2022-2023 Course Catalog

Undergraduate Majors

Program Major 
All undergraduate students are required to select a major: a program of courses providing an in-depth experience in an academic area. Majors consist of no fewer than 33 credits, including the integrated senior capstone. Some majors may require an Internship in their field as a requirement of the major. A maximum of eight credits can apply to both the major and general education requirements. A maximum of eight credits can apply to both a major and a minor. No course may fulfill more than two requirements among majors, minors, and general education. 

Each program determines the requirements for its major. At least 50% of the credits toward the major must be completed at Chatham and a grade of C- or higher must be earned in all major courses. A student must earn a G.P.A. of 2.0 or above within their major. Some programs may impose a higher minimum G.P.A. per licensure and accreditation requirements. The major appears on the official transcript. 

Major Declaration 
Students may declare a major consistent with their catalog year and change to an academic advisor within that major at any point after admission. They must declare a major before the registration period at the end of their sophomore year. While students are free to change majors as they desire, repeated changes may delay graduation. The longer a student goes undeclared may cause financial aid eligibility issues. Students should consult with financial aid for more information concerning declaring a major.

Interdisciplinary Major 
A major may be pursued through concentrated study in two related programs. Such a major consists of a minimum of eight courses in each of the two programs, exclusive of the integrated senior capstone. Individual programs require specific courses in fulfillment of the requirements. The capstone must integrate the subject matter of the two programs. Such a major must be approved by both programs and supported by a full-time faculty member who has agreed to advise the student and direct their program, particularly in the interrelations of the subjects to be studied. At least 50% of the credits toward the major must be completed at Chatham. A student must earn a G.P.A. of 2.0 or above within their major. Courses within the major with a recorded grade below C- must be repeated.

Students may select any two of the following interdisciplinary options: Biology, Business Accounting, Business Economics, Business Management, Business Marketing, Cultural Studies, English, History, International Business, Mathematics, Music, Political Science, and Psychology. Students wishing to do an interdisciplinary major in two business disciplines must follow the guidelines provided in this catalog under the Department of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Self-Designed Majors
Self-Designed Major - A major program also may be pursued through concentrated study of two or more disciplines bearing on a single concern, possibly in disciplines not usually considered related. The major may be built around a single topic. The self-designed major proposal must be submitted to and approved by a committee of three full-time faculty members in the disciplines most closely related to the proposed major; one member of this committee will serve as the student’s academic advisor. The student prepares a proposal for the major that must include, but is not limited to, a statement of educational goals, identification of learning outcomes, and a detailed plan of study including all courses that would apply to the major. The plan of study must adhere to the following guidelines: (1) the major consists of no fewer than 11 courses, including the integrated senior capstone (2) seven of the 11 courses must be at the 200- level or above; (3) at least two full-time semesters of academic work must be completed following the application and approval of the major. When the proposal has been approved, copies of the student’s proposal, signed by the members of the committee, are placed in the student’s permanent academic record and advising file. Any changes to the plan must be approved by the committee and updated in the student’s permanent academic record. At least 50% of the credits toward the self-designed major must be completed at Chatham and a grade of C- or higher must be earned in all major courses. A student must earn a G.P.A. of 2.0 or above within their major.

Double Major
A student may earn a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Interior Architecture, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Social Work degree with a double major by fulfilling the major course requirements of two majors, the general education requirements of the primary School, and one integrated senior capstone, with a maximum of eight credits that may fulfill degree requirements for both majors. If the two majors are for different degrees, then the student must choose between the B.A., B.F.A., B.I.A, B.S. or B.S.W. degrees. A single senior capstone must integrate the subject matter of the two programs. Double majors must be approved by both programs and must be supported by a faculty member who has agreed to advise the student and direct his/her program, particularly in the interrelation of the subjects to be studied. At least 50% of the credits toward each major must be completed at Chatham and a grade of C- or higher must be earned in all major courses completed after spring 2011. A student must earn a G.P.A. of 2.0 or above within each major.

Double Degree
Chatham University offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Interior Architecture, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Social Work. A student may earn two Chatham degrees concurrently by completing all the degree requirements specified by the School of the first major, along with all the requirements for a second major, including a second senior capstone, with no courses fulfilling requirements for both degrees. A student must take an additional 45 credits, for a total of 165 credits. At least 50% of the credits toward the second major must be completed at Chatham and a grade of C- or higher must be earned in all major courses completed after spring 2011. A student must earn a G.P.A. of 2.0 or above within each major.