Mar 29, 2024  
2011-2012 HillBook (Class of 2015) 
    
2011-2012 HillBook (Class of 2015) [ARCHIVED HILL BOOK]

The Curriculum



Academic Life

The Stonehill curriculum challenges men and women of diverse backgrounds to enter into intellectual, social and moral discovery and to create meaningful lives, rewarding careers, and participatory citizenship. The Cornerstone Program of General Education and Major Programs of Study combine to cultivate a student-centered environment that is nurtured by small classes and enriching student-faculty relationships.

The College prides itself on promoting liberal education and on offering a variety of high quality academic programs in the Arts and Sciences and in Business Administration. Major and Minor Programs of Study emphasize depth of knowledge and practice in a particular discipline. While students must complete requirements within the major or minor, they also have the flexibility to explore academic opportunities unique to their own educational plans. Such opportunities include the honors program, internships, international experiences, interdisciplinary concentrations, community-based learning opportunities, directed study, and independent research.

Thus, the outcomes of the Academic Program include enhanced content knowledge in “core” disciplines; demonstrated competency in skills crucial to success in all major programs; the ability to integrate knowledge across disciplines; dexterity in teamwork and collaboration; the ability to reason well and to apply reasoning skills to ethical questions; an appreciation for diversity of persons and cultures; and expertise in at least one academic discipline. This foundation will serve graduates well in any career or post-baccalaureate study they pursue.

Completing the Stonehill academic program is an exciting way to develop skills and knowledge, to experience human and natural diversity, to build critical and creative thinking and leadership abilities, and to discover the value of civic engagement.

The Curriculum

The academic program introduces the student to the various disciplines of a liberal education and prepares the student for graduate studies or a professional position in a fashion that both enriches the student and benefits society. Recognizing that each person is unique in ability, inquisitiveness, interest, and aspiration, the program provides the student with the opportunity to select electives in addition to courses required for the Cornerstone Program and for the major.

Stonehill students design their own education by selecting courses from the Stonehill curriculum. The parts of the curriculum include: the Cornerstone Program of General Education, the Major, the Minor and/or Interdisciplinary Minor (optional), and Electives.

The Cornerstone Program of General Education

The mission of the Cornerstone Program is to lead every Stonehill student to examine critically the self, society, culture, and the natural world. The program honors the College’s commitment to free inquiry and social responsibility in the tradition of Catholic higher education. Through the development of the knowledge, competencies, and values that are central to the Cornerstone Program, every Stonehill student will be prepared for a life of learning and responsible citizenship.

Through the courses and experiences of the Cornerstone Program, students are assisted in meeting specific learning goals established for every Stonehill graduate. These goals include: intellectual engagement, effective communication, leadership and collaboration, social responsibility, and personal growth and discovery. (More information about the learning goals and courses of the Cornerstone Program are provided in The Cornerstone Program.)

The Major

The Major constitutes the second broad area in the student’s curriculum. College education should both facilitate intellectual growth and equip students to take their place as responsible members of society. Students are to prepare themselves for some field of graduate or professional study, or for a more immediate career in such areas as teaching, government, business, industry, or social service.

Accordingly, students select an area of major concentration in view of postgraduate or career plans. The goal of the Major is for students to acquire skills and investigate intellectual questions, methods, and issues in considerable breadth and increasing depth in a specific field or area of study. Degree candidates must declare, and be accepted in, a major field of study prior to enrollment in their last 45 credits.

Students may enroll in two Majors, subject to the approval from the Office of Academic Services, in consultation with the respective Department Chairpersons or Program Directors.  In some cases, students may need to enroll in more than 120 credits in order to satisfy the requirements of both Majors.

Students who satisfactorily complete two Majors will receive one degree from the College, with this exception: If a student satisfactorily completes the requirements for two Majors, whether before or after the student’s official graduation, a second degree will be awarded if the second Major is in a different degree program (B.A., B.S., or B.S.B.A.) from the first Major. The student will be given the option of selecting which degree will be granted at Commencement.

