Newcomb-Tulane College

Newcomb-Tulane College

Mailing Address

Cudd Hall
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 70118

Telephone Numbers

Phone: (504) 865-5720
Fax: (504) 865-5236 Web: http://college.tulane.edu

James MacLaren
Ph.D., Imperial College, University of London
Dean

Andrew Martinez
Ph.D., Princeton University
Associate Dean

Molly Travis
Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Associate Dean

Introduction

Newcomb-Tulane College has administrative oversight for the full-time undergraduate experience and the common core curriculum. Newcomb-Tulane College comprises all full-time undergraduate programs at the university, including those in architecture, business, liberal arts, public health and tropical medicine, and science and engineering. All prospective undergraduate students apply to Newcomb-Tulane College for admission. A student designates a major no later than the beginning of the fourth semester. After the selection of a major, the student continues to be a Newcomb-Tulane College student as well as a student in the school in which the major resides. For example, a student who majors in cell and molecular biology is in the School of Science and Engineering and Newcomb-Tulane College.

Academic Advising Center

Mailing Address

Academic Advising Center
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 70118

Telephone Numbers

Telephone: (504) 865-5798
Fax: (504) 865-5799
Website: http://advising.tulane.edu

Amjad Ayoubi
Associate Dean

The Academic Advising Center offers a centralized organization to support full-time undergraduates in creating educational plans congruent with their individual objectives. The center serves as a general information clearinghouse for the wide range of majors and minors, the program requirements throughout all undergraduate programs, and other curricular programs, i.e., service learning, study abroad.

For first- and second-year students who have not declared majors, the center serves as a primary point of contact, and the center’s staff assists students to refine their academic goals, understand their choices, and assess their options, while emphasizing the belief that the students shoulder ultimate responsibility for making decisions about educational plans and setting goals and objectives. The center will continue to serve juniors and seniors to ensure progress toward their degrees, complementing the work of faculty advisers in the schools. Each school will appoint faculty members from each area or department to work with the center’s professional academic advisers to formulate discipline-specific policies that meet accreditation standards. The center’s staff also includes pre-professional advisers to assist students in applying to programs in law, medicine and other health professions.

Tulane success coaches partner with students to develop and achieve academic, personal, and professional goals. Pre-selected students will receive one-on-one professional coaching on a regular basis. Parents, faculty and staff may nominate students to participate in this program. Students who are interested in participating may also apply to be selected. Tulane success coaches collaborate with academic advisors, career advisors, tutors, student affairs staff, and faculty to maximize student success and opportunities for enrichment.

First-Year Programs Office

Mailing Address

Cudd Hall Mezzanine
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 70118

Joi Raines
Manager, First Year Programs

Telephone Numbers

Telephone: (504) 865-5678
Fax: (504) 865-6723

The First-Year Programs office administers the TIDES, Tulane Interdisciplinary Experience Seminar series for first year-students, as well as the mechanics of the Tulane Reading Project.

Email: tides@tulane.edu

For more information on TIDES, see http://tides.tulane.edu.
For more information on the Reading Project, see http://reading.tulane.edu.

Center for Global Education

Mailing Address:

6901 Willow Street
New Orleans, LA 70118

Telephone Numbers

Telephone: (504) 865-5339
Fax: (504) 862-8765
E-mail: cge@tulane.edu
Web: http://global.tulane.edu/

Scott Pentzer
Executive Director of the Center for Global Education

Peter Alongia
Director of Study Abroad Programs

The Center for Global Education comprises the Office of Study Abroad (OSA), Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), Fulbright programs, and various international grants and scholarships.

Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

The OSA maintains a portfolio of high-quality semester and yearlong study abroad programs that have been approved by the Newcomb-Tulane Study Abroad Committee. These programs are open to all qualified undergraduate students pursuing degrees in the Schools of Liberal Arts, Science & Engineering, Architecture, Public Health & Tropical Medicine, and Business.

Tulane University partners with top overseas universities and international institutions to make the highest quality overseas educational experiences available to its students. The range of subject matter reflects the particular opportunities and scholastic strengths available in each location. Language instruction is an integral part of the programs in non-English-speaking countries.

Approved Semester and Yearlong Options

The OSA administers over 120 study abroad programs for undergraduates in Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. More details are available from the Office of Study Abroad web site.

The OSA currently offers academic-year and semester programs in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay. (This list is subject to change.) These programs are open to all qualified students in the Newcomb-Tulane College who meet specific eligibility requirements.

