Every candidate for a bachelor’s degree must complete not fewer than 124 credits in appropriate courses and with acceptable grades. A minimum of 54 credits must be earned in residence in the on-campus programs of the college, and at least 44 of these credits must be earned in regularly graded courses at Whitman College apart from all P-D-F and credit-no credit work. A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.000 is required for all work attempted at Whitman College (the number of grade points earned must be equal to or greater than twice the graded credits attempted).
Credit Restrictions
As described in the following paragraphs, the college restricts the amount of credit in certain courses and programs allowed toward degree and major requirements.
Foreign Languages
Students who have previously studied a foreign language in secondary school, college, or elsewhere must take a placement test before enrolling in a course in this same foreign language at Whitman. Each language area places students in the appropriate level of language study after considering the results of the placement examination and the individual circumstances of the student. Students with no previous language experience are not required to take the placement test. Students who have already taken a foreign language course at the college level cannot repeat the same level course and receive both transfer credit and Whitman credit.
Activity Credit
A maximum of 16 credits in activity courses will be allowed toward the minimum of 124 credits required for graduation.
A maximum of eight credits will be allowed in the following categories:
I. Interdisciplinary Studies 105 Intercollegiate Debate & Forensics
II. Sport Studies, Recreation and Athletics activity courses (see Activity Courses listing under “Sport Studies, Recreation and Athletics” in the Courses and Programs section of the catalog)
A maximum of 12 credits will be allowed in any one of the following categories:
I. Music (Music 161, 162, 211, 212, 231, 232, 241, 242, 245, 246, 251, 252, 253, 254, 261, 262)
II. Theater and Dance (248, 332)
Applied Music
No more than 16 credits toward the minimum of 124 credits required for graduation are allowed in any one, or combination of, the following courses in applied music: Music 163, 164, 263, 264, 363, 364, 463, and 464.
Academic Credit for Internships
Whitman College grants no academic credit for work experience or internships per se, though it may grant credit for academic coursework linked to internships. This policy applies to internships that are part of courses in various Whitman departments, to internships that are part of courses administered by approved Off-Campus Study programs, and to internships that are part of courses for which a student receives transfer credit.
Off-Campus and Transfer Credit for Major Requirements
A maximum of one-third of the specific course and credit requirements for the major may be satisfied by work completed in an off-campus program of the college and/or transfer credit. Generally, this means a maximum of 12 semester credits for a major requiring 36 semester credits. Some departments have imposed greater restrictions, and such limitations are stated in the departmental information in the Courses and Programs section of the catalog. Credit that does not apply toward major requirements may be used to meet degree credit requirements within the general limitation for study abroad and transfer credit.
Professional and/or Vocational Credit
A maximum of 10 credits may be applied toward a student's 124 credits required. Whitman does not offer professional and/or vocational credit courses, however, these may enter Whitman via transfer credit from a regionally accredited institution. Please check with the Office of the Registrar for more information.