Thurgood Marshall College
Thurgood Marshall College Courses, Curricula
and Program of Instruction
Thurgood Marshall College, formerly known as Third College, was
founded in 1970. From its inception, the college has enriched
the lives of undergraduates with its intellectual and philosophic
commitment to the development of students as both scholars and
citizens. In July of 1993, the college was renamed in honor of
the famous lawyer and Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall.
Justice Marshall was widely known and recognized for his historic
contributions to American life and dedication to breaking down
barriers to education, civil rights, freedom of speech, womens
rights, and the right to privacy. Thurgood Marshall College, its
faculty, staff, and students are committed to furthering the ideals
and dreams of Justice Marshall; accordingly, students are provided
opportunities to develop as both scholars and citizens.
Thurgood Marshalls 3,000 students pursue any major in
a variety of disciplines. About 40 percent choose majors in biology,
the physical sciences, mathematics, and engineering; 35 percent
select majors in the social sciences; and 25 percent pursue majors
in the humanities and fine arts areas. One of the primary aims
of the college is to prepare its students for the pursuit of a
rigorous academic curriculum which in turn promotes entry into
graduate/professional schools or into the career of ones
choice.
Educational Philosophy
The educational philosophy of Thurgood Marshall College is guided
by the belief that regardless of a students major, a broad
liberal arts education must include an awareness and understanding
of ones role in society. Therefore, the distinctive core
sequence, which serves as the centerpiece of the general-education
requirements, emphasizes a critical examination of the human condition
in our diverse American society. This three-quarter core sequence,
Dimensions of CultureDiversity, Justice, and Imagination,
challenges students to develop an informed awareness of the many
cultural perspectives that have shaped American society. The core
sequence is designed as an interdisciplinary, contemporary issues-oriented
curricular experience that explores both the diversity of American
experiences across race, religion, class, and gender, and also
the shared resources all Americans draw on when their different
identities and interests conflict. Other general-education requirements
include courses in mathematics, the physical and biological sciences,
humanities, and the arts.
Wishing to uphold the ideals set forth by the colleges
namesake, Thurgood Marshall students are encouraged to develop
their skills not only as scholars, but also as citizens. Therefore,
it is our belief that scholarship and social responsibility are
mutually compatible. In this regard, our students receive academic
credit for participating in the Partners-at-Learning Program (PAL)
by taking courses which train and place them as tutors and mentors
in local inner city elementary schools and high schools as well
as the on-campus model school, The Preuss School. Because this
activity shares importance with other academic experiences, completion
of one of these specific public service courses, offered through
TEP, satisfies an upper-division general-education requirement.
Further underpinning the educational philosophy of Thurgood
Marshall College is the belief that the best preparation for a
complex, interdependent, and rapidly changing world is a broad
liberal arts education, complemented by in-depth study in areas
of the students choice. This educational approach has several
major advantages:
- It guarantees a basic understanding of the principle branches
of knowledge: the humanities and arts, social sciences, the
natural sciences, and mathematics.
- It enables students with well-defined interests and goals
to begin work in their chosen field of study as first-year students.
- It allows students who have not decided on a major to sample
an array of potential majors while simultaneously satisfying
the general-education requirements of the college.
General-Education Requirements
General-education requirements are established by Thurgood Marshall
College faculty to be broad and flexible enough to encourage students
to integrate other alternatives, such as public service, internships,
study abroad, research, special studies, etc., into their academic
program. This permits students flexibility in pursuit of their
academic goals and in the practical application of their liberal
arts degree, whether they wish to enter the work force or continue
their education in graduate or professional school. These courses
are designed to introduce students to the academic focus of the
college, provide a broad liberal arts and science background,
and furnish students with the academic skills and the basic knowledge
necessary to pursue any departmental or interdisciplinary major.
The general-education requirements for first-year students are
composed of a core sequence and a menu of choices within a liberal
arts framework:
- DIVERSITY, JUSTICE, AND IMAGINATION: This is a three-course
interdisciplinary sequence. Two of the three courses are six-units
and include intensive instruction in university-level writing.
This is a required sequence for all first-year students. All
courses must be completed at UCSD and taken on a letter-grade
basis only. (See Dimensions of Culture in the departmental
listings.)
