Undergraduate Courses
All courses offered in the undergraduate program fall under the four divisional headings, in the interdivisional heading, and the Conservatory of Music. A student can expect a course listed to be taught at least once every four years. Every semester over five hundred courses are offered, about one-fifth as tutorials (often student designed) and the rest as seminars, studio courses, lectures, Senior Projects, and independent studies. The average class size is 16 in the Lower College and 12 in the Upper College.
Upper and Lower College Courses
100-level courses are primarily, though not exclusively, for first-year students;
200-level courses are primarily for Lower College students;
300- and 400-level courses are designed for Upper College students.
Most courses in the Lower College meet twice weekly for 80 minutes each session, although instructors may vary the length and frequency of meetings according to their estimation of a class's needs. Many seminar courses in the Upper College meet once a week for two hours and 20 minutes. Laboratory courses usually meet three times a week (two two-hour seminars or lectures and a laboratory session). Introductory language courses customarily have four one-hour sessions each week, intensive language courses have five two-hour sessions each week, and immersion language courses have five three-hour sessions each week. Most tutorials meet once a week for one hour.
All courses carry four credits unless otherwise noted. There are several two-credit seminars; intensive language courses carry eight credits and immersion language courses 12 credits. A normal course load is 16 credits each semester.