Whitman College
- Academics

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Whitman College - Academics - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.85

Academics

Quick Stats

Student-Faculty Ratio 10:1
Full-Time Student Population 1,483
Part-Time Student Population 32
Full-Time Instructional Faculty 140
Part-Time Instructional Faculty 63
Total FT Faculty 151
Faculty with Terminal Degree 94%
Average Faculty Salary $73,348
Full-Time Retention Rate 93%
Graduation Rate 92%
Programs/Majors Offered 42
Average Course Load 16 credits
Academic/Career Counseling? Yes
Remedial Services? No
Class Sizes
  • Fewer than 20 Students: 73%
  • 20 to 49 Students: 26%
  • 50 or More Students: 1%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Whitman encourages the exploration of academic diversity through its distribution requirements, according to students. These allow students to explore interests and discover new ones, consequentially finding their focus. The distribution categories allow for an eclectic mix by requiring the following: six credits in “alternative voices,” six credits in the social sciences, six credits in the humanities, six credits in the fine arts, six credits in the sciences, one lab credit, one quantitative analysis course, and Encounters, the full-year core course required for all first-years. Encounters could be best described as a blend of literature, politics, and philosophy.

Experiences can depend, of course, on what your personal interests are and what classes you take, but most students find their courses interesting and engaging, primarily because of their professors. Across the board, Whitman students name their professors as the greatest strength of Whitman academics and applaud them for their passion, knowledge, and care for the individuals in their classes. Professors are insanely intelligent, too, and 98 percent of tenure track faculty holds a PhD or other appropriate terminal degree in their field. Students consider Whitman to be a comfortable environment in which to discuss all facets of academia, and they generally find their professors to be approachable both in and out of the classroom. The faculty makes a genuine effort to get to know the students, although the small student-faculty ratio (10:1) probably makes it easier to learn names. It’s never uncommon for students to dine in professors’ homes, to watch course-related films together, or to just socialize with other students in their department.
 

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Whitman Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Academics at Whitman College

pangin

'13

History

5.0
A+

History as a Means of Exploration and Connection

At Whitman, the History department has its own distribution requirements - including geographical distribution and subject concentration. I was initially skeptic, as I have very specific interests within history, but was surprised to find out how much I've been able to relate these classes. I also love the required class for the History major - Historical Methodologies. It focuses on different aspects of a historian's 'toolbox' - primary source analysis, secondary source analysis, historiography, etc. The course culminated in a 25 page term paper. I was scared of it at first, but we were able to choose our own topics, and I soon became so entrenched in mine that I actually wrote over the number of required pages and then had to trim it down. I'm now using this subject as a starting point for connections in other history courses, like the geographic distribution ones, in hopes of broadening my subject and analysis for senior exams.

Feb 09, 2012

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Academics at Whitman College

ayaumk

'14

English

4.6
A

Lots of Academic Support

The Academic Resource Center, located in Memorial Hall, is full of really useful tools to help students who have learning differences or who need extra assistance in a class. You can pick up planning guides, find unique study tips, and even get matched up with a student tutor for free! Furthermore, Student Academic Advisers (SAs) live in every first-year section and serve as guides through the transition process from high school- to college-level academics. My SA would do things like proofread my papers, help me develop my thesis, teach me how to conduct research, and help me plan and register for my classes.

Feb 09, 2012

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Academics at Whitman College

missionary2015

'15

Anthropology and Archaeology

4.6
A

Excellent Personal Attention from Anthro Profs

The Anthropology department is fairly small here, but that allows for greater personal relationships between the majors and their advisors. Students focusing on paleo- or archaeological aspect of anthropology have opportunities multiple times throughout the year to go on excavation digs with one of the professors; other professors take their major advisees on research trips during the summer for academic credit an an opportunity to be trained in ethnography while helping with the professor's own independent research. It's a closely-knit department, definitely.

Feb 08, 2012

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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate your school’s professors on the following topics

Rate your school’s academic environment on the following topics

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 given for scores of 4 or 5
IB Test Score Requirements Possible credit given for scores of 5, 6, or 7
Degrees Awarded Bachelor's degree
Most Popular Majors
  • Economics and Econometrics: 4%
  • English Language Studies: 4%
  • Political Science and Government, General: 4%
  • Psychology: 4%
Special Study Options Study abroad
Best Places to Study
  • Maxey Hall
  • Penrose Library
Did You Know?

Whitman College offers over 40 majors and combined programs.

Whitman offers five-year programs affiliated with such schools as Columbia, the University of Washington, and Duke.


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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Whitman

Name: Sara Rasmussen

Hometown: Salem, Ore.

Major: Politics

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