Gustavus Adolphus College - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Gustavus likes to tout that there is an average of only 17 students in a classroom, and professor attention is one of the school’s biggest draws. Most professors genuinely care about the students, take time to learn more about them, and always have their doors open for questions or concerns. Virtually no classes, with the exception of a few science labs, are taught by TAs—many are around simply to answer questions and to make sure you don’t exceed a professor’s allotted number of absences. Small class sizes and individual attention means that professors notice when you are not there. Students are also encouraged to wait to declare a major and to take time with academic advisors; for many students, advisors become confidants during their four years in school.

Even so, recently, professors are less open to hearing new opinions and are more vocal about telling students that they are “wrong.” On a small campus where finding anonymity can be a challenge, students have been less likely to raise dissenting opinions for fear that their opinions will be called invalid in front of fellow classmates. Ideological hegemony seems to run rampant in certain departments, making students feel silenced. Gustavus seems to embrace the liberal standpoint in not only academic curriculum, but in politics as well. Though it is likely due to the changing world around us, openly conservative professors are virtually nonexistent.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Professors act not only as... Professors act not only as teachers but as mentors, friends, and counselors, as well. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The teachers for me were a... The teachers for me were a little—no, I guess, way too liberal for my liking. Their opinions really came out in class, but at the same time, I was able to express my opinions just as easily. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

I found most of the teachers very... I found most of the teachers very willing to adapt to student needs. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

Every teacher I have had the... Every teacher I have had the pleasure of meeting has taken the time to get to know me and sincerely converse with me. Most of them care about what you have to offer to the class, campus, and life in general. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

I have found a lot of the courses... I have found a lot of the courses are discussion-based, which is really nice. I would rather be talking about issues than be lectured on them. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Gustavus offers two general education choices for students, which they must determine at the beginning of their first year. While the majority of students opt for Curriculum I, which is similar to other University general requirement programs where the student picks from a number of courses to fulfill general education requirements, a handful of students choose Curriculum II. CII is made up of a series of predetermined classes completed throughout the 4 years, and aims to help students to “look at the development of Western cultures with comparisons to non-Western cultures, the examination of values, and the theme of the individual and community.”

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