Frequently Asked Questions
- Hey, what are the "Liberal Arts" anyway?
- What can I do with a Liberal Arts degree except teach?
- Why is it important to attend Fall Orientation (OSU Connect)?
- How much should I expect to study?
- What does it mean to S/U a course?
- When is S/U an option for me?
- How do I change from an A-F grade to an S/U grading?
- How many classes can be taken S/U?
- How do I drop a class?
- Who should I talk to when I drop or withdraw from a class?
- What's the difference between the BA and BS degree options in CLA?
- What's "double-counting"?
- Why not?
- How do I change my major?
- Where do I find out about minor requirements?
- What is MyDegrees?
- How do I access MyDegrees?
- How do I check my progress before I apply to graduate?
- Can I still walk in the Spring graduation ceremony if I'm one or more classes short of graduation?
- Can hours from another university or community college be transferred to OSU after I've been a student here?
- Who can tell me about the International Degree Program?
- Other Questions
- Hey, what are the "Liberal Arts" anyway?
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A liberal arts education is centered on an environment of transformation. Education within the college of liberal arts provides limitless opportunities for students to find and trust their own voice. The multi-disciplinary approach of a liberal arts degree, the faculty, advisors, course content and assignments are all focused on helping students undergo this transformation. Upon graduation, liberal arts students are more reflective about their beliefs and choices, more self-conscious and aware of their personal values, more creative in their problem-solving, more perceptive of the world around them, and more able to inform themselves about the issues that arise in their lives.
Albert Einstein says that, "The value of an education in a liberal arts college is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think something that cannot be learned from textbooks." Liberal arts education fosters an environment where many subjects are integrated in order to inform individuals across many disciplines; not to memorize facts or to learn the right way to accomplish a task. Rather, pursuing a liberal arts degree encourages students to synthesize information from multiple sources and be comfortable with many possible solutions to a problem. In pursuing a degree in the liberal arts, individuals learn to embrace ambiguity, to be creative, curious, and to critically question what is taken for granted as the truth.
As students in the liberal arts find opportunities to challenge themselves through in and out of class experiences and engage in their community, they can begin to take ownership and pride in the world they live in. Some CLA grads will continue on in their academics; many will become physicians, teachers, lawyers, and businesspeople. All of them will be citizens, and as such will be helping to make decisions that may affect the lives of others. All of them will be making change in one capacity or another and a liberal education gives students the tools to face these challenges in an informed and thoughtful way.
Finally, employers and graduate schools are looking for individuals who can work independently and who have a complex approach to thinking and learning. They also want someone with transferable skills such as written and verbal communication skills, the ability to solve complex problems, to work well with others, and to adapt in a changing workplace — all hallmarks of a liberal arts education.
- What can I do with a Liberal Arts degree except teach?
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Liberal Arts graduates enjoy success in a variety of careers. Besides teaching, many graduates work in government, marketing, training, and business management careers. Many medical, law, and business graduate programs prefer liberal arts graduates.
- Why is it important to attent Fall Orientation (OSU Connect)?
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You'll get to know some students and faculty, and get many of your questions answered so that the first term will go more smoothly.
- How much should I expect to study?
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College is much more intense than high school. The rule of thumb for all college courses is an expectation that you'll spend 2 hours doing work outside class for each hour spent in class; for a 3-hour course, that's minimum of 6 hours a week studying. So, if you're enrolled for a full load, 15 credit hours, you should expect to be studying at least 30 hours a week.
- What does it mean to S/U a course?
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There are different grading options for most courses. While the standard option is "Letter Grade" (A-F), you can in some cases choose S/U (satisfactory / unsatisfactory). Courses taken S/U don't count into your GPA, but S grades (equivalent to a C- or better) will make them count toward your University requirements; courses in which you receive a U don't fulfill any requirements.
- How do I change from an A-F grade to an S/U grading?
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Fill out an S/U request form and have it signed by the College Advisors in Gilkey 213. Turn it in to the Registrar’s Office before 5pm on Friday of the seventh week of classes.
- When is S/U an option for me?
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Baccalaueate core and CLA requirement classes can be taken S/U; classes in your major must be graded. Requirements for minors vary, so check with departments.
- How many classes can be taken S/U?
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You "earn" one S/U class per term attending OSU. If you've finished your first year (three terms), you can take a total of 3 S/U classes in your next term. At the end of four years, you can have taken a total of nine S/U classes.
- How do I drop a class?
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For the first two weeks of the term, you can drop classes over the phone. From the third to the seventh week, you can withdraw from a class (but not drop it) over the phone, and a "W" will appear on your transcript.
- Who should I talk to when I drop or withdraw from a class?
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Talk with your academic advisor to assess how this decision will impact your plan of study. Additionally, contact financial aid in order to see how the withdrawal will impact your financial aid and scholarships.
- What's the difference between the BA and BS degree options in CLA?
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A Bachelor of Arts degree requires proficiency in a foreign language at the second year, third term level. A Bachelor of Science degree requires a course of study including math, science and computer science courses, and doesn't require a language.
- What's "double-counting"?
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Using courses from your major to fulfill Bacc Core or CLA requirements. This is not allowed.
- Why not?
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The goal of the Bacc Core and CLA requirements is to expose students to a variety of courses above and beyond their area of concentration; this is what's known as being "liberally educated." In addition to a strong background in the major, these requirements guarantee students additional breadth in their education that will serve them well as an employee, a citizen and a person. They enhance the understanding of coursework in the major by offering a broad perspective.
- How do I change my major?
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Make an appointment with the advising office for the major/minor you would like to declare. You will need to fill out a change of program form after your advising appointment and have your advisor sign it for approval.
- Where do I find out about minor requirements?
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Check your catalog in the section that lists the department you're interested in, and go to the department office for more information.
- What is MyDegrees?
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MyDegrees is a web-based degree checklist program designed to assist students and advisors in reviewing degree progress. It organizes a student’s academic transcript by category (Degree requirements, Baccalaureate Core, Liberal Arts Core, etc) identifying categories as complete, in progress or needing to be fulfilled. MyDegrees is not always accurate and does not replace seeing an advisor, it is merely a helpful guiding tool.
- How do I access MyDegrees?
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Login to Online Services and go to the records menu. Select the hyperlink for MyDegrees.
- How do I check my progress before I apply to graduate?
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Check your MyDegrees and make an appointment with your advisor.
- Can I still walk in the Spring graduation ceremony if I'm one or more classes short of graduation?
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Yes! If you are registered for summer term classes and have applied for graduation that term, you can go through Spring Commencement.
- Can hours from another university or community college be transferred to OSU after I've been a student here?
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Yes, but only a certain number. Be sure to talk to your adviser about the limitations.
- Who can tell me about the International Degree Program?
- Other questions?
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E-mail Student Services.
Please visit the International Programs International Degree web site (http://oregonstate.edu/international/degree) for information and contacts. After you have a plan for your International Degree lined up, see your academic advisor to work that into your overall graduation plan.