At Hobart and William Smith, students typically take four courses per semester. Most classes are small, allowing faculty and students to participate in discussions and debates in a small, intimate group. Discussions and assignments are designed to hone writing, speaking, critical thinking and other skills that you'll use throughout your life.
We believe that the best way to educate students broadly and deeply is through a curriculum that requires students to complete courses that are both disciplinary - deeply focused on a single area of study - and interdisciplinary - reaching across disciplines and drawing on a variety of departments.
Aside from the First-Year Seminar, there are no courses required of HWS students, although there are several things you must do before you can graduate to ensure that you receive an education based on multiple perspectives and experiences. These include addressing the institutions eight goals, completing any faculty-mandated writing requirements, passing 32 courses and completing a major and a minor (or two majors).
Every Hobart and William Smith student must fulfill these eight goals before graduating:
The eight goals and objectives can be achieved in the context of many different programs of study. You must work with your faculty adviser to design a program of study that both meets your interests and fulfills all the requirements for a degree, including addressing all eight of the goals and objectives.
For most students, the curriculum unfolds over a period of four years in the following manner:
You'll take a First-Year Seminar and explore areas of interest broadly. In so doing, you'll establish a foundation for more advanced work, perhaps even laying the foundations for what will become your major(s) or minor(s). By the end of the year, you and your academic adviser will have mapped out a preliminary program of study.
You'll further develop your interests and move into more advanced course work. Working with your adviser, you'll plan possible majors and minors as well as consider the many off-campus opportunities that the Colleges offer. Late in the year, you will declare a major, which often includes a change of adviser. You'll begin working with your new adviser to continue building a plan for addressing the eight goals.
If you have not already selected a minor (or second major), then you will do so early in the year. With help from your adviser, you'll complete a baccalaureate plan, which includes a description of your program of study and the ways in which your overall program of study addresses the eight goals. If there are requirements for your major(s) or minor(s) or goals that you have not yet addressed, your plan must specify how you will complete them during your senior year.
You complete your major(s) and minor(s) and any work specified in the baccalaureate plan. Many departments also include a capstone experience in the senior year as part of their major. This might include an honors project, an independent study, an internship, a recital or a senior seminar.
This page is intended to introduce you to the unique HWS curriculum. For a more in-depth look at the broad and rich opportunities available at HWS, please visit the Academics section of our Web site.
