Mailing Address

School of Liberal Arts 
102 Newcomb Hall
Tulane University New Orleans, LA 70118

http://tulane.edu/liberal-arts/

Telephone Numbers

Phone: (504) 865-5225
Fax: (504) 865-5224

Brian T. Edwards
Ph.D., Yale University
Dean

The School of Liberal Arts at Tulane encompasses the arts, humanities, and social sciences through sixteen departments and nineteen interdisciplinary programs as well as the Carroll Gallery, Shakespeare Festival, Summer Lyric Theatre, and the Middle American Research Institute. Our small classes allow students to be active learners directly engaged with their courses. With a broad array of majors, minors, Master’s and Ph.D. programs, students can choose to specialize in a wide number of fields, developing long-standing interests or discovering new passions. Engaged in the liberal arts, students not only learn key skills of writing, analysis, and communication but come to understand better both themselves and the world beyond. 

Undergraduate

• Newcomb-Tulane College Policies

Graduate

• Graduate School Policies

• School of Liberal Arts Graduate Policies and Information

  • Code of Student Conduct 

  • Conferring of Degrees 

  • Continuous Registration Requirements 

  • Courses 

  • General Requirements 

    • Full-time Residence Status
    • Part-time Residence Status

  • Grades 

  • Financial Assistance 

    • Loan Funds (need based)
    • Veterans' Benefits

  • Foreign Exchange Program 

  • Medical Excuses 

  • Programs of Study 

  • Quality of Work Requirements 

  • Registration for Undergraduate Credit and Provisional Graduate Credit 

  • Registration Policies and Procedures 

    • Change of Courses
    • Change of Departmental Program

  • Required Withdrawal and Denial of Enrollment 

  • Special Interdisciplinary Programs 

  • Tenure for Degree Students 

    • Master's Degrees
    • Ph.D. Degree

  • Transfer Credit 

  • Tuition and Fees 

    • Refunds
    • Financial Obligation to the University

  • Unified Code of Graduate Student Academic Conduct 

Undergraduate

Newcomb-Tulane College Policies

A full description of academic policies for all students in Newcomb-Tulane College can be found in the college's section of this catalog. Students should review these policies thoroughly.

Graduate

Graduate School Policies

A full description of academic policies for all students in Graduate Programs can be found in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies section of this catalog. Students should review these policies thoroughly.

School of Liberal Arts Graduate Policies and Information

Upon admission to the School of Liberal Arts, students are held responsible for compliance with the regulations of the School of Liberal Arts and of Tulane University as set forth on the University website and in other current or subsequent official statements. They should familiarize themselves with these regulations.

The University reserves the right to change any of its courses and charges without advance notice and to make such changes applicable to students already registered as well as to new students.

Code of Student Conduct

The university requires of all of its students behavior compatible with its high standards of scholarship and conduct. The Vice President for Student Affairs is responsible for formulating appropriate procedures and regulations concerning student behavior and for the judicial consideration of violations.

Conferring of Degrees

Degrees earned in the School of Liberal Arts are awarded three times a year–in December, May, and August. There is only one commencement program and that is held in May. Candidates for degrees are required to complete an online application for degree form on or before deadline dates.

Continuous Registration Requirements

A student admitted to the School of Liberal Arts in a degree program must be in continuous registration in a degree-granting division of the university until the awarding of the degree. Any student who is not registered for course work in a degree-granting division of the university must be registered in Master’s Research or Dissertation Research in order to remain in continuous registration. The student need not maintain registration during the summer.

The continuous registration requirement applies both to resident and non-resident students. Resident students who have not completed minimum course work requirements for their degrees must either enroll for a minimum of three hours per semester (exclusive of Summer Session) or register for Master’s Research (9980) or Dissertation Research (9990). Resident or non-resident students who have completed their course work requirements are required to register for Master’s Research (9980) (no credit hours) or Dissertation Research (9990) (no credit hours) and pay the 9980/9990 registration fee in order to maintain continuous registration. This entitles students to full student privileges and maintains the student as enrolled in the graduate program. Failure to be so registered is de facto withdrawal and the School of Liberal Arts reserves the right not to readmit. A student who is readmitted is obligated to pay the applicable fee required to maintain continuous registration.

Courses

Courses numbered from 6000 to 6999 are for graduates and advanced undergraduates. Courses numbered 7000 and above are exclusively for graduates. Graduate credit is not given for courses numbered lower than 6000. The credit for each course is indicated in semester hours by a numeral in parentheses. Course offerings and schedules of classes are available on the Office of Registrar’s website.

General Requirements

A student admitted to the School of Liberal Arts in a degree program must be continuously registered in a degree-granting division of the university during the academic year (exclusive of Summer Session) in one of the two registration statuses indicated below from the date of first registration until the awarding of the degree, unless the registration is terminated by resignation or by dismissal for academic or disciplinary reasons.

Under exceptional circumstances a student may be granted leave by the dean for up to one year. During such period of leave, a student will be considered in continuous registration without registration or payment of fee.

Full-time Residence Status

To hold a fellowship or scholarship or any of the various kinds of assistantships, a student must be registered in full-time residence status. To determine student privileges and assess tuition and fees, a student in full-time residence status must be registered for at least nine hours of graduate credit per semester, or a combination of course work and equivalent academic activities such as teaching or research.

After the student has completed the minimum hours of course work required for the degree, the student can be classified as a full-time student entitled to full student privileges if the student is registered for master’s or dissertation research and the department or program committee certifies that the student is engaged in academic activities equivalent to full-time residence commitment.

