introduction of thesis project

How to write a fantastic thesis introduction (+15 examples)

The thesis introduction, usually chapter 1, is one of the most important chapters of a thesis. It sets the scene. It previews key arguments and findings. And it helps the reader to understand the structure of the thesis. In short, a lot is riding on this first chapter. With the following tips, you can write a powerful thesis introduction.

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Elements of a fantastic thesis introduction

Open with a (personal) story, begin with a problem, define a clear research gap, describe the scientific relevance of the thesis, describe the societal relevance of the thesis, write down the thesis’ core claim in 1-2 sentences, support your argument with sufficient evidence, consider possible objections, address the empirical research context, give a taste of the thesis’ empirical analysis, hint at the practical implications of the research, provide a reading guide, briefly summarise all chapters to come, design a figure illustrating the thesis structure.

An introductory chapter plays an integral part in every thesis. The first chapter has to include quite a lot of information to contextualise the research. At the same time, a good thesis introduction is not too long, but clear and to the point.

A powerful thesis introduction does the following:

• It captures the reader’s attention.
• It presents a clear research gap and emphasises the thesis’ relevance.
• It provides a compelling argument.
• It previews the research findings.
• It explains the structure of the thesis.

In addition, a powerful thesis introduction is well-written, logically structured, and free of grammar and spelling errors. Reputable thesis editors can elevate the quality of your introduction to the next level. If you are in search of a trustworthy thesis or dissertation editor who upholds high-quality standards and offers efficient turnaround times, I recommend the professional thesis and dissertation editing service provided by Editage . 

This list can feel quite overwhelming. However, with some easy tips and tricks, you can accomplish all these goals in your thesis introduction. (And if you struggle with finding the right wording, have a look at academic key phrases for introductions .)

Ways to capture the reader’s attention

A powerful thesis introduction should spark the reader’s interest on the first pages. A reader should be enticed to continue reading! There are three common ways to capture the reader’s attention.

An established way to capture the reader’s attention in a thesis introduction is by starting with a story. Regardless of how abstract and ‘scientific’ the actual thesis content is, it can be useful to ease the reader into the topic with a short story.

This story can be, for instance, based on one of your study participants. It can also be a very personal account of one of your own experiences, which drew you to study the thesis topic in the first place.

Start by providing data or statistics

Data and statistics are another established way to immediately draw in your reader. Especially surprising or shocking numbers can highlight the importance of a thesis topic in the first few sentences!

So if your thesis topic lends itself to being kick-started with data or statistics, you are in for a quick and easy way to write a memorable thesis introduction.

The third established way to capture the reader’s attention is by starting with the problem that underlies your thesis. It is advisable to keep the problem simple. A few sentences at the start of the chapter should suffice.

Usually, at a later stage in the introductory chapter, it is common to go more in-depth, describing the research problem (and its scientific and societal relevance) in more detail.

You may also like: Minimalist writing for a better thesis

Emphasising the thesis’ relevance

A good thesis is a relevant thesis. No one wants to read about a concept that has already been explored hundreds of times, or that no one cares about.

Of course, a thesis heavily relies on the work of other scholars. However, each thesis is – and should be – unique. If you want to write a fantastic thesis introduction, your job is to point out this uniqueness!

In academic research, a research gap signifies a research area or research question that has not been explored yet, that has been insufficiently explored, or whose insights and findings are outdated.

Every thesis needs a crystal-clear research gap. Spell it out instead of letting your reader figure out why your thesis is relevant.

* This example has been taken from an actual academic paper on toxic behaviour in online games: Liu, J. and Agur, C. (2022). “After All, They Don’t Know Me” Exploring the Psychological Mechanisms of Toxic Behavior in Online Games. Games and Culture 1–24, DOI: 10.1177/15554120221115397

The scientific relevance of a thesis highlights the importance of your work in terms of advancing theoretical insights on a topic. You can think of this part as your contribution to the (international) academic literature.

Scientific relevance comes in different forms. For instance, you can critically assess a prominent theory explaining a specific phenomenon. Maybe something is missing? Or you can develop a novel framework that combines different frameworks used by other scholars. Or you can draw attention to the context-specific nature of a phenomenon that is discussed in the international literature.

The societal relevance of a thesis highlights the importance of your research in more practical terms. You can think of this part as your contribution beyond theoretical insights and academic publications.

Why are your insights useful? Who can benefit from your insights? How can your insights improve existing practices?

Formulating a compelling argument

Arguments are sets of reasons supporting an idea, which – in academia – often integrate theoretical and empirical insights. Think of an argument as an umbrella statement, or core claim. It should be no longer than one or two sentences.

Including an argument in the introduction of your thesis may seem counterintuitive. After all, the reader will be introduced to your core claim before reading all the chapters of your thesis that led you to this claim in the first place.

But rest assured: A clear argument at the start of your thesis introduction is a sign of a good thesis. It works like a movie teaser to generate interest. And it helps the reader to follow your subsequent line of argumentation.

The core claim of your thesis should be accompanied by sufficient evidence. This does not mean that you have to write 10 pages about your results at this point.

However, you do need to show the reader that your claim is credible and legitimate because of the work you have done.

A good argument already anticipates possible objections. Not everyone will agree with your core claim. Therefore, it is smart to think ahead. What criticism can you expect?

Think about reasons or opposing positions that people can come up with to disagree with your claim. Then, try to address them head-on.

Providing a captivating preview of findings

Similar to presenting a compelling argument, a fantastic thesis introduction also previews some of the findings. When reading an introduction, the reader wants to learn a bit more about the research context. Furthermore, a reader should get a taste of the type of analysis that will be conducted. And lastly, a hint at the practical implications of the findings encourages the reader to read until the end.

If you focus on a specific empirical context, make sure to provide some information about it. The empirical context could be, for instance, a country, an island, a school or city. Make sure the reader understands why you chose this context for your research, and why it fits to your research objective.

If you did all your research in a lab, this section is obviously irrelevant. However, in that case you should explain the setup of your experiment, etcetera.

The empirical part of your thesis centers around the collection and analysis of information. What information, and what evidence, did you generate? And what are some of the key findings?

For instance, you can provide a short summary of the different research methods that you used to collect data. Followed by a short overview of how you analysed this data, and some of the key findings. The reader needs to understand why your empirical analysis is worth reading.

You already highlighted the practical relevance of your thesis in the introductory chapter. However, you should also provide a preview of some of the practical implications that you will develop in your thesis based on your findings.

Presenting a crystal clear thesis structure

A fantastic thesis introduction helps the reader to understand the structure and logic of your whole thesis. This is probably the easiest part to write in a thesis introduction. However, this part can be best written at the very end, once everything else is ready.

A reading guide is an essential part in a thesis introduction! Usually, the reading guide can be found toward the end of the introductory chapter.

The reading guide basically tells the reader what to expect in the chapters to come.

In a longer thesis, such as a PhD thesis, it can be smart to provide a summary of each chapter to come. Think of a paragraph for each chapter, almost in the form of an abstract.

For shorter theses, which also have a shorter introduction, this step is not necessary.

Especially for longer theses, it tends to be a good idea to design a simple figure that illustrates the structure of your thesis. It helps the reader to better grasp the logic of your thesis.

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How to write a good thesis introduction

1. Identify your readership

2. hook the reader and grab their attention, 3. provide relevant background, 4. give the reader a sense of what the paper is about, 5. preview key points and lead into your thesis statement, frequently asked questions about writing a good thesis introduction, related articles.

Many people struggle to write a thesis introduction. Much of your research prep should be done and you should be ready to start your introduction. But often, it’s not clear what needs to be included in a thesis introduction. If you feel stuck at this point not knowing how to start, this guide can help.

Tip: If you’re really struggling to write your thesis intro, consider putting in a placeholder until you write more of the body of your thesis. Then, come back to your intro once you have a stronger sense of the overall content of your thesis.

A good introduction draws readers in while providing the setup for the entire project. There is no single way to write an introduction that will always work for every topic , but the points below can act as a guide. These points can help you write a good thesis introduction.

Before even starting with your first sentence, consider who your readers are. Most likely, your readers will be the professors who are advising you on your thesis.

You should also consider readers of your thesis who are not specialists in your field. Writing with them in your mind will help you to be as clear as possible; this will make your thesis more understandable and enjoyable overall.

Tip: Always strive to be clear, correct, concrete, and concise in your writing.

The first sentence of the thesis is crucial. Looking back at your own research, think about how other writers may have hooked you.

It is common to start with a question or quotation, but these types of hooks are often overused. The best way to start your introduction is with a sentence that is broad and interesting and that seamlessly transitions into your argument.

Once again, consider your audience and how much background information they need to understand your approach. You can start by making a list of what is interesting about your topic:

• Are there any current events or controversies associated with your topic that might be interesting for your introduction?
• What kinds of background information might be useful for a reader to understand right away?
• Are there historical anecdotes or other situations that uniquely illustrate an important aspect of your argument?

A good introduction also needs to contain enough background information to allow the reader to understand the thesis statement and arguments. The amount of background information required will depend on the topic .

There should be enough background information so you don't have to spend too much time with it in the body of the thesis, but not so much that it becomes uninteresting.

Tip: Strike a balance between background information that is too broad or too specific.

Let the reader know what the purpose of the study is. Make sure to include the following points:

• Briefly describe the motivation behind your research.
• Describe the topic and scope of your research.
• Explain the practical relevance of your research.
• Explain the scholarly consensus related to your topic: briefly explain the most important articles and how they are related to your research.

At the end of your introduction, you should lead into your thesis statement by briefly bringing up a few of your main supporting details and by previewing what will be covered in the main part of the thesis. You’ll want to highlight the overall structure of your thesis so that readers will have a sense of what they will encounter as they read.

A good introduction draws readers in while providing the setup for the entire project. There is no single way to write an introduction that will always work for every topic, but these tips will help you write a great introduction:

• Identify your readership.
• Grab the reader's attention.
• Provide relevant background.
• Preview key points and lead into the thesis statement.

A good introduction needs to contain enough background information, and let the reader know what the purpose of the study is. Make sure to include the following points:

• Briefly describe the motivation for your research.

The length of the introduction will depend on the length of the whole thesis. Usually, an introduction makes up roughly 10 per cent of the total word count.

The best way to start your introduction is with a sentence that is broad and interesting and that seamlessly transitions into your argument. Consider the audience, then think of something that would grab their attention.

In Open Access: Theses and Dissertations you can find thousands of recent works. Take a look at any of the theses or dissertations for real-life examples of introductions that were already approved.

• How it works

How to Write the Thesis Or Dissertation Introduction – Guide

Published by Carmen Troy at August 31st, 2021 , Revised On January 24, 2024

Introducing your Dissertation Topic

What would you tell someone if they asked you to introduce yourself? You’d probably start with your name, what you do for a living…etc., etc., etc. Think of your dissertation. How would you go about it if you had to introduce it to the world for the first time?

Keep this forefront in your mind for the remainder of this guide: you are introducing your research to the world that doesn’t even know it exists. Every word, phrase and line you write in your introduction will stand for the strength of your dissertation’s character.

This is not very different from how, in real life, if someone fails to introduce themselves properly (such as leaving out what they do for a living, where they live, etc.) to a stranger, it leaves a lasting impression on the stranger.

Don’t leave your dissertation a stranger among other strangers. Let’s review the little, basic concepts we already have at the back of our minds, perhaps, to piece them together in one body: an introduction.

What Goes Inside an Introduction

The exact ingredients of a dissertation or thesis introduction chapter vary depending on  your chosen research topic, your university’s guidelines, and your academic subject – but they are generally mixed in one sequence or another to introduce an academic argument.

The critical elements of an excellent dissertation introduction include a definition of the selected research topic , a reference to previous studies on the subject, a statement of the value of the subject for academic and scientific communities, a clear aim/purpose of the study, a list of your objectives, a reference to viewpoints of other researchers and a justification for the research.

Topic Discussion versus Topic Introduction

Discussing and introducing a topic are two highly different aspects of dissertation introduction writing. You might find it easy to discuss a topic, but introducing it is much trickier.

The introduction is the first thing a reader reads; thus, it must be to the point, informative, engaging, and enjoyable. Even if one of these elements is missing, the reader will not be motivated to continue reading the paper and will move on to something different.

So, it’s critical to fully understand how to write the introduction of a dissertation before starting the actual write-up.

When writing a dissertation introduction, one has to explain the title, discuss the topic and present a background so that readers understand what your research is about and what  results you expect to achieve at the end of the research work.

As a standard practice, you might work on your dissertation introduction chapter several times. Once when you’re working on your proposal and the second time when writing your actual dissertation.

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Many academics argue that the Introduction chapter should be the last section of the dissertation paper you should complete, but by no means is it the last part you would think of because this is where your research starts from.

Write the draft introduction as early as possible. You should write it at the same time as the proposal submission, although you must revise and edit it many times before it takes the final shape.

Considering its importance, many students remain unsure of how to write the introduction of a dissertation. Here are some of the essential elements of how to write the introduction of a dissertation that’ll provide much-needed dissertation introduction writing help.

Below are some guidelines for you to learn to  write a flawless first-class dissertation paper.

Steps of Writing a Dissertation Introduction

1. research background – writing a dissertation introduction.

This is the very first section of your introduction. Building a background of your chosen topic will help you understand more about the topic and help readers know why the general research area is problematic, interesting, central, important, etc.

Your research background should include significant concepts related to your dissertation topic. This will give your supervisor and markers an idea that you’ve investigated the research problem thoroughly and know the various aspects of your topic.

The introduction to a dissertation shouldn’t talk only about other research work in the same area, as this will be discussed in the literature review section. Moreover, this section should not include the research design  and  data collection method(s) .

All about  research strategy  should be covered in the  methodology chapter . Research background only helps to build up your research in general.

For instance, if your research is based on job satisfaction measures of a specific country, the content of the introduction chapter will generally be about job satisfaction and its impact.

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2.     Significance of the Research

As a researcher, you must demonstrate how your research will provide value to the scientific and academic communities. If your dissertation is based on a specific company or industry, you need to explain why that industry and company were chosen.

If you’re comparing, explain why you’re doing so and what this research will yield. Regardless of your chosen research topic, explain thoroughly in this section why this research is being conducted and what benefits it will serve.

The idea here is to convince your supervisor and readers that the concept should be researched to find a solution to a problem.

3.     Research Problem

Once you’ve described the main research problem  and the importance of your research, the next step would be to present your  problem statement , i.e., why this research is being conducted and its purpose.

This is one of the essential aspects of writing a dissertation’s introduction. Doing so will help your readers understand what you intend to do in this research and what they should expect from this study.

Presenting the research problem competently is crucial in persuading your readers to read other parts of the dissertation paper . This research problem is the crux of your dissertation, i.e., it gives a direction as to why this research is being carried out, and what issues the study will consider.

For example, if your dissertation is based on measuring the job satisfaction of a specific organisation, your research problem should talk about the problem the company is facing and how your research will help the company to solve that.

If your dissertation is not based on any specific organisation, you can explain the common issues that companies face when they do not consider job satisfaction as a pillar of business growth and elaborate on how your research will help them realise its importance.

Citing too many references in the introduction chapter isn’t recommended because here, you must explain why you chose to study a specific area and what your research will accomplish. Any citations only set the context, and you should leave the bulk of the literature for a later section.

4.     Research Question(s)

The central part of your introduction is the research question , which should be based on your research problem and the dissertation title. Combining these two aspects will help you formulate an exciting yet manageable research question.

Your research question is what your research aims to answer and around which your dissertation will revolve. The research question should be specific and concise.

It should be a one- or two-line question you’ve set out to answer through your dissertation. For the job satisfaction example, a sample research question could be, how does job satisfaction positively impact employee performance?

Look up dissertation introduction examples online or ask your friends to get an idea of how an ideal research question is formed. Or you can review our dissertation introduction example here  and  research question examples here .

Once you’ve formed your research question, pick out vital elements from it, based on which you will then prepare your theoretical framework  and literature review. You will come back to your research question again when  concluding your dissertation .

Sometimes, you might have to formulate a hypothesis in place of a research question. The hypothesis is a simple statement you prove with your  results ,  discussion and analysis .

A sample hypothesis could be job satisfaction is positively linked to employee job performance . The results of your dissertation could be in favour of this dissertation or against it.

Tip: Read up about what alternative, null, one-tailed and two-tailed hypotheses are so you can better formulate the hypothesis for your dissertation. Following are the definitions for each term, as retrieved from Trochim et al.’s Research Methods: The Essential Knowledge Base (2016):

• Alternative hypothesis (H 1 ): “A specific statement of prediction that usually states what you expect will happen in your study.”
• Null hypothesis (H 0 ): “The hypothesis that describes the possible outcomes other than the alternative hypothesis. Usually, the null hypothesis predicts there will be no effect of a program or treatment you are studying.”
• One-tailed hypothesis: “A hypothesis that specifies a direction; for example, when your hypothesis predicts that your program will increase the outcome.”
• Two-tailed hypothesis: “A hypothesis that does not specify a direction. For example, if you hypothesise that your program or intervention will affect an outcome, but you are unwilling to specify whether that effect will be positive or negative, you are using a two-tailed hypothesis.”

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Interesting read: 10 ways to write a practical introduction fast .

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Uk’s best academic support services. how would you know until you try, 5.     research aims and objectives.

Next, the research aims and objectives. Aims and objectives are broad statements of desired results of your dissertation . They reflect the expectations of the topic and research and address the long-term project outcomes.

These statements should use the concepts accurately, must be focused, should be able to convey your research intentions and serve as steps that communicate how your  research question  will be answered.

You should formulate your aims and objectives based on your topic, research question, or hypothesis. These are simple statements and are an extension of your research question.

Through the aims and objectives, you communicate to your readers what aspects of research you’ve considered and how you intend to answer your research question.

Usually, these statements initiate with words like ‘to explore’, ‘to study’, ‘to assess’, ‘to critically assess’, ‘to understand’, ‘to evaluate’ etc.

You could ask your supervisor to provide some thesis introduction examples to help you understand better how aims and objectives are formulated. More examples are here .

Your aims and objectives should be interrelated and connect to your research question and problem. If they do not, they’ll be considered vague and too broad in scope.

Always ensure your research aims and objectives are concise, brief, and relevant.

Once you conclude  your dissertation , you will have to revert back to address whether your research aims and objectives have been met.

You will have to reflect on how your dissertation’s findings , analysis, and discussion related to your aims and objectives and how your research has helped in achieving them.

6.     Research Limitations

This section is sometimes a part of the  dissertation methodology section ; however, it is usually included in the introduction of a dissertation.

Every research has some limitations. Thus, it is normal for you to experience certain limitations when conducting your study.

You could experience  research design limitations, data limitations or even financial limitations. Regardless of which type of limitation you may experience, your dissertation would be impacted. Thus, it would be best if you mentioned them without any hesitation.

When including this section in the introduction, make sure that you clearly state the type of constraint you experienced. This will help your supervisor understand what problems you went through while working on your dissertation.

However, one aspect that you should take care of is that your results, in no way, should be influenced by these restrictions. The results should not be compromised, or your dissertation will not be deemed authentic and reliable.

After you’ve mentioned your research limitations, discuss how you overcame them to produce a perfect dissertation .

Also, mention that your limitations do not adversely impact your results and that you’ve produced research with accurate results the academic community can rely on.

Also read:   How to Write Dissertation Methodology .

7.     Outline of the Dissertation

Even though this isn’t a mandatory sub-section of the introduction chapter, good introductory chapters in dissertations outline what’s to follow in the preceding chapters.

It is also usual to set out an  outline of the rest of the dissertation . Depending on your university and academic subject, you might also be asked to include it in your research proposal .

Because your tutor might want to glance over it to see how you  plan your dissertation and what sections you’d include; based on what sections you include and how you intend to research and cover them, they’d provide feedback for you to improve.

Usually, this section discusses what sections you plan to include and what concepts and aspects each section entails. A standard dissertation consists of five sections : chapters, introduction,  literature review ,  methodology ,  results  and  discussion , and  conclusion .

Some  dissertation assignments do not use the same chapter for results and discussion. Instead, they split it into two different chapters, making six chapters. Check with your supervisor regarding which format you should follow.

When discussing the  outline of your dissertation , remember that you’d have to mention what each section involves. Discuss all the significant aspects of each section to give a brief overview of what your dissertation contains, and this is precisely what our dissertation outline service  provides.

Writing a dissertation introduction might seem complicated, but it is not if you understand what is expected of you. To understand the required elements and make sure that you focus on all of them.

Include all the aspects to ensure your supervisor and other readers can easily understand how you intend to undertake your research.

“If you find yourself stuck at any stage of your dissertation introduction, get introduction writing help from our writers! At ResearchProspect, we offer a dissertation writing service , and our qualified team of writers will also assist you in conducting in-depth research for your dissertation.

Dissertation Introduction Samples & Examples

Check out some basic samples of dissertation introduction chapters to get started.

FAQs about Dissertation Introduction

What is the purpose of an introduction chapter.

It’s used to introduce key constructs, ideas, models and/or theories etc. relating to the topic; things that you will be basing the remainder of your dissertation on.

How do you start an introduction in a dissertation?

There is more than one way of starting a dissertation’s introductory chapter. You can begin by stating a problem in your area of interest, review relevant literature, identify the gap, and introduce your topic. Or, you can go the opposite way, too. It’s all entirely up to your discretion. However, be consistent in the format you choose to write in.

How long can an introduction get?

It can range from 1000 to 2000 words for a master’s dissertation , but for a higher-level dissertation, it mostly ranges from 8,000 to 10,000 words ’ introduction chapter. In the end, though, it depends on the guidelines provided to you by your department.

Steps to Writing a Dissertation Introduction

You may also like.

Dissertation discussion is where you explore the relevance and significance of results. Here are guidelines to help you write the perfect discussion chapter.

A literature review is a survey of theses, articles, books and other academic sources. Here are guidelines on how to write dissertation literature review.

Make sure to develop a conceptual framework before conducting research. Here is all you need to know about what is a conceptual framework is in a dissertation?

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How to Write a Thesis Introduction

What types of information should you include in your introduction .

In the introduction of your thesis, you’ll be trying to do three main things, which are called Moves :

• Move 1 establish your territory (say what the topic is about)
• Move 2 establish a niche (show why there needs to be further research on your topic)
• Move 3 introduce the current research (make hypotheses; state the research questions)

Each Move has a number of stages. Depending on what you need to say in your introduction, you might use one or more stages. Table 1 provides you with a list of the most commonly occurring stages of introductions in Honours theses (colour-coded to show the Moves ). You will also find examples of Introductions, divided into stages with sample sentence extracts. Once you’ve looked at Examples 1 and 2, try the exercise that follows.

