Academic Placement
In our placement process, we review enrollment materials provided during the admissions process to recommend course options that meet the writing requirements, education requirements, and math requirements. Our recommendations are based on previous coursework, the admissions essay, achievement scores, and other supplemental information.
All entering students are required to take writing and education courses that provide a foundation and serve as prerequisites to all other courses required for degree completion. These courses focus on delivering content while providing explicit instruction in what is often referred to as “the hidden curriculum.” Students are introduced to study strategies, writing process strategies, active and critical reading approaches, self-management techniques, and organization and time management skills. There are options recommended for the writing and education sequence. In addition, students must meet a math requirement. Coursework may vary by degree plan.
Writing Placement
Option 1: One Semester
WRT1011 Composition and Rhetoric
This course emphasizes the interconnected nature of writing and reading at the college level. Students develop and refine individualized writing and critical reading processes while working with a variety of rhetorical strategies and structures. Students are asked to express their ideas and integrate material from texts through participating in class discussions, completing informal assignments, and writing academic papers of increasing length and complexity.
Option 2: Two-semester Sequence
WRT1007 ST:Writing Process and Practice: Part 1
WRT 1008 PV:Writing Processes and Practices II
WRT1007 is the first-semester pass/fail credit elective course in a two-semester sequence to meet the WRT1011 requirement. This course introduces the core concepts of college reading and writing, and students learn to construct writing that is clear, well-organized, and concise. While engaging in a series of shorter assignments, students will develop their reading and writing processes, applying these processes to a variety of genres and rhetorical structures. Students also strengthen their abilities as college readers by further developing their active and critical reading strategies to comprehend and analyze texts. The following semester, students enroll in WRT1008, where they complete writing that meets the learning outcomes for the requirement. This course is letter-graded.
To meet the writing requirement students must earn a “C” in WRT1011 or pass WRT1007 and earn a “C” in WRT1008.
Education Placement
Option 1
EDU1011 Perspectives in Learning
This first-semester course is designed to introduce students to theories related to the cognitive, social, emotional, and cultural dimensions of learning. The purpose of the course is to foster self-awareness, critical thinking, strategic learning, and self-advocacy. Metacognition and critical thinking will be prominent themes throughout this course. Students will reflect on learning and teaching processes while applying learning strategies that can be transferred to other courses of study as a proactive approach to self-advocacy. Strategies for active reading, note-taking, test-taking, long-term project planning, and organizing materials will be modeled, practiced, and assessed. Students will be expected to critically read, discuss, and utilize a body of readings for a variety of academic tasks. In addition, students will learn about the laws that protect individuals with disabilities, receive an in-depth orientation to the on-campus services that provide academic and emotional support, and establish short and long-term goals related to promoting effective self-management.
Option 2
EDU1007 College Learning Strategies
In this course, students will develop awareness of how they learn through the development of metacognitive learning strategies and approaches to reading, note taking, and executive skills like task management. Strategies are presented and practiced for students to enhance their learning experience. Strategies are explored in the following ways: 1) what they are; 2) how to use them; 3) when to use them; 4) why they are effective; and 5) how to adapt them. This class takes a unique approach towards the learning experience through an emphasis on overall wellness and the practice of stress management and relaxation techniques that can make a difference. Use of technology for learning will be emphasized throughout.
In order to meet the education requirement, students must take EDU1011 Perspectives in Learning. However, students may be recommended to start with EDU1007 College Learning Strategies.
Math Placement
Entering Landmark College students take an online math placement assessment through ALEKS, an adaptive learning program. Students transferring math credit from another college/university (or from high school AP coursework) may be eligible for a math placement exemption. These students should contact the Director of Academic Support and Placement to determine if they need to complete the math placement assessment. Students must submit official transcripts and score reports to the Registrar’s Office before it can be determined if they need to complete the math placement assessment in the student onboarding portal.
Students who take the math placement assessment are assigned a level based on where their performance falls relative to the institution’s cut scores. Each level corresponds to one or more math courses to help guide students toward coursework that most appropriately matches their knowledge and skill level. Math requirements vary by degree plan.