Independent Scholar Option (ISO)

Students may choose to design their own study abroad experience for a semester or year abroad through the Independent Scholar Option. The ISO offers exceptional juniors and seniors the opportunity to propose a semester or year abroad pursuing a course of study for which there is no equivalent on an existing approved program. Students considering the ISO are required to have a meeting with the director of study abroad to discuss the proposed course of study abroad and the application process.

ISO applicants must have a 3.5 GPA and should demonstrate a high degree of maturity, independence, and preparation.

Credits and Grades

Tulane credit and grades are awarded automatically for all coursework successfully completed abroad on a Newcomb-Tulane program, including the ISO. To count credits earned toward the major or minor program, students must seek the approval of the respective academic department. Please see the OSA web site for more details.

Advising for Study Abroad

Newcomb-Tulane undergraduates are encouraged to begin their academic preparation for study abroad as early as their first semester at Tulane. Students may select a program independently or in close consultation with the OSA study abroad advisor, as well as the academic and major advisors. The OSA hosts informational meetings, advising sessions, discussion groups, and panel talks to inform students of their options for studying abroad. In addition, the OSA organizes an annual fall study abroad fair to promote education abroad opportunities. A complete guide to study abroad is available on the OSA web site.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

At the time of application, all students must present persuasive evidence of the necessary academic and intellectual strength, linguistic skills, and special preparation in the area of the proposed course of study. A compelling argument that the proposed program and destination are appropriate in terms of academic, cultural and personal goals should be clearly articulated in the application essay.

Students must also demonstrate the individual initiative and strong sense of personal responsibility required to complete the program abroad. Students must familiarize themselves with the program-specific GPA and course prerequisites when planning for study abroad. Due to high demand, competition may occur within the various programs because some have a limited number of spaces.

The student’s academic and major advisors must support the application and indicate that the proposed overseas study will advance and not impede progress toward the degree. Applicants are also asked to indicate how they expect to complete graduation requirements. Qualified students may study abroad as early as the freshman year.

Honor Code and Code of Student Conduct

Students who have been found guilty of or have pled guilty to a violation of the Code of Academic Conduct within the past year may not study abroad. If the violation was earlier than the past year, the student may apply to study abroad and the violation will be reviewed as part of the student’s record. Students may not study abroad while on disciplinary probation

Tuition and Fees

For each semester abroad, participants pay Tulane tuition and the academic support service fee. Airfare, housing, meals, vacation travel, and personal expenses are extra and vary by location.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

For eligible students, all federal financial aid (Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Perkins Loans, Stafford Loans, and Parent Plus Loans) except for work-study awards can be applied to all Tulane study abroad programs. All Tulane University institutional aid (Dean’s Honor Scholarship, Distinguished Scholars Award, Founders Scholarship, and Tulane Need-Based Scholarship), except for the housing stipends, can be used for participation in Tulane study abroad programs as well. Students must meet with their financial aid advisor to confirm their financial aid status.

There are several scholarships available for study abroad depending on location. Student should visit the OSA web site for a complete list of awards available through the College as well as those available from partner institutions.

Tulane Summer Programs

Undergraduate students can take advantage of a variety of faculty-led summer study abroad programs focused on special topics.

The OSA currently offers short-term summer programs in France, Ireland, Spain, and the UK. Some of the courses include service-learning and writing-intensive credits.

Other Tulane departments and programs, such as the Center for Public Service and the Stone Center for Latin American Studies, also offer short-term summer study abroad programs. In recent years, programs have been offered in Australia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, India, Malaysia and Mexico.

Costs and application procedures vary by program; visit the OSA web site for a list of available summer programs

Non-Tulane Study Abroad Programs

To participate in a study abroad program during the academic year that has not been approved by the Tulane Study Abroad Committee, students must petition the Newcomb-Tulane College Study Abroad Committee for permission to participate in a non-Tulane program. Students must schedule an advising appointment with the director of study abroad in the OSA to begin this process.

Student participating on a non-Tulane summer program must complete the “Summer Program Transfer Credit Approval” form available on the OSA web site.

