Academic Catalog

Preparation for Professional Schools: The Carleton curriculum does not provide programs which are recommended for all students intending to enter a particular professional school upon completion of their BA degree. Although there are no special programs designated as pre-law, pre-medicine, pre-ministerial, and so on, Carleton does have a pre-law and a pre-med adviser; each year many Carleton graduates continue their education in various professional schools. At Carleton, a regular program of studies in one of the established major fields is generally recommended as the best preparation for further training. In consultation with their faculty advisers and the department chair, students can arrange a program of study which best suits their own needs and objectives, without restriction to one program which is adjudged the best for all circumstances and cases.

Students planning to enter any of the professions listed below should see the chair of their department and the appropriate pre-professional adviser. The staff at the Career Center can provide assistance to students who are seeking more information about these career fields as well as internship and summer job information related to these careers. The following comments may be helpful for those who plan to specialize later.

ARCHITECTURE: Graduate schools of architecture do not require a specific major but most require or recommend drawing (ARTS 110, see also ARTS 113 and 210), calculus, and physics. A portfolio of visual materials is also required; students may want to take additional courses in studio art in order to build up their portfolio. Courses in the history of art and architecture are further recommended. For information consult the chair of the Department of Art and Art History.

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT: Carleton does not offer courses in business and governmental administration, yet a large proportion of its graduates seek and obtain careers in the management of business firms, government agencies, and nonprofit enterprises such as hospitals, schools, and fine arts centers. Potential employers as well as graduate schools of business, public policy, and law, urge students to take several courses in economics and selected courses in mathematics, especially computer programming and statistics. Interested students can discuss careers in these fields with the chair or any member of the economics department.

CHEMISTRY: The American Chemical Society recommends the following courses for certification: Chemistry 123, 230, 233, 234, 301, 302, 306, 320, 343, 344, 351, 352 and two more advanced courses plus research experience.

DENTISTRY: See Medicine below.

EDUCATION: Preparation for Careers in Public Education: In most states, teaching licensure is a basic requirement for a career in public education, whether as a classroom teacher, administrator, counselor, librarian, or in a variety of supervisory positions. Students planning a teaching career in public education should consult a member of the Educational Studies Department early in their first year.

Programs leading to 5-12 teaching licensure are available at Carleton in the areas of: communication arts (English), mathematics, life sciences, earth sciences and social studies (American studies, African/African American studies, economics, history, political science, psychology, and sociology and anthropology). 7-12 licensure preparation is available in chemistry and physics; K-12 licensure preparation is available in visual arts and world languages (French, German, Spanish). For other fields Carleton students have completed their chosen major and then met professional requirements for licensure through a fifth year at another institution, usually earning a master’s degree in elementary education.

The teacher education program at Carleton College is accredited by the Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning and is in full compliance with Federal Title II regulations for disclosure of state-mandated examination pass rates. For 2002-2003 through 2009-2010, the Carleton licensure candidates pass rates were 100 percent for all areas; a detailed disclosure statement is available from the Educational Studies Department.

Carleton-Bank Street Program in Elementary Education: During their junior year, Carleton students may apply to the Bank Street College of Education for admission to its Master of Science program in elementary education. Following their junior year, students will take two July summer session courses at Bank Street, then return to Carleton to complete their senior year. After receiving their BA from Carleton, they will return to Bank Street to complete their MS in education and requirements for New York State elementary licensure. Students interested in this program should speak to the chair of the Educational Studies Department no later than the spring of their sophomore year.

ENGINEERING: A Combined Plan in Engineering is offered in cooperation with Columbia University and with Washington University (St. Louis). Under this plan a student combines three years of study at Carleton with two years at one of the collaborating institutions. After completion of the five-year program, the student is awarded two degrees, a BA degree from Carleton and a BS degree from the engineering school. Students majoring in chemistry, mathematics, or physics are eligible for participation in this program, provided they plan early in their college careers to complete those courses at Carleton which are necessary for admission to one of these schools at the end of three years. All Carleton proficiency and distribution requirements must be met, and the integrative exercise in the major field must be completed during the junior year. In an effort to broaden the engineering opportunities similar programs have been approved on an individual basis at other engineering schools with national reputations and with academic expectations similar to Carleton’s.

Information concerning the Combined Plan in Engineering may be obtained from Nelson Christensen, Department of Physics and Astronomy. Students who expect to pursue this option should consult with him as early as possible in their college careers to make certain that their programs of study are suitable. Students intending to enter an engineering program in graduate school should also consult with him.

HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION OR HEALTH SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT: The Carleton degree can provide the requisite background for graduate degree programs in these areas in schools of public health or for special programs in some schools of business administration. Interested students should contact Pam Middleton, Pre-Med adviser or the Career Center.

JOURNALISM AND PUBLISHING: After receiving a BA degree, students can obtain an MA in journalism after one year in a professional school. Many newspaper and magazine editors prefer to employ beginners with experience on college publications and a broad liberal arts education. Students who wish to become journalists are advised to take courses in economics, history, political science and English. Prospective journalists are strongly advised to write for The Carletonian and for other campus publications, to work for other newspapers and magazines during the summer, and to seek out internships on newspapers and magazines and in publishing houses, all of which offer ample opportunity for students to obtain practical experience.

LAW: Most important for law school admission is the development of skills of expression, logic, and verbal and quantitative analysis. What major the student chooses in order to acquire and improve these skills is unimportant. Law schools typically look for a variety of backgrounds and majors among their applicants.

A Combined Plan in Law is offered in cooperation with the Columbia University School of Law. Under this plan a student combines three years of study at Carleton with three years at Columbia Law School. After completion of the six year program, the student is awarded two degrees, a BA degree from Carleton and a JD degree from Columbia. Admission is limited to about two persons per year. Information on the combined plan may be obtained from the Pre-Law adviser. Application should be made early in the junior year.

LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE: A master’s degree from a school of library and information science accredited by the American Library Association is the normal credential needed by those planning a career in librarianship. The BA degree with a broad general background in the arts and sciences is the best preparation for graduate study in library and information science. Any undergraduate major is acceptable, however there is a particular demand for people with science backgrounds. For a career in academic libraries, a second subject masters is highly recommended and a PhD is highly desirable. Librarians who are well equipped to help shape the hybrid digital library, comprised of an increasingly rich mix of information media and genres, are in great demand. Coursework and practical experience in computer/information science, and facility with all manner of software used in creating, retrieving, manipulating, and presenting information is highly valued. Students with an interest in librarianship can gain practical experience through a wide variety of student jobs in the College library, and as Educational Associates.

MEDICINE: It is suggested that students discuss questions relating to preparation for medical training with Pam Middleton, Pre-Med adviser. Most students who plan to enter medicine, veterinary medicine, or dentistry, major in a science, but a major in any field is acceptable to most medical, veterinary medical, or dental schools, providing certain basic science courses are included. The specific requirements of the various medical schools are listed in Medical School Admissions Requirements. A copy of this book and other medical school information can be found in the Career Center Library.

MINISTRY: Theological seminaries advocate a broad general background with courses in languages, philosophy, social science, history, English, sciences, and religion.

SOCIAL WORK: The Council on Social Work Education has recognized the following sequence of courses at Carleton as containing social welfare content, and they are recommended for those planning a career in social work: Sociology/Anthropology 220, Class, Power and Inequality in America. Also recommended as courses related to this sequence are: Psychology 250, Developmental Psychology; 252, Personality; 254, Psychopathology; 354, Counseling Psychology.