Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the least I need to know about completing a bachelor’s degree?
At Assumption College, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is comprised of 120 credits. This means 38, 39, or 40 courses, fairly evenly divided into three categories:

Core Courses (16 courses plus a Writing Emphasis quality to another course)
Major Courses (9-14 courses, depending on your major)
Elective Courses (all the rest)

Core requirements are, as the name would suggest, courses we ask allstudents to take, and they are meant to reflect the mission of the institution. As a Catholic liberal arts college, our current core begins with some specific requirements, like ENG 130, Philosophy 100, and Theology 100, and moves toward a wider range of choice.

Major courses are those that deepen the student’s knowledge in a particular area, and prepare him or her for a profession or for further (graduate) study.

Elective courses are freely chosen in areas of interest.

Do I have to have a minor?
No. But you could have one, if you want to. Minors are at least 18 credits (six courses); they eat into one’s elective options. A minor may pair nicely with a major, supporting and expanding it (a political science major minoring in geography, for instance), or may be surprising and inventive, such as a marketing major minoring in music, with a view toward music marketing.

Who chooses my advisor?
First year students are assigned an advisor based on a survey they are sent prior to Orientation. After that, the choice is the student’s. Many students find that their initial assignment is a good one, and stick with that person for four years. Others change when they declare a major, moving to someone in their departmental major. It is up to the student. Change of Advisor forms are available under “forms” on this website, or at the Registrar's or Dean’s office.

Will my advisor discuss my classes and academic record with my parents?
Not unless you have given Assumption College permission for him or her to do so. The FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) states that you have the right to privacy with regard to your educational record here at Assumption College. Information regarding you status, grades, progress to degree, and overall campus experience cannot be revealed to anyone without your written consent.

FERPA records are kept in the Dean’s office. If your advisor receives a call from your parent, requesting information, he or she would check to see if it is okay to discuss your record.

For more information, and/or to sign a release allowing certain people to learn about your academic record, please view the FERPA Release form, under “forms” on this website. You can take back permission any time you wish.

Should I take all my Core requirements first? Isn’t it better to get them out of the way?
The core requirements do generally play a larger role in the first two years of a college experience. Certainly, some of the specific requirements such as ENG 130 and PHIL 100 are best taken in the first year, as they involve some serious reading and writing, the practice of which will serve you well in later courses. Core courses also serve as an introduction into many of our majors, and so might well be taken early, as part of a student’s exploration of the available fields of study.

But some core courses, selected carefully in collaboration with one’s advisor, might well fit best later. For instance, for a student who plans to study abroad in the junior year, the Art/Music/Theatre requirement might best be taken as part of the experience abroad. For a student who has an ongoing spiritual journey, waiting to take the second theology until the final semester might serve to aid in the transition away from the college life. The answer is different for each different student. The key is to find what works best for you.

I’m undecided, and anxious. When and how do I choose a major?
Students are expected to declare a major in the spring of their sophomore year. There is no strict enforcement, but putting off declaring beyond that point might well mean failing to complete in eight semesters. Planning is important for timely completion. Further, students who are not declared are not preferenced into upper-level courses in the majors, and so might be closed out of them. For this reason, second-semester sophomores are expected to fill out a declaration of major form, get it signed by the relevant department chair, and turn it in to the Registrar’s Office.

Choosing a major is a journey that begins in the first year, if not before. Our CALLS program works with first year students to get them thinking about it. While it is perfectly okay to be undecided at first, this is, after all, a liberal arts college, rather than one more specifically professionally oriented; it is important to be actively seeking the right major.

Course selection in the first semesters might well be crafted with the intention of exploring different fields of thought, and the professions to which they lead. Your academic advisor is a good source of information on the majors, as is the Career Services staff. Of course, the catalog will give you the specific requirements, and you’ll want to study it carefully.

There is a Majors Fair early in the spring semester every year, so students can meet chairs, faculty, and students in the different majors, and learn more about what Assumption has to offer.

What if I decide to change my major?
It’s fine to change your major, but the later you do it, the more likely it is you’ll be faced with further semesters of coursework. Request a Degree Audit from the Registrar's Office in the proposed new major, so you can see just how your existing credits would count in a new major. Then you can see how workable the switch is. See your academic advisor, and take counsel.

How can I track the academic progress I'm making towards my core courses, major, minor (if any), and concentration (if any)?
You can access your Academic Record from the Registrar’s website. This is an unofficial record of your completed courses and grades. You can then check off the finished courses in the catalog to see where you are. Or, you can request a Degree Audit from the Registrar’s Office. Juniors and seniors are sent degree audits regularly.

Can you explain the Pass/No Credit option that students have at Assumption?
In order to encourage intellectual adventure, AC allows you to take a course on a pass/no credit basis. This means that if you get a C- or higher, you will get the credits, but no grade points. A “P” for pass will be posted to your transcript, along with the credits. You have to be a sophomore, junior, or senior with a 2.0 cumulative grade point average, and the course has to be an elective. These forms are available in the Registrar’s Office; be sure to check the due date. There is a limit of two, and only one Pass/No Credit class may be taken in any given semester.

Can I take courses elsewhere once I’m an Assumption student?
Yes. Once you are a full-time Assumption College day student, you are allowed to transfer in four courses from other places, including our own Continuing Education. Two of them may be Core requirements. All transfer credit must be pre-approved by the relevant department chair: history chair for a history course, etc. Transfer courses must have earned a C- or higher to be accepted, but, with the exception of our own Continuing Education, they do not bring their grade points with them. You get the credits, but not the grades.

None of this applies to courses taken in the Consortium. Once you are full-time enrolled at your home institution, (12 credits) you can take a course (usually 3 credits) through the consortium for free, and they don’t count as transfer courses. Consortium cross-registration forms are available on this website, under “forms.” There is a link to the consortium on all pages of this website.

How do I arrange transfers credits if I attended another college before Assumption?
Transfer students receive a “Transfer Evaluation” upon entrance, that tells them how many of their prior credits count, and in what way: core, major, minor, or elective. Like most places, we have a residency requirement; you have to have completed 60 credits (half the degree) in residence with us, so you can’t transfer in more than 60 credits.

What is the Registrar’s advice?
“If you haven't got it in writing, you haven't got it.” You may be pursuing a major, but you aren't one until you declare it, using the "Declaration or Change of Major Form." Keep careful records of all registrations, adds and drops, and course approvals. Do not count on your advisor to do this for you. Ultimately, it is your degree, and you are responsible to make sure you have completed all requirements.

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