Graduate students receiving a teaching assistantship (TA), research assistantship (RA) and/or fellowship from the School of Liberal Arts may have other employment for remuneration during the academic year, provided that this employment does not interfere with their satisfactory academic advancement, as determined by their department and provided that the source of support does not prohibit outside employment. All School of Liberal Arts stipend funded graduate students must receive departmental approval each academic year before engaging in other employment for remuneration during that academic year and generally this other employment may not exceed 10 hours per week.

Part-time Residence Status

For the purposes of determination of student privileges and for the assessment of tuition and fees, a student in part-time residence status is any student who is registered for less than nine hours of graduate credit and who is not certified by the department or the program committee as taking a total academic program.

Grades

Grades in the School of Liberal Arts are reported as follows:

Grades

Grade	Description
A
A-
B+
B
B-	A grade of B- will count as graduate credit but it is considered a weak grade at the graduate level and may be cause for departmental action such as probation of dismissal from the program.
C+	A course in which a grade of C+ or lower is earned cannot be counted for credit toward a degree program in the School of Liberal Arts. Any grade of C+ or lower may be cause for probation or dismissal from the program.
C
C-
D+
D-
F
I	Incomplete – The incomplete grade is not to be used as an automatic extension but only for unavoidable delays caused by illness or other emergencies. Incomplete grades must be resolved within the agreed upon timeframe of not more than the next 12 months. The “I” will become a grade of F if the work is not made up according to the schedule set out by the Incomplete Grade Policy https://nextcatalog.tulane.edu/graduate-degrees-professional-programs/graduate-postdoctoral-studies/policies/. After the work is made up and a grade is posted, the "I", will be removed from the academic record except in the case of an F, in which case it will remain on the academic record after the letter grade "F/I". The letter grade earned is calculated in the GPA as per the normal GPA calculation.
R	Research – In those cases where research or experimentation, or both, cannot be completed within the 30-day limit following the end of the semester, this grade will be given to indicate this circumstance. This grade carries a different meaning from that of IP which is given at the end of the first semester of a two-semester course.
IP	In Progress – Satisfactory progress at the end of the first semester of a year-long course; grades are assigned upon completion of the course.
W	Courses may be dropped without record within six weeks of the first day of classes. Refer to the Academic Calendar for the exact dates each semester. Withdrawals with the grade of W after these dates may be accomplished only if the instructor notifies the dean that the student is passing and recommends permission to withdraw. WF (withdrawn failing) will be assigned if the student’s work in a course is unsatisfactory at the time of withdrawal.
S	Satisfactory - In some departments, grades for certain other designated courses may also be reported simply as S or U at the student’s option, provided that the option is declared by the student no later than the end of the second week of class.
U	Unsatisfactory - In some departments, grades for certain other designated courses may also be reported simply as S or U at the student’s option, provided that the option is declared by the student no later than the end of the second week of class.

Financial Assistance

Financial support for graduate students is awarded by the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts primarily on the basis of academic merit. All PhD and MFA programs and select MA programs provide merit based financial support in the form of tuition scholarships, fellowships and/or part-time teaching or research assistantship and are automatically considered for this support upon submission of the completed application. No additional application for merit based aid is necessary. Candidates for aid must ordinarily present a total, combined GRE score of at least 300 (if GRE scores are required by the department for application) and an undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or better. Ordinarily, the dean will not award financial aid for the pursuit of a second Tulane degree at the same level, e.g., a second master’s degree from Tulane.

To hold a fellowship or scholarship or any of the various kinds of assistantships, a student not only must be registered in full-time residence status but also must maintain an academic level of performance satisfactory to both the department and to the dean. Graduate students receiving a teaching assistantship (TA), research assistantship (RA) and/or fellowship from the School of Liberal Arts may have other employment for remuneration during the academic year, provided that this employment does not interfere with their satisfactory academic advancement, as determined by their department and provided that the source of support does not prohibit outside employment. All School of Liberal Arts stipend funded graduate students must receive departmental approval each academic year before engaging in other employment for remuneration during that academic year and this other employment generally may not exceed 10 hours per week. 

The completed application materials must be received by the department deadline. (Applicants are advised to check with department website and the main School of Liberal Arts application website for the relevant deadline.) The general application deadline for the School of Liberal Arts is February 1 but deadlines can vary by department and many have deadlines in January. Notice of awards will be sent out with admission decisions which is generally 6-8 weeks after the close of applications. Award decisions cannot be made on incomplete applications.

Loan Funds (need based)

The university offers need-based financial assistance to qualified students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents through Federal loan programs. The Office of Financial Aid has information and forms you may need to apply for loans, grants, and other funds that might be available to graduate students. If you are interested in applying for a loan, it is important that you visit the Office of Financial Aid website.

Veterans’ Benefits

The Office of the University Registrar fulfills the university’s obligations to students receiving benefits from the Veterans Administration. To apply for benefits, students should contact the Veterans Administration Office in their hometowns for a Certificate of Eligibility, preferably before registering in a college or university. The Veterans Administration sends Certificates of Eligibility directly to students who must then bring them to the Office of the University Registrar. Students transferring from other colleges or universities should submit Change of Program or Place of Training applications at their hometown Veterans Administration Office. Student enrollments will be certified to the Veterans Administration after registration for the semester.

Dependents may qualify for assistance under the Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) program if either parent has died as a result of active wartime service in the armed forces. Eligible students should apply to their hometown Veterans Administration Office. Certification procedures are similar to the process for veterans. The performance standards to continue to receive VA benefits may be different from the academic standards described elsewhere in the catalog. Students should direct specific questions to the Office of the University Registrar.

Foreign Exchange Program

The Tulane University School of Liberal Arts participates in an exchange program with the Free University of Berlin, Germany for two graduate students each year. this program offers the exchange student a stipend plus tuition for one academic year. Transportation to and from Europe is the responsibility of the student. Applicants interested in this program can obtain additional information from the School of Liberal Arts Dean's office.

