Idaho State University Undergraduate Catalog 2000-2001

College of Arts and Sciences

College of Arts and Sciences

Victor S. Hjelm, Ph.D., Dean

Merwin R. Swanson, Ph.D., Associate Dean

Tracy Montgomery, D.A., Interim Assistant Dean

The College of Arts and Sciences introduces students to ways of thinking and expression intrinsic to the arts, humanities, and social and natural sciences. Students are thereby aided in the development of intellectual skills and personal values which serve them in career planning and lifelong learning.

Some fifty different curricula provide work leading to Associate of Science, Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Public Administration, Master of Natural Science, Master of Science, Doctor of Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. These curricula provide a rather wide selection which includes the recognized courses in the main fields of knowledge. The general plan is to provide an acquaintance with the basic tools of culture and to explore one or another discipline in greater depth. The bachelor's degrees which are awarded are considered as evidence of qualification to enter certain occupations directly; in many instances they indicate preparation for more advanced professional study.

Students planning to complete work in a graduate school or professional school, for example, in engineering, law, dentistry or medicine, should pay particular attention to the stated requirements of the institutions which they plan to attend to be prepared for admission. If a particular institution has not yet been selected, the student is advised to consult catalogs and seek advice as to the requirements commonly made in such schools.

General Education Requirements

All Associate and Bachelor of Arts and Associate and Bachelor of Science degree programs include a general education component intended to provide a breadth of knowledge in liberal studies as a necessary background for the specialized knowledge acquired in the discipline in which the student majors. Additionally, the General Education Requirements are intended to assist the student in developing the intellectual flexibility necessary for a fulfilling career.

By meeting these requirements, students develop their skills in oral, written, and mathematical communication. They also acquire habits of thought traditionally associated with the well-educated person: the ability to analyze and propose solutions to personal, social, and scientific problems; the ability to recognize and assess value structures; and the ability to understand and evaluate the literary and expressive arts.

The general education components for the Associate and Bachelor of Arts and Associate and Bachelor of Science degree programs require students to complete the goal requirements listed under the General Education Requirements section under General Academic Information of this catalog. Students are encouraged to consult with their advisor in determining their curriculum.

Transfer Students

Students transferring to Idaho State University who seek a bachelor's degree in the College of Arts and Sciences should refer to the section, Policies Governing Fulfillment of General Education Requirements by Transfer Students (under Admissions in General Information).

Major Concentration Requirements

In addition to the general education component, all Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs require a concentration in a departmental major of at least 24 credits, of which at least 16 credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above. The particular course requirements of the departmental majors in the College of Arts and Sciences are outlined under the department headings in the catalog.

The Teacher Education Program

The College of Arts and Sciences shares responsibility with the College of Education for the Teacher Education Program. Students may fulfill the requirements of the Teacher Education Program while majoring in a discipline within the College of Arts and Sciences. Application for admission to the Teacher Education Program does not require a student to apply for admission to the College of Education. The Teacher Education Program admission and completion requirements are detailed in the College of Education section of this catalog.

Pre-Health Professional Programs

(See Special Cooperative Programs, in the introductory section of this catalog, for additional information.) Pre-professional preparation for schools of dentistry, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine and veterinary medicine can be carried out at Idaho State University. Advising for such programs is available through the Health Professions Advisory Committee. Anyone interested in health professional programs located at ISU (counseling, dental hygiene, family medicine, health and nutrition sciences, health care administration, medical technology, nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant, pharmacy, radiographic science, and speech pathology and audiology) should contact those departments and colleges directly. Present members of the ISU Health Professions Advisory Committee are:

Dr. Lyle Castle, Chemistry

Dr. Linda Hatzenbuehler, College of Health Professions

Dr. Ron McCune, Biological Sciences

Dr. Rod Seeley, Biological Sciences

Dr. Alex Urfer, Physical Therapy

Dr. Jonathan Westphal, English and Philosophy

Pre-health professional students at ISU must satisfy specific pre-professional course requirements for their academic majors at the undergraduate level. Most health professional schools provide substantial latitude in the academic majors pursued by students preparing for application to postgraduate professional programs.

