American University Catalog

2008·32.7 MB·English

by  American University

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2010 with funding from
Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation
http://www.archive.org/details/americanuniversi2008amer
American
University
Catalog
2008-2009 Edition
effectiveFall2008
Washington, D.C.
Correspondence Directory
AmericanUniversity
4400MassachusettsAvenueNW
Washington,DC20016
GeneralInformation:202-885-1000
www.american.edu
CollegeofArtsandSciences 202-885-2446
Battelle fax[phone] AmericanUniversityCatalogispublishedby
theOfficeoftheUniversityRegistrar
KogodSchoolofBusiness 202-885-1900 LindaBolden-Pitcher,UniversityRegistrar
fax[phone] Mary-EllenJones.AssistantUniversityRegistrar/Editor
SchoolofCommunication 202-885-2060
MaryGraydonCenter fax[phone]
SchoolofInternationalService 202-885-1600
fax[phone]
SchoolofPublicAffairs 202-885-2940
Ward fax[phone]
WashingtonCollegeofLaw 202-274-4000
4801 MassachusettsAve.NW fax[phone]
Admissions 202-885-6000
fax[phone]
AlumniPrograms 202-885-5960
LimitationsonCatalogProvisions
fax[phone]
Theeducationalprocessnecessitateschange.Thispublica-
CampusLife 202-885-3310 tionmustbeconsideredinformationalandnotbindingonthe
ButlerPavilion401 fax[phone] university.
Eachstepoftheeducationalprocess,fromadmissionthrough
FinancialAid 202-885-6100 graduation, requiresappropriate approval by university offi-
fax[phone] cials.Theuniversitymust,therefore,reservetherighttochange
admissionrequirementsortorefusetograntcreditoradegreeif
MediaRelations fax[phone]--55995509 ahestourdesnhtedhoaesssnaottissfaatcitsofryiltyhemuentivietrssriteyq,uiirneimtsenstolse.judgment,that
Registrar 202-885-2200
Asbury2ndfloor fax[phone]
StudentAccounts 202-885-3541
Asbury300 fax[phone] UniversityLiability
Faculty,students,staff,andguestsareresponsiblefortheir
personal property, clothing, and possessions. The university
doesnotcarryanyinsurancetocoverlossesofsucharticlesnor
doesitassumeanyresponsibilityforsuchlosses.
Contents
UniversityAdministrationandBoardofTrustees 2 CollegeofArtsandSciences 75
AcademicCalendar 3 AmericanStudies 77
Anthropology 78
Introduction 5 ArabStudies 81
UniversityProfile 5 Art 82
DegreesConferred.2006-2007 10 AsianStudies 90
UndergraduatePrograms II AudioTechnology 91
GraduatePrograms 12 Biology 93
Chemistry 96
CertificatePrograms 13 ComputerScience 99
AdmissionRequirements 15 Economics 103
UndergraduateStudy 15 SchoolofEducation,TeachingandHealth 110
GraduateStudy 17 EnvironmentalScience 125
InternationalStudents 18 History 128
IsraelStudies 130
Tuition,Expenses,andFinancialAid 19 JewishStudies 131
Tuition,HousingandDinging,andFees 19 LanguageandForeignStudies 132
UndergraduateFinancialAid 24 LiberalStudies 140
GraduateFinancialAid 26 Literature 141
Veterans'Benefits 29 MathematicsandStatistics 144
Multi-EthnicStudies 149
CampusLife 31 NorthAmericanStudies 150
StudentLearningandDevelopmentServices 31 PerformingArts 151
CampusLifeCenters 33 PhilosophyandReligion 157
InterculturalProgramsandServices 35 Physics 160
Pre-engineering 162
CareerServices,Internships,andMeritAwards 36 Prelaw 162
Registration 39 Premedical 162
AcademicRegulations 45 PSoscyicohloolgoygy 116659
AcademicIntegrityCode 45 TeachingEnglishtoSpeakersofOtherLanguages. . . 172
