Who must satisfy the English Language Proficiency Requirement?
Since communication skills are essential for today’s professional, Stevens requires that all undergraduates demonstrate writing proficiency before they graduate.
How can I satisfy the English Language Proficiency Requirement?
Currently, there are two ways in which you can fulfill this graduation requirement:
- Develop and present an acceptable writing portfolio to the Writing Program Coordinator(s).
- Pass the Stevens English Competence Exam (SECE).
Written competence is shown with a passing grade for Hum 100 (either an A or a P). You are encouraged to fulfill this requirement within your first two years (60 credit hours) at Stevens. Those students who have not received a grade for Hum 100 by the beginning of their junior year should contact the Writing Program Coordinator(s) and arrange for a portfolio evaluation.
Since portfolio evaluations work best with a series of essays developed over time, students should be encouraged to keep writing assignments from their first- and second-year courses. These documents can be used as the foundation for building their complete portfolio during their junior year. A faculty review of the assessment and enhancement of communication skills is underway, which may lead to changes in the manner by which the proficiency requirements described above are met.
English Language Requirement for International Students
Proficiency in the English language is a graduation requirement, thus all international students must successfully complete humanities studies, which are required each semester of the four undergraduate years. English language competence is also generally indicated by a score of at least 213 (computer) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of at least 5 on all parts of the language examination administered at the American Language Institute of New York University.
Failure to meet an acceptable level of competency may require attendance at non-credit remedial courses during the summer, the academic semesters or during the intersession period. These classes may be taken at Stevens or at nearby colleges that have specialized English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Such study may require payments beyond those charged for tuition associated with credit courses at Stevens. In some cases, you may not be allowed to enroll in humanities classes or in other classes at Stevens until you have achieved a satisfactory level of English language ability. You are advised to seek early clarification of these requirements, preferably no later than May 1 if enrollment is planned for the fall semester.
Students with questions in this regard should seek written clarification from the College of Arts and Letters. For what courses are examinations required?
All students must take a written examination at the end of each term in all major-required core courses. Examinations in all technical, engineering, humanities, and management electives are at the option of the specific department(s). Under what conditions can I take an overload? Will I have to pay for the extra course(s)?
With the advisor’s permission and a GPA of 3.0 or better for the previous semester, you may enroll in an extra course at no charge (this is not for students on the Reduced Load Plan). Upperclassmen with a GPA of 3.3 or better in the preceding semester may, with the advisor’s permission, take a second extra course at no charge. Juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.6 or better in the preceding semester may, with the advisor’s permission, take a third extra course at no charge. See Satisfactory Academic Progress. How many credits do I need to carry in order to be considered a full-time student? What are the implications of part-time status?
A student carrying at least 12 credits is considered a full-time student; a load of fewer than 12 credits results in part-time student status. However, for international students, withdrawing from a course could have implications for your immigration status; please consult the ISSS Office before taking any withdrawal action.
The impact on financial aid for a full-time student becoming a part-time student can vary greatly, depending on the specific type of financial aid. Students considering switching from full-time status to part-time status should consult with the Office of Financial Aid to learn of the impact in their particular case.
Only full-time students are eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletic competition. The only exception to this is a part-time student in his/her final semester taking the courses required for graduation.
Please be reminded that, except for international students, withdrawing from a course does not jeopardize your status as a full-time student (at least 12 credits).
Full-time students or part-time students carrying six or more credits have their student loan repayments deferred. Students taking fewer than six credits will have to begin loan repayment immediately. What are the types of grade point averages and how are they calculated?
The Office of the Registrar calculates three different GPAs for each student:
The semester GPA is determined from all courses taken at Stevens during a semester.
The graduating GPA is calculated from all courses taken at Stevens that are part of the degree requirement. If a course is repeated, only the last grade is used, even if the last grade is lower than the previous grade(s). If the last grade is a withdrawal (W), the previous grade is included. If a course is repeated outside of Stevens, the grade is not included.
The ranking GPA is calculated from all courses that are part of he degree requirement. In this case, all repeated courses are included and repeated courses taken outside of Stevens are calculated as a "C." To top
Can I take graduate courses as an undergraduate?
Students with at least junior standing and a 3.0 or higher GPA can enroll for 600-level graduate courses if they satisfy the prerequisite requirements and either : 1- have an approved Graduate Study Plan on file with the Graduate School or 2- complete an Undergraduate Permission Form To Take Graduate Courses. Students with at least junior standing can enroll for graduate courses at the 500-level, provided they satisfy the prerequisite requirements (written permission is required here for Management 500-level courses unless an approved Study Plan has been filed). Students are not allowed to enroll in more than two online classes in any semester. All these courses are counted as part of the student's regular credit load for computing charges for extra courses.
Can an undergraduate student begin studies towards a Master's degree?
See Double Degree. What do I need to do to be eligible for graduation?
To be eligible for graduation, you must have a "C" average (2.00 GPA) for eight terms of work and pass all required courses for your major curriculum. In addition, a GPA of at least 1.75 is required for all courses taken during the senior year.
