Academic Information

Click on any of the following links for information:

• Degrees Offered
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Bachelor of Social Work
• Double Majors
• Academic Minors
• Degree Requirements
  • Core Curriculum
  • Honors Program Requirements
• Community-Based Learning
• Study Away
• Partnerships and Articulation Agreements

Major Programs Leading to the Bachelor of Arts Degree 

Art and Design
Biology
Contract Major
Criminal Justice
English
English and Secondary Education
Environmental Studies
History
History and Secondary Education
Mathematics
Mathematics and Secondary Education
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Theology
Writing and Publishing

Major Program Leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree 

Fine Arts

Major Programs Leading to the Bachelor of Science Degree 

Biochemistry
Biology
Biology/Pre-Optometry
Biology/Pre-Physician Assistant
Biology and Secondary Education
Business Communications
Chemistry
Chemistry and Secondary Education
Communications 
Contract Major
Elementary Education
Environmental Science
Exercise Science/Fitness Leader
Exercise Science/Pre-Physical Therapy
Exercise Science/Sport Performance
Health & Wellness Promotion
Marine Science
Medical Biology
Physical Education/Teacher Preparation
Special Education and Elementary Education
Sports Communications
Sports Management
Sports Management with Athletic Administration Concentration

Major Programs Leading to the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Degree 

Accounting
Business and Sports Management
Finance
Human Resource Management
Information Technology Management
International Business
Management
Marketing

Major Program Leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree 

Nursing
 

Major Program Leading to the Bachelor of Social Work Degree 

Social Work

Students may enroll in a double major, but anyone considering such a decision should be fully aware of the advantages and disadvantages. Permission is required of the Department and the Office of Academic Affairs to pursue a double major. The availability of courses, however, can be assured only for the primary major.

All majors should be declared by the end of the sophomore year. Appropriate forms may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office. Students with two majors must complete all of the degree requirements of the College as well as all department requirements for both majors. If a student successfully completes the requirements for two majors, both majors will be listed on the transcript. The primary major will determine the degree awarded.

Biology
Business Administration
Chemistry
Classics
Communications
Criminal Justice
English
Environmental Science
Exercise Science
Film Studies
Fine Arts
Gender Studies
History
Information Technology Management
Journalism
Leadership and Community Engagement
Marine Science
Mathematics
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology
Secondary Education
Social Justice
Social Service Profession
Sociology
Sports Management
Sustainability Studies
Theology
Video Production
Writing

To earn a bachelor’s degree students must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Complete the First-Year Experience Seminar (Transfer students are excluded.)
2. Complete a minimum of 128 credit hours
3. Complete the degree requirements for their major(s)
4. Complete the Core Curriculum requirements.
5. Achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and meet the minimum grade point average in courses taken in the major.
6. Complete a minimum of thirty-two credits at Saint Joseph’s College.
7. Complete two semesters of the same foreign language if enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts program.*
8. Complete an academic minor if a History, Philosophy, Psychology or Theology major.
9. Apply for graduation by filing a “Graduation Application” form by March 1^st.

* Students for whom English is a second language can waive the foreign language requirement through CLEP or another standardized test to indicate proficiency. This waiver only releases the student from the requirement, not from the number of credits for the degree.

Core Curriculum

The Core Curriculum for the 21st Century, made up of Inner Core and Concentration and Integration of Learning courses, is a part of every students’ academic program. In conjunction with the major, the Core Curriculum is the basis for lifelong learning and an enduring liberal education. This curriculum:

• enhances the foundation skills of writing and quantitative reasoning;
• explores different ways of asking questions and approaching knowledge;
• develops social, civic and environmental understanding for the world of the 21st century;
• grounds self-knowledge and builds values;
• commits faculty and students to the search for truth and justice.

The courses (28 credits) of the Inner Core of Knowledge, Understanding and Insight for the 21st Century, allow students to:

• study the antecedents and developments of civilization in the West;
• explore the interrelationships among persuasive writing, thinking and speaking;
• probe the challenging and significant themes literature;
• examine the metaphysical and epistemological foundations of human life;
• apply ethical theories to contemporary ethical problems;
• investigate the phenomenon of religious faith as an enduring concern of the human community;
• consider contemporary issues in science.

Inner Core Courses (28 credits)

The Concentration and Integration of Learning courses (20 credits) allow students to develop and deepen the knowledge, understanding, and insight they explored in the Inner Core.

 Elective Courses (12 credits)

Additional Elective Courses (8 credits)

* Students in a Bachelor of Science program may take one foreign language course for additional elective credit.

Honors Program Requirements  

The College’s Honor’s Program has a special Honors version of the Core Curriculum for the 21st Century, as outlined in the Honors Program   description.
 

Community-Based Learning at Saint Joseph’s College uses course content to engage students within their school and communities while challenging students to learn firsthand about community, democracy, diversity, justice, civil society, social responsibility, leadership and critical thinking.  Students and faculty partner with schools, businesses, organizations, and agencies to solve problems as part of their academic studies, transforming them from passive recipients to active participants in their education and communities while providing a deeper understanding of theories and course content.  Learning continues to occur through an array of reflection activities and assignments that help students connect their experiences with the central ideas, hypotheses, theories, and methods they are studying. The integration of this experiential component into course content reinforces our Core Values and furthers the Mercy tradition of service on which the College was founded.

Saint Joseph’s College offers Study Away opportunities in over 50 countries, provided by our partner organizations.  Study Away has been shown to be a transformative experience of learning and growth for students.  Students develop confidence and a global perspective while having access to a wide variety of courses.  Students may participate in a semester or summer terms after completion of the first year of study.  The Study Away Coordinator serves as a resource for students during the process of research and application, while the academic advisor (a faculty member) works with the student to determine how the courses will fit into the student’s curriculum.  A minimun GPA of 2.5 is required, but GPA minimum requirements are higher for certain programs.

The College has transfer partnerships and articulation agreements for students interested in programs at:

• Salus University for Optometry
• University of Maine School of Law

Additionally the College has a transfer articulation agreements with the following institutions:

• York County Community College to accept transfer students from that institution who are enrolled in or have completed the Liberal Studies Degree program.
• Southern Maine Community College to accept transfer students who have completed the Business, Communications, Criminal Justice, Fine Arts, and Marine Science Degree programs.

For more information regarding these programs, contact the Office of Admission or the Office of Academic Affairs.