Most thesis introductions include SOME (but not all) of the stages listed below. There are variations between different Schools and between different theses, depending on the purpose of the thesis.

Stages in a thesis introduction

• state the general topic and give some background
• provide a review of the literature related to the topic
• define the terms and scope of the topic
• outline the current situation
• evaluate the current situation (advantages/ disadvantages) and identify the gap
• identify the importance of the proposed research
• state the research problem/ questions
• state the research aims and/or research objectives
• state the hypotheses
• outline the order of information in the thesis
• outline the methodology

Example 1: Evaluation of Boron Solid Source Diffusion for High-Efficiency Silicon Solar Cells (School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering)

Example 2: Methods for Measuring Hepatitis C Viral Complexity (School of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences)

Note: this introduction includes the literature review.

Now that you have read example 1 and 2, what are the differences?

Example 3: The IMO Severe-Weather Criterion Applied to High-Speed Monohulls (School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Example 4: The Steiner Tree Problem (School of Computer Science and Engineering)

Introduction exercise

Example 5.1 (extract 1): The effects of Fluoride on the reproduction of three native Australian plant Species (School of Geography)

Example 5.2 (extract 2): The effects of Fluoride on the reproduction of three native Australian plant Species (School of Geography)

Example 5.3

Example 5.4 (extract 4): The effects of Fluoride on the reproduction of three native Australian plant Species (School of Geography)

Example 5.5 (extract 5): The effects of Fluoride on the reproduction of three native Australian plant Species (School of Geography)

Example 5.6 (extract 6): The effects of Fluoride on the reproduction of three native Australian plant Species (School of Geography)

Well, firstly, there are many choices that you can make. You will notice that there are variations not only between the different Schools in your faculty, but also between individual theses, depending on the type of information that is being communicated. However, there are a few elements that a good Introduction should include, at the very minimum:

• Either Statement of general topic Or Background information about the topic;
• Either Identification of disadvantages of current situation Or Identification of the gap in current research;
• Identification of importance of proposed research
• Either Statement of aims Or Statement of objectives
• An Outline of the order of information in the thesis

Engineering & science

• Report writing
• Technical writing
• Writing lab reports
• Introductions
• Literature review
• Writing up results
• Discussions
• Conclusions
• Writing tools
• Case study report in (engineering)
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What’s Included: Introduction Template

This template covers all the core components required in the introduction chapter/section of a typical dissertation or thesis, including:

• The opening section
• Background of the research topic
• Statement of the problem
• Rationale (including the research aims, objectives, and questions)
• Scope of the study
• Significance of the study
• Structure of the document

The purpose of each section is clearly explained, followed by an overview of the key elements that you need to cover. We’ve also included practical examples to help you understand exactly what’s required, along with links to additional free resources (articles, videos, etc.) to help you along your research journey.

The cleanly formatted Google Doc can be downloaded as a fully editable MS Word Document (DOCX format), so you can use it as-is or convert it to LaTeX.

PS – if you’d like a high-level template for the entire thesis, you can we’ve got that too .

Thesis Introduction FAQS

What types of dissertations/theses can this template be used for.

The template follows the standard format for academic research projects, which means it will be suitable for the vast majority of dissertations and theses (especially those within the sciences), whether they are qualitative or quantitative in terms of design.

Keep in mind that the exact requirements for the introduction chapter/section will vary between universities and degree programs. These are typically minor, but it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalize your structure.

Is this template for an undergrad, Master or PhD-level thesis?

This template can be used for a dissertation, thesis or research project at any level of study. Doctoral-level projects typically require the introduction chapter to be more extensive/comprehensive, but the structure will typically remain the same.

Can I share this template with my friends/colleagues?

Yes, you’re welcome to share this template in its original format (no editing allowed). If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, we kindly request that you reference this page as your source.

What format is the template (DOC, PDF, PPT, etc.)?

The dissertation introduction chapter template is provided as a Google Doc. You can download it in MS Word format or make a copy to your Google Drive. You’re also welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.

What is the core purpose of this chapter?

The introduction chapter of a dissertation or thesis serves to introduce the research topic, clearly state the research problem, and outline the main research questions. It justifies the significance of the study, delineates its scope, and provides a roadmap of the dissertation’s structure.

In a nutshell, the introduction chapter sets the academic tone and context, laying the foundation for the subsequent analysis and discussion.

How long should the introduction chapter be?

This depends on the level of study (undergrad, Master or Doctoral), as well as your university’s specific requirements, so it’s best to check with them. As a general ballpark, introduction chapters for Masters-level projects are usually 1,500 – 2,000 words in length, while Doctoral-level projects can reach multiples of this.

How specific should the research objectives be in the introduction chapter?

In this chapter, your research objectives should be specific enough to clearly define the scope and direction of your study, but broad enough to encompass its overall aims.

Make sure that each objective can be realistically accomplished within the scope of your study and that each objective is directly related to and supports your research question(s).

As a rule of thumb, you should leave in-depth explanations for later chapters; the introduction should just provide a concise overview.

Can I mention the research results in the introduction?

How do i link the introduction to the literature review.

To transition smoothly from the introduction chapter to the literature review chapter in a thesis, it’s a good idea to:

• Conclude the introduction by summarising the main points, such as the research problem, objectives, and significance of your study.
• Explicitly state that the following chapter (literature review) will explore existing research and theoretical frameworks related to your topic.
• Emphasise how the literature review will address gaps or issues identified in the introduction, setting the stage for your research question or hypothesis.
• Use a sentence that acts as a bridge between the two chapters. For example, “To further understand this issue, the next chapter will critically examine the existing literature on [your topic].”

This approach will help form a logical flow and prepare the reader for the depth and context provided in the literature review.

Do you have templates for the other chapters?

Yes, we do. We are constantly developing our collection of free resources to help students complete their dissertations and theses. You can view all of our template resources here .

Can Grad Coach help me with my dissertation/thesis?

Yes, you’re welcome to get in touch with us to discuss our private coaching services .

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Home » Thesis – Structure, Example and Writing Guide

Thesis – Structure, Example and Writing Guide

Table of contents.

Definition:

Thesis is a scholarly document that presents a student’s original research and findings on a particular topic or question. It is usually written as a requirement for a graduate degree program and is intended to demonstrate the student’s mastery of the subject matter and their ability to conduct independent research.

History of Thesis

The concept of a thesis can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was used as a way for students to demonstrate their knowledge of a particular subject. However, the modern form of the thesis as a scholarly document used to earn a degree is a relatively recent development.

The origin of the modern thesis can be traced back to medieval universities in Europe. During this time, students were required to present a “disputation” in which they would defend a particular thesis in front of their peers and faculty members. These disputations served as a way to demonstrate the student’s mastery of the subject matter and were often the final requirement for earning a degree.

In the 17th century, the concept of the thesis was formalized further with the creation of the modern research university. Students were now required to complete a research project and present their findings in a written document, which would serve as the basis for their degree.

The modern thesis as we know it today has evolved over time, with different disciplines and institutions adopting their own standards and formats. However, the basic elements of a thesis – original research, a clear research question, a thorough review of the literature, and a well-argued conclusion – remain the same.

Structure of Thesis

The structure of a thesis may vary slightly depending on the specific requirements of the institution, department, or field of study, but generally, it follows a specific format.

Here’s a breakdown of the structure of a thesis:

This is the first page of the thesis that includes the title of the thesis, the name of the author, the name of the institution, the department, the date, and any other relevant information required by the institution.

This is a brief summary of the thesis that provides an overview of the research question, methodology, findings, and conclusions.

This page provides a list of all the chapters and sections in the thesis and their page numbers.

Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the research question, the context of the research, and the purpose of the study. The introduction should also outline the methodology and the scope of the research.

Literature Review

This chapter provides a critical analysis of the relevant literature on the research topic. It should demonstrate the gap in the existing knowledge and justify the need for the research.

Methodology

This chapter provides a detailed description of the research methods used to gather and analyze data. It should explain the research design, the sampling method, data collection techniques, and data analysis procedures.

This chapter presents the findings of the research. It should include tables, graphs, and charts to illustrate the results.

This chapter interprets the results and relates them to the research question. It should explain the significance of the findings and their implications for the research topic.

This chapter summarizes the key findings and the main conclusions of the research. It should also provide recommendations for future research.

This section provides a list of all the sources cited in the thesis. The citation style may vary depending on the requirements of the institution or the field of study.

This section includes any additional material that supports the research, such as raw data, survey questionnaires, or other relevant documents.

How to write Thesis

Here are some steps to help you write a thesis:

• Choose a Topic: The first step in writing a thesis is to choose a topic that interests you and is relevant to your field of study. You should also consider the scope of the topic and the availability of resources for research.
• Develop a Research Question: Once you have chosen a topic, you need to develop a research question that you will answer in your thesis. The research question should be specific, clear, and feasible.
• Conduct a Literature Review: Before you start your research, you need to conduct a literature review to identify the existing knowledge and gaps in the field. This will help you refine your research question and develop a research methodology.
• Develop a Research Methodology: Once you have refined your research question, you need to develop a research methodology that includes the research design, data collection methods, and data analysis procedures.
• Collect and Analyze Data: After developing your research methodology, you need to collect and analyze data. This may involve conducting surveys, interviews, experiments, or analyzing existing data.
• Write the Thesis: Once you have analyzed the data, you need to write the thesis. The thesis should follow a specific structure that includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, and references.
• Edit and Proofread: After completing the thesis, you need to edit and proofread it carefully. You should also have someone else review it to ensure that it is clear, concise, and free of errors.
• Submit the Thesis: Finally, you need to submit the thesis to your academic advisor or committee for review and evaluation.

Example of Thesis

Example of Thesis template for Students:

Title of Thesis

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Literature Review

Chapter 3: Research Methodology

Chapter 4: Results

Chapter 5: Discussion

Chapter 6: Conclusion

References:

Appendices:

Note: That’s just a basic template, but it should give you an idea of the structure and content that a typical thesis might include. Be sure to consult with your department or supervisor for any specific formatting requirements they may have. Good luck with your thesis!

Application of Thesis

Thesis is an important academic document that serves several purposes. Here are some of the applications of thesis:

• Academic Requirement: A thesis is a requirement for many academic programs, especially at the graduate level. It is an essential component of the evaluation process and demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct original research and contribute to the knowledge in their field.
• Career Advancement: A thesis can also help in career advancement. Employers often value candidates who have completed a thesis as it demonstrates their research skills, critical thinking abilities, and their dedication to their field of study.
• Publication : A thesis can serve as a basis for future publications in academic journals, books, or conference proceedings. It provides the researcher with an opportunity to present their research to a wider audience and contribute to the body of knowledge in their field.
• Personal Development: Writing a thesis is a challenging task that requires time, dedication, and perseverance. It provides the student with an opportunity to develop critical thinking, research, and writing skills that are essential for their personal and professional development.
• Impact on Society: The findings of a thesis can have an impact on society by addressing important issues, providing insights into complex problems, and contributing to the development of policies and practices.

Purpose of Thesis

The purpose of a thesis is to present original research findings in a clear and organized manner. It is a formal document that demonstrates a student’s ability to conduct independent research and contribute to the knowledge in their field of study. The primary purposes of a thesis are:

• To Contribute to Knowledge: The main purpose of a thesis is to contribute to the knowledge in a particular field of study. By conducting original research and presenting their findings, the student adds new insights and perspectives to the existing body of knowledge.
• To Demonstrate Research Skills: A thesis is an opportunity for the student to demonstrate their research skills. This includes the ability to formulate a research question, design a research methodology, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions based on their findings.
• To Develop Critical Thinking: Writing a thesis requires critical thinking and analysis. The student must evaluate existing literature and identify gaps in the field, as well as develop and defend their own ideas.
• To Provide Evidence of Competence : A thesis provides evidence of the student’s competence in their field of study. It demonstrates their ability to apply theoretical concepts to real-world problems, and their ability to communicate their ideas effectively.
• To Facilitate Career Advancement : Completing a thesis can help the student advance their career by demonstrating their research skills and dedication to their field of study. It can also provide a basis for future publications, presentations, or research projects.

When to Write Thesis

The timing for writing a thesis depends on the specific requirements of the academic program or institution. In most cases, the opportunity to write a thesis is typically offered at the graduate level, but there may be exceptions.

Generally, students should plan to write their thesis during the final year of their graduate program. This allows sufficient time for conducting research, analyzing data, and writing the thesis. It is important to start planning the thesis early and to identify a research topic and research advisor as soon as possible.

In some cases, students may be able to write a thesis as part of an undergraduate program or as an independent research project outside of an academic program. In such cases, it is important to consult with faculty advisors or mentors to ensure that the research is appropriately designed and executed.

It is important to note that the process of writing a thesis can be time-consuming and requires a significant amount of effort and dedication. It is important to plan accordingly and to allocate sufficient time for conducting research, analyzing data, and writing the thesis.

Characteristics of Thesis

The characteristics of a thesis vary depending on the specific academic program or institution. However, some general characteristics of a thesis include:

• Originality : A thesis should present original research findings or insights. It should demonstrate the student’s ability to conduct independent research and contribute to the knowledge in their field of study.
• Clarity : A thesis should be clear and concise. It should present the research question, methodology, findings, and conclusions in a logical and organized manner. It should also be well-written, with proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Research-Based: A thesis should be based on rigorous research, which involves collecting and analyzing data from various sources. The research should be well-designed, with appropriate research methods and techniques.
• Evidence-Based : A thesis should be based on evidence, which means that all claims made in the thesis should be supported by data or literature. The evidence should be properly cited using appropriate citation styles.
• Critical Thinking: A thesis should demonstrate the student’s ability to critically analyze and evaluate information. It should present the student’s own ideas and arguments, and engage with existing literature in the field.
• Academic Style : A thesis should adhere to the conventions of academic writing. It should be well-structured, with clear headings and subheadings, and should use appropriate academic language.

Advantages of Thesis

There are several advantages to writing a thesis, including:

• Development of Research Skills: Writing a thesis requires extensive research and analytical skills. It helps to develop the student’s research skills, including the ability to formulate research questions, design and execute research methodologies, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions based on their findings.
• Contribution to Knowledge: Writing a thesis provides an opportunity for the student to contribute to the knowledge in their field of study. By conducting original research, they can add new insights and perspectives to the existing body of knowledge.
• Preparation for Future Research: Completing a thesis prepares the student for future research projects. It provides them with the necessary skills to design and execute research methodologies, analyze data, and draw conclusions based on their findings.
• Career Advancement: Writing a thesis can help to advance the student’s career. It demonstrates their research skills and dedication to their field of study, and provides a basis for future publications, presentations, or research projects.
• Personal Growth: Completing a thesis can be a challenging and rewarding experience. It requires dedication, hard work, and perseverance. It can help the student to develop self-confidence, independence, and a sense of accomplishment.

Limitations of Thesis

There are also some limitations to writing a thesis, including:

• Time and Resources: Writing a thesis requires a significant amount of time and resources. It can be a time-consuming and expensive process, as it may involve conducting original research, analyzing data, and producing a lengthy document.
• Narrow Focus: A thesis is typically focused on a specific research question or topic, which may limit the student’s exposure to other areas within their field of study.
• Limited Audience: A thesis is usually only read by a small number of people, such as the student’s thesis advisor and committee members. This limits the potential impact of the research findings.
• Lack of Real-World Application : Some thesis topics may be highly theoretical or academic in nature, which may limit their practical application in the real world.
• Pressure and Stress : Writing a thesis can be a stressful and pressure-filled experience, as it may involve meeting strict deadlines, conducting original research, and producing a high-quality document.
• Potential for Isolation: Writing a thesis can be a solitary experience, as the student may spend a significant amount of time working independently on their research and writing.

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• Dissertation

How to Write a Thesis or Dissertation Introduction

Published on 9 September 2022 by Tegan George and Shona McCombes.

The introduction is the first section of your thesis or dissertation , appearing right after the table of contents . Your introduction draws your reader in, setting the stage for your research with a clear focus, purpose, and direction.

Your introduction should include:

• Your topic, in context: what does your reader need to know to understand your thesis dissertation?
• Your focus and scope: what specific aspect of the topic will you address?
• The relevance of your research: how does your work fit into existing studies on your topic?
• Your questions and objectives: what does your research aim to find out, and how?
• An overview of your structure: what does each section contribute to the overall aim?

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Table of contents

How to start your introduction, topic and context, focus and scope, relevance and importance, questions and objectives, overview of the structure, thesis introduction example, introduction checklist, frequently asked questions about introductions.

Although your introduction kicks off your dissertation, it doesn’t have to be the first thing you write – in fact, it’s often one of the very last parts to be completed (just before your abstract ).

It’s a good idea to write a rough draft of your introduction as you begin your research, to help guide you. If you wrote a research proposal , consider using this as a template, as it contains many of the same elements. However, be sure to revise your introduction throughout the writing process, making sure it matches the content of your ensuing sections.

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Begin by introducing your research topic and giving any necessary background information. It’s important to contextualise your research and generate interest. Aim to show why your topic is timely or important. You may want to mention a relevant news item, academic debate, or practical problem.

After a brief introduction to your general area of interest, narrow your focus and define the scope of your research.

You can narrow this down in many ways, such as by:

• Geographical area
• Time period
• Demographics or communities
• Themes or aspects of the topic

It’s essential to share your motivation for doing this research, as well as how it relates to existing work on your topic. Further, you should also mention what new insights you expect it will contribute.

Start by giving a brief overview of the current state of research. You should definitely cite the most relevant literature, but remember that you will conduct a more in-depth survey of relevant sources in the literature review section, so there’s no need to go too in-depth in the introduction.

Depending on your field, the importance of your research might focus on its practical application (e.g., in policy or management) or on advancing scholarly understanding of the topic (e.g., by developing theories or adding new empirical data). In many cases, it will do both.

Ultimately, your introduction should explain how your thesis or dissertation:

• Helps solve a practical or theoretical problem
• Addresses a gap in the literature
• Builds on existing research
• Proposes a new understanding of your topic

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Perhaps the most important part of your introduction is your questions and objectives, as it sets up the expectations for the rest of your thesis or dissertation. How you formulate your research questions and research objectives will depend on your discipline, topic, and focus, but you should always clearly state the central aim of your research.

If your research aims to test hypotheses , you can formulate them here. Your introduction is also a good place for a conceptual framework that suggests relationships between variables .

• Conduct surveys to collect data on students’ levels of knowledge, understanding, and positive/negative perceptions of government policy.
• Determine whether attitudes to climate policy are associated with variables such as age, gender, region, and social class.
• Conduct interviews to gain qualitative insights into students’ perspectives and actions in relation to climate policy.

To help guide your reader, end your introduction with an outline  of the structure of the thesis or dissertation to follow. Share a brief summary of each chapter, clearly showing how each contributes to your central aims. However, be careful to keep this overview concise: 1-2 sentences should be enough.

I. Introduction

Human language consists of a set of vowels and consonants which are combined to form words. During the speech production process, thoughts are converted into spoken utterances to convey a message. The appropriate words and their meanings are selected in the mental lexicon (Dell & Burger, 1997). This pre-verbal message is then grammatically coded, during which a syntactic representation of the utterance is built.

Speech, language, and voice disorders affect the vocal cords, nerves, muscles, and brain structures, which result in a distorted language reception or speech production (Sataloff & Hawkshaw, 2014). The symptoms vary from adding superfluous words and taking pauses to hoarseness of the voice, depending on the type of disorder (Dodd, 2005). However, distortions of the speech may also occur as a result of a disease that seems unrelated to speech, such as multiple sclerosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

This study aims to determine which acoustic parameters are suitable for the automatic detection of exacerbations in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by investigating which aspects of speech differ between COPD patients and healthy speakers and which aspects differ between COPD patients in exacerbation and stable COPD patients.

Checklist: Introduction

I have introduced my research topic in an engaging way.

I have provided necessary context to help the reader understand my topic.

I have clearly specified the focus of my research.

I have shown the relevance and importance of the dissertation topic .

I have clearly stated the problem or question that my research addresses.

I have outlined the specific objectives of the research .

I have provided an overview of the dissertation’s structure .

You've written a strong introduction for your thesis or dissertation. Use the other checklists to continue improving your dissertation.

The introduction of a research paper includes several key elements:

• A hook to catch the reader’s interest
• Relevant background on the topic
• Details of your research problem
• A thesis statement or research question
• Sometimes an outline of the paper

Don’t feel that you have to write the introduction first. The introduction is often one of the last parts of the research paper you’ll write, along with the conclusion.

This is because it can be easier to introduce your paper once you’ve already written the body ; you may not have the clearest idea of your arguments until you’ve written them, and things can change during the writing process .

Research objectives describe what you intend your research project to accomplish.

They summarise the approach and purpose of the project and help to focus your research.

Your objectives should appear in the introduction of your research paper , at the end of your problem statement .

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George, T. & McCombes, S. (2022, September 09). How to Write a Thesis or Dissertation Introduction. Scribbr. Retrieved 21 May 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/thesis-dissertation/introduction/

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How do you write a good introduction to a thesis or dissertation?

The introduction to a university dissertation or thesis is an essential part of a final year project.It is the first connection you will make with your reader.It is therefore important to write a well-written introduction to your dissertation in order to

• interest the reader or the examiner,
• capture their attention ,
• give them a clear idea of the subject covered in the dissertation.

A reader or examiner in a hurry generally reads your thesis  diagonally. In this case, they are particularly interested in the following 3 elements : the introduction to the thesis , the outline of the thesis  and the conclusion of the thesis . It is therefore important to take care with these 3 elements to highlight the quality of your work. 

In this article, we present the main elements to be included in a thesis introduction , with an example of an introduction valid for different levels of study: bachelor's thesis (bac+3), master's thesis (bac+4 and bac+5), doctoral thesis , etc.

Contents :  Writing a thesis introduction at the right time The 5 main elements in the introduction to a dissertation or thesis Highlighting your thesis introduction Example of a thesis introduction

1. Writing a thesis introduction at the right time

There are 2 schools of thought on the ideal time to write a thesis introduction :  

• Write your introduction after the writing plan has been finalised (at the start of the dissertation or thesis project).
• Write your introduction after you have finished writing your thesis (at the end of the project).

Writing a thesis introduction after finalising the outline

Drawing up a detailed outline for your dissertation or thesis is a crucial stage in the preparation of a university project .

It follows the definition of the subject, the choice of a thesis supervisor and the formulation of the problem statement . 

Drawing up an outline for your thesis is important, because your outline sets out your response to the problem.

As soon as you have finalised and validated your dissertation or thesis plan , you can start writing your project , particularly the introduction to your thesis or dissertation .

