Official Notification of Approved Catalog Changes

(last updated April 5, 2024)

⇒ New or revised courses
⇒ Deleted courses
⇒ Revisions to degree, major, and minor requirements
⇒ Policy changes
⇒ Miscellaneous information

Deleted Courses
ARTS 222
HIST 174
HIST 200
HIST 205
HIST 207
HIST 210
HIST 213
HIST 214
HIST 215
HIST 223
HIST 224
HIST 228
HIST 233
HIST 247
HIST 257
HIST 258
HIST 276
HIST 277
HIST 280
HIST 307
HIST 319
HIST 364
HIST 367

Revisions to degree, major, and minor requirements

African Studies (2024-25 catalog)
approved change to the major
“3. African Diaspora-focused course. One course chosen from among AFCA 285; ARTH 131; ENGL 366…”

Art History (2024-25 catalog)
approved change to the major
“1. Introduction: At least nine credits in ARTH chosen from 101, 102, 130 or 131, 140 or 141, and 170…”
3. a. at least 12 credits chosen from ARTH 125, 131 (if not used to satisfy the introductory requirement),141, 146, 180, 195…”

approved change to the minor
“1. Two courses chosen from 101, 102, 130 or 131, 140 or 141, or 170…
2. Three ARTH courses chosen from ARTH 125, 141, 146, 180, 195…”

Biology (2024-25 catalog)
approved changes to the BS major
“7. Advanced-level courses: BIOL 302, 310*…”
“8. Quantitative Biology: BIOL 267, 282, 283, 285, 302, 325…”

approved changes to the BA major:
“2. Quantitative Biology: BIOL 187, 201, 302…”
“6. Advanced-level courses: BIOL 302, 310*, 322, 323* …”

Approved changes to the minor in Quantitative Biology:
“5. Advanced level: one course chosen from BIOL 302, 325, 385…”

Cognitive and Behavioral Science (2024-25 catalog)
approved changes to the BA major
“A major in cognitive and behavioral science leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree requires completion of at least 34 credits in cognitive and behavioral science as follows:
1. Foundations:
a. CBSC 110 or 111 b. Two courses chosen from CBSC 112, 113, and 114
2. Gateway: CBSC 250
3. Two ~~topical seminars~~ specialization courses selected from CBSC ~~240, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265, 269, and 298~~ CBSC 309, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 319, 321, 322, 323, 325, 329, and 349

4. One ~~advanced methods~~ research capstone course selected from CBSC 353, 354, 355, 357, 359, 362, 363, 365, 369 and 398
5. At least ~~nine~~ twelve additional credits chosen from CBSC course numbered ~~below 400~~ 301 and below.”

approved changes to the BS major
“A major in cognitive and behavioral science leading to a Bachelor of Science degree requires completion of at least 50 credits in cognitive and behavioral science and cognate fields distributed as follows:
1. Foundations:
a. CBSC 110 or 111
b. Two courses chosen from CBSC 112, 113, and 114
2. Gateway: CBSC 250
3. Two ~~topical seminars~~ specialization courses selected from ~~CBSC 240, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 259, 261, 262, 263, 265, 269, and 298~~ CBSC 309, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 319, 321, 322, 323, 325, 329, and 349

4. One ~~advanced methods~~ research capstone course selected from CBSC 353, 354, 355, 357, 359, 362, 363, 365, 369 and 398
5. ~~Three~~ Six additional credits chosen from CBSC course numbered ~~below 400~~ 301 and below.
6. At least 22 additional credits chosen from among the following: courses in BIOL, CHEM, CSCI, MATH, NEUR, PHYS and the following CBSC courses: CBSC 118, 150, 216, 240, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, and 259. No more than 6 credits to be taken in CBSC.”

Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies (2024-25 catalog)
approved changes to the minor
“2. Take one course chosen from ARTH 101, 102, 130, 131, 140, or 170”

Data Science (2024-25 catalog)
approved changes to the minor

1. “Data Science Foundations: At least three credits chosen from among the following: BIOL 185, 187; BUS 310, 314; CBSC 185, 240; MATH 100A; SOAN 244

4. Electives: At least nine additional credits chosen from among the following: BIOL 282, 302, 325, 385; BUS 306, 315, 316, 317; CBSC 359; CHEM 116; CSCI 111, 112, 315; DCI 110; DS 285, 395, 399, 421, 422, 423; ECON 203; EEG 260; MATH 222, 309, 310; PHYS 265; SOAN 219, 220, 222, 264, 265, 266, 268, 276, 365, 395; and, when appropriate BIOL 297”