Each ISU pre-health student must consult with a member of the Health Professions Advisory Committee in order to successfully combine an academic major with a pre-health professional program. It is strongly recommended that pre-professional students develop a strong background in courses such as those listed below. Courses required by most health professional schools include, but are not limited to, the following: 

BIOL 202     General Zoology                    3 cr
BIOL 202L    General Zoology Laboratory         1 cr
BIOS 206     Cell Biology                       3 cr
BIOS 207     Cell Biology Laboratory            1 cr
CHEM 111     General Chemistry I                5 cr
CHEM 112     General Chemistry II               4 cr
CHEM 301     Organic Chemistry I                3 cr
CHEM 302     Organic Chemistry II               3 cr
CHEM 303     Organic Chemistry Laboratory I     1 cr
CHEM 304     Organic Chemistry Laboratory II    1 cr
ENGL 101     English Composition                3 cr
ENGL 102     Critical Reading and Writing       3 cr
PHYS 111     General Physics I                  3 cr
PHYS 112     General Physics II                 3 cr
PHYS 113-114 General Physics Laboratory         2 cr

(Note the departmental prerequisites which accompany
many of these courses.)

In addition to completing specified prerequisite courses, almost all health professional schools strongly recommend, and occasionally require, that the pre-professional student obtain practical experience in the health professional field s/he plans to enter. The applicant also will usually be required to take a national standardized admission test.

Students who complete three years of the curriculum in zoology with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher may be eligible to receive a B.S. degree in zoology after completion of the first year of study at a departmentally approved school of medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine. Students choosing this option must complete a minimum of 96 credits, satisfy all Idaho State University General Education Requirements, and complete all courses numbered 300 or lower which are required by the zoology curriculum. Students are advised to consult with the chair or assistant chair of the Department of Biological Sciences early in their programs if they plan to pursue this program option.

Pre-Dentistry

The above courses provide a core for pre-dental requirements of most dental schools. However, some dental schools have additional requirements. Pre-dental students should consult the latest edition of "Admission Requirements of U.S. and Canadian Dental Schools," published by the American Association of Dental Schools, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. Members of the Health Professions Advisory Committee have copies of this publication. Dental schools also require that all applicants take the Dental Admission Test (DAT). Idaho residents should be especially aware that the State of Idaho currently participates in a joint dental education program with the Creighton University School of Dentistry which has available up to seven seats per year for residents of Idaho.

Dentistry

In the fall of 1982, Idaho State University and the Creighton University School of Dentistry implemented a decentralized dental education program, the Idaho Dental Education Program (IDEP). Under this program, up to seven seats per year at the Creighton University School of Dentistry are reserved for Idaho residents. The first professional year of the dental school program is on the ISU campus in Pocatello. The students then move to the Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha for the second, third, and fourth professional years.

Pre-Medicine

The core of pre-medical courses required by most medical schools is the same as that presented under General Information. Again, many medical schools have additional requirements. Pre-medical students should consult the latest edition of "Medical School Admission Requirements, USA and Canada," published by the Association of American Medical Colleges, One Dupont Circle NW, Washington, D. C. 20036. Members of the Health Professions Advisory Committee have copies of this publication. Medical schools also require that all applicants take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Idaho residents should be aware that the State of Idaho is a participant in the Washington-Wyoming-Alaska-Montana-Idaho (WWAMI) decentralized medical education program of the University of Washington School of Medicine and that Idaho also has a contractual agreement with the University of Utah School of Medicine. Each of these programs reserves a certain number of seats in the respective medical school classes (presently 16 at the University of Washington School of Medicine and six at the University of Utah School of Medicine) for residents of Idaho. Therefore, Idaho residents are advised to at least satisfy pre-medical requirements for these two medical schools. Prospective applicants should consult with the chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee for details concerning these special medical education programs, as well as details concerning the MCAT.

Pre-Optometry

The core courses listed under General Information provide some guidance for the pre-optometry student. However, significant differences in pre-optometry requirements by the various optometry schools requires that the student obtain a specific list of requirements for each optometry school. Prospective applicants should consult the latest edition of "Schools and Colleges of Optometry Admission Requirements." The chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee has a copy of this publication. All optometry schools and colleges require all applicants to take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). Several optometry schools are members of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) and will therefore give preference to applicants who are residents of WICHE states, such as Idaho. Pre-optometry students should consult with the chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee for complete pre-optometry requirements for each school or college of optometry, and also for details concerning the OAT and the WICHE program.