Be careful to adjust your dissertation or thesis introduction according to the elements you include in your dissertation as you go along.

Writing a thesis introduction after you've written your thesis

Writing your thesis introduction at the end may seem counter-intuitive , but in reality it is recommended practice for a number of reasons: 

When writing the different parts of your thesis, you usually have a vague idea of the points you want to cover. As you go along, your thoughts evolve and you refine your ideas . Writing the introduction at the end gives you an overview of the work as a whole, so that you can write a more precise and relevant introduction to your thesis .

Clarifying your objectives

At the end of your research, you will have a clearer idea of your objectives and the means and tools you will use to achieve them. Writing your introduction at the end makes it easier to explain your objectives.

Adjusting the problem

During the course of a research project, the subject may evolve . By writing the thesis introduction at the end, you can be sure that you are presenting the problem to which you are responding.

Consistency with the conclusion

Writing your thesis introduction at the same time as your conclusion ensures that they are aligned . This way, you can be sure that they are coherent and that they provide a good framework for your thesis .

Even if you choose to write your thesis introduction at the end of your work , you should be aware that you can write a draft introduction at the beginning of the project. This first draft will allow you to clarify your ideas and give your dissertation or thesis a direction. You can revise and finalise it once the rest of the thesis has been completed.

2. The 5 main elements of a thesis introduction

There are several elements to include in your thesis introduction , whether it's a research or professional thesis . 

Make sure your introduction is structured , brief and concise . The aim is to communicate the essential information to your reader in no more than one or two pages . 

The structure of a thesis introduction is also crucial in capturing the reader's attention. This structure may vary according to the requirements of your field of study or your institution.

Here are the 5 parts to be included in your thesis introduction and adapted according to the guidelines received :

Contextualisation

Start with a hook (statistics, key facts or concrete examples) to draw your reader's attention to the subject. Then go on to introduce the subject in a general way, highlighting its importance in the current context and its relevance to your field of study . 

Problematic

Clearly identify the question you wish to answer. Explain why this problematic is interesting and why you have chosen to address it. A good problematic should be simple, precise and understandable! 

Research objectives

Frame your study by presenting its objectives . What are you trying to measure? What are the main hypotheses you want to examine? Also describe your research methodology in this paragraph. 

Structure of the thesis

Give an overview of the overall structure of your dissertation or thesis by announcing your plan. Explain your choice of sections and parts to familiarise the reader with your organisation. 

Announcement of results (optional)

Finally, give a brief overview of the results you have reached at the end of your research. Indicate the main conclusions to pique the reader's interest and encourage them to want to find out more.

Focus on the presentation of research methodology

What is the research methodology for a thesis.

The choice of academic research methodology depends on the nature of the project: research dissertation , professional dissertation , doctoral thesis .

There are several academic research methods : quantitative studies , qualitative studies , empirical studies , comparative studies , etc.

Why present your research methodology in the thesis introduction?

By presenting your research methodology in your thesis introduction , you situate your work in a specific methodological context . You give the reader more information to u nderstand your approach and assess the validity of your results.

Focus on announcing the plan in a thesis introduction

Why include the outline in the introduction to a thesis.

To orientate the reader, we strongly advise you to announce the overall plan of your thesis in your introduction. This gives them an overview and helps them to follow your argument coherently. 

By announcing the plan, you also help the reader to understand what to expect in each part. This can be particularly useful when your work is long.

How do you announce a thesis plan in the introduction?

Here are some ideas for announcing the plan in the introduction to your thesis : 

Simple enumeration

List the main parts of your thesis .

For example : "This thesis is divided into four main parts: Part I - Background and problematic, Part II - Review of the literature, Part III...".

Explanatory sentences

To give more context to each part, you can add a brief explanatory sentence for each of them. 

For example: "This thesis is structured in four main parts. In the first part, we will examine the context and problematic of our research. The second part will be devoted to an in-depth review of the existing literature on the subject...".

3. Highlighting the thesis introduction: the layout

It is important to highlight the thesis introduction . To do this, an appropriate layout is necessary. 

The layout of the thesis introduction must be carefully thought out and well structured in order to capture the reader's attention and guide them through the text clearly and concisely. 

Here is an example of the layout for the first few pages of a thesis (including the introduction): 

Page 1: cover page of the thesis 

name of the university or institution,

• title of the thesis,
• first name and surname of the author,
• date of submission.

Page 2: acknowledgement page 

Acknowledgements to all the people who contributed to the smooth running of your academic year,

• thanks to all those who contributed to the writing of your dissertation or university thesis.

Page 3: table of contents

A detailed list of the sections and subsections of the thesis, with the corresponding page numbers.

Page 4: thesis introduction 

title of the introduction,

• catchphrase or relevant quotation to capture the reader's attention (contextualisation),
• context in which the research topic is justified (contextualisation),
• problematic and research questions (problematic), 
• research objectives and methodology used,
• outline of the plan.

4. Example of a thesis introduction

The following is an example of a thesis introduction that can be adapted to deliverables for different levels of study: bachelor's thesis , master's thesis , doctoral thesis , etc. 

Example of a thesis introduction for a dissertation or doctoral thesis on the subject of artificial intelligence and its impact on education :

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has opened up new perspectives in many fields, including education. AI-based technologies have the potential to transform educational practices , improve learning processes and prepare learners for the challenges of our digital society. In this doctoral thesis, we propose to explore the impact of artificial intelligences on education , taking an in-depth look at the opportunities, challenges and implications of these emerging technologies.

The problematic of this research lies in the growing need to adapt education to the demands of the 21st century , integrating technological innovations to deliver a more effective, personalised and relevant learning experience. Artificial intelligences represent a promising response to this problematic, but their integration into the field of education raises fundamental questions about the pedagogical, ethical and social consequences of these technological advances.

Research objective

The main objective of this thesis is therefore to analyse in depth the impact of artificial intelligences on education , focusing on their applications, their potential benefits, and the challenges and concerns they raise. To achieve this aim, we will adopt a multidisciplinary approach, combining conceptual analyses , case studies and empirical investigations .

Structure of the dissertation

This thesis is structured in six main parts . In the first part , we present the context and the problematic linked to the use of artificial intelligences in education . We will raise the current educational issues and the needs that AIs can meet, identifying the research questions that guide our work.

The second part will be devoted to an in-depth literature review , where we will analyse previous work and existing research on the impact of artificial intelligences in education. We will examine the different applications of AIs , such as intelligent tutoring systems , learning data analysis , personalisation of teaching , etc.

In the third part , we will describe our research methodology , explaining how we designed our case studies and empirical investigations . We will discuss the tools and methods used to collect and analyse the data, as well as the measures taken to ensure the validity and reliability of our research .

Then, in the fourth section , we will present the results of our case studies and surveys , analysing them in the light of our research problematic. We will examine the potential benefits of AI in terms of improved learner performance, adaptation to individual needs, personalised feedback, and so on.

In the fifth part , we will address the challenges and concerns associated with the use of AI .

To sum up, the introduction is an important part of the thesis. It captures the reader's attention by presenting the context, subject, problematic and structure of the thesis. By following these few tips, you can write an effective and relevant thesis introduction to encourage your reader or your examiner to read your deliverable. 

Sources for further reading :  " How to Write a Thesis Introduction " UNSW, consulted on 13/07/2023. " How to write a good thesis introduction " Paperpile, consulted on 13/07/2023. " How to write a fantastic thesis introduction " Master Academia, consulted on 13/07/2023.   Information: this informative article, which does not require any personal reflection, was written in part with the help of ChatGPT. We have reworked the automatically generated content (correcting repetitions, correcting turns of phrase, adding clarifications, adding quotations, checking the veracity of the information, etc.).

• Leeds University Business School
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How to write an introduction chapter for a thesis

Louisa Hill is a Senior Teaching Fellow and delivers workshops for Postgraduate Researchers who want to teach.

When writing a thesis, you will need to write an introductory chapter. This chapter is critical as it is the first thing that the examiner will read and it is therefore important to make a good first impression. 

A good introduction chapter should incite the reader to read the rest of the thesis by establishing the context of your topic, the motivation for undertaking your work and the importance of your research.

As a lecturer and supervisor, I have read many introductory chapters for research projects such as theses. Here is my advice to those undertaking a research project and writing a thesis.

Capture the reader’s interest

Initially you need to capture the reader’s attention with a discussion of a broader theme relating to your research. To add impact draw on research, data and quotations from international or national professional bodies, governmental organisations or key authors on the topic of study.

Give an overview of your research topic

Your discussion should then begin by detailing the broader aspects of the topic more, before focussing on the specific topic of your research. It is a good idea when you do this to assume that the reader knows nothing about your topic. Therefore definitions, drawing on key research, need to be clarified and explained. Alternatively, if having read key literature for the literature review chapter, you are not satisfied with existing definitions, then draw on these, to devise your own (but make it clear you have done this).

Detail how your research is going to make a contribution

You must then sell your idea for undertaking the research topic, demonstrating the main reasons why the research will make a significant contribution to the current body of research. This can be achieved by demonstrating a gap or limitation with existing research, then showing how your research will resolve this. There are different types of contribution (see  Constructing Research Questions: Doing Interesting Research ).

Explain what your interest is in the topic

Next you need to demonstrate your personal reasons for choosing the topic. These could relate to your previous research, work or experiences.

List your research objectives

You need to include your three or four overarching research objectives. Also include corresponding research questions if it is a qualitative piece of research or hypotheses if it is quantitative-based. The former are usually derivatives of the research objectives. Note though that these objectives and questions or hypotheses are fluid in nature and can be tweaked as you undertake the research.

Give a forthcoming chapter overview

The final part of the introduction is an overview of the rest of the chapters in the thesis. The other sections can go in any order, providing it is a logical sequence.

Learn from others

Look at other theses for example from  White Rose etheses  or your university library’s website. The majority of journal articles that you will read in the content of your topic will also provide useful insights.

Speak with your supervisor

Remember to always speak with your supervisor and have regular catch-ups. They will be able to offer guidance and encouragement, and steer you in the right direction.

Related content

• Writing a research PhD proposal
• Presenting with impact
• The benefits of undertaking a placement alongside your PhD

If you would like to get in touch regarding any of these blog entries, or are interested in contributing to the blog, please contact:

Email: [email protected] Phone: +44 (0)113 343 8754

Click here to view our privacy statement. You can repost this blog article, following the terms listed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence .

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect the views of Leeds University Business School or the University of Leeds.

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How to Write an Essay Introduction (with Examples)   

The introduction of an essay plays a critical role in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. It sets the stage for the rest of the essay, establishes the tone and style, and motivates the reader to continue reading. 

Table of Contents

What is an essay introduction , what to include in an essay introduction, how to create an essay structure , step-by-step process for writing an essay introduction , how to write an introduction paragraph , how to write a hook for your essay , how to include background information , how to write a thesis statement .

• Argumentative Essay Introduction Example: 
• Expository Essay Introduction Example 

Literary Analysis Essay Introduction Example

Check and revise – checklist for essay introduction , key takeaways , frequently asked questions .

An introduction is the opening section of an essay, paper, or other written work. It introduces the topic and provides background information, context, and an overview of what the reader can expect from the rest of the work. 1 The key is to be concise and to the point, providing enough information to engage the reader without delving into excessive detail. 

The essay introduction is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire piece and provides the reader with a roadmap of what to expect. Here are key elements to include in your essay introduction: 

• Hook : Start with an attention-grabbing statement or question to engage the reader. This could be a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or a compelling anecdote. 
• Background information : Provide context and background information to help the reader understand the topic. This can include historical information, definitions of key terms, or an overview of the current state of affairs related to your topic. 
• Thesis statement : Clearly state your main argument or position on the topic. Your thesis should be concise and specific, providing a clear direction for your essay. 

Before we get into how to write an essay introduction, we need to know how it is structured. The structure of an essay is crucial for organizing your thoughts and presenting them clearly and logically. It is divided as follows: 2  

• Introduction:  The introduction should grab the reader’s attention with a hook, provide context, and include a thesis statement that presents the main argument or purpose of the essay.  
• Body:  The body should consist of focused paragraphs that support your thesis statement using evidence and analysis. Each paragraph should concentrate on a single central idea or argument and provide evidence, examples, or analysis to back it up.  
• Conclusion:  The conclusion should summarize the main points and restate the thesis differently. End with a final statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Avoid new information or arguments. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write an essay introduction: 

• Start with a Hook : Begin your introduction paragraph with an attention-grabbing statement, question, quote, or anecdote related to your topic. The hook should pique the reader’s interest and encourage them to continue reading. 
• Provide Background Information : This helps the reader understand the relevance and importance of the topic. 
• State Your Thesis Statement : The last sentence is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be clear, concise, and directly address the topic of your essay. 
• Preview the Main Points : This gives the reader an idea of what to expect and how you will support your thesis. 
• Keep it Concise and Clear : Avoid going into too much detail or including information not directly relevant to your topic. 
• Revise : Revise your introduction after you’ve written the rest of your essay to ensure it aligns with your final argument. 

Here’s an example of an essay introduction paragraph about the importance of education: 

Education is often viewed as a fundamental human right and a key social and economic development driver. As Nelson Mandela once famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” It is the key to unlocking a wide range of opportunities and benefits for individuals, societies, and nations. In today’s constantly evolving world, education has become even more critical. It has expanded beyond traditional classroom learning to include digital and remote learning, making education more accessible and convenient. This essay will delve into the importance of education in empowering individuals to achieve their dreams, improving societies by promoting social justice and equality, and driving economic growth by developing a skilled workforce and promoting innovation. 

This introduction paragraph example includes a hook (the quote by Nelson Mandela), provides some background information on education, and states the thesis statement (the importance of education). 

This is one of the key steps in how to write an essay introduction. Crafting a compelling hook is vital because it sets the tone for your entire essay and determines whether your readers will stay interested. A good hook draws the reader in and sets the stage for the rest of your essay.  

• Avoid Dry Fact : Instead of simply stating a bland fact, try to make it engaging and relevant to your topic. For example, if you’re writing about the benefits of exercise, you could start with a startling statistic like, “Did you know that regular exercise can increase your lifespan by up to seven years?” 
• Avoid Using a Dictionary Definition : While definitions can be informative, they’re not always the most captivating way to start an essay. Instead, try to use a quote, anecdote, or provocative question to pique the reader’s interest. For instance, if you’re writing about freedom, you could begin with a quote from a famous freedom fighter or philosopher. 
• Do Not Just State a Fact That the Reader Already Knows : This ties back to the first point—your hook should surprise or intrigue the reader. For Here’s an introduction paragraph example, if you’re writing about climate change, you could start with a thought-provoking statement like, “Despite overwhelming evidence, many people still refuse to believe in the reality of climate change.” 

Including background information in the introduction section of your essay is important to provide context and establish the relevance of your topic. When writing the background information, you can follow these steps: 

• Start with a General Statement:  Begin with a general statement about the topic and gradually narrow it down to your specific focus. For example, when discussing the impact of social media, you can begin by making a broad statement about social media and its widespread use in today’s society, as follows: “Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with billions of users worldwide.” 
• Define Key Terms : Define any key terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar to your readers but are essential for understanding your argument. 
• Provide Relevant Statistics:  Use statistics or facts to highlight the significance of the issue you’re discussing. For instance, “According to a report by Statista, the number of social media users is expected to reach 4.41 billion by 2025.” 
• Discuss the Evolution:  Mention previous research or studies that have been conducted on the topic, especially those that are relevant to your argument. Mention key milestones or developments that have shaped its current impact. You can also outline some of the major effects of social media. For example, you can briefly describe how social media has evolved, including positives such as increased connectivity and issues like cyberbullying and privacy concerns. 
• Transition to Your Thesis:  Use the background information to lead into your thesis statement, which should clearly state the main argument or purpose of your essay. For example, “Given its pervasive influence, it is crucial to examine the impact of social media on mental health.” 

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, or other type of academic writing. It appears near the end of the introduction. Here’s how to write a thesis statement: 

• Identify the topic:  Start by identifying the topic of your essay. For example, if your essay is about the importance of exercise for overall health, your topic is “exercise.” 
• State your position:  Next, state your position or claim about the topic. This is the main argument or point you want to make. For example, if you believe that regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good health, your position could be: “Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health.” 
• Support your position:  Provide a brief overview of the reasons or evidence that support your position. These will be the main points of your essay. For example, if you’re writing an essay about the importance of exercise, you could mention the physical health benefits, mental health benefits, and the role of exercise in disease prevention. 
• Make it specific:  Ensure your thesis statement clearly states what you will discuss in your essay. For example, instead of saying, “Exercise is good for you,” you could say, “Regular exercise, including cardiovascular and strength training, can improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.” 

Examples of essay introduction 

Here are examples of essay introductions for different types of essays: 

Argumentative Essay Introduction Example:  

Topic: Should the voting age be lowered to 16? 

“The question of whether the voting age should be lowered to 16 has sparked nationwide debate. While some argue that 16-year-olds lack the requisite maturity and knowledge to make informed decisions, others argue that doing so would imbue young people with agency and give them a voice in shaping their future.” 

Expository Essay Introduction Example  

Topic: The benefits of regular exercise 

“In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of regular exercise cannot be overstated. From improving physical health to boosting mental well-being, the benefits of exercise are numerous and far-reaching. This essay will examine the various advantages of regular exercise and provide tips on incorporating it into your daily routine.” 

Text: “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee 

“Harper Lee’s novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ is a timeless classic that explores themes of racism, injustice, and morality in the American South. Through the eyes of young Scout Finch, the reader is taken on a journey that challenges societal norms and forces characters to confront their prejudices. This essay will analyze the novel’s use of symbolism, character development, and narrative structure to uncover its deeper meaning and relevance to contemporary society.” 

• Engaging and Relevant First Sentence : The opening sentence captures the reader’s attention and relates directly to the topic. 
• Background Information : Enough background information is introduced to provide context for the thesis statement. 
• Definition of Important Terms : Key terms or concepts that might be unfamiliar to the audience or are central to the argument are defined. 
• Clear Thesis Statement : The thesis statement presents the main point or argument of the essay. 
• Relevance to Main Body : Everything in the introduction directly relates to and sets up the discussion in the main body of the essay. 

Writing a strong introduction is crucial for setting the tone and context of your essay. Here are the key takeaways for how to write essay introduction: 3  

• Hook the Reader : Start with an engaging hook to grab the reader’s attention. This could be a compelling question, a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or an anecdote. 
• Provide Background : Give a brief overview of the topic, setting the context and stage for the discussion. 
• Thesis Statement : State your thesis, which is the main argument or point of your essay. It should be concise, clear, and specific. 
• Preview the Structure : Outline the main points or arguments to help the reader understand the organization of your essay. 
• Keep it Concise : Avoid including unnecessary details or information not directly related to your thesis. 
• Revise and Edit : Revise your introduction to ensure clarity, coherence, and relevance. Check for grammar and spelling errors. 
• Seek Feedback : Get feedback from peers or instructors to improve your introduction further. 

The purpose of an essay introduction is to give an overview of the topic, context, and main ideas of the essay. It is meant to engage the reader, establish the tone for the rest of the essay, and introduce the thesis statement or central argument.  

An essay introduction typically ranges from 5-10% of the total word count. For example, in a 1,000-word essay, the introduction would be roughly 50-100 words. However, the length can vary depending on the complexity of the topic and the overall length of the essay.

An essay introduction is critical in engaging the reader and providing contextual information about the topic. To ensure its effectiveness, consider incorporating these key elements: a compelling hook, background information, a clear thesis statement, an outline of the essay’s scope, a smooth transition to the body, and optional signposting sentences.  

The process of writing an essay introduction is not necessarily straightforward, but there are several strategies that can be employed to achieve this end. When experiencing difficulty initiating the process, consider the following techniques: begin with an anecdote, a quotation, an image, a question, or a startling fact to pique the reader’s interest. It may also be helpful to consider the five W’s of journalism: who, what, when, where, why, and how.   For instance, an anecdotal opening could be structured as follows: “As I ascended the stage, momentarily blinded by the intense lights, I could sense the weight of a hundred eyes upon me, anticipating my next move. The topic of discussion was climate change, a subject I was passionate about, and it was my first public speaking event. Little did I know , that pivotal moment would not only alter my perspective but also chart my life’s course.” 

Crafting a compelling thesis statement for your introduction paragraph is crucial to grab your reader’s attention. To achieve this, avoid using overused phrases such as “In this paper, I will write about” or “I will focus on” as they lack originality. Instead, strive to engage your reader by substantiating your stance or proposition with a “so what” clause. While writing your thesis statement, aim to be precise, succinct, and clear in conveying your main argument.  

To create an effective essay introduction, ensure it is clear, engaging, relevant, and contains a concise thesis statement. It should transition smoothly into the essay and be long enough to cover necessary points but not become overwhelming. Seek feedback from peers or instructors to assess its effectiveness. 

References  

• Cui, L. (2022). Unit 6 Essay Introduction.  Building Academic Writing Skills . 
• West, H., Malcolm, G., Keywood, S., & Hill, J. (2019). Writing a successful essay.  Journal of Geography in Higher Education ,  43 (4), 609-617. 
• Beavers, M. E., Thoune, D. L., & McBeth, M. (2023). Bibliographic Essay: Reading, Researching, Teaching, and Writing with Hooks: A Queer Literacy Sponsorship. College English, 85(3), 230-242. 

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Course Catalog - Middlebury College - Fall 2024, Spring 2025

African studies minor.

This program offers a minor in African Studies to students who complete the following requirements:

• Five courses on Africa (as determined by the director of the African Studies minor, in consultation with the African Studies faculty)
• Three of which must be taken at Middlebury

Program in American Studies

Requirements for the major.

Students wishing to major in AMST must complete 11 courses: 

• 2 100- level classes, designed as entries to the major 
• 3 electives, at least 2 of which must be numbered 200 or higher
• and either AMST 0701 or one additional elective numbered 0200 or higher.
• A concentration of 4 courses in one of the areas below. 

These courses must be listed or cross-listed as AMST courses in the course catalog.  Courses may not count toward both the elective and concentration requirements.

Junior Seminar (AMST 0400)

Students should normally take this seminar in the Fall of their Junior year.  Where compelling circumstances make doing this impossible, arrangements to take the course as a senior may be made with the director of the American Studies program.

Senior Project (AMST 0701)

AMST majors may enroll in AMST 0701, where they will complete a substantial research project in consultation with an AMST faculty adviser. Research projects are subject to approval by the AMST faculty, who will pair each approved project with an appropriate faculty adviser. Students who envision an AMST 701 project requiring collaboration must be granted departmental approval.  Normally, AMST senior projects will be completed in one semester. The senior project may take the form of a formal written document, a multi-media project such as a video, a web project, a creative activity such as a performance, or an installation project. An oral defense is part of senior work. Senior work is one of the requirements for departmental honors (see Honors section of AMST major requirements).

