Undergraduate Catalog

228 Pages·12.9 MB·English

by  Fitchburg State College

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Undergraduate
Catalog
1991-1
FitchbufgSI
Our Commitment
To You
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This catalog is your comprehensive guide to life at Fitchburg State College, both cur-
ricularandextra-curricular. Youshouldreadtheintroductorysectionscarefully, anddiscuss
any questions you mayhavewith your advisor or the staffoftheAdvising Center. For
answers to specific questions on such matters as tuition, financial aid, grading policy,
and non-academic matters, you should visit the appropriate office on campus.
Themostimportantfunctionofthisbook,however,isinoutliningthevariousrequirements
you will need to fulfill in order to graduate. You will need to select those courses that
satisfytherequirementsofboththeCollege'sGeneralEducationcurriculum(ortheLiberal
ArtsandSciencesProgram,ifyouareafreshmanorsophomore)andthosenecessitated
byyourchoiceofmajor. Wesuggestthatyouconsultthiscatalogpriortoselectingeach
semester's courses, reviewing the requirements for your major and reading the course
descriptions before meeting with your advisor.
Afterthefirstweekofclassesinanycourse,youmustmakeadecisionaboutcontinuing
in it. The catalog outlines the process for both dropping and adding courses, and the
effectyourdecisionmayhaveonyourgradepointaverageandgraduationschedule. We
stronglyurgeyoutoreviewthosesectionspertainingtogeneralanddepartmentalacademic
requirements as you prepare for your junior and senior years, so that you are certain
of your progress.
Remember: read, consider, discuss, decide, andact—that'showtousethiscatalogbest!
Accredited by:
Fitchburg State College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and
Colleges, Inc., anon-governmental, nationallyrecognizedorganizationwhoseaffiliated
insitutionsincludeelementaryschoolsthroughcollegiateinstitutionsofferingpost-graduate
instruction.
Accreditation ofan institution by the New England Association indicates that it meets
orexceedscriteriafortheassessmentofinstitutionalqualityperiodicallyappliedthrough
apeer group review process. An accredited school or collegeis one which has available
the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational
programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue
to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is als^o addressed through
accreditation.
Accreditation by the New England Association is not partial but applies to the institu-
tionasawhole. Assuch, itisnotaguaranteeofthequalityofeverycourseorprogram
offered,orthecompetenceofindividualgraduates. Rather,itprovidesreasonableassurance
about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.
Inquiriesregardingthestatusofaninstitution'saccreditationbytheNewEnglandAssocia-
tion should be directed to the administrative staffofthe school or college. Individuals
may also contact the Association:
Commission on Higher Education
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The Sanborn House, 15 High Street
Winchester, Massachusetts 01890
617/729-6762
TheCollegeisalsoaccreditedbytheNationalLeagueforNursing;theCouncilforStan-
dardsinHumanServiceEducation; theAmericanMedicalAssociation'sCommitteeon
AlliedHealthEducationandAccreditationincooperationwiththeNationalAccrediting
Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
in
Approved by:
TheNationalAssociationofStateDirectorsofTeacherEducationandCertification; the
InterstateCertificationCompactinCertificationofEducationalPersonnel; theStateBoard
of Registration in Nursing.
Member
of:
TheAmericanAssociation ofColleges ofTeacherEducation, the CollegeEntranceEx-
amination Board, the Massachusetts Association ofColleges ofNursing, the National
League forNursingCouncilofBaccalaureateandHigherDegreePrograms, Massachusetts
and Rhode Island League forNursing, theAmericanAssociationofStateColleges and
Universities,theAmericanAssociationofUniversityWomen,theInternationalAssocia-
tionofCollegesandUniversities, theAmericanCouncilonEducation, theNewEngland
AssociationofCollegeAdmissionsCounselors, theAmericanAssociationofCollegiate
Registrars and Admissions Officers, and the Council ofColleges ofArts and Sciences,
theCouncilofGraduateSchools,theNorthAmericanAssociationofSummerSessions,
theAmericanAssemblyofCollegiateSchools ofBusiness, andtheAssociation ofCol-
legiate Business Schools and Programs.
Servicemembers Opportunity College:
FitchburgStateCollegeisafully-approvedS.O.C. member,committedtoassistingmilitary
students achieve their educational goals. The S.O.C. principles and criteria subscribed
to by all member institutions provide the basis for a consistent and uniform approach
to meeting the special needs ofmilitary personnel. The Associate Registrar ofthe Col-
lege serves as the counselor for this important program.
Affirmative Action Policy:
It is the policy and commitment ofFitchburg State College not to discriminate on the
basisofrace, religion,color,age, sex, sexualorientation, handicap,veteranstatus,marital
status, ornational origininitseducational programs, activities, admissions, oremploy-
