All entering first-year students are required to take the tutorial. Students select a tutorial from the list of those to be offered each year. The tutorial is graded on an "A" through "F" basis, with no "S/D/F" option.

A student must complete the tutorial with a grade of "C" or higher to meet the tutorial graduation requirement and to be eligible to enroll in a "Plus-2" or independent work (297, 299, 397, 399, and 499). Any student earning a grade of "D" or "F" in the tutorial will be placed on academic probation.

A student earning a grade of "D" or "F" in the tutorial will be required to complete an appropriate course (a designated replacement course for the tutorial has no "S/D/F" option) determined by the Associate Dean of the College and the Director of Academic Advising in order to fulfill the tutorial requirement. This course must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher during his or her next semester at Grinnell. After the successful completion of this course and removal from academic probation the student will be eligible for a "Plus-2" or independent study project.

The previous work of transfer students is evaluated for possible exemption from this requirement; third-year transfers are automatically exempted.

Because a residential college seeks to create an environment in which students and faculty benefit from the exchange of insights, ideas, and experiences, a residence requirement provides adequate time for such an exchange for the student's development both inside and outside the classroom. Contemplative study, maturation, and time for reading and discussion in the College community all are considered important to a student's development.

All students are expected to complete eight full-time college semesters, a specified number of which must be in residence at Grinnell. Students who enter Grinnell after June 2002 as first-semester first-year students or who transfer to Grinnell as second-semester first-year students are required to complete at least six semesters of full-time enrollment in residence at Grinnell. One semester of approved off-campus study may count toward the six-semester residency requirement. Transfer students who enter as first-semester second-year students, as second-semester second-year students or as third-year students must complete at least four semesters of full-time residence at Grinnell. (Full-time enrollment is enrollment for at least 12 semester credits.) The only off-campus program that can be counted toward residency for second-year and third-year transfer students is the Grinnell-in-London and the Grinnell-in-Washington programs.

If an eighth-semester student in good standing leaves the College with eight or fewer nonmajor credits to complete toward the degree, these credits may be completed at another accredited college or university, as long as the minimum credit requirement has been met and prior approval has been granted by the students adviser and the Registrar. Degrees are not conferred beyond three years after the date a student leaves Grinnell.

Satisfactory completion of a major field is required. Most departmental programs require a minimum of 32 credits but may include more. At the department's discretion, up to 8 credits from related fields may be counted toward the major. The requirements for each major program are listed in the Grinnell College Catalog. Academic departments normally expect that the majority of courses constituting the major, and all required courses, will be completed at Grinnell.

A student declares a major before preregistration for the fifth semester and is held to all major requirements in effect at the time of declaration. The head of the department in which the major is declared, or a designated colleague, then becomes the student's adviser. Most students choose a departmental or a n interdepartmental major. However, a student may arrange a special program as an independent major or may be permitted a second major.

After the start of the third year, changing a major is handled in the same way as a request for a second majo

Students are held to the major requirements in effect at the time they declare their major. Students are expected to plan their schedules in advance in order to complete the courses required for their major when those courses are normally offered. Since the completion of a major is one of the requirements for graduation, waiving any of the specifications of the major (required courses or course distributions) must be first approved by the department and then approved by the Committee on Academic Standing. Transfer courses may be counted towards the completion of the major if they are approved by the department and the department chair has officially notified the Office of the Registrar. A major cannot be completed out of residence.

In the case of a double major, courses must be designated to one major, but not to both majors. When a concentration and a major are related, up to 8 credits of work included in a student's major may also be counted toward the interdisciplinary concentration.

Most students choose an established major, but students who have demonstrated high academic achievement may, in cooperation with two faculty advisers, design an independent major. Applications and instructions for independent majors may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar or from the Registrar's website. For initial advice concerning completion of the application, students should consult the Office of the Registrar. Specific plans should be discussed with the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College before a final application is prepared. This is a substantial process and deadlines are important. Independent major regulations are:

• Most students choose an established major, but students who have demonstrated high academic achievement may, in cooperation with two faculty advisers, design an independent major. Applications and instructions for independent majors may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar or from the Registrar's website. For initial advice concerning completion of the application, students should consult the Office of the Registrar. Specific plans should be discussed with the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College before a final application is prepared. This is a substantial process and deadlines are important. Independent major regulations are: ? An independent major is a coherent study program that cannot be pursued within the College's established majors. The application begins with a purpose statement describing the major questions that prompt the proposaland the major themes that unify the proposed course work into a coherent body of study.
• The quality of a student's academic record may be a sufficient reason for turning down an application. To receive approval for an independent major, it is expected that a student's cumulative GPA of all graded Grinnell College courses is at least 3.0 at the time the application is submitted for consideration.
• The work of the major is divided into (a) the courses forming the method-ology and subject matter core of the program, and (b) elective courses that supplement the basic core. The core program provides a solid found-ation in one or more academic disciplines by the inclusion of those courses most fundamental to the theory and methodology of those disciplines. Students are required to complete the core program as approved. The Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College must approve any change. Additional work for the major is chosen from the approved elective list.
• The independent major must include a minimum of 36 credits plus the 4-credit senior thesis (499), taken in not less than two or more than four academic departments established by the College. The program must have at least 32 credits of course work excluding independent work 297, 299, 300, 387, 397, 399, 499 and "Plus-2s." At least 8 credits of course work must be at the 300 level or above, and not more than 4 credits of work at the 100 level.
• Two faculty advisers are required for all independent majors to assist in planning the major and to supervise the thesis. One adviser must be a full-time faculty member. The other may be part-time. Advisers should be persons who expect to be at Grinnell in the student's senior year to supervise the thesis planning, research, and writing. If one of the advisers leaves the College, on leave or permanently, the student is responsible for finding another faculty adviser and having the change approved by the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College.
• All students pursuing independent majors must complete a senior thesis.The senior thesis is an academically demanding research project, and students applying for an independent major should be prepared to engage in a rigorous, self-guided research process that culminates in a high quality senior thesis. The independent major thesis should utilize the ideasthat unify the major into a coherent whole. Both in conception and in execution, the thesis must have approval of both faculty advisers. Acceptance of a copy of the finished thesis by the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College completes this requirement of the major.
• The independent major is indicated on the student's transcript by a specific title such as "Independent Major: International Relations." Titles should be short (two or three words) and descriptive of the course work as a whole. The courses that constitute the major are not specified on the transcript.
• Students carrying an independent major may not carry a second or double" major.
• To be considered for honors in an independent major, graduating seniors, in addition to meeting the College's general requirements for honors, must demonstrate, by consensus of their two advisors, superior perform-ance in course-work and curricular breadth, combined with superior progress (to the date of consideration) on the senior thesis.

The procedures for declaring second majors require the following:

• The request must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar no later than the first day of preregistration for a student's seventh semester.
• Courses must be designated to one major, but not both.
• A statement explaining why the requested second major is necessary to achieve the student's particular educational objectives as described in the comprehensive academic plan submitted with the first major and how the second major will modify that plan.
• The request must have the approval of the adviser of the first major, theadviser of the second major, and the department chair of the second major.

The form for declaring a second major can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar or the Registrar's website.

A liberal education should include both depth of study in one discipline and breadth of study in several. The required completion of a major fulfills the first requirement. The interdisciplinary concentrations offered at Grinnell provide one way to fulfill the second, for each was conceived as an integral part of a liberal education.

Each recognized concentration includes an organized cluster of courses drawn from several disciplines and related to a common focus of interest. Thus, each provides a structured introduction to a broad area of study while including sufficient flexibility to adapt each program to a student's particular focus of interest. Each culminates in an interdisciplinary senior seminar in which students and faculty draw upon their work in the several disciplines. In most of the programs, the senior seminar provides time for pursuit of a research topic appropriate to the field and to the student's level of accomplishment in the relevant disciplines.

Students may complete an interdisciplinary concentration in addition to a major, with concentrations shown on a student's transcript. Students wishing to pursue an interdisciplinary concentration are expected to declare their intention before preregistering for their seventh semester. To declare an interdisciplinary concentration, students discuss their plans with the interdisciplinary program chairperson and obtain his or her signature on the Declaration of an Interdisciplinary Concentration Form. Students then complete the interdisciplinary concentration work sheet and return it to the Office of the Registrar.

Concentrations may be related to a student's major, but this is not required; when the two are related, up to 8 credits of work included in a student's major may also be counted toward an interdisciplinary concentration.

o be eligible for graduation, a student must have at least 124 credits, a 2.00 cumulative GPA, and must have satisfactorily completed the tutorial and a departmental, interdepartmental or independent major.

No more than 48 credits in any one department or 92 credits in any one division may be included in these 124 credits.

A maximum of 8 practica credits may count toward the degree, with no more than 4 credits of these being in Physical Education 100 or 101.

