Compass Curriculum
Built on a Solid Foundation
All Millsaps students complete the Compass Curriculum, which is centered around two core facets: thinking and reasoning. Our learning environment will provide you with the tools and methods to examine and integrate ideas and evidence, question assumptions, weigh alternatives, draw conclusions, and explore questions that arise from those conclusions.
The Compass Curriculum is the foundation of the Millsaps learning experience and provides all first-year students with the tools to find their best path to graduation — and beyond! Guided by advisers and mentors, you will choose your own path, receive the tools to use along the way and explore learning opportunities to help you exceed your goals.
Skills
- Communication
- Creative Problem Solving
- Collaboration
Explorations
- Humanities
- Business
- Fine Arts
- Mathematics
- Nonnative Language
- STEM
- Natural World
- Social World
At Millsaps, you will achieve personal and intellectual growth, become good citizens in our global society, and develop the capacity to succeed and make a difference in each community you touch. The Compass Curriculum will promote thinking and reasoning in two ways: development in three core skill sets and explorations of academics beyond the typical major.
In addition to the Compass Curriculum, you will also take Foundations in your first semester and, before graduation, complete a Major Experience, demonstrate writing proficiency and write a reflection on the value of your Millsaps experience.
Requirements for transfer students differ depending on the number and type of credit hours earned in college before transferring to Millsaps. For more details, see the transfer students section.
Communication
About
Examples of course topics include:
- Jesus, Kanye and the Colonial Press: Selling Jesus in America Since the 17th Century
- Redemption of Reality? The Force of Cinema
- Mansfield Park and the Trouble of Faithful Adaptation
- The Pentecostal Explosion: A 20th Century Global Phenomenon
- Sartre’s No Exit and Camus’ The Misunderstanding: Divine Damnation or Self-Determined Destiny?
Learning Goals
- Effectively interpret, analyze and synthesize relevant materials through sustained inquiry in and research on an appropriately focused topic in the humanities. You will challenge assumptions and draw defensible conclusions relevant to the topic.
- Create effective oral presentations, written texts and, where appropriate, audiovisual texts that clearly convey understanding in accordance with the demands of rhetorical context (including audience, context, purpose, genre, evidence, documentation, mechanics of communication and argument).
- Generate, frame and explore an individual research question relevant to the course topic. Students will explore possible answers to the question through written, oral and (when appropriate) other modes of communication, including a research paper on the topic.
- Demonstrate appropriate use and documentation of the work of others while attaining proficiency in the use of one or more formal styles of source citations suited to the communication product.
Specific Methods for Fulfilling the Requirement
Students must complete FYCS/FYCSFA 1110 Connections in Communication in Humanities Context (4 credit hours).
Fall 2025 Connections descriptions forthcoming.
Creative Problem Solving
About
focused set of problems. You will investigate relevant issues from multiple perspectives and propose possibilities for resolution. Creative Problem Solving is introduced in a number of courses, offered in different academic disciplines with a diverse array of topics.
Learning Goals
- Use discipline-based problem-solving tools to identify, define and analyze a problem, and develop creative strategies for solving it.
- Gather information from a variety of sources and consider multiple perspectives to identify criteria, analyze problems and formulate potential solutions or improvement strategies.
- Reflect on the viability of proposed solutions to problems, revising strategies and conclusions as new information is gathered and analyzed.
Specific Methods for Fulfilling the Requirement
Students must complete a course from any discipline that carries a Creative Problem Solving badge (4 credit hours).
Collaboration
About
Learning Goals
- Collaborate with others to achieve a common goal related to the topic you are studying.
- Evaluate and synthesize a range of ideas to make a high-impact contribution to a project or goal.
Specific Methods for Fulfilling the Requirement
Humanities Exploration
About
At Millsaps, we believe effective leaders and visionaries are those who are unafraid to delve into the evolution of humanity and cultures across the world. Through our Exploration in the Humanities, you will explore the human experience and world cultures throughout history and consider the intellectual development, artistic expression and social and cultural evolution of humankind. By exploring the humanities, you will develop skills for seeking, understanding and interpreting cultural phenomena across numerous human contexts.