- FINE ARTS: One course in either music, theatre, or visual
arts (non-performance).
- NATURAL SCIENCES: Three courses. Choose one course each in
biology, chemistry, and physics. Courses are available for science
and non-science students.
- QUANTITATIVE/FORMAL SKILLS: Choose two courses in mathematics
or one course in mathematics or statistics and one in computing
or logic. Courses are available for majors and non-majors.
- HUMANITIES AND CULTURE: Two courses. Choose one course each
from ethnic studies and Third World studies.
- DISCIPLINARY BREADTH: Four courses. Students choose four
courses (three for students graduating with a B.S. degree in
engineering) from a variety of disciplinary breadth areas: humanities/foreign
language; social sciences; natural sciences; math/engineering.
Courses used to satisfy the disciplinary breadth requirement
come from fields outside the major field of study. Two of these
courses must be upper- division. At least one upper-division
course must include significant writing. Pending Academic Senate
review, the breadth requirements for engineering majors may
change.
- PUBLIC SERVICE (optional): This four-unit public service
option may be used to fulfill one course in Disciplinary Breadth
for any major and fulfills the upper-division writing requirement.
(See Partners at Learning and Teacher Education
Program listings.)
The Thurgood Marshall College Curriculum and Academic Affairs
Committee publishes an annual fact sheet with specific course
choices which may be used to meet these requirements. Contact
the college academic advising office for additional information
or refer to the college Web site.
Graduation Requirements
To receive a bachelors degree from Thurgood Marshall College,
a student must:
- Satisfy the university Subject A requirement. (See Undergraduate
Admissions, Policies and Procedures.)
- Satisfy the university requirement in American History and
Institutions. (See Undergraduate Admissions, Policies
and Procedures.)
- Fulfill the general-education requirements as described.
- Complete a departmental or interdisciplinary major.
- Satisfy the college residency requirement (thirty-five of
the last forty-five units must be completed as a registered
Thurgood Marshall College student).
- Successfully complete a minimum of 180 units for the B.A./B.S.
degree. At least 60 of these units must be completed at the
upper-division level. All students must complete a minimum of
fifteen four-unit upper-division courses.
- A 2.0 or better GPA is required for graduation.
Transfer Students
Transfer students have a variety of academic options available
to complete lower-division general education prior to transfer.
Specific details regarding appropriate general-education agreement
are in the section on Undergraduate Admissions and
through the community college. Students may also contact UCSD
Transfer Student Services prior to transfer. Also, the college
Web site contains pertinent information.
Majors and Minors
Majors: Thurgood Marshall College students may pursue
any of the departmental or interdisciplinary majors offered at
UCSD. The majority of the academic departments have established
lower-division prerequisites. Generally, these prerequisites must
be completed prior to entry into upper-division major courses.
Many of these courses may be counted for general-education credit
as well. Students are strongly encouraged to work closely with
department faculty and college advisers. For details on the specific
major departments, refer to the Courses, Curricula, and
Programs of Instruction section of this catalog.
Minors are optional. However, students are encouraged
to keep as many options open as possible. A minor provides an
excellent opportunity to complement the major field of study.
Students are required to complete twenty-eight units of interrelated
work, of which at least twenty units must be upper-division. See
your college or department for further information.
Pass/Not Pass Grading Option
- Courses to be counted toward a departmental major or as prerequisites
to the major must be taken on a letter-grade basis.
- Only one upper-division course to be counted toward a college
minor may be taken on a Pass/Not Pass basis.
- Courses taken toward completion of the college general-education
requirements, with the exception of Dimensions of Culture (Diversity,
Justice and Imagination), may be taken on a Pass/Not Pass basis,
while at the same time the restrictions for prerequisites to
majors and courses counted toward a minor must be observed.
- Courses taken as electives may be taken on a Pass/Not Pass
basis, while at the same time the restrictions on the majors
and minors must be observed.
- No more than one-fourth of the total University of California,
San Diego units may be completed on a Pass/Not Pass basis.
Honors
Quarterly provosts honors, honors at graduation, departmental
honors, and Phi Beta Kappa are awarded to Thurgood Marshall College
students. For additional information see Honors in
the Index or speak with the academic honors program adviser in
the academic advising office.
