Bates College - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Bates professors tend to be outstanding. Most are experts in their fields, and they generally bring a high degree of enthusiasm to the classes they teach. There are certainly some who, because they are tenured, don’t care much about bringing new approaches to their courses, but most professors care very deeply about the subjects they’ve chosen to teach. On the whole, Bates professors are very approachable, and some are even open to receiving phone calls from overstressed students during the wee hours of the morning. The school’s small class sizes and low student-to-teacher ratio ensure that students are able to develop close relationships with their professors if they choose to do so. This encourages an atmosphere of mutual respect—many professors will ask their students to call them by their first names, and often professors request that students aid them in research projects and other such endeavors. Because so many classes are small and discussion-oriented, students are often deeply involved in their courses.

Probably the biggest issue facing Bates academics at the moment is general education requirements. In order to graduate, students must fulfill these requirements, which, coupled with a student’s major requirements—most of which involve writing a senior thesis—can be very difficult for a student to complete. Compounding the problem is the fact that entry-level natural science courses are almost always over-enrolled—some by as many as 100 students. So, students who are taking courses simply to fulfill gen ed requirements compete for places with students who are taking the courses for their majors or because they’re genuinely interested in the subjects. Aside from the gen ed requirements, students have few complaints about classes and professors at Bates. The system may have a few flaws, but the professors and the courses offered are above average, to say the least.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

The workload is what you make of... The workload is what you make of it. If you want to do well, you're going to be spending a lot of time in the library. There are times during the semester when you have something major due in every class, and other times when you're actually getting a normal night's sleep. But, it is academically very challenging. 12345 Academics Report

BatAF says: Bates College 2016 Social Sciences

All the professors at Bates are... All the professors at Bates are passionate about what they do. Obviously some are better teachers than others, but, on the whole, they're extremely helpful and intelligent. The workload is mostly dependent on your course selection and preferences. If you're a Poli Sci major expect many, many pages of reading per night. Science people will have tons of labs to write up. As for what Bates is known for academically, there's obviously its senior thesis and study abroad, but mainly the short-term programs. 12345 Academics: February 17, 2009 Report

BatCB says: Bates College 2013 Other

Generally speaking, professors at... Generally speaking, professors at Bates are incredibly warm, understanding, and intellectually stimulating. The work load can be a lot at times, but everything is manageable. Every senior must write a thesis, which is unique for undergraduates, but if you pick a topic that is of interest to you, it can be one of the most rewarding academic experiences you will have at Bates. 12345 Academics: February 15, 2009 Report

BatCB says: Bates College 2013 Other

It is very difficult to get an "A"... It is very difficult to get an "A" at Bates, so do not be too hard on yourself if you work very hard in a class and do not get the grade you feel you deserved. 12345 Academics: February 15, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

My professors at Bates have been... My professors at Bates have been friendly and down-to-earth. I feel like they treat me more as an intellectual peer that has something legitimate to contribute, rather than an inferior student. This attitude makes classes interesting by encouraging discussion. I learn more from my professors and classmates than I do from the books we are studying. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

One of the most unique aspects of Bates is its calendar. The five-week spring Short Term enables students to focus on a single course, often one that they would not be able to take otherwise. Sample Short Term courses include: Roller Coasters (students study the mathematics behind roller coasters and visit theme parks), For the Love of Dogs (students read literature about dogs and visit dogs at animal shelters), Shakespeare in London (students spend two weeks on campus studying various Shakespeare plays and then travel to London, Canterbury, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Oxford for three weeks to see the plays and explore British culture).

During Short Term, the Student Activities Office runs an Experimental College, which consists of a variety of non-credit, extracurricular courses, such as bartending, yoga, ballroom dancing, knitting, and basic car mechanics.

Many Bates students also participate in service-learning programs. These include mentoring local children, developing community gardens with Lots to Gardens, or working with the Lewiston Housing Authority.

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