You will study the human experience through one of the following two options:
Our Human Heritage
In this year-long, interdisciplinary program, you will examine our world’s civilization from its beginning to the present. Throughout the year, you will read, analyze and write about some of the most important events, works, ideas, people and problems that have shaped the world we live in today.Distribution
In the Distribution option, you will explore the Humanities through two introductory-level courses taken from two different departments in the Humanities and allied fields (Archaeology, Art History, Communication Studies, English, Greek and Roman Studies, Government and Politics, History, Music History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies). At least one of these courses must be taken in the first year and the other by the end of the second year.
Learning Goals
- Explore some of the key creative works, generative ideas, pivotal events and problems that have shaped human experience.
- Develop a historical consciousness for understanding human and cultural evolution.
- Explore global, geographic and historical diversity through multiple fields of the arts and humanities.
- Explore connections between fields of study within the arts and humanities and encourage interdisciplinary connections outside the arts and humanities.
- Develop skills of being a thoughtful and discerning interpreter of cultures.
- Develop reading and writing skills for engaging primary sources.
Specific Methods for Fulfilling the Requirement
Students can fulfill this requirement by choosing either of the two options below:
- Complete FYHH 1010 Our Human Heritage Part 1 and FYHH 1020 Our Human Heritage Part 2 (8 hours, 2 semesters).
- Complete two introductory Humanities courses that have been approved by Compass Council, at least one within the first year and the other by the end of the second year.
Courses Approved to Meet This Requirement
- FYHH 1010 / FYHH 1010 Our Human Heritage
- ARTH 1000 Survey of Ancient & Medieval Art
- ARTH 1100 Italian Renaissance Art
- ARTH 1200 Baroque Art
- ARTH 1300 18th and 19th Century Art
- ARTH 2100 Modern Art
- ARTH 2200 Contemporary Art
- COMM 2100 History of Media
- COMM 3000 Mass Media & Political Communication
- ENGL 1000 Interpretation
- ENGL 2010 British & American Literary History I
- ENGL 2020 British & American Literary History II
- ENGL 3170 Modernism & Film
- ENGL 3180 Black American Memoir
- GOVT 1000 Introduction to American Government
- GRCV 2000 Classical Mythology
- GRCV 2030 Roman Civilization
- GRCV 2230 Introduction to New Testament
- HIST 2100 History of the US to 1877
- HIST 2110 History of the US since 1877
- HIST 2350 History of Modern Europe
- HIST 2510 The Cross and the Crescent: The Medieval World of the Crusades
- MUSC 1110 The Literate Tradition: A Survey of Western Art Music
- MUSC 2110 Beethoven
- PHIL 2230 Philosophy of Happiness
- RLST 2110 Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Islam
- RLST 2150 Introduction to Islam
- RLST 2210 The Bible: History and Content
- SOAN 1110 Archaeology of Ancient Civilization
- SOAN 3110 Archaeology of Select Cultures
Social World Exploration
About
At Millsaps, we believe one must engage in society in order to understand and improve it. Through your Exploration of the Social World, you will develop an academic and intellectual foundation to understand and/or engage in diverse social settings and reflect critically on social and cultural phenomena. This requirement fosters opportunities for engaged citizens to understand a multifaceted social world and act within it.
Learning Goals
- Use social science methodologies and theories to understand and compare social behavior, patterns and/or systems.
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of diverse social systems and contexts.
- Critically examine and analyze issues of power and difference as they manifest themselves (explicitly and/or implicitly) in the societies of which we are a part.
- Connect academic studies with day-to-day social experiences.
Specific Methods for Fulfilling the Requirement
Courses Approved to Meet This Requirement
- COMM 2000 Intro to Communication Studies
- ECON 1000 Principles of Economics
- EDUC 1000 Human Development in Cross Cultural Perspectives
- EDUC 2000 Problems in Human Creativity
- GOVT 1000 Introduction to American Government
- GOVT 3000 Campaigns and Elections
- HIST 2100 History of the United States to 1877
- HIST 2350 History of Modern Europe
- HIST 3420 The Second World War
- PEAC 2000 Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies
- PHIL 2120 Environmental Ethics, Law, and Policy
- PHIL 3300 Moral Psychology and Neuroscience
- PSYC 1000 Introduction to Psychology
- PSYC 3300 Moral Psychology and Neuroscience
- RLST 2000 Religions of the World & How Study Them
- RLST 2210 The Bible: History and Content
- SOAN 1000 Introduction to Sociology
- SOAN 1100 Introduction to Anthropology
- SOAN 1110 Archaeology of Ancient Civilization
- SOAN 2020 Myths and Fraud in Archaeology
- SOAN 2120 The Many Dimensions of Poverty
- SOAN 2310 Anthropology Drugs and Altered States
- SOAN 3110 Archaeology of Select Cultures
Natural World Exploration
About
In the Exploration of the Natural World, you will follow your curiosity to learn, use and interpret scientific knowledge of the natural world through experimentation with and observation of its processes and relationships. You will experience scientific methods through formation, testing and refinement of
hypotheses, models and theories through an immersive natural sciences lab or field course (normally introductory level).
