Graduation Requirements for On-the-Ground Students
The language requirement applies to all students regardless of background. Learning another language develops cognitive skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and flexibility. Furthermore, as students become familiar with a particular language and its literature and culture, they develop knowledge of the intellectual and social history of the people who communicate in that language.
Additionally, the knowledge and experience gained in the critical reading of literature from other cultures broadens students’ perspectives and provides a foundation for further study. In doing so, they become aware of their own cultural assumptions and preconceptions. Finally, fluency in another language provides a significant advantage in the marketplace for students who want to advance in their careers.
Two semesters of coursework in the same language taken sequentially is required of all students, regardless of incoming language proficiency. Students may pursue a previously studied language at the appropriate level of competency, determined through a placement exam, or start a new one.
Table 1: PLAN Requirements, Purpose, and Double Counting (for On-the-Ground Students)
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PLAN REQUIREMENT
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PURPOSE
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DOUBLE COUNTING
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Year 1
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The Boston Course fall semester, 4 credits
The Simmons Course
Explore fall semester, 2 credits
The Leadership Course spring semester, 4 credits
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Engagement with Boston; communication essential capability
Engagement with Simmons Communities; academic skill-building
Leadership, teamwork
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Year 2
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Learning Community, 8 credits total
• 2 courses, 3 credits each
• 1 integrated seminar, 2 credits
The Simmons Course: Experience
Fall or spring semester, 1 credit
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Interdisciplinary and integrated learning
Academic skill-building; 3D planning
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•Learning Community courses may count as a KCA.
•One Learning Community course may count in major/minor. For students with multiple majors/minors, one LC course may count in each.
•One 3-credit course from the LC may be included in a student’s 3D cluster.
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Years 1-4
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3D (Design Across Diverse Disciplines)
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3 courses that are topically connected; interdisciplinary and integrated learning
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• Each 3D course may count as a KCA.
• One 3D course may count in each major/minor course of study.
• 3D courses must be drawn from different disciplines.
• Two 3D courses may have been taken during first or second year.
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Capstone
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Expertise in student’s field of study
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• The Capstone is in the major.
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The Simmons Course: Excel 1 credit
Fall or spring semester
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Post-graduation support/ planning; careers, graduate school
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Any year
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Key Content Areas (4 courses)
• Social/Historical
• Artistic, Literary Aesthetic
• Global/Cultural
• Scientific
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Exposure to content across disciplines
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• Each KCA may be fulfilled through the Learning Community; 3D; in a major/ minor course of study (if applicable)
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Quantitative Literacy (1 course)
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Critical thinking and problem solving; literacy in numeric systems
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• The QL requirement may be fulfilled through a course in a student's major/minor course of study (if applicable).
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Language Requirement (2 courses in the same language taken sequentially)
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Linguistic and cultural skill development
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• Some language courses may fulfill a KCA.
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Exemptions/Alternate Requirement
- Dix Scholars are exempt from the language requirement, The Leadership Course, and The Simmons Course: Explore.
- Students with a documented learning disability, or other disability, affecting their ability to acquire a language will fulfill the language requirement through the completion of two courses related to global perspectives and cross-cultural understanding. Such students should contact the Office of Accessibility Services and consult their academic advisor for the list of approved courses.
- As of May 2021, all students entering with an AA/AS degree are exempt from all PLAN requirements but the capstone.
Starting a New Language
- Students who want to start a language which they have not previously studied can register for the 101 level in the following languages at Simmons: American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish.
- Typically, Arabic is offered through the Colleges of the Fenway. Please visit the Registrar’s Office for details.
Policies
- Students are strongly encouraged to finish the language requirement within their first two years of study.
Table 2a: Placement for Language Courses
| For students who want to continue their studies of Chinese, French, Japanese, or Spanish, the following methods will be used for placement: |
LANGUAGE
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REQUIREMENT
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French
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AP, IB or SAT exam
or Online placement exam administered by the Office of Academic Advising |
Spanish
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AP, IB or SAT exam
or Online placement exam administered by the Office of Academic Advising |
Chinese
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Online placement exam administered by the Office of Academic Advising |
Japanese
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Must consult with Professor Alister Inglis, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures |
Students register for the level indicated based on their test score. Students cannot register for a different level without approval from the Modern Languages and Literatures Department.
Students who have studied three or more years of the language will automatically be placed into the 102 level, regardless of placement exam results.
American Sign Language may be taken to fulfill the Language Requirement. |
Courses taken to fulfill the language requirement:
- may not be taken pass/fail;
- may not be taken in an asynchronous online course;
- may fulfill a Key Content Area requirement;
- may be part of a student’s 3D cluster;
- may count towards the major or minor in French or Spanish if they are at the 245 level or above; in order to count towards the major or minor, French 245 and Spanish 245 must be taken at Simmons.
