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Bates College - Academics - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.24

Academics

A-
Where does this grade come from?View all Academics rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Academics Grades:

Quick Stats

Student-Faculty Ratio 10:1
Full-Time Student Population 1,738
Part-Time Student Population 0
Full-Time Instructional Faculty 151
Part-Time Instructional Faculty 40
Total FT Faculty 151
Faculty with Terminal Degree 90%
Average Faculty Salary $89,173
Full-Time Retention Rate 94%
Transfer-Out Rate 8%
Graduation Rate 89%
Programs/Majors Offered 36
Average Course Load 4 courses
Academic/Career Counseling? Yes
Remedial Services? No
Class Sizes
  • Fewer than 20 students: 67%
  • 20 to 49 students: 29%
  • 50 or more students: 4%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

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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Bates Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Academics at Bates College

lobster317

'12

Political Science and Government

5.0
A+

One of the Top Staffs Here

The politics department is stocked with a bunch of brilliant professors who not only really know what they're talking about, but manage to cover a vast spectrum of different types of study within politics. They're also a bunch of cool people, with a bunch of old-timers that have been doing it for so long there is cohesion, but with enough new talent that it's interesting too. Couldn't recommend it more highly.

Dec 12, 2011

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Academics at Bates College

eunice_fda1

'14

Liberal Arts and Humanities

4.6
A

Resources and Extra Help

Bates has numerous programs and workshops for students who need extra assistance in their major, primarily the sciences. Professors go out of their way to help students and giv them any extra assistance that they may need.

Aug 08, 2010

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Academics at Bates College

Anonymous

Student

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.

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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate your school’s professors on the following topics

Rate your school’s academic environment on the following topics

Facts

Instructional Programs Occupational: No
Academic: Yes
Continuing Professional: No
Recreational/Avocational: No
Adult Basic Remedial: No
Secondary (High School): No
Special Credit Opportunities Advanced Placement (AP) Credits: Yes
Dual Credit: No
Life Experience Credits: No
AP Test Score Requirements Possible credit for scores of 4 or 5
IB Test Score Requirements Possible credit for scores of 6 or 7
Degrees Awarded Bachelor's degree
Most Popular Majors
  • Economics and Econometrics: 5%
  • History, General: 5%
  • Political Science and Government, General: 5%
  • Psychology: 5%
Special Study Options
  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification (below the postsecondary level)
Best Places to Study
  • Ladd Library
  • Pettengill Hall (study areas and department lounges)
  • The Ronj
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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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Bates

Name: Jessie Sawyer

Hometown: Farmington, CT

Major: English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a Spanish minor

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