Bowdoin's Mission and Purpose of this Catalogue

Congratulations on joining the Bowdoin College community! Whether you are preparing for your first semester of classes or well along your way in accumulating the course credits you will need to graduate, we encourage you to take the time to review the content of this Catalogue, which will provide you with: 

Graduation Requirements

To qualify for the bachelor of arts degree, a student must have:

• successfully passed thirty-two full-credit courses (or the equivalent);
• spent four semesters (successfully passed sixteen credits) in residence, at least two semesters of which have been during the junior and senior years;
• completed a first-year writing seminar^a; this should normally be completed by the end of the first semester and must be completed by the end of the second semester in college;
• completed at least one full-credit course (or the equivalent) in each of the following five distribution areas: mathematical, computational, or statistical reasoning; inquiry in the natural sciences; difference, power, and inequity; international perspectives; and visual and performing arts—these should normally be completed by the end of the fourth semester in college (the end of the student’s sophomore year);
• completed at least one full-credit course (or the equivalent) in each of the following three divisions of the curriculum*: natural science and mathematics, social and behavioral sciences, and humanities (in addition to the required course in the visual and performing arts); and
• completed all of the requirements for an approved major.

a	The requirement for completing a first-year writing seminar (courses numbered 1000-1049) will only be met if the seminar is taken for regular letter grades and a minimum grade of D is earned.

All Bowdoin students must be enrolled full time and are expected to make normal progress toward their degree, which includes taking no fewer than four credits each semester. Generally, students are not allowed to remain at Bowdoin for a ninth semester. There may be rare and exceptional circumstances that impact a student's ability to complete their degree within eight semesters. Students should speak to their dean in the office of the dean of students for more information.

Distribution Requirements

Students must earn at least one full credit for a letter grade in each of the following five distribution areas^b:

1. Difference, Power, and Inequity (DPI): These courses examine difference in terms of power and inequity. Students learn theories, methods, and skills to analyze structures of privilege and inequality. Students confront how such structures intersect with their own experiences.
2. Inquiry in the Natural Sciences (INS): In these courses students engage in the practice and methods of inquiry-based learning in the natural sciences. This requirement is satisfied through courses that both fall within “Division A” (natural science and mathematics) and satisfy the INS learning goals. 
3. International Perspectives (IP): These courses assist students in developing a critical understanding of the world beyond the United States. IP courses provide students with the tools necessary to analyze non-US cultures, societies, and states (including indigenous societies and sovereign nations within the United States and its territories), either modern or historical.
4. Mathematical, Computational, or Statistical Reasoning (MCSR): These courses enable students to use mathematics and quantitative models and techniques to understand the world around them either by learning the general tools of mathematics and statistics or by applying them in a subject area.
5. Visual and Performing Arts (VPA): These courses help students expand their understanding of artistic expression and judgment through creation, performance, and analysis of artistic work in the areas of dance, film, music, theater, and visual art.

b

First-year writing seminars, independent study courses, and honors projects do not fulfill any of the five Distribution Requirements. Distribution requirements may not be met by Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credits and may only be satisfied with courses taken at Bowdoin. Distribution requirements should be completed by the end of the student’s fourth semester in college. A course will be counted as meeting a Distribution Requirement if a student earns a grade of D or better; courses will only be counted if they are taken for a letter grade, though courses will count if they are required to be taken for a Credit/D/Fail grade, e.g., music ensembles, if a grade of CR (credit) is earned. Students may not count the same course toward more than one Distribution Requirement.

Division Requirements

Students must earn at least one full credit from each of the following three divisions of the curriculum^c.

1. Natural Science and Mathematics (a)
2. Social and Behavioral Sciences (b)
3. Humanities (c)

c

Like the Distribution Requirements, Division Requirements may not be met by Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credits and may only be satisfied with courses taken at Bowdoin. A course will be counted as meeting a Division Requirement if a student earns a grade of D or better; courses will only be counted if they are taken for a letter grade, though courses will count if they are required to be taken for a Credit/D/Fail grade. With one exception, students may count the same course to meet a division and a distribution requirement. The exception is a course that is designated to meet the humanities division (c) requirement and the visual and performing arts (VPA) distribution requirement; students may not count such a course to meet both requirements.

Courses, Course Load and Grades

Course Credit

Most Bowdoin courses earn one full credit, which is equal to four semester hours, and are considered to have equal weight toward degree requirements. A few courses, such as music performance courses, generally earn one-half credit each. In accordance with federal regulations, Bowdoin courses that count for one credit typically meet for fifteen-week semesters and three hours a week, with the expectation that a minimum of nine additional hours a week will be spent in lab, discussion group, film viewing, or preparatory work.

