Catalog 2008-09 Table of Contents
Catalog 2008-09
Information found in this online edition of the 2008-09 catalog is unofficial and for informational purposes only. By authority of the dean of the College, some factual corrections to the printed version may appear here. The official document of record is the printed edition of the 2008-09 Catalog. For more information, please contact the Office of the Registrar.

Admission

Dean Of Admissions: Michael Sexton

Lewis & Clark selects students with strong academic records and promise who seek a challenging liberal arts curriculum characterized by breadth and depth. Successful applicants are individuals who, through their varied talents and interests, will contribute in distinctive ways to the wider communities of which they are a part. As a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, Lewis & Clark subscribes to the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practices. Students are admitted without consideration of financial need.

Recommended Academic Preparation

Admission to Lewis & Clark is selective. The most important factors in determining admission to the College of Arts and Sciences are the quality of a student's academic program and the grades earned in college preparatory courses. The Admissions Committee also considers writing ability, quantitative skills, standardized testing, leadership, community service and work experience, personal interests, cocurricular activities and talent, and expressed interest in Lewis & Clark.

Lewis & Clark recommends that first-year students have completed a high school curriculum including a minimum of the following:
English4 years
Mathematics4 years
History/social studies3-4 years
Foreign language (same language preferred)2-3 years
Laboratory science3 years
Fine arts1 year

Students who have performed well in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or honors courses are given preference in the admission process. The Admissions Committee may consider applicants whose academic preparation is different from that described above if other aspects of their record indicate potential for success in Lewis & Clark's academic program.

Home-schooled students are encouraged to apply via Lewis & Clark's Portfolio Path to Admission (described below) and to contact the admissions office to discuss the best ways to present their academic preparation to the committee. Lewis & Clark recommends that home-schooled applicants take the ACT or complete a GED to meet regulations for federal financial aid. For more information on our evaluation of home-schooled applicants, please contact the Office of Admissions.

Scholastic Assessment Test Or American College Test Scores

With the exception of international students, students applying through Lewis & Clark's Portfolio Path to Admission, and transfer students with at least 61 transferable semester credits, the College of Arts and Sciences requires all applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. First-year applicants should take one of these tests before February 1 of their senior year and arrange to have the scores sent to Lewis & Clark, either by the testing agency or on an official high school transcript.

Portfolio Path To Admission

Lewis & Clark has offered the alternative Portfolio Path to Admission since 1991. Students electing this application plan must submit three academic teacher recommendations and an academic portfolio and may choose not to submit standardized test scores. All other required credentials remain the same. In assembling the portfolio, a student is asked to include at least four samples of graded academic work that meets the following criteria: two writing samples, one sample of quantitative/scientific work, and one sample of student's own choice. The portfolio should demonstrate to the Admissions Committee a student's intellectual curiosity, depth and breadth of curriculum, and preparation for college work.

Application Options

Students may apply online via the Common Application (www.commonapp.org). If students use this option, the application fee is waived. Students who prefer to apply using a paper application must use the Common Application form, which is readily available from high school counseling offices and on the Internet. There is a $50 application fee for using the paper form.

Transfer Admission

Transfer students--about 60 of whom enroll each year--bring a welcome maturity and diversity to Lewis & Clark and are an important part of the entering student group. Students are considered transfer applicants if they have completed 12 or more semester credits of college-level work after graduating from high school or earning the GED. They are admitted on the same selective basis as first-year students and are eligible for financial aid and campus housing. Transfer applicants are expected to have achieved their preparation for Lewis & Clark through high school and early college coursework, and to have further demonstrated their ability to succeed by doing well in an appropriate selection of courses. Lewis & Clark encourages transfer applicants to visit the campus and schedule an interview with the transfer coordinator.

Transfer Application

A complete transfer application must contain the following:

  1. Online (free) or paper ($50 fee) Common Application with personal essay.
  2. Common Application Supplement.
  3. Official secondary school transcript including verification of graduation or GED certification. This is required even if the student has been awarded an AA degree and/or has been out of high school for several years.
  4. Official transcripts from each college or university attended.
  5. SAT or ACT scores. Unless they will have completed two years of transferable college work (92 quarter credits or 61 semester credits) before enrolling at Lewis & Clark, transfer students are required to provide test scores on their high school transcript or from the appropriate testing agency.
  6. Recommendation from a college professor.
  7. College Official's Report form.

Transfer Credit Policies

Transfer students generally receive full credit for satisfactory work completed at other regionally accredited colleges and universities in courses judged to be equivalent to those offered at Lewis & Clark. Preliminary transcript evaluations accompany letters of acceptance. Coursework is evaluated for transferability only on a course-by-course basis. No "block" credit will be granted for associates or transfer degrees. Transfer credit is not granted for coursework with a grade below C (2.000), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), life experience, credit by examination, or distance-learning courses, including online, correspondence, and televised courses. Credit may not be granted for college coursework completed over 20 years ago. Credit is also not granted for college courses used in any way for high school graduation. If a student has completed college-level coursework at a regionally accredited college or university, but is unable to present a high school diploma, a General Education Diploma (GED), or other high school equivalency diploma, courses will be evaluated for transfer credit on a course-by-course basis.