A maximum of 16 credits in Theater 104, 204, Music 120, 122, 220, 221, and 420 may count toward the degree. Credits in Music 101, 220, and 420 may not exceed a total of 6 in any one semester.

A maximum of 8 credits of internship study may be counted toward the degree.

Only 12 credits of independent-study work (Plus-2, 297, 299, 397, 399, and 499) in one department may be counted toward the degree for students who matriculated after July 2006. For students who matriculated prior to July 2006 only 10 credits of independent-study projects (297, 387, and 397) in one department may be counted toward the degree.

No course with a grade below C may count toward the satisfaction of any requirement for a major or an interdisciplinary concentration including all extra-departmental and cognate courses.

A maximum of 16 credits of D grades may count toward satisfying the 124-credit graduation requirement.

Transfer students are required to complete the following minimum number of credits at Grinnell College:

Students who enter Grinnell as first-semester first-year students may develop degree programs of six or seven semesters of full-time enrollment. The major adviser and the Committee on Academic Standing must approve the student's plan for accelerated graduation. In completing the application, students should consult the Elements of a Liberal Education of the Grinnell College Catalog. A completed application must be submitted no later than Friday of the first full week of classes of the semester proposed for graduation. However, it is in a student's interest to apply for accelerated graduation no later than the time of registration two semesters prior to the expected date of accelerated graduation so that the student has two semesters in which to address any academic deficiencies identified by the Committee on Academic Standing. Students may graduate after six or seven semesters if they have satisfied requirements for the degree, including the requirements for major, residence, and total credits, and if they have demonstrated a commitment to a strong program of liberal education, normally including three four-credit courses in each of the three major divisions of the College. The last full semester of work before graduation must be completed at Grinnell, except for students participating in cooperative programs leading to professional degrees.

A student who is attempting to follow an approved accelerated program to graduate in fewer than eight semesters is not reclassified forward on the basis of credits earned until his or her final semester. The credits necessary to remain in good academic standing are determined by a student's actual class status, not by the accelerated program he or she is attempting.

All students are expected to complete their academic programs within eight full-time semesters. Some students may be permitted to take more time. Examples would include students with disabilities that prevent them from carrying a full course load; students who have fallen behind normal progress as determined by the Committee on Academic Standing; or students whose comprehensive academic program would be substantially enhanced by another semester of work. In all cases of extended study, the student must secure prior approval from the Committee on Academic Standing. The Committee on Academic Standing will review such requests in consultation with appropriate administrative offices.

The College reserves the right to refuse college housing to students beyond eight semesters, and the College will not provide its own aid funds to students who exceed eight semesters of college residence.

Each department recommends for graduation with honors those senior majors who have clearly distinguished themselves within their major field of study. In order to qualify for recommendation, a student must, after seven semesters of college work, have achieved at least a 3.50 grade point average in the major field and a cumulative grade point average of 3.40. Students convicted of academic dishonesty are not eligible for honors, except students who commit only one offense and receive a less-than-normal penalty for the offense. The required seven semesters of study to qualify for honors need not all be completed at Grinnell; however, only credits completed at Grinnell, Grinnell-in-Washington, D.C. and Grinnell-in-London will be used in determining grade point eligibility.

These are minimum, college-wide criteria for honors. Students should consult the individual department listings in this catalog for departmental minimum criteria for honors and may consult with the chair of the major department for further clarification, if needed.

Students may participate in only one Commencement program. Students who plan to graduate in December are typically included in the following May Commencement program. Some December graduates, however, may wish to participate in the Commencement program immediately preceding their final semester. Students who have remained in good academic standing the previous two semesters, and who can reasonably complete all requirements by the end of the following December may be allowed to participate in Commencement. These students will not receive a diploma until after their degree has been conferred. Students who wish to graduate early should notify the Office of the Registrar no later than March 1.

A student entering Grinnell will be granted four credits for Advanced Placement examinations upon presentation of a score of 3 [calculus (BC)], 4 [art, biology, calculus (AB), chemistry, classics, computer science (A and AB), economics, English language/composition, environmental science, French, German, government, history, music, physics (B or C), psychology, Spanish, and statistics], 5 [English literature/composition] on any one of the Advanced Placement examinations of the College Board. For satisfaction of graduation requirements, these are divisional credits not assigned to an academic department. However, a student may request permission to apply these Advanced Placement credits toward satisfaction of the requirements for a major. AP/IB credits will be cancelled upon the successful completion of any equivalent Grinnell course.