Course Load

All students at Bowdoin are full-time students and, in order to make normal progress toward the degree, are expected to register for no fewer than four credits each semester.

• Students may not take more than five credits without approval from their academic advisor(s) and dean.
• Students may not take fewer than three credits per semester without approval from the Recording Committee.
• Students on academic probation may not take more than four credits without approval from the Recording Committee.
• First-year students may not take fewer than four credits per semester in the first and second semester of the first year without the approval of both their academic advisor and the dean of first-year students.
• Seniors may be required to take one course per semester in their major department, at the department’s discretion.
• Students should note that if they choose to take three credits, they may not elect Credit/D/Fail for any of them, as per the Credit/D/Fail policy.
• Taking courses Credit/D/Fail may impact a student’s ability to qualify for awards such as the Sarah and James Bowdoin Scholars.

Bowdoin College normally admits a small number of non-degree students each year. These students may follow alternative policies guiding course load and other rules. Please contact the Office of Admissions or the Office of the Registrar for more information.

Transcripts

The Office of the Registrar will furnish official transcripts upon receipt of a request through the National Student Clearinghouse that includes the student’s signature. There is no charge for transcripts unless it is requested that materials be sent by an overnight delivery service. Current students may access their unofficial academic history via Polaris. For more information about obtaining an official transcript, consult the registrar's website. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Bowdoin is committed to the academic success of each of our students, and we recognize that success is not always achieved through a predictable path or one that is familiar. For instance, many students encounter personal, financial, academic, health, family or other issues that require sound advice, expert assistance, and/or new strategies and use of campus support resources. The purpose of the advising system and various student support offices is to connect students with the information and supports that can help them manage their personal circumstances and make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

As part of its commitment to student success, twice each year the College reviews each student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in maintaining the minimum qualitative Grade Point Average (GPA) requirement (by semester and cumulatively), and the quantitative requirements of meeting requirements for the degree within an established timeframe and achieving the minimum rate of academic progress (i.e., completed course credits) each year.

GPA or Qualitative Standard

All Bowdoin course grades are included in a student’s GPA; however, for the purposes of determining academic standing (good standing, academic probation, suspension, dismissal), we recognize that the transition to college can present unique adjustment challenges. Therefore, first-semester grades may be omitted from the computation for sophomores, juniors, and seniors if that omission benefits the  student. The Office of the Registrar will perform the computation to determine if this is the case using the following standard: the cumulative GPA for the student at the time will be determined with and without the first semester grades. If it is higher without the first semester grades, that calculation will be used.  This calculation will only occur for the calculation of GPAs for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Students in their first semester at Bowdoin will have their first semester GPA viewed as a “semester GPA” rather than cumulative for the purposes of the academic SAP policy. 

The Recording Committee Secretary informs students of changes in academic standing according to the schedule below; students who have not met the minimum SAP requirement for aid will be notified by the director of student aid. Because the method of calculating SAP for aid is prescribed by law, financial aid SAP analysis always includes all semesters enrolled.

Academic Standing Criteria

Students are placed on academic probation, suspension, or academically dismissed according to the criteria below. The GPAs outlined below also prompt aid action when applicable.

For students in good academic standing: 

• Good Standing:
  • If the cumulative GPA is greater than or equal to 2.000 and none of the other standards outlined are met. 
• Academic Probation:
  • If the cumulative GPA is 1.500–1.999, or the semester GPA is 1.001–1.999. 
• Academic Suspension:
  • If the cumulative GPA is 1.001–1.499, or the semester GPA is 1.000 or lower. 
• Academic Dismissal:
  • If the cumulative GPA is 1.000 or lower, or the student meets the conditions for a second academic suspension. 
  • If the student's GPA is 1.000 or lower at the end of their first semester at Bowdoin, they qualify for academic suspension and not dismissal. 

For students on academic probation:

• Good Standing:
  • If cumulative GPA is greater than or equal to 2.000 and none of the other standards outlined above are met.
• Academic Probation:
  • If cumulative or semester GPA are 1.001–1.999.
• Academic Suspension:
  • If cumulative and semester GPA are 1.001–1.999.
• Academic Dismissal:
  • If cumulative or semester GPA is 1.000 or lower, or the student meets the conditions for a second academic suspension.   

​Academic Probation: Students are placed on academic probation for one semester upon returning from academic suspension. The purpose of this term on probation is to ensure that students work closely with their academic advisor and a dean from the Office of the Dean of Students to make a smooth transition back to academic life at Bowdoin.