Majors by Degree Awarded

A Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) is awarded in:

American Studies
Arts Administration - with concentrations in:
             Museum Studies
             Performing Arts
Art History
Biology
Catholic Studies
Chemistry
Communication – with concentrations in:

  Communication Studies
Mediated Communication
Computer Science (Notre Dame Computer Engineering Dual-degree program)
Criminology
Economics
Education – with concentrations in:
  Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
English
Environmental Studies
Foreign Languages
French
Gender and Sexuality Studies
Graphic Design
Healthcare Administration
History – with concentrations in:
  European History
United States History
World History
Interdisciplinary Studies
Mathematics
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science & International Studies - with concentrations in:
            Government and Politics
            International Relations
Psychology
Public Administration
Religious Studies
Sociology – with concentrations in:
  Social Research
Sociology (general)
Youth and Family Services
Spanish
Studio Arts
Visual and Performing Arts – with concentrations in:
  Music
Theater Arts
Visual and Performing Arts (general)

A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) is awarded in:

Biochemistry
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Interdisciplinary Studies
Mathematics
Neuroscience
Physics – with concentrations in:
  Astronomy
Physics (general)

A Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) is awarded in:

Accounting
Finance
International Business
Management
Marketing

Disciplinary Minor (Optional)

Students may choose to complete a Disciplinary Minor. This Minor may be closely related to a student’s Major, selected as an alternative field of specialization, or chosen simply for personal enrichment. Generally, a Disciplinary Minor is no more than six courses and ensures that a student purses an area of study in some breadth and depth beyond the introductory level and outside of the Major. Students may obtain only one Disciplinary Minor; however, as an exception, students may choose to complete both a Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Minor (see below).

Minors

Anthropology
Art History
Asian Studies
Astronomy
Biochemistry
Biology
Business
Catholic Studies
Chemistry
Cinema Studies
Communication
Computer Information Systems
Computer Science
Criminology
Dance
Economics
Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
English
Environmental Studies
French
German
Gender and Sexuality Studies
Healthcare Administration
History
Irish Studies
Italian Studies
Journalism
Mathematics
Middle Eastern Studies
Music
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science & International Studies
Psychology
Public Administration
Religious Studies
Secondary Education
Sociology
Spanish
Studio Arts
Theater Arts

Interdisciplinary Minor (Optional)

Interdisciplinary Minors give students the opportunity to explore, in some depth, a well-defined question or topic beyond the major. The Interdisciplinary Minor provides students with maximum flexibility to propose a course of study, comprised of classes and other academic experiences, as a path to conduct an interdisciplinary inquiry that may or may not be related to the Major or Disciplinary Minor. Students submit a proposal for an Interdisciplinary Minor that will include no less than four and no more than five academic units. Given the depth of study required, it is expected that no student would undertake more than one Interdisciplinary Minor during his or her academic career at Stonehill. For more information, contact Prof. Peter Ubertaccio, The Director of the Martin Institute.

Electives

The Elective component constitutes the last part of the Stonehill curriculum. Here the student exercises considerable discretion in designing a program of study. Elective courses may be used to deepen knowledge of familiar areas or to explore new areas of educational inquiry.


MOREAU HONORS PROGRAM

The Moreau Honors Program at Stonehill College challenges and enlivens students through an enhanced experience of the curriculum through specially designated honors courses taught by the most gifted professors at the college. Honors courses are designed to stimulate independent thought by combining rigorous academic standards, classroom discussion, and experiences of group and independent learning. The program also includes co-curricular components that encourage service and leadership. Through an enhanced learning experience in smaller classes, the program aims to lead students into lasting habits of reflection and a life of the mind. The program also emphasizes student leadership and peer mentoring, especially through the Honors Advisory Council, made up of honors student representatives who, with the Director, guide the Moreau Honors Program.

The program is named for and inspired by the educational principles of Basil Moreau, C.S.C., founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, which sponsors Stonehill. Moreau wrote that “the mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart” (Circular Letter No. 36). For this reason, the program places emphasis on service learning, involvement at Stonehill and beyond, and community building among honors students.

  • Participation in the Moreau Honors Program is designed to achieve the following additional and extended outcomes:
  • Increased intellectual growth and independent thinking;
  • Development of effective leadership qualities;
  • Recognition of a sense of place within a community of scholars;
  • Ability to conduct independent research in the context of scholarship in the discipline; and
  • Exploration and setting of goals beyond Stonehill College.

Curriculum

Courses in the Moreau Honors Program are limited to 20 students, insuring that each is taught in a seminar style that invites vigorous participation. Faculty encourage honors students to become engaged in course material through ongoing dialogue and presentations, and thus to become active rather than passive learners.

