Can anyone here recommend LACs with an open, or mostly open, curriculum? Not Ivies. I know about Smith and Grinnell (my D19 is applying to both).
Thanks!
Vassar
Amhesrt, Wesleyan, Hampshire, Hamilton
Hamilton
Hampshire
U Rochester – the size of a large LAC
Quest U in Canada
Sarah Lawrence
Bryn Mawr – has v. few requirements
Vassar – has few requirements
Marlboro
College of the Atlantic
Mt. Holyoke asks you to take one course in each broad discipline
Evergreen
amherst
NYU Gallatin
Wake Forest
Wesleyan
Hamilton comes to mind.
A lot of schools have something that is core-ish but offers quite a bit of flexibility. Colgate is an example.
Bennington
The most open is Evergreen State’s BA program, which only requires 180 quarter credits (= 120 semester credits):
https://www.evergreen.edu/registration/degrees
However, most colleges seen as “open curriculum” require at least a major. Some require communication, quantitative, foreign language, seminar, or other course as well. For example, see Amherst and Vassar:
https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/college-catalog/1718?mmtid=450077
https://catalogarchive.vassar.edu/201314/academic-information/degrees-and-courses-of-study/requirements-for-the-degree-of-bachelor-of-arts/
Note that some colleges like Grinnell, Hamilton, and Smith may have few or no general education requirements, but limit the number of courses taken in one department or general area that can be applied to the degree requirements:
https://catalog.grinnell.edu/content.php?catoid=12&navoid=2537#Requirements_for_Graduation
https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/catalogue/academic-regulations#degreerequirements
https://www.smith.edu/about-smith/registrar/degree-requirements
Rochester and Hampshire tend to be mentioned when “open curriculum” is mentioned, but they have more traditional distribution requirements:
https://www.rochester.edu/college/ccas/handbook/clusters.html
https://www.hampshire.edu/academics/division-i-requirements
Amherst, Hamilton.
New College of Florida.
Totally open: Amherst, Brown, Grinnell, Hamilton, Smith
(Hamilton’s brochure states that these are the only 5)
Very few requirements: Vassar, University of Rochester
My D went to Lafayette and they did have distribution requirements but they were very flexible. And as it turns out of the four classes she probably would not have taken if not for the distribution requirements 3 were helpful to have for grad school and were required for her professional license and one class turned out to be one of her all time favorites.
Many LACS believe part of their mission is to ensure that their students have enough of a background in different topics to think broadly across disciplines, so once you get past “totally open”, a big differentiator is how they do that. For a truly undecided kid, an arrangement that requires them to do some serious sampling in really different areas can be a blessing whereas to another, it’s a curse.
Take a look at the course catalog and what’s required in general as well as for the considered majors. For many, you end up at pretty much the same place even with different policies.
Beyond a general absence of curricular requirements, “open” also suggests an academic structure and culture in which most courses have been made available to most students. Even schools with some distribution requirements may encourage student freedom in course selection to an uncommon degree. Conversely, a college that appears relatively open may restrict access to courses in popular departments such as film. Smith, Grinnell, Amherst and Hamilton would seem to be supportive of academic exploration under virtually all scenarios.