Registrar's Guide to the Requirements
The rules and
the Registrar's recommendations (in italic)

Related Links:
Distribution Requirements
The Writing Course Requirement
The PE Requirement
The NSEP Requirement
The 20-Credit Rule

This is a collection of suggestions to how to fulfill the graduation requirements discussed. Not all graduation requirements are treated here, but those that are, are treated perhaps more fully here than anywhere else.

Distribution Requirement

Registrar's Guide to the Divisional Distribution Requirement

• The Rule:
  • see Educational Program chapter of the catalog.
• The Registrar recommends:
  • Take at least two courses per semester toward fulfilling the 3-in-3 rule, until done
  • Take courses in different Divisions each semester (until done with a division)
• Keep in mind...
  • Writing Courses and NSEPs also count for distribution
  • If you are expecting AP credit, only one AP credit per division counts towards the 3-in-3 rule
    • AP credit can count for the "different department" part of the Distribution requirement
      • Eligible AP credit must be of 1.0 credit awards (half credit does not count
  • 3-in-3 rule courses need be at least 1.0 credit and specified as counting toward a division in the Course Schedule
    • Half-credit courses do not count toward the 3-in-3 rule
    • Non-divisional interdisciplinary courses do not count toward the 3-in-3 rule
    • 1.5 credit Language courses do count toward Humanities distribution

Writing Course Requirement

Registrar's Guide to the Writing Course Requirement

• The Rule:
  • Take 3 designated Writing courses, from 2 of the 3 divisions
• The Registrar recommends:
  • Try to finish the requirement in the first 3 semesters
  • See the cartoon video
• Here's why...
  • The Writing Course designation means the course includes explicit attention to teaching writing -- not just doing it.
  • Most designated Writing Courses are introductory in nature and are appropriate for first-year or second year students
  • Many designated Writing Courses are First-year seminars, and those are only open to first-year students
  • After sophomore year, the attractiveness of other course options can make it challenging to schedule designated Writing courses
  • Most upper level courses with a lot of writing are NOT designated Writing Courses because the courses focus on content without explicit attention to teaching writing
• WARNING: Look for the label!
  • Designated Writing Courses are labeled
    • In the Catalog the label "Writing Course" follows the course description
    • In the Course Schedule the label "W" is the last thing in the course title.
  • The other way to know is to look on the approved list.

The PE Requirement

Registrar's Guide to the PE Requirement

• The catalog chapter
• The Registrar recommends:
  • Complete at least 1 PE unit per semester until the requirement is done
  • Swimming Requirement
    • Either pass the swim test, OR complete a Swarthmore swimming class
      • The swim class earns a PE unit and fulfills the Swimming requirement at the same time
• PE credit is only available from one of these four ways:
  • 1) PE classes offered by the PE department or
  • 2) PE Dance classes offered by the Dance department or
  • 3) Varsity sports or
  • 4) Clubs or Club Sports approved by the PE department for PE credit
  • Note that working out on your own does NOT earn PE units.

The NSEP science lab requirement

Registrar's Guide to the NSEP Requirement

• The catalog rule
• The Registrar recommends:
  • Consider taking an intro science NSEP in your first year
• NSEPs are labeled in the Schedule and Catalog
• NSEPs count toward NS distribution as well as NSEP
• Explore the subject as a prospective major

The 20 credit Requirement

Registrar's Guide to the Twenty course-credit rule

• The Rule:
  • see Educational Program chapter of the catalog.
• The Registrar recommends:
  For the first two years take courses in a variety of subjects
• You will need by graduation 20 credits in subjects different from your major
  • For regular (non-special) majors, sum the credits with four-letter subject codes which are different from your major's four-letter code
  • There are different rules for special majors
  • The 20 credits can come from all kinds of degree-applicable credit
    • AP credit counts (outside your major subject)
    • Transfer credit counts (outside your major)
    • Half-credit courses count (outside your major)
• For double majors, the 20 course credit rule is calculated as if you had only one major
  • You only have to complete the rule once, from the perspective of either one of your majors (not both)