Medical Excuses

Students are expected to attend all classes unless they are ill or prevented from attending by exceptional circumstances. Instructors may establish policies for class attendance, which are announced at the beginning of the semester. Students who find it necessary to miss class must assume responsibility for making up the work covered during that session, including quizzes, examinations, and other exercises; they also are responsible for obtaining notes on material covered in lectures or other class sessions.

Students are responsible for notifying professors about absences that result from serious illnesses, injuries, or critical personal problems. However, medical excuses are not issued by the University Health Service, except in instances of illnesses or injuries that involve hospitalization. In cases of a serious injury, illness or critical personal problem, students might wish to consider taking a leave of absence for the semester and should discuss this option with their advisor and the Office of Student Affairs.

Programs of Study

For master’s degree programs, the minimum requirement is 30 credit hours of coursework. For master's programs with a thesis requirement, a minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework is required and the remaining hours to total 30 hours are fulfilled via thesis credit hours. For M.A. and M.S. programs, one academic year must be in full-time residence status or its equivalent part-time study in this School of Liberal Arts. 

For M.F.A. programs, the resident study requirement is the same, except that upon the recommendation of the student’s department or program chair and approval of the dean, work taken in Tulane Summer Session may be considered resident study. The minimum credit hours for MFA degrees vary by discipline and students should refer to the individual department websites and consult department advisor for details. 

For Ph.D. programs, the minimum requirement is 48 semester hours and a dissertation. At least one academic year must be in full-time residence status but some PhD programs required a longer in-residence status.

For maximum periods of time to complete requirements for any of these degrees, see Tenure for Degree Students.

The graduate student’s entire program of study will often be within a single department. In some cases, however, a student may take some of the work outside the major department with the approval of the chair of both the major department and the other department or departments concerned. Occasionally, the needs of individual students may require a special interdisciplinary Ph.D. program. For further information see Special Interdisciplinary Programs.

Quality of Work Requirements

A minimum average quality-point ratio of 3.0 (B) must be maintained by a student in the School of Liberal Arts. In reviewing records, a unit of B- is compensated by a unit of B+, the two being considered the equivalent of two units of B.

If a student receives one B- grade, the student is immediately considered for probation by the dean in consultation with the appropriate department. If a student receives two grades of B-, or one grade less than B-, during his/her tenure in the School of Liberal Arts, the student is placed on probation and considered for dismissal by the dean in consultation with the appropriate department. The terms of the probation are to be worked out by the department in consultation with the dean. It is the department’s responsibility to report to the dean’s office any student not making reasonable progress towards the degree.

The above guidelines are to be applied to either master’s or doctoral degree candidates. It is also understood that these are minimum standards; some departments may impose more strenuous standards. University procedures for grade and other academic complaints are available on the School of Liberal Arts/Graduate Programs website. The student must first discuss the complaint with the professor, then, if dissatisfied, submit a written complaint to the department chair following the procedure for academic complaints.

Registration for Undergraduate Credit and Provisional Graduate Credit

An undergraduate at Tulane University with a grade point average of at least 3.3 in his major program may register, normally in the senior year, for up to six credits of 6000 or 7000 level courses, for credit toward a baccalaureate degree. Written recommendation of the course instructor, advisor, chair of the major department, the Dean of Newcomb-Tulane College, and approval of the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts are required.

Graduate credit for these 6 credit hours of 6000 or 7000 level classes taken for credit toward an undergraduate degree, if passed with B or better on the School of Liberal Arts graduate grading scale, may be awarded, when the student is admitted to a graduate program in the Tulane School of Liberal Arts. The student must obtain a recommendation from the chair of the graduate department and approval of the School of Liberal Arts dean for these credit hours to apply to the graduate program via a Transfer of Credit form.

In addition to the 6 credits described above which are allowed to count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree, a senior who completes all baccalaureate requirements before the end of the senior year and intends to enter the School of Liberal Arts at Tulane as a graduate student may apply for provisional graduate credit in up to, but not more than, 6 additional credits of 6000 and 7000 level courses beyond the credits needed for the baccalaureate. These credits may not be counted as credit toward the undergraduate degree and must be designated as such prior to certification of the undergraduate degree. Graduate credit for such work, if passed with B or better, will be awarded when the student is admitted to full graduate status in the School of Liberal Arts, upon recommendation of the graduate department chair and approval of the dean. These provisions do not apply to transfer of credits to or from other graduate institutions. 

Registration Policies and Procedures

Students register with GIBSON ON-LINE. Gibson online is a gateway to online services such as registration, grades, degree audit, My Tulane, accounts receivable, etc. A schedule of classes, course listings, academic calendars, grade access, and other registration information can be found on the Office of the Registrar’s website: http://registrar.tulane.edu/ .

All admitted students are eligible to register with Gibson Online. New incoming students will receive an e-mail message from technology services once they are accepted and confirm. The email message will contain a Tulane identification number and a Tulane email address with instructions on how the student can to set up a password for access to Tulane e-mail and Gibson. All students must confirm their registration before the end of the first week of class. Bills for tuition and fees are sent electronically . Students assume financial obligations for their courses upon registration.

Students who are not registering for course work must maintain continuous residence or non-residence registration during fall and spring semesters and should register for either Master’s Research (9980) or Dissertation Research (9990) via Gibson Online. After registration has closed for the semester on Gibson Online, students must add a course using a Drop/Add form located on the Registrar's Office website.

Change of Courses

Students wishing to add or drop courses should consult the academic calendar on the Registrar’s Office website for deadlines. Failure to make schedule adjustments promptly and accurately may result in financial or academic penalties.