• Students must enroll in four full-credits graded with letter grades while on academic probation.
• Students on academic probation normally are not eligible to study away.  

Quantitative Standard (Pace of Completed Credits)

The quantitative standard or pace is equivalent to the number of credits the student has successfully completed divided by the number of credits the student attempted. Students are expected to make consistent progress toward the degree over a period of eight semesters, which is defined as the pace of passing the equivalent of four full-credit courses each semester. For purposes of the academic review at the end of each term, and counting academic terms in attendance only,  any terms that a student spends on medical leave will not be taken into consideration.

Any student who fails to register for a minimum of three credits and who attend classes prior to the end of the first week of the term may be withdrawn from the College; students should avoid this situation as this will count toward the student’s eight semesters in their aid calculation. Transfer credit and pre-matriculation credits count in this calculation for academic and aid pace. Please note that there is a different calculation of this standard for aid; please see this section of the Catalogue or the website of the Office of Student Aid for details. 

To comply with the satisfactory academic progress policy, each candidate in the four-year program must successfully complete the following minimum number of course and unit credits:  

SAP Quantitative Standards

Semester	Expected Credits	Minimum Credits	Pace
First semester	4 credits	2 credits	50 percent
Second semester	8 credits	6 credits	75 percent
Third semester	12 credits	10 credits	83 percent
Fourth semester	16 credits	14 credits	88 percent
Fifth semester	20 credits	18 credits	90 percent
Sixth semester	24 credits	22 credits	92 percent
Seventh semester	28 credits	26 credits	93 percent

Students not making consistent progress may be asked to make up deficient credits in approved courses at another accredited institution of higher education. Students who need to take courses elsewhere to make up deficient credits should seek the advice of their advisor, deans, and the Office of the Registrar at the earliest possible time to develop a sound plan to earn credits that are eligible for transfer back to Bowdoin. 

Academic Standing Appeals

Students who earn academic suspension or dismissal under the SAP policy have the option to appeal to the Recording Committee. Each semester, in advance of the Recording Committee’s Action Meeting, students who are being considered for academic suspension and dismissal will be given the opportunity to write a petition in which they should: 

• explain any extenuating circumstances that led to their academic difficulties; 
• provide reasons why they should not be placed on suspension or dismissed; and  
• present a plan for what they would do differently to ensure their academic success if given the opportunity to continue enrollment.  

Notification Process 

Students not making Satisfactory Academic Progress toward their degree will receive correspondence via their Bowdoin email address. This correspondence includes the appeal process instructions for both the academic and aid processes when applicable. Students will be notified of all deadlines related to the appeal processes in this communication. It is the student’s sole responsibility to monitor their Bowdoin email address. 

Academic Standing Appeal Procedures 

Students have the right to appeal their academic standing by submitting a petition to the Recording Committee. Petitions should include information regarding the extenuating circumstances that led to the student’s deficiency in scholarship. Details can be found on the Recording Committee's website and students should consult their dean when drafting a petition.

The Recording Committee and Student Petitions

The Recording Committee is a standing faculty committee of the College whose purpose is to address matters pertaining to the academic standing of individual students and to consider exceptions to the policies and procedures governing academic life. The committee meets regularly to consider individual student petitions and at the end of each semester to review the records of students who are not meeting satisfactory academic progress, and to ensure that appropriate information, advice and support is provided to students who have experienced academic challenges. Decisions of the committee are final.

Students who are seeking exceptions to academic regulations or curricular requirements must petition the Recording Committee. The petition form is available online. All petitions require the signature of a dean, and, depending on the nature of the request, some may require supporting documentation from a faculty member, doctor, or counselor. Students are notified of the outcome of their petitions by the secretary of the Recording Committee. Students should note that any courses dropped with Recording Committee permission will result in a W (for Withdrew) being recorded on the students’ transcripts. A grade of W does not factor into a student's GPA.

Pre-Matriculation Credit

Students may have the opportunity to enroll in college-level coursework prior to matriculating at Bowdoin. Bowdoin College will consider granting credit for pre-matriculation coursework, providing the following criteria have been met:

1. the coursework must have been completed on a college campus at an accredited two- or four-year college/university in courses taught by college faculty;
2. the coursework must have been completed in a class with matriculated college students;
3. the courses may not have been used to satisfy any high-school graduation requirements; and
4. the coursework must represent a standard of achievement comparable to what is expected at Bowdoin in a field of study characteristic of the liberal arts.

Bowdoin also recognizes Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and other international exams and may grant credit toward graduation requirements for them. Students should refer to the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate rules in effect at the time of their matriculation. 