Pre-Osteopathic Medicine

General requirements for pre-osteopathic medicine are nearly identical to those discussed under Pre-medicine. More information concerning osteopathic medicine can be obtained by consulting the chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee, or writing to:

American Osteopathic Association
212 East Ohio Street
Chicago IL 60611

or

American Association of Colleges
of Osteopathic Medicine
5550 Friendship Blvd. Ste. 310
Chevy Chase MD 20815-7231

Pre-Podiatric Medicine

The core pre-podiatric medical courses are the same as those presented under General Information. Pre-professional requirements of some podiatric medical schools may vary from that list. Therefore, the pre-podiatric medical student should consult the latest edition of "Podiatric Medical Education," available from the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine, 20 Chevy Chase Circle, N. W., Washington, D. C. 20015. The chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee has a copy of this publication. All podiatric medical schools require all applicants to take the MCAT (see Pre-medicine). Pre-podiatric medical students should consult with the chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee about complete pre-podiatric medical requirements and details concerning the MCAT.

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

The core pre-veterinary medical courses are similar to those listed under General Information. However, there are sufficient differences that the pre-veterinary medical student should consult catalogs of the veterinary medical schools to which s/he eventually plans to apply, as well as consulting with his/her advisor. Students should consult with the chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee.

Idaho residents should be advised that long term agreement has been reached among the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho to share responsibility for the curriculum and program at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. This program (WOI) is the major one which will accept Idaho residents. Therefore, Idaho residents should make every effort to become familiar with the pre-veterinary requirements of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine so proper courses will be taken in pre-veterinary medical work at ISU. Students who are not residents of Idaho should consult with the chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee concerning the choice of veterinary medical schools to apply to and the proper development of a pre-veterinary medical program at ISU.

The pre-veterinary medical student also should be aware that most veterinary schools look upon some practical experience with a veterinarian as a very desirable or even necessary prerequisite for admission. The Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine requires that the applicant take the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Pre-Occupational Therapy, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Physician Assistant

A professional program for each of these professions is available at ISU. Specific pre-professional requirements for these programs can be obtained elsewhere in this catalog where those programs are described.

Admission to each of these program areas is quite competitive, however, and students are usually advised to satisfy prerequisites not only for these programs at ISU, but also for programs in the same profession located at other institutions. Students may consult with the chair of the ISU Health Professions Advisory Committee for information about prerequisites for admission to these programs at other institutions. Prerequisites for professional programs at other institutions can be met by courses taken at ISU.

Internet Sources of Information

Use of the Internet is increasingly a powerful resource for information for pre-health students. The following is a basic core of web sites that pre-health students will find to be quite informative.

  1. Dentistry
    • American Association of Dental Schools: http://www.aads.jhu.edu
    • American Dental Association: http://www.ada.org
  2. Medicine
    • Allopathic (MD):
      • Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC): http://www.aamc.org
    • Osteopathic (DO)
      • American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM): http://www.aacom.org
    • Podiatric (DPM)
      • American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM): http://www.aacpm.org
      • American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA): http://www.apma.org
  3. Occupational Therapy
    • American Occupational Therapy Association: http://www.aota.org
  4. Optometry
    • Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO): http://www.opted.org
  5. Physical Therapy
    • American Physical Therapy Association (APTA): http://www.apta.org
  6. Physician Assistant
    • American Academy of Physician Assistants: http://www.aapa.org
  7. Veterinary Medicine
    • Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC): http://www.aavmc.org

Pre-Law Program

The successful attorney is one who understands how changes within society affect the relationships between and among people. An effective attorney should have an understanding of human behavior, social, political and economic change, our ecological systems and the general influence of our philosophical, literary, and historical heritage. Hence, the student with a broad undergraduate preparation and a developed insight into many facets of life attains the best educational preparation for the practice of law.

The student who aspires to attend law school should seek the counsel of one of the members of the Pre-Law Advising Committee. Members are:

Dr. Thomas Hale, History

Dr. David Adler, Political Science

Dr. Bruce Loebs, Speech and Drama

Dr. Whitley Kaufman, English and Philosophy

These pre-law advisors will create a pre-law curriculum designed to accommodate the student's major and help him/her prepare for the Law School Admission Test and a career in accordance with the principles discussed above.
IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY 
Academic Information 
Contact: webmaster@isu.edu 
Revised: February 2000