Change of Departmental Program

A student who has been admitted to a degree program in one department and wishes to transfer to a program in another department must obtain the approval of the chair of both departments concerned and the approval of the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts before the change is official. Students wishing to transfer to another department initiate the process by submitting an Interdivisional Transfer Form which is available on the Registrar's Office website form library. 

Required Withdrawal and Denial of Enrollment

A student may be required to withdraw from any course or from the university, temporarily or permanently, for any of the following reasons:

1. Work below the standard specified by the School of Liberal Arts.
2. Violation of the honor system or other misconduct.
3. Possibility of danger to the health of the student or to other students if enrollment is continued.

The university reserves the right to forbid any student’s continued enrollment without assignment of reason. The School of Liberal Arts, however, will provide a student with a statement of reason in writing from the department. An appellate procedure has been established in cases involving academic performance or possible infringement of academic freedom. The School of Liberal Arts also has appellate procedures in cases involving non-reappointment of fellowships or scholarships when the formal terms of the first award have given reasonable expectation of renewal. Such procedures may also apply to cases in which a graduate, teaching, or research assistant is relieved of a position before the end of the term of the appointment or is not reappointed when the formal terms of the first appointment have given reasonable expectation of reappointment. 

Resignation from the School of Liberal Arts must be made in writing to the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts. The student who finds it necessary to withdraw or to resign should report to the Graduate Programs office in the School of Liberal Arts to complete a withdrawal or resignation form.

Special Interdisciplinary Programs

In addition to the regular disciplinary programs leading to the Ph.D. degree, the School of Liberal Arts recognizes that individual student needs may require interdisciplinary programs. Frequently, these can be arranged by a candidate’s major department simply by incorporating courses or fields from other departments in the candidate’s program. The School of Liberal Arts also recognizes that a special interdisciplinary Ph.D. program may occasionally become desirable to meet the educational and career needs of an individual student using university resources not reflected in any single department.

The following provisions are made for the development, approval, and supervision of special programs leading to the Ph.D. degree:

A Special Interdisciplinary Program is a formal ad hoc interdepartmental program leading toward the Ph.D. It will consist of work taken in two or more departments within the School of Liberal Arts. Although the specific requirements for each ad hoc program will differ, the formal requirements for the Ph.D. are: a minimum of one-year residence, a minimum of 48 semester hours of course work, a general examination, the dissertation, and the final examination. The maximum number of credits that may transfer to an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program is 24 semester hours.

For such a program to be feasible at least one of the disciplines included in the interdisciplinary PhD proposal must be a department that offers a PhD degree and there must be at least one member of the faculty who is a specialist in the interdisciplinary area of the student’s interest and a sufficient number of faculty in at least two departments who are prepared to supervise work in it. To determine feasibility, an eligible student should consult with the appropriate faculty before making a formal application proposal.

To be eligible for such a program, a student must be admitted to an existing PhD program, have completed at least one semester of full-time graduate work in one of the related disciplines and be in good standing in a Tulane School of Liberal Arts graduate program. A student currently enrolled in a master's program in the School of Liberal Arts must complete the master's program before acceptance  to the Interdisciplinary PhD program will be considered. A student currently in residence in the Tulane School of Liberal Arts initiates the process by petition to a qualified member of the faculty citing the student’s own interest in and qualifications for the Interdisciplinary PhD program. If the professor considers the student qualified for work in the area of interest, the professor shall become the major advisor-pro tem and shall give formal notification to the student, the appropriate department chairs, and the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts or Dean's designee.

Upon notification, the dean appoints a committee consisting of at least three members of the faculty of Liberal Arts recommended to the dean by the major advisor in consultation with the student and the faculty of those departments concerned. Note: If the committee requires graduate faculty that are not members of the School of Liberal Arts faculty, the committee must consist of a minimum of 3 members of the School of Liberal Arts faculty plus the additional members.

Normally, the major advisor acts as chair of this committee. The student in collaboration with the special committee draws up a study plan/proposal indicating research facilities and setting forth requirements including fields, courses, teaching and/or research requirements and examinations; probable dissertation topic; and the proposed title of the degree (e.g., Comparative Literature, or Linguistics). The chair of the special committee forwards the study plan/ proposal, explanation of why the proposed course of study could not be accomplished solely through the candidate’s major department and a statement of the student’s qualifications to the chairs of those departments concerned for comment and approval and then to the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts.

The Dean of the School of Liberal Arts then presents the proposal and any views of departments concerned to the Graduate Studies Committee for its consideration. At least 12 hours of course work must be taken after the special interdisciplinary Ph.D. proposal is approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. Approval by the Graduate Studies Committee authorizes the student to follow the special interdepartmental program.

The special committee constitutes the student’s qualifying examination committee, his/her dissertation committee, and performs all the functions normally carried out by departmental faculty in a regular Ph.D. program. The special committee chair serves as the chief sponsor of the candidate’s Ph.D. dissertation and performs functions normally carried out by a department chair (supervision of financial assistance in cooperation with the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and the chairs of those departments concerned, coordination of faculty, supervision of the student’s academic work, overseeing qualifying examinations, and recommendation for formal admission to candidacy for the Ph.D.).

Tenure for Degree Students

Tenure is the maximum period of time normally permitted for the completion of all requirements for a degree, and it is determined on the basis of consecutive academic years from the date of registration for graduate study at Tulane or at another institution. Tenure is not affected by residence status. An official, approved leave of absence/planned education leave will not count in the calculation of years to degree. Under certain circumstances, upon written request by the student and the recommendation/justification of the chairperson of a student’s department or program committee, the dean may extend tenure, but a student whose period of graduate study is unduly prolonged or interrupted may be required to perform additional work. Tenure regulations are applicable to all degree students, regardless of date of first registration.

