Academic Life
The combination of the Cornerstone Program of General education and Major Programs of study promote a strong liberal education that challenges students of diverse backgrounds to enter into intellectual, social and moral discovery. The synergy between the General Education Program and the high quality academic programs offered through the School of Arts & Sciences and the School of Business gives our Stonehill graduates the essential tools to create meaningful lives, rewarding careers, and participatory citizenship.
The Stonehill curriculum cultivates a student-centered environment that is nurtured by small classes and enriching student-faculty relationships. 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 Cornerstone Program of General Education provides students with foundational knowledge, diversity of experience, and cultivates a spirit of curiosity and intellectual rigor that are the hallmarks of a well-rounded liberal arts education. The goal of the Cornerstone Program is to lead students to examine critically the self, society, culture, and the natural world. The program honors Stonehill’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.
(More information about the learning goals and courses of the Cornerstone Program are provided in The Cornerstone Program section.)
The Major
Higher 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 and Advising, in consultation with the respective Department Chairpersons or Program Directors. In some cases, students may need to enroll in more than 124 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.
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.
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.
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 by providing 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.
Honors Program Curriculum
Courses in the Moreau Honors Program are limited to 20 students, ensuring 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.
First-year students accepted to the College as Moreau Honors students will complete a minimum of five Honors courses (of at least three credits each) plus the HON 100 - Honors Introductory Seminar and HON 400 - Honors Senior Seminar :
- In their first semester, Honors students will take one Honors Cornerstone core humanities course.
- In their second semester, Honors students will take the HON 100 - Honors Introductory Seminar . This one-credit course introduces the importance of leadership, intellectual curiosity, and service to the Stonehill community and will offer opportunities to enhance community life of the college (e.g., volunteer work, inviting speakers to the college, organizing faculty lecture series, helping coordinate visits by noteworthy guests, planning entertainment and cultural events, and bringing about changes in College policies on a variety of issues, etc.).
- To complete the requirement for five Honors courses, students may take Honors courses that satisfy either Cornerstone Program or major/minor requirements, or serve as general electives. Honors language courses count for no more than one honors requirement. One and only one of these courses can be a non-Honors course for Honors Program credit. A Moreau Honors student who completes the IDEAS seminar and facilitates an IDEAS course may receive credit for a single Moreau Honors 3-credit course. Contact the Honors Program Director for more information.
- In the senior year, Honors students will take , a one-credit course in the spring of the senior year in which they will share in a series of conversations, workshops, and presentations that articulate and assess the outcomes of their academic career at Stonehill.
Students accepted into the Moreau Honors Program starting the second semester of their first year AND Moreau Honors students in the Notre-Dame 3+2 Engineering Program have to take three Honors courses (No conversions are permitted.), plus the HON 100 - Honors Introductory Seminar and the HON 400 - Honors Senior Seminar .
Moreau Honors students must have a 3.50 cumulative grade-point-average (GPA) to graduate with a Moreau Honors Scholar designation.
Honors Program 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. independent and/or thesis research conducted under the mentorship of a faculty member, 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;
- Academic advising from Honors faculty and the Honors Program Director; and
- Letters of verification that describe the Honors Program and list Honors coursework completed by the student.
For more information about the Moreau Honors Program, contact its Interim Director, Prof. Allyson Sheckler.
Pre-Professional Advising
Pre-Health Professions Advising: Pre-Health Professions Advising provides guidance to those students with an interest in a career as chiropractor, dentist, nurse/nurse practitioner, occupational therapist, optometrist, pharmacist, physical therapist, physician, physician assistant, podiatrist, veterinarian or other health professional.
Stonehill does not offer a major in any one of the pre-health disciplines. Students pursuing one of these career paths usually major in one of the sciences (biochemistry, biology, chemistry, health science or neuroscience). However, a 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 (e.g., MCAT, DAT, OAT, PCAT).
Andrew Leahy, Associate Director of the Career Development Center, is the primary 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. He can also discuss with you the affiliation agreements that Stonehill College has with certain graduate programs. Students are not obligated to attend our affiliated schools and are able to apply to the programs of their choice.
Craig Kelley, Dean of Academic Achievement, will work with pre-health professions school applicants during the application process and, when necessary, to arrange interviews with Stonehill’s Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee and to coordinate the writing and submission of composite Committee Letters of Evaluation.
