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Frequently Asked Questions for Advisors
1) What are the accepted courses in Humanity/Arts/Social Sciences (HASS)? Courses selected must include a minimum of one credit each in the areas of humanities and social sciences. In addition, at least two courses must be taken in the same department. Ex-college courses are excluded, including those approved for distribution credit by the College of Liberal Arts. The student has the option to satisfy these requirements through a special minor in foreign language and culture in the areas of Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish. Contact the Department of German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literatures, or the Department of Romance Languages for details. 2) What are the accepted courses in Natural Sciences? 3) What are the accepted courses in Mathematics? 4) Where can I find the degree checklist sheets for ABET-accredited programs? Please contact Kim Knox, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, if you are unsure about the correct degree sheet. 5) What are the important dates for registration, course options, holidays? 6) How many and what kinds of pre-matriculation credits can I apply toward a degree before I matriculate to Tufts? Pre-matriculation credits are defined as credits earned from certain scores on Advanced Placement and SAT II examinations, scores on examinations of certain international diplomas, as well as credits earned from college courses taken prior to matriculation at Tufts. Pre-matriculation credits are treated as regular course credits and accepted toward satisfaction of the degree requirements. If the credit received is equivalent to a Tufts course, the student may not take that course for additional credit toward the degree. Students are limited to eight pre-matriculation credits toward their degree. Credits earned prior to matriculation via Tufts summer session are not included in this limit. Secondary school students who have taken college courses should consult the appropriate departments regarding their placement and the possible award of credits. Credit is generally awarded only for courses taken at a college with regularly enrolled college students. Some colleges offer their courses in nearby secondary schools for classes composed entirely of secondary school students; credit is not awarded for these courses. Tufts does not grant credit automatically for the diploma as a whole; rather credit is awarded for each approved subject passed at an appropriate level. For possible credit from all other international diplomas, students must contact a professional academic equivalency service—such as the World Educational Service (WES)—to provide an official evaluation. Tufts accepts possible credit only for certain scores on standardized examinations and reserves the right to determine equivalencies toward the Tufts degree. Please consult the latest Tufts Bulletin for detailed information about grades required and credit granted for the various types of pre-matriculation degrees, courses and diplomas. 7) What are the residency requirements and how can I advance my class standing? Residence Requirement Students must be in full-time residence at Tufts for the final two semesters. Enrolled students may normally transfer courses only from accredited four-year colleges and universities. Candidates for combined degrees (bachelor's/master's degrees, liberal arts/engineering combined degrees) must complete their programs in no fewer than five years. Enrolled students may accelerate in the ways described below. Students who transfer to Tufts must spend four full-time semesters at Tufts or on a Tufts study abroad program. Exceptions to the policy are rarely granted. Petitions may be made on the basis of unanticipated personal, family, or financial emergencies. Truly extraordinary students for whom it would be less productive or even counterproductive to their intellectual development to remain an undergraduate after completing course requirements may also be exempted. Advanced Standing Engineering students are restricted to using 8 pre-matriculation credits toward the degree. A total of 5 to 8.5 pre-matriculation credits and Tufts summer session credits = one full-time semester. A total of 9 pre-matriculation credits and Tufts summer session credits = two full-time semesters. Once students have completed two full years at Tufts, undergraduates may advance their class standing. Students electing advanced standing must spend at least three academic years (six semesters) as full-time students. Ordinarily, two years or four semesters of the undergraduate's course of study must be taken at Tufts University's home campus. Up to one year or two semesters may be spent in a Tufts-related program, either foreign or domestic. Under exceptional circumstances, when the academic needs of a student cannot be satisfied with a Tufts program, a student electing advanced standing may participate for as much as one year in the accredited academic program of another institution with the prior approval of the appropriate academic dean. 8) How do I find out about AP credits and when they may be used?Please consult the latest Advanced Placement Credit listing. Examinations of the Advanced Placement Program administered by the College Entrance Examination Board, special placement examinations offered at Tufts University, or other evidence of preparation at the level of college work may be submitted for evaluation by the appropriate department. Such work may result in a student's being placed in an advanced course, but credit is awarded only for appropriate scores on standardized examinations. To determine course placement and credit, if any, based on advanced placement scores, consult the departmental listings below. Acceleration credits are treated as regular course credits and are accepted as part of the degree requirement for the School of Engineering. 