<p>“It sounds like a university.”
?? not the one I attended…</p>
<p>"I recall a number of university information sessions where they said that they operate like a liberal arts college in that students don’t have to major in the discipline to take courses in it! (or can take classes in different colleges at the university even if they’re not enrolled.) "</p>
<p>yes, THIS sounds like a university, to me. Not that first thing you wrote. Actually my university offered MULTIPLE LEVELS of many courses, and MORE SECTIONS, therefore providing MORE opportunities for the dilettante student to explore a particular field, not fewer opportunities. For example D2 was choosing an intro statistics course last year, she chose it from at least five intro stats courses she could take, all with somewhat different emphases and levels.</p>
<p>“I think the problem is that there are these courses out there and they make it to the course catalogue and someone gets their hopes up…only to have them be told to find another course. Then there are all the courses that aren’t even in the catalogue. Perhaps due to the professor being on sabbatical. Perhaps due to a lack of resources or funding. Nobody notices those. There’s no sense that a door has been shut when it’s just a wall.”</p>
<p>And…
-All the courses given only every other year, if that frequently (this is the way LACs extend their offerings with their limited staff).
-The courses still in the catalog, but not given. since the one prof with that interest left.
-The courses that are given, but only in one section in one semester, better hope it doesn’t conflict with another course you really want or really need, if that one is also given at that same one time.</p>
<p>This is generic LAC stuff, not Oberlin-specific.</p>