Academics

Coursebook and Plan Guide

student and professor talking

What is a structured program of liberal studies? Knowledge is, by its nature, diverse. Liberal studies are founded on the idea that learning progresses through various ways of knowing. The liberal arts approach to education furthers a student’s ability to more fully understand, enjoy and take meaningful action in life. At Marlboro College students are asked to engage in several ways of knowing. Particularly in the first two years but continuing through the Plan of Concentration, students are encouraged to study in various disciplines and, in doing so, engage the world from several points of view. Most colleges rely on distribution requirements to ensure that students do this. At Marlboro faculty and students collaborate through the advising process to structure individual programs of study that have, as a basic tenet, the value of broad study.

This Course Book and Plan Guide is designed to facilitate the process of developing individual programs of study in the liberal arts.

The disciplines that we teach are roughly divided into five groups: the Arts (Art History,Ceramics, Dance, Drawing, Mixed Media, Music, Painting, Photography, Theater, Sculpture, Film/Video Studies, and Visual Arts); Cross-Disciplinary and World Studies (American Studies, Asian Studies, Cultural History, Development Studies, and Environmental Studies); the Humanities (American Studies, Art History, Asian Studies, Classics, Environmental Studies, History, Languages, Literature, Philosophy, Religion, and Writing); the Natural Sciences (Astronomy, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Mathematics, and Physics); and the Social Sciences (Anthropology, Cultural History, Economics, Environmental Studies, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology).

When choosing courses it’s important to engage each of these areas of intellectual life so that over time, you will structure a broad education grounded in the liberal arts. This process is a collaborative endeavor that a student embarks upon with their advisor and Plan sponsor. You will be discussing your goals, your choices, and your options with your advisor throughout your time at Marlboro. Together, you will map out a program semester by semester, but in the end, it’s all up to you. As you progress through your program, the collaborative advising process will foster your intellectual independence and confidence. Open wide the doors of a liberal arts education, and have fun.

First Year: Transition and Discovery

The first year is a time to build on your strengths and to develop new skills.

Develop Your Academic Skills: You’ll want to work on improving your writing, critical reading and thinking, class participation, and research. There are a variety of resources in place at Marlboro to help you in this endeavor.

Explore the Curriculum: Study across the curriculum; take electives in at least three academic areas, including one that might provide foundation for future Plan work. Exploring various disciplines will enable you to discover different modes of learning, to become familiar with faculty, and to build a foundation for future study.

Plan Ahead: Discuss educational goals with your advisor (see Topics for Advisors and Advisees). Review course requirements for individual fields of study to get a sense of direction and the parameters of a discipline.

back to top

Sophomore Year: Laying a Foundation and Charting a Course

Sharpen Your Academic Skills: In anticipation of Plan work, continue to work on your writing by taking a designated writing course. Also, avail yourself of the research methods workshops and individual guidance provided by the library.

Explore the Curriculum: As you continue to study across the curriculum, possible directions for Plan will emerge. Carefully choose courses that will be expected for Plan work in the degree fields you’re interested in. In this way you will build a strong foundation for Plan.

Plan ahead:

Complete the Sophomore Review: The Sophomore Review is an opportunity for assessment of your program to date and discussion of your intentions for Plan. If you take it seriously, the Sophomore Review can prove to be a helpful tool in your Plan preparations. Though you can find a more thorough description of the process on the Marlboro website or from your advisor, here’s an overview.

 

The goals of the Sophomore Review are:

  • To engage you in a discussion of the structure and goals of your higher education at its midpoint
  • To assess the character and quality of your education during the first two years
  • To support the values of broad study, global perspective, and good writing
  • To anticipate the needs of your Plan of Concentration

Besides reflecting on your academic direction, you are asked to examine your choices as they relate to the following educational goals:

  • Breadth of study
  • Developing a global perspective
  • Writing
  • Preparation for a Plan of Concentration

You’ll be asked to write a Review Statement in consultation with your advisor, which you should complete before the major break (either Thanksgiving or Spring Break) in the second semester of your sophomore year. Junior transfer students have until the end of their first semester at Marlboro.

back to top

Junior Year: Embarking on Plan

As junior year begins you will be expected to assume even more responsibility for your academic program. It is important to balance your schedule, which should include tutorials and regular coursework. You and your Plan sponsor(s) will collaborate on books to read and the direction for your research. You may not know exactly where you are headed, but in the course of the year it will become clearer.

Develop Your Academic Skills: Take courses to improve in areas you still have difficulty with or to fulfill the requirements that are necessary for the completion of your Plan. Take a writing-intensive course to hone your skills.

Consider Study Abroad and Internships: Consider/prepare for an internship or other off-campus experience in the second semester. Consult the Associate Director of World Studies regarding study abroad opportunities.

