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The academic year (see the Academic
Calendar) is divided into two 15-week semesters and a four-week
Winter Term. Each semester consists of approximately 13 weeks of
classes (not including a one-week break in each), a three-day reading
period and a four-day evaluation period. During the reading period
there are no classes; it is a time in which term papers can be finished
and work reviewed in preparation for examinations. The evaluation
period is reserved for final examinations. The Honor System helps maintain
a high standard of integrity in all academic work, under the basic
assumption that all work submitted is the sole and original product
of the individual student. The System respects the student's ability
to maintain this standard and encourages the further development
of this ability. The System, which is supervised
by the student Honor Committee, applies to all work submitted for
academic credit, such as examinations, quizzes, papers and laboratory
assignments. The system also applies to destruction, hiding and
improper removal or retention of library materials with the intent
of denying others access. The administration of the Honor
System requires the collective and individual cooperation of the
entire Oberlin College community and is fully explained in the document
Student Regulations, Policies and Procedures. Oberlin provides a Winter Term of
four weeks in January to encourage and enable students to discover
the value of self-education. This term affords students an opportunity
to devise and pursue programs of independent study or research and
to undertake, individually or with a group, on or off campus, other
projects of educational value which the structured curriculum during
the academic year cannot accommodate easily. Winter Term provides an opportunity
for variations and supplements to the usual course offerings, with
an emphasis on experimentation and creativity, intellectual independence,
and personal responsibility. Projects may be proposed by faculty,
students and occasionally by members of the administrative and professional
staff and alumni. Many departments offer individual and group projects;
students often devise their own projects. Students who pursue their projects
on campus can take advantage of the facilities and opportunities
that Oberlin offers. Many concerts, theatrical productions, films,
lectures, forums, and discussion groups that enliven Winter Term
are part of on-campus projects. Typical off-campus projects include
(but are not limited to) career exploration, internships, and community
service. Each fall the Winter Term Committee
issues the Winter Term Handbook, a detailed description of Winter
Term procedures and deadlines, and the Winter Term Supplement, a
listing of publicized projects. Both the handbook and supplement
appear online. Winter
Term Credits and General Information Sponsor Every
project must have an on-campus sponsor. Faculty members and, under
some circumstances, members of the Administrative and Professional
Staff, may serve as project sponsors. Finding a suitable sponsor
is largely a matter of matching student and faculty or staff member
interests. Fees There
are no additional tuition or room fees for Winter Term. Students
may purchase (or use their Oberlin College identification cards
to charge) individual meals at Stevenson during Winter Term. Students
may also use flex dollars that remain in their account from fall
semester to purchase meals at Stevenson during Winter Term. Some
on-campus projects, especially those directed by an invited specialist,
require a fee from each participant to help defray expenses. This
fee typically ranges from $10 to $40 or more. Winter
Term Planning and Advising Students
should discuss their Winter Term plans with their academic advisors
and potential project sponsors in October or early November. Early
planning is especially important for students who choose an individual
project. In
this catalog, many departments list information about the 2002 Winter
Term. For students interested in a career-related or community service
project, advisors and numerous resources are available to assist
them in identifying opportunities. Please see the Winter Term Handbook
for detailed information. For the student
who wishes to pursue topics outside the normal
course offerings of the College of Arts and
Sciences or the Conservatory of Music, two
important alternatives are available: Experimental
College (ExCo) is a student-run organization
that sponsors courses (for limited academic credit)
taught by members of the Oberlin community:
faculty, students, administrators and townspeople.
Each year a list of subjects not found in the
regular curriculum is offered. Students can receive
up to five hours credit toward graduation from ExCo
courses. Courses are typically offered for one
credit. Experimental College catalogs are
distributed shortly before ExCo registration, which
takes place in the first week of each
semester. ExCo also invites
applications from individuals who wish to
coordinate an ExCo course. The Experimental College
Committee approves applications for courses in
advance of the semester in which the course is to
be offered. Student instructors may receive the
number of credit hours listed for the course, plus
one additional hour. More information is available
at the ExCo office in Wilder Hall. Private
Reading. For the student who wishes to pursue
individually and in-depth a topic not covered in
the regular curriculum, the option of a one-to-one
tutorial is available. (For further information
please refer to the College of Arts and Sciences
and Conservatory of Music sections of this catalog.
For information about independent, off-campus
study, see the Enrolled-Not-in-Residence section of
this catalog.) Oberlin College
recognizes the desire of students to supplement
their Oberlin experience through a program of study
off-campus for credit. By providing exposure to new
perspectives, participation in quality off-campus
programs enriches the educational experience.
