Academic Affairs

Capacities

A. Writing (bi-level program)

Clear and effective writing is inseparable from clear and coherent thinking. Each student must demonstrate the attainment of an acceptable level of skill in written communication by fulfilling the requirements of a bi-level writing program.

Level I (W1)

To meet the Level I writing requirement a student must 

  • Receive a C or above in ENGL 110 Introduction to Academic Writing, or ENGL 210 Advanced Academic Writing at Hendrix; or  
  • Receive a grade of C or above in a course at Hendrix identified by the code W1 in the course schedule; or
  • Receive transfer credit for a course in writing or composition from an accredited institution as determined by the Registrar. 

Students must meet this requirement during the first or second year. International students should check English Course Placement for International Students.  

Level II (W2)

To meet the Level II writing requirement, a student must receive writing proficiency certification (including making a grade of “C” or higher) in a writing intensive course offered by any department of the College. Writing intensive courses are identified by the code “W2” in the Schedule of Classes and in this Catalog.

The following guidelines apply to all Level II courses:

  • Level II courses (writing intensive courses) will be sophomore-level and above;
  • Level II courses may be used to meet other requirements, as appropriate; and
  • Level II certification will not be given until a student has completed Level I, in particular, a student may not complete Level II and Level I in the same semester.

Students may not use credits received from the Advanced Placement exam (AP), International Baccalaureate exam (IB), or from transfer courses to satisfy either the Level I or Level II requirement. Moreover, successful completion of the Level I writing examination will not satisfy the Literary Studies (LS) Learning Domain.

B. Language (LA) (two-semester equivalent)

Students should achieve the degree of competence in a language other than English necessary to encounter another culture on its own terms. This level of ability requires being able to understand, analyze, and use the language. Such a capacity increases subtlety of mind, sharpens sensitivity to the use of language, and develops global citizenship.

Students can fulfill the language requirement by satisfying at least one of the following:

  • Passing the second semester of any beginning sequence for a language other than English at the College;
  • Passing an examination demonstrating proficiency at a level equivalent to the completion of the second semester of a beginning sequence for a language other than English at the College;
  • Receiving transfer credit for the equivalent of two semesters of a beginning sequence for a language other than English (including a two course sequence in American Sign Language) from an accredited institution; 
  • For international students with native competence in a language other than English, by completing the Writing Level I (W1) requirement. This option is available to students enrolled as international students with permission from the Languages Department Chair.

C. Quantitative Skills (QS) (one-semester equivalent)

As our society becomes more technologically and analytically based, it is important that students develop quantitative skills that are necessary in a large and growing number of careers. Mathematical models form the basis for many fundamental concepts and modes of analysis in a diverse number of disciplines. Students need to possess sufficient quantitative skills in order to understand, manipulate, and interpret these models. It is, therefore, important that students possess a base level of mathematical/computing skills necessary for the development of those quantitative skills they will need in their chosen disciplines and in their lives.

To complete the quantitative skills capacity requirement, students must successfully receive credit for a Quantitative Skills course by one of the methods listed below:

  • Passing a Quantitative Skills course offered by the College;
  • Earning an appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit;
  • Transferring from any accredited institution a course that is comparable in academic quality and content to a Quantitative Skills course.

D. Physical Activity (PA) (two-semester equivalent)

Students are encouraged to develop and practice a lifestyle that promotes wellness, physical fitness and incorporates recreational activities on a regular basis. All students must meet the Physical Activity requirement unless exempted by the Physical Activity Coordinator.

Students can fulfill the physical activity requirement by receiving credit for two different physical activity classes offered at the College.

Successful completion in a varsity sport for one season qualifies as an activity class for this purpose. However, no more than one unit may be earned from participation in varsity sports. Transfer courses may be considered for learning domain credit. Contact the Office of the Registrar for more information.

Capacities Learning Goals

Writing Level I (W1) Learning Goals

The Level 1, or W1, courses serve as the gateway to the College's writing requirement. As such, these courses are designed  with the following learning goals: 

  • Reading and Textual Understanding:  To draw on, engage, and cite the ideas of source texts to lend clarity, insight, and rhetorical force to one’s own writing.
  • Writing-Ideas:  To generate insight; to convey significant ideas in writing.
  • Writing-Structure:  To write with organizational purpose, reflecting a coherent and meaningful order, both at the paragraph level and in the essay as a whole.
  • Writing-Mechanics & Style:  To write effective prose in keeping with standard English patterns of grammar, usage, punctuation, sentence structure, and style.
  • Process:  To develop an understanding of how a process of preliminary writings, drafting, and revision can improve an essay’s ideas and shape as well as the writer’s control over written language and prose style.

Writing Level 2 (W2) Learning Goals

Expectations for Writing Intensive (W2) Courses

A student will be able to organize a short paper which articulates and develops an argument. The prose will be grammatically correct, the diction appropriate to the audience and topic, and the sentences well-structured and clear.

  • Organization and Coherence. A student who earns W2 credit has demonstrated his or her ability to write fluent, clear, and logical short papers, marshaling the necessary information to respond to a well-structured and clearly explained assignment. The student is able to present this information to an educated audience, simultaneously conveying the student's viewpoint on the topic.
  • Thesis. A student who earns W2 credit has learned to formulate, develop, and summarize a thesis. In the thesis statement the student indicates the direction of the paper and then develops this thesis with supporting illustrations and arguments. The conclusion creates an effective sense of closure that does not simply repeat the thesis.
  • Grammatical Correctness. Students who earn W2 credit have demonstrated their ability to proofread their papers and to spell and punctuate properly. Many students, however, continue to have difficulty with these three skills. Every professor, therefore, needs to stress these skills constantly and to offer assistance and encouragement when needed. Among the common grammatical problems a successful W2 student is expected to avoid are fragments, run-on sentences, dangling modifiers, lack of agreement, inconsistent use of tenses, vague pronoun reference, and errors in common usage.
  • Diction and Sentence Structure. W2 courses help students to improve their diction and use fairly sophisticated sentence structure. A W2 student learns to choose appropriate words for the assigned audience and topic. In order to be competent writers, students also learn to subordinate their ideas properly through the use of both simple and complex sentences. Sophisticated vocabulary and sentence structure develop over time as the student reads more widely.

Languages (LA) Learning Goals

  • Students will achieve the degree of competence in a language other than English necessary to encounter another culture on its own terms.
  • This level of ability requires being able to understand, analyze, and use a language other than English.
  • Such a capacity increases subtlety of mind, sharpens sensitivity to the use of one's own language, and more fully opens another culture for exploration.

Quantitative Skills (QS) Learning Goals

  • Upon completion of a course in this learning domain, students are able to:
  • Use mathematical/computing techniques to analyze and solve models.
  • Quantitatively interpret results of analysis as they apply to real world problems.

Physical Activity (PA) Learning Goals

  • Content Knowledge. Students will demonstrate basic knowledge of rules and/or skills neede dto be successful in physical activity classes.
  • Social. Students will use physical activity as an opportunity for enjoyment and social interaction.
  • Value Physical Activity and Fitness. Students will articulate the value of physical activity to improve health and well being of individuals, and that physical activity can foster self-expression, development, and learning.
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