Master’s Degrees

Maximum tenure is five years for a terminal master’s degree, although most departments stipulate much earlier completion of all requirements for the degree in their master’s programs.

Ph.D. Degree

Tenure is seven years for completion of the PhD degree. The maximum time limit within which a student, under normal circumstances, is required to take the qualifying examination and to be admitted to candidacy is four years. The dissertation must be completed within three years after a student has been admitted to candidacy for the degree. Under certain circumstances, upon submission of a written justification for extension from the department chairperson or dissertation committee director, the dean may extend tenure beyond seven years. A student whose period of graduate study is unduly prolonged or interrupted may be required to perform additional work.

Beyond the seven-year period of tenure, a student who has neither completed the requirements for the degree nor received an extension from the dean will no longer be considered a degree candidate. Tenure regulations are applicable to all degree students, regardless of date of first registration.

Transfer Credit

Acceptance of graduate credit for work done at other graduate institutions or in another division of Tulane University must be approved by the department concerned and by the dean. In general, up to 12 semester hours of transfer credit may be accepted toward a master’s degree, and up to 24 semester hours of transfer credit may be accepted toward the Ph.D. degree.

To be considered for transfer credit, graduate work done at another institution or in another division of Tulane University must carry a grade of B or better and must have been completed no more than four years from the date of first registration for graduate work if applied toward a master’s degree and no more than six years from the date of first registration for graduate work if applied toward a Ph.D. degree. Only in unusual cases, upon the recommendation of the chair of the student’s department, may the dean approve for transfer credit courses taken earlier.

The decision concerning the acceptance of all transfer of credit to the record of a graduate student will not be reached until after the student has completed at least one semester of successful study in the School of Liberal Arts. After a semester (nine hours) of study at Tulane, the student should petition the department to recommend the transfer of credit to the School of Liberal Arts.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are due at the time of registration. Changes in charges for tuition, fees, housing, and meals will probably continue to occur, depending upon the costs incurred by the university to provide quality education. The university will make every effort to keep increases at a minimum and provide as much advance notice as possible. It should be noted that tuition never has covered more than a portion of the cost of education. The difference is made up from endowment and gifts to the university.

Refunds

The deadlines for the refund of 100, 75, 50, or 25 percent of tuition in any semester are given in the academic calendar. Refunds are made only when withdrawals are official. Additionally, full tuition is refunded only if the dean recommends the refund. University fees, including the student activity fee, are not refundable.

Financial Obligation to the University

No diploma or certificate of credit is given to a student who is in default of any payment due to a division of the university.

Unified Code of Graduate Student Academic Conduct

The School of Liberal Arts expects students to conduct their academic endeavors with honesty and integrity. Activities covered by the Unified Code of Graduate Student Academic Conduct  include course work, examinations, and research. This code outlines individual responsibilities as well as procedures to be followed if there is a question concerning a student’s academic honesty or integrity. These values are held in common by all departments and enforced by the sanctions of the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts. All students enrolled in the School of Liberal Arts are subject to these regulations and should be familiar with this code. Principles and activities not covered by this code may fall under the purview of university or departmental research and/or ethics committees. Questions concerning jurisdiction should be addressed to the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts.

Undergraduate

• Newcomb-Tulane College Requirements

  • Newcomb-Tulane College General Education Curriculum

  • Proficiency Requirements

  • Distribution Requirements

  • Additional Core Requirements

• School of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Requirements

  • Majors

  • Coordinate Majors

  • Self-Designed Majors

  • Minors

  • Internships

Graduate

• General Graduate School Requirements

• School of Liberal Arts Graduate Requirements

  • Master's Degree Requirements

    • Degree of Master of Arts

    • Degree of Master of Science

    • Degree of Master of Fine Arts

    • Thesis Requirements for Master's Degrees

  • Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements

    • Course Credit, Exams, Prospectus and Dissertation

      • Admission to Candidacy 

      • Course Requirements 

      • Dissertation 

      • Final Examination 

      • General Examination 

      • Language Requirements 

      • Prospectus 

      • Prospectus and Dissertation Committee 

Undergraduate

Newcomb-Tulane College Requirements

School of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Requirements

A liberal arts education helps students develop and improve necessary skills of critical thought and analysis, while learning to express complex analytical arguments clearly, concisely, and coherently in written prose and oral presentations. The essence of a liberal arts education is that it combines both breadth and depth. Breadth assures that students have a basic exposure to the diverse subjects of the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, with their distinctive ways of defining issues, thinking about problems, assessing evidence and reaching conclusions. Breadth also ensures that students have some understanding of the fine arts and how such works might be understood. Depth requires students to gain a deeper understanding of a discipline and its modes of thought, with all the subtleties and complexities that this entails, while learning how difficult it is to attain anything approaching true mastery.

Students completing a BA or BFA degree in the School of Liberal Arts must complete a minimum of 120 credits, 66 of which are above the 1000-level with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 and a major GPA of at least 2.000. Students completing majors in Anthropology, Economics, or Linguistics may elect to complete a BS or BA degree. For information on the BS requirements, consult the relevant departmental section of this catalog.

School of Liberal Arts Writing Intensive Requirement

Writing is the most important skill that a student masters in a liberal arts education. In order to assure that all of its students have achieved a high level of writing proficiency by the time they graduate, the School of Liberal Arts requires them to complete the Tier II writing requirement of the general core curriculum via a writing-intensive course within the School. Students may satisfy this requirement by taking a course that is designated “writing-intensive” in the course schedule.  If a course is to satisfy the writing-intensive requirement, it must require

1. That writing equals at least 50% of the total assessment or 3500 words (15 pages) of expository, analytical writing, whether distributed among a number of short assignments or fewer, longer papers. Creative and technical writing assignments do not qualify for inclusion. Only School of Liberal Arts courses may be used to fulfill this requirement. 
2. Sole authorship by an individual student.
3. That students will revise and resubmit their writing after instructor feedback.