Honors students who enter the program as first year students. will complete a minimum of five honors courses (of at least three credits each) in addition to a Senior Honors Experience:

  • Two honors core courses in the fall of the first year.
  • Three additional honors courses to be taken in General Education (natural scientific inquiry, social scientific inquiry, statistical reasoning, moral inquiry), major/minor, or as general electives. Honors language courses count for no more than one honors requirement. Honors students may fulfill one course requirement for the program by taking a non-honors course for honors credit, with permission of the program director and the instructor.
  • Senior Honors Experience, composed of a senior thesis (Senior Capstone) or other substantive intellectual work.

Students who enter the Moreau Honors Program in their sophomore year are required to take only three honors courses prior to their Senior Honors Experience. With permission from the program director and the instructor, these students may also fulfill one honors requirement by taking a non-honors course for honors credit.

Co-Curriculum

Honors Leadership Seminar

Honors students will develop leadership skills and will contribute to the intellectual and cultural life of the college community. Students in the Moreau Honors Program participate in the Leadership Seminar in their first year and receive one academic credit for this experience in the spring. During this one-year experience students are required to effect positive changes in the honors or Stonehill community or beyond.

Resources

  • The opportunity to apply for Honors Leadership Grants of up to $500, normally during the junior or senior year, to fund leadership or expanded academic opportunities (e.g. summer of thesis research, presentations at professional conferences, academic or leadership extensions related to international study);
  • Priority course registration;
  • Small, seminar-style honors courses;
  • Special transcript notations;
  • Recognition at graduation;
  • Advising from honors faculty and the Honors Director; and
  • Letters of verification that describe the program and list honors coursework completed by the student.


For more information about the Moreau Honors Program, contact Prof. George Piggford, C.S.C., the Director.

Pre-Professional Advising

Pre-Health Professions Advising: The Pre-Health Professions Program provides guidance to those students who intend on pursuing a career as an allopathic (MD) or osteopathic (DO) physician, dentist, optometrist, podiatrist, chiropractor, or veterinarian.

Stonehill does not offer a major in any one of the pre-health disciplines. Students planning on a career in any of the health professions most commonly choose to major in one of the sciences (Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, or Neuroscience); however, choosing to major in a non-science discipline is certainly a viable option. Regardless of the major you choose, what is important is that you take the courses that are prerequisites for the professional schools to which you intend to apply as well as those that will sufficiently prepare you to take the appropriate standardized entrance examination (MCAT, DAT, or OAT).

Andrew Leahy, Career Counselor in the Office of Career Services, is the principal Pre-Health Professions Advisor. He will work closely with you to ensure that you are well-informed about and prepared for the application process for professional school. Developing a strong working relationship with Andrew will ensure that you develop an appropriate four-year academic plan that not only includes the necessary prerequisite courses but also valuable clinical (e.g., shadowing, internship, work, and volunteer) and research experiences.

Craig Almeida, Dean of Academic Achievement, will work with pre-health professions school applicants during the application process to both arrange interviews with Stonehill’s Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee and to coordinate the writing and submission of composite Committee Letters of Evaluations. 

Pre-Allied Health Professions Advising: Some examples of allied health professionals include nurse, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, physical therapist, nuclear medicine technologist, pharmacist, pharmaceutical scientist, medical technologist, cytotechnologist, exercise physiologist, public health specialist, biotechnologist, etc. Students who are interested in pursuing these or related careers should consult Sheila Barry, Assistant Professor of Biology and the Pre-Allied Health Professions Advisor. She can discuss with you the affiliation agreements that Stonehill College has with certain graduate programs, and what can be done to accomplish your goals. Students are not obligated to attend our affiliated schools and are welcome to apply to the programs of their choice. Professor Barry will assist in the selection of appropriate pre-requisite courses and recommend others that are beneficial to applicants.

Pre-Law Advising: A formal advising program for students interested in law school is coordinated by the Pre-Law Advisor, Professor Peter Ubertaccio. There is no required academic program for pre-law students.

Teacher Licensure Advising: Stonehill College Education Department is a MA State and NASDTEC approved program leading to MA teaching licensure.  The NASDTEC Interstate Agreement facilitates movement of educators’ credentials between most other states.  Specific requirements differ for each state therefore students are encouraged to consult with the Education Department to facilitate this process. 