Learning Goals
- Understand how scientific inquiry is based on investigation of evidence from the natural world and how scientific knowledge and understanding evolves based on new evidence.
- Recognize the scope and limits of scientific inquiry.
- Participate in scientific inquiry and communicate the elements of the process, by making careful and systematic observations, developing and testing a hypothesis, analyzing evidence and interpreting results.
Specific Methods for Fulfilling the Requirement
Courses Approved to Meet This Requirement
- BIOL 1000 Introduction to Cell Biology with Lab
- BIOL 1010 General Botany with Lab
- BIOL 1020 General Zoology with Lab
- BIOL 1660 Human Biology
- BIOL 2000 Genetics
- BIOL 3210 Ecology of the Galapagos Islands
- CHEM 1000 Human Nutrition w/ Lab Methods
- CHEM 1211 General Inorganic Chemistry Lab I
- CHEM 1213 General Inorganic Chemistry I
- CHEM 1221 General Inorganic Chemistry Lab II
- CHEM 1223 General Inorganic Chemistry II
- ENVS 1100 Environmental Science
- GEOL 1000 The Physical Earth (with Lab)
- GEOL 1200 Geosystems (with lab)
- GEOL 1300 Human & Nat Disasters (w lab)
- GEOL 2000 Plate Tectonics/Earth History (w lab)
- GEOL 3500 Field Study in Geology
- GEOL 3510 Yellowstone Field Study
- GEOL 3520 Earthquakes & Volcanoes Pacific North West
- GEOL 3530 Folded Rocks-Crossing the Appalachia
- PHYS 1201 College Physics Laboratory I
- PHYS 1203 College Physics I
- PHYS 1211 College Physics Laboratory II
- PHYS 1213 College Physics II
- PHYS 2001 General Physics Lab I
- PHYS 2003 General Physics I
- PHYS 2011 General Physics II Lab
- PHYS 2013 General Physics II
Mathematics Exploration
About
In the Exploration of Mathematics, you will study and solve pure and applied mathematical problems from both visual and analytic perspectives. You will develop your ability to convert conceptual information into problems that can be solved using standard mathematical and geometrical tools, solve the problems and interpret the results.
Learning Goals
- Accurately interpret and explain information presented mathematically and graphically.
- Quantify problems, apply abstract symbolic manipulation or reasoning, and interpret the results.
- Understand how the computational skills taught apply in contexts both within and outside mathematics.
- Explicitly describe assumptions in estimation, modeling, or data analysis, and make appropriate inferences with critical thinking.
- Develop and interpret mathematical models of raw data, or physical or social phenomena.
Specific Methods for Fulfilling the Requirement
- An ACT math subscore of 28 or higher
- An SAT math subscore of 630 or higher
- College mathematics transfer credit the equivalent of college algebra or higher
- Any Millsaps mathematics course approved by the Compass Council (4 credit hours; see list below)
Courses Approved to Meet This Requirement
- MATH 1000 Topics in Mathematics
- MATH 1010 College Algebra & Trigonometry Part I
- MATH 1020 College Algebra & Trigonometry Part II
- MATH 1130 Pre-Calculus
- MATH 1150 Elementary Statistics
- MATH 1210 Business Calculus
- MATH 1220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
- MATH 1750 College Algebra & Trigonometry
- MATH 2230 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II
- MATH 2240 Analytic Geometry and Calculus III
- MATH 3540 Differential Equations
STEM Exploration
About
Leaders are turning to the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to create new solutions and meet the demands of our evolving society. Through the Exploration of STEM courses, you will learn to value innovation and the acquisition of new knowledge by focusing on assessing and applying this knowledge to new contexts (normally introductory level course). You will approach problems not previously encountered; evaluate new situations, phenomena and data; and make sense of the world using rapidly changing information and technology.