Pre-Law Advising: A formal advising program for students interested in law school is coordinated by the Pre-Law Advisor, Professor Robert Rodgers. There is no required academic program for pre-law students.
Pre-Theology Advising: Advising is available for students who are interested in preparing for lay leadership positions in a parish or ecclesial community, or who are interested in preparing for a career in academic theology in secondary or higher education. Paul DaPonte, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, will advise students in the graduate school application process.
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 Professor Kathy McNamara in the Education Department to facilitate this process.
Integrating Democratic Education at Stonehill (IDEAS) is an interdisciplinary, student-centered program that fosters engagement and active learning by creating an environment for students to share their passions, wisdom, and knowledge with one another. The IDEAS Program is organized around peer-facilitated courses. These one credit, pass/fail, elective classes are intended to compliment, rather than replace, students’ traditional academic experiences. Indeed, one of the program’s main goals is to enhance student engagement in classes outside of the IDEAS Program.
IDEAS classes begin in the spring of the preceding academic year, when rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors can apply to be course facilitators. During the fall semester facilitators meet several times with the faculty and student co-directors to discuss learning objectives, syllabus design, class activities, and lesson plans. Course enrollment takes place during the add/drop period in the late fall, when students can sign up through myHill on a first-come basis. Enrollment is limited to no fewer than four and no more than eight students in order to promote discussion and engagement. During the spring semester, IDEAS courses meet for approximately two hours per week over thirteen weeks; students are required to attend and participate in each class meeting.
Ultimately, the IDEAS Program aspires to offer classes that are academically rigorous and engaging. In recent years students have facilitated classes on topics including the chemistry of baking, gender dynamics in popular culture, student activism and social justice, constitutional debates, culture and ethnicity, science and spirituality, and understanding stress reduction strategies such as yoga. Students can enroll in only one IDEAS course for credit each spring. Students may take up to three IDEAS classes (for a total of three credits) over their time at Stonehill.
For more information on IDEAS, contact Professor Sarah Gracombe, English Department.
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 MU ALPHA. The national marketing honor society for qualified marketing majors. Membership status in Alpha Mu Alpha is available to individuals who attend a college or university having an established AMA collegiate chapter, and/or who attend a regionally or nationally accredited institution. Faculty Advisor - Prof. Geoff Lantos.
ALPHA PSI OMEGA. Campus chapter, ZETA SIGMA, of the National Honor Society in Theatre Arts. Recognizes outstanding achievement by students in educational theatre. Faculty Advisor - Prof. James Petty.
BETA ALPHA PSI. Campus chapter, MU OMEGA, of the National Honor Society for accounting majors recognizing scholastic excellence, providing opportunities for self-development, service and association among members and practicing professionals, and encouraging a sense of ethical, social, and public responsibility. Faculty Advisors - Prof. Virginia Cortijo and Prof. Michael Mullen.
BETA GAMMA SIGMA. The international honor society serving business programs accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive in a business program accredited by AACSB International. Faculty Advisor - Prof. Jim Lee.
EDWIN H. SUTHERLAND CRIMINOLOGY HONOR SOCIETY. Recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement in Criminology and fosters a community of young scholars dedicated to enhancing their understanding of the causes, prevention, control and treatment of crime and delinquency. Faculty Advisor - Prof. Pamela Kelley.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY. The International Honor Society for students of Finance was established in 1970 with the creation of the Financial Management Association International (FMA). Individuals accepted for membership in the Honor Society have the distinction of belonging to the only international honorary that specifically recognizes the achievement of Finance majors who demonstrate their expertise in areas such as financial economics and decision-making. Faculty Advisor - Prof. Michael Mullen.
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.
NU RHO PSI. Campus Chapter of the National Honor Society in neuroscience. Recognizes outstanding academic achievement and research in the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience. Faculty Advisor - Prof. Nicole Cyr
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. Karen Teoh
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. Anna Ohanyan.
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. Juan Carlos Martin.
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. Anna Ohanyan.
SIGMA TAU DELTA. International English Honor Society. The Society’s 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 who have achieved excellence in the Natural 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 who uphold the highest ethical standards of the profession. Faculty Advisor - Rev. Thomas Gariepy, C.S.C.
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