For information about repeating courses, please click here. What is the Honor Board and what do they do?
The Honor Board is comprised of up to 20 student representatives who are responsible for interpreting the constitution of the Stevens Honor System, and for performing the functions of the System. The Board investigates reports of Honor System violations, conducts hearings, and recommends to the Dean of Undergraduate Academics penalties for students who have either confessed to or been convicted of an Honor System violation. The Honor Board strives to educate the Stevens community about the importance of academic integrity and the value that adherence to the Honor System brings to a Stevens degree.
Detailed information about the Honor Board can be reviewed by visiting their web site at www.stevens.edu/honor_board/. Engineering majors entering Stevens BEFORE FALL 2005, and Science Majors other than Computer Science, are required to complete eight humanities courses as follows:
- four 100-level courses (see note below)*
- four 300/400-level courses in the junior and senior years (note that MGT 243, Macroeconomics, and MGT 244, Microeconomics may be counted as upper-level humanities courses, provided they are not required courses in the student's major).
* Of the four required 100-level courses, two must be from the Literature/Philosophy group (Group A), and two must be from the History/Social Science group (Group B).
Students who take HUM 103 and/or HUM 104 may count those courses toward either Group A or Group B.
Computer Science majors entering Stevens in Fall 2007 or later must satisfy the above requirements; one of the four upper-level courses must be HPL 339 or HSS 371.
Computer Science majors entering Stevens before Fall 2007 must satisfy the above requirements and must take a fifth 300/400-level course, for a total of nine Humanities courses; one of the five upper-level courses must be HPL 339 or HSS 371.
Engineering Majors entering Stevens in Fall 2005 or later are required to complete six humanities courses as follows:
- four 100-level courses (see note below)*
- two 300/400-level courses in the junior and senior years (note that MGT 243, Macroeconomics, and MGT 244, Microeconomics may be counted as upper-level humanities courses, provided they are not required courses in the student's major).
* Of the four required 100-level courses, two must be from the Literature/Philosophy group (Group A), and two must be from the History/Social Science group (Group B).
Students who take HUM 103 and/or HUM 104 may count those courses toward either Group A or Group B.
Business and Technology Majors are required to complete five humanities courses as follows:
- four 100-level courses (see note below)*
- one 300/400-level course
* Of the four required 100-level courses, two must be from the Literature/Philosophy group (Group A), and two must be from the History/Social Science group (Group B).
Because MGT 243 and MGT 244 are required in the B&T major in addition to the humanities requirements described above, these two courses MAY NOT be used to fulfill humanities requirements for B&T students.
Students who take HUM 103 and/or HUM 104 may count those courses toward either Group A or Group B.
For information about transferring humanities credits to Stevens from another institution, see Transferring Courses to Stevens. What is an INC grade?
The grade of INC (incomplete) may be given only when a student has failed to complete some of the required course work, not including the final examination, due to significant extenuating circumstances such as a serious illness or injury or a family emergency. In fairness to other students, this type of extension of time may not be granted due to reasons such as course overloads or not having enough time. In order to receive a grade of INC in the course, the student must file a Petition for INC Form with the Registrar’s Office before the grades are due. This form requires the approval of the instructor, the Department Head, and the Dean of Undergraduate Academics. The form also should indicate a date for completion of the course, which must be before the end of the next full semester. If the required work is not complete within the next full semester, the INC grade will be changed to a failure. To top
How do I get a leave of absence or withdraw from Stevens?
Students wishing to take a leave of absence or wishing to withdraw from Stevens should fill out the appropriate paperwork with either Dean Russ, Dean Cesmebasi, or Dean Dice in the Office of Undergraduate Academics. Can I earn a minor at Stevens?
Several departments offer a minor, which provides a coherent program of study in one area without the depth required for a major concentration. Each of these Departments has a faculty member responsible for "minor advising;" students can get these names from the individual departments. The departments currently offering minors are listed in the Undergraduate Catalog. Can I take courses at NYU for Stevens credit?
Stevens students may enroll for courses offered by the College of Arts and Sciences at NYU. These courses are available without additional charge provided that:
- the student has enrolled for courses at Stevens in the semester in which he/she plans to take a course at NYU and that the total number of credits constitutes full-time enrollment for that semester
- the course is available that semester at NYU at a time which does not conflict with courses selected at Stevens, and
- the student has filed the required paperwork with the Registrar and obtained the advisor’s signature that the course to be taken at NYU will be accepted towards the Stevens degree.
An outline of the procedure for enrolling for a course at NYU may be found at http://www.stevens.edu/registrar/registration/nyu. What are the requirements to take a course at Stevens as a non-matriculated student?
Students wishing to take a course at Stevens on a non-matriculated basis must obtain approval from the Office of Undergraduate Academics. A minimum 3.0 GPA at the student's current or previous college or university is required, in addition to completion of the equivalent of all pre-requisite courses for the desired Stevens course. Tuition is charged on a per-credit basis. To top
See Graduate Courses. |