Learning Goals
- Explore interconnections among science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics, and see how they are practiced in applied contexts.
- Understand and accurately explain scientific problems and information presented quantitatively.
- Apply STEM content.
- Formulate research questions and draw conclusions.
Specific Methods for Fulfilling the Requirement
following:
- An approved natural science course (with or without lab; 4 credit hours).
- An approved mathematics course (4 credit hours).
- An approved computer science course with programming language (4 credit hours).
- An approved research methods or applied statistics course in the social sciences or business (4 credit hours).
Courses Approved to Meet This Requirement
- BIOL 1000 Introduction to Cell Biology with Lab
- BIOL 1003 Introduction to Cell Biology
- BIOL 1010 General Botany w/ Lab
- BIOL 1020 General Zoology w/ Lab
- BIOL 1660 Human Biology
- BIOL 1730 Explore the Nat World w/ Lab
- BIOL 3210 Ecology of the Galapagos Islands
- CHEM 1211 General Inorganic Chemistry Lab I
- CHEM 1213 General Inorganic Chemistry I
- CHEM 1221 General Inorganic Chemistry Lab II
- CHEM 1223 General Inorganic Chemistry II
- CHEM 2000 Scotland: Science, Whiskey & Highlands
- CSCI 1010 Computer Science I
- CSCI 1020 Computer Science II
- EDUC 3400 Inquiry within STEM Education
- ENVS 1100 Environmental Science
- GEOL 1000 The Physical Earth (with Lab)
- GEOL 1200 Geosystems (with lab)
- GEOL 1300 Human & Nat Disasters (w lab)
- GEOL 2000 Plate Tectonics/Earth History (w lab)
- GEOL 3500 Field Study in Geology
- GEOL 3510 Yellowstone Field Study
- GEOL 3520 Earthquakes & Volcanoes Pacific North West
- GEOL 3530 Folded Rocks-Crossing the Appalachia
- MATH 1150 Elementary Statistics
- MATH 1210 Business Calculus
- MATH 1220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
- MATH 2230 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II
- MATH 3540 Differential Equations
- PHYS 1201 College Physics Laboratory I
- PHYS 1203 College Physics I
- PHYS 1211 College Physics Laboratory II
- PHYS 1213 College Physics II
- PHYS 2001 General Physics Lab I
- PHYS 2003 General Physics I
- PHYS 2011 General Physics II Lab
- PHYS 2013 General Physics II
- SOAN 2100 Methods & Statistics
Non-Native Language Exploration
About
At Millsaps College, we believe communicating effectively begins with understanding the languages of those around us. In the Exploration of Non-Native Language, you will demonstrate proficiency in a non-native language through coursework, equivalent experience or proficiency. This requirement emphasizes language study as a vital means to understanding other cultures, literatures, historical perspectives and human experiences. You will become more aware of your own native language and culture, and you will enhance your communication, reasoning and thinking skills. Courses fulfilling this requirement must maintain at least 3 contact points per week.
Learning Goals
- Attain a basic, working knowledge of a linguistic system different from your own.
- Demonstrate the ability to read, write and communicate orally at the foundational, introductory level in the non-native language.
- Become aware of the differences between your own language and a non-native language, thus learning more about your own first language.
- Understand the history of the language you study.
Specific Methods for Fulfilling the Requirement
The non-native language requirement may be fulfilled in one of the following ways:
- Two semesters of non-native language coursework in the same language at Millsaps (8 credit hours).
- An appropriate score on a college-administered placement exam in a language taught at Millsaps.
- Study abroad or other formal language training at another institution, provided that the student supplies to the Office of Records supporting documentation including relevant transcript(s), syllabi, certificate and/or diploma for transferring credits.
- AP, IB, or CLEP Exam Scores: 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement (AP) exam, a grade of 5 or higher on an IB exam or appropriate score on CLEP exam. In some cases, these scores may grant the student credit hours towards graduation.
Note: Higher scores on AP and IB exams are required for the foreign language requirement for the B.A. degree. - Demonstrated proficiency via examination in a language not offered at Millsaps. The student must find a reputable exam administered by an independent third party. The relevant chair will determine the quality of the exam and consult with other experts if necessary.