Honors will be based on a student’s cumulative AMST record and the quality of their AMST 0701 project.

Concentrations

Concentrations must bring together coherent clusters of four courses that address particular themes, periods, movements, or modes of thought and expression. In consultation with an advisor and with approval of the program, students will develop an interdisciplinary concentration in one of these areas: 

For students who matriculate in Fall of 2023 or later

The Production and Consumption of Culture  

How do people represent their experiences and ideas? How is culture transmitted, appropriated and consumed? How are everyday cultural practices connected to wider social formations and to global flows of people, goods and ideas?  Students who choose this concentration will explore the role of artists and the expressive arts, as well as the products, practices, and institutions of commercial culture. Finally, they will develop an understanding of culture as a site of struggle over resources, identities, and the organization of daily life.  

Archives, Artifacts, and Sites of Memory  

How do material objects illuminate the cultural practices of people?  What can we learn about cultural formation within a given group by studying material objects created by members of that group?  Students who choose this concentration will engage with a broad range of material objects, studying both how they are produced and vested with significance by their producers.  Students may also study the places (museums, archives, monuments) where material objects are preserved, considering the complexities involved in preserving, creating, and presenting them to the public.

Race, Ethnicity, and Indigeneity    

How do race, ethnicity, and Indigeneity play an important role in everyday lives, institutions, and societies? Deeply examining, comparing, and exploring racial, ethnic, and Indigenous histories, political struggles, and creative and cultural practices opens space to understand individual and collective modes of identity formation.  Topics include settler colonialism, racism, and other structures ofintra-racial dynamics.

Politics, activism, and civic formation  

How do individuals and communities interact with state policies and institutions? How are power, wealth, and authority distributed, and how do social groups struggle to effect political change? What role do the arts, music, stories, and traditions play in social and political movements? In this concentration, students can explore critical intersections of cultures and social movements; past and present political crises and events; issues of civic identity, cultural diversity, and social justice; tensions between capitalism, media, and democratic governance; and/or practices of community resistance and empowerment. 

Global and Transnational

How is United States culture shaped through global processes of colonialism, imperialism, capitalism, and/or war? How does an understanding of global connections foster engagement with the complex diversity of the United States? In this concentration, students can also explore the impact and articulation of American culture beyond the United States. Topics include settler colonialism, militarism, migration, global flows of commodities, transnationalism, and cultural and intellectual exchanges across borders.

Self-Designed Concentration

Self-designed concentrations must be built in close consultation with a faculty advisor and should focus on a cultural theme or interdisciplinary area of inquiry.  Potential topics might include: Gender & American Culture; American Environmentalism; Visual Culture; Industrialization of America; and Immigration and Cultural Exchanges.

Note: Students may count 2 relevant courses from outside the AMST curriculum towards the fulfillment of the concentration requirement. Of the 11 courses for the major, students must take at least 1 with significant pre-1900 content.

For students who matriculated prior to Fall 2023

Popular Culture

Students will study popular cultural forms, their reception, and the history of their production in the United States.  Courses will especially focus on the conflicts between popular culture as a site of creativity and democratic empowerment on the one hand, and as a product of dominant commercialized cultural industries on the other.

Race and Ethnicity

Students will examine specific groups in depth and in comparison, exploring racial and ethnic history, political struggles, creative and cultural practices, and individual and collective modes of identity formation.  By studying how and why racial and ethnic identities have evolved in the United States, students will understand their central place in the formation of the American nation.

Artistic and Intellectual Traditions

Students will focus on literary, religious, philosophical, and social thought and its expression in the United States.  They will be encouraged to examine particular currents of thought (e. g. evangelicalism, liberalism, romanticism, modernism, progressivism) or modes of expression (e.g. literature, visual art, or film) that have been important to American culture. 

Space and Place

Students will explore the importance of landscape and place in American culture.  Course work may include the study of American regional geography, the historical and aesthetic dimensions of the built environment, the impacts of urban growth, suburbanization, or the imagining of utopian spaces. 

Cultural Politics

Students will explore the relationship between culture, ideology, and the political system.  People create meaning about their personal and public lives through cultural practices, but those practices take place within institutional and ideological structures.  Relevant courses might explore ethics and religion; political parties and social movements; feminism and gender studies; and representation and visual culture.

Joint Major Requirements

Students may major in AMST jointly with another discipline or program. Students must discuss their rationale for doing so with their advisor in AMST and joint majors must be approved by the faculty in AMST. Required courses for a joint major in AMST are: 1 100-level course, AMST 400, and 4 AMST electives, at least 2 of which must be numbered 200 or higher. 

Of the 6 courses for the joint major, students must take at least 1 with significant pre-1900 content.

Minor Requirements

Students may complete a minor in American Studies by taking the following courses: 1 100-level course, AMST 400, and 4 AMST electives, at least 2 of which must be numbered 200 or higher. 

Of the 6 courses for the minor, students must take at least 1 with significant pre-1900 content.

Study Abroad

The faculty members of the Program in American Studies recognize the benefits of cross-cultural learning and encourage majors to take advantage of study abroad opportunities. Often students returning from study abroad undertake senior work that responds to their cultural learning while abroad. We encourage students to take courses in their study abroad program that focus on the host culture and thereby allow the best opportunity for cultural comparison.

American Studies majors normally take AMST 0400, a required seminar, in the fall semester of their junior year. Under compelling circumstances that leave only the fall available as an option for study abroad, majors may be able to take AMST 0400 in the fall semester of their senior year. Such arrangements must be discussed in advance with, and approved by, the director of the American Studies program. The American Studies program enjoys being host to exchange students from the American studies programs at the Universities of East Anglia and Nottingham in Great Britain.

AMST 0103 Asian Americas (Spring 2025)

Amst 0104 television and american culture (spring 2025), amst 0108 childhood in america (spring 2025), amst 0109 u.s. origin stories (spring 2025), amst 0175 immigrant america (fall 2024), amst 0206 nineteenth-century american literature (fall 2024), amst 0216 history of the american west (fall 2024), amst 0217 the history of urban america (spring 2025), amst 0225 gothic and horror (fall 2024), amst 0227 asian americas (spring 2025), amst 0234 american consumer culture (fall 2024), amst 0239 the cultural work of country music (spring 2025), amst 0252 african american literature (fall 2024), amst 0253 science fiction (fall 2024), amst 0259 re-presenting slavery (fall 2024), amst 0260 american disability studies: history, meanings, and cultures (fall 2024), amst 0263 american psycho: disease, doctors, and discontents (pre-1900 al) (spring 2025), amst 0265 devouring difference: race and food (spring 2025), amst 0291 portraits of the lady: the new woman in american literature & culture (spring 2025), amst 0301 madness in america (spring 2025), amst 0307 issues in critical disability studies: u.s. and the world (spring 2025), amst 0313 vermont incarcerated: a digital history (spring 2025), amst 0327 imagining rural america (spring 2025), amst 0360 u.s. disability rights & hist (fall 2024), amst 0400 theory and method in american studies (junior year) (fall 2024), amst 0445 vermont life’s vermont: a collaborative web project (spring 2025), amst 0500 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), amst 0701 senior work (fall 2024), department of anthropology, major requirements.

A minimum of ten courses will constitute the major; at least eight of these courses (and all the core courses listed in the tracks below) must be fall and spring courses taught at Middlebury (e.g., not winter term courses or transfer credits). For a degree in anthropology, the major must complete the following requirements:

• Any two (2) of the following introductory courses: ANTH 103, 107, 109,  and 159 (students may take the courses in any order or concurrently);
• Any two (2) of the 200-level courses offered by the department;
• History of Anthropological Thought: ANTH 306 (or SOCI 305 with approval from the Department Chair)
• Any one (1) of the following Research Methods courses: ANTH 302, 396, and 492.
• One 400-level seminar.
• Three electives (no more than one at 100-level; anthropology courses from other departments can count as electives with approval from the Department Chair). Note: students pursuing senior projects (see below) may only count one semester toward their elective requirement.

Optional Senior Project in Anthropology

To be eligible for departmental honors, students must complete an independent research project of at least one semester. This typically consists of either a one-semester senior project (ANTH 0700, one credit, usually 25-40 pages) or a two-semester senior project (ANTH 0710, two credits, usually 60-100 pages). Students who wish to work on a project for more than one semester must present their progress for review by two professors who will decide whether the project qualifies for extended study. A one-semester project can be either in the fall or spring semesters; a two- semester project is usually in the fall and winter semesters or in the winter and spring semesters. Variation from these patterns is possible by permission from the department. Senior project requirements for joint majors and other special circumstances will be approved in consultation with both departments.

An ANTH 0700 project requires a project advisor. If the advisor thinks that the project may deserve an A- or A, a second reader must evaluate the project. An ANTH 0710 project requires a committee including the project advisor and a second reader from within the Anthropology Department. It may also include an optional, third reader from another part of the College or the local community. Upon completion of the ANTH 0710 project, there will be an oral defense.

Departmental Honors

Students who earn an A- or higher on a 0700 or 0710 project and average an A- or higher in all Anthropology courses receive departmental honors.

Anthropology Minor Requirements

Any 100-level Anthropology course and four elective courses, no more than one of which can be at the 0100-level and no more than one of which can be a SOCI course. All courses must be taken at Middlebury College. Any exceptions to these rules must be approved by the Anthropology chair.

Applied Anthropology Minor Requirements

Any 0100-level course; ANTH 302, ANTH 396, or ANTH 492; and three elective courses from the list below. All courses must be taken at Middlebury College.  Any exceptions to these rules, including anthropology courses taken in other departments, must be approved by the Anthropology chair.

ANTH 211 Environmental Anthropology (Sheridan) ANTH 270 Anthropology of Global Corporations (Stoll/Nguyen) ANTH 287 Medical Anthropology (Bright) ANTH 329 Refugees or Labor Migrants? (Stoll) ANTH 340 The Traveling Tonic (Bright) ANTH 345 Anthropology of Food (Oxfeld) ANTH 235 City and its People (Tran) ANTH 274 Global Migration (Tran) ANTH 351 Education and Social Policy (Tran) ANTH 395 Environmental Communication (Nevins) ANTH 450 Anthropology of Development (Sheridan) SOAN 215 Sociology of Education (Tran)

Joint Majors in Anthropology

Joint majors consist of seven courses in Anthropology. Students must take one (1) course at the 100-level, two 200-level courses, 302 or 396 or 492, 306, one 400-level seminar, and one elective. No more than one course may be taken outside of the regular fall and spring semesters at Middlebury (e.g., as a winter term course or transfer credit).

Joint Major in Anthropology and Sociology

The joint major in Anthropology and Sociology consists of twelve classes. The core courses are any 100-level ANTH course, SOCI 0101 (or SOCI 0105 for students who matriculated prior to the 2024-25 school year), SOCI 0301 or ANTH 0302 or ANTH 0396 or ANTH 0492, and SOC 0305 or ANTH 0306. Students must also take one 400-level SOCI course, one 400-level ANTH course, and six electives. A 700-level course in ANTH or SOCI can replace one of the 400-level courses. No more than two electives may be taken outside of the regular fall and spring semesters at Middlebury (e.g., as winter term or transfer credit courses).

ANTH 0103 Diversity and Human Nature: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Anth 0107 introduction to archaeology (fall 2024), anth 0109 language, culture and society (spring 2025), anth 0125 language structure and function (fall 2024), anth 0211 human ecology (spring 2025), anth 0223 andean civilizations (spring 2025), anth 0227 the aztec empire and the spanish conquest (fall 2024), anth 0232 africa and anthropology: power, continuity, and change (fall 2024), anth 0241 the anthropology of warfare and polarization (spring 2025), anth 0242 law and politics (fall 2024), anth 0274 the causes, dynamics, and consequences of international migration (fall 2024), anth 0287 medical anthropology: approaches to affliction and healing (fall 2024), anth 0302 the research process: ethnography and qualitative methods (fall 2024), anth 0306 topics in anthropological theory (spring 2025), anth 0396 linguistic anthropology methods (spring 2025), anth 0485 global political ecology (spring 2025), anth 0500 advanced individual study (fall 2024, spring 2025), anth 0700 one-semester senior project (fall 2024, spring 2025), anth 0710 multi-semester senior project (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of arabic.

Majors must also choose one disciplinary concentration: Arabic literature, Arabic linguistics, or a well-defined course of study with a focus on the Arab world. 

Each disciplinary concentration requires the completion of at least three content courses, including one introductory methods course specific to the chosen discipline. Majors  are also required to prepare a project or a thesis for their senior capstone experience.

Major in Arabic

Minimum number of courses: 13, including required senior work

Students majoring in Arabic must take:

• Arabic language through ARBC 0302 or the equivalent: ARBC 0101, ARBC 0102, ARBC 0103, ARBC 0201, ARBC 0202, ARBC 0301, ARBC 0302;
• Two courses taught in Arabic at the 0400-level, at least one of which is taken at Middlebury College’s Vermont campus. Arabic 0400-level courses taken at a Middlebury school abroad site require departmental approval of the syllabus and a dossier of all written work (normally consisting of at least two exams and eight typed pages of Arabic);
• ENAM 0205, plus two additional courses with the ARBC prefix in Arabic literature taken at Middlebury College’s Vermont campus (for students pursuing senior work in literature);
• One of LNGT 0101, LNGT 0102 or  LNGT 0109, plus two additional courses with the ARBC prefix in Arabic linguistics taken at Middlebury College’s Vermont campus (for students pursuing senior work in linguistics);
• Students may structure their own disciplinary focus within the Arabic major in consultation with their major advisor by providing a well-defined course of study that must include (i) one introductory methods course specific to the chosen discipline (in English); and (ii) two disciplinary electives bearing the ARBC prefix (in Arabic or English), taken at Middlebury College’s Vermont campus.
• Students must spend at least one semester at a Middlebury school abroad site. The Arabic Department strongly recommends that students spend a full year abroad. Students studying abroad for a full academic year may count at most one course taken abroad towards the disciplinary elective requirements, subject to prior approval of their major advisor and contingent upon submission of the syllabus and a dossier of all written work (normally consisting of at least two exams and six typed pages of Arabic).

A major may count 400-level courses towards the fulfillment of the disciplinary electives once the 400-level language course requirement in #2 is complete.

Senior Work

Majors  are required to prepare a one-term senior project (ARBC 0700), or a two-term thesis (ARBC 0700/0701, taken in Fall and Winter or Winter and Spring). Senior projects and theses may be written in English, but must demonstrate significant use of Arabic sources.  Senior theses will include a 2000-word summary in Arabic.

Departmental honors are determined by a combination of thesis grade and grade point average in courses taken at the Arabic Program at Middlebury College, the Middlebury summer Arabic School, and Middlebury College’s study abroad sites.

Joint Major

Joint majors with other departments must: 1) complete Arabic language coursework through ARBC 0302 or the equivalent prior to the commencement of senior work, 2) take, at Middlebury College’s Vermont campus, two courses with the ARBC prefix related to Arabic literature, Arabic linguistics, or another well-defined disciplinary focus in consultation with their Arabic advisor, and 3) complete a senior project that explicitly engages the scholarly methodologies of both departments.

Minors in Arabic

The Arabic Department offers two minors.

The Arabic Minor  requires

• Studying Arabic language through ARBC 0302 or the equivalent; and
• Taking two courses with the ARBC prefix related to Arab culture (cinema, literature, pop-culture, etc.) or Arabic linguistics. Only one of the two courses on Arab culture or Arabic linguistics may be taken abroad. (See above for guidelines regarding courses taken at schools abroad and at the summer Language Schools.)

The Minor in Arabic Studies  requires taking five courses with the ARBC prefix, excluding ARBC 0101, 0102, 0103, 0201, 0202, 0301, and 0302.

ARBC 0101 Beginning Arabic I (Fall 2024)

Arbc 0103 beginning arabic iii (spring 2025), arbc 0201 intermediate arabic i (fall 2024), arbc 0202 intermediate arabic ii (spring 2025), arbc 0219 modern palestinian literature (fall 2024), arbc 0301 advanced arabic 1 (fall 2024), arbc 0302 advanced arabic ii (spring 2025), arbc 0414 readings in modern arabic literature (fall 2024), arbc 0415 displacement in modern arab culture (spring 2025), arbc 0431 the environmental middle east: forests, rivers, and peoples (spring 2025), arbc 0500 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), arbc 0700 senior thesis i (fall 2024, spring 2025), arbc 0701 senior thesis ii (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of biology, required for the major.

Requirements for the biology major encourage both breadth across the subdisciplines of biology as well as depth in areas of interest. The introductory sequence is two courses: BIOL 0140 Ecology and Evolution and BIOL 0145 Cell Biology and Genetics. The twelve courses required for the Biology major consist of:

(1-3) BIOL 0140 Ecology and Evolution, BIOL 0145 Cell Biology and Genetics, and BIOL 0211 Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis. We suggest students take these three courses as soon as they can.

(4-5) Two organismal courses from among BIOL 0202 Comparative Vertebrate Biology, BIOL 0203 Biology of Plants, BIOL 0204 Entomology, BIOL 0205 Ornithology, BIOL 0308 Mammalogy, and BIOL 0310 Microbiology.

(6) One college-level chemistry course with laboratory. AP credit in chemistry or a bypass examination  cannot  be used to satisfy this requirement. We strongly suggest students take this chemistry course in their first two years at Middlebury, as chemistry is fundamental to understanding topics addressed in many biology classes.

(7-12) Six biology electives from the 0200-0701 level, with the following restrictions:

• At least two electives must include a laboratory section.
• No more than one semester of independent research (BIOL 0500, BIOL 0700, or BIOL 0701) may count as elective credit toward the major.
• Per College policy only two winter term courses can count for major credit.

Courses may be taken in any order, as long as the prerequisites for a course are met. Courses taken off campus can count towards the major, when approved by the department chair. See below for more information on off-campus study.

Requirements for a Minor in Biology

BIOL 0140 and BIOL 0145, and three elective courses from 0200-, 0300-, and 0400-level courses in the department.  One of the electives must be an organismal course (BIOL 0202, 0203, 0204, 0205, 0308, 0310), AND one of which must be at the 0300 or 0400 level.

Joint Majors

MAJORS IN AFFILIATED PROGRAMS

Biology department faculty contribute to the programs in Neuroscience and Molecular Biology & Biochemistry. Students may be interested in majors offered by these programs.

Requirements for the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Major

See the listing for the program in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry for a description of this major.

Requirements for the Neuroscience Major

See the listing for the program in Neuroscience for a description of this major.

Requirements for the Joint Major with Environmental Studies

See the listing for the conservation biology focus under the program in Environmental Studies .

Requirements for the Joint Major with Earth and Climate Sciences

ENVS0166; BIOL0140; BIOL0145; BIOL0211; one organismal biology course, BIOL0202, BIOL0203, BIOL0204, BIOL 0205, BIOL0308, or BIOL0310; two other BIOL courses at or above 0200-level, at least one of which must have a lab; one 0100-level ECSC course; ECSC0201; ECSC0202; three ECSC courses at or above 0300-level; ECSC0400; either ECSC0700 or BIOL0700 this represents at least one semester of integrative BIOL-ECSC research. Note that ECSC0705 cannot count towards this final requirement.

Graduate or Professional Training

Students considering graduate or professional school in the life sciences should note that many programs require a year of introductory chemistry, a year of organic chemistry, a year of physics, and a year of calculus for admission. Students are therefore strongly encouraged to meet with their faculty advisors early in their undergraduate career so the advantages of taking additional courses in the natural sciences can be discussed.

Students with an average of 3.5 or higher in departmental courses other than BIOL 0500, BIOL 0700, and BIOL 0701 are eligible for departmental honors, for which successful completion of BIOL 0701 is also required (see below). The Biology Department awards two levels of honors: honors and high honors.

Criteria for Honors

Students with an average of 3.5 or higher in departmental courses (other than BIOL 0500, BIOL 0700, and BIOL 0701) and a grade of A- or above on their thesis are eligible for honors.

Criteria for High Honors

High honors will be awarded to students who meet all of the criteria for honors and who, in addition, have completed theses of  exceptionally high quality .  Determination of honors or high honors is based on a formal recommendation from the thesis committee and requires the approval of the Biology Department faculty.

The thesis process is described in detail in the “Student & Faculty Research” portion of the departmental website, and all students interested in conducting thesis research should read that section of the website in detail. Normally, research for thesis projects begins during the first term of a student’s senior year (or during the preceding summer). Students interested in field research should talk with a faculty member by winter term of their junior year. All other prospective thesis students should consult with prospective advisors concerning possible thesis projects by spring term of their junior year. Thesis projects must be of at least two terms’ duration (one term of BIOL 0500 or BIOL 0700 and one of BIOL 0701) and result in the production of a written thesis, a public presentation of the thesis research, and an oral defense of the thesis before a committee of at least three faculty members, two of whom must be Biology faculty. With instructor approval, independent research conducted during the summer may be considered as a substitute for the first term of the project. In such cases, the off-campus work would satisfy the BIOL 0500 or BIOL 0700 prerequisite for enrollment in BIOL 0701, but would not itself be credit-bearing. The thesis grade reflects performance in all aspects of the thesis process.  Note that although completion of a thesis is one prerequisite for receiving honors, students may undertake a thesis regardless of whether they meet the other criteria for honors.

Advanced Placement Credit

Middlebury College grants one college credit for a score of 5 on the biology advanced placement exam. However, because the biology department does not offer any introductory course that is the equivalent of an AP biology course, advanced placement credit does not exempt a student from any of the published requirements for the major, minor, or joint majors, nor can it satisfy the college’s distribution requirement. 

Off-Campus Study

Students interested in taking biology courses off campus are strongly encouraged to discuss their plans with their advisor early in their college careers. Biology credit for an off-campus course will be given only after the department chair reviews the course material upon a student’s return to campus.   The following restrictions apply to all biology courses transferred to Middlebury:

• Except for transfer students, BIOL 0140 and BIOL 0145 must be taken at Middlebury College.
• A maximum of three courses taken off campus may be credited toward completion of the major or joint major.
• No credit in Biology will be granted for independent study projects conducted during off-campus study programs.
• Except for transfer students, off-campus biology courses must be beyond the introductory level.
• When a course is offered at Middlebury with a lab or prerequisites, an equivalent off-campus course must also include a lab or prerequisites.