StudentAcademicGrievancePolicy 45 Women'sandGenderStudies 174
StudentRecords 46 KogodSchoolofBusiness 176
GradingSystem 49
Graduation 49 SchoolofCommunication 200
UndergraduateAcademicHonors 50 SchoolofInternationalService 216
UniversityHonorsProgram 50 SchoolofPublicAffairs 248
GraduateAcademicStandardsandDegree Government 250
Requirements 51 Justice,LawandSociety 258
UndergraduateAcademicStandardsand PublicAdministrationandPolicy 265
DegreeRequirements 57 WashingtonCollegeofLaw 276
UndergraduateUniversityDegreeRequirements .... 62
CollegeWritingandEnglishCompetency 62 WashingtonSemester 278
UniversityMathematicsRequirement 63 AUAbroad/AbroadatAU 280
GeneralEducationProgram 65 CourseDescriptions 283
Faculty,2007-2008 415
Index 441
CampusMap insidebackcover
University Administration Board ofTrustees
CorneliusM.Kerwin,President GaryM.Abramson,*Chairman
ThomasA.Gottschalk,ViceChair
ScottA.Bass,Provost GinaF.Adams*
GailS.Hanson,VicePresidentofCampusLife StephanieM.Bennett-Smith
MaryE.Kennard,VicePresidentandGeneralCounsel RichardBeyer
DonaldL.Myers,VicePresidentofFinanceandTreasurer PatrickButler*
EdwardR.Carr*
HaigMardirosian,DeanofAcademicAffairs JackC.Cassell*
RichardM.Durand,Dean,KogodSchoolofBusiness GaryD.Conn*
PamelaM.Deese*
LouisW.Goodman,Dean,SchoolofInternationalService JeromeKingDelPino
ClaudioM.Grossman,Dean. WashingtonCollegeofLaw DavidR.Drobis*
LarryKirkman,Dean,SchoolofCommunication MarcN.Duber*
WilliamM.LeoGrande,Dean.SchoolofPublicAffairs FuadEl-Hibri
KayJ.Mussell,Dean,CollegeofArtsandSciences HaniM.S.Farsi*
C.A.DanielGasby
GiselaB.Huberman*
LindaBolden-Pitcher,UniversityRegistrar C.NicholasKeating,Jr.*
WilliamA.Mayer,UniversityLibrarian CorneliusM.Kerwin*
MargeryKraus*
CharlesH.Lydecker*
RobynRaffertyMathias*
AlanL.Meltzer*
ReginaL.Muehlhauser*
ArthurJ.Rothkopf
MarkL.Schneider
JohnR.Schol
NealA.Sharma*
StephenSilvia
JeffreyA.Sine*
DavidTeslicko*
GaryR.Weaver*
*Alumna/alumnusofAmericanUniversity
AmericanUniversityisanequalopportunityandaffirmativeactionuniversityandemployer.AmericanUniversitydoesnot
discriminate on the basis ofrace, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual
orientation,genderidentityandexpression,familyresponsibilities,politicalaffiliation,disability,sourceofincome,placeof
residenceorbusiness,orcertainveteranstatusinitsprogramsandactivities.Forinformation,contacttheDeanofStudents
(DOS(a>american.edu).DirectorofPolicy&RegulatoryAffairs(employeerelations(ajamerican.edu)orDeanofAcademic
Affairs,(academicaffairs(aiamerican.edu),oratAmericanUniversity,4400MassachusettsAve.,N.W..Washington,D.C.
20016,202-885-1000.
7 5
Academic Calendar 2008-2009
Theacademiccalendarisdividedintotallandspringsemestersofapproximately 15weekseachandsummersessionsof
\aryinglength.Thelastweekofthefallandspringsemestersissetasideforfinalexaminations.Ifnofinalexaminationisgiven,
thecoursewillmeetforafinalclassduringthescheduledfinalexaminationperiod.
The holidays and vacations usually observed by the university are as follows: Labor Day; Thanksgiving
(Wednesday-Sunday); Christmas Eve/ChristmasDay and New Year's Eve/NewYear'sDay (included in the mid-year
intercessionbreak);MartinLutherKing.Jr.Day;InaugurationDay(everyfouryears);MemorialDay;andIndependenceDay.