- For international students whose first language is not English, this requirement will ordinarily be satisfied by proficiency in English evidenced by an official minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the IBT TOEFL, 220 on the computer-based TOEFL or 550 on the paper-based TOEFL. In lieu of the TOEFL exam, students may submit IELTS scores of band 6.5 or higher. In instances where international students do not have required test scores, a plan will be developed in consultation with the ESL specialist. Coursework will be determined in consultation with the ESL specialist.
Note: For academic purposes, a student is considered a native speaker of a language other than
English if the student was raised in a non-English speaking country and was formally educated
through all or most of high school in a language other than English.
Courses Approved to Meet This Requirement
- AMSL 1000 American Sign Language and Deaf Culture I
- AMSL 1010 American Sign Language and Deaf Culture II
- FREN 1000 Basic French I
- FREN 1010 Basic French II
- GREE 1000 Introduction to Greek I
- GREE 1010 Introduction to Greek II
- LATN 1000 Introduction to Latin I
- LATN 1010 Introduction to Latin II
- SPAN 1000 Basic Spanish I
- SPAN 1010 Basic Spanish II
Business Exploration
About
Business is more than dollars and cents; it’s understanding how marketing, data and outside dynamics affect the marketplace. In the Exploration of Business, you will engage with a fundamental aspect of business knowledge and skills to understand the logic of the marketplace and the capacities of organizations and organizational leaders to affect human life across the street and around the globe.
Learning Goals
- Develop decision-making abilities for real-world business problems
- Meet at least one of the following three objectives:
- Interpret and use financial data to make informed decisions.
- Explain factors that affect contemporary markets and describe the impact of those markets on organizations and society.
- Identify and develop key leadership skills necessary for good management in organizations and citizenship in society.
Specific Methods for Fulfilling the Requirement
Such courses include: ACCT 2000, ECON 1000 and MGMT 2000.
Major Experience
About
Business is more than dollars and cents; it’s understanding how marketing, data and outside dynamics affect the marketplace. In the Exploration of Business, you will engage with a fundamental aspect of business knowledge and skills to understand the logic of the marketplace and the capacities of organizations and organizational leaders to affect human life across the street and around the globe.
Learning Goals
- Integrate and apply academic skills to understanding practical experiences and problems found beyond the traditional classroom.
- Develop a foundation for lifelong engaged learning as a Millsaps graduate.
- Analyze the experience critically to integrate knowledge and experience and to achieve new understandings.
Specific Methods for Fulfilling the Requirement
for Major Experience credit. Courses and experiences (four-hour course/combination of courses or experiential equivalents) that satisfy this requirement include:
- Study abroad: A study abroad course offered by Millsaps College (4 credit hours).
- Field-based course: An approved domestic field-course (where at least 75% of the course takes place in the field during which students are actively engaging with an applied learning experience) offered by Millsaps College (4 credit hours).
- Community-engaged coursework: Each CEL course will satisfy one-half of the Major Experience requirement. Approved CEL courses require at least ten hours of engagement with a community partner, in collaboration with classmates and toward completion of a project. The requirement for CEL designation is documented through a CEL application and a section in the syllabus that details the CEL component of the class.
- Undergraduate research experience: Undergraduate research experiences that total 4 hours of earned credit or the experiential equivalent (e.g., non-credit summer research experiences). Research experiences must be approved by a Millsaps faculty/staff member.
- Honors project: Successful completion of an Honors project.
- Ford Fellowship: Successful completion of a Ford Teaching Fellowship collaboration (regardless of credit hours earned).
- Internship/student teaching: Internship experiences that total 4 hours of earned credit or the experiential equivalent. Internships must be approved by a Millsaps faculty/staff member.
- Petition-approved experience: In some cases, the Major Experience requirement may be satisfied in non-traditional ways (i.e., not-for-credit internships, summer research experiences, self-designed projects with faculty oversight, etc.). In such cases, an approved petition is required before the experience is undertaken. To obtain a petition, contact contact Dr. Stephanie Rolph, Director of Experiential Learning and Special Initiatives.
- Combined experience: A student may assemble any combination of approved courses or experiences that total the equivalent of 4 credit hours in order to satisfy the Major Experience requirement.