BIOL 0140 Ecology and Evolution (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Biol 0145 cell biology and genetics (fall 2024, spring 2025), biol 0203 biology of plants (fall 2024), biol 0204 entomology (fall 2024), biol 0205 ornithology (spring 2025), biol 0211 experimental design and statistical analysis (spring 2025), biol 0230 global change biology (spring 2025), biol 0304 aquatic ecology (fall 2024), biol 0305 developmental biology (fall 2024, spring 2025), biol 0308 mammalogy (fall 2024), biol 0310 microbiology (spring 2025), biol 0314 molecular genetics (fall 2024, spring 2025), biol 0324 genomics (fall 2024), biol 0333 receptor biology (spring 2025), biol 0365 molecular microbial ecology (spring 2025), biol 0370 animal physiology (fall 2024), biol 0444 desert ecology (spring 2025), biol 0475 neuroplasticity (fall 2024), biol 0500 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), biol 0700 senior independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), biol 0701 senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), program in black studies.

The program’s major and minor allows students to attain degrees of mastery by concentrating on an interrelated set of topics within a geographic area or by comparing aspects of the topic(s) inter-regionally or globally. Three required core courses will provide the framework on which students will organize their own majors in consultation with the program’s director. 

To complete the major a student must take eleven (11) courses:

Five (5) that acquaint students with Black Studies as a recognized field of study.

• BLST 0101: Introduction to Black Studies: An introduction to the core themes, topics, and methods commonly recognized as belonging to Black Studies.
• BLST 0201: Black Thought: Black Studies Theory: An exploration of the key theoretical themes and debates that have come to structure the field across the Black Diaspora.
• BLST 0301: Black Studies Methods: A seminar that provides guidance in identifying and using sources and methods for research in Black Studies.
• BLST 0399: Community Engagement in Black Studies: An experiential course that connects students with community-engaged activism on important issues in the field.
• BLST 0400+: A senior seminar in which Black Studies majors conduct independent research and/or in-depth analysis of a particular topic within the field—while working collaboratively with other students and a faculty member.

Three (3) clustered courses that concentrate on a region or topic (either of which may be comparative).

• Courses taken for the concentration and senior work allow students to go deeper into a topic and develop their skills in interpretation and constructive analysis.
• Students will work with the director of the program in selecting the courses that will fulfill their proposed concentration.
• Intensive listening, close reading, critical thinking, effective oral and written expression and collaborative interaction with colleagues will be among the skills the concentration will address. 

Three (3) electives that concentrate on a region or topic (either of which may be comparative).

• The electives allow students to get outside their area of concentration, either to explore totally different topics or to explore their area of concentration from a different perspective.
• With permission from the director of the program, one or more of these electives may be in a department not directly related to Black Studies but that introduces students to critical approaches that may be helpful to a student’s advanced work on a topic. 

In consultation with their advisor and/or the Director of Black Studies, students must take a minimum of eight courses that satisfy the BLST major. Of these eight courses, five are required and include BLST 0101, BLST 0201, BLST 0301, BLST 0399, and BLST 0400+. 

The remaining three elective courses must inform, complement, and complete the joint major. Students may take BLST 0700 or BLST 0710 (honors senior thesis) as one of their three elective courses, subject to approval of their academic advisor and the Director of Black Studies.

Required for the Minor

To complete the minor in Black Studies a student must take six (6) courses:

Two (2) that acquaint students with Black Studies as a recognized field of study.

• BLST 0101: An introduction to the core themes, topics, and methods commonly recognized as belonging to Black Studies.
• BLST 0201: An in-depth exploration of Black thought and Black Studies theory. 

Four (4) clustered courses that concentrate on a region or topic (either of which may be comparative).

One of these four courses must be at the 400-level in either Black Studies or cross-listed with Black Studies. Students will work with the director of the program in selecting the courses that will fulfill their proposed concentration.

BLST 0101 Introduction to Black Studies (Fall 2024)

Blst 0174 spacing (fall 2024), blst 0179 ruins and rituals (spring 2025), blst 0201 black thought: black studies theory (spring 2025), blst 0213 aesthetics of freedom: arts of the harlem renaissance (spring 2025), blst 0215 culturally responsive policy and pedagogy (fall 2024), blst 0218 slavery and freedom in the american north (spring 2025), blst 0227 black american cinema (spring 2025), blst 0232 a black sense of place: black geographies (fall 2024), blst 0259 re-presenting slavery (fall 2024), blst 0275 make room: teaching august wilson (fall 2024), blst 0276 struggles for change in southern africa (spring 2025), blst 0301 black studies methods (fall 2024), blst 0313 race, capitalism, decolonization (fall 2024), blst 0315 health and healing in african history (spring 2025), blst 0324 race, medicine, and health in u.s. history (fall 2024), blst 0335 the black lusophone atlantic (in english) (spring 2025), blst 0347 everyday life in south africa, apartheid and beyond (fall 2024), blst 0366 life of the party: queer of color nightlife (spring 2025), blst 0374 women in the black freedom struggle (fall 2024), blst 0377 colonial commodities & slavery in the americas (spring 2025), blst 0414 black, listed: surveillance, race, and gender (spring 2025), blst 0419 black middlebury (fall 2024), blst 0441 african environmental histories (fall 2024), blst 0464 universities and slavery in america (spring 2025), blst 0500 independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), blst 0700 senior work (fall 2024, spring 2025), blst 0710 senior thesis work (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of chemistry & biochemistry.

Students can elect to major in chemistry, biochemistry, environmental chemistry (joint major), or molecular biology and biochemistry.

II. Course Requirements

MATH 0121*, MATH 0122*, PHYS 0108 or PHYS 0109*, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111, CHEM 0103*, CHEM 0104 (or CHEM 0107), CHEM 0203 (or CHEM 0241), CHEM 0204 (or CHEM 0242), CHEM 0311, and either CHEM 0351 or CHEM 0355, and two electives chosen, with an advisor’s approval, from 0200-, 0300- or 0400- courses the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department or GEOL 0323. Independent study courses (CHEM 0400, CHEM 0500, CHEM 0700, or CHEM 0701) cannot count as electives.

Honors in Chemistry

MATH 0121*, MATH 0122*, PHYS 0108 or PHYS 0109*, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111, CHEM 0103*, CHEM 0104 (or CHEM 0107), CHEM 0203 (or CHEM 0241), CHEM 204 (or CHEM 0242), CHEM 0311, CHEM 0312, CHEM 0351, CHEM 0355, CHEM 0431, CHEM 0400, CHEM 0701.

Biochemistry

MATH 0121*, MATH 0122*, PHYS 0108 or PHYS 0109*, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111, CHEM 0103*,CHEM 0104 (or CHEM 0107), CHEM 0203 (or CHEM 0241), CHEM 204 (or CHEM 0242), CHEM 0313, CHEM 0322, and two electives chosen, with an advisor’s approval, from 0200-,0300- or 0400-level courses in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department or BIOL 0314. Independent study courses (CHEM 0400, CHEM 0500, CHEM 0700, or CHEM 0701) cannot count as electives.

Honors in Biochemistry

MATH 0121*, MATH 0122*, PHYS 0108 or PHYS 0109*, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111, CHEM 0103*, CHEM 0104 (or CHEM 0107), CHEM 0203 (or CHEM 0241), CHEM 204 (or CHEM 0242), CHEM 0311, CHEM 0313, CHEM 0322, CHEM 0355, CHEM 0425, CHEM 0400, CHEM 0701.

Environmental Chemistry

See the listing for the Environmental Chemistry focus under the Program in Environmental Studies. 

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

See Program in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry . 

*Students may receive credit for courses indicated by an asterisk with a satisfactory score on the advanced placement examination for that subject. Students who have scored a 4 or 5 on the advanced placement examination in chemistry are awarded a course credit for CHEM 0103 and may enroll in CHEM 0107 (strongly encouraged) or CHEM 0104. Students who do not have an AP score of 4 or 5, but have a strong background in chemistry should take the department’s  online placement examination  to determine if they are prepared for CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107. Those students who achieve a satisfactory score on the placement examination will be encouraged to register for CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107, but will not receive credit for CHEM 0103.

III. Independent Research and Senior Thesis Program

Many students participate in independent research (CHEM 0500 or CHEM 0700) or complete senior thesis projects (CHEM 0400 and CHEM 0701). Students who are interested in completing a senior thesis project should meet with their academic advisor for guidance in seeking a research advisor no later than winter term of their junior year. Although required for departmental honors, students may also participate the senior thesis program without pursuing honors and the associated coursework.

IV. Eligibility for Honors in Chemistry or Biochemistry

Students who successfully complete the honors coursework—including the senior thesis program—with a minimum grade point average of 3.20 are awarded departmental honors.  High Honors may be awarded at the discretion of the department and the thesis committee to students who demonstrate exceptional achievement in both the thesis program and departmental course work.

V. Recommended Programs of Study

Several coursework options for students considering chemistry or biochemistry as a major are shown below. Although students may deviate from these guides, it is strongly recommended that all prospective majors complete CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107 by the end of their first year and the calculus (MATH 0121 and 0122) and physics (PHYS 0108 or PHYS 0109 and 0110 or 0111) courses by the end of their second year. Completing CHEM 0203 as early as possible provides the maximum flexibility both within the major and for other academic interests, including study abroad.

First Year:   Fall: CHEM 0103, MATH 0121   Spring: CHEM 0104, MATH 0122    OR   Fall: CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107, MATH 0121   Spring: MATH 0122 (consider CHEM 0203) Sophomore Year:   Fall: CHEM 0203, PHYS 0108 or PHYS 0109   Spring: CHEM 0204, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111

Junior Year:   Fall: CHEM 0311, CHEM 0351*   Spring: *(OR CHEM 0355)

Senior Year:   Fall: elective   Spring: elective

Biochemistry 

First Year:   Fall: CHEM 0103, MATH 0121   Spring: CHEM 0104, MATH 0122   OR   Fall: CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107, MATH 0121   Spring: MATH 0122 (consider CHEM 0203)

Sophomore Year:   Fall: CHEM 0203, PHYS 0108 or PHYS 0109   Spring: CHEM 0204, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111

Junior Year:   Fall: CHEM 0322   Spring: CHEM 0313

Chemistry with Honors 

First Year:   Fall: CHEM 0103, MATH 0121   Spring: CHEM 0104, MATH 0122   OR   Fall: CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107, MATH 0121   Spring: MATH 0122 (consider CHEM 0203)

Sophomore Year:   Fall: CHEM 0203, PHYS 0108 or PHYS 0109   Spring: CHEM 0204, PHYS 0110 or PHYS 0111

Junior Year:   Fall: CHEM 0311, CHEM 0351   Spring: CHEM 0312, CHEM 0355

Senior Year:   Fall: CHEM 0400, CHEM 0431   Spring: CHEM 0701

Biochemistry with Honors

Junior Year:    Fall: CHEM 0311, CHEM 0322   Spring: CHEM 0313, CHEM 0355

Senior Year:   Fall: CHEM 0400, CHEM 0425   Spring: CHEM 0701

CHEM 0103 General Chemistry I (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Chem 0104 general chemistry ii (fall 2024, spring 2025), chem 0203 organic chemistry i: structure and reactivity (fall 2024, spring 2025), spring 2025, chem 0204 organic chemistry ii: synthesis and spectroscopy (fall 2024, spring 2025), chem 0240 chemistry of energy conversion (fall 2024), chem 0270 environmental chemistry & health (spring 2025), chem 0311 instrumental analysis (fall 2024), chem 0312 inorganic and physical chemistry laboratory (spring 2025), chem 0313 biochemistry laboratory (spring 2025), chem 0322 biochemistry of macromolecules (fall 2024, spring 2025), chem 0351 quantum chemistry and spectroscopy (fall 2024), chem 0355 thermodynamics and kinetics for chemical and biological sciences (spring 2025), chem 0400 seminar in chemical research (fall 2024), chem 0425 biochemistry of metabolism (fall 2024), chem 0500 independent study project (fall 2024, spring 2025), chem 0700 senior research (fall 2024, spring 2025), chem 0701 senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), greenberg-starr department of chinese language & literature.

• CHNS 0101 through CHNS 0302 (or equivalent)
• Four additional courses from among: CHNS 0219, CHNS 0220, CHNS/GSFS 0240, CHNS/FMMC 0250, CHNS/LNGT 0270, CHNS 0325, CHNS/GSFS 0331, CHNS 0340, CHNS 0350, CHNS 0370 (At least one of the four must be in pre-modern literature and at least one must be in modern literature or culture).
• CHNS 0411 (The equivalent may be taken during study abroad)
• CHNS 0425, CHNS 0426, or CHNS 0412 (the equivalent to CHNS 0412 may be taken at the Middlebury Chinese School, or during study abroad)
• Either CHNS 0700 or CHNS 0701 and CHNS 0702

Full majors in Chinese are required to complete either CHNS 0701 and CHNS 0702 (Senior Honors Thesis) or CHNS 0700 (Senior Essay or Translation Project). CHNS 0701 and CHNS 0702 is a one-semester plus J-term sequence that should normally be taken during the fall and J-term. CHNS 0700 is a one-semester course that may be taken during the fall or winter. The Chinese department discourages students from postponing completion of senior work until the final semester of full-time study.

Joint majors in Chinese are encouraged but not required to do a senior thesis (CHNS 0701 and CHNS 0702) or project (CHNS 0700). A joint thesis or project should, when feasible, combine the two fields of study of the joint major.

All senior work, whether CHNS 0700 or CHNS 0701 and CHNS 0702, must include a major focus on work with primary sources in Chinese. All senior work should focus on Chinese literature; qualified students may petition the Chair for permission to do senior work on other aspects of Chinese culture (e.g., film or linguistics).

Senior Honors Thesis

To be eligible for the CHNS 0701 and CHNS 0702 Senior Honors Thesis, students majoring in Chinese (full, double or joint) must have completed language study through at least CHNS 0302 (or equivalent), taken at least two Chinese literature/culture courses, and maintained an average of B+ or better in Chinese department courses. Complete guidelines for the completion of the CHNS 0701 and CHNS 0702 thesis (and the CHNS 0700 project) are available from the Chinese Department.

Both full and joint majors may qualify for honors. Eligibility for departmental honors in Chinese requires completion of a senior honors thesis graded B+ or better and a grade point average of B+ (3.35) or higher in all courses taken that satisfy or could potentially satisfy the requirements for the major as listed above (full) and below (joint), including courses taken in the summer in the Chinese School and/or during study abroad. Only courses that satisfy or could potentially satisfy major requirements count toward honors (i.e., courses taken abroad that do not fall into this category do not count) and all such courses count (e.g., if more than four courses toward major requirement {b} are taken, all count). The department may award honors for completion of an exceptionally impressive senior essay or translation project that is graded A if the student has an average of B+ or higher in all qualifying courses (as defined above). High honors will be awarded for a grade point average of 3.5 or higher in all qualifying courses (as define above) and a senior thesis of A- or better. Highest honors are reserved for students who earn a grade of A on the senior thesis and who have an average of 3.75 or higher in all qualifying courses (as defined above).

Required for the Joint Major

• CHNS 0101 through CHNS 0302 (or equivalent);
• Either CHNS 0411 (the equivalent may be taken in the summer at the Middlebury Chinese School or, with prior approval, during study abroad) or CHNS 0425;
• Four additional courses from among the following, with at least one from each category: (A) CHNS 0219, CHNS 0220, CHNS/GSFS 0240, CHNS/FMMC 0250, CHNS/LNGT 0270, CHNS 0325, CHNS/GSFS 0331, CHNS 0340, CHNS 0350, CHNS 0370; (B) CHNS 0411, CHNS 0412, CHNS 0425, CHNS 0426, CHNS 0475.

Required for the Minor

• Four courses from among CHNS 0101 or CHNS 0102 (not both), CHNS 0103, CHNS 0201, CHNS 0202, CHNS 0301, CHNS 0302, CHNS 0400, CHNS 0411, CHNS 0412, CHNS 0425, CHNS 0426, and CHNS 0475 (in this way, all students increase their language proficiency, regardless of the level at which they start their study).
• Plus three courses from among CHNS 0219, CHNS 0220, CHNS 0250, CHNS 0270, CHNS 0325, CHNS 0331 (formally CHNS 0330), CHNS 0340, CHNS 0350, CHNS 0370, CHNS 0411, CHNS 0412, CHNS 0425, CHNS 0426, and CHNS 0475. One course must be in literature in either Chinese or English (the following are literature courses: CHNS 0219, CHNS 0220, CHNS 0325, CHNS 0331 (formally CHNS 0330), CHNS 0340, CHNS 0370, CHNS 0412, and CHNS 0475).
• A single course may be counted toward only one category.
• The equivalent of CHNS 0411 and/or CHNS 0412 may be taken abroad. A “one-on-one” course in literature or culture taken abroad may count toward the second category if approved by the Department Chair before study abroad. No other courses taken abroad may be counted toward the second category.

International and Global Studies Major with Chinese Language

Along with other required courses and senior work as described in the International and Global Studies major section, the Chinese language component of an IGS major requires completion of the following: 1) completion of CHNS 0202 or the equivalent (students are strongly encouraged to complete CHNS 0302 or the equivalent before study abroad, preferably in the summer Chinese School); 2) one semester at one of the three C.V. Starr-Middlebury College Schools in China; 3) upon return from China, any one, preferably two, of the following: CHNS 0411, 0412, 0425, 0426, or 0475.

CHNS 0101 Beginning Chinese (Fall 2024)

Chns 0103 beginning chinese (spring 2025), chns 0201 intermediate chinese (fall 2024), chns 0202 intermediate chinese (spring 2025), chns 0219 the chinese literary tradition (in translation) (fall 2024), chns 0220 modern china through literature (in translation) (spring 2025), chns 0240 the literature of the prc (spring 2025), chns 0250 chinese cinema (fall 2024), chns 0253 hong kong cinema (spring 2025), chns 0270 chinese sociolinguistics (taught in english) (spring 2025), chns 0301 advanced chinese (modern chinese) (fall 2024), chns 0350 documentary film in contemporary china (spring 2025), chns 0411 classical chinese i (in chinese) (fall 2024), chns 0412 classical chinese ii (in chinese) (spring 2025), chns 0425 contemporary social issues in china: advanced readings (in chinese) (fall 2024), chns 0475 senior seminar on modern chinese literature (in chinese) (spring 2025), chns 0500 senior essay (fall 2024, spring 2025), chns 0700 senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), chns 0701 senior thesis proposal (fall 2024), chns 0702 senior thesis (spring 2025), eve adler department of classics and program in classical studies, required for the major in classics.

• Ten courses in two languages: Greek and Latin (normally six in one language and four in the other) including one senior seminar (CLAS 0420).
• CLAS 0150 Ancient Epic Poetry
• CLAS/HIST 0131 Archaic and Classical Greece or CLAS 0151 Introduction to Ancient Greek Literature or CLAS 0152 Greek Tragedy or CLAS 0190 Greek and Roman Comedy or CLAS/RELI 0251 Greek Religion or CLAS/PHIL 0275 Greek Philosophy: The Problem of Socrates
• CLAS/HIST 0132 History of Rome or CLAS 0140 Augustus and the World of Rome or CLAS 0143 The Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic or CLAS 0144 Literature of the Roman Empire or CLAS 0190 Greek and Roman Comedy or CLAS/PHIL 0276 Roman Philosophy

CLAS 0701 History of Classical Literature: General Examination for Classics/Classical Studies Majors ( Reading List )

Optional:  CLAS 0700 Senior Essay (fall/winter or winter/spring), CLAS 0505 Independent Senior Project (fall or spring). (Note: Students who wish to do an optional senior essay or independent senior project must secure the sponsorship of a member of the classics department in the semester before the essay or project is to be undertaken.)

Honors:  B+ average or better in courses taken for the major (excluding senior work). B+ or better in the General Examination (CLAS 0701) and in the Senior Seminar (CLAS 0420). (Note: A student who does an optional senior essay or independent senior project may arrange with the chair, in the semester prior to undertaking the project, to offer that grade in lieu of the grade for CLAS 0420 for the calculation of departmental honors.)

Joint Major:  Students interested in a joint major in Classics and another discipline should consult the chair. The joint major in Classics typically requires ten courses in Greek and Latin (normally six in one language and four in the other); CLAS 0701, and senior work that combines Classics with the other major.

Required for the Minor in Classics

The minor in classics may be configured in one of the following four ways:

• Latin CLLA : Five courses in Latin
• Greek CLGR : Five courses in Greek
• Classical Civilization CLCC:  Five courses, as follows: three or more courses chosen from    CLAS/HIST 0131, CLAS/HIST 0132, CLAS 0140, CLAS 0143, CLAS 0144, CLAS 0149, CLAS0150, CLAS 0151, CLAS 0152, CLAS 0190, CLAS/LITP 0230, CLAS/RELI 0262, CLAS/PHIL 0275, CLAS/PHIL 0276, CLAS 0321 CLAS/HIST 0331, CLAS/HIST 0332, or CLAS/HIST 0337; and CLAS 0420 or CLAS 0450 (or both).
• Classical Language and Civilization CLCL:  Five courses, as follows: two or more courses in Latin or Greek; one or more courses chosen from CLAS/HIST 0131, CLAS/HIST 0132, CLAS 0140, CLAS 0143, CLAS 0144, CLAS 0149, CLAS/CMLT 0150, CLAS 0151, CLAS 0152, CLAS/CMLT 0190, CLAS/LITP 0230, CLAS/RELI 0251, CLAS/PHIL 0275 or CLAS 0276; and one or more courses chosen from CLAS 0321, CLAS/HIST 0331, CLAS/HIST 0332, CLAS/HIST 0337, CLAS 0420, or CLAS/CMLT 0450.

AP credit policy:  One course credit toward graduation, not toward the major or minor, will be granted for one AP exam in Latin under the following conditions: a) The student has received a grade of 4 or 5 on the AP exam, and b) The student has completed an advanced course (LATN 0201 or above) in Latin at Middlebury with a grade of B+ or above. (Note: No more than one course credit will be granted, whether the student presents one or two AP exams.)

Study Abroad Guidelines:  Study abroad in the Mediterranean can enrich our majors’ experience of the ancient world, because it affords them the opportunity to see the places that they have been learning about in the classroom. Students also find it stimulating to be surrounded by people with similar interests from other institutions. Thus, while our curriculum does not in any way necessitate study abroad, the faculty is happy to work with students who wish to pursue it as part of their Middlebury degree in classics or classical studies.

For those students who want to go abroad, we strongly recommend a semester rather than a year. The three programs we endorse are the ICCS (the Inter-Collegiate Consortium for Classical Studies in Rome), CYA (College Year in Athens), and Arcadia (also in Athens), all of which offer semester-long programs. Admission to the ICCS in particular, however, is highly competitive, and students may have a compelling academic rationale for studying elsewhere. Accordingly, we have also approved students who wished to study for a semester at foreign universities with strong classics departments. These have included Trinity College Dublin, the University of Edinburgh, Cambridge University, and the University of Vienna. For some students, a rewarding alternative to study abroad during the academic year has been participation in a summertime archaeological excavation.