Students on financial aid should consult the Office
of Financial Aid before planning to participate in
an off-campus program, because not all types of
financial aid can be applied to off-campus
programs. The Danenberg Oberlin-in-London
Program runs each semester and involves two or three Oberlin
faculty members and about 30 students each semester. The curriculum
varies semester-to-semester and year-to-year, according to the academic
disciplines of the instructors, but it seek sto take advantage of
the unique opportunities afforded by the cultural and historical
setting. Prerequisites and details of the curriculum for 2001-2002
are listed in this catalog under the London Program. Studies in
Spain at the University of Córdoba.
Students of Spanish language, literature and
culture may participate for fall, spring or both
semesters in the Programa de Estudios
Hispánicos en Córdoba (Spain). This
program is sponsored by a consortium comprised of
Wheaton College, Oberlin College, Smith College,
Trinity College, Wellesley College and the College
of Wooster. Córdoba, one-time capital of
Roman Spain and seat of the Caliphate, offers a
unique opportunity for on-the-scene study of the
Muslim, Jewish and Christian influences on Spanish
culture. Courses are offered in literature,
history, art, architecture, music, economics and
social and political reforms. (Please consult the
catalog section on Spanish under the Department of
Romance Languages.) Oberlin-in-Italy is an intensive
summer program in Italian language and culture sponsored by the
Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Based in Urbania, Italy, the month-long
program includes intensive language study and the study of Italian
culture, including art history, Italian opera history, literature,
ceramics, drawing, and other fields. For singers and pianists the
program includes musical, vocal and dramatic coaching, and performances
of a chamber opera and opera scenes, and other concerts. Auditions
are required for performers. Application deadline is early February.
The program fee includes tuition and accommodations (choice of family
or apartment). For information and applications, contact Anna Hoffman
in the Conservatory Outreach Office (440/775-8044). Daune Mahy is
the faculty sponsor. No financial aid is available for this program. Oberlin-in-Europe The Euro Summer School is a six-week
intensive and multicultural program offered as a joint venture of
the Center for European Studies (CES) at the University of Maastricht
and three leading management schools in Europe: HEC-Paris, Bocconi-Milan,
and WU-Wien. The program provides a unique opportunity for Oberlin
students to mix with students from all over the world and to experience
firsthand the life and business cultures of Austria, Belgium, France,
Germany, Italy, and The Netherlands, visiting several of the most
vibrant cities in Europe. Fully credited courses by Oberlin College,
offered in English, explore the economics, institutions and business
practices shaping Europe today. David Cleeton is faculty sponsor
for the program. More complete information and applications can
be found on the program's web
page. Through its membership in the Great
Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA), a consortium of 12 midwestern
colleges, Oberlin College allows its students to participate in
certain off-campus programs in the United States and in foreign
countries. Each program is administered by a member school. Information
on these programs is available from the campus liaison for each
program and from the Student Academic Affairs Office in Peters Hall.
Through its membership in GLCA, Oberlin offers students the opportunity
for academic leaves of absence to participate in the following: Overseas
Study. GLCA recognizes one-semester or
year-long programs in Scotland, the Czech Republic,
Russia, Japan, China, India, Nepal, Kenya, and
Senegal. American-Based
Programs. In the United States, GLCA recognizes
the following off-campus study programs: Inter-college
Exchanges. Students may be selected each
semester to participate in an exchange with
Gallaudet University, the nation's only liberal
arts school for the deaf, or Fisk University, a
predominantly black university in Nashville,
Tennessee. Sophomores and juniors in good academic
standing and an interest in intergroup relations
are eligible to apply. Application for these
programs should be made through the Office of
Student Academic Affairs. Architecture
at Columbia. Oberlin students wishing to study
architecture, urban planning and historic
preservation during their junior year may apply to
a specialized program at Columbia University's
Graduate School of Architecture and Planning, "The
Shape of Two Cities: New York/Paris," a
pre-professional program for undergraduates. Two
options are available: Architecture or Urban
Planning/Historic Preservation. The first semester
is spent at Columbia University and the second in
Paris, both under supervision of Columbia
professors of architecture. (For information and
applications, see the pre-architecture advisor in
the Art Department.) National Theater Institute at
the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center is a one-semester program
that combines the liberal arts philosophy of studies in a wide range
of disciplines with exposure to professional production standards.
The National Theater Institute's program has two components. For
the major part of the semester students participate in classes in
acting, directing, design, movement/improvisation and playwriting,
as well as adjunct courses and special workshops led by guest artists.
The remainder of each semester is devoted to workshops focusing
on one or more specific theatrical exercises. Oberlin students wishing
to attend N.T.I. must first be nominated by the theater faculty.
