Distributional Requirements for the Class of 2008
For the purpose of distribution in Yale College, courses are classified into four groups according to the following general scheme:
Group I: language and literature, English and foreign, ancient or modern
Group II: architecture; art; classical civilization; film; history; history of art; history of science, history of medicine; humanities; music; philosophy; religious studies
Group III: anthropology; archaeology; economics; linguistics; political science; psychology; sociology
Group IV: astronomy; biology; chemistry; computer science; engineering; forestry and environmental studies; geology and geophysics; mathematics; molecular biophysics and biochemistry; physics; statistics.
Some courses may fall into another distributional group in addition to the one indicated in this classification. The group number of a course is the roman numeral in the course listing in chapter IV.
Distributional requirements for the freshman year, for the first two years, and for the bachelor's degree.
The distributional requirements seek to insure that students achieve breadth and depth in their program of study, and that in the first two years of their undergraduate education they become exposed to different ideas and various ways of thinking by electing courses from a variety of departments. Many students come to Yale with advanced preparation in one or more fields. Early in their college careers, such qualified students ought to take advantage of any head start they may have in a subject to pursue it at a higher level than would otherwise be possible; a college course in a familiar subject at a more advanced level often discloses unfamiliar aspects of the subject. In addition, in disciplines like mathematics and languages, where the maintenance and improvement of skills greatly depend on continuity of application, students ought not lightly to consider interrupting the progress of their studies during their first years of college. During these years, nevertheless, they should also explore some subjects that they have never studied before. At the beginning of sophomore year students are expected to make at least a tentative choice of the department or program in which they will major; science majors must do so. In choosing freshman and sophomore courses, therefore, students should give attention to the prerequisites for any major in which they anticipate having a particular interest. But they should not close their minds to other possibilities. They should use the first year to explore, and then not hesitate to change their plans during the second year. Students who have selected courses wisely will have the groundwork to enter most majors.
For these reasons, in addition to the distributional requirements for the bachelor's degree, there are two sets of distributional requirements that students are expected to fulfill before the end of their sophomore year: one for the freshman year and one for the first two years.
Distributional requirements for the freshman year:
Freshmen must enroll for at least two course credits in Group I or II and two course credits in Group III or IV. They may elect no more than four course credits in a single department, and no more than six course credits in a single distributional group (except that a student taking a course in a foreign language may elect as many as seven course credits in Group I, and a student taking a laboratory course may elect as many as seven course credits in Group IV).
Distributional requirement for the first two years:
In meeting the distributional requirements for the bachelor's degree, the student must enroll for at least two course credits in each of the four distributional groups by the end of the student's first four terms of enrollment.
Distributional requirements for the bachelor's degree:
To qualify for the bachelor's degree, a student must successfully complete at least twelve course credits drawn from outside the distributional group that includes the major. At least three course credits must be earned in each one of the three distributional groups falling outside the major; for a student whose major lies in Group I, II, or III, at least two of the three course credits in Group IV must be earned in the natural sciences. In addition, a student must fulfill the foreign language requirement by demonstrating competence in a foreign language at the intermediate level. Acceleration credits may not be employed to meet any of the distributional requirements for the bachelor's degree except for the foreign language requirement. For the sake of this requirement, "natural science" refers to Group IV courses (except mathematical, applied mathematical, and computational courses) in the following departments or programs: Applied Physics; Astronomy; Biomedical, Chemical, Electrical, Environmental, and Mechanical Engineering; Chemistry; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Engineering and Applied Science; Forestry & Environmental Studies; Geology and Geophysics; History of Science, History of Medicine; Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry; Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology; and Physics.
A student may apply no more than one course credit earned on the Credit/D/Fail basis (see "Credit/D/Fail Option" in chapter III under the heading "Grades") in any distributional group toward satisfaction of the distributional requirements for the bachelor's degree.
A student is required to demonstrate competence at the intermediate level in a foreign language either upon entrance or before graduation, preferably by the end of the junior year. This requirement may be met by presenting an appropriate Advanced Placement test score, or by passing an examination at Yale, or by passing intermediate courses in a foreign language at Yale. Details about the foreign language requirement are contained in "Requirements for the B.A. or B.S. Degree" in chapter III.