Fine Arts Experience
About
Millsaps students discover the creativity inside of themselves and learn about the connection between the fine arts and our shared humanity. In the Exploration of Fine Arts, you will be equipped with tools to explore the aesthetic dimension of human life. This requirement will introduce students to the rich
artistic realms associated with images, sounds, objects, movement and/or language. You will gain the ability to evaluate and critique artistic works, while actively participating within artistic communities. You will also develop your powers of artistic expression, performance and/or discernment.
Learning Goals
- Demonstrate knowledge of artistic practice through producing and/or analyzing work in a specific discipline (creative writing, music, theatre or the visual arts).
- Identify and/or apply strategies that enable artistic decision-making as associated with individual artists, periods and/or cultures.
- Evaluate the function of artistic expression by reflecting the ways art may affirm, challenge or alter audience perspective.
Specific Methods for Fulfilling the Requirement
- a four-credit-hour Fine Arts course (see below).
- experiences equivalent to four credit hours in one area that has been approved by the Compass Council.
Note: four credit hours of any combination of approved music ensembles and/or lessons (including voice) shall meet this requirement; an approved Connections (FYCSFA 1020) course may also apply.
Courses Approved to Meet This Requirement
- ARTH 1000 Ancient and Medieval Art
- ARTH 1100 Italian Renaissance Art
- ARTH 1200 Baroque Art
- ARTH 1300 Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Art
- ARTH 2000 Northern Renaissance Art
- ARTH 2100 Modern Art
- ARTH 2200 Contemporary Art
- ARTH 2760 Special Topics in Art History (counts for Fine Arts only when class is called “American Art” or “African American Art”)
- ARTS 1000 Beginning Drawing
- ARTS 1100 Beginning Painting
- ARTS 1200 Beginning Printmaking
- ARTS 1300 Beginning Sculpture
- ARTS 1400 Beginning Digital Arts
- ARTS 2750 Special Topics in Studio Art (counts for Fine Arts when called “Beginning Filmmaking”)
- CRWT 2400 Introduction to Creative Writing
- CRWT 3000 Advanced Reading and Writing Fiction
- CRWT 3750 Topics Vary by Term (counts when called “Fiction Workshop”)
- CRWT 4900 Senior Workshop in Creative Writing
- FYCSFA 1110 Connections with Fine Arts (approved sections only; topics vary by term)
- MUSC 1000 Integrative Music Theory I
- MUSC 1100 The Beatles
- MUSC 1110 The Literate Tradition: A Survey of Western Art Music
- MUSC 2000 Interactive Music Theory II
- MUSC 2100 History of Jazz
- MUSC 2110 Beethoven
- MUSC 2120 The Age of Enlightenment: Mozart
- SPAN 3750 Special Topics in Spanish (counts when called “History of Spanish Paintina”)
- MUSC 2130 Women and Music
- MUSC 2140 World Music – Globalization in Sound
- MUSC 2180 The Music Arts Culture and History of Taiwan
- MUSC 1511, 1521, 2511, 2521, 3511, 3521, 4511, 4521, 1512, 1522, 2512, 2522, 3512, 3522, 4512, 4522, 1531, 1541, 2531, 2541 Private Music Studio Instruction
- MUSC 15S1, MUSC 15C1, MUSC 1501: Music Ensembles
- MUSC 3030 Composition
- PHIL 2210 Aesthetics
- THEA 1500 Acting I
- THEA 1710 Improvisation I
- THEA 4410 Company Performance
- THEA 4420 Company Production
Writing Requirement
About
The Millsaps Writing Proficiency Portfolio
By the time you graduate from Millsaps, you will demonstrate your proficiency of written communication through the Millsaps Writing Proficiency Portfolio. If you are a traditional student, you will fulfill this requirement by the end of your second year at Millsaps; if you are a transfer student
entering as a junior or senior, you will need to complete the requirement by the term prior to your anticipated graduation date.
To submit your portfolio for review by faculty committee, you are required to do the following:
First year: Attend two mandatory Writing Program workshops.
a. Introduction to the Millsaps Writing Program: During the first two weeks of your first semester, you will attend a Writing Program workshop introducing the writing proficiency requirement and instructing you in the use of the required campus writing reference text. You will be required bring this text to the workshop. The workshop schedule will be distributed via email to all first-semester students; it will also be posted on the Writing Program’s website.