Applications should be made in consultation with the Theater and
Dance Program; final admission decisions are made by the N.T.I.
staff. Tisch School of the Arts'
special semester in film production and cinema studies at New York
University features a seven-credit course in filmmaking, and related
courses in screen writing and other aspects of film production.
Available spring semester. For information see Wi lliam Patrick
Day, Associate Professor of English. Additional
Programs. Off-campus study is not limited to
the programs described above. The Student Academic
Affairs office maintains a list of other
Oberlin-Affiliated Programs, as well as an
extensive list of other programs approved by
departments at Oberlin. Students should consult
with the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs in
planning their studies off-campus.
In keeping with
Oberlin's historic commitment to thoughtful social
action, the Center for Service and Learning
promotes the linkage of intellectual inquiry,
artistic development and community
involvement. Each year, an
estimated 1,000 Oberlin College students volunteer
their services to the surrounding communities. This
involvement allows students to explore issues of
personal and intellectual concern while becoming
active members of their community. The Center for
Service and Learning links students with community
organizations providing educational service
opportunities that satisfy community needs.
Students interested in opportunities for socially
relevant research or in developing
community-service programs receive consultation and
assistance. The Center also offers several programs
that enable participants to better understand how
their efforts can contribute to long-term, systemic
solutions to social problems.
The office
assists students and alumni in career planning,
offers information about summer and full-time
employment and internships, and provides guidance
with post-Oberlin study opportunities. The career
library and the Career Services homepage offer a
comprehensive collection of resources including
career, graduate/ professional school, internship
and job information. A database of alumni who are
potential resources for career information and
networking is available in the career library.
Career Services provides numerous on- and
off-campus recruiting programs to assist seniors
who are seeking employment. In addition, two
programs within the Office of Career Service
provide specialized assistance: The Business
Initiative Program (BIP) introduces students to the
many and varied opportunities in the business world
through an emphasis on Winter-Term Projects and
Summer Internships. BIP presents workshops related
to business careers, field trips to companies,
provides opportunities to meet with business
leaders, and has business publications available in
the career library. The Director helps students
clarify their business career goals, reviews essays
for graduate business school, and aides in career
searches. The Shouse
Nonprofit Leadership Program trains a select group
of students for careers as nonprofit managers. The
two-year program links academic study, individual
advising, internships, community service projects,
and skill-building workshops for up to 20
students. The Career
Services homepage is accessible at www.oberlin.edu/~career. The
Conservatory of Music's Career Resources Center
supplements the offerings of the College's
Office of Career Services. The Center offers a wide
range of services and access to vital career
planning and development information geared
specifically toward Conservatory of Music students.
Resources include: individual career advising
appointments; comprehensive lists of competitions,
festivals, music scholarships, jobs, and graduate
schools; and assistance with writing application
and resume materials. The Center is located in 129
Robertson Hall (within the Conservatory of Music
complex) and is open Monday through Friday from
10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Director
of Conservatory Career Development also offers
a year-long series of Career Master Classes in
which visiting artists share their perspectives on
building successful careers in music, as well as
the Professional Development for Musicians course
(CNST 200), which is offered each
semester. Phi Beta
Kappa. The Zeta of Ohio Chapter of Phi Beta
Kappa was established at Oberlin College in 1907.
Students in the College of Arts and Sciences are
elected to membership on the basis of scholarly
achievement, broad cultural interests and good
character. Rules of eligibility are established by
the chapter in accordance with regulations of the
national society. Among other requirements,
students must have completed at least nine credit
hours, of which up to four may be AP credit, in
each of the three divisions of the College of Arts
and Sciences and must have taken at least
two-thirds of their hours for letter grades. Most
students are elected in either the fall or the
spring of their senior year; spring election for
second-semester juniors is also possible for
students with truly exceptional academic records.
The total number of students elected from any class
will not ordinarily exceed 10 percent of those
expected to receive the Bachelor of Arts
degree. Society of the
Sigma Xi. The Oberlin Chapter of the Society of
the Sigma Xi was established in 1941 for the
promotion of scientific research. Any graduate
student who has shown noteworthy achievement as an
original investigator in some field of pure or
applied science may be elected as a member. Any
graduate student or undergraduate student who has
shown marked aptitude for research in pure or
applied science may be elected as an associate
member. Pi Kappa
Lambda. The Theta Chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda
National Honor Society was established in 1926 at
the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in order
to recognize outstanding achievement in
musicianship, musical leadership and scholarly
attainment. Twenty percent of the Conservatory
graduating seniors are eligible for election,
provided the residence requirement of at least four
semesters prior to graduation has been
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