Course Planning
how to search for courses
Use the Master Schedule to search for Fall 2023 course offerings by degree requirement, department or program, title, or course number, etc.
When using the Master Schedule, enter "FY" in the text block for "Open in First Term (enter FY)." This will ensure that the course results are deemed appropriate for first-year students.
For example, by entering "A2-Language Study" in the text block for "Department/Program OR All Coll Requirement and "FY" in the area for "Open in First Term (enter FY)," the search results will include all courses for the selected term that satisfy the College's Foundation requirement in Language Study and are deemed appropriate for first-year students.
How many CREDITS OR COURSES to enroll in
You must be enrolled in at least 12 credits to be considered a full-time student. However, we recommend a course load between 15-17 credits in order to stay on track to graduate in four years. A typical first-semester schedule includes a total of four academic courses.
In order to eligible for Dean's List honors, you must be enrolled in 14 or more credits.
The maximum number of credits students can take in their first term is 18 credits, which is an extremely heavy course load. Overload requests to exceed 18 credits are not permitted in students' first term.
types of courses to choose
All first-year students must be enrolled in a section of SSP 100 Scribner Seminar (4 credits) during their first semester at Skidmore. You will be pre-registered for this course based on the FYE selection and placement process.
As you consider which courses to add to your schedule, we generally recommend a balance that allows you to further study subjects in which you have a strong interest, while also exploring new areas. Your schedule may include one or two courses in a potential major and one or two courses that meet the all-college requirements.
Course Sequence: It is important to note that a few programs of study at Skidmore (for example, studio art, pre-med, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, education, social work, and theater) require an early major decision and a carefully planned sequence of courses.
Refer to the list of recommended first-semester courses for your academic areas of interest, which can be found under the "Academic Departments and Programs" section of this guide.
Weekly SChedule
Depending on the content, type, and number of credits, a course may meet once, twice, or three times each week throughout the semester. Because we pride ourselves on being a small liberal arts college with a low student-to-faculty ratio, most of our courses are not offered in multiple sections with numerous days/times to choose from. Therefore, it is common for students to have courses that meet at a variety of times in the morning, afternoon, and early evening.
Many students enjoy using the Schedule Planner to create a mockup of their weekly schedule prior to registering for courses. This is a great tool that helps students imagine how they will manage their time throughout the day/week, between courses, and among the various aspects of the curriculuar, co-curricular, and personal/social lives. (More information about the Schedule Planner is included in the Course Registration section of this guide.)
Although an average course load may seem light in terms of the number of hours spent in the classroom, as a general rule of thumb, students should expect to devote 2-3 hours studying and completing assignments outside of the classroom per credit, each week. For example, a 4-credit course that meets 2 hours and 40 minutes each week might require 5-8 hours of work outside of the classroom.
Major Exploration
If you do not yet know what your major will be, don't worry. All Skidmore students
enter the College as an "Undeclared" major. In keeping with the values and educational
goals of a liberal arts education, we encourage students to explore a variety of majors
and minors during the first few semesters at Skidmore. You must declare a major in
the second semester of the sophomore year prior to registering for classes for the
junior year. A liberal arts education encourages the evolution of academic and career
interests, and it is not uncommon for students to change majors several times to reflect
their new interests.
Consider taking a course or two in academic disciplines in which you have a special
interest. You may also want to consider courses in disciplines that were not represented
in your high school curriculum to give you a better sense of the range of options
in the liberal arts. You will find it helpful to look through the department recommendations
for registration in this guide to give you some ideas about course combinations.
Student Athletes
Student athlete should avoid courses that meet between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., whenever possible, so that practice and game schedules do not conflict with your academic commitments. Consult the practice schedules for specific teams and/or contact your coach for more information.
ELIGIBILITY FOR ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS
If you believe you are eligible to receive academic accommodations based on a documented disabling condition, then visit the Disability and Accessibility Services webpage and submit a Request for Accommodations application to the Office of Student Academic Services (SAS) as sooon as possible.