Office of the Registrar
Major Program Requirements
Declaration of Major
When students apply to enroll for the first time, they may choose to indicate an intended major on the Application. This is the anticipated major upon which advisors and early course selection may be determined. Students may declare a major by submitting the Academic Declaration & Update form to the Office of the Registrar. Students are encouraged to declare their major no later than the beginning of the fifth semester (or upon earning 60 credits). Students may not double-major.
Certain academic programs have additional application criteria. When applicable, the Academic Declaration & Update form is forwarded to the appropriate faculty member. Once the Academic Declaration & Update form is submitted or admission status to the program is approved, the major has been officially declared.
Foreign Language Policy
Demonstrated intermediate-level proficiency in a foreign language is required of all PHC graduates. Students may increase their proficiency level through a variety of formal or informal learning methods including (but not limited to) online language learning, traditional classroom curriculum, independent study, immersion programs, and other overseas experiences.
Regardless of the method of instruction, students must demonstrate intermediate-level language proficiency in one of following ways:
1) Successfully complete the fourth semester of a language currently offered at PHC (LAT223, GRK223, RUS223).
2) Demonstrate intermediate mastery of a classical or modern foreign language currently offered at PHC by taking a college-administered proficiency test.
3) Score a 4 or 5 on both the Language and Literature Advanced Placement (AP) tests.
Category I and II languages: Intermediate High
Category III and IV languages: Intermediate Mid
According to ACTFL, Category I and II languages include French, German, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish; Category III and IV languages include Arabic, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Vietnamese.
Students who complete non-PHC college-level instruction must still satisfactorily fulfill one of these assessments without regard to how a language learning program classifies its language instruction or the number of credits earned. Students who earn credit from approved institutions may have the credit transferred to PHC as open electives.
Government (Political Theory, American Politics & Policy, International Politics & Policy tracks) and Journalism majors may choose either a Classical or modern foreign language. Government majors (Strategic Intelligence track) must study a modern foreign language. Classical Liberal Arts, History, and Literature majors must choose a Classical language.
Course Substitutions
Any course substitution requested by a matriculated student must be approved by the advisor, Department Chairman and the Registrar. The Course Substitution Form may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. Variances from the stated degree and graduation requirements are official and binding only when the Office of Academic Affairs has approved the substitution in writing. No staff or faculty member may grant an exception to the stated degree and graduation requirements. All documentation will be held in the student's file in the Office of the Registrar.