Grinnell College recognizes International Baccalaureate (IB) level work for entering students and will grant credit for examination scores of 5 or better on Higher Level courses only.

Upon receipt of a transcript from the British Examination Authority, the College also will grant 4 credits for each British Advanced-level examination (A-level) score of B or higher. The granting of credit for IB and A-level work is equated to the granting of credit for Advanced Placement.

Grinnell does not grant credits for the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test or other such programs.

For exact information about how credits will be awarded, students should contact the Office of the Registrar.

Transfer credits earned at regionally accredited institutions are evaluated by the Registrar prior to enrollment for all new students who have been approved for admission and for all matriculated students who pursue course work while on leave or during the summer. Only official transcripts sent directly to Grinnell will be evaluated.

Currently enrolled students who attend another accredited institution have the responsibility of submitting to the Registrar's office, in a timely fashion, the "Transfer Course Approval Form." The "Transfer Course Approval Form" can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar or from the Registrar's website.

The evaluation of transfer credit by the Registrar involves at least three considerations:

• The educational quality of the institution;
• The comparability of the nature, content, and the level of credit earned to what Grinnell currently offers; and
• The appropriateness and applicability of the credits earned to the pro- grams offered by Grinnell, in light of the student's educational goals.

Courses in which a grade of C or above (C- is not acceptable) is earned at other institutions are transferable or applicable toward major or degree requirements at Grinnell. In addition, courses which are graded on a pass/fail basis must be accompanied by written documentation from the school issuing the credit that the passing grade reflects work at C or above (C- is not acceptable).

Courses considered vocational or remedial, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credits or other such placement credits are not transferable.

Grinnell usually does not award course credit for work done through distance learning, correspondence, extension or continuing education programs. Only distance learning, extension or continuing education courses that are (1) in traditional liberal arts subject areas and (2) accepted for credit by the sponsoring accredited institution for its own bachelor's degree may be granted credit subject to all other transfer of credit regulations.

When transfer credits or Grinnell College credits overlap or duplicate Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits, the highest credit value will be accepted. For courses that may apply to either a major or a concentration, the department chair of the major or concentration, at the request of the student, will make a determination and notify the Office of the Registrar in writing as to what credits can be applied toward the major or concentration. AP/IB credits will be cancelled upon the successful completion of any equivalent Grinnell course. Students should contact the Office of the Registrar for more details.

Grinnell will not award transfer credit for courses taken simultaneously at another institution while the student is enrolled during the fall and spring semester at Grinnell College.

A transfer student will be allowed to apply toward a degree at Grinnell a maximum of 62 semester credits of transferable work. If a transfer student has more than 62 credits of transferable work, the Registrar will work with the student to determine which credits, not exceeding 62, will be accepted.

At the time of admission, transfer students are classified (as second-semester first-year, first-semester second-year, etc.) on the basis of the transfer credits, if any, which are accepted by the College. Subsequent class status is determined by the number of semesters in residence at Grinnell plus semesters of off-campus study.

Students matriculating as first-time first-year students after June of 2002 must complete at least 6 semesters in residence and are limited to a maximum of 24 per- and post- matriculation transfer credits (AP, IB, college credit). For students with an approved program to study off-campus for one semester, the program credits are excluded from the 24-limit of transfer credits and the semester off-campus is counted toward the residency requirement. For students approved for yearlong off-campus programs, only one semester of off-campus study will count toward the residency requirement, although the credits from both semesters will be accepted.

A student may request permission to count a maximum of 6 credits completed while on leave from the College.

A maximum of 18 semester credits are accepted for courses taken during the three summer and winter interims before graduation. Approval is not given for more than 9 semester credits in one summer and not given for more than 4 semester credits in one winter interim. Studies to be undertaken elsewhere must be approved in advance by the student's adviser and by the Registrar, or credits will not be accepted. Catalog descriptions for such courses must accompany the "Transfer Course Approval Form" when submitted to the Registrar's office for approval.

Students who intend to pursue summer study should return a completed "Transfer Course Approval Form" to the Registrar no later than one week before the end of spring semester classes. Students who intend to pursue winter interim study should return a completed "Transfer Course Approval Form" to the Registrar no later than one week before the end of fall semester classes (See the current semester calendar for the date).

Credit for summer study will not be accepted for transfer unless an official transcript is received by December 1 of the year in which the course work was taken. After the Registrar's Office has verified completion of all requirements for graduation, credits for winter interim study will not be accepted.

Any course that repeats the content of a Grinnell course in which a student initially received a "D" or "F" grade may not be pursued at another institution.