A maximum of four pre-matriculation credits will be counted toward the thirty-two credits required for the Bowdoin degree from approved exams or other approved college/university courses.

Transfer of Credit from Other Institutions

The Bowdoin degree certifies that a student has completed a course of study that meets standards established by the faculty. It is normally expected that all of a student’s coursework after matriculation will be completed either at Bowdoin or in an approved semester-long or year-long off-campus study program. (More information about such programs can be found on the Off-Campus Study website.) Apart from taking courses at Bowdoin or in approved off-campus study programs, the College recognizes that there may be rare occasions when it would serve a student’s educational interests to take courses elsewhere for credit toward the Bowdoin degree. In such cases, the work done elsewhere should represent a standard of achievement comparable to what is expected at Bowdoin in a field of study characteristic of the liberal arts. 

For more details regarding the transfer credit process, please visit the Bowdoin website.

Graduation

In the semester prior to the semester in which they intend to graduate (e.g., in the fall for students who intend to graduate at the end of the following spring semester), students submit to the Office of the Registrar the online Notice of Intent to Graduate. The Notice of Intent to Graduate is required as the official application for graduation and begins the final degree audit process that ensures students receive all notices related to Commencement. Students will generally receive written notice one month prior to graduation that they have been given preliminary clearance to graduate. Final clearance is determined after all academic work has been completed and final grades for the final semester have been recorded. 

The Award of Honors

General Honors

General honors (or Latin honors, i.e., cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude) are awarded with the degree on the basis of an average of all grades earned at Bowdoin, with a minimum of sixteen credits required for the computation. To compute the average, an A is assigned four points; a B, three points; a C, two points; a D, one point; and an F, zero points. Plus (+) or minus (–) modifiers add or subtract three-tenths of a point (0.3). Half-credit courses are weighted as one-half course. Credit grades (CR) are omitted from the computation, but a D or F grade received in a course taken on a Credit/D/ Fail basis does count. Beginning with grades recorded for Fall 2013, all grades earned in repeated courses are included . The resulting grade point average (GPA) is not rounded but truncated to display the first three decimals. A degree summa cum laude is awarded to the top 2 percent of the graduating class as calculated by cumulative GPA; a degree magna cum laude is awarded to the top 8 percent of the graduating class as calculated by cumulative GPA; and a degree cum laude is awarded to the top 20 percent of the graduating class as calculated by cumulative GPA. It is Bowdoin’s policy not to disclose the GPA ranges that determine Latin Honors as they shift with each class.

^a In the case of a course taken at Bowdoin one or more times prior to Fall 2013, only the first grade is included.

Departmental Honors: The Honors Project

The degree with a level of honors in a major subject is awarded to students who have distinguished themselves in coursework in the subject and in an honors project. The award is made by the faculty upon recommendation of the department or program. 

The honors project offers seniors the opportunity to engage in original work under the supervision of a faculty member in their major department or program. It allows qualified seniors to build a bridge from their coursework to advanced scholarship in their field of study through original, substantial, and sustained independent research. The honors project can be the culmination of a student’s academic experience at Bowdoin and offers an unparalleled chance for intellectual and personal development. 

Sarah and James Bowdoin Scholars (Dean’s List)

Sarah and James Bowdoin scholarships, carrying no stipend, are awarded in the fall on the basis of work completed the previous academic year. The award is given to the top 20 percent of students, as calculated by their grade point average (GPA) for the previous academic year. Eligible students are those who completed the equivalent of eight full-credit Bowdoin courses during the academic year, at least six credits of which were graded with regular letter grades and at least seven credits of which were graded with regular letter grades or non-elective Credit/D/Fail grades. In other words, among the eight required full-credit courses or the equivalent, a maximum of two credits may be graded Credit/D/Fail Only, but only one credit may be for a course(s) the student elected to take with the Credit/D/Fail grading option. Grades for courses taken in excess of eight credits are included in the GPA. For further information on the College’s method for computing GPA, consult the section on General Honors.

A book, bearing a replica of the early College bookplate serving to distinguish the James Bowdoin Collection in the library, is presented to every Sarah and James Bowdoin Scholar who has earned a GPA of 4.000 in the previous academic year.

It is Bowdoin’s policy not to disclose the GPA ranges that determine Sarah and James Bowdoin Scholars, as they can shift.

Code of Community Standards

The Code of Community Standards, in addition to the Bowdoin College Catalogue and Academic Handbook, are key references to the policies, procedures, and governance structure of the College, including information about leaves. It is a student's responsibility to be aware of the content in each so as to understand their responsibilities while at Bowdoin. For questions about these policies, please contact the Office of the Dean of Students.