In order to be awarded a Lewis & Clark degree, students must fulfill the institution's academic residency requirement by completing at least 60 semester credits at Lewis & Clark out of the 128 semester credits required for the degree. Thus, a maximum of 68 semester credits may be transferred from other institutions. A maximum of 4 semester credits of physical education/activity may be transferred. One quarter credit equals .67 semester credits.

Transfer students must complete graduation requirements outlined in this catalog. After Lewis & Clark receives a reservation deposit and before the transfer student enrolls, the Office of the Registrar evaluates transcripts of all previous college work to determine credit that is transferable toward Lewis & Clark's General Education requirements. To determine whether courses completed elsewhere meet requirements for an academic major, students should consult the department or program chair of that major.

Campus Housing Requirement

Because of the residential nature of Lewis & Clark, all new students are required to live on campus their first two years (four semesters). Students are exempt from this policy if they are living with their parent(s) in the Portland area, are married, have a dependent, or are 21 years of age or older. Entering transfer students with at least 28 semester credits of transferable college work are also exempt from the campus housing requirement.

Fall Semester Admission Calendar

First-Year Applicants
September 1:
Application materials available.
November 1: Early Action (nonbinding) application deadline.
January 1: Early Action notification.
February 1: Regular Decision application deadline.
March 15: Merit-based scholarship notification.
April 1: Regular Decision notification.
May 1: Early Action and Regular Decision tuition deposit* deadline ($300).

Transfer Applicants
September 1:
Application materials available.
January 1: Admission decision and merit-based scholarship notification begins on a rolling basis, within three weeks of file completion.
May 1: Tuition deposit1 deadline ($300).

* See also Costs, Advance Deposits in this catalog.

Midyear Admission

First-year and transfer students may also be considered for January admission. Evaluation is based on the criteria stated above and applicants are encouraged to apply as early in the fall as possible, but no later than November 1. Notification is made after September 1 on a rolling basis.

Deferred Enrollment

Admitted students may choose to defer their enrollment at Lewis & Clark for up to one year. A nonrefundable deposit is required in hold the student's place for a future semester. During the deferral period, a student may not attend another institution on a full-time, degree-seeking basis. Those interested in deferred enrollment may contact the Office of Admissions for more information.

Advanced Standing

Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate

Lewis & Clark grants 4 semester credits for Advanced Placement (AP) scores of 4 or 5, except for Calculus BC, which is granted 8 semester credits. No more than 8 credits for Calculus AB and BC will be awarded.

Lewis & Clark also recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) academic program. Four semester credits are granted for scores of 5 on the higher-level exams, or 8 semester credits for scores of 6 or 7 on the higher-level exams, or 16 semester credits for completion of the IB diploma with a score of 32 to 35, or 24 semester credits for a score of 36 or higher.

Credit granted through the AP or IB program is considered elective credit toward graduation and may not be used to fulfill General Education requirements, except for foreign language and literature examinations.

The chart below shows treatment of AP and IB credit in some academic departments with regard to placement in the curriculum and major requirements. To find out whether AP or IB test results can be used for placement within the curriculum of a department not listed here, students should consult the department chair.

Department

Elective credit toward major requirements

Course equivalent or placement

Biology

AP 5 or IB 7: Four credits toward 43 credits required for major.

AP 4 or IB 6: Credits granted toward graduation are not used as elective credits toward the major.

AP 5 considered equivalent to Biology 151. IB 7 considered equivalent to Biology 141 or 151 depending on specific focus of AP or IB course. Consult department chair for placement.

Chemistry

AP 5 or IB 7: Four credits toward 40 credits required for major.

AP 4 or IB 6: Credits granted toward graduation are not used as elective credits toward the major.

AP 5 or IB 7 results in placement into Chemistry 120 or 210. Considered equivalent to Chemistry 110, a 5-credit course, though only 4 credits are granted toward graduation. AP 4 or IB 6: Student may petition for placement into Chemistry 120.

Economics

AP 4 or 5, or IB 6 or 7 in both microeconomics and macroeconomics or in statistics: Four credits toward 44 credits required for economics major.

AP 4 or 5 in statistics: Also applies toward major as described above.

AP 4 or 5, or IB 6 or 7 in both microeconomics and macroeconomics considered equivalent to Economics 100.

AP 4 or 5 in statistics considered equivalent to Economics 103.

English

 

AP 4 or 5, or IB 6 or 7 results in placement into English 205 or 206. Consult department chair for placement.