Technology and Laptop Program
Students entering Landmark College are expected to purchase the college’s laptop computer through the laptop program. With Microsoft Suite, students use the dictate feature as well as the immersive reader as tools to facilitate learning. Faculty provide instruction that requires the use of laptops for consuming, reviewing, and completing course work. The Drake Center provides additional support in emerging technologies that support self-management, and academic fluency.
General Education
A Landmark College Liberal Arts education promotes creative and scholarly engagement, fosters understanding of and respect for self and others, and develops resilient and ethically responsible global citizens.
All degrees at Landmark College embed curricular and co-curricular experiences and share a general education core designed to provide the opportunity for students to:
1. Draw on knowledge to engage ethically and responsibly in a diverse world.
- Liberal Arts and Science: Knowledgeably engage with big questions, both contemporary and enduring, that shape our understanding of Human Cultures and the Natural World.
- Responsible World Citizenship: Responsibly and ethically engage with a community and the world in a manner that supports and values diversity, inclusion, and equity.
2. Use and express critical, creative, and reflective thinking.
- Critical Thinking and Analysis: Develop the habit of mind characterized by the comprehensive exploration of issues, ideas, artifacts, and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion.
- Creativity: Combine or synthesize existing ideas, artifacts, or expertise to produce innovative, divergent outcomes.
- Information Literacy: Develop the ability to know when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively and responsibly use and share that information to meet that need.
3. Communicate effectively within a variety of groups and contexts.
- Written Communication: Communicate with purpose, clarity, coherence and persuasiveness in writing.
- Interpersonal Communication: Communicate verbally and non-verbally with creativity, receptivity, purpose, clarity, and reciprocity.
- Digital Interaction: Use technology effectively to learn about the world, communicate, collaborate, and interact in a coherent, respectful, and ethical manner in a variety of contexts.
4. Demonstrate self-insight and a commitment to lifelong learning.
- Self-Knowledge: Sustain an ongoing process of self-reflection, self-awareness and self-advocacy that leads to both self-understanding and the successful management of the skills and strategies of a life-long learner.
- Wellness: Develop an understanding of how physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and occupational wellness affect learning and contribute to personal and community well- being.
- Career/Life Readiness: Prepare to live a productive and responsible life.
General Education core requirements provide the foundation to meet these goals. For some majors, general education core requirements are also considered to be major requirements—see specific major descriptions for more information.
At the associate level, students are expected to complete 31 credits which includes the following:
- EDU1011 Perspectives in Learning
- WRT1011 Composition and Rhetoric (or WRT1007 and WRT1008 Writing Process and Practice)
- WRT1012 Inquiry, Research, and Analysis
Plus one course from each of the following subject areas:
- Humanities (HIS, HUM, LIT, PHI, REL, and BIO2041)
- Communications Distribution Requirement: COM1011, COM1021, or COM1071
- Creativity
- Science with Lab (BIO, CHE, GEO, HTH, NSC)
- Math (MAT—see majors for specific level)
- Quantitative Reasoning (ACC, CSC, ECN, EDU, FIN, MAT, BIO, CHE, GEO, NSC)
- Social Science (ANT, POL, PSY, SOC, ECN)
At the baccalaureate level, students are expected to complete 40 – 43 credits in the core which includes all of the above plus the following:
- Advanced Discipline Writing (WRT3011 or equivalent)
- Alternative Experience (see definition below)
- Capstone Experience (3 – 6 credits, see definition below)
Advanced Writing or Writing in a Discipline are courses that go beyond just being writing-intensive. The courses make the study of writing and reading and rhetoric as these are practiced and embodied within a specific discipline the central topic of study. Students will deepen their understanding of the language forms (genres), lexis, and specific language conventions within the disciplinary discourse community, as well as the ways of knowing and constructing knowledge in the field. They will practice writing, reading, and research with an emphasis on advanced analytical and information literacy practices. The focus will be, at least in part, on academic writing, but may also address the ways of writing and rhetoric in public and professional settings.