Digital Culture and Information (2024-25 catalog)
approved changes to the minor
3. At least six credits chosen from ARTH 383, ARTS 131; BUS 306, 321; CLAS 343; any CSCI course; ENGL 453; JOUR 202, 220; POL 271; MESA 260; SOAN 220, 265, 266; and, when approved in advance, PHIL 296, DCI-designated courses

Environmental Studies (2024-25 catalog)
approved changes to the BA major

Conservation Biology track
“b. Advanced social science foundations: one course chosen from ECON 255, 257, 259; ENV 282; POL 233; and when appropriate and approved in advance, ECON 295”

Climate Change track
c. Human Dimensions: two courses chosen from ACCT 303; ECON 255, 259, 356; ENV 220, 230, 282, 330; PHIL 150; POL 105, 233, and when appropriate and approved in advance, BUS 390, 391; ECON 295

Environmental Economics and Policy track
c. Three additional courses chosen from BIOL 325; BUS 390; ECON 257, 259, 280, 286 (SOAN 286), 302, 356; ENV 282; and when appropriate and approved in advance, ECON 295, 395

Environmental Humanities track
b. Religion / Sociology & Anthropology: one course chosen from ENV 230, 282, 330; REL 207, 285 (SOAN 285)
d. Two additional courses chosen from ARTS 233, 234, 236; ECON 286 (SOAN 286); ENGL 207, 214 (ENV 214), ENGL 263 (ENV 263); ENV 230, 250, 282, 330; HIST 288; PHIL 150; REL 207, 285 (SOAN 285), or when appropriate and approved in advance, BUS 390; ENGL 293, 393, 394

Sustainable Commerce track
b. Core Social Science: nine credits chosen from at least two departments from the following: ACCT 303; BUS 180, 390, 391, 392; ECON 255, 257, 276, 280, 356; ENV 282; SOAN 266, 268; POL 233, 268. And when approved in advance: ECON 295 (e.g. Intro to Sustainable Development)

Water Resources track
a. Human Dimensions: two courses chosen from ECON 255, 257, 259, 286 (SOAN 286); ENV 230, 250, 282; PHIL 150; POL 233; SOAN 285; and when appropriate and approved in advance, ENV 365 (PHIL 365)

Changes to the Environmental Studies minor

2. Social Sciences: one course from ACCT 303, ECON 255, 257, 259; ENV 282, 295; POL 233

Film and Visual Studies (2024-25 catalog)
approved change to the minor
3 c. Production Courses: ARTS 111, 112, 120, 131, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 223, 224; DANC 120; FILM 222 (THTR 222), 237S, 238, 252/253, 255, 273 (SOAN 273); THTR 121, 141, 222 (FILM 222), 235, 241, 242, 251, 253, 297, 336, 337, 338, 361; and, when appropriate, FILM 195,403

Earth and Environmental Geosciences (2024-25 catalog)
A major in Earth and Environmental Geoscience leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree is recommended for students interested in careers outside of science, including business, law, or policy, and requires 36 credits as follows:

In total, at least 28 credits in Earth and Environmental Geoscience (only one 100-level EEG lab course may count towards the major)
EEG 200
EEG 390
At least three 200-level EEG laboratory courses totaling 12 credits.
At least two 300-level EEG courses (excluding EEG 390 and EEG 395) totaling between 6-8 credits.
Additional credits chosen from Earth and Environmental Geoscience at the 100, 200, or 300 level towards the 28 credit EEG requirement*.
Additional credits not already applied chosen from: Earth and Environmental Geoscience (any level, excluding summer EXP credits); ENGN 178 or higher; MATH 102 or higher; BIOL 105 or higher; CHEM 110 or higher; CSCI 111 or higher; PHYS 111 or higher; ECON 203; or one of BUS 202, CBSC 250, ECON 202, POL 202, SOAN 218.
The completion of a Capstone Portfolio of coursework

A major in Earth and Environmental Geoscience leading to a Bachelor of Science degree is recommended for students pursuing graduate school or employment in earth or environmental geoscience fields and requires 52 credits as follows.

In total, at least 36 credits in Earth and Environmental Geoscience
EEG 200
EEG 390
CHEM 110 and PHYS 111
At least four 200-level EEG laboratory courses totaling 16 credits.
At least three 300-level EEG courses (excluding EEG 390 and EEG 395) totaling between 9-12 credits.
Additional credits chosen from Earth and Environmental Geoscience at the 100, 200, or 300 level towards the 36 credit EEG requirement. (Only one 100-level EEG lab course may count towards the major.)
One course chosen from BIOL 201; POL 202; BUS 202; ECON 202; CSCI 112; CBSC 250; SOAN 218; or MATH 102 or Higher.
Additional credits not already applied chosen from: Earth and Environmental Geoscience (any level, excluding summer EXP credits); ENGN 178 or higher; MATH 102 or higher; BIOL 105 or higher; CHEM 110 or higher; CSCI 111 or higher; PHYS 111 or higher; ECON 203; or one of BUS 202, CBSC 250, ECON 202, POL 202, SOAN 218.
The completion of a Capstone Portfolio of coursework.

