St. Olaf College - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

The professors are the most notable element of St. Olaf’s academics. They are all, for the most part, extremely accessible, personable, and caring. They exhibit a genuine passion for their respective subjects and, more importantly, for teaching undergraduate students. St. Olaf is proud to be a school, not a research facility. While professors can and do engage in independent research and writing, teaching is the primary reason they are here. The fact that Olaf is an undergraduate-only institution ensures that no professors are forced into introductory courses when they would rather be working with graduate students. It also means that all courses will be taught by professors and not TAs or graduate students.

Academic competition at Olaf is never a problem. The winner of an essay contest is always met with authentic congratulations from other entrants. There is never any sort of problem with student sabotage in science labs, and students are always helping one another with studying for exams. Almost all Oles strive to do their personal best rather than simply outdo their peers. It is impossible to gage the difficulty of classes at Olaf. It totally depends on each individual student’s goals, work ethic, and drive. One thing you can certainly count on is that, over four years, every student will have taken plenty of truly challenging classes.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

“The professors at St. Olaf are... “The professors at St. Olaf are unique in that they, from the first day, make a conscious effort to get to know the students on an individual and personal basis. The profs are also very accessible. It is easy to get extra help for a class from the professor, and not just a TA. It is also not uncommon to simply get together with a professor for coffee or lunch to talk about everyday life.” 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

“Teachers are generally sociable... “Teachers are generally sociable and helpful, but major exceptions come from the physics and economics departments. Physics profs are particularly antisocial—they deliver monotonous lectures and pace around the lab. Other than that, their relationships with students are basically nil. The economics department is one of the poorest—if not the poorest—departments on campus. If you actually want to learn beyond the minimal concepts of a supply/demand curve, actively seek out information on your own. Econ professors at St. Olaf serve very little purpose. From my personal experience, my favorite teachers have come from the art and biology departments, though I am majoring in neither.” 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

“The professors are, on the whole,... “The professors are, on the whole, very good, and classes are continually diversifying. There will always be something of interest.” 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

“As far as classes, I have studied... “As far as classes, I have studied at NYU as well as UCLA, both nationally recognized schools, and have found that Olaf classes and professors blow the others out of the water—there is no comparison. At Olaf, you are a name instead of a number. Your questions are answered by your professor instead of a teacher’s assistant.” 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

“All of the professors are great.... “All of the professors are great. They take a genuine interest in the subjects they teach, and they convey that interest in their lectures. While all classes are obviously interesting, when you choose classes by professors you enjoy, they are sure to be great.” 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

St. Olaf is among the nation’s top colleges and universities for sending students abroad. In an average graduating class, 78 percent of students will have studied off campus.

Besides the typical bachelor of arts degree, St. Olaf also offers a bachelor of music degree, giving a conservatory-like experience in a liberal arts setting.

St. Olaf offers three “Conversation” programs: Great Conversation, Asian Conversation, and American Conversation. These special programs guide a small group of selected students through the canon of great western, Asian, or American philosophy, literature, and art.

As a liberal arts college, St. Olaf seeks to give its students a well-rounded education. For this reason, every student is required to take a formidable number of general education requirements outside of his or her area of emphasis. Everyone must take four semesters of a foreign language, two semesters of science, two semesters of western civilization, and a variety of other classes.

Olaf’s 4-1-4 schedule includes a mandatory interim period between the first and second semester during which students enroll in a one course. Interim runs through the month of January and is an excellent opportunity to study abroad, take a quirkier sort of class, or get one of those general education requirements out of the way.

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