Rice University - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Rice students admit that most departments have both strong and weak professors. However, according to most undergrads, the overall experience with Rice professors is incredibly positive. Students rave about the close personal relationships that they form with many of their professors. They are approachable, eager to connect with students, very knowledgeable in their fields, and make every effort to be accessible to their students. They not only meet with students before and after class or during their office hours, but many also frequently eat lunch at local restaurants and attend University functions (athletic events, plays, and even off-campus social functions).

In order to earn a Rice degree, you must complete a certain number of classes in different areas of study (social sciences, humanities, science and engineering). This allows students the opportunity to explore academic areas outside of their chosen major. For many students, elective courses are an exciting change from their major courses. Because these distribution requirements can also be very challenging, Rice allows students to take four classes (not specifically required for their degree) pass/fail. This encourages students to take courses in subjects they are not familiar with, as well as allowing them to put more effort into their major classes than their distribution classes. However, when you do have a choice about your courses or professors, there are many resources to help you avoid unwise decisions.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

The teachers make it easy to do... The teachers make it easy to do well here because they really go out of their way to make sure everyone understands what they need to understand, and they encourage thinking outside of the box, so that you get a well-rounded education on top of it all. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

Professors are very approachable.... Professors are very approachable. If you make an effort, you can definitely make sure they know your name. Most profs are willing to help out whenever you have questions—either via e-mail, or if you stop in at their office hours. It was really helpful for me to be at such a small school when I needed to get recommendations for summer programs. I feel like my professors have gotten to know me well. It’s more difficult to hide or get lost at Rice because it is so small. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The teachers are excellent in... The teachers are excellent in their knowledge about the subject, but they give hard exams and are really strict about homework and assignments. Since my major was engineering, I have had the most challenging teachers. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The teachers are very amiable.... The teachers are very amiable. It’s hard to generalize because they’re varied. But generally, they’re nice people, easy to get in touch with, and willing to help if you have a problem. I find most of my classes here interesting. I’m an English major, so most of my classes are discussion-based, which I really enjoy. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The teachers are wonderful at... The teachers are wonderful at Rice. They are not out to get you, and they genuinely want to help the students learn the material. As a result, they are very approachable and friendly. All of them hold office hours and will make appointments to see you. Most often, all it takes is a few words after class. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

For their first semester, freshmen are allowed to drop classes up until the very last day of the semester. All students have the option to take four classes pass/fail during their college careers (no more than one in a given semester). This allows students to complete those nasty distribution requirements while putting forth minimum effort and concentrating more on classes in their majors.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Meenakshi Awasthi
Hometown: Arlington, TX
Major: English/Biology

Meenakshi made her own dimple?by accident, of course! In Kindergarten, she fell off of the jungle gym and bruised her cheek pretty badly. Today it is a nice little dimple with a great history.

Contributing Author Internship

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