Skidmore College
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Skidmore College - Academics - Academics - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.85

Academics

Quick Stats

Student-Faculty Ratio 9:1
Full-Time Student Population 2,585
Part-Time Student Population 129
Full-Time Instructional Faculty 248
Part-Time Instructional Faculty 65
Total FT Faculty 249
Faculty with Terminal Degree 88%
Average Faculty Salary $75,607
Full-Time Retention Rate 94%
Graduation Rate 84%
Programs/Majors Offered 41
Average Course Load 15 credits
Academic/Career Counseling? Yes
Remedial Services? No
Class Sizes
  • Fewer than 20 students: 69%
  • 20 to 49 students: 30%
  • 50 or more students: 1%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Since Skidmore is a small school, that means small classes. Average class size at Skidmore is 17 students. Class participation is a large part of your grade and experience at Skidmore. Many classes are discussion-based. Students and faculty take academics very seriously. Students are there to learn and work hard because they enjoy what they're working on. Since Skidmore is a liberal arts college, there are all-college requirements that students must meet, and through these requirements, they are able to get a taste of all different departments and disciplines. Another advantage of a small school is that student/faculty relationships are encouraged and rewarding. Professors always have welcoming office hours and are available for discussion and further research.

Additionally, every first-year student must enroll in a themed seminar, called a Scribner Seminar, that's taught by both a professor and a student peer mentor. The peer mentor is either a sophomore, junior, or senior, and his or her role is to not only act as a teaching assistant in the classroom, but to also build lasting personal relationships with the first-years to smooth the transition into college. The first-years are able to create a close relationship with a professor and an older student at Skidmore, and they are housed by seminar, so they also live with the students in their seminar, which strengthens the bond between the students. Although each seminar is an academic class (themes range from children's literature to Italian cinema and cuisine), the peer mentors spend time once a week discussing college matters with students, from drugs and alcohol to sexual misconduct to how to register for a class. This mandatory liberal arts intro into college is a wonderful aspect of the freshman experience.

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Skidmore Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Academics at Skidmore College

skidmoreissuper

Psychology '12

4.2
A-

Overall Academics

I really appreciate Skidmore's small class sizes. It's great to be able to establish close relationships with your professors as well as classmates. Most professors are extremely friendly and willing to help, advise, or chat outside of class. There will always be a handful of professors who...shouldn't be professors, but I think you will find that in any school. One of my complaints is that, in a small school many cool classes tend to overlap in their time slots.

Dec 14, 2011

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Academics at Skidmore College

dsalzber

Studio Arts '12

4.2
A-

Studio Art

I'm a Studio Art major at Skidmore and it's been a wonderful experience. We have great classes, studio spaces and professors. The only thing making Skidmore not an A+ is that in some of the smaller studio areas we have one teacher for the subject so if you disagree with them, it can be hard.

Dec 12, 2011

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Academics at Skidmore College

fanatickid

English '12

4.6
A

Small Vs Large Departments

The academics at Skidmore are quite good, though many departments are small. The English department, for instance, has many professors with many specializations, from creative writing to literature studies. But departments such as the various languages, American Studies, and others, have very few professors, and thus little variety in classes or subjects of study. It seems to me that even discussion must be somewhat limited within those smaller departments, as a few professors cannot possibly possess the same amount of knowledge as many who are just as successful, if not more, within their fields of study.

I give Skidmore an A because the departments that are very strong, such as English and Studio Art, but not forgetting departments such as sociology, biology, and music, are wonderful, although the smaller departments could probably use expansion. The professors are intelligent, willing to talk, and will almost always make time in their schedules for students even at their busiest.

Dec 12, 2011

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User rating for Skidmore College - Academics is 4.6 out of 5 based on 25 user reviews.

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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate your school’s professors on the following topics

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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: Yes
Life Experience Credits: No
AP Test Score Requirements Possible credit for scores of 4 or 5
Degrees Awarded
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Master's degree
Most Popular Majors
  • Business/Commerce, General: 6%
  • English Language Studies: 4%
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences: 4%
  • Psychology: 4%
Graduation Requirements
  • Arts/fine arts
  • English (including composition)
  • Foreign languages
  • Humanities
  • Interdisciplinary
  • Mathematics
  • Sciences (biological or physical)
  • Social science
Special Study Options
  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification (below the postsecondary level)
Other Academic Offerings
  • Accelerated program
  • Cross-registration
  • Double major
  • Dual enrollment
  • Exchange student program (domestic)
  • Honors program
  • Independent study
  • Internships
  • Liberal arts/career combination
  • Student-designed major
Best Places to Study
  • Dorm study rooms
  • Library—choose your floor based on noise level and environment (third floor is the quiet floor)
  • Study rooms in the library
  • Uncommon Grounds on Broadway
Did You Know?
  • There are 248 full-time faculty and 43 academic departments.
  • There are 12 different summer programs at Skidmore, ranging from pre-college programs to the NYS Writers Institute.

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Caroline Wurtzel
Hometown
Great Neck, NY
Major
English (Studio Art Minor)
Grad Year
2012

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