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Academics

Liberal Arts Education

The U.S. system of higher education may be quite different from that of your country.  At the undergraduate level, many U.S. colleges and universities offer what is called a liberal arts education, the purpose of which is to insure both breadth and depth of learning.  Students gain exposure to a broad range of subjects by taking courses in the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences.  This broad base of learning serves to complement specialization in a major field of study.

Some students are initially hesitant about taking courses outside their major area, but most usually appreciate the opportunity to explore various fields of interest.  Some modify their academic plans because of the educational growth that liberal arts learning provides. For example, students may decide to choose a new major, to double-major in seemingly unrelated fields, or to minor in fields quite different from their majors.  Regardless of their majors, almost all students graduate with a deep appreciation of the value of a liberal arts education.  We therefore urge you to keep an open mind and allow yourself the pleasure of sampling courses in a variety of academic disciplines.

In addition to classroom learning, at Earlham much attention is paid to learning outside of class.  Participation in co-curricular activities, clubs, and in volunteer work plays a very important role in an Earlham education and gives students the opportunity to work together on common projects and concerns.

Class Participation and Evaluation

The approach to education at Earlham may be different from what you are used to and may require a change in your study habits.  You will be expected to attend classes regularly, to participate in class discussions, and to keep up with regular reading and other homework assignments.  Professors evaluate student work quite frequently during the course, through assignments, quizzes, papers, and examinations.  The final examination often makes up only a percentage of the final grade in a course.  Professors will tell you on the first day of class what they expect from you and how they will evaluate you.  If you do not understand or want more information, do not hesitate to seek clarification from your professors.

In most courses, class participation is encouraged.  Students are expected to ask questions about material they do not understand, to share their opinions and comments, and to contribute to the class.  Most classes are dialogues between the professor and the class, rather than lectures by the professor.  No student should feel intimidated to speak in class.  It is not considered disrespectful to question the instructor.  Professors welcome lively discussion if it is to the point; this is often the professor's way of making sure that the students are following the lectures and understanding the material properly.  It is important, however, that students participate at an appropriate level.  Domination of the discussion or failure to listen to the opinions of others is not looked upon favorably.  Do not be afraid to admit that there are parts of the material you do not understand; if you do not understand, it is likely that others in the class share your confusion, and the resulting discussion will benefit everyone.

If you still have questions after the class discussion, or if you are really interested in the topic and want to explore it to a greater extent, feel free to go to see your professor in his or her office.  All professors have posted office hours specifically to welcome students who wish to discuss the course work or to receive extra help.  They expect you to take advantage of these opportunities to talk with them.  By visiting your professors when you have a problem, you demonstrate your interest in the course and your seriousness about your academic responsibilities.

Academic Advisor

Every student is assigned an academic advisor.  Advisors are members of the Earlham faculty who provide guidance; including discussing academic goals, and assisting in planning a schedule that meets your interests and fulfills the requirements for graduation. You will have the opportunity to meet with your advisor during New Student Orientation.  After choosing an area of concentration, you may wish to change your advisor to a faculty member with expertise in advising students in that area.  This is common, and you shouldn’t feel embarrassed to change your advisor as most advisors expect you to do so when you have chosen your major field.  This is typically done after the first year of studies.

Courses

Courses in literature and the social sciences often require a great deal of reading. The Comparative and Interpretive Practices sequence, which every degree-seeking Earlham student must complete in order to graduate, requires that students be able to read quickly and effectively and to demonstrate comprehension in frequent essays. Emphasis is on understanding and on synthesizing the material, not on memorizing details. Professors look for originality of thought and for the ability to analyze. For written work, too, emphasis is not on eloquence, but on having good arguments, expressed clearly and supported by reason and evidence.

Courses

Courses in literature and the social sciences often require a great deal of reading.  The Comparative and Interpretive Practices sequence, which every degree-seeking Earlham student must complete in order to graduate, requires that students be able to read quickly and effectively and to demonstrate comprehension in frequent essays.  Emphasis is on understanding and on synthesizing the material, not on memorizing details.  Professors look for originality of thought and for the ability to analyze.  For written work, emphasis is not on eloquence, but on developing good arguments, expressing them clearly and supporting them with reason and evidence.

As a part of Earlham’s General Education Requirements, first-year students complete Interpretive Practices courses and Earlham Seminars.  Interpretive Practices (IP) courses emphasize a foundation of communication skills that college students will use throughout their education and lives.  Earlham Seminars (ES) demonstrate Earlham’s development of an active learning community that engages students and faculty in finding new ways to interpret the world.

You will have the opportunity to pre-register for both IP and ES courses during “Countdown to Earlham.”  We highly recommend that you closely read the descriptions for these courses and send in your options early.  If you wait until you arrive at Earlham to register for these courses, your options will be drastically limited.

Course Selection

Choose your courses carefully.  The normal course load is 15 hours per semester, with a minimum of 12 hours per semester to maintain full-time status.  If you are a degree-seeking student you must take an average of 15 hours per semester to graduate in a timely manner.  Do not overload yourself, especially during the first semester. A period of adjustment is normal for international students.  Your grades may not be as high as you would anticipate during the first semester.  We encourage you to leave yourself plenty of time to understand and adapt to a new system and to new ways of studying.  Earlham courses can be difficult, and professors' expectations are high.  Students often balance their course load by taking one or two lighter courses, which do not require too much reading or written work, with more difficult courses.

Strategies for Succeeding

Group study and exchange of ideas is encouraged at Earlham. Get to know other students.  You can benefit a great deal from discussions with classmates, and they can benefit from you.

All Earlham students are encouraged to seek help in the Center for Academic Enrichment.  You need not be doing poorly in order to receive the help of a tutor; students often go to the Center for Academic Enrichment to receive help in writing a paper, to do a class assignment, or to discuss a problem.

Go to your professors, your academic advisor, or an International Student Advisor if you have any difficulty.  It is important to know that everyone here wants you to succeed.

We are confident of your ability to succeed and are excited about the diversity that you are likely to bring to our classrooms and to our community.  Students suggest that it takes about one semester to adjust to the system and feel comfortable with it.  As a result, the first semester can be stressful as well as exciting.  By giving you information in advance about academics at Earlham, we hope to prepare you to meet the initial challenges of adjustment so that you can make a smooth transition.

Academic Integrity

" …although Earlham encourages cooperative and collaborative, rather than competitive, modes of learning, one’s work must still be one’s own, unless explicitly assigned to a group."  (Earlham College Student Handbook, p. 144)  This is the basis for Earlham's policy on academic honesty.  In the U.S., when students give or receive aid inappropriately (for example sharing information on a quiz or exam), or plagiarize by using another person's words or ideas without citing the source, they commit a serious offense.  It is important for you to understand what comprises academic integrity in the U.S. and at Earlham and what constitutes a violation of it.  You will be given further information on plagiarism during Cross-Cultural Orientation and New Student Orientation.  If you do not feel that you understand this concept fully, you should discuss the matter with your professor, your academic advisor, or an International Student Advisor.