Environmental Studies

AP 5: Four credits toward 63 credits required for major.

AP 5 considered equivalent to Biology 141.

Foreign Languages and Literatures

Credits received for AP or IB exam results are not accepted toward a major in this department because major requirements begin at the 300 level.

AP 4 or 5 on language or literature examinations and IB 5, 6, or 7 on higher-level examinations meet General Education requirement in foreign languages.

History

 

AP 4 or 5, IB 6 or 7 suggests students are eligible for 200- or 300 level history courses.

Mathematical Sciences: Calculus

Credits received for AP exam results are not accepted toward a major in this department because major requirements begin with higher-level courses.

AP Calculus AB 4 or 5 considered equivalent to Mathematics 131. AP Calculus BC 4 or 5 considered equivalent to Mathematics 131 and 132. Consult department chair for placement.

Mathematical Sciences: Computer Sciences

 

Consult department chair for placement.

Mathematical Sciences: Statistics

AP 4 or 5: Four credits toward either the economics major or the psychology major.

AP 4 or 5 considered equivalent to Economics 103, Mathematics 105, or Psychology 200.

Physics

 

AP 5 in Physics C (mechanics) considered equivalent to Physics 141 or 151. Consult department chair for placement.

Political Science

AP 5 in U.S. Government and Politics and Comparative Government and Politics may be counted toward political science major upon approval of the department. Consult department chair for details.

 

Psychology

AP 4 or 5 or IB 6 or 7: Four credits toward 40 credits required for major.

AP 4 or 5 in statistics: Also applies toward major as described above.

AP 4 or 5, IB 6 or 7 considered equivalent to Psychology 100. However, students with AP 4 or IB 6 are encouraged to enroll in Psychology 100.

AP 4 or 5 in statistics considered equivalent to Psychology 200.

See also Graduation Requirements in this catalog (Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning and Foreign Languages).

Credit By Examination

Students interested in challenging a Lewis & Clark course (seeking credit for it by examination) should consult the Office of the Registrar for faculty policy and procedures. Credit is not granted for College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), life experience, or credit by examination from other colleges.

Further Information

Students may obtain application information* by visiting the Lewis & Clark's website at www.lclark.edu or by e-mailing admissions@lclark.edu. They may also call 800-444-4111 or 503-768-7040 or write to Office of Admissions, Lewis & Clark College, 0615 S.W. Palatine Hill Road, Portland, Oregon 97219-7899. The Admissions fax number is 503-768-7055. Potential transfer students can contact the transfer counselor directly through transfer@lclark.edu.

* See also Application Options.

International Student Admission

As part of its commitment to international education, Lewis & Clark seeks to bring to the campus academically qualified students from diverse areas of the world. International student applicants are expected to be graduates of academically oriented secondary schools and meet entrance standards equivalent to those of U.S. applicants. The International Student Admissions Committee follows, as a minimum standard, recommendations for "U.S. institutions with selective admissions requirements" published by NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Offices.

For complete information about international student admission, contact International Students and Scholars, Lewis & Clark College, 0615 S.W. Palatine Hill Road, Portland, Oregon 97219-7899. Phone: 503-768-7305. Fax: 503-768-7301. E-mail: iso@lclark.edu. Web: www.lclark.edu/dept/iso.

Visiting Student Program

Each year Lewis & Clark welcomes a few guest students who are in good standing at other accredited U.S. colleges or universities. Students apply to attend Lewis & Clark for a semester or year while they are sophomores, juniors, or seniors.

Course registration for visiting students is on a space-available basis. No Lewis & Clark financial aid is available. Campus housing is a possibility if there are room vacancies; students should work directly with the residence life office if they choose to pursue this option.

To apply, the student must submit a letter stating why he or she wishes to enroll and his or her goals while here, along with the Lewis & Clark visiting student application form, official transcripts of his or her college/university work to date, two faculty recommendations, and a recommendation from the dean of students at his or her home institution. Lewis & Clark's Office of Admissions must receive all application materials by August 1 for fall admission and by December 1 for spring admission. Students who wish to stay more than one year must reapply to Lewis & Clark.

For further information contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@lclark.edu.

Special Student Program

A special student is a non-degree-seeking student who wishes to take a course, or courses, for academic credit at Lewis & Clark.

Course registration for special students is on a space-available basis. No Lewis & Clark financial aid is available.

To apply, the student must submit a letter stating why he or she wishes to enroll and his or her goals while here, along with the Lewis & Clark special student application form, and official high school or college transcripts. Lewis & Clark's Office of Admissions must receive all application materials by August 1 for fall admission and by December 1 for spring admission. Registration for subsequent semesters is subject to review by the Admissions Committee.

For further information contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@lclark.edu.

Summer Sessions

Students in good standing at other accredited U.S. colleges or universities may enroll in summer session courses without applying for admission to Lewis & Clark.

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