Congratulations on finding your way here. As you begin your studies at Sewanee, you should know that the school is dedicated to the increase in
Knowledge,
Understanding,
Wisdom.
And its mission emphasizes preparing students to:
Search for truth
Seek justice for all
Preserve liberty under law
Serve God and humanity.
To help achieve these goals, the college has laid out a set of degree requirements which include
1. Courses from academic disciplines with different ways of thinking (general distribution requirements)
2. Courses which allow you to focus on one field (your major)
3. Electives (a way to broaden your education, to challenge yourself, and to build on what you have learned in other areas)
Most students, as they go about taking 32 courses required for graduation (4 for each of 8 semesters) take about one-third of their coursework in each of the three areas represented above (1-3).
- Basic and important advice as you begin. It is essential that you make note of each bulleted item. An important deadline is associated with one of these.
- Take four (4) full academic courses your first semester—and one PE. Less than four will not represent normal progress toward a degree; more than four does not allow you to do well academically and to get acquainted with the range of opportunities on campus.
- Understand FYP and what it may mean to you. FYP stands for “First Year Program”. Learn by clicking and respond by June 10. Your decision about FYP (or an alternate course) will influence not only course choice but selection of your freshman adviser as well.
- Know the general distribution requirements and how you can meet them.
1.Language and Literature.
a.English 101
b.Two writing-intensive courses
c.A foreign language at the third-year level or above The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by the completion of two language courses through the second-year level.
2.Mathematics and Natural Science
a.One course in mathematics (courses in computer science and Math 204) do not count toward this requirement)
b.Two courses in the sciences, one of which must be a laboratory science
•In psychology 100, 353, and 357 are laboratory science courses; courses at the 200 level (except Psyc 206 and 250) are non-laboratory.
•In forestry all courses except forestry 201 and 310 may be counted toward the requirement.
•In biology all courses except biology 109 and 119 may be counted toward this requirement.
3.Social Science
a.History 100
b.One course in anthropology, economics, or political science
•Economics 215, 216 do not fulfill this requirement.
4.Religion and Philosophy a.One course in either religion or philosophy •In philosophy, any course at the 100 or 200 levels (except Philosophy 201, Logic) will satisfy this requirement.
5.Arts a.One course in the arts (art, art history, music, or theatre)
•Two half-courses in theatre or the specific combination of Music 102 and 103 can be used in fulfillment of this requirement, but quarter-courses cannot.
6.Physical Education a.Two semesters of physical education
•Focus on meeting general distribution requirements as a first-year student. Remember that students must have ALL of these completed by the end of the junior year. Of course, this does not mean that all courses you take should meet such a requirement.
•Acquaint yourself with the Humanities program option, especially since students begin it in the freshman year and it represents an alternative way to meet some general distribution requirement courses and is begun in the freshman year.
•Understand foreign language options and placement.
•Prepare yourself for good advising by noting the following areas of responsibility for a good advisee and by completing and submitting an Advisee Questionnaire. This is linked in more than one way, but please complete it only once.
•Study the Academic section of the College Catalog at to learn academic regulations and to explore academic options. In particular, note the sections on “Degree Requirements” and “Student Classification, Progress, and Status”