We discourage students from going abroad before they have had at least three semesters of whichever ancient language(s) they are learning. As part of their program of study abroad, students normally take at least one course in each ancient language of study, and select additional courses that are appropriate substitutes for courses in the major. In order to be fully prepared for senior work, however, students will need to have completed a significant portion of the courses required for the major, in particular CLAS 0150, before going abroad.

Generally speaking, we are as flexible as we can be in helping majors to identify courses in programs abroad that allow them to stay in step with their cohort in Middlebury and to be prepared for senior work. Unless we are familiar with the institution, the instruction, and the content of the courses, we rarely grant credit to non-majors for classics courses taken away from Middlebury. In all cases (majors, non-majors, potential majors, and minors), students must consult with a member of the classics department before leaving Middlebury to plan and receive approval for work done at other institutions.

Required for the Major in Classical Studies

• CLAS/CMLT 0150 Ancient Epic Poetry
• CLAS/HIST 0131 Archaic and Classical Greece or CLAS 0151 Introduction to Ancient Greek Literature or CLAS 0152 Greek Tragedy or CLAS/CMLT 0190 Greek and Roman Comedy or CLAS/PHIL 0275 Greek Philosophy: The Problem of Socrates
• CLAS/HIST 0132 History of Rome or CLAS 0140 Augustus and the World of Rome or CLAS 0143 The Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic or CLAS 0144 Literature of the Roman Empire or CLAS 0190 Greek and Roman Comedy or CLAS/PHIL 0276 Roman Philosophy
• CLAS/HIST 0131 Archaic and Classical Greece
• CLAS/HIST 0132 History of Rome
• CLAS 0140 Augustus and the World of Rome
• CLAS 0143 The Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic
• CLAS 0144 Literature of the Roman Empire
• CLAS 0149 Rhetoric and Politics from Ancient Greece and Rome to the Present
• CLAS 0151 Introduction to Ancient Greek Literature
• CLAS 0152 Greek Tragedy
• CLAS/CMLT 0190 Greek and Roman Comedy
• CLAS/LITS 0230 Myth and Contemporary Experience
• CLAS/HARC 0234 Ancient Roman City: Pompeii and Beyond
• 
 CLAS/HARC 0236 Cities of Vesuvius
• CLAS/RELI 0251 Greek Religion
• CLAS/PHIL 0275 Greek Philosophy: The Problem of Socrates
• CLAS/PHIL 0276 Roman Philosophy
• CLAS 0321 Apocalypse When?
• CLAS/HIST 0331 Sparta and Athens
• CLAS/HIST 0332 Roman Law
• CLAS/HIST 0337 From Alexander to Rome
• HARC 0213 Roman Art and Architecture
• HARC 0221 Greek Art and Archaeology
• HARC 0223 The Classical Tradition in Architecture: A History
• HARC 0312 Of Gods, Mortals, and Myths: Greek and Roman Painting
• HARC 0320 Hands-on Archaeology: Theory and Practice
• MATH 0261 History of Mathematics
• PHIL 0201 Ancient Greek Philosophy
• PHIL 0302 Philosophy of Plato
• PHIL 0303 Philosophy of Aristotle
• RELI 0381/CLAS 0308 Seminar in the New Testament
• PSCI 0101 Introduction to Political Science
• PSCI 0317 Ancient and Medieval Political Philosophy
• PSCI 0409 Seminar in Political Philosophy
• RELI 0290 Women and the Sacred in Late Antiquity and Byzantium
• GREK 0101 Beginning Greek I
• GREK 0102 Beginning Greek II
• GREK 0201 Intermediate Greek: Prose
• GREK 0202 Intermediate Greek: Poetry
• GREK 0301 Readings in Greek Literature I
• GREK 0302 Readings in Greek Literature II
• GREK 0401 Advanced Readings in Greek Literature I
• GREK 0402 Advanced Readings in Greek Literature II
• LATN 0101 Beginning Latin I
• LATN 0102 Beginning Latin II
• LATN 0110 Introduction to College Latin
• LATN 0201 Intermediate Latin: Prose
• LATN 0202 Intermediate Latin: Poetry
• LATN 0301 Readings in Latin Literature I
• LATN 0302 Readings in Latin Literature II
• LATN 0401 Advanced Readings in Latin I
• LATN 0402 Advanced Readings in Latin II
• CLAS 0420 Seminar in Classical Literature

Optional : CLAS 0700 Senior Essay (fall/ winter/spring); CLAS 0500 Independent Senior Project (fall/winter/spring). ( Note : Students who wish to do an optional senior essay or independent senior project must secure the sponsorship of a member of the classics department in the semester before the essay or project is to be undertaken.)

For complete descriptions of the courses listed above, see listings under the appropriate departments.

Joint Major:  Students interested in a joint major in Classical Studies and another discipline should consult the chair. The joint major in Classical Studies typically requires four semesters of either Greek or Latin; CLAS 0150; one course from section A2 and one course from A3 under the requirements for the major; CLAS 0701, and senior work that combines Classical Studies with the other major.

CLAS 0131 Archaic and Classical Greece (Fall 2024)

Clas 0143 the rise and fall of the roman republic (fall 2024), clas 0150 greek and roman epic poetry (fall 2024), clas 0190 greek and roman comedy (spring 2025), clas 0249 how to win the argument: rhetoric and democracy (fall 2024), clas 0321 apocalypse when reason and revelation in the ancient world (spring 2025), clas 0331 sparta and athens (spring 2025), clas 0420 seminar in classical literature: roman epic (spring 2025), clas 0450 history of classical literature (fall 2024), clas 0500 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), clas 0505 ind senior project (fall 2024, spring 2025), clas 0700 senior essay for classics/classical studies majors (fall 2024, spring 2025), clas 0701 history of classical literature (fall 2024), grek 0201 intermediate greek: prose (fall 2024), grek 0202 intermediate greek (spring 2025), grek 0401 advanced readings in greek literature: homer's /iliad/ (fall 2024), grek 0402 advanced readings in greek literature ii: greek cosmology–hesiod and plato (spring 2025), latn 0102 beginning latin ii (spring 2025), latn 0301 readings in latin literature i (fall 2024), latn 0302 readings latin literature ii (spring 2025), program in comparative literature.

During their course of study, students of Comparative Literature will also become familiar with current comparative methodologies as well as relevant cultural and critical theories. These methodological skills support students’ work as they pursue a flexible and individualized pathway through their program of study, which culminates in an article-length comparative essay. The program is designed to accommodate students at all levels of language proficiency.

Majors in Comparative Literature will develop a plan of study with the guidance of a faculty advisor with expertise in the students chosen primary language and literature, and the Director of the Comparative Literature Program.

The basic structure of the program is as follows:

1. One primary language of study AND

2. Four courses in a secondary language. Students’ first language cannot be their primary language, but it can be their secondary language.  For example, English cannot be the primary language of a student whose first language is English, but it can be the secondary language.

Requirements

• Three content courses in the primary language, including two literary classes and one cultural course (e.g. cinema, politics).  The choice of particular classes requires the approval of the student’s primary language advisor and the Program Director. Students will also need approval for inclusion of study abroad classes in this category.  In the case of students whose primary language is Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Japanese, some of these three content courses MAY be taught in English, depending on the availability of suitable courses in the language.
• Four courses in a secondary language. If the secondary language is English, at least one course must be pre 1800.
• One course in literary theory  (suggested for sophomore year), for example ENAM/CMLT 205.
• Study abroad, in the  primary  language.   Exceptions may be made if you receive prior approval from your faculty advisor and the program director. A maximum of 4 courses in literature taken abroad may be used to satisfy other requirements in the major, subject to the pre-approval of the Director of the program.   All students must take one class in their primary language after their return.
• Two electives explicitly comparative in nature.  These literature courses may be taught in English. Examples: CLAS/CMLT 0150; CMLT/RELI 0238; CMLT/CLAS 0450; ENAM/CMLT 0305; GRMN/CMLT 0333; ITAL/CMLT 0299. Suitable classes will be cross-listed and bear the prefix CMLT.
• One senior/advanced seminar in literature taken at Middlebury College in the student’s primary or secondary language .
• Senior Work (CMLT 0700) : During Fall and Winter Term, or Winter Term and Spring, students will write a 35-page (article length) comparative essay (advised independently). Students are responsible to identify and arrange to work with their advisor and the members of their committee no later than the last week of classes in the preceding term.

To be eligible for honors students must have a GPA in the major of 3.7 and a B+ or above on their essay. Students with eligible honors theses will also have a defense before the last day of exams.

CMLT 0101 Introduction to World Literature (Spring 2025)

Cmlt 0150 greek and roman epic poetry (fall 2024), cmlt 0205 introduction to contemporary literary theory (fall 2024, spring 2025), cmlt 0248 human rights and world literature (fall 2024), cmlt 0270 reading postcolonial and indigenous literature (fall 2024), cmlt 0286 philosophy & literature (fall 2024), cmlt 0310 literary responses to the holocaust (in english) (spring 2025), cmlt 0317 lost and found in translation (spring 2025), cmlt 0375 colonial discourse and the “lusophone world” (fall 2024), cmlt 0417 pulling reality’s hair: truth and other fictions (spring 2025), cmlt 0450 history of classical literature (fall 2024), cmlt 0500 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), cmlt 0700 senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of computer science.

For students who matriculated in Fall 2022 or later

• CSCI 0145 or 0150
• Four electives*
• One additional Responsible Computing course**

*An elective is a CSCI course numbered between 0303 and 0499, or 0701. Approved 0500 or winter term courses may also count as electives. One elective can be substituted with MATH 0218 or MATH 0228.

**A list of pre-approved Responsible Computing courses is maintained by the department. 

For students who matriculated in Fall 2020 or later

• Five electives*

*An elective is a CSCI course numbered between 0303 and 0499, or 0701.

Approved 0500 or winter term courses may also count as electives. One elective can be substituted with MATH 0216 or MATH 0218 or MATH 0228.  

For students who matriculated prior to Fall 2020

Approved 0500 or winter term courses may also count as electives. One elective can be substituted with MATH 0200 or MATH 0228.  

All levels of honors require an additional elective. A GPA of at least 3.5 is required for honors; a GPA of 3.7 or higher for high honors, and a GPA of 3.9 or higher for highest honors. In addition, high honors and highest honors require a grade of “B” or higher in the senior seminar CSCI 0701, and a two-semester (winter-spring) thesis CSCI 0702.

• Two electives (CSCI courses numbered between 0301 and 0499)

The computer science component of a joint major requires:

• One course from CSCI 0301 and CSCI 0302
• Two electives (CSCI courses numbered between 0301 and 0499) 
• Either an independent CSCI 0500 project integrating the two disciplines or (if appropriate to the joint major) CSCI 0701

Advanced Placement and Waivers

Students whose preparation indicates they can bypass one or more courses numbered 0201 or lower should speak to a faculty member to determine the appropriate first course, and with approval of the department chair may waive the bypassed classes from the major requirements. College credit for CSCI 0145 is given to students who achieve a score of 4 or 5 on the AP computer science A exam.

CSCI 0105 Understanding Our Algorithmic World (Fall 2024)

Csci 0145 introduction to computing (fall 2024, spring 2025), csci 0146 intensive introduction to computing (fall 2024), csci 0200 mathematical foundations of computing (fall 2024, spring 2025), csci 0201 data structures (fall 2024, spring 2025), csci 0202 computer architecture (fall 2024, spring 2025), csci 0301 theory of computation (fall 2024, spring 2025), csci 0302 algorithms and complexity (fall 2024, spring 2025), csci 0311 artificial intelligence (fall 2024), csci 0312 software development (fall 2024, spring 2025), csci 0315 systems programming (fall 2024), csci 0318 object-oriented programming and gui application development (fall 2024), csci 0333 quantum computing (fall 2024), csci 0416 parallel computing (spring 2025), csci 0431 computer networks (spring 2025), csci 0442 network science (spring 2025), csci 0451 machine learning (spring 2025), csci 0457 natural language processing (spring 2025), csci 0461 computer graphics (spring 2025), csci 0467 generative art (fall 2024), csci 0500 advanced study (fall 2024, spring 2025), csci 0701 senior seminar (spring 2025), csci 0702 senior thesis (fall 2024), department of dance.

Beyond these shared foundational courses, students take additional courses specific to one of three tracks: Choreography and Performance, Production and Technology, and Theory and Aesthetics. 

Foundational Courses

The eight foundational classes are as follows:

• ARDV 0116 (Creative Process)
• DANC 0260 (Technique & Composition)                                
• DANC 0261 (Improvisational Practices)
• DANC 0284 (Dance History)
• DANC 0360 (Choreography & Performance)
• DANC 0376 (Anatomy and Kinesiology)
• DANC 0500 (Research Methods)
• DANC 0700 (Senior Work)

Track Courses

The track-specific courses are as follows:

Choreography and Performance

This track represents the core curriculum of the Dance Department for students primarily focused on contemporary approaches to technique, composition, and performance. The culminating senior work in this track will consist of formal concert work and a written thesis.

• DANC 0361 (Movement and Media)
• DANC 0460 (Performance & Production)
• DANC 0470 (Technique Workshop)

Production and Technology

This track represents a directed course of study for students primarily focused on the skills and methods of dance production and media, digital representations of the body, and current innovations and aesthetic models presented by the confluence of dance and the digital age. The culminating senior work in this track will involve all elements of the production of a design-focused concert work and a written thesis.

• DANC 0361 (Movement and Media) (This course is in place of DANC 0360)
• DANC 0370 (Production Workshop)

Two additional elective courses from the following disciplines (by advisor approval):

• Architecture Studies
• Film and Media Culture

Suggested Elective Courses

• Studio Art:  ART 0156, ART 0200. ART 0380, ART 0388
• Architectural Studies:  HARC 0130, HARC 0218, HARC 0230, HARC 0231, HARC 0243, HARC 0267, HARC 0301, HARC 0338, HARC 1230
• Theatre:  ARDV 0111, ARDV 0113, ARDV 0205, ARDV 0221, ARDV 0238, ARDV 1190
• Film and Media Culture:  FMMC 0101, FMMC 0105, FMMC 0201, FMMC 0220, FMMC 0267, FMMC 0301, FMMC 0320, FMMC 0358, FMMC 0361

Dance Studies—Theory and Aesthetics

This track represents a directed course of study for students interested in dance as a focus for scholarly work and theoretical inquiry. They will develop the ability to articulate the interdisciplinary and intercultural aspects of dance, as well as write about the potential of the moving body to both reflect and impact culture. The culminating senior work in this track will take the form a public lecture and written thesis.

• English and American Literatures
• Sociology/Anthropology
• English:  ENGL 0115, ENGL 0205, ENGL 0215, ENGL 0217, ENGL 0222, ENGL 0227
• History:  HIST 0117, HIST 0205, HIST 0210, HIST 0222, HIST 0225, HIST 0307
• Philosophy:  PHIL 0198, PHIL 0205, PHIL 0233, PHIL 0234, PHIL 0235, PHIL 0250, PHIL 0252
• Sociology : SOCI 0103, SOCI 0105, SOCI 0109, SOCI 0191, SOCI 0211, SOCI 0215, SOCI 0218, SOCI 0235
• Anthropology:  ANTH 0103, ANTH 0109, ANTH 0159, ANTH 0211, ANTH 0274, ANTH 0287, ANTH 0302, ANTH 0304
• DANC 0260 (Technique & Composition)
• DANC 0360 (Choreography & Performance)                            
• DANC 0700 (Senior Work) (to be taken simultaneously with DANC 0500)
• DANC 0360 (Choreography & Performance)                    
• DANC 0376 (Anatomy and Kinesiology) 

Department Honors

Honors or high honors are awarded to graduating seniors in the Dance Department based upon a grade point average of A– or better in department and cognate courses, a grade of A– or better on the DANC 0700 Senior Independent Project, and overall distinction in the program. Normally only full majors will be eligible for high honors.

ARDV 0116 The Creative Process (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Danc 0132 introduction to butoh dance (fall 2024), danc 0160 introduction to dance (spring 2025), danc 0260 technique & composition (fall 2024, spring 2025), danc 0261 improvisational practices (fall 2024), danc 0277 body and earth (fall 2024), danc 0284 modern dance history in the united states: early influences to postmodern transformations (spring 2025), danc 0360 choreography & performance (spring 2025), danc 0370 production workshop (spring 2025), danc 0376 anatomy and kinesiology (spring 2025), danc 0380 dance company of middlebury (fall 2024), danc 0460 performance & production (fall 2024), danc 0461 intermediate/advanced dance iv: advanced dance improvisation (spring 2025), danc 0470 technique workshop (spring 2025), danc 0500 independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), danc 0700 independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), earth and climate sciences, for students who matriculate in fall of 2021 or later.

Required for the Major

The Earth and Climate Sciences major consists of 11 courses within the department and two additional STEM cognate courses, as follows:

(1) One 0100-level course.

(2) Both core courses: Geological Evolution of Vermont (ECSC 0201), Climate Dynamics (ECSC 0202).

(3) Six elective (0300 level) courses. Up to three of these elective courses – with Chair’s approval — could come from a combination of ECSC 0500, non-Middlebury coursework, or upper-level STEM cognates, with no more than two electives coming from any one of these sources.

(4) Two cognate courses (any Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, or Physics laboratory course, or Math 0116 or higher), although we recommend more if planning to attend graduate school in the Earth sciences.

(5) Two Credits of Senior Work (ECSC 0400 and either 0700 or ECSC 0705)

The two-course senior sequence (ECSC 0400 and either 0700 or 0705) is the culmination of the Earth and Climate Sciences major and consists of original research by the student. ECSC 0700 is a semester of independent senior thesis work, whereas ECSC 0705 undertakes community-connected research as a class. ECSC 0701 is an optional second semester or Senior Work for students undertaking a full-year thesis project. The requirements for the major listed above are considered to be minimal. We suggest students planning a career in the Earth sciences take additional courses in other sciences and mathematics, as well as additional Earth science courses. The requirements for the major allow for considerable flexibility and thus students should consult regularly with their Earth and Climate Sciences department advisors for the selection of specific courses.

Earth and Climate Sciences Minor

A total of five courses is required, including one introductory course plus both core courses (ECSC 0201, 0202) and two electives Only one ECSC 0500 or off-campus course can count as an elective toward the minor.

Environmental Studies-Earth and Climate Sciences Joint Major

One introductory course (ECSC 0112 preferred), both core courses (ECSC 0201, 0202), three electives (0300 level) and two credits of Senior Work (ECSC 0400 and either ECSC 0700 or ECSC 0705) focused on an environmental topic. One of the 300-level electives – with Chair’s approval —  could come from either ECSC 0500 or non-Middlebury coursework. Students wishing to pursue graduate study in Earth or environmental sciences are advised to take additional science and math courses and should consult with their advisor.

Biology-Earth and Climate Sciences Joint Major

Requirements for the Joint Major with Earth and Climate Sciences: ENVS0166; BIOL0140; BIOL0145; BIOL0211; one organismal biology course, BIOL0202, BIOL0203, BIOL0204, BIOL 0205, BIOL0308, or BIOL0310; two other BIOL courses at or above 0200-level, at least one of which must have a lab; one 0100-level ECSC course; ECSC0201; ECSC0202; three ECSC courses at or above 0300-level; ECSC0400; either ECSC0700 or BIOL0700 this represents at least one semester of integrative BIOL-ECSC research. Note that ECSC0705 cannot count towards this final requirement. One of the 300-level ECSC electives – with Chair’s approval —  could come from either ECSC 0500 or non-Middlebury coursework.

Departmental Honors 

Departmental Honors in Earth and Climate Sciences are based primarily on outstanding work in original research (ECSC 0700 and/or 701) and are related to course grades only in the context of guidelines in the College Handbook.

For students who matriculated prior to Fall 2021

The program for an Earth and Climate Sciences major consists of 11 courses within the department and two additional cognate courses. These courses must include:

(1) One 0100-level course (we strongly recommend Environmental Earth and Climate Sciences (ECSC 0112), Elements of Oceanography (ECSC 0161) or Dynamic Earth (ECSC 0170).

(2) Four core courses: Bedrock Geology of Vermont (ECSC 0201), Mineralogy (ECSC 0211), and Structural Geology (ECSC 0281) are required, plus either Landscape Evolution (ECSC 0251) or Water Resources and Hydrogeology (ECSC 0255).

(3) Four elective courses (ECSC 0200-level or higher) chosen from the Middlebury Earth and Climate Sciences curriculum.  A maximum of two electives (total) can be ECSC 0500, courses taken off campus (with approval of the Chair), or a combination of the two.

(4) Two cognate courses (any Biology, Chemistry, or Physics laboratory course, or Math 0116 or higher).

(5) Two Credits of Senior Work (ECSC 0400 and either ECSC 0700 or ECSC 0705)

The two-course senior sequence (ECSC 0400 and either ECSC 0700 or ECSC 0705) is the culmination of the Earth and Climate Sciences major and consists of original research based on field and/or laboratory investigations by the student. ECSC 0700 is a semester of independent senior thesis work, whereas ECSC 0705 undertakes community-connected research as a class. ECSC 0701 is an optional second semester of Senior Work for students undertaking a full-year thesis project. The requirements for the major listed above are considered to be minimal. We suggest students planning a career in geology or the earth sciences take additional courses in other sciences and mathematics, as well as additional Earth and Climate Sciences courses. The requirements for the major allow for considerable flexibility and thus students should consult regularly with their Earth and Climate Sciences department advisors for the selection of specific courses.

A total of five courses is required. The minor shall consist of one introductory course (either ECSC 0112 or ECSC 0161 or ECSC 0170), plus four upper-level courses, which must include ECSC 0201 or ECSC 0211. After completing an introductory Earth and Climate Sciences course, students who intend to minor in Earth and Climate Sciences should arrange specific upper-level courses with the Earth and Climate Sciences chair or designate. Only one ECSC 0500 or off-campus course can count toward the minor.

Departmental Honors in Earth and Climate Sciences are based primarily on outstanding work in original research (ECSC 0700) and are related to course grades only in the context of guidelines in the College Handbook.