Springbreakistheweekfollowingthespringsemestermidterm.Classescontinueuntil10:40p.m.theeveningbeforeaholiday
orvacationperiod.
FallSemester2008
August17-24 Su-Su WelcomeWeek
August22 F Lastdaytoregisterforfall2007withoutalatefee
August25 M Fallclassesbegin
Lateregistration(with$50fee)begins
Studentsbeginsubmittingapplicationsforfallgraduation
August29 F Lateregistrationforfallends
September1 M LaborDay;noclasses,universityofficesclosed
Freshmanundergraduatetransferspringsemesteradmissionapplicationdeadlineforstudents
W livingoutsidetheUnitedStates
September3 MathematicsEquivalencyExamination
September8 M Lastdaytoaddafallcourseorchangeagradeoption
September15 M LLaassttddaayyttooddrrooppaaffaallllccoouurrsseeffoorraa5100%0%rerfeufnudndandwithouta"W"recorded
LastdaytoaddaninternshiporCooperativeEducationFieldExperience
September22 M Lastdaytodropafallcoursefora25%refund(norefundsafterthisdate)
Lastdaytoaddanindependentreadingcourseorstudyproject
September29 M EarlywarningnoticesdueinRegistrar'sOffice
October1 F FallBreak;noclasses,universityofficesopen
October24 F Lastdaytodropafallcourse(mid-term)
October24-26 F-Su FamilyWeekend
October25 S EnglishCompetencyExamination
October27 M Spring2009advanceregistration(withbilling)begins
November1 S Undergraduatetransferspringsemesteradmissionapplicationdeadlineforstudents
livingintheUnitedStates
November7 F Thesesanddissertationsdueindeans'officesforfalldegreecandidates
November1 S EarlyDecisionfreshmanfallsemesteradmission'financialaidapplicationdeadline
November25 T Tuesdayclassescancelled:Fridayclassesmeet.
November26-30W-Su Thanksgivingholiday;noclasses;universityofficesclosedThursdayandFriday
December1 F FreshmanspringsemesteradmissionapplicationdeadlineforstudentslivingintheUnitedStates
December5 F Fallclassesend
ThesesanddissertationsdueinRegistrar'sOfficeforfalldegreecandidates
Spring2009advanceregistration(withbilling)ends
December8-9M-WT Fallfinalexaminations
December10 Fallstudyday;noclasses
December11-13Th-S Fallfinalexaminations
December15 M Fallfinalexaminations(forWednesdayclasses)
December12-18F-Th Fallfinalgradesdue
December24-25W-Th Winterholiday;universityofficesclosed
December31-
January1 W-Th NewYearholiday:universityofficesclosed
Academic Calendar 2008-2009
SpringSemester2009
Introduction
• University Profile
• Undergraduate and Graduate Programs
• Enrollment
AmericanUniversitywascharteredbyanActofCongressin ThedistinguishedfacultyofAmericanUniversityincludes
1893andfoundedundertheauspicesoftheUnitedMethodist renownedexpertsandscholarsofnationalandinternationalrep-
Church. Today it isan independent coeducational university utationinpublicaffairs,law,history,economics,business,inter-
withmorethan11.000studentsenrolledinundergraduate,mas- nationalrelations,education,science,communication,andthe
ter's,doctoral,andprofessionaldegreeprograms.Locatedonan arts.Inadditiontotheoversixhundredmembersofitsfull-time
84-acreresidential campus in upper northwest Washington, faculty,adjunctfacultyaredrawnfromtheWashington,D.C.