Alternative Experience is a learning experience that motivates students to make connections between their learning and the world around them through experiences and projects that are not bounded by a traditional classroom setting. Students are expected to use this opportunity to reexamine their own points of view while considering issues and ideas from others’ perspectives. These experiences are typically not classroom based. Examples include (but are not limited to) internships, Study Abroad/Study Away, faculty/student research, mentor-guided service projects, co-op experiences, field experiences, or mentor-guided project development.
Capstone Experience is a significant culminating endeavor based upon students’ coursework, reading, interests, and experience. Through the application of principles, theories, and methods learned, students analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information, resulting in a representative sample of their work in their chosen area of interest.
A degree is a blanket term that refers to a complete program offered by the College. The degree is the credential a student earns by meeting a series of requirements and completing a specific number of credits, either 60 – 61 credits (associate level) or 120 – 121 credits (baccalaureate level).
Landmark College offers four undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Associate of Arts, and Associate of Science. Arts degrees are generally more expansive, requiring a variety of liberal arts courses. Science degrees are generally more focused on a specific specialization or area of study. A complete degree program is comprised of a general education core, major requirements, major distribution requirements, and electives. Students can also use their electives to complete an optional minor and/or concentration.
Declaring a degree: Students indicate what level of educational goal they will attempt while enrolled at Landmark College when they are admitted to the college. They do this by declaring a degree (bachelor’s or associate).
A major is the specialization or area of focus within the degree. It refers to the academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits. While a student may be qualified to be matriculated to seek a degree at Landmark College, some majors require additional qualifications to be accepted into the major. Landmark College offers nine majors at the bachelor’s level and five at the associate level; these are administrated by departments as listed below.
Students must achieve an overall GPA of 2.0 to graduate; bachelor’s degree students must earn a C (2.0) or better average in major requirements. For specific major requirements, see section on Major, Minor, and Concentration Requirements.
Bachelor’s Level Majors
Biology, B.S.
Communication and Leadership, B.A.
Computer Science, B.S.
Health Sciences, B.S.
History, B.A.
Integrated Arts, B.A.
Liberal Studies, B.A.
Media Arts Production, B.A.
Psychology, B.A.
Associate Level Majors
Biology, A.S.
Business Studies, A.A.
Computer Science, A.S.
Liberal Studies, A.A.
General Studies, A.A.
Declaring a major: In order to ensure satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, students are required to declare a specific major.
- Students declare their intended major upon entry into Landmark College.
- Students are required to declare a major by the conclusion of their second semester. If a student has not declared a major by the start of the third semester, they will not be allowed to register for additional credits.
- Transfer students with 30 or more transfer credits must declare a major before their second semester registration begins in their first semester or they will not be allowed to register for additional credits.
- Transfer students who have earned an associate degree must declare a major before registering for their first semester.
- Students are obligated to meet the degree requirements published in the academic catalog of the academic year in which the declaration of major is accepted.
- Landmark College will honor degree requirements for students who have declared a major and who have left the College for up to four semesters, after which point the student must declare the major under the new major requirements.
- Students are allowed to re-declare newer major requirements but cannot revert to older requirements once that re-declaration has been accepted.
- Students who graduate with an A.A. or A.S. degree from Landmark College but who enroll for subsequent semesters must declare a B.A. or B.S. degree and major before registering for courses in the subsequent semester.
- The Declaration of Degree and Major form, signed by the student and advisor, will be submitted to the Registrar’s Office.
- The Registrar’s Office will record the student’s degree and major choice, which will then appear on their transcripts, schedules, and in the Power Campus database for tracking purposes. The date the student declares will be available through Student Central.
Minors are available to declared baccalaureate degree students as an option in the Landmark College curriculum. A minor is not required to earn a bachelor’s degree. A minor provides the student with an opportunity to take on a second area of focus beyond the major. This could be an area that complements the student’s major or a different area of interest the student wishes to explore. Engaging in the study of a discipline through a minor promotes connections to multiple departments and to a subject area that a student may choose to pursue beyond the attainment of their bachelor’s degree. A completed minor is noted on a student’s degree transcript and serves as further demonstration of a student’s intellectual persistence and dedication to a particular academic discipline.
