Graduation Requirements
The specific graduation requirements for students in New College are planned (usually on a semester-to-semester basis) by the students and their contract-advising committees and approved by the program director. For graduation, New College students must complete the general University of Alabama requirements (i.e., the University Core Curriculum) and
- a minimum of 120 semester hours with a 2.0 or higher GPA (both UA average and overall average)
- a depth study
- the New College seminars
- NEW 100
- a foreign language proficiency
- a minimum of 42 semester hours after enrolling in New College
Depth Study Program
Students, together with their advising committees, design their individual depth studies. Depth-study content is determined by the New College student, working with his or her advising committee. The depth study comprises 30-35 semester hours. While any course from any college at the University may become a part of the student's depth study, no more than 30 semester hours of credit from a professional school may apply toward a New College degree.
Integrative Seminars
The integrative seminars expose students to three great areas of knowledge-the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences.
| Seminar |
Students are responsible for seminar learning and have the opportunity in discussion format to participate, to lead, and to present. Students come to understand complex ideas derived through their readings (analysis) and then, through their discussions and writing about these ideas, form their own intelligent observations and interpretations (synthesis). |
| Integrative |
Students identify and explore major concepts, paradigms, and methodologies in a variety of specific disciplines within each of the three areas as they relate to the problem, issue, or theme underlying the seminar. Students, in this context, have the opportunity to appreciate the interrelatedness of fields of knowledge and to recognize that their boundaries are permeable. |
| Problem-Focused |
Each seminar has a particular problem, issue, or theme that serves as a vehicle for making the seminars interdisciplinary. Problems addressed reflect enduring issues lacking simple solutions. These problems often provide opportunities for experiential learning and/or public service. |
The humanities seminars strive to open communication among people. The seminars explore enduring questions about meaning and value in human life, ask whether some values are more worthy than others, and encourage the transformation of students, faculty, and society through risk-taking and new ways of learning.
The social science seminars examine enduring and contemporary social issues: their historical and cultural roots, how they are understood, how and why certain decisions are made, and the consequences of various solutions for the quality of societal and individual life.
The natural science seminars explore the natural world and the relationship among the disciplines that describe it. This may be done by reading; writing (research); discussing; taking field trips in chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy, geology, paleontology, anthropology, and ecology; and synthesizing these fields using themes such as the environment, time, space, structure, law, growth, etc.
The five seminars required for graduation are arranged in two levels. The level I seminars are designed for entering students (usually freshmen and sophomores), while the level II seminars are designed for upper-level students. All students must complete level I and level II seminars in all three areas and two level II seminars in at least two different areas.
Foreign Language Proficiency
Students must complete a two-semester sequence of a single foreign language or an equivalent experience. An equivalent experience may consist of living among a language group for a sufficient time to acquire a demonstrated language proficiency equivalent to two semesters of study.
Out-of Class Learning/Independent Study
There is much research to show that learning which has been individually initiated and individually implemented has many benefits. These benefits include greater retention of knowledge gained, a better ability to integrate this knowledge with other learning, an increased potential for extending this knowledge into new areas, and more insights into career decisions. New College has a strong commitment to provide students opportunities to pursue their academic interests outside of the classroom through out-of-class learning experiences for credit.
In these out-of-class learning/independent study experiences, an agreement (or contract) is made among the student, the project director, and New College. The contract is a clear, concise statement that includes the course area, topic, or problem the student intends to study, along with the bibliography, plans for evaluating the study, and the anticipated outcomes of the study.
The project director is someone who is highly qualified in the area of the out-of-class learning experience. He or she helps the student design the contract and then monitors and evaluates the experience. The project director need not be someone within the University community.
Once the out-of-class learning/independent study contract has been written, it must be approved by the director of the New College program. A student enrolled in another division of the University is advised to have an appropriate faculty member from his or her division or department approve and sign the contract. Detailed extensive guidelines are available to help students in formulating their contracts. These guidelines may be obtained in the New College office.
Transfer Students
Students who transfer from another university or from another division of The University of Alabama are required to complete a minimum of 42 hours while enrolled in New College. Students are encouraged to enter the College at the beginning of the freshman year; however, students may enroll at any time during their undergraduate careers. The later the entry to the New College program, the less flexibility there is for developing an appropriate academic plan.
Students with 80 or more semester hours will be considered for admission only after their academic plans have been reviewed by New College faculty. A major consideration by the faculty will be the likelihood of the applicant's completing a sound academic experience within a reasonable time. The faculty may stipulate specific requirements for individual students that exceed the general graduation requirements for New College. These additional requirements will be stated in the student's letter of admission.