History (2024-25 catalog)
approved changes to the major
“A major in history leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree requires completion of 36 33 credits in history, including the following: 1. Introduction: At least six credits from the 100-level courses, preferably taken during the first or sophomore years
2. At least 24 credits in history courses numbered 200 or above including the following distribution of credits:
a. Depth: At least 15 of these 24 credits will be in one of the following three areas of emphasis, including three credits from one of the 300-level seminars
i. European and Russian history
ii. American history, including REL 271 (HIST 271), and, with the department head’s approval, Latin American history
iii. Global history, including Asian, African, and Latin American (and, with the department head’s approval, Russian history)
b. Breadth: At least nine of these 24 credits will be in history courses outside the area of emphasis, including three credits from one of the 300-level seminars
c. At least three credits, at any level, in each of the distribution areas described above.
3. Electives: At least ~~six~~ three additional credits in history at any level.”

Integrated Engineering (2024-25 catalog)
Approved changes to the major leading to a BS, effective in the 2024-2025 catalog.
“3. ~~One~~ Two courses chosen from: ENGN 208, 240, 260, 267, 295, 301+351, 311+361, 312, 330, 395”
“4. ~~Four~~ Three courses in a single science subject in one of the following tracks:

BIOL 111+113 and three BIOL courses 200 level or above
CHEM 110, 241, 242, and 261
CSCI 111, 112, and two CSCI courses 200 level or above
EEG 100, 101, or 102 and three EEG courses 200 level or above”

Latin American and Caribbean Studies (2024-25 catalog)
approved change to the minor

2. a Literature: LACS 256 (LIT 256), LACS 259 (WGSS 259), 265 (SPAN 265); LIT 259; SPAN 240, 398 and all SPAN numbered between 340 and 359; and, if appropriate and approved in advance, ENGL 262, 350, 351, 394; FREN 344; and LIT 180, 295; PORT 403

Neuroscience (2024-25 catalog)
approved change to the major leading to the BS degree:
“3b. Computational Neuroscience: BIOL 185, 187, 282, 302… ”

Poverty and Human Capability Studies (2024-25 catalog)
approved changes to the minor

3. CBL 100…SOAN 217, 222, 227, 228, 244, 259, 263, 264, 265, 266, 268 (POL 268), 278, 279, 286 (ECON 286), 288, 290, and, when approved in advance as appropriate, SOAN 276…

Sociology and Anthropology (2024-25 catalog)
approved changes to the major
3. Methods: Two courses chosen from the following: SOAN 208, 210, 211, 218, 219, 222, 238 (HIST 238), 244, 261, 265, 269, 276, 365, 378. With permission, INTR 202 may be used to meet this requirement.
4. Emphasis: Completion of one of the two following areas of emphasis:

Anthropology emphasis: take nine additional credits from the electives listed below, two in anthropology and one in sociology

Sociology emphasis: take nine additional credits from the electives listed below, two in sociology and one in anthropology

Anthropology electives: SOAN 181, 186, 206, 207, 208, 210, 211, 215, 229, 230 (HIST 230), 235, 238 (HIST 238), 239 (HIST 239), 240, 243 (ARTH 243), 247, 252, 253 (POV 253), 260, 261, 273 (FILM 273), 277, 280, 285 (REL 285), 286 (ECON 286), 288, 291, 391

Sociology electives: SOAN 180, 205, 208, 212, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221 (REL 221), 225, 228, 245 (POL 245), 246 (POL 246), 250, 251 (POL 251), 256 (HIST 256), 259, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268 (POL 268), 269, 270, 276, 278, 279, 281, 290, 367 (HIST 367), 390

Studio Art (2023-24 catalog)
approved change to the major
“A major in studio art leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree requires completion of at least 36 credits, as follows: ARTS 111 or 115, 309…”

approved change to the minor
“1. Two introductory-level courses chosen from the following: ARTS 111 or 115, 120, 131…”

Theater (2023-24 catalog)
approved changes to the major
“6. At least 12 additional credits chosen from among the following…: DANC 120, 190…THTR 100, 125…~~341~~, 342…”

approved change to the minor
“4. Electives: THTR 100, 125…341, 342…”

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (2024-25 catalog)
approved change to the minor
3.a. Distribution: Social and Natural Sciences: BIOL 255; CBSC 213, 262, 269; ECON 246, 251; POL 255; 280, and WGSS 296; and when appropriate, ECON 295, POL 292, SOAN 180, 291, WGSS 180, 403 (when topic is social or natural sciences), WGSS 451 (when the internship is at an agency that deals with public policy)
3.b. Distribution: Humanities and other disciplines: ARTH 365; CLAS 210…and, when appropriate, ENGL 250, 293, 295…HIST 195, 229, 269…”

Miscellaneous Information

Leave of Absence policy
If a situation arises that requires a student to be away from campus for more than two consecutive weeks in fall or winter term,the student must petition FEC for permission. In such instances, the student may be required to take a leave of absence for the remainder of the term. See the leave of absence policy for information on returning from a leave of absence. Student anticipating absences of more than twenty percent of scheduled class meeting during spring term must declare spring option in advance or petition FEC for late spring option.