Note: Completion of this workshop is required; you will not be able to access your online Writing Proficiency Portfolio space until you have completed this requirement.
b. Introduction to Reflective Writing: During the second semester (spring term for most students but offered in the fall for transfer students), you will be required to attend a Writing Program workshop on reflective writing to prepare you for submission of your portfolio in your second
year. The workshop schedule will be distributed via email to all first-semester students; it will also be posted on the Writing Program’s website.
The Millsaps College Writing Center provides additional support for writers through workshops and one-on-one sessions; for information about support opportunities, please visit the Writing Center website.
For more information about the contents of the portfolio and instructions for submission, please visit the Writing Program website.
Second year: By the end of the spring semester of your second year, you will submit the following documents to your online writing portfolio space. Specific instructions will be distributed to students via email; they will also be posted on the Writing Program’s website.
Required portfolio documents:
a. Introduction: A brief (two to four pages) reflective introduction to the portfolio. Written outside the context of a specific course, this document serves as your thesis about your writing development at Millsaps. Subsequent items provide the evidence referenced in this reflective
introduction. The Writing Center will offer workshops to help you with this document; for more information, see the Writing Center’s website.
b. Course Papers: Four papers from classes taken at Millsaps College and from at least two of the three divisions below.
1. Arts & Humanities
2. Business
3. Sciences
These papers will normally be sourced from courses taken to fulfill elements of the Compass Curriculum. Of these four papers, at least two must demonstrate use of multiple secondary research and proper application of a clearly identified/identifiable documentation system. The total number of pages expected for this section of the portfolio is 25–30 (assuming an average page length of 250 words). While we will accept page counts slightly under or over the expected norm, excessive deviation may affect the assessor’s ability to evaluate your work, and you may be asked to submit more appropriate alternatives.
c. “Wild Card” artifact: One “wild card” artifact reflecting an element of your communication development. This document can be written, oral (recording/video) or visual in nature; the only requirement is that it be able to be shared in digital form. While the length of the wild card item
is not prescribed, we encourage students to remember that readers will be assessing a large number of portfolios.
Note: Failure to complete this requirement on time will result in registration delays in subsequent semesters and may prohibit you from taking your comprehensive examinations.
Special note for transfer students: The categories for essay submission may vary according to your academic record prior to attending Millsaps College. If you are transferring in at the junior or senior level, you are allowed to substitute one paper written for a course at a previous college or university as one of your four essays. If you have any questions about the portfolio, you should speak with the Director of Writing & Teaching to ascertain what papers to submit.
For more information, consult the Writing Program’s website or visit the Writing Program office in John Stone Hall.
The Writing Reflection on the Value of the Millsaps Experience
For Transfer Students
Millsaps College defines a transfer student as a student who has matriculated to an institution of higher learning following the summer after their graduation from high school. In order to make the most of your Millsaps experience as a transfer student, we have designated the following guidelines:
Connections
You must complete Connections (FYCS 1110) unless:
• you have completed the second semester of English Composition (or equivalency) at an institute of higher learning (C or above grade), OR
• you have earned 30 or more hours (C or above grade) of college credit (excluding credit hours earned through placement tests or dual enrollment) and can show proficiency in written communication to the Writing Council.
Creative Problem Solving and Collaboration
You must complete courses with Creative Problem Solving and Collaboration badges unless you have earned 30 or more hours (C or above grade) of college credit (excluding credit hours earned through placement tests or dual enrollment).
Humanities Exploration
As a transfer student, you may use historically oriented courses in the Humanities (or allied fields) to fulfill the Exploration in the Humanities requirement, provided that you have placed out of Connections (see above). These courses must be from different disciplines if you intend to satisfy the entire requirement.
Other Explorations Requirements
If you are a student who has completed a course in the natural sciences, mathematics, social/behavioral sciences, fine arts, language or business that presumes the skill and knowledge of a Compass Curriculum course, you may be exempt from that particular Compass Curriculum requirement. Contact the Office of Records for more information.
Once you have enrolled at Millsaps College, you will not be permitted to use transfer credits to meet Compass requirements. Coursework that does not apply toward the Compass Curriculum but is found to be transferrable to Millsaps College may count as an elective (TRAN). Once you have declared your major/minor/concentration, those electives may or may not apply to your specific program of study.
These decisions are made in conjunction with the Office of Records and the applicable Department Chair.
Foundations
As a transfer student, you must complete Transfer Foundations (FOUN 1050) in your first semester at Millsaps College.
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