DC.theuniversityattractsstudentsfromall50states,theDis- professionalcommunity, includingpolicymakers,diplomats,
trictofColumbia.PuertoRicoandtheterritories,andnearly150 journalists,artists,writers,scientists,andbusinessleaders.
forAeigsnhocrotundtirsiteasn.cefromWashington'scentersofgovernment. worTldh.eArletshouorucgehsaonfiampcoaprittaanltccietnytearreofunbluiskieneasns,yfoitnhaenrcei,natnhde
bcWuaassmihpnieunssgst,iorsne,sleoDac.raCcth.e,dTchionemma3e7rsccceaenm,ipcaunsrdebsauirtdi,elndttihienaglAsmaiernrecialcuadinentUNhnoeirvutenhriwsveiestrty- mtheediDai,strniecxttotfoCgoolvuemrbnimae.nt,educationisthelargestindustryin
sity library,administrativeandacademicbuildings,residence Washington,D.C.isacityoflearningresourcesineverydis-
halls,aninterdenominationalreligiouscenter,andasportscen- cipline,fromtheartsandhumanitiestothesciencestopublicaf-
ter.Facilitiesinclude24-hourcomputerlaboratories,radioand fairs.TheSmithsonianInstitution.JohnF.KennedyCenterfor
TVstudios,sciencelaboratories,artstudios,recitalhalls,anda thePerformingArts,NationalGalleryofArt,NationalInstitutes
theatre.TheWashingtonCollegeofLawislocatedahalfmile ofHealth,NationalLibraryofMedicine,LibraryofCongress,
fromthecampusonMassachusettsAvenue.ThesatelliteTenley National Archives. World Bank. Brookings Institution, more
Campus,thelocationoftheWashingtonSemesterprogram,is than 140 embassies andchanceries, and theheadquarters of
locatedamilefromtheuniversity'smaincampusonNebraska manyassociationsandinternationalorganizationsarelocatedin
Avenue. theWashington,D.C.area.Thelibraries,museums,andartgal-
AmericanUniversityoffersawiderangeofundergraduate leriesofWashingtoncontainunsurpassedcollections.Thesere-
andgraduateprogramsthroughitssixmajordivisions:College sources are sites forresearch, field trips, internships, and
ofArtsand Sciences; Kogod School ofBusiness; Schoolof employment.Becauseoftheseresources.AmericanUniversity
Communication;SchoolofPublicAffairs;SchoolofInterna- studentscanputtheireducationtoworkinWashingtonasthey
tionalService;andWashingtonCollegeofLaw. couldnowhereelseinthecountry.
University Profile
HistoricalOrigins ademicexcellence,publicservice,andinternshipsinthenation's
AmericanUniversitywasincorporatedbythegovernmentof capitalandaroundtheworld.
theDistrictofColumbiain1891andcharteredbyActofCon- Location
gTrheessuniinve1r8s9i3tya'ssafiUrsntitbeuidlMdientghowdaisstcCohmuprlceht-erdeliante1d89i8n;stiittsutfiiorns.t ResidentialareaofuppernorthwestWashington,D.C.
classgraduatedin1916. Calendar
Character Twosemesters,summersessions
AmericanUniversityisaleaderinglobaleducation,enroll- Fall2007Enrollment
ingadiversestudentbodyfromthroughouttheUnitedStates
andmorethan160countriesandprovidingopportunitiesforac- Undergraduate:6,016
6 Introduction
Graduate:3,740
Total: 11,869 uniqueaccesstotheresourcesofWashington,D.C.,andthe
Student/FacultyRatio specialatmosphereofanhonorscommunityofcommitted
facultyandstudents.
14:1 WashingtonSemesterProgram:undergraduateprograms
NumberofFaculty(Fall2007) focusingonAmericanpolitics(nationalgovernment,public
649 full-time faculty with 559 in full-time teaching law); economic policy; genderand politics; international
positions business and trade; international environment and
451adjunctfaculty development; international politics and foreign policy:
FreshmanProfile(Fall2007) justice;journalism; peace and conflict resolution, and
transformingcommunities;allincludeinternships.