Students are encouraged, but not required, to satisfy the writing-intensive requirement with a course in their major. Students may satisfy this requirement with a capstone course in the major, as long as the writing requirements of the course achieve the defined minimum for a writing-intensive course, or with a senior honors thesis.  The S/U option may not be used to satisfy the writing requirement.

Majors

A major field of study gives each student the opportunity to explore a single area of inquiry in depth and to gain the self-confidence derived from mastery of a subject. Majors must be selected no later than the beginning of a student's fourth semester of college study. Students may elect to complete more than one major. They must complete all courses for each major.  Three courses can overlap with additional majors.  At least half of the course work required for majors must be completed at Tulane University.

Coordinate Majors

Some coordinate major programs also are available.  These coordinate majors require a primary undergraduate major.  Some coordinate majors restrict the choice of primary major.  Students must complete all courses for each major.  Three courses can overlap in the two majors. 

Self-Designed Majors

A student with a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average may construct a major program by grouping courses from different academic departments. Such self-designed majors must include at least 10 courses, more than half of which must be at the 3000-level or above; no more than two courses below the 3000-level may be taken in any one department. A self-designed major cannot be a student's primary major. A student wishing approval of a self-designed major must prepare a proposal including the title of the major, proposed list of courses, rationale, and appropriate departmental approval. This proposal must be submitted for review to the school's Committee on Undergraduate Academic Requirements before the end of the student's sixth semester. As these proposals often require revision and resubmission, they should be submitted earlier than this deadline.

Minors

The School of Liberal Arts allows students to complete one or two minors. The minor is optional and designed to give structure to the study of a secondary field of interest chosen by the student.  Students who elect to complete the requirements for a minor must earn a grade point average of at least 2.000 in courses counting toward that minor. No courses counting toward the student's first minor will count toward the student's second minor. Individual departments may have additional restrictions on major-minor overlap. Students should consult the department listings for additional information.   

Internships

Graduate

General Graduate School Requirements

A full description of Master's and PhD Degree requirements for all students can be found in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies section of this catalog. Students should review these policies thoroughly.

School of Liberal Arts Graduate Requirements

Master's Degree Requirements

Degree of Master of Arts

For the Master of Arts degree with thesis, the minimum course requirement is 24 semester hours plus thesis research. For the Master of Arts without thesis, the minimum course requirement is 30 semester hours. (Certain departments require a minimum of 36 hours). A reading knowledge of one modern foreign language pertinent to research in the discipline may be required by the department.

Degree of Master of Science

The requirements for this degree are generally the same as those stated for the Master of Arts degree, but some programs have variations. The Master of Science is only awarded in the School of Liberal Arts to students in the Economics PhD program who have completed the MS requirements but have not yet completed the dissertation and other requirements for PhD degree. See Courses of Instruction for specific information

Degree of Master of Fine Arts

The Master of Fine Arts degree is given through the Departments of Art, Music, and Theatre and Dance. The Department of Music requires a minimum of 30 semester hours; the Department of Art requires a minimum of 48 semester hours; and the Department of Theatre and Dance requires a minimum of 48 semester hours. A reading knowledge of a foreign language is not required. It is expected that most students will spend a minimum of two years of graduate study in fulfilling the requirements for the Master of Fine Arts degree but maybe longer for some programs. For variations in departmental requirements see the individual department website.

Thesis Requirements for Master’s Degrees

The subject of the thesis for all master’s degrees must be in the field of major study and must have the approval of the professor by whom the thesis is to be directed. The finished thesis must have the approval of a committee, normally consisting of a minimum of three faculty members in the department. The director of the thesis will serve as chair of the thesis committee. At the request of the director, a member of some other department may be added to the committee.

The original typescript of the thesis must be deposited with the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts. The thesis must be on thesis quality paper (100% cotton, acid-free). The title page must contain the subject of the thesis, the date on which it was submitted, the department, and the signature of the candidate, under which should be typed the candidate’s full legal name. Signatures of each of the examining committee members, with the member’s full legal name typed underneath, should also be listed in the lower right-hand corner. A full list of authorities and books consulted and a short biographical sketch must be appended.

The thesis must also be submitted electronically to ProQuest/UMI and to the Tulane Digital Repository for publishing and cataloguing in the Library of Congress.

The decision to copyright the thesis must be made at the time the student submits the dissertation to ProQuest /UMI. Copyright may be obtained through ProQuest/UMI and fees for the copyright can be paid at the time of on-line submission.

A basic style sheet for use in preparing theses is available on the School of Liberal Arts Graduate Programs website and on the Howard Tilton Library website under graduate resources. More detailed instructions for the preparation of the theses may be obtained from A Manual of Style, University of Chicago Press; the M.L.A. Style Sheet; or A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations by Kate L. Turabian, available at the Tulane University Bookstore. The department chair will advise which guide is preferred.

