Undergraduate Academic Programs

Cooperative Programs

Engineering

In the cooperative 3+2 Engineering Program, a student earns a B.S. degree from Lebanon Valley College and a B.S. degree in one of the fields of engineering from ­another institution. Students do three years of work at Lebanon Valley College and then usually do two additional years of work in engineering. Students may study engineering at any accredited engineering school. To assist the student, Lebanon Valley College has cooperative (contractual) agreements with The Pennsylvania State University and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. There are three tracks for 3+2 engineering. For most fields of engineering (e.g., civil, mechanical, electrical), the student completes the B.S. physics track. For chemical engineering, the student completes the B.S. chemistry track. For computer engineering, the student completes the B.S. computer science track. For more information, contact Professor Michael Day (director, 3+2 Engineering Program).

Medical Technology (Clinical Laboratory Science)

The student spends three years at Lebanon Valley College taking courses to fulfill the requirements of the College and of the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Before or during the third year of the program, the student applies to a hospital with a CAHEA approved school of medical technology where he or she spends the fourth year in training. Admission is not automatic and depends upon the academic record, recommendations and an interview. Upon satisfactorily completing the clinical year, the student is awarded the Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology by Lebanon Valley College. The College is affiliated with the following (hospital) programs: School of Medical Laboratory Science of the Jersey Shore University Medical Center and the Clinical Laboratory Science Program of the Lancaster General College of Nursing and Health Sciences. However, the student is not limited to these affiliations and may seek acceptance at other approved hospitals.

Degree Requirements:

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology

Major: BIO-111, 112, 113, 114, 201, 306, 322 or 324, 323; CHM-111, 112, 113, 114, 213, 214, 215, 216; PHY-103/105, 104/106; MAS 170 (51 credits). The senior year is spent off campus at an accredited hospital school of medical technology. It is the student's responsibility to apply and become accepted into a hospital program. Thirty semester hours of credit are awarded for the successful completion of this year.


Pre-Professional Programs

Pre-Law Program

Lebanon Valley students have done very well at a variety of law schools. Over the years, LVC students who have excelled academically have attended Harvard, Chicago, Columbia, Stanford, Washington and Lee, and William and Mary. Our graduates have also studied at several of Pennsylvania’s fine schools of law, including Penn State Dickinson, Temple, Villanova, Duquense, Drexel, and Widener. Lebanon Valley alumni have pursued legal careers with corporations, government, while a number have entered politics.

Students should consult with the pre-law advisor well before commencing the law school application process. The pre-law advisor, Dr. Philip Benesch, will help you decide when to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and which law schools may suit your interests and qualifications. The LSAT is required for acceptance at American Bar Association-approved law schools. The LSAT is given four times during the year, typically in February, June, September, and December, and it may be taken at Lebanon Valley College. For many, it will be beneficial to take an LSAT preparation course. Two are available within a short driving distance of LVC. LVC has teamed with Kaplan to offer practice LSATs in early September and in February. A follow-up workshop will be held approximately two weeks after each practice test. In addition, we strongly recommend that before taking the LSAT, students complete PHL 120 Basic Logic, a course required for the Law and Society minor.

In addition to an applicant’s LSAT score, law schools will consider his or her GPA, transcript, letters of recommendation, and personal statement. No single major is identified as an ideal preparation for law school; rather a broad liberal-arts curriculum is preferred, with courses known for significant reading, writing, and thinking challenges being particularly valued.

A law and society minor can be taken alongisde any major at LVC. Further information on the Law and Society minor can be found on the History and Political Science page. The minor includes courses on Law and Government, Civil Liberties and Civil Rights, and a senior-level Seminar in Law.

In addition, it is recommended that pre-law students take the following courses to fulfill general education requirements or free electives: under Area 1, HIS 125, United States History to 1865, and HIS 136, United States History since 1865; under Area 2, ECN 101, Principles of Microeconomics, ECN 102, Principles of Macroeconomics, and PSC 110, American National Government; under Area 6, PHL 210, Ethics. Other electives courses of potential interest to pre-law students include BUS 371/372, Business Law, and ACT 161/162, Financial and Managerial Accounting.

Students interested in law school should contact the pre-law advisor as early as possible in their studies at Lebanon Valley. Dr. Philip Benesch, the pre-law advisor and director of the Law and Society Program, can be reached by phone at 717-867-6326, at his office HUM 206, or by email at prelaw@lvc.edu.

 

Pre-Medical, Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Veterinary

Lebanon Valley College offers pre-professional preparation in the medical (medicine, osteopathy, optometry, podiatry, pharmacy, chiropractic, dentistry, and physician assistant) and veterinary fields. Students interested in one of these careers usually follow a science curriculum with a major in biochemistry and molecular biology, biology, chemistry or psychobiology.