Honors Program

Mailing Address

105 Hébert Hall
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 70118

Telephone Numbers

Telephone: (504) 865-5517
Fax: (504) 862-8709
Web: http://honors.tulane.edu

F. Thomas Luongo Ph.D., University of Notre Dame

Associate Dean

Requirements

The Tulane Honors Program offers superior students in Newcomb-Tulane College the opportunity to broaden and enrich their undergraduate education and to intensify their preparation for graduate work. Members of the program benefit from small, accelerated classes, special academic and social programming, and individual advising. Outstanding incoming freshmen are admitted to the program based on their high school records and test scores. The criterion for retention of students admitted to Tulane as Honors students is a cumulative grade point average of 3.450 during the freshman and sophomore years, and 3.600 after the end of the sophomore year. Students not admitted as incoming freshmen may apply after completing one semester at Tulane, provided they have a cumulative GPA of 3.600.

Honors Courses

Honors courses, which are normally taught by full-time faculty members or distinguished visitors, have a maximum enrollment of twenty students. The emphasis in these courses is on class discussion, and in most cases course material is studied in greater depth than might be possible in a regular course. Honors students may also enhance their regular course offerings by requesting to add an “Honors Option” to a 3000-level or higher course they are currently taking. With the instructor’s approval the student will engage in additional work that merits Honors credit. The course will appear on the student’s transcript as an Honors course. This enables our students to customize their Honors curricula to meet their interests. One Honors course credit will be awarded for each semester of Study Abroad in a language immersion situation, and one Honors course credit total will be awarded for a full year of Study Abroad in an English-language program. Honors credit is also given for graduate-level courses taken as electives, and three-hour Independent Study courses. There are some science courses for which students are automatically given Honors credit. Please check with the Honors Program office for a list of these classes.

Honors Colloquia

Each semester Tulane offers a limited number of honors colloquia. These colloquia, which are interdisciplinary in subject and approach, are designed around some integrating factor: a theme, a period, a creative work, or a problem. Colloquia meet either once or twice a week, in a seminar format, with emphasis upon class discussion. To be eligible for enrollment in an honors colloquium, a student must be a member of the Tulane Honors Program or receive permission from the instructor of the course.

Honors Residential Life

The Honors Program oversees two residential communities: Butler House, for freshmen, and the Sophomore Honors Community (SOHO) at Weatherhead Hall. Honors sponsors a variety of co-curricular and social events in both buildings, for example the biweekly Butler Roundtables, in which faculty discuss with students in a casual setting issues related to their research. Admission to SOHO in Weatherhead Hall is by application in the spring of the freshman year. Weatherhead is overseen by a faculty member-in-residence, who is responsible for the intellectual and social life of the community. Students in SOHO sign up for interest or issue-related “societies,” which organize social events, outings, and projects related to their area of interest. Each society is mentored by a faculty fellow; fellows are chosen by the Honors Program to represent a variety of academic disciplines.

Programs, Events, and Post-graduate Scholarships

The Honors Program sponsors a number of intellectual and cultural programs during the school year featuring Tulane faculty members and visiting dignitaries as participants. The program also sponsors social events to bring scholars and the Honors faculty together informally. Scholars may receive individual academic advising and career planning from the director and associate director of the program, and from faculty members associated with the Honors Program.

The Associate Director of the Honors Program acts as the principle advisor for candidates for fellowships and scholarships such as the Fulbright, Rhodes, Marshall, Churchill, Truman, and Goldwater. The Associate Director helps identify promising candidates, and assists them in preparing their applications, supporting materials, and interview strategies.

Graduating with Latin Honors

The Newcomb-Tulane Faculty has approved significant changes in the way in which Tulane recognizes high Latin honors (Magna cum laude and Summa cum laude). Students who entered Tulane before Fall 2013 have the option of achieving high Latin honors either under the new rules or under the rules that were in place before this spring.

Under the new rules, all Latin honors—Cum laude, Magna cum laude, and Summa cum laude—will be awarded on GPA alone. (The Honors thesis and Honors courses are no longer required to graduate magna and summa.) The GPA requirement for these honors will be set at levels so that summa = the top 5% of the graduating class, magna = the next 10% of the graduating class, and cum laude = the next 15% of the graduating class. These standards will be calculated based on the grades of the previous graduating class. (For students who entered Tulane before Fall 2013, the standard for cum laude will remain 3.400.)

Students who matriculated at Tulane before Fall 2013 also have the opportunity to graduate summa and magna under the old rules (GPA standards 3.800 for summa and 3.600 for magna), provided they have completed the requirements of the Honors Program, including the required number of honors courses or equivalents, and a two-semester honors thesis. Students graduating in the School of Business have the option of writing a conventional research thesis or a business case study; please consult advisors in the Business School about the case study. A student who wishes to receive honors in Business and in a second major in SSE or SLA must write a research thesis that combines research in the field of the student’s SSE or SLA major and the student’s Business School major. Students in Architecture and Biomedical Engineering should consult with relevant faculty advisors about the expectations for honors theses in those fields.