ECSC 0105 Energy and Mineral Resources (Spring 2025)

Ecsc 0111 natural hazards (fall 2024), ecsc 0112 environmental geology (fall 2024, spring 2025), ecsc 0201 geologic evolution of vermont (fall 2024), ecsc 0202 climate dynamics (spring 2025), ecsc 0311 mineralogy (spring 2025), ecsc 0322 remote sensing in environmental science (fall 2024, spring 2025), ecsc 0353 hydroclimate and wildfire in the western us (fall 2024), ecsc 0375 physical volcanology (fall 2024), ecsc 0392 modern climate seminar (fall 2024), ecsc 0500 readings and research (fall 2024, spring 2025), ecsc 0700 senior thesis research (fall 2024, spring 2025), ecsc 0701 senior thesis research (spring 2025), ecsc 0705 collaborative capstone research seminar (spring 2025), department of economics.

The economics major consists of a minimum of 11 approved courses in four sequences. At least six of these eleven courses, including the electives taken at the 0300- and 0400-levels and the 0701/0702 sequence, must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont. Note that although the 0701/0702 sequence is taken over two semesters (Fall/Winter or Winter/Spring) and counts as two credits towards the minimum 36 college requirements, it only counts as one course towards the economics major requirements. ECON 0240 and ECON 0500 do not count towards the major requirements. Economics electives taken during the winter term will count towards the major requirements only if so designated in the winter term catalog.

Introductory Sequence

ECON 0150 and ECON 0155. Neither ECON 0150 nor ECON 0155 assumes any prior exposure to economics, but both courses presume a thorough working knowledge of algebra. Note: Students must pass ECON 0150 and ECON 0155 with at least a C- to be admitted into ECON 0250 and ECON 0255 respectively without a waiver.

Quantitative Sequence

The quantitative sequence in economics consists of two courses. The first course can be ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210), STAT 0116 (formerly MATH 0116), MATH 0310, PSYC 0201 or STAT 0201. (ECON 0111 may not be taken concurrently with STAT 0116 (formerly MATH 0116), MATH 0310, PSYC 0201 or STAT 0201. Credit is not given for ECON 0111 if the student has taken STAT 0116 (formerly MATH 0116), MATH 0310, PSYC 0201 or STAT 0201. Students with strong mathematical background wanting to take MATH 0410 (Stochastic Processes) should take MATH 0310 rather than STAT 0116 (formerly MATH 0116) or ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210), since MATH 0310 is a prerequisite for MATH 0410. The second course in the sequence is ECON 0211. Students must pass ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210) with at least a C- to be admitted into ECON 0211 without a waiver.

Intermediate Theory Sequence

ECON 0250; ECON 0255; and one of ECON 0229, ECON 0280 or ECON 0311 (formerly ECON 0212). Note: It is important, especially for those planning to study abroad for a full year, that the above three sequences be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

Elective Sequence

Majors are required to take at least four electives, one of which must be at the 0400-level and one of which must be any of the following:  a 0300-level course, another 0400-level course, or the ECON 0701/0702 senior workshop sequence. The other two electives may be 0200-, 0300-, or 0400-level courses.

The 0300-level courses are advanced electives exposing students to frontier research in specific subfields of economics that have intermediate theory as a prerequisite. The 0400-level courses are seminars that typically enroll no more than 16 students, have intermediate theory as a prerequisite, and serve as a capstone experience for the major. Emphasis is placed on reading, writing, and discussion of economics at an advanced level. The 0701/0702 workshops are seminars that typically enroll eight students, have intermediate theory and a field course as a prerequisite, and involve writing an independent research paper. The difference between an ECON 0400-level seminar and an ECON 0701/0702 workshop is the degree of independence the student has and the level of sophistication expected in the paper.

For students beginning Fall 2024: To be eligible for honors in economics, students must take the Senior Research sequence (ECON 0701 and ECON 0702) during their senior year. The purpose of the two-term Senior Research sequence is to foster independent student research, culminating in a research paper in the style of an economics journal article. Prior to enrolling in ECON 0701, students must have taken a minimum of six economics courses at Middlebury approved to count towards the major requirements.  Each course in the sequence will have no more than eight students who will work on their projects for two terms (typically either fall/winter or winter/spring) and will include both individual meetings and group meetings to develop new techniques and present and discuss research. Students who have prearranged a research topic with the professor will be given priority in admission to the seminar. Also, because of limited resources for guiding senior work, students with a single major in economics will be given priority over double majors who will do senior work in other departments. Students interested in pursuing departmental honors must take the Senior Research Workshop sequence (ECON 0701 and ECON 0702). To receive any level of departmental honors the student must complete all ECON courses that can count towards the major requirements (both core and elective courses) that are at the 200-level or higher for a letter grade (not credit/no credit).

Honors requires a minimum grade of A- in ECON 0701 and ECON 0702, and have a 3.5 or higher GPA in all economics courses taken at Middlebury approved to count towards the major requirements.

High Honors requires a minimum grade of A in ECON 0701 and ECON 0702, and a 3.75 or higher economics GPA.

Highest Honors requires a minimum grade of A in ECON 0701 and ECON 0702, and a 3.9 or higher economics GPA.

For more detailed information on how the economics GPA is calculated, please contact the department coordinator.

For students who began prior to Fall 2024: To be eligible for honors in economics, students must take the Senior Research sequence (ECON 0701 and ECON 0702) during their senior year. The purpose of this two-semester sequence is to foster independent student research, culminating in a research paper in the style of an economics journal article. Prior to enrolling in ECON 0701, students must have taken a minimum of six economics courses at Middlebury approved to count towards the major requirements. Each course in the sequence will have no more than eight students who will work on their projects for two semesters (either fall/winter or winter/spring) and will include both individual meetings and group meetings to develop new techniques and present and discuss research. Students who have prearranged a research topic with the professor will be given priority in admission to the seminar. Also, because of limited resources for guiding senior work, students with a single major in economics will be given priority over double majors who will do senior work in other departments. Students interested in pursuing departmental honors must take the Senior Research Workshop sequence (ECON 0701 and ECON 0702). To receive departmental honors the student must receive a minimum grade of A- in ECON 0701 and ECON 0702, and have a 3.5 or higher GPA in all economics courses taken at Middlebury approved to count towards the major requirements. High Honors requires a minimum grade of A in ECON 0701 and ECON 0702, and a 3.75 or higher economics GPA. Highest Honors requires a minimum grade of A in ECON 0701 and ECON 0702, and a 3.9 or higher economics GPA. For more detailed information on how the economics GPA is calculated, please contact the department coordinator.

International Politics and Economics Major

Please refer to the International Politics and Economics section of the catalog for details about the major or visit the  International Politics & Economics  website for the most current information. Note: Students are not allowed to double major in Economics (ECON) and International Politics and Economics (IPEC).

Major in Environmental Studies with a focus in Economics (ESEC)

Please refer to the Environmental Studies Program section of the catalog (under Social Science foci) for details about the major or visit the Environmental Studies website for the most current information. Note: Students are not allowed to double major in Economics (ECON) and Environmental Economics (ESEC).

Major in Environmental Studies with a focus in Policy (ESEP)

Please refer to the Environmental Studies Program section (under Social Science foci) for details about the major or visit the Environmental Studies website for the most current information. It is possible to double major in Economics (ECON) and Environmental Policy (ESEP), however, double counting of Economics courses towards each major is not allowed, except in cases where a specific course is listed as required by both majors. 

AP Credit Policy

To obtain credit, students will need to submit their official scores to the Registrar’s Office and obtain approval from the department chair. Students who score a 5 on the Advanced Placement exam in Macroeconomics or Microeconomics will receive credit for Introductory Macroeconomics (ECON 0150) or Introductory Microeconomics (ECON 0155) respectively and cannot enroll in these courses at Middlebury. Students who score a 5 on the advanced placement exam in statistics are strongly encouraged to enroll in Economic Statistics (ECON 0111, formerly 0210) but they may choose to use their AP credit instead. Note: Students may not receive AP credit and course credit for the same course.

Students who score a 4 on the advanced placement exam in Macroeconomics, Microeconomics or Statistics must earn a B- or better grade in the corresponding intermediate-level course ECON 0250, ECON 0255, or ECON 0211, respectively, to receive college credit for the AP course. Note: Students are required to complete an additional elective for each of these courses when a grade of B- or higher is not earned in the corresponding intermediate-level course.

International Baccalaureate/A-Levels

Students who have completed an International Baccalaureate and have earned a score of 7 on IB Economics or a grade of A on A-Level Economics should begin their studies of Macroeconomics and Microeconomics with ECON 0250 and ECON 0255. These students will be given one course credit toward the economics major, and will be prohibited from enrolling in ECON 0150 or ECON 0155. Students who have earned a score of 6 on IB economics or a grade of B on A-Level economics are encouraged to begin their studies of Macroeconomics and Microeconomics with ECON 0250 and ECON 0255, but they may elect to enroll in ECON 0150 or ECON 0155. Students majoring in Economics will need to replace the other introductory course with an ECON elective. Students who have completed a statistics course with a score of 6 or higher on IB Statistics, or a grade of B or better on A-Level Statistics may begin their course of study of economics statistics with ECON 0211 or MATH 0310. If they choose to start with ECON 0211 or MATH 0310, they will need to replace the ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210) credit with an ECON elective. The same rules apply where ECON courses are requirements for other majors. Please notify the department coordinator if you have qualifying IB or A-Level scores in economics that you wish to use as a prerequisite.

Transfer of Credit

Students may take economics courses in approved programs (abroad and domestic) and have those courses count towards the major and/or the general graduation requirement. Summer school courses will not generally be given credit for the major unless there is an overriding reason to take a summer school course. Any summer school course must meet a minimum of six weeks and have at least 36 hours of class time. Students planning to take courses off-campus should discuss the proposed course(s) with their advisor and get pre-approval from the department chair. Upon completion of the course(s), students should submit their course material and a copy of their transcript along with a  Transfer Credit Application Form  to the department chair for departmental approval. After receiving departmental approval, students must submit their forms to the Registrar’s Office for final approval by the director of off-campus study. Note: Transfer Credit Forms are not required for courses listed in the  Course Information Data base (CID)  as approved to count towards the major. However, students must notify the Registrar’s Office of any transferred courses approved in the CID that they wish to be counted towards their major requirements. Courses having a BU (Business) or MGMT (Management) prefix will not normally be considered the equivalent of an economics course. No credit will be given for business courses taken over the summer. A maximum of one general credit will be given for a business course taken through a junior year abroad business program. Business courses taken in a non-business program will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Those that match the department’s offerings, and have strong liberal arts content, have the best chance of receiving credit.

Post-Graduate Preparation

Graduate programs in economics or finance [other than a Masters of Business Administration (MBA)] generally require a high degree of mathematical sophistication. Students thinking of continuing in such a program are encouraged to: (i) take MATH 0310 in place of ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210); (ii) select economics electives with significant mathematically and statistically rigorous content [recommended courses fulfilling the elective requirements of the economics major include: ECON 0212, ECON 0229, ECON 0280, ECON 0390, and ECON 0411]; (iii) take a number of additional courses in mathematics and computer science [recommended courses include: CSCI 0101, MATH 0315, MATH 0318, MATH 0323, MATH 0410, and MATH 0423]. Good training for graduate school might include being a statistics tutor or having worked as a research assistant at Middlebury College or at a Federal Reserve Bank, or as an intern at a research institute or NGO. Students thinking about this option should discuss their plans with their advisor and other faculty members.. Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programs look for students who have taken a wide range of courses across the curriculum rather than for students who have narrowly focused on economics and math. Thus, it is not necessary for someone planning to go on in business or to an MBA program to have majored in economics. MBA programs normally expect that students have worked for a couple of years in business, government, or similar organization before they begin the MBA program. The appropriate coursework for these MBA programs is a wide range of liberal arts courses.

ECON 0111 Economic Statistics (formerly ECON 0210) (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Econ 0150 introductory macroeconomics (fall 2024, spring 2025), econ 0155 introductory microeconomics (fall 2024, spring 2025), econ 0200 health economics and policy (spring 2025), econ 0207 economics and gender (fall 2024, spring 2025), econ 0211 introduction to regression analysis (fall 2024, spring 2025), econ 0228 economics of agricultural transition (fall 2024), econ 0229 economic history and history of economic thought (fall 2024), econ 0234 economics of africa (spring 2025), econ 0250 macroeconomic theory (fall 2024, spring 2025), econ 0255 microeconomic theory (fall 2024, spring 2025), econ 0265 environmental economics (fall 2024), econ 0280 game theory (fall 2024, spring 2025), econ 0311 causal inference (fall 2024), econ 0365 the economics of climate change (fall 2024), econ 0410 the economics of “sin”: sex, crime, and drugs (fall 2024), econ 0411 applied econometrics (spring 2025), econ 0429 trade and foreign aid in latin america (spring 2025), econ 0431 economics of the european union (spring 2025), econ 0444 international trade (spring 2025), econ 0463 information economics (spring 2025), econ 0466 environment and development (fall 2024), econ 0478 technology and labor markets (fall 2024), econ 0485 the economics of sports (fall 2024), econ 0495 behavioral economics and public policy (spring 2025), econ 0500 individual special project (fall 2024, spring 2025), econ 0701 senior research workshop i (fall 2024), econ 0702 senior research workshop ii (spring 2025), program in education studies.

Through the investigation of educational theory, policy, research and practice from a variety of disciplinary perspectives students learn to think critically and creatively about the processes of teaching and learning and about the place of education in society. Education Studies offers a double major for those students who seek teacher licensure in either elementary (EDEL) or secondary (EDSL) education, and a minor in general education (EDGW) for those who are interested in the field of education, but who do not seek teacher licensure. Students may not choose to major in Education Studies as a stand-alone major. The double major option is available only to those students seeking teacher licensure.

Requirements for the Double Major in Teacher Licensure

Students interested in earning a Vermont teaching license should meet with the Director of the Education Studies Program as soon as possible in their course of study. The four, state-required elements that must be satisfactorily completed in order to be recommended for Vermont initial educator licensure are: (i) Relevant coursework that satisfies the content requirements of the endorsement, (ii) Professional Semester, (iii) Vermont Licensure Portfolio, and (iv) state- required examinations such as Praxis. The specific course requirements for elementary and secondary teacher licensure are as follows:

Required for Major: Elementary Licensure

A major in another discipline. EDST 0115 (Education in the USA), EDST 0215 (Culturally Responsive Pedagogy), EDST 0300 (Models of Inclusive Education), EDST 0237 (Educational Psychology: Learning in Schools), EDST 0238 (Educational Psychology: Learning in the Community), EDST 0305 (Elementary Literacy and Social Studies Methods), EDST 0306 (Elementary Science Methods), EDST 0307 (Elementary Math Methods), EDST 0317 (Children and the Arts) or approved art internship, Professional Semester (see below).

Elementary licensure students must complete  both  the SCI and DED Distribution Requirements.

Required for Major: Secondary Licensure

A major in the endorsement area. EDST 0115 (Education in the USA), EDST 0215 (Culturally Responsive Pedagogy), EDST 0300 (Models of Inclusive Education), EDST 0237 (Educational Psychology: Learning in Schools), EDST 0238 (Educational Psychology: Learning in the Community), EDST 0327 (Field Experience in Secondary and Special Education), EDST 0505 (Independent Study Secondary Methods taken twice with different placements), Professional Semester (see below).

Middlebury College is authorized to recommend licensure in the following subject areas for secondary education (grades 7-12): Modern and Classical Languages: French, German, Russian, Spanish; English; Mathematics; Science; Social Studies. Art (grades K-12).

•  In order for secondary licensure candidates to be recommended for licensure they must meet Vermont content endorsement requirements. Generally, this means that students should select their second major in the content area they wish to teach.

Professional Semester

(Fall semester only; by application and approval): Students who elect to pursue licensure either in Elementary (grades K-6) or Secondary (grades 7-12) education must apply to the Education Studies program for acceptance into the Professional Semester. The Professional Semester is a four credit, full-time, student teaching experience in a local school, with a master teacher, and under the supervision of a college-designated supervisor.  If accepted to the Professional Semester, students complete EDST 0410 (the student teaching seminar) and either EDST 0405-7 (elementary) or EDST 0415-17(secondary). Education Studies faculty make the final decision regarding where and with whom a student is placed for the Professional Semester. Students may elect to complete the Professional Semester in either their senior year or in a ninth semester with the degree awarded following completion.

Students should understand that while Middlebury College grants their undergraduate degree, it is the Agency of Education of the state of Vermont that issues the Vermont teaching license. Therefore, in a rare and exceptional circumstance, a student may be accepted into the Professional Semester, complete the coursework requirements for that semester, but not meet all of the requirements to earn a Vermont educator license. In that exceptional instance, a student would graduate with a double major from Middlebury College, but without Vermont teacher certification. Admission to the Professional Semester does not guarantee state certification.

Requirements for the Minor in Education Studies

Students interested in completing a minor in Education Studies should meet with a professor in the Education Studies Program to organize a thoughtful course of study. The Education Studies minor consists of five courses, two of which are required and three of which are selected at the discretion of the student in consultation with an EDST faculty advisor. There is no option for a major in general Education Studies.

• Required (2 courses):
• EDST 0115     (Education in the USA) Prerequisite for all EDST courses
• EDST 0430     (Senior Seminar in Education Studies)

Students must complete three of the 5 required courses prior to enrolling in the Senior Seminar.

2.   Electives (3 courses):

• Any three other EDST courses (see course listing)

Students may request to include a non-EDST course, such as a Winter Term internship, or a course taken abroad as one of the five courses. In each instance, students must secure prior approval from Education Studies faculty for any non-EDST course to fulfill the requirements for the minor.

EDST 0102 English Language in Global Context (Spring 2025)

Edst 0115 education in the usa (fall 2024, spring 2025), edst 0132 conflict transformation: mindfulness skills as educational praxis (spring 2025), edst 0202 writing to heal (fall 2024), edst 0206 environmental education (fall 2024), edst 0210 sophomore seminar in the liberal arts (fall 2024), edst 0215 culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogies (fall 2024), edst 0237 educational psychology: learning in schools (fall 2024), edst 0238 educational psychology: learning in the community (spring 2025), edst 0275 make room: teaching august wilson (fall 2024), edst 0405 student teaching in the elementary school (fall 2024), edst 0406 student teaching in elementary school (fall 2024), edst 0407 student teaching in the elementary school (fall 2024), edst 0410 student teaching seminar (fall 2024), edst 0415 student teaching in the middle school/high school (fall 2024), edst 0416 student teaching in the middle school/high school (fall 2024), edst 0417 student teaching in the middle school/high school (fall 2024), edst 0430 senior seminar in education studies (spring 2025), edst 0500 independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), edst 0505 independent study - secondary methods (fall 2024, spring 2025).

Students majoring in English may choose the  Literature Track  or the  Creative Writing Track .

Literature Track

Students who choose the Literature Track will take a total of 11 classes in the ENGL department (transfer credits from other institutions must be approved), as follows:

• ENGL 103 or CMLT 101
• At least  TWO of which must be courses carrying the  REC  (Race, Empire, and Colonialism) tag. Courses fulfilling the REC requirement engage students in the study of black diasporic and African American, Asian diasporic and Asian American, Latinx, indigenous and Native American, and postcolonial literatures. 
• At least  TWO of which must be courses carrying the  Pre-1800  tag. Courses fulfilling the Pre-1800 requirement include courses in Medieval, Early Modern, and 18 th -century literature. Only one Pre-1800 course may be a course on Shakespeare. 
• ONE of which  may  be a Creative Writing workshop
• One Advanced Seminar (all 400-level ENGL courses are Advanced Seminars)
• Optional Senior Thesis (required for students seeking to graduate with Honors, and strongly recommended for those students interested in graduate work in English or related fields)
• Please note: All students must complete 11 courses for the major, whether or not they choose to write a senior thesis. Students who do not write a senior thesis should choose an additional elective. If a particular class satisfies two requirements (e.g., Junior Seminar and pre-1800), the student will need to take an extra elective to ensure a total number of 11 courses. 

These requirements are intended to offer students broad and historically grounded training in the discipline as well as a range of different pathways through the major. Students should confer closely with their advisers concerning their choices of electives.

Requirements for the Joint Major

A joint major in English with a Literature focus requires a minimum of  eight  ENGL courses, including three required courses: 1) ENGL 0103 or CMLT 0101; 2) ENGL 0205; 3) a joint thesis or other project that integrates both parts of the joint major. In addition, students will choose at least  five  electives from the available offerings, making sure that these courses satisfy the following requirements (one elective may be a CRWR course):

• One ENGL course bearing the REC tag (see major requirements for description)
• One ENGL course bearing the Pre-1800 tag (see major requirements for description)
• Advanced Seminar (400-level ENGL course)

Requirements for the Minor

Students minoring in English with a Literature focus will take a minimum of six courses, including 1) ENGL 0103 or CMLT 010; 2) ENGL 205; 3) one ENGL elective bearing the REC tag; 4) one ENGL elective bearing the Pre-1800 tag; 5) one 400-level Advanced Seminar; and 6) one additional elective, which may be a CRWR course. A single course may fulfill more than one distribution requirement. See Major Requirements, above, for more description of these course requirements.

Creative Writing Track

Students who choose the Creative Writing Track will take a total of 11 classes, as follows:

• ENGL 103 or CMLT101
• Three CRWR Writing Workshops, at least ONE of which must be at the 300 level
• at least  ONE of which must be a course carrying the  REC  (Race, Empire, and Colonialism) tag. Courses fulfilling the REC requirement engage students in the study of black diasporic and African American, Asian diasporic and Asian American, Latinx, indigenous and Native American, and postcolonial literatures. 
• at least  ONE of which must be a course carrying the  Pre-1800  tag. Courses fulfilling the Pre-1800 requirement include courses in Medieval, Early Modern, and 18 th -century literature.
• Advanced Seminar (all 400-level ENGL courses are Advanced Seminars)
• Optional Senior Thesis (required for students seeking to graduate with Honors, and strongly recommended for those students interested in pursuing graduate work in writing-intensive fields)

A joint major in English with a Creative Writing focus requires a minimum of  nine  courses, including 1) ENGL or CMLT101; 2) ENGL 205; 3) three creative writing workshops, at least ONE of which must be at the 300 level  4) an ENGL course bearing the REC tag; 5) an ENGL course bearing the Pre-1800 tag; 6) a 400-level ENGL Advanced Seminar; and 7) a Senior Thesis or Independent Project that integrates both parts of the joint major. See Major Requirements, above, for more description of these course requirements.

 *Students wishing to undertake a joint major in ENGL (either track) and Theatre should be advised that senior work will normally consist of two full-credit classes, ENGL 0708 and THEA 0708. We strongly recommend that these classes be taken in the same semester, with the understanding that a central goal of the joint major is the thorough integration of both aspects of the joint major. A single-credit, single-semester joint project remains an option for those who wish to pursue a joint thesis that does not include a practical component such as acting or directing.

