Wheaton College (IL) - AcademicsCollege Prowler3.85

Academics:

B+

(explain this grade)

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Quick Stats

Faculty with Terminal Degree

94 %

Full-Time Faculty

198

Student-Faculty Ratio

12:1

Average Course Load

14 credits

College Prowler Take

Walking among the Wheaton student body may feel like walking side by side with the most talented and scholarly students in the country. And, because this is actually true, Wheaton College can often become an intimidating place to learn. In spite of this, students are generally extraordinarily congenial and academically non-competitive with one another. That said, Wheaton professors should also be applauded. The teachers are some of the finest scholars in their respective fields and display sincere devotion toward their students. While it has become cliché for students to constantly hear the school’s catchphrase—the integration of faith and learning—the professors truly embrace it, desiring to see their students prosper in all of life’s challenges, not just in academics. Classes are never taught by TAs, and professors remain very accessible during their office hours. Unique to Wheaton, many students have entered into mentoring relationships with their professors. Surely, the passion that professors exhibit for their students is Wheaton’s hallmark in the world of education.

Wheaton College stacks up against the finest academic institutions in the country, and the fact that it upholds its core Christian principles gives it even higher acclaim in the Christian Evangelical circles. The school maintains a wide gamut of academic pursuits, as its science, business, psychology, theology, and music departments have all gained national recognition. The only complaint you’ll ever hear is in regard to newer technology on campus. Wheaton certainly doesn’t have the latest academic facilities, yet the students and faculty make it work.

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Students Speak Out

Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:

Anonymous says:

The profs at Wheaton are great....

The profs at Wheaton are great. They are really personal and amiable towards the students. They really care and pray for us, which is unique. It’s my theory that teachers either make or break a class, and at Wheaton, I think that most of them do a good job.

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Anonymous says:

Wheaton profs are clearly...

Wheaton profs are clearly passionate about what they teach. Almost all sessions are taught by the profs themselves, not TAs. Most classes are quite interesting, and I credit the profs for this. However, we’re required to take classes that cover a vast range of subject areas to obtain a liberal arts degree. It’s inevitable that some will be more interesting than others.

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Anonymous says:

One of the reasons I have...

One of the reasons I have continued my academic career at Wheaton is because of the quality of the professors. They continually demonstrate themselves as both serious scholars and dedicated teachers. Some classes are definitely more interesting than others, but I have never had a course where the professor was not passionate about their subject. I love the upper-level classes, because it involves more than readings and lecturing, and discussions are motivating and constantly thought-provoking.

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Anonymous says:

I think the professors are one of...

I think the professors are one of the greatest aspects of Wheaton. Most of my professors see teaching at Wheaton as more than a job—it’s a calling. Many professors are pretty passionate about their work. I have never felt like teaching was a low priority, or that the professor was too focused on research.

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Anonymous says:

You know, I have had a couple of...

You know, I have had a couple of teachers where it was impossible for them to teach a log to roll down a hill, and they were teaching upper-division classes. But, that is present in every college. I guess it’s just frustrating when tenure kicks in and keeps professors there when they should have retired, or been fired, years ago. Overall, however, I have had a very positive experience with teachers, always finding them willing to help in any way they can.

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Interested in
Wheaton College (IL)?

Facts

AP Test Score Requirements

Possible credit for scores of 3, 4, or 5

IB Test Score Requirements

Possible credit for scores of 5 or higher

Degrees Awarded

  • Bachelor's
  • Post-bachelor's certificate
  • Master's
  • Doctorate

Most Popular Majors

  • Social sciences - 20 %
  • Theology and religion - 10 %
  • Business/marketing - 9 %
  • English literature/language - 9 %
  • Education - 7 %
  • Psychology - 7 %
  • Visual and performing arts - 7 %

Special Study Options

  • Interdisciplinary studies

Class Sizes

  • 20 to 49 Students - 37 %
  • 50 or More Students - 4 %
  • Fewer than 20 Students - 59 %

Undergraduate Schools

  • Conservatory of Music
  • Liberal Arts College

Graduation Rates

  • 4-Year - 79 %
  • 5-Year - 83 %
  • 6-Year - 86 %

Best Places to Study

  • Dormitory designated study areas
  • Library
  • Todd Beamer Student Center

Did You Know?

During finals week every semester, the school’s top-rate food service—Bon Appétit opens late-night, serving free Krispy Krème donuts, ice cream, and a number of other treats to help with each week’s stress.

Lauren Pope, author of Colleges that Change Lives, said that “Wheaton is often called the Harvard of Evangelicals, but that moniker does not do it justice because it is a head, shoulders, and heart above Harvard in its concern with good moral systems and strong value systems, as well as in the percentage of future PhDs it has turned out.”

The Wheaton science department is one of the top 25 nationwide, and nearly 25 percent of all Wheaton science graduates go on to complete a doctorate.

Wheaton’s Conservatory of Music, with a 7-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, ranks among the finest music schools in the country.

Student advising at Wheaton is a chief concern. For each advisor, there are around five to ten students. Thus, each student receives special attention for class selections, study abroad opportunities, and career concerns.

If you ever need help writing a paper, or want your paper edited, go to the Writing Center in Buswell Library where you will receive quality help.

Sample Academic Clubs:
Archeology Society, A Rocha Wheaton, Christians for Political Thought and Action, Investment Club, Le Cercle Francais, Sigma Delta Pi (Pre-Health Professions Club)

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