Everything you wanted to know about SLQ requirements…

Frequently Asked Questions for Faculty and Advisors
on the SLQ Requirements

1.  How are the SLQ courses indicated in the course catalog?

Courses designated as meeting the Scientific Reasoning requirement are indicated in the course catalog by [S]. Courses designated as meeting the Laboratory Experience requirement are indicated in the course catalog by [L]. Courses designated as meeting the Quantitative Literacy requirement are indicated in the course catalog by [Q]. While some courses carry only one of these designations, many carry two or all three. It is important to note that each course taken may be used to fulfill only one of the individual SLQ requirements.

IMPORTANT!  There are two different types of “L” codes. The “[L]” code identifies a course or unit that meets the laboratory requirement. It appears in the course description in the catalog. The “L1” or “L2” code that appears in the schedule and registration material indicates a lab section. This code does not identify the course as meeting the General Education requirement.

2.  Are students required to take three separate courses to meet each of the S, L, and Q requirements?

Yes. “Double-” or “triple-dipping” within the SLQ group are not allowed. In order to satisfy the SLQ requirement students must complete at least three separate courses, one which carries an S designation in the course catalog, another which carries an L designation, and a third
which carries a Q designation.

3.  Should students expect that they will have to take only one L- and only one Q-designated course as they progress toward completing the SLQ requirements?

A large fraction of the courses offered at Bates which are designated as meeting the S requirement, by their nature, also include a laboratory component, a quantitative literacy component, or both. The departments and programs providing the SLQ courses do not have sufficient resources to offer the  number of S-only designated courses that would allow all students to avoid taking more than one L- or Q-designated course. If you are an advisor, note that it is in the best interests of your advisees for them to attempt to enroll in courses which meet the SLQ requirements as early in their Bates career as possible.  This will increase the probability that they will be able to enroll in their top SLQ course choices before graduating. This will also help to avoid placing students in the often uncomfortable position of having to complete their SLQ requirements in their senior year.

4.  Must students designate which of the courses they take will count as their S, which will count as their L, and which will count as their Q?

No. As long as the requirement stated in the answer to question 2 is satisfied, students do not need to specify which courses are being used to satisfy each SLQ requirement.

5.  Can courses designated as S, L, and/or Q also count toward the writing requirement or as part of General Education concentrations?

Yes. Some courses are simultaneously designated as S, L, and/or Q and as either W1 or W2. Such courses can be used to meet both one S, L, or Q requirement and one W1 or W2 requirement. One or more courses designated as S, L, and/or Q that are part of a concentration can be applied to both the concentration and to meeting the S, L, or Q requirement(s).

6.  Do all of the S-, L-, and/or ]-designated courses have to be in the natural sciences or mathematics?

No. While many of these designated courses are taught within the natural sciences or mathematics, several are found within interdisciplinary programs or in other departments.

7.  Can course credits that meet the S, L, or Q requirements be transferred to Bates?

This is possible. A course taken at another institution, including an AP, IB, or similarly designated course, that is accepted by a department or program as being equivalent to a specific Bates course can be transferred as a Bates course credit. Any S, L, and/or Q attributes attached to the equivalent Bates course are considered to transfer along with the transferred course credit.

8.  If I am teaching a course or unit that I think should be designated as S, L, and/or Q, what should I do?

For existing courses or units: Submit for consideration to be designated as S, L, and/or Q through the SLQ Designation page on the Garnet Gateway. The link to this page is located under the Course Maintenance Menu, found on the main page of the Gateway.  Simply click on the link and follow the directions on the Designation page. If you have questions or encounter problems, you can Email the SLQ Committee at slq-committee@bates.edu. Your submission(s) will be considered by the SLQ Committee. You will be notified by e-mail if the requested designation(s) for your course(s) have been approved or if the SLQ Committee has questions for you.

For new courses or units: The online new course proposal system will ask if you wish to propose a course for designation as S, L, and/or Q. If you indicate that you do, the system will direct you to the SLQ Designation page on the Garnet Gateway, so that you can determine that a course or unit should be designated as meeting S, L, or Q requirements. Your SLQ designation will be considered by the SLQ Committee only after the CCC has approved the course or unit.

9.  Is there a deadline by which courses must be submitted for the S, L, and/or Q designation?

The SLQ Designation Web page is open and available for course submissions from March 16 though November 15, and courses can be submitted at any time during this period.  The SLQ Committee will consider submitted courses on an ongoing basis. The SLQ Designation Web page will be closed and unavailable from December 1 through March 15. During this time the SLQ Committee will complete the designation approval process for any remaining submitted courses and the new designations for all courses approved during the preceding eight months will be incorporated into the course catalog for the next academic year.