Part Two:
A Brief Introduction to the College
The baccalaureate program at Chicago is different from most undergraduate
programs. In particular, two unique aspects of the undergraduate program
are likely to affect your experiences as an instructor in the College:
the curriculum and the academic advising system. Although the following
sections are not exhaustive, even a cursory treatment of these topics
will give you a better vantage point from which to understand and respond
to your students.
The University is divided into four graduate divisions (biological sciences,
humanities, physical sciences, and social sciences), the College, the
professional schools, and the committee on public policy studies, each
headed by a dean and each responsible for granting its own degree. The
College enrolls almost 3500 students and is the University's only undergraduate
unit. The College constitutes one third of the University, the other two
thirds divided equally between the professional schools and the arts and
sciences graduate programs. Over ninety percent of the students live in
the residence halls or in the Hyde Park neighborhood. All students in
the College follow a curriculum having three components: (1) general education,
(2) a concentration program, and (3) free electives. A total of 42 quarter
courses are required for a College degree.
Beginning teachers are often surprised to discover how different the
core or general education requirements are from distribution requirements
in other undergraduate programs. There is, in fact, some danger in drawing
parallels between general education sequences in the College and core
courses elsewhere. General education sequences are not survey courses,
but they are designed to expose students to substantive course work in
each of four areas of academic inquiry. The following is an outline and
brief description of the core sequences.
In light of the unique curriculum in the College, it may be helpful to
keep several things in mind. First, unlike distribution requirements at
other colleges, these general education courses and sequences are clearly
more ambitious in their educational goals. If you are teaching one of
these courses, remember the general function of your course is part of
what all students in the College should master. Second, your class roster
may include students who plan to major in the field, but it will also
include many who do not and who thus may have significantly less preparation
in and proclivity for the field. Third, because the general education
requirements represent fifteen of the total forty-two course credits required
for graduation, students often try to complete them in their first two
years in the College and may not begin specialized course work until their
third year.
For more information on curriculum
requirements in the College, visit the College home page
.
General Education: The Core (15 quarter courses plus a language requirement)
Humanities and Civilization (6 Quarter-Courses): Students take
a total of six quarters in the Humanities and in Civilization, at least
one of which is in Art, Music, or Theater. Humanities and Civilization
courses are supported by Writing Interns trained in the teaching of writing
by the Little Red Schoolhouse (Chicago's nationally known program on the
teaching of expository writing).
Natural and Mathematical Sciences (6 Quarter-Courses): Students
take six quarter courses in the Natural and Mathematical Sciences, including
at least two quarters of Biological Sciences, at least two quarters of
Physical Science, and at least one quarter of Mathematical Sciences (which
includes Mathematics, Computer Science, or Statistics).
Social Sciences (3 Quarter-Courses): Students take a three-quarter
sequence in the Social Sciences.
Foreign Language: The College believes that knowledge of a
foreign language is important, and it expects demonstrated competency
in a foreign language before graduation. Competency examinations are administered
annually; students may also demonstrate competence with AP scores or 3
or above in certain languages. Courses and examinations are offered in
more than twenty-five languages. Language study is supported by extensive
Study
Abroad Opportunities and a unique Language Proficiency Certificate
Program.
Students complete their general education courses during their first
two years in the College. Credit earned with 4's and 5's in AP exams,
6's or 7's on 1B exams, and by way of our own placement exams will reduce
the number of courses to be taken in the Natural and Mathematical Sciences.
Concentration Programs and Electives
Concentration programs provide students with an opportunity to focus
on a particular area of inquiry. As a rule, these programs, run by departments
and committees in the College and the Divisions, comprise from ten to
nineteen course. Students complete their work in the College with at least
eight electives. Elective courses may be taken within any subject matter
or discipline, including those falling within the student's concentration.
.
The Academic Advisers
Each entering student is assigned an academic adviser. Unlike advising
systems in many other colleges, the College advisers are not faculty members
in the student's area of intended concentration. Rather, advisers in the
College are on the staff of the dean of students in the College. Among
their main responsibilities is helping students map out an appropriate
program of study and guiding them over any of a number of administrative
hurdles. The advisers know a great deal about the College and campus life.
Students should be encouraged to contact their advisers promptly about
problems or questions they may have about their academic programs, or
even for more general friendly advice.
Similarly, if you become concerned about a student for any of a variety
of reasons, contacting that student's adviser should probably be your
first initiative. When you receive your class list from the registrar,
each student's adviser will be listed according to numeric code. The advisers'
codes in one of your handouts. If you do not have the code at hand, you
can call the receptionist at the College advising appointment desk (702-8615).
More often than not, this will be the only contact you will need to make.
If the problem is not one the adviser can solve, he or she will either
notify the appropriate administrator or refer you directly to that person.
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