Freshman Offerings
Students have maximum flexibility in course choice, the ability to start working toward a desired major from the first semester on and the opportunity to build a general foundation according to their own special interests. Assisted by an advisor, students choose an appropriate group of courses (usually four each semester) from the entire range of offerings open to freshmen. Some of these courses lay a basis for a choice of major. Others fulfill basic requirements for graduation and provide the first college-level steps toward a liberal education.
Freshmen also have the opportunity to enroll in Quest courses.
Quest courses involve exciting work with original materials and data and encourage conversation and collaboration between teacher and student and among students themselves. Because of the small size of most Quest courses, students interact closely with their classmates and professor.
In the humanities Quest courses, students delve into analysis and interpretation of primary sources such as letters, authors’ original writings and revisions, and films. In social sciences Quest courses, students scrutinize existing data, conduct research that yields new data, and learn techniques for data collection and analysis. Science and engineering Quest courses draw students into the generation and analysis of new experimental data.
When students study primary sources, their best insights typically occur when they review their material for a second (or third, or fourth) time. That’s why Quest courses feature “recursion,” the perspective of the second look.
For information about Quest offerings, see www.rochester.edu/college/CCAS/quest/.
Early Connection Opportunity
The Early Connection Opportunity (ECO) program is designed to assist students in acquiring the attitudes, skills, and social connections necessary to become successful University of Rochester students. The program provides supplemental academic support to selected pre-freshmen during a four-week summer program. ECO is a residential program that takes place in the month of July. Students admitted through the Higher Education Opportunity Program are required to attend as a condition of admission, and others are invited who we believe would profit from the connections that can be made during this program. Enrollment is limited. No fees, no tuition, and no room and board costs are charged to participating students. Students are responsible for transportation costs to and from Rochester and all other personal expenses.
Model courses in selected areas, such as mathematics, writing, literature, and biology and chemistry are offered. A series of workshops on strategies and tactics to promote academic success and using the University’s computer facilities are also offered. Courses are taught by instructional faculty representing various departments in the University. Upon successful completion of ECO courses students earn 4 credits (the equivalent of one full college course). One or 2 credits may be earned in follow-up courses during the academic year.
Extra-Departmental Courses
Each semester the College offers a variety of courses that are unique or interdisciplinary in nature, reflecting the current interests of students and faculty. These courses are listed under the heading CAS in the Registrar’s Course Description/Course Schedule. Expanded descriptions of these and other noncredit professional and personal development courses are available from the Office of Summer and Part-time Studies in 4-214 Dewey or at www.rochester.edu/osp/.