In addition to the basic natural sciences suited to advanced professional study, the student may participate in an internship program between the College and local physicians or veterinarians. Students not only receive credit for the work, but also gain valuable experience in the field.

A health professions committee coordinates the various plans of study in addition to offering advice and assistance to those persons interested in health professions careers.

Lebanon Valley College graduates have been admitted to some of the nation’s finest schools, including Johns Hopkins University Medical School, University of Virginia, Cornell University, The University of Pennsylvania, The University of Pittsburgh, Jefferson Medical School, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University Medical School at Hershey, Temple University School of Pediatric Medicine, The University of Maryland, The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, The Pennsylvania College of Pediatric Medicine, and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.

Individualized Major

The option of an individualized major is available to students who desire a field of concentration that is not substantially addressed by any one department. The faculty represents a diverse set of interests and perspectives that provide a considerable resource for those students who would like to develop a major around concerns that do not fall into traditional disciplinary areas. As a liberal arts institution, the College and its faculty are willing to help a student develop a program of study using interdisciplinary courses.

A student planning an individualized major should prepare an application that includes courses relevant to the topic and secure the written endorsement of at least two faculty advisers for the proposed major, which shall consist of at least 24 credits above the 100 level.

The student should submit the application to the vice president and dean of the faculty for final approval. The student will work closely with the advisors. Any changes in the program must be submitted to the dean for approval.

Degree: Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree (depending upon concentration) with an individualized major.

Requirements: Those course specified within the approved individualized major plus those courses to meet the general requirements of the College.


Internships

An internship is a practical and professional work experience that allows students to participate in the operations of business, industry, education, government or not-for-profit organizations. Internships provide students with opportunities to integrate their classroom learning with on-the-job experiences and to test practical applications of their liberal arts education in a variety of settings.

To be eligible for an internship sponsored by an academic department or program, a student generally will have junior or senior standing. Students must request and receive permission from departmental chairpersons or program directors to enroll in internships. The student must also enlist a faculty internship supervisor from the department sponsoring the internship and an on-site internship supervisor from the internship location.

Application forms for internships are available in the office of the registrar. The application form shall be completed by the student and approved by the student’s academic advisor, faculty internship supervisor, on-site internship supervisor, and the department chairperson prior to registration.

For each semester hour of credit, the intern should invest at least 45 hours of time at the internship location. Academic departments and programs establish other specific criteria and procedures for internships. In addition to the practical on-site experience, internships have an academic component that may include readings, reports, journals, seminars and/or faculty conferences. A student may enroll for 1–12 credit hours of internship during any one semester. A student may use a maximum of 12 credit hours of internship to meet graduation requirements. All internships have a course number of 400.


Independent Study

Independent study provides an opportunity to undertake a program of supervised reading, research or creative work not incorporated in existing formal courses. The independent study should result in a formal document. Independent study shall not be used to approximate an existing course or to cover projects more properly described as internships. Junior or senior standing and a minimum GPA of 2.00 or higher are required.

For one semester hour of credit, the independent study student should invest at least 45 clock hours of time in reading, research or report writing. The independent study involves a contract between the student and the faculty member (contract instructor) who will oversee the study. Written application forms regarding the independent study are available in the office of the registrar. The forms must be completed by the student and approved by the student’s faculty advisor, the contract instructor, and the department chairperson.

Students may enroll in a maximum of 3 credit hours per independent study in any one semester. A maximum of 6 credit hours in independent study may be used toward the graduation requirements. All independent studies have a course number of 500.


Tutorial Study

Tutorial study provides students with a special opportunity to take an existing formal course in the curricula that is not scheduled that semester or summer session. Students desiring a tutorial study must have an appropriate member of the faculty agree to supervise the study on a one-on-one basis.

For one semester hour of credit, the student should invest at least 45 clock hours of time in the tutorial study. The tutorial study essentially involves a contract between the student and the faculty advisor. The typical tutorial study involves readings, research, report writing, faculty conferences, and examinations. All tutorial study courses have the same course number as the existing formal catalog course.


Special Topics Courses

From time to time, departments may offer Special Topics courses using the following course numbers: 290–298, 390–398, 490–498, and 590. Special Topics courses are formal courses that are not listed permanently in the curricula and that are offered infrequently. These courses examine comparatively narrow subjects that may be topical or of special interest. Several different topics may be taught in one semester or academic year. A specific course title shall be used in each instance and shall be so noted on the student record.