A minor requires 15 – 24 credits. Some minors may require completion of prerequisites that are not included in the total requirements of the minor. Minors are administered by academic departments as listed below. For specific minor requirements, see section on Major, Minor, and Concentration Requirements. There are eight minors to choose from:
- Arts Minor
- Business Minor
- Communication Minor
- Disability Studies Minor
- Education Minor
- Environmental Science Minor
- Health Sciences Minor
- Psychology Minor
Major and Minor Restrictions: To maintain academic integrity and ensure a broad and diverse educational experience, students are not permitted to major and minor in the same or closely related area of study. This restriction ensures that students gain academic breadth by exploring different disciplines rather than concentrating their studies solely in one area.
- Definition of Distinct Fields: A major and minor are considered distinct if they are offered by different departments or if they represent different academic areas within the same department. In addition, a minimum of nine credits must be unique to the minor and not meet a major requirement. For example, a student majoring in Psychology may not also minor in Psychology but may choose a minor in a related but distinct area, such as Education or Communication.
- Completion of Major and Minor Requirements: Students must fulfill all academic requirements for both the major and the minor. This includes completing the required coursework for each program without overlap in fulfilling core requirements, ensuring academic breadth.
- Advising: Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor to select a major and a minor that align with their academic goals and career interests while adhering to this policy. Regular advising sessions are recommended to track progress and ensure compliance with this policy.
- In accordance with this policy, Landmark College baccalaureate students may declare any minor with the following exceptions:
- Communication and Leadership majors cannot minor in Communication.
- Health Sciences majors cannot minor in Health Sciences.
- Integrated Arts majors cannot minor in Arts.
- Media Arts Production majors cannot minor in Arts or Communication.
- Psychology majors cannot minor in Psychology.
Declaring a minor: Any student who elects to pursue a minor must submit a Declaration of Minor form to the Registrar by the conclusion of the add period in the year in which they plan to complete the bachelor’s degree. During this process, students will not be permitted to declare a major and minor in the same field of study. Advisors will assist in ensuring the chosen fields of study comply with this policy. Students who wish to pursue more than one minor must have permission from the dean of the school offering the second minor.
The following are required of a student pursuing a minor:
- Students are expected to earn a C (2.0) average in the minor requirements to earn the minor.
- At least one-third of the credits in the minor must be earned at Landmark College.
- At least nine credits in the minor must be unique to the minor and not meet a major requirement.
- At least six credits in the minor must be at the 3000 level or higher.
Academic Concentrations
Concentrations are available to all declared associate degree students as an option in the Landmark College curriculum. A concentration is required for the A.A. in General Studies; concentrations are not required to earn the other associate degrees. A concentration focuses on an area of interest that a student wishes to explore. A concentration could include prerequisite course work that articulates with a Landmark College bachelor’s degree. A completed concentration is noted on a student’s degree transcript and serves as further demonstration of a student’s intellectual persistence and dedication to a particular academic discipline.
A concentration requires 15 – 16 credits of courses at the 1000 or 2000 level from specific disciplines, as indicated in the concentration listing. Students must earn an average of C or better in the courses applicable to the concentration. Students may apply transfer credits toward the achievement of a concentration. Concentrations are administered by academic departments as listed below. For specific concentration requirements, see section on Major, Minor, and Concentration Requirements. There are ten concentrations to choose from:
- Business Concentration
- Career Competency Concentration
- Communication Concentration
- Computer Science Concentration
- Creative Writing Concentration
- Education Concentration
- Humanities Concentration
- Integrated Arts Concentration
- Psychology Concentration
- Science Concentration
Declaring a concentration: Any student who elects to pursue a concentration must submit a Declaration of Concentration form to the Registrar by the conclusion of the add period in the semester in which they plan to complete their associate degree. The concentration option is voluntary, except for the A.A. in General Studies.
Major, Minor, and Concentration Program Requirements
Students are obligated to meet the degree, major, minor, and concentration requirements published in the academic catalog of the academic year in which the declaration of major, minor, or concentration is accepted.
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