Graduate students who are nearing the completion of their degree requirements should check the School of Liberal Arts website for deadline dates that apply for graduation and for the final submission date of theses for graduation.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements

Course Credit, Exams, Prospectus and Dissertation

Students undertaking work for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy should understand that this degree is awarded not for an accumulation of course credits only, but for superior attainment and accomplishment. Ordinarily the student is expected to finish the course requirements in two full years of graduate study. The student must demonstrate in independent study and research, as evidenced in the dissertation, the ability to carry out an original investigation in the chosen field. A minimum of one year full-time study in residence at Tulane University is required.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to the School of Liberal Arts in a Ph.D. program does not constitute official admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. To be admitted officially to candidacy for the Ph.D., a student must have completed course requirements, satisfied foreign language and research requirements, passed general examinations, and submitted a prospectus of the dissertation approved by the student’s dissertation committee and the dean. The recommendation for admission to candidacy is made by the department and must bear the signatures of both the chair of the student’s dissertation committee and the chair of the department. The recommendation for admission to candidacy must be submitted to the School of Liberal Arts no later than September 15 for those expecting to receive the degree in December of that year, or December 15 for those expecting to receive the degree in May of the following semester, or March 15 for those expecting to receive the degree in August. The admission to candidacy form is located on the School of Liberal Arts website.

Course Requirements

The minimum course requirements for the PhD are usually 48 semester hours; however, students should refer to the specific departmental requirements. Some departments/programs will require additional hours of course work.

Students ordinarily must complete the requirements for the Ph.D. degree within seven years from the date of matriculation in the School of Liberal Arts. Only in unusual cases, with the approval of the department chair and Dean of the School of Liberal Arts, will credit be approved for courses taken more than six years before first registration for graduate work.

Dissertation

The dissertation not only is an essential part of the candidate’s degree work but is the appropriate culmination of the Ph.D. degree. The dissertation is the necessary demonstration that the candidate is worthy of taking a place among research scholars in the discipline. It must demonstrate not only mastery of the literature of the subject, but also the ability to carry on independent research that results in a genuine contribution to knowledge or an original interpretation of existing knowledge, and it must do so in a literate and lucid fashion. The dissertation committee shall determine the acceptability of the dissertation before it is submitted to the School of Liberal Arts in final form. (For deadline dates for the appropriate award of degrees, see Graduation Deadlines.) Acceptability, however, is not final approval. The candidate must defend the dissertation successfully before the degree is awarded. For details, see Final Examination.

The dissertation should be printed on 100 % cotton, acid-free paper. The title page of both the abstract and the dissertation must contain the subject of the dissertation, the date on which it was submitted, the department and the signature of the candidate, with the candidate’s full legal name typed underneath. Signatures of the examining committee members should be listed in the lower right-hand corner; the full name of the committee chair and each member must be typed under the signature. A full list of authorities and books consulted and a short biographical sketch must be appended. A basic style sheet for use in preparing theses and dissertations is available on the School of Liberal Arts website and on the Howard Tilton Library website under graduate student resources. More detailed instructions for the preparation of the dissertation may be obtained from A Manual of Style, University of Chicago Press; the M.L.A. Style Sheet; or A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations, by Kate L. Turabian. The department chair will advise which guide is preferred.

On or before the deadline date for dissertation submission, the student must hand into the School of Liberal Arts office the final, original copy of the dissertation (unbound), and one abstract of the dissertation (not more than 350 words), electronically submit the dissertation to ProQuest/UMI and to the Tulane Digital Repository for publishing and cataloguing in the Library of Congress and complete the on-line Survey of Earned Doctorates. More details and links to the appropriate websites for submission and survey completion are on the School of Liberal Arts graduation requirements web page.

The decision to copyright the dissertation must be made at the time the student submits the dissertation to ProQuest /UMI. Copyright may be obtained through ProQuest/UMI and fees for the copyright can be paid at the time of on-line submission.

Final Examination

All candidates must take a final examination for the Ph.D. degree. Normally this examination consists primarily of an oral defense of the dissertation, but it may be extended to include course material or any other relevant material at the discretion of the examining committee.

This examination should be scheduled after the dissertation is in its final form and reviewed and approved by the committee but before it is printed on the quality paper. The examination must be held before the deadline for submission of the dissertation to the School of Liberal Arts. The requirement for final examination will not be waived, unless the candidate and the department can establish a case of hardship in extremis, subject to review and approval of the dean and the Graduate Studies Committee.

The final examination committee is appointed by the department chair and approved by the dean; it must include the members of the dissertation committee but may include any other members of the Graduate Faculty, including members of other departments or other universities. Upon successful defense of the dissertation and passing of Final exam, the dissertation committee must send a defense of dissertation/recommendation for degree to the School of Liberal Arts Dean’s Office.

General Examination

Upon meeting the foreign language requirement or requirements (and no earlier than the semester in which the normal course requirements for the Ph.D. are to be completed), the student shall undertake the general (preliminary) examination. Normally this examination is taken by the end of the second year of graduate study or at the beginning of the third year. A student who fails to take the test within a reasonable length of time will be advised by the department not to continue graduate study.

The test is a comprehensive examination over the student’s field of study. It covers the student’s subjects and courses and is a rigorous test of scholarly competence and knowledge. The examination also tests acquaintance with the scholarship in the field. Finally, the examination affords the examiners the basis for constructive recommendations on any subsequent program of studies to be undertaken by the student. It should be noted that in some departments cumulative examinations are used in lieu of the general or preliminary examination.

Language Requirements

Language requirements are set by the department or the program faculty. Most PhD programs require documented proficiency in at least one foreign language but some require two languages.

Prospectus

Until a student’s prospectus has been approved by the prospectus committee and the dean, dissertation work has no official status. Normally, a student will not submit a prospectus until the student has completed course requirements, satisfied the foreign language and research requirements, and passed the general examination. Upon the recommendation of the department, however, the student may submit a prospectus any time after completion of one year of full-time residence. The student should check with the department and his/her prospectus committee regarding the content and format of his/her prospectus. After the prospectus has been approved by the department and the prospectus committee, a 3-5 page abstract of the prospectus should be submitted to the dean. The recommendation for approval of the prospectus form serves as the cover sheet and should accompany the abstract of the prospectus. The form is located on the School of Liberal Arts website. The abstract should be approximately three to five doubled-spaced typewritten pages. The introduction of the prospectus should contain a summary of earlier work on the problem. The body should include an orderly description of the plan for the investigation. The conclusion should clearly state the anticipated nature of the investigation results. Major sources of information should be indicated and a selective bibliography attached.