Enhancing Your Education
Students are able to enhance their undergraduate education by
participating in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) and UCSD
Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP) while still making regular progress
toward graduation. Information on EAP/OAP is detailed in those sections
in the General Catalog. Interested students should contact the Programs
Abroad Office in the International Center and visit the Web site
at http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/icenter//pao/index.html.
Financial aid recipients may apply aid to the program, and special
study abroad scholarships are readily available.
College-Sponsored Programs
Individual Studies Major
The Individual Studies major allows students to pursue a coherent
course of study not formally offered at UCSD. To apply for the
major, students must have a 3.25 grade point average. A written
proposal with supporting documentation from a faculty adviser,
a list of prerequisite courses, and a proposed curriculum plan
are required. Students pursuing this major must be goal-oriented
and self-directed.
Partners-at-Learning Program (PAL)
Students may participate in the Partners-at-Learning Program
(PAL) by taking specified Teacher Education Program (TEP) courses
which train and place them as tutors and mentors in local elementary
and high schools as well as at the on-campus Preuss School. Participation
in the PAL program can be counted toward satisfying the Public
Service option at Thurgood Marshall College. This campuswide program
is open to all students in good standing and at the junior level.
(See TEP in the department listingspecifically TEP 130,
134, 136, 138, and 139).
Price Public Affairs Forum
The Price Public Affairs Forum invites leading public figures
to speak on important contemporary issues. Such wide-ranging topics
as Race and Justice in America, Womens
Role in the Workplace, and The Modern American Family
have been presented. These forums are open to the general public.
Public Service Minor
Thurgood Marshall College sponsors the Public Service Minor
at UCSD, which encourages students to understand the history and
practices of public service and to participate in the development
of civic skills. This minor is open to all UCSD students in good
standing. Please see Public Service Minor in the departmental
listings.
THE CONTEMPORARY BLACK ARTS PROGRAM
The Contemporary Black Arts Program is an interdisciplinary
minor which provides a broad introduction to Afro-American performing
arts. (See Contemporary Black Arts in the department listings.)
Thurgood Marshall College Honors Program
The Thurgood Marshall College Honors Program sponsors activities
and events designed to introduce students to the excitement of
pioneering research and innovative scholarship in all disciplines
at UCSD and to create opportunities for discussion on public issues
with locally and nationally known figures. (See Thurgood Marshall
College Honors Program in the department listings.)
Thurgood Marshall Institute
The Thurgood Marshall Institute is heavily devoted to undergraduate
research. The institute has organized and supported faculty and
student group research projects in the area of education and public
law; hosted conferences and symposia on related issues; and trained
junior and senior high school instructors in the teaching of the
United States Constitution and its amendments.
UCSD-Morehouse/Spelman Student Exchange Program
The UCSD-Morehouse/Spelman Student Exchange Program was established
in the fall quarter of 1989. This formal exchange program was
developed by Thurgood Marshall College and is open to all UCSD
undergraduates. Morehouse and Spelman Colleges are located in
Atlanta, Georgia.
The purpose of the program is to provide a unique opportunity
for students to live and study at important institutions of higher
learning that are significantly different from the social and
educational environment typical of California state colleges and
universities. Similarly, the exchange students coming to UCSD
from Morehouse and Spelman will have an opportunity to experience
an exciting and very different educational environment. See the
program coordinator in the college academic advising office for
additional information.
Student Leadership Program
Complementary to the strong academic programs, Thurgood Marshall
College is proud of its emphasis on the student as citizen. The
Student Leadership Program is especially designed to encourage
active involvement in the governance of the college and participation
in community and public service programs. College life outside
of the classroom and laboratory is a vital part of each students
undergraduate experience. The college offers a wide variety of
opportunities for students to shape the nature and character of
student life. This active participation allows students to develop
self-confidence and strong interpersonal, organizational, and
leadership skills. The friendly and outgoing manner of Thurgood
Marshall students contributes to a sense of community and mutual
respect. This spirit of cooperation is a college hallmark.
Honorary Fellows of the College
Maryann Callery, College Activist
*Cesar Chavez, Civil Rights Activist
Ernesto Galarza, Novelist and Educator
Joseph W. Watson, Educator, Professor, Vice Chancellor
Marian Wright Edelman, President, Childrens Defense Fund
*Deceased
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