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The tradition of the liberal arts involves
training the mind. At Smith, this ideal involves both breadth and depth in a student's
course of study as well as obtaining critical skills such as writing, public speaking,
quantitative reasoning and problem solving.
Well-trained students who know how to think
are what employers are looking for. Our Career Development Office can
help students get their foot in the door with companies and organizations around
the world. In addition to other resources, the CDO can introduce students to Smith
alumnae who can offer real-world advice and connections for current students beginning
their career path. The CDO provides lifetime service for Smith alumnae.
In order to graduate from Smith with a bachelor
of arts degree, a student has to earn 128 credits. Thirty-six to 48 of these credits
must be chosen to satisfy the requirements of the major field; 64 credits
must be chosen from outside the major department. First-year students must take a
writing intensive course, chosen from a number
of options. In order to graduate with Latin Honors a student must elect at least
one course in each of the seven
fields of knowledge: literature, historical studies, social science, natural
science, mathematics and analytical philosophy, the arts and foreign language.
For those who choose to seek a bachelor
of science in engineering at Smith, the requirements are 52 engineering core
and elective credits, 36 math and science credits, a minimum of 24 credits in the
humanities, the social sciences and history divisions, and 16 elective credits in
any discipline.
All engineering students are required to take the Latin Honors distribution.
A major must be declared during the fall or
spring of sophomore year, or before a student begins her junior year.
Smith offers 37 departmental major fields and
10 interdepartmental majors, 42 departmental minors and 24 interdepartmental minors.
While not an easy process, if a student wants to design her own major she may do
so. She must obtain the approval of the Subcommittee on Honors and Independent Programs
of the Committee on Academic Policy. Student-designed majors must differ significantly
from existing majors.
The average class size is 19.
The student/faculty ratio is 9 to 1. Students
interact with their faculty both in and out of the classroom. Faculty hold office
hours during which students visit with questions about class. Faculty are also available
by individual appointment. Many students and faculty interact in non-academic arenas
including over meals and tea in student houses.
New students select their classes during orientation,
which takes place the week before school begins. Every student is assigned a pre-major
adviser. Your pre-major adviser will have from eight to 10 advisees and will remain
your adviser until you declare your major and ask a faculty member in your major
department to be your adviser. During orientation your pre-major adviser will talk
with you about your interests and goals and help you select a workable course load
from the more than 1,000 courses we offer.
Government, psychology, art, English, economics
and biology.
Smith offers a wide range of study abroad programs,
from the Smith-run programs in western Europe to Smith-affiliated and Smith-approved
programs all over the world. Smith faculty direct programs in Florence, Hamburg,
Geneva and Paris. Each of these programs is for a full academic year. Smith also
has a formal affiliation with programs in Japan, China, Rome, Spain, South India
and Russia. Students may also arrange to study abroad on one of over 100 additional
programs that have been approved by Smith.
Students participating in Smith-approved international
study programs are billed and financial aid is available to them as if they are on
campus. Smith will pay the study abroad program tuition and fees directly to the
program. Students are responsible for all expenses and all travel during vacations.
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