ment policies, and to comply with the requirements ofFederal Executive Orders 11246
and 11375 asamended; theCivil RightsActof 1964asamended; TitleIXoftheEduca-
tionalActof 1972; Sections503 and 504oftheRehabilitationActof 1973; Section402,
Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974; The Civil Rights Restora-
tion Act of 1988; Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and pertinent laws, regula-
tions, and executive directives ofthe Board ofRegents ofHigher Education, the Com-
monwealth of Massachusetts, and other applicable state and federal statutes.
Inquiries concerning the application of, or compliance with, the laws and regulations
prohibiting such discrimination should be addressed to John J. Giarusso, Director of
Personnel/AffirmativeAction, whohasbeendesignatedTitleIXCoordinator(Ext. 3172),
orwithrespecttoSection504,toStevenJ. Lanciani,VicePresidentforFacilitiesManage-
ment (Ext. 3118), who has been designated Coordinator for Section 504, or the Office
of the Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights, United States Department of Education,
Washington, D.C.
Sexual Harassment Policy:
Itis against thepolicyofFitchburg State College for anymember oftheCollege Com-
munity, maleor female, to sexuallyharass another employee or student. The College is
committedtoprovidingaworking, livingandlearningenvironmentthatis free fromall
formsofabusive, harassingorcoerciveconduct,andtoprotectingtherightofallmembers
oftheCollegeCommunity(faculty/librarians, administrators, staff, andstudents)tobe
treated with respect and dignity.
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Sexual harassment consists of unsolicited verbal, non-verbal, and/or physical conduct
which has the effect of interfering with student or employment status, or of creating
an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. The College's Affirmative Action
Grievance Procedures will serve as a system of review and resolution for both formal
andinformalcomplaints. Furtherinformationoradvicemaybeobtainedbycontacting
John J. Giarusso, Director of Personnel/Affirmative Action (Ext. 3172).
Human
Studies Policy
Fitchburg State College recognizes the need for investigations in which human beings
mayserveasresearchsubjects. TheCollegeisalsocognizantofitsresponsibility foren-
suring that the privacy, safety, health, and welfare ofsuch subjects are adequately pro-
tected. Thus, theCollegehasestablishedaHumanStudiesPolicyandCommitteewhich
reviewsandapprovestheadequacyofprotectionofhumansubjects.Acopyofthispolicy
may be obtained in the office of Academic Affairs.
Drug-Free Environment:
FitchburgStateCollegeisincompliancewiththeDrug-FreeWorkplaceAct of 1988 and
theDrug-FreeSchoolsandCommunitiesAct,Amendmentof1989. Informationregard-
ingtheseactsandtheCollege'scompliancewiththemisdistributedtotheCollegecom-
munity each year and is also available from the Director of Personnel.
Privacy and Confidentiality Regulations:
PrivacyandConfidentialityRegulations pursuanttotheFair Information PracticesAct—
F.I.P.A.—(Chapter766oftheActs of 1965)areposted(togetherwithacopyofChapter
766 and the name ofthe F.I.P.A. administrator) on appropriate bulletin boards at the
College. Additionally, acopyoftheregulationsarekepton fileattheRegistrar'sOffice.
Studentsshouldnotethatifanyoftheseregulationsshouldconflictwithapplicablepro-
visionsoftheFederalPrivacyActof1974asamended,orwithanyregulationspromulgated
pursuanttosaidact,theprovisionsofsaidfederalactorfederalregulationsshallcontrol.
\*&iver of Academic Regulations:
Recognizing the inappropriateness of rigidity in endeavoring to promote its goals, the
Collegeprovides forwaiverprocedurerelativetoitsbaccalauraterules, regulations, and
programs. Allpetitions ofwaiver ofregulations begin with the Office ofAcademicAf-
fairs for day students and with the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education for
graduateandcontinuingeducationstudents. Thestudent should notethatthejustifica-
tion for a waiver should be as exceptional as its granting.
Theprovisionsofthiscatalogarenotto beregarded as an irrevocablecontract between
the College and its students.
To The
Community
College
VI
FitchburgState College wasfoundedin 1894toprepareteachersfortheCom-
monwealth'sschools. Today, itisacomprehensivepubliccollege with ahistory
ofinnovation and growth in offering career education.
You will find us dedicated to maintaining an attractive environment for
learning—fromstate-of-the-artequipmentto well-keptgroundsandfacilities;
andyou willfindan efficientadministrationdedicatedtokeepingcollegecosts
within your reach.
You will, however, come to appreciate these attributes only as a pleasant
background to your educational achievement. Ultimately, your attachment
to F.S.C. will beforged by ourfaculty. They bring to their classrooms both
broadandspecializedknowledge oftheirfields, andmuchpracticalexperi-
ence. Most importantly, they are a teachingfaculty, committed to helping
you acquire the knowledge and skills you need for success in
your careers.
Vincent J. Mara, Ph.D.
President
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Table of Contents
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