- Language courses taken during international study can be used to fulfill the language requirement. Pre-approval must be obtained from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. Please contact the Faculty Coordinator for the PLAN Language Requirement, Professor Marda Messay (marda.messays@simmons.edu) for pre-approval.
- Language courses transferred from other institutions may fulfill the language requirement pending pre-approval from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. Please contact the Faculty Coordinator for the PLAN Language Requirement, Professor Marda Messay (marda.messay@simmons.edu) for pre-approval. This condition also applies to languages not offered at either Simmons or the Colleges of the Fenway consortium. In that instance, placement will be decided by the host institutions, if needed.
Table 2b: Placement/Credit by Language Exam Score
AP
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IB
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SAT
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Score of 3:
No credit; student is placed into 202 |
Score of 5:
No credit; student is placed into 202 |
Score of 560 or higher:
No credit; student is placed into 202 |
Score of 4 or 5:
4 general credits; student is placed into 245 |
Score of 6 or 7:
4 general credits; student is placed into 245
No credit or placement for the “ab initio” exam: students are required to take the placement exam |
Score of 650 or higher:
No credit; student is placed into 245 |
Math Competency Requirement
Students will be required to demonstrate competency in mathematics in one of the following ways before they are able to take a Quantitative Literacy course:
- Pass the mathematics competency exam administered by the Office of Undergraduate Advising by Orientation;
- Successfully complete MATH 101 or a higher level mathematics course at Simmons;
- Present evidence of satisfactory completion at another accredited college of a mathematics course at the level of MATH 101 or above to the Registrar’s office.
- Students must satisfy the math competency requirement during their first semester at Simmons. Students who do not pass the mathematics competency exam by orientation or who do not meet the math competency requirement in one of the other ways described above, must take MATH 101 in the first semester it is available.
Quantitative Literacy Requirement (QL)
Quantitative Literacy (QL) is a “habit of mind,” competency, and comfort in working with numerical data. Courses in this area will develop a student’s ability to reason and solve quantitative problems from a wide array of authentic contexts and everyday life situations. QL courses will develop the skills necessary to understand and create sophisticated arguments supported by quantitative evidence, and to clearly communicate those arguments in a variety of formats (using words, tables, graphs, mathematical equations, etc., as appropriate).
Key Content Area (KCA) Requirements
The key content areas pertain to phenomena as objects of study across the disciplines, rather than modes of inquiry defined by a particular discipline or set of disciplines.
Indeed, these categories describe areas of knowledge from multidisciplinary perspectives. The phenomena included under each of the four areas listed below thus admit of a wide variety of ways of knowing or disciplinary approaches. Students must complete one course from each of the following areas:
1] Scientific Inquiry (SCI)
Courses in this area focus on phenomena in the natural and physical world and on ways of knowing these phenomena, particularly through experimental approaches. This requirement is primarily met by courses in the sciences and psychology; the requirement may also be met by courses in other disciplines providing perspectives on scientific phenomena. All courses meeting this requirement include a “hands on” component providing students the opportunity to understand and appreciate the scientific method.
2] Global Cultural (GC)
The term “global cultural” is broadly construed; it includes all cultures, past and present, within and beyond the U. S., and in their multiple forms of manifestation. Courses in this area offer our students the opportunity to understand and learn to appreciate cultural differences as they have made themselves manifest in humankind. This requirement can be met by courses in any discipline—from the liberal arts to the sciences and the professions—that provide a multicultural perspective of the world. For example, courses that focus on cross-cultural practices, or on minority cultures in the U. S., or on non-European cultures, or that provide world surveys of cultures would all meet this requirement.
3] Social and Historical (SH)
Courses in this area focus on phenomena in society and history as well as ways of knowing these phenomena. This requirement can be met by courses in the social sciences, including economics, political science, sociology, social psychology, social work, and history. Courses in other disciplines that provide perspectives of social and historical phenomena as defined above also meet this requirement. For example, a course that focuses on the social applications of management principles would provide such perspectives.
4] Aesthetic, Literary, and Artistic (ALA)
Courses in this area focus on phenomena in art and literature as well as ways of knowing or creating original works or aesthetic approaches to these phenomena. This requirement can be met by courses in any of the creative and performing arts as well as in any course in the study of literature, art, and music. Courses in other disciplines that provide perspectives of aesthetic, literary, and artistic phenomena as defined above also meet this requirement. For example, a course that studies the digital or computational aspects of artistic creation would meet this requirement.