Graduating With Scholarly Honors

Scholarly Honors are achieved by the completion of an Honors Thesis according to the rules, procedures, and deadlines set by the Honors Program. A student who completes an honors thesis will graduate “with honors in” his or her major or majors. To be eligible to write an honors thesis, a student must have an overall grade-point average of at least 3.400, and at least 3.500 GPA in his or her major.

The Washington Semester Program

Tulane participates in America University’s Washington Semester Program. A small number of students are selected in the fall and spring semesters to participate in any of these programs: American Politics, Foreign Policy, International Environment and Development, International Law and Organizations, Justice and Law, Peace and Conflict Resolution, and Transforming Communities.

Each of these programs consists of two seminars, an internship and a research project. Grades and credits for the courses are included on the Tulane transcript and are factored into the Tulane grade-point average. Interested students should contact Associate Dean Molly Travis in the Dean’s Office.

For more information on the Washington Semester Program, see http://tulane.edu/college/programs/washington.cfm.

Altman Program in International Studies and Business

Program Description

The Altman Program in International Studies & Business is a special four-year undergraduate program that integrates liberal arts and business disciplines, extensive language instruction, and two study abroad experiences in the developed and developing worlds. Altman Scholars earn two degrees - a Bachelor of Arts from the School of Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Management from the A. B. Freeman School of Business. Altman Scholars specialize in a region of the world in which their chosen foreign language is spoken, and will be able to combine practical and theoretical knowledge of global economies with deep cultural and linguistic competency. The program admits a cohort of 15 students who are selected before their matriculation at Tulane as freshmen.

Curriculum

The Altman Program combines the curricula of two undergraduate degree programs: the School of Liberal Arts and the A. B. Freeman School of Business. Students may major in finance, management, marketing, or legal studies at the Freeman School and may major in approved social science, area studies or language disciplines within the School of Liberal Arts. The link between the two majors in the schools is the interdisciplinary “Altman Core,” the curricular focus of the Altman Program, which includes a common experience every semester, a summer group immersive experience abroad, a junior year abroad experience, and integrative seminars in the senior year.

Specific courses open only to students in this program include a TIDES seminar; ISIB 1010, Introduction to Globalization; ISIB 2010, Inter-cultural Communication and Business; ISIB 6010, Approaches to Global Dilemmas; and ISIB 6020, Altman Capstone.

Colloquia

Office: 105 F. Edward Hébert Hall
Phone: 504-865-5517
Fax: 504-862-8709

Program Administrator

Thomas Luongo, History (Director, Associate Dean for Honors)

Colloquia usually meet once a week in a seminar format with the emphasis upon class discussion. Honors colloquia, designated by the prefix H, are open only to students in the Tulane Honors Program, to those on the dean’s list, or to candidates for degrees with departmental honors. Honors colloquia on the 400 level are open to juniors and seniors (sophomores by special permission). The other colloquia listed below are open to any student in good standing. Colloquia may be used for elective credit. Consult the director of the Honors Program regarding credit for individual colloquia. For many of the colloquia listed below, the specific topic varies from semester to semester, consult the Schedule of Classes for further information or request a current course description from the Honors Program office.

Teacher Certification and Preparation

Mailing Address

Teacher Preparation and Certification
7039 Freret Street

Phone: 504-865-5342
Website: http://teacher.tulane.edu

Program Director

Donna Johnson, Ed.D., Columbia University

Professors of Practice

Margaret Dermody, Ph.D., University of New Orleans
Carol Whelan, Ph.D., University of New Orleans

Program Specialist

Monique Hodges, B.S., Louisiana State University

Tulane’s Teacher Preparation and Certification Program has received state approval for the three programs (Secondary, Early Childhood and Dance) from the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and national accreditation from the Teacher Education Accreditation Council.. Please contact the Teacher Certification office for details.

ROTC

For more information on ROTC programs, see here.

Newcomb Scholars Program

Program Description

The Newcomb Scholars Program is a unique opportunity for incoming women at Tulane who are interested in an academically enriching and shared four-year experience through undergraduate research, seminars, and experiential learning opportunities.

Credits and grades earned in INTU 1000 and in POLC 3003 will apply toward a degree. Credits and grades earned in INTU 2000 and in INTU 4000 will appear on the Tulane transcript but will not apply toward the 120 credits required for a degree.