9) How do I transfer course credit from other institutions to Tufts? Please contact Mary Bonaventura for more information You must request that an official transcript be mailed directly to the Administrative Support, Dowling Hall from the school where you took the course. Credit will be transferred upon successful completion of the course with a grade of C- or better and when all of the paperwork has been submitted. 10) How can I reserve courses towards grad school? 11) How do I apply for the Tufts combined B.S./M.S. degree program? Students seeking admission to the program must submit an application to the Office of Graduate Studies by November 15th of their junior year. Admission to the program requires (1) a minimum cumulative GPA (through the fall semester of the junior year) of 3.60 for the B.S.-M.S. program and 3.20 for the B.S.-M.Eng. program; and (2) acceptance by the department in which the student intends to complete the master's portion of the program. Applicants admitted to the combined-degree programs will be notified by January 15th of their junior year. Combined-degrees students are expected to fulfill all the requirements of the bachelor's degree program (38 credits); of these, two graduate-level credits are allowed to count toward the master's degree requirements as long as they carry the designation of the department in which the master's portion of the combined degree program is to be completed. Students admitted to the combined B.S.-M.S. program receive summer research support for the summers after junior and senior year. This summer research support provides salary at the level of research assistants set by the School of Engineering for three summer months. Students may petition to opt out of summer research provided they conduct master's thesis work approved by the student's advisor and department. 12) How do I obtain an official Tufts transcript? 13) How do I make the Dean's List? 14) How do I graduate with honors? Highest distinction (summa cum laude) is conferred at commencement as follows. Each degree program may nominate deserving students who:
These nominations are approved by a special vote of the faculty. With the consent of the faculty, students who graduate at a time other than May will be granted the honor summa cum laude if they meet the above criteria. The above criteria may be replaced by special evaluation of the Tufts academic record if substantial transfer credit is submitted in fulfillment of the degree requirements, or if the degree program is of unusual duration. Students whose permanent record includes a serious disciplinary infraction will not normally be eligible for degrees with honors. 15) How do I study abroad? Please visit the Tufts Office of Programs Abroad for more information. 16) How do I find out about undergraduate research opportunities? 17) How do I learn about internship opportunities? Contact Robin Kahan for more information: 18) How can I maintain good academic standing? Understand that the following procedures are guidelines; the Committee on Academic Standing reserves the right to make decisions on an individual student based on its judgment of the student's academic progres. Students are subject to action by the Committee on Academic Standing if they have accumulated one or more of the following during the semester:
Normally, students are removed from Probation if, in the succeeding semester, they earn four credits with grades of C- or better and no failing grades. An incomplete, even with a default grade of C- or better, is not counted as a grade. Also, none of these courses may be taken pass/fail. The committee also determines whether students are maintaining satisfactory progress toward the degree. Students are subject to action by the Committee on Academic Standing if they complete fewer than the following number of credits:
See the Guidelines for Determination of Academic Standing for Engineering Students for additional information. 19)What is the Pass/Fail option for classes? See the Academic Calendar for registration dates regarding the Pass/Fail option. The spirit of the pass-fail option is to encourage academic exploration. Certain introductory courses must be taken for a grade (see Introductory Course Requirement). Not more than eight pass-fail credits may be counted toward the credits required for graduation. For the accredited programs, no departmental concentration course may be taken pass-fail and only one foundation credit may be taken pass-fail. Normally, no more than one course per semester may be taken pass-fail. No distinction is made between regular courses that students elect under the pass-fail grading and those courses in which grading is pass-fail. All decisions regarding the pass-fail option must be made within the first four weeks of any term. After four weeks, the only choices are to complete a course under the existing grading system or to withdraw for the remainder of the term. Introductory Course Requirements |
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