Complete the Final Plan Application: Submit the Final Plan Application by the end of the second semester of your junior year. Make sure you begin the process early, giving yourself time for revisions as you and your sponsor(s) deem necessary. (See Section Three: The Plan of Concentration).

back to top

Senior Year: Completing Your Plan

This is the year in which you will write your Plan and complete most of your work in tutorial with your Plan sponsor(s). Since you are not likely to be subject to the structure of many regular classes, one of your greatest challenges will be to manage your time productively between tutorials. Ask for the feedback that you need on your writing, and keep the lines of communication open between yourself and your Plan sponsor(s), especially if you are studying with more than one Plan sponsor.

Continue to Sharpen Your Skills: Take a Plan writing seminar. Consult with the Director of Academic Support Services for help with time management.
Consider taking one class unrelated to your Plan, for variety.

Plan Ahead: Create a timeline with your Plan sponsor(s), based on a schedule that works for you: set daily, weekly, or monthly deadlines for yourself. Do this in the first semester of your senior year; re-visit it at the end of that term and decide how to proceed.

Meet with Plan Sponsor(s): Meet weekly with your Plan sponsor(s); if you are doing a cross-disciplinary or interdisciplinary Plan, you should have group meetings at least twice a semester.

back to top

Topics for Advisors and Advisees

Freshman 1
One of the most important things advisors can do for incoming students is make them aware of is how Marlboro works—in the general, liberal-arts sense, and also in a more unambiguous fashion: who they can go to if they need help doing research, or what to do if they’re sick. Let advisees know from the start what will be expected of them as Marlboro students (requirements, disciplinary action, etc.), as well as what resources are available—both on and off campus. Encourage students to become involved in all facets of life at Marlboro. Some specific things to do in your advising discussions:

Freshman 2
Second-semester first year students are fairly well acquainted with how Marlboro works, so it will be most helpful to base your discussions around how their first semester went, and what they need to start thinking about in the immediate future. Some suggested topics:

Sophomore 1
First-semester sophomores are beginning to think concretely about Plan, but they’re also still studying broadly and figuring out exactly what it is they want to do. They need to begin the Plan process (workshops, paperwork, etc.) but not become so over-focused as to limit their options. Some things to talk about in Dedicated Hour and advising meetings:

Sophomore 2
Sophomore 2s are starting to narrow their focus, and it will be helpful for them to put their interests down on paper and begin thinking about how they’ll continue to work on what they find meaningful. This is where Plan starts to be at the forefront of their academic choices, so guide them accordingly. Some things you’ll want to discuss with them:

Junior 1
Juniors need to begin doing Plan-specific research and writing, but they also have to keep up with their regular coursework; they’re budgeting their academic time differently than in previous years. Advisors should emphasize this balance of tutorials and continued regular coursework, while also becoming familiar with new Plan advisees’ specific interests and concerns. Some ways to do this:

Junior 2
At this point, students are making sure they’ve got everything in place for their final year. They’ll want details on all the intricacies of Plan: paperwork, percentages, etc., so that they can move ahead confidently. Some ways to facilitate this process:

Senior 1
First-semester seniors have, ideally, begun work on their Plan projects, and are in the midst of in-depth research. They’re figuring out how to budget their time between courses/tutorials, research and writing, and are likely feeling overwhelmed. Things to take into consideration when advising senior 1s:

Senior 2
As Senior 2s, most advisees know what’s expected of them in terms of Plan percentages and paperwork, and they’ve got a lot of momentum where their projects are concerned. They’ll want feedback on their writing (and other work), as well as advice on more obscure Plan requirements—like their abstract, copy responsibilities, and mail dates.

back to top

The Basics

Credit Load: You need an average of 15 credits per semester. Twelve credits is the minimum allowed for full-time work. 120 credits are necessary for degree completion; 50 of these must be designated as Plan credits. If you are a first year student, you are advised not to take the limit of 18 credits in your first semester. We want you to be challenged but not overwhelmed. It is wise to learn the expectations of your professors— as well as your own limits. Solicit advice from your advisor and the Director of Academic Advising. You’ll know by the end of your first semester or year whether or not 18 credits is an appropriate load for you.

Writing: Good writing is the foundation of a successful Plan; with this in mind, all students are required to pass the Clear Writing Requirement within their first three semesters. Successfully completing the Clear Writing Requirement is an achievement that lets you and the faculty know that you’re ready to continue with more involved research and writing; it’s an important stepping stone, and an incredibly helpful one. Therefore, all entering students should take either a writing seminar or a designated writing course during their first semester. The writing course you choose will depend on the results of your writing placement exam and your advisor’s recommendation. Even once you have met the Clear Writing Requirement, you should continue to take at least one course each semester that will give you regular opportunities to write.

