciplinary honors spanning two majors, is available from the Office of Undergraduate Studies and Advising and on the webpage at honors in two departments or programs.

Other Academic Awards and Honors

Each year Weinberg College awards several prizes and honors to exceptional students. Recognition is given for outstanding writing in College seminars and first-year writing seminars, and outstanding academic achievement in certain areas of study. Each quarter the college’s Dean’s List honors students with sufficiently high grades. Each spring the Northwestern chapter of the liberal arts honorary society Phi Beta Kappa elects juniors and seniors to membership. Seniors whose grade point averages meet certain criteria graduate with College honors. In addition, many departments and programs recognize outstanding achievement by their students. This includes recommending students for graduation with department or program honors (see Honors in the Major, above).

The College also awards funds to students working on research projects and creative activities; see Undergraduate Research for an overview.

Cross-School Options

Weinberg College students participate in many academic opportunities outside of the College, sometimes taking individual courses of interest and sometimes completing a formal program of study.

Dual Bachelor’s Degree Programs (BA/BS and BA/BMus)

Two programs allow undergraduates to combine a bachelor’s degree in the liberal arts with a bachelor’s degree in another Northwestern undergraduate school. One results in a BA from Weinberg College and a BS from the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the other results in a BA from Weinberg College and a BMus from the Bienen School of Music. Both options typically require five years of study. For more information see the Dual Bachelor's Degrees section of this catalog.

Bachelor's/Master’s Degree Programs

Undergraduate students doing outstanding work may be accepted into one of the accelerated master’s or combined degree programs approved by the Graduate School. These students may receive permission to double-count some courses toward both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

The approved BA/MA or BA/MS programs in chemistry, comparative literary studies, computer science, economics, French, linguistics, plant biology and conservation, public health and statistics share the goal of selecting and training exceptional students.  No particular grade point average in undergraduate courses, however high, automatically entitles a student to participate in an accelerated master’s program. Some information can be found on the Graduate School's website at at Bachelor's/Master's Combined Degree. Students should check with their specific program for application requirement details.

Teaching Certification

Students enrolled in a number of departments of Weinberg College may simultaneously pursue secondary teaching certification through the School of Education and Social Policy. Students may earn science certification with a biology, chemistry, or physics designation; social science certification with an economics, history, or political science designation; or certification in English, mathematics, or Spanish.

Majors in the certification areas who wish to be considered for teaching certification must apply, be admitted to, and complete all requirements of the Secondary Teaching Program as described in the School of Education and Social Policy chapter of this catalog. Applications should be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs in the School of Education and Social Policy.

Other Cross-School Options

Many other cross-school possibilities are included in this catalog. Certi­ficates open to Weinberg undergraduates are offered through the School of Education and Social Policy, the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Kellogg School of Management, and the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. Minors in several of Northwestern’s undergraduate schools, as well as other options in music, are also open to Weinberg College students. For more information see the relevant school chapter of this catalog. Interested students should also contact the schools through which the options are offered.

Student Organizations

Department and Program Organizations

Many departments and programs within the college sponsor student organizations. Some are honorary organizations, recognizing students who have achieved distinction within their fields of study. Others provide opportunities for students with common interests to come together for academic, social, career-focused, and service activities that complement classroom experiences.

Weinberg College Student Advisory Board

The Weinberg College Student Advisory Board is the primary source of student advice to the dean and the associate dean for undergraduate academic affairs. Members also serve on several college committees. The board includes representatives from every Weinberg College department and program offering a major or a minor.