Prospectus and Dissertation Committee

A student should choose a dissertation topic or project in consultation with a tenured/tenure-track faculty member at Tulane University who will agree to direct the dissertation. With a topic or project agreed upon, a committee of at least three tenured/tenure-track faculty members at Tulane University, with the director as chair, will serve as a prospectus committee. If the prospectus is approved by the prospectus committee and/or the home department or program, and approved by the dean’s office, the prospectus committee will become the dissertation committee. The student’s prospectus-dissertation committee must consist of a minimum of three tenured/tenure-track Tulane University faculty members, with at least two of these being members of the major department or program within the School of Liberal Arts. With the approval of the major department or program, the committee chair may appoint additional members from another department or school at Tulane University or from other institutions.

The responsibilities of the dissertation committee are specified below under Dissertation and Final Examination.

Undergraduate

• Majors 

• Minors 

• Coordinate Majors  

• Certificates

Graduate

• Programs

• Graduate Certificates

Undergraduate

Majors

Minors

Coordinate Majors

Coordinate majors require a primary undergraduate major.  Some coordinate majors restrict the choice of primary major.  Students must complete all courses for each major and a total of at least 18 different courses in the two majors.

• Cognitive Studies
• Digital Media Practices
• Portuguese
• Social Policy and Practice

Certificates

Graduate

Programs

Graduate Certificates

The Ann Royal Arthur Memorial Award in German was established in 1987 in memory of Professor Ann Arthur of the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages. It is awarded to a student who has demonstrated a commitment to the study of German.

The Sidney Beyer Prize for Excellence in American History was established in 1976 by Joel Beyer in memory of his father and is awarded to a superior student of American History.

The Purvis E. Boyette Memorial Freshman Essay Award was established in 1988 in memory of Professor Purvis E. Boyette of the Department of English.

The Brazilian-American Cultural Institute Award for Excellence in Portuguese is given by the Portuguese government, on recommendation of the faculty, to a student who has excelled in the study of Portuguese.

The Victoria R. Bricker Award for Excellence in Linguistics

The Almir Bruneti Award for Excellence in Luso-Brazillian Studies

The Glendy Burke Medal was established in 1848 by Glendy Burke. This awarded for excellence in the field of speech.

The Louis Bush Medal

The Classical Studies Prize awarded for excellence in Latin, Greek, or the study of ancient history, culture or archaeology.

The Premio Clavileno is awarded for excellence in Spanish.

The Alice Raymond Scudder Coates Scholarship in Art is awarded to either a student in any area of concentration in art.

The Rusty Collier Memorial Award in Studio Art is awarded to an art major.

The Charles Till Davis Prize for Excellence in European History.

The Charles E. Dunbar, Jr. Fellowships in Political Science are awarded each year to two political science majors who have demonstrated academic excellence and an interest in public affairs.

The France-Amerique Award is given for exceptional achievement in the study of the French language.

The French Government Prize is given by the French government, on recommendation of the faculty, to a student who has excelled in the study of French.

The Juanita Gonzalez Prize in Ceramics is awarded to the outstanding undergraduate ceramist in the Department of Art.

The Bodo Gotzkowsky Award for Research and Travel in Germany.

The Shirley Weil Greengus Memorial Award for Achievement in Political Science is awarded to the senior majoring in political science who has the highest scholastic average in the major.

The Henry Award recognizes outstanding achievement in the study of French.

The Jose Hernandez Award in Spanish-American Literature, established in 1985, is awarded to a graduating senior for excellence in Hispanic studies. The student must have excelled in at least one advanced course in Spanish-American literature.

The Anne Butler Hess Award, established in 1964 by Mrs. Robert D. Hess in memory of her daughter, is awarded to the graduating senior who has shown the greatest proficiency in philosophy.

The Italian Government Prize is given by the Italian government, on recommendation of the faculty, to a student who has excelled in the study of Italian.

The Japan-Tulane Friendship Award was established in 1987 by Jack Aron and Japan Air Lines for the best dissertation, thesis, or research paper on Japanese affairs.

The Arden King Award for Excellence in Anthropology.

The Elizabeth H. and Frederick "Fritz" Krauss Award is awarded to the outstanding undergraduate student majoring in Jewish Studies

The T. Krumpelmann Award for Achievement in German.

The Jonathon Lorino Memorial Award

The Ephraim Lisitzky Memorial Award, established in 1989, is granted to a student of exceptional achievement in the study of Hebrew language and Jewish history, culture, and religion.

The Dan W. Mullin Memorial Award, established in 1970 by Mr. Albert Salzer, is awarded for excellence in technical theater production.

The Charles H. Murphy Prize in Political Economy was established by the Murphy Institute to recognize an outstanding student majoring in political economy.

The Ashton Phelps Award in Communication Studies is given on recommendation of the faculty for excellence in communication studies.

The Pi Sigma Alpha Award, established in 1963 by the Tulane chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, is awarded annually to the senior who has done most to stimulate scholarship and intelligent interest in the subject of government.

The Russian Book Prize is presented by the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages for excellence in Russian.

The Henry Stern Prize in Art History is awarded to the student who produces the best paper in the field of art history.

The Elizabeth Watts Award for Excellence in Physical Anthropology.

The Robert Wauchope Award for Excellence in Anthropology.