Recommended courses: Although Marlboro does not have any requirements, per se, all areas of the curriculum necessitate a certain foundation of courses in preparation for Plan-level work. The information in each degree field will inform you of these guidelines. If you are in the World Studies Program, you will need to take the required courses at the appropriate time (see the World Studies Handbook). Courses are offered at the introductory, intermediate and advanced level.

Foundation work: This is important in the area(s) you are especially interested in. You may reach your first semester on Plan and realize you should have taken a course in anthropology or music history. You’ll spend part of your junior year on Plan playing catch-up, but the better informed you are about course work needed from the beginning, the better off you’ll be when it comes time to submit your preliminary Plan application at the end of your sophomore year.

Tutorials: Tutorials are a key component of Marlboro College Curriculum. Typically they are reserved for junior and seniors undertaking advanced work on a subject outside the standard course offerings and are offered for variable credit determined by the faculty member and student in consultation. The substance and form of tutorials vary widely (some examples appear below) the basis of tutorial work depends on students taking charge of a subject, preparing for and leading a weekly meeting with the faculty member and completing a piece of research or production. Success in tutorial work is a key step toward the completion of the Plan of Concentration.

Tutorials are necessarily advanced and are designed for juniors and seniors on Plan. Tutorials include: one-on-one tutorials in a student’s specific field in preparation for Plan work, group tutorials with several students who have similar interests, and Plan-writing tutorials in the senior year focusing on analyzing information and completing Plan papers.

Tutorial forms include but are not limited to the following:

Introductory Tutorials – These serve the purpose of preparing students for the future work in tutorials on Plan and involve learning the skills and habits necessary for success in this kind of study like overview research, bibliography building, and outlining work to be done later.

Group or Seminar Tutorials – These serve several students working on similar subjects and often involve students presenting work to each other for critique and shared learning. They often act as an opportunity for students to help each other develop their Plan writing.

Satellite Tutorials - These tutorials are centered around a listed course offering and allow students to both participate in the course and do research on a related subject.

Individual Tutorials – Typically for students on Plan, these tutorials are the prime venue for the research, writing and artistic production that form the work of the senior year. Meetings are usually weekly and depend on students leading the development of inquiry as well as being well prepared with regular progress on their work.

Mathematics: Knowledge of mathematical concepts is necessary for any field that requires quantitative research. This includes work in psychology, sociology, economics, environmental studies, and political science, as well as the natural sciences. Furthermore, knowledge of mathematics is essential for musical composition and is handy for technical work for theatre.

Language study:The study of languages is highly recommended not only for broadening your perspective of the world but in the interest of cross-cultural communication. In addition, if graduate school is a goal, you will probably need to demonstrate competence in at least one if not two foreign languages.

Electives: To ensure that your program is fully grounded in the liberal arts, remember to study in each area of the curriculum.

back to top

Transfer Students

We recognize that transferring into Marlboro as a sophomore or junior may feel as if you have to hit the ground running. We expect you will need time to get to know faculty and decide what you are going to do on Plan. So…

Think ahead.
Before you even come to Marlboro, try to have a working idea of what you’d like to study: have a degree field (or two, or three) in mind. This is especially important if you’re coming to Marlboro as a junior; knowing what you’re interested in, and being able to talk about it with your advisor and potential Plan sponsor(s), will help you get started.

Work closely with your advisor.
Because you are new to Marlboro and have a relatively short learning curve before you go on Plan, regular meetings with your advisor or a potential Plan sponsor are essential.

Take time to get to know faculty.
You may be shifting gears from where you were before. If you were on a narrow track in biology at the University of Arizona and you have decided to study literature and philosophy at Marlboro, you’ll have some catching up to do. Go to as many of the introductory course sessions during the first two days of class as you can. Take courses that speak to your interests, but also talk to your advisor; talk to your professors. Become familiar with the faculty members who teach in your area of interest, so that you can decide early in the process who you really want to work with.

Attend Plan Presentations and Workshops.
You will not only get critical information about the process of going on Plan, but in small group sessions you will be able to ask questions of current Plan students and faculty who have years of experience with all varieties of Plans. You’ll find out how to approach a faculty member about a tutorial, how tutorials work, and the differences between the Sophomore Review, Preliminary Plan Application, and Final Plan Application.

Submit a portfolio for the Clear Writing Requirement.
It is essential that you submit for the Clear Writing Requirement during your first semester, since you will likely be beginning your preparations for Plan.

Continue to explore.
You may not have the flexibility in course choices that first year students do, but explore as broadly as possible.

Talk
Talk to your professors, your roommates, Plan students, other students who have transferred to Marlboro, and the Director of Academic Advising. Ask for help when you need it.

back to top

Ideas for Dedicated Hour

Academic / Student Skills