*Students wishing to undertake a joint major (either track) in ENGL and Film and Media Culture (FMMC) should follow the joint major requirements listed above.  Such students may also wish to take FMMC electives such as FMMC 0257 – Storytelling in Film and Media and FMMC 0279 – Film and Literature. Students on the Creative Track wishing to write a screenplay for their joint thesis must take specifically FMMC/CRWR 0106 – Writing for the Screen and FMMC/CRWR 0341 – Writing for the Screen II—prior to beginning the thesis. 

*Students writing a joint thesis (either track) with HIST or HARC should register for HIST 0700 and 0711 or HARC 0710 and 0711.

Students minoring in English with a Creative Writing focus will take a minimum of six courses, including 1) ENGL 103 or CMLT101; 2) ENGL 205; 3) one CRWR 100-level course; 4) one CRWR 300-level course; 5) one 400-level Advanced Seminar; and 6) one additional elective, which may be ENGL or CRWR. See Major Requirements, above, for more description of these course requirements.

Senior Program

The ENGL senior program consists of an optional creative or critical Honors Thesis of 30-35 pages in length (ENGL 0700, CRWR 0701). Students may write a thesis in either the fall or the spring semester of their senior year, and may, with the permission of their thesis advisor, attach an independent study semester (ENGL 500 or CRWR 560 in Fall, Winter, or Spring) to their thesis semester (Fall, Spring only) to provide more research time for broader topics or projects. 

CRWR 0701 requires the prior completion of three CRWR workshops, at least one of which must be 300-level, and a grade of at least B+ in the 0300-level course before undertaking a thesis. 

All students will participate in an oral defense of their work with the advisor and additional readers (ideally two) of the project. Students completing a joint thesis should include the advisers from both departments and one additional reader. Additional readers may be other ENGL/CRWR faculty, faculty outside the department, or interested scholars or writers from outside the college. Students are encouraged to complete their 400-level [junior seminar] requirement before embarking on their senior work. Students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA in ENGL courses to be eligible to write a Senior Thesis.

To be eligible for departmental honors, students must complete a senior thesis. 

Individual faculty members also have the opportunity to hire a student research assistant to assist them in their scholarly work. Collaborative research and writing projects sometimes grow from these arrangements.

Departmental honors will be awarded to those students who achieve a departmental GPA of 3.85 and who complete an Senior Thesis (ENGL 0700 or CRWR 0701) in the fall or spring of the senior year. Completing a Thesis does not guarantee a student will receive honors. (See the ENGL website for more information on the Honors Thesis guidelines.) In determining the numerical average of course grades, all courses designated ENGL or CRWR will be counted, as will all other courses that fulfill requirements for the major (including those taken abroad or at other institutions). Joint majors are eligible to receive honors.  In determining joint honors, all courses that fulfill requirements for both majors will be counted.

CRWR 0106 Writing for the Screen I (Fall 2024)

Crwr 0170 writing: poetry, fiction, nonfiction (fall 2024, spring 2025), crwr 0173 environmental lit workshop: environmentalist literature and action (fall 2024), crwr 0218 playwriting i: beginning (spring 2025), crwr 0318 playwriting ii: advanced (fall 2024), crwr 0341 writing for the screen ii (spring 2025), crwr 0370 advanced fiction workshop (fall 2024, spring 2025), crwr 0375 workshop: poetry (spring 2025), crwr 0380 advanced non-fiction workshop: reading and writing memory and landscape (fall 2024, spring 2025), crwr 0560 special project: creative writing (fall 2024, spring 2025), crwr 0701 senior thesis: creative writing (fall 2024, spring 2025), engl 0103 reading literature (fall 2024, spring 2025), engl 0105 victoria's secrets (spring 2025), engl 0109 literary “character” (fall 2024), engl 0118 great moments in american fiction (fall 2024), engl 0119 shakespeare then and now (spring 2025), engl 0122 african environmental works (spring 2025), engl 0170 writing: poetry, fiction, nonfiction (spring 2025), engl 0204 foundations of english literature (pre-1800) (spring 2025), engl 0205 introduction to contemporary literary theory (fall 2024, spring 2025), engl 0206 nineteenth-century american literature (fall 2024), engl 0212 american literature since 1945 (al) (spring 2025), engl 0215 contested grounds: u.s. cultures and environments (spring 2025), engl 0225 forms of enlightenment: long eighteenth-century literature and culture (pre-1800) (fall 2024), engl 0242 critical conditions: gender, literature, and illness (pre-1800) (fall 2024), engl 0248 human rights and world literature (fall 2024), engl 0252 african american literature (al) (fall 2024), engl 0253 science fiction (fall 2024), engl 0257 black aesthetics in the wake of slavery (spring 2025), engl 0263 american psycho: disease, doctors, and discontents (spring 2025), engl 0268 literature of displacement: forced migration, diaspora, exile (spring 2025), engl 0270 reading postcolonial and indigenous literature (fall 2024), engl 0291 portraits of the lady: the new woman in american literature & culture (spring 2025), engl 0309 contemporary literature (fall 2024), engl 0310 literature and economy: credit, speculation, fiction (spring 2025), engl 0312 modern poetry (spring 2025), engl 0313 race, capitalism, decolonization (fall 2024), engl 0320 indigenous and settler colonial fictions (fall 2024), engl 0327 imagining rural america (spring 2025), engl 0373 postcolonial literature and the city (spring 2025), engl 0375 workshop: poetry (spring 2025), engl 0410 shakespeare on tyranny (fall 2024), engl 0417 pulling reality’s hair: truth and other fictions (spring 2025), engl 0451 the novels of j.m. coetzee: ethics and empire (fall 2024), engl 0467 dickinson and bishop (spring 2025), engl 0500 special project: literature (fall 2024, spring 2025), engl 0700 senior thesis: critical writing (fall 2024, spring 2025), engl 0705 senior colloquium in literary studies (fall 2024), engl 0708 senior work: joint majors in english & american literatures and theatre (fall 2024, spring 2025), program in environmental studies, major in environmental studies.

The environmental studies major is composed of course work in four areas: four environmental studies  core courses ; 7-8 courses in a  focus area ; two environmental  cognate courses ; and an  integrative capstone experience . Except for transfer students, the core courses and capstone experience must be Middlebury College courses, which for the purposes of the Environmental Studies major are defined as those offered by the undergraduate college during fall, winter, spring, and summer terms. The student’s advisor must approve any non-Middlebury College courses within the focus area; the ES Director must approve any non-Middlebury College courses within the rest of the major. A maximum of three non-Middlebury College courses may be credited toward completion of the major.

I. Core Course Requirements

All majors are required to complete four core courses, ENVS 0112, ENVS 0211, ENVS 0215, and  one  spatial analysis course, chosen in consultation with your advisor, from among the following: ENVS/GEOG 0251, ENVS/GEOG 0261, ENVS/GEOG 0271, or ENVS/GEOG 0281.

If possible, ENVS 0112 should be completed by the end of the fourth semester, and all four core courses by the end of the sixth semester. However, students unable to meet that goal may enroll in later semesters.

II. Focus Course Requirements Majors must complete the 7-8 course requirements for one of 17 established foci. Foci fall into one of four academic divisions: arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. These divisions govern which cognate courses a student may take. Courses taken within the focus that are not specified must be approved by the student’s advisor , who must come from the student’s focus. As indicated, some foci automatically qualify the student for joint major status. Environmental Studies foci are as follows (specific requirements for each can be found further below):

• Environmental Dance
• Environmental Studies-Architecture joint major
• Environmental Studio Art
• Environmental Theatre

Humanities Foci :

• Environmental History
• Environmental Literature
• Environmental Writing
• Religion, Philosophy and the Environment

Natural Science Foci :

• Conservation Biology (Environmental Studies-Biology joint major)
• Environmental Studies-Chemistry joint major
• Environmental Earth and Climate Sciences joint major

Social Science Foci :

• Conservation Psychology
• Environmental Economics
• Environmental Justice
• Environmental Policy
• Environmental Studies-Anthropology joint major
• Environmental Studies-Geography joint major

III. Cognate Course Requirements Two cognate courses must be selected from the  approved list of cognates , subject to the following:

For ES majors with a focus in the Natural Sciences (ESBI, ESSC, and ESCH):  

1 cognate from the approved list in the Social Sciences or Integrated Courses 1 cognate from the approved list in the Humanities/ARTS or from the Integrated Course list

For ES majors with a focus in the Social Sciences (ESEC, ESGG, ESEP, ESEJ, ESAN, ESCP)

1 cognate from the approved list in the Natural Sciences with a lab ( this course should be completed by the end of junior year) 1 cognate from the approved list in the Humanities/ARTS OR from the Integrated Course list

For ES Majors with a focus in the Humanities or Arts (ESAE, ESDA, ESHI, ESAT, ESTH, ESET, ESLI, ESWR):

1 cognate from the approved list in the Natural Sciences with a lab ( this course should be completed by the end of junior year) 1 cognate from the approved list in the Social Sciences OR from the Integrated Course list

Because integrative courses represent more than one academic division, they inherently represent an academic division outside the division of the student’s focus; therefore, all integrative courses can be counted by all majors toward completion of the cognate requirement, subject to the rules above. Not all approved cognates are offered each semester. Please check with relevant departments regarding course offerings.

IV. Advanced Integrative Capstone Requirement After completing the required core courses, majors must complete the community-engaged environmental studies practicum ENVS 0401, open to juniors and seniors.

Senior Work in Environmental Studies

All seniors are required to take ENVS 0401, the ENVS senior seminar devoted to community-connected learning and requiring significant interdisciplinary work. ENVS does not universally require senior independent work; however, some foci within ENVS do.

Majors who are not required to complete independent senior work in their focus may, in consultation and approval of an advisor, apply to complete (optional) senior independent work in ENVS. Senior work in ENVS may be carried out as a one-term senior project (ENVS 0700) or as a multi-term senior thesis (ENVS 0700/0701).

All senior independent work carried out in ENVS or toward honors eligibility (i.e., carried out in a focus department) in Environmental Studies must be on a topic pertinent to the relationship between humans and environment; be supervised by at least one faculty advisor who is appointed in or affiliated with the environmental studies program; and must be presented publicly. In consultation with the thesis committee, students may present as part of the Spring Research Symposium or as a separate event arranged with the committee and ES Program.

For additional important details regarding the integrative capstone requirement and/or senior work options, please visit the  senior work page.

Minor in Environmental Studies

The minor in environmental studies consists of five courses: three environmental studies core courses to be completed by the end of the sixth semester: ENVS 0112; ENVS or ENVS/PSCI 0211; and ENVS or ENVS/ENAM 0215; one course selected from among: ART 0348, DANC 0277, ECON 0265, ENGL 0227, ENVS 0209, ENVS 0210, ENVS 0220, ENVS 0230, ENVS 0395, ENVS 0485, HARC 0231, HIST 0222, PHIL 0356, PSCI 0214, PSYC 0233/0333; and one course from among: BIOL 0140, CHEM 0270, ENVS/GEOG 0251, ECSC 0112, ECSC 0161, or ECSC 0323. Except for transfer students, the environmental studies core courses must be taken at Middlebury College. With the approval of the Environmental Studies program director, a maximum of one course taken off campus may be credited toward completion of other (e.g., non-core course) minor requirements.

Environmental studies majors who focus in architecture, biology, chemistry, earth and climate sciences, geography, or anthropology automatically qualify as joint majors. Students may pursue a joint major between environmental studies and other majors. The other major usually overlaps the student’s focus and represents additional coursework in the focus. Students interested in completing such a “non-automatic” joint major should consult with the chair of their focus department about joint majors. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the environmental studies major, there is no reduction in course requirements for the environmental studies component of a joint major.

Focus Specific Requirements

Environmental Dance : ARDV 0116; DANC 0160; DANC 260; DANC 0277 or        DANC 1025; DANC 0284; DANC 0376; DANC 0700.

Environmental Studies-Architecture joint major :  HARC 0130; HARC 0230; HARC 0231 (joint major capstone); HARC 0259; HARC 0330 (or a pre-approved substitute); one additional course taken in the department that deals with architectural history, theory or practice, urbanism, or modern/contemporary visual culture; HARC 0731 and HARC 0732, to be taken sequentially. Note: This joint major does not result in a professional degree in architecture. Students wishing to pursue graduate study in architecture are advised to take additional science and math courses and should consult with their advisor.

Environmental Studio Art : One 100- or 200-level drawing course; HARC 0327 (strongly suggested) or other approved substitute in the history of art-practice; ART 0348; four electives in studio art, three of which must be at the 300-level; ART 0700.

Environmental Theatre : ARDV 0116 or THEA 0101; THEA 0102; THEA 0208; DANC 0277; THEA 0235 or a THEA literature course chosen in consultation with advisor; two THEA electives of which only one may be a Production Studio course; and completing a crew requirement. The crew requirement must be completed by the end of the 5 th  term and will normally be satisfied by undertaking a running crew assignment on a for-credit production; the requirement may also be fulfilled by stage managing a faculty show, or by completing THEA 0119 or THEA 0129.

Humanities Foci

Environmental History:  HIST 0222; three 100-300-level HIST courses; one 400-level HIST course or equivalent approved by adviser; HIST 0600 or equivalent approved by adviser; one additional course from the ENVS humanities cognate list or an approved substitute.

Environmental   Literature : ENAM 0103 or CMLT 0101; ENAM 0205; three approved environmental literature courses ( see full list ) of which one must be at the 100-200 level and one must be at the 300-400 level; one term of senior independent work, typically ENAM 0700, or, upon approval, a senior thesis, typically ENAM 0700/ENVS 0701.

Environmental Writing:  ENAM 0103 or CMLT 0101; CRWR 0170 or CRWR 0175; two approved environmental literature courses ( see full list ) of which one must be at the 100-200 level and one must be at the 300-400 level; two 300-level writing workshops; one term of senior independent writing, typically ENAM 0701.

Religion ,  Philosophy, and the Environment : ENVS 0395; PHIL 0356; ENVS 0700; and four courses in accordance with either the Religion track or the Philosophy track.

Religion track:   Four RELI 100-200 level courses of which, at least, two should focus  either  on a particular religious tradition (e.g. Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism)  or  on a particular geographic area (e.g. religions of South Asia) and, at least, one should focus on an  alternate  religious tradition/geographic area. ANTH 0211 or HIST/PHIL 0237 maybe substituted for a 200-level course with approval of the advisor.

Philosophy track:   PHIL 0150 or PHIL 0151; at least one  ethics  course selected among: PHIL 0205, PHIL 0210, PHIL 0285, or an approved alternative; at least one  philosophy of science  course selected among: PHIL 0214 (strongly recommended), PHIL 0216, or an approved alternative; an additional PHIL course selected in consultation with the advisor.

Students with strong comparative interests in both religion and philosophy should consult with their advisor.

Natural Science Foci

Conservation Biology (Environmental Studies-Biology joint major) : BIOL 0140; BIOL 0145; BIOL 0392; two field methods courses chosen from BIOL 0203 BIOL 0304, BIOL 0308, BIOL 0323 and BIOL 0371; one organismal course chosen from among BIOL 0202, BIOL 0203, BIOL 0204, BIOL 0205 BIOL 0308 and BIOL 0310; and two BIOL electives chosen from the 0200-0700 level (only one of which can be BIOL 0500 or higher). Notes: BIOL 0203 and 0308 may count toward the field methods or the organismal requirement but not towards both. Winter Term courses offered through the Biology Department can be used to satisfy one of the elective courses; BIOL 0211 is a prerequisite for independent study in Biology (BIOL 0500 and higher). ENVS 0401 satisfies the required joint work for ENVS-BIOL joint majors. Students wishing to pursue graduate study in biology are advised to take additional science and math courses and should consult with their advisor.

Environmental Studies-Chemistry joint major : CHEM 0103; CHEM 0104 or 0107; CHEM 0203, CHEM 0204; CHEM 0270; and CHEM 0311.  Students wishing to pursue graduate study in chemistry are advised to take additional science and math courses and should consult with their advisor.

Environmental Studies-Earth and Climate Sciences joint major :  One introductory course (ECSC 0112 preferred), both core courses (ECSC 201, 202), three electives and a two-term senior thesis (ECSC 400, 700) focusing on geology and the environment. Students wishing to pursue graduate study in geology are advised to take additional science and math courses and should consult with their advisor.

Social Science Foci

Conservation Psychology : PSYC 0105; PSYC 0201; PSYC 0202; PSYC 0233/0333; PSYC 0416 or PSYC 0423, and two additional courses to be determined in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Environmental Economics : MATH 0121 or MATH 0122; ECON 0155; ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210); ECON 0211; ECON 0255; ECON 0265; ECON 0465 or ECON 0466; one course from among INTD 0222, ECON 0228, ECON 0365, ECON 0425, ECON 0427, ECON 465, ECON 0466, and ECON 0488.

Environmental Justice:   ENVS 208 (EJ in the Anthropocene); one course from the  foundations list ; three courses from the  electives list ; and two courses from the  advanced list .  Substitute or additional courses not listed here, including Winter Term courses and off-campus courses, may count toward the focus with the approval of an ESEJ faculty adviser. This is a social science-based focus, so majors in ESEJ follow the cognate course requirements for the social science division.  Majors may count any humanities course listed for the focus (HIST, RELI, ENAM, PHIL, HARC, CLAS) as a cognate if they do NOT count it toward the focus.  In choosing their natural science cognate, ESEJ majors are encouraged to consider CHEM 270, Environmental Chemistry and Health for their natural science lab cognate.

Environmental Policy : ECON 0155; ECON 0265; ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210) or MATH 0116 or PSYC 0201 or STAT 0118; PSCI 0214 or ENVS 0485; PSCI 0421 or PSCI 0452; two courses from among ENVS 0208, ENVS 0209, ENVS 0310, and any PSCI courses at the 0200-0300 level.

Environmental Studies-Geography joint major : GEOG 0100 or GEOG 0151; one GEOG course numbered between 0250 and 0300; four additional geography elective courses numbered below GEOG 0400, at least one of which must be numbered below 0250; and one 0400-level seminar or one 0700-level senior independent project. At least two of the electives must be semester-long courses completed on the Middlebury campus. The electives and seminar must be selected in consultation with, and approved by, the student’s Geography advisor. ENVS 0401 satisfies the required joint work for ENVS-GEOG joint majors.

Environmental Studies - Anthropology joint major.  Choose one course from the following: ANTH 0103, ANTH 0107, ANTH 0109 or ANTH 0159 Students must take: ANTH 0211 and ANTH 0302 Choose one course from the following: ANTH 0306, ANTH 0396 or ANTH 0492 In addition, students must take three electives related to environmental topics from the Anthropology curriculum or ENVS 0210 or ENVS 0485 in consultation with the student’s advisor. Students pursuing senior work may only count one semester towards their elective requirement. No more than one elective may be taken outside of the regular fall and spring semesters at Middlebury (e.g., as a winter term course or transfer credit).  Any departures from this program must be approved by the Anthropology department chair.

Other Environmental Perspectives

For students interested in studying the environment from perspectives for which there is not an established focus (e.g., international environmental studies, food studies), we recommend that students select the established focus that most closely meets their goals, select cognates that complement these goals, and, when possible, select topics on course assignments and projects that complement their goals and interests. Students are also encouraged to consider the possibility for intersecting study abroad opportunities with their goals and interests. Finally, students might consider completing a minor in environmental studies alongside a major of their choice. Students are encouraged to meet with the ES Director or with faculty advisors who advise for foci related to their interests to discuss their options.

Environmental Studies Program Honors

Program honors will be awarded to majors who complete a multi-term senior thesis on a topic pertinent to the relationship between humans and the environment and meet the following requirements: the thesis must be supervised by a faculty advisor who is appointed in or affiliated with the environmental studies program; the work must be presented publicly, orally defended before their committee, and be of superior quality (B+ or higher); the student must achieve an average GPA of B+ or higher in courses taken toward completion of the major. Courses counting toward the GPA in the major include core courses, courses taken in fulfillment of focus with the exception of senior thesis courses (i.e., 700-level courses are excluded), cognates, and ENVS 0401 (if taken). If extra cognates or courses within the focus were taken, those with the highest grades will be applied toward completion of the major and toward the GPA calculation for honors eligibility.

ENVS 0101 Reimagining Sustainability (Spring 2025)

Envs 0112 natural science and the environment (fall 2024, spring 2025), envs 0122 african environmental works (spring 2025), envs 0166 pleistocene park, jurassic world: fossil stories of our future (fall 2024), envs 0208 environmental justice in the anthropocene (fall 2024), envs 0211 conservation and environmental policy (fall 2024, spring 2025), envs 0215 contested grounds: u.s. cultures and environments (fall 2024, spring 2025), envs 0244 poetics and practice: engaging complexity in the age of climate change (fall 2024), envs 0251 mapping global envrn change (fall 2024), envs 0261 human geography with gis (fall 2024, spring 2025), envs 0271 cartography (spring 2025), envs 0332 the perennial turn (fall 2024), envs 0349 from social justice to environmental justice (spring 2025), envs 0401 community-engaged environmental studies practicum (fall 2024, spring 2025), envs 0485 global political ecology (fall 2024), envs 0500 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), envs 0700 senior independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), envs 0701 senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of film & media culture.

Students must complete ten courses to satisfy the requirements for a major in Film and Media Culture. Before declaring a Film and Media Culture major, the student must have completed or be currently enrolled in one of the basic core courses. Those courses are as follows:

Basic Core Course Requirements

FMMC 0101 Aesthetics of the Moving Image; FMMC 0102 Global Film Histories I or FMMC 0103 Global Film Histories II; FMMC 0104 TV and American Culture; and one production course - either FMMC 0200 Filmmaking or FMMC 0106 Screenwriting. The basic core courses should be completed by the end of the junior year.

Required Advanced Courses

One 0300 level course in theory — FMMC 0354, FMMC 0355, FMMC/GSFS 0358, FMMC 0360, or another approved 0300 level course — typically to be completed during junior year; and FMMC 0700 Film and Media Senior Tutorial.

Four additional FMMC courses, with at least two of these being critical studies or history courses. With the prior permission of a student’s academic advisor, one winter term FMMC course may be counted as an elective. Independent study courses will typically not count as an elective unless approved by the department chair for exceptional circumstances. Students taking courses focused on film and media taught in a foreign language, either at Middlebury or abroad, may request major elective credit from their advisor. Note that courses may not count toward both FMMC and another department’s major or minor. Courses transferred from other institutions will  normally  count only as an elective toward the FMMC major, not to fulfill core requirements.

Minors must take at least 2 introductory courses from the list of FMMC 0101 Aesthetics of the Moving Image, FMMC 0102 Global Film Histories I, FMMC 0103 