AverageunweightedhighschoolGPA:3.53 CampusLife
Male/femaleratio:35/65
Middle50%SATI: 1180-1350 TheOfficeofCampusLifeintegratesstudentsintoadiverse
Middle50%ACT:26-30 university community; promotes theirintellectual, social,
FinancialAid andspiritual development; and, in collaborationwith the
faculty, prepares them for lifelong learning and global
Approximately77percentofstudentsreceivesomeformof citizenship.
financialaid Campus Life offices include: Academic SupportCenter;
AcademicDivisions CommunityService;CounselingCenter;DisabilitySupport
CollegeofArtsandSciences Services; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Ally
KScohgooodlSocfhCooomlmoufniBcusaitnieosns RInetseorunracteioCneanlteSrtu(dGeLnBtTA&);ScHhooulsairngSearnvdicDeisni(nIgSPSrSo)g;raKmasy;
SScchhoooollooffPIuntbelrincatAifofnaailrsService SSeprivriicteusa;lMuLlitfiecuCletnurtaelr;AffLaeirasr;nNiengwSSteurdveinctesP;roMgeradmisa;tiaonnd
WashingtonCollegeofLaw StudentHealthCenter.
AcademicPrograms CareerCenter
56bachelor'sprograms Supportandprogramsforinternships,co-ops,offcampus
581domcatsotrearl'sprporgorgarmasms cfoemdpereatlitiwvoerkmersittudayw,arcdasree,ranpdrecpoamrpatrieohne,nsniavteiocnaarleleyr
JS.tDu.,deSn.tJ.sD.,haavnedLtLh.eMo.pportunity to create individual saenrdviecmepsloatyetrhesuusnedearngroand-ulianteesaynsdtegmr—aduAaUteClaerveelesrSWteubd—enttso
interdisciplinaryprogramsatthebachelor'sandmasters's accessinternshipsandjobsaswellasjobfairsandcampus
levels. Certificate programs and an associate degree interviews.
programareofferedaswell. CocurricularActivities
AabUroAadbroonapdr:ogMraomrseotfhfaenre8d5b0yAAUUsAtburdeonatdsaanndnuoatlhleyrsatruedays Shatluldegnotvsermnamyenpta,rtsitcuidpeantetimnedstiuade(nprtingto,vreardnimo,enatn,drTesVi)deanncde
withintheuniversity.Undergraduatesselectfrommorethan anyofmorethan160clubsandorganizations;1 fraternities
l1a0n0gsutaugdeysaobnroaaldlpcroongtrinaemnstsw.hiScthudsepnatnsdmivaeyrsestcuudltyuriensaannyd aspnodrts1.1 sororities;andvarsity,recreational,andintramural
sluabnjgeucatgearsetau,dyfoarnda/oyreianrt,ersnesmheisptsearr,eoofrfesruemdmaetrm.anIyntseintessi.ve HonorarySocieties
AbroadatAU:Internationalstudentshavetheopportunity Undergraduatestudentshavetheopportunitytobeelectedto
toattendAmericanUniversityforasemesteroryearand theAUchapterofPhiBetaKappa,thenation'soldesthonorary
become fully integrated into the academic, social, and scholasticsocietyforexceptionalacademicachievementinthe
culturallifeoftheuniversity. liberalarts.ElectiontotheAmericanUniversitychapterofPhi
Consortium of Universities ofthe Washington KappaPhi isalsoavailableforqualifiedstudents,aswellas
MetropolitanArea:AmericanUniversityparticipatesina GoldenKey(recognizingoutstandingscholarship,service,and
program through which students may take courses not leadershipforstudentsinallacademicfields)andtheNational
offered by theirhome institutions at any ofthe other SocietyofCollegiateScholars(honoringstudentsforoutstand-
consortiummemberschools. ingscholarshipandcommunityservice).
UniversityHonorsProgram:Acomprehensiveprogramof Manyacademicdisciplineshavechaptersofnationalhonor
honors options drawn from the General Education societiesaswell:
curriculumanddepartmentalcourseofferingsforqualified Alpha Kappa Psi (Lambda Nu Chapter): dedicated to
undergraduate students. The program is characterized by professionaldevelopment,ethicalstandardsandservicein
small seminars, individualized attention from faculty. businessconduct