Grades: College of Liberal Arts

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 - 12:38 AM

The College of Liberal Arts includes the following undergraduate degrees: anthropology, art, criminal justice, English, French, history, international affairs, interior design, music, neuroscience, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, Spanish, speech communications, theater and women’s studies.

Click here to read the entire special report on grades.

Whether students enjoy their classes often impacts their grades, professors in the College of Liberal Arts said. The college offers several lower-division and core classes, which could affect its grade distribution, which is significantly lower than the university’s average.

Forty-six percent of undergraduate grades awarded in the college last spring were A’s and another 33 percent were B’s.

Assistant sociology professor Markus Kemmelmeier said the University of Nevada, Reno’s overall statistics, which showed 75 percent of undergraduate grades awarded last spring were A’s and B’s, are similar to the distribution in his advanced classes, but not other courses.

“In upper-division classes, the stats of 75 percent A’s and B’s does reflect the statistics in my classes, but when it comes to my Sociology 101 class, they do not,” Kemmelmeier said.

Preparedness is the most significant factor affecting college grades, Kathleen Boardman, associate dean for the college, said.

Several other professors agreed that being prepared for college is a huge factor when it comes to grade distribution. Kemmelmeier said he has seen preparedness drop in his freshmen classes over the years.

“In higher level courses, there is a built-in dynamic. Success in classes comes from professors teaching what the students need to know,” Kemmelmeier said. “When students like their classes, their grades will reflect that. It’s the quality of teaching that is important. Preparation is key.”

Valerie Foley can be reached at news@nevadasagebrush.com.