Incomplete Grade policy (2024-25 catalog)

A grade of Incomplete signifies that, due to some cause beyond the student’s reasonable control (e.g., illness, injury, incapacitation), the work of the course has not been completed or the final examination has been deferred. The decision to grant an Incomplete should be made no sooner than the last three weeks of the term when it is clear the work of the course cannot be completed. When the deficiency is subsequently removed, the grade then attained is substituted for I in the permanent record.

The request for an incomplete grade is initiated by the student with an online form available through Self-Service. For each Incomplete requested, a separate form is submitted. The form goes directly to the faculty instructor of the section who is the only person who can decide whether to allow an Incomplete. Requests for an incomplete grade must be made prior to final grades being posted in Workday and no later than 5pm on the last day of the final exam period.

To receive credit for a course in which an I (Incomplete) grade has been received, a student must remove the deficiency by the due date set by the instructor and no later than the end of the 15th class day (three weeks) into the next fall, winter, or spring term, as appropriate, whether or not they are still enrolled at Washington and Lee. If unchanged by the instructor, the I grade becomes an F. For any extension, the student must obtain approval from the responsible faculty member on an Incomplete Grade Extension form and submit the form to the University Registrar’s Office before the current deadline. All I grades remaining at the end of the subsequent term will automatically become F grades, whether or not the students are still enrolled.

Students may not register if they have four or more Incompletes on their record. Students may not graduate with an Incomplete remaining on their record, unless there are extraordinary circumstances satisfactory to the Committee on Courses and Degrees.

Changing a Grade (2024-25 catalog)

Grades may be changed after the end of a term at the written request of an instructor only if the instructor discovers an error in the original assignment, but in no case may any grade be changed after the end of the 15th class day (three weeks) into the next fall, winter, or spring term, as appropriate, or after graduation without the approval of the Faculty through the Committee on Courses and Degrees.

The determination of any student’s grade remains the responsibility of the faculty member teaching the course. If a student requests to have a grade chanage that is not due to an error and is after the 15th class day of the following term, then there are two procedures:

1. If the faculty member agrees, then the student submits a petition to C&D and faculty member submits an email of approval. This is the normal process.

2. If the faculty member does not agree with the grade change requested, then the Dean of the College* will oversee the following process. The department/program head will meet with the faculty member and the student separately to understand the grade dispute. The department/program head has one work week from the first notice of the dispute to mediate the dispute. The principle that the determination of any student’s grade remains the responsibility of the faculty member teaching the course stands. At the end of the mediation period, the department/program head will communicate the outcome to the dean, faculty member and student.

If the faculty member now agrees, then the student submits a petition to C&D and faculty member submits an email of approval. This is the normal process.
If the faculty member does not agree, then the student has two choices: (1) they may withdraw the dispute or (2) the student may submit a petition to C&D and the faculty member submits an email indicating that they do not approve of the grade change. C&D considers the petition and the message from the faculty member on their merits and makes a recommendation to the Faculty for consideration at the following meeting of the Faculty. In grade disputes, the decision of the Faculty is final. There is no appeal.

Timing considerations:

Overall, grade disputes from Fall and Winter (and the prior Spring) must be resolved in time for a vote at the final Faculty meeting of the academic year. Ideally, they are resolved by the Faculty by the final meeting of the following term, hence the following deadlines:
- dispute a Fall grade: petition by the end of week 6 of the following Winter term
- dispute a Winter grade: petition by the end of week 2 of the following Spring term
- dispute a Spring grade: petition by the end of the 3rd week after the grade is posted and no later than the first day of the following Fall term
In cases when grades are posted past the usual time, such as with resolved incompletes: petition by the end of the 3rd week after the grade is posted. Or, if posted in the summer, no later than the first day of the following Fall term
Grade disputes may not delay other actions by committees such as ARR
In instances involving seniors, resolving a grade dispute could delay graduation
For the integrity of the academic record, grade changes do not occur after the degree is conferred.

* If the faculty member is Dean of the College, then the Dean of the Williams School will serve in their place.