Academic Partnerships

Marine Studies Consortium

Stonehill College is a member of the Marine Studies Consortium, which was organized in 1977 by representatives of twenty-five Massachusetts universities and colleges. Its primary purpose is to promote marine education. Each year the consortium offers several marine-related courses in Boston which attract undergraduate students from schools throughout the area. Credit for courses taken is granted by the student’s home institution, and the grade received becomes part of the student’s permanent record at the school. Students interested in enrolling in any of these courses must apply through Professor Maura Geens Tyrrell, Department of Biology.

SACHEM Exchange Program

Stonehill College students may cross-register for courses at any of the SACHEM (Southeastern Association for Cooperation of Higher Education in Massachusetts) institutions on a space-available basis as part of their normal full-time load during the Fall or Spring semester. Winter and Summer semesters are excluded from the SACHEM exchange program. Tuition is covered within the students’ full-time tuition charge at Stonehill; students are responsible for lab fees when applicable. Students must request an official transcript from the Sachem School be sent to the Academic Services Office.

Colleges involved in the SACHEM program are the following:

  • Bridgewater State College
  • Bristol Community College
  • Cape Cod Community College
  • Dean College
  • Massachusetts Maritime Academy*
  • Massasoit Community College
  • Stonehill College
  • University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
  • Wheaton College

*Students may not cross register at Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Students may enroll in a maximum of two courses per semester at one of the above institutions, provided that the courses are not offered or are filled at Stonehill for that semester. First year students are not eligible to participate in the SACHEM program. Cross-registration is not available for General Education courses. SACHEM courses may count as major requirements with approval of the relevant Department Chair.

SACHEM Registration Forms may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office and final approval is granted by the Office of Academic Services and the particular college involved. In accordance with Stonehill College policy, the transfer of credit to Stonehill is given only for courses with a grade of “C’’ or better and only the credits received are added to the permanent record. The grade received is recorded on the permanent record at the college where the course is taken. Students are responsible for adherence to the academic regulations of the institution involved.

Engineering Dual-Degree Programs

B.A./B.S.

An agreement with The University of Notre Dame allows students completing three years at Stonehill and two years at Notre Dame to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stonehill and a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Notre Dame in one of a variety of engineering fields, including Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Geosciences, and Aerospace Engineering. The dual degree ensures that students will graduate with both a strong liberal arts background and the requisite knowledge for a career in an engineering field. The Stonehill degree will normally be a B.A. in Computer Science (for Computer Engineering), a B.A. in Chemistry (for Chemical Engineering), a B.A. in Environmental Studies (for Environmental Geosciences), or a B.A. in Physics (for the other engineering fields).

Cooperative Agreements with Simmons College (Boston, MA) for Accelerated Graduate Admissions

These agreements provide accelerated admissions for qualified Stonehill graduates into several of the Master’s programs at Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. In the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), the programs include: Children’s Literature, Communications Management, Education (MAT and MS), English, Gender/Cultural Studies, and Spanish. In the School for Health Studies, Stonehill graduates who wish to pursue a Master’s in Healthcare Administration may apply courses taken at Stonehill to the Simmons College graduate program. Interested students should contact their academic advisor, the Office of Career Services, or the Office of the Dean of Academic Achievement.

Cooperative Agreements with Post-Graduate Programs in the Health Sciences

Each of the following agreements reserves a specific number of admissions slots in the program for qualified Stonehill graduates.

Chiropractic Medicine

This is an accelerated seven-year B.S./D.C. Program with Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa. It involves three years of study at Stonehill College and four years of study at Palmer College of Chiropractic, leading to a B.S. in Biology from Stonehill and a Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College.

Students interested in this program should contact Andrew Leahy, Pre-Health Professions Advisor, in the Office of Career Services.

Students interested in any of the following agreements should contact Professor Sheila Barry in the Biology Department, who is the Pre-Allied Health Professions Advisor.

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Most science majors meet the requirements necessary for this post-graduate career opportunity; students from other fields can fulfill the prerequisite courses with careful advising and planning. The Nuclear Medicine Technologist post-graduate curriculum at Regis College in, Weston, MA is a one- year program that will accept qualified Stonehill candidates.

Nurse Practitioner

Qualified Stonehill graduates who have successfully completed the pre-requisites will be considered for preferred admission to the Direct Entry Nursing program at Simmons College in Boston. This Nurse Practitioner program is a three-year full-time program for undergraduates with a degree in an academic discipline other than nursing, leading to an M.S. in nursing and preparation for the NP exam.

Nursing

Qualified Stonehill graduates may be admitted to the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Worcester, leading to certification and licensure as a Registered Nurse. This Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN) accelerated post-baccalaureate 16-month program is for students who have met all pre-professional course requirements.

Pharmacy

Eligible Stonehill graduates may matriculate into the 34-month Doctor of Pharmacy program at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Worcester, MA. This intensive full-time program is one of the few in the country that offers this type of accelerated course of study.

Physical Therapy

An agreement with Simmons College facilitates preferred admission for students into their graduate physical therapy program after specific requirements have been met. The three-year Doctorate in Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) program at Simmons College, Boston, is for those who have a degree in a field other than physical therapy.

Physician Assistant (PA)

Stonehill graduates who successfully meet established criteria will be admitted to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies 30-month Program, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, or the Master of Physician Assistant Studies 24-month Program at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Worcester, MA.

Public Health, Biotechnolgy, Exercise Physiology, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Stonehill College has an affiliation agreement with Northeastern University in Boston for the preceding four graduate programs. Information is available from Professor Sheila Barry on each of them as well as the recommendations for admission. Each of them is an exciting option that has the potential for careers helping others and fulfills a great need in the 21st century of health care.
 

International Programs

Mission

The International Programs Office provides opportunities for experiential learning through study abroad, college exchange programs and international internships. The program recognizes that the understanding of other peoples’ cultures not only enables students to better comprehend and provide leadership to an increasingly interdependent and complex global society, but also allows students to achieve a deeper level of self-reliance and personal understanding.

Application Process

Acceptance into any Stonehill College International Program requires that a student possess solid academic ability as demonstrated by at least a 2.80 cumulative GPA (some programs require a higher minimum GPA), a level of maturity demonstrated by responsible behavior at the College and a serious intention to learn and grow in a different cultural environment. All applicants sign a release enabling collaboration with Student Affairs personnel concerning the student’s disciplinary record. Students seeking admission into any international program begin the application process by completing the on-line application form accessible on the web.

Individual programs may stipulate additional requirements. Second semester seniors generally are not allowed to enroll in courses elsewhere during their last semester and may do so only with the permission of the Office of Academic Services.

For more information concerning any of the programs listed below, contact the Office of International Programs.

Stonehill College Abroad Programs

Stonehill College offers a wide choice of programs which allow students to remain fully enrolled at Stonehill, paying a program fee equivalent to Stonehill tuition and fees, while maintaining their Stonehill financial aid. An abroad fee will be charged to students who choose to study away in most programs during the Spring semester.

The International Internship Program

Stonehill College sponsors a program of full-time internships in Dublin, London, Madrid and Paris. These internships provide students with the opportunity to develop competence through application of learned concepts to professional practice, and to strengthen personal development through living and working in another culture. The College offers internships in a variety of fields, including advertising, business, education, health administration, law, medical research, sociology, art, theatre, and politics.

Students approved for the program intern for fourteen weeks, during either semester of the junior year or the Fall semester of the senior year. Upon successful completion, students are granted fifteen credits. Interns in London enroll in three, 4-credit courses at Birkbeck College and earn an additional three credits for a two-day-a-week internship. Students in Madrid and Paris earn 15 credits for their internship, research paper and professional journal.  In addition to their internship, research paper and professional journal, Dublin students enroll in a seminar on Irish history and earn a total of 15 credits for the semester. This program requires at least a cumulative GPA of 3.00.

Study Abroad Program

Recognizing the advantages obtained from first-hand contact with other cultures and the benefits of travel and study outside one’s own country, Stonehill College allows students to spend a maximum of three semesters in an approved program of study at a foreign institution without withdrawing from the College. Stonehill cooperates with over 100 institutions in more than 35 countries.

A student’s program of study, and transfer credit equivalencies, must receive approval, before departure, by the student’s major Department Chairperson and the Office of Academic Services. Upon return, only courses passed with a grade equivalent to or higher than the Stonehill grade of “C” are accepted in transfer and recorded on the student’s academic transcript; the grades earned are not included in the student’s cumulative grade-point average. (A course whose grade corresponds at Stonehill to a “C-” will not transfer).

Non-Approved Programs

Students who study abroad without Stonehill pre-approval or in non-approved programs must withdraw from the College during their time abroad and apply for readmission. Housing upon readmission is on a space-available basis and eligibility for financial aid will be subject to regulations at the time of readmission.

Experiential and Independent Learning Programs

Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)

The Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program is an opportunity for students who have completed at least their first year at Stonehill to perform significant, publishable full-time research under the guidance of and in collaboration with an experienced faculty researcher. The experience, available to all disciplines, helps to solidify and define students’ career choices, both through graduate school decisions and in post-college employment. All SURE Scholars receive a stipend for an eight- or ten-week full-time summer session. Applications are submitted in early December preceding the summer of participation. For further information, contact the Office of Academic Development, or log onto the SURE website.

Internships

Academic internships provide valuable educational experiences, as they facilitate student learning outside of the classroom.  Qualified students may be approved to work in public and/or private organizations, where they are able to gain first-hand knowledge in a specific field.  Students can intern part-time locally for 3-6 credits or may participate in one of three full-time internship programs.  Stonehill offers 15-credit internship programs in New York City, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles that provide students with a combination of real-life work experience and academic coursework.  Interns have the opportunity to appreciate more fully the connections between theory and practice, to adapt to a culture outside the college environment, to network with professionals at different levels in an organization, and to gain exposure to potential career choices.  Please visit the Career Services website for more information.

Stonehill in Los Angeles

Students accepted into this program will intern four days a week for a full semester in Los Angeles. All students will take a designated communication course on campus during winter break. Internship placements will be based on students’ interests, as well as availability. This program is administered through the Communication Department and the Office of Career Services.

Stonehill in New York

Students intern for a full semester, four days a week, while taking one class at Fordham University. This opportunity allows students to gain practical experience in a large urban setting. Placements are provided based on students’ interests and housing is also available. This program is administered through the Office of Career Services and open to all majors.

Stonehill in Washington, D.C.

Stonehill College endorses two program options for students who want to intern for a full semester in the nation’s capital.

  1. The Washington Center – Through the Center, students intern four to four-and-a-half days a week, take an elective course taught by The Washington Center’s faculty in the student’s chosen program, and participate in a Leadership Forum which includes distinguished speakers and site visits throughout the D.C. area. The Center provides housing and placements to students accepted into the program.
     
  2. American University’s Washington Semester – This program consists of a two-day per week internship, a weekly seminar where students meet with experts and decision-makers in their field, and a research project or elective class that can be chosen from a variety of courses. American University provides housing and access to their internship database for students accepted into the program.

These Washington D.C. Programs are open to all majors and administered through the Office of Career Services and The Martin Institute.

International Internship Program

See here for details.

Directed Study

A Directed Study allows a student to investigate in-depth a subject that is not offered in the regular curriculum. Such a project is ordinarily in an area of concentration or in some field for which the student is well-prepared. A student who desires to pursue a Directed Study should first seek the cooperation of a faculty member in the appropriate discipline who will agree to supervise the work in the subsequent semester. The student then completes the application available under the myAcademics tab on myHill.

A student may not take more than one Directed Study in a semester without permission of the Office of Academic Services.

Independent Research

With the approval of a supervising faculty member and Department Chairperson, a student may carry out an independent research project, for academic credit, on a topic currently being studied by the faculty member or on an original project developed collaboratively by the student and faculty member. The student must complete an on-line application, which requires approval by the faculty member and department chair prior to registration. The form is available under the myAcademics tab on myHill.

Senior Thesis

Students complete an independent scholarly work, resulting in a substantial written document, under the guidance of a faculty member and with the approval of the Department Chairperson. An on-line application is available under the myAcademics tab on myHill and must be completed prior to registration.

Honor Societies

ALPHA KAPPA DELTA. The International Sociology Honor Society, campus chapter. Recognizes academic excellence in the study of Sociological theories and research methodologies, as well as the application of this knowledge to understanding social problems and social justice. Faculty Advisor – Prof. Margaret Boyd.

ALPHA PSI OMEGA. Campus chapter, ZETA SIGMA, of the National Honor Society in Theatre Arts. Recognizes outstanding achievement by students in educational theatre. Promotes technical and dramatic skills. Faculty Advisor – Prof. Patricia H. Sankus.

DELTA MU DELTA. Campus chapter, GAMMA GAMMA, of the National Business Honor Society. Recognizes academic achievement in the field of Business Administration. Faculty Advisor – Prof. Hilary Gettman.

EDWIN H. SUTHERLAND CRIMINOLOGY HONOR SOCIETY. Fosters a community of young scholars dedicated to enhancing their understanding of the causes, prevention, control and treatment of crime and delinquency. The Society also strives to link the social justice and service mission of the College to help its members become more well-rounded and effective academicians and practitioners in the many fields of criminology and criminal justice. Faculty Advisor – Prof. Pamela Kelley.

KAPPA DELTA PI. Campus chapter, ALPHA GAMMA BETA, of the National Honor Society in Education. Recognizes students who have shown evidence of outstanding academic achievement. Faculty Advisor - Prof. Stephen Pinzari.

KAPPA MU EPSILON, MASSACHUSETTS BETA. Campus Chapter of the National Mathematics Honor Society.  Recognizes academic achievement in mathematics.  Faculty Advisor - Prof. Timothy Woodcock.

LAMBDA EPSILON SIGMA. Stonehill Honor Society that recognizes academic accomplishments and fosters scholarly activities. Members selected from all major areas of concentration on the basis of academic accomplishment. Faculty Advisor – Prof. Michael E. Tirrell.

LAMBDA PI ETA. Campus chapter, ALPHA OMEGA, of the National Communication Association Honor Society. Recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement in communication studies. Faculty Advisor – Prof. Anne F. Mattina.

OMICRON DELTA EPSILON. Campus chapter, PHI, of the International Honor Society in Economics. Recognizes academic achievement in Economics. Faculty Advisor – Prof. Mark Kazarosian.

PHI ALPHA THETA. Campus chapter, NU RHO, of the International Honor Society in History. Recognizes academic achievement in History. Promotes the study of History and encourages research. Faculty Advisor – Prof. Kevin Spicer C.S.C.

PHI LAMBDA UPSILON. Honorary chemical society founded in 1899. This was the first honor society dedicated to a single scientific discipline. The aims and purposes of the society are the promotion of high scholarship and original investigations in all branches of pure and applied chemistry. Faculty Advisor – Prof. Louis Liotta.

PI SIGMA ALPHA. The Honor Society for recognition of the study of politics was founded in 1920 and has over 460 chapters nationwide. Candidates must achieve distinguished grades in the study of politics. The Society encourages students to undertake the study of politics and government in all areas of the discipline. Faculty Advisor – Prof. Peter N. Ubertaccio.

PSI CHI. Campus chapter of Psychology’s National Honor Society. Recognizes and encourages scholarship for students pursuing a major or minor in Psychology. Faculty Advisor – Prof. Michael E. Tirrell.

SIGMA DELTA PI. Campus chapter, LAMBDA RHO, of the National Honor Society in Spanish. Honors those who seek and attain excellence in the study of the Spanish language and the literature and culture of Spanish-speaking peoples. Faculty advisor – Prof. Antonio Barbagallo.

SIGMA IOTA RHO. Campus chapter of the National Honor Society in International Relations. Recognizes academic achievement in the study and practice of International Relations. Faculty advisor – Prof. Peter Ubertaccio.

SIGMA TAU DELTA. International English Honor Society for which the key purpose is to confer distinction upon students engaged in the study of English and English literature at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies levels. Membership in the Honor Society, which recognizes high scholastic achievement, is by invitation. At present, Sigma Tau Delta has more than 750 active chapters in Europe, the Caribbean, and the United States. Faculty Advisor - Prof. Helga L. Duncan.

SIGMA ZETA. Campus chapter, ALPHA RHO, of the National Honor Society for faculty members and students in the sciences and Mathematics. Faculty Advisor – Prof. Gregory Maniero.

THETA ALPHA KAPPA. Campus chapter ALPHA GAMMA ETA, of the National Honor Society for Religious Studies/Theology. The Society promotes excellence in research, learning, teaching and publication in addition to fostering the exchange of ideas among scholars of religion and theology and those of other disciplines. Faculty Advisor – Prof. Peter H. Beisheim.

UPSILON PHI DELTA. Campus Chapter of the National Honor Society for the profession of healthcare management. Recognizes students who achieve distinction in healthcare administration, achieve academic excellence, and make outstanding contributions to the profession, and who uphold the highest ethical standards of the profession. Faculty Advisor – Rev. Thomas Gariepy, C.S.C.

Academic Resources

Academic Services

The Office of Academic Services develops, coordinates, and provides Academic Advising programs that enable students to reach their educational and career goals. The Office of Academic Services coordinates all of the College’s resources to focus on and advocate for individual student success. The Office fosters advising and support services that bring faculty and students together to work toward intellectual and personal excellence.

Career Services

The Office of Career Services assists students in achieving their academic and/or career goals through self-assessment, career exploration, internship and employment options, and advanced degree information. Starting in the first year, students are asked to identify interests, values and skills. Sophomores are encouraged to research and explore the many careers that reflect students’ strengths. Juniors define and experiment with career options through internships, research opportunities and study away experiences. Finally, seniors implement their plans by applying for jobs, graduate school or post-graduate service. The Office offers resume and cover letter critiques, mock interviews, and internship/job search advice.

Library

The MacPhaidin Library opened in 1998 and is named for Fr. Bartley MacPhaidin, C.S.C., president of the college from 1978 to 2000. The library has seating for 500 patrons, a café area with vending machines, and a collection that includes approximately 210,000 print volumes, 5,000 videos and over 9,500 on-line journals, databases, and e-books. There are computer labs on the first and third floors as well as computers for research in the reference area. Network connections and wireless are available throughout the building. The library’s extensive electronic resources are available both on- and off-campus via the college’s computer network.

Registrar’s Office

The Registrar’s Office is dedicated to providing quality support services that are responsive to the needs of the College community. This Office safeguards the accuracy, integrity, confidentiality, and security of the student information system and of students’ academic records; and provides the accurate and timely dissemination of information. The Registrar’s Office is responsible for preparing the course schedule each semester, the academic calendar, the registration process and the scheduling of rooms and labs.

Center for Nonprofit Management

The Center for Nonprofit Management at Stonehill College seeks to build the management and leadership capacity of community-based nonprofit organizations throughout southeastern Massachusetts and northern Rhode Island. The Center is focused on enhancing critical management skills, while also fostering relationships with and among the region’s diverse community-based organizations so that they may better achieve their missions. Drawing on the expertise within the community and the College, including student interns, the Center conducts research and provides workshops and other learning programs for the region’s nonprofit sector.

Joseph W. Martin Institute for Law and Society

The Joseph W. Martin Institute for Law and Society prepares students for leadership as active citizens in service to an improved human community. The Martin Institute challenges faculty and students through rigorous, critical interdisciplinary inquiry into law and society by linking theory and practice in a curriculum based upon exploration of the vital issues of public policy and social justice. The Martin Institute is in the midst of a two-year study of Indigenous People and Culture and will host a variety of events, speakers, discussions, and films.

Center for Writing and Academic Achievement

The Writing Center

The Writing Center is dedicated to assisting students and faculty in the preparation of documents for course work, publication, and applications. Using a series of questions, trained student tutors lead the writer from topic to question, from question to thesis, from thesis to main points and parts, to connectives, to grammar, and to word choice. Students may walk-in or make an appointment.

Teaching Assistants and Peer Tutors

The Center for Writing and Academic Achievement coordinates supplemental instruction for students seeking to improve their academic performance at the College. With over 100 faculty-selected undergraduate Teaching Assistants and 10 Shields Scholar Mentors, the Center provides one-on-one support and small group tutoring in over 60 courses. The tutor program is certified by the College Reading and Learning Association. Students are eligible to receive Level 1 from the International Tutoring Certification Program (ITCP). All services are offered at no additional cost. Students are invited to take advantage of this great opportunity to enrich their academic experience.

Disability Services

Stonehill College is committed to providing all students equal access to learning opportunities. The Center for Writing and Academic Achievement is the campus office that works with students who have documented disabilities, in order to provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations. Students are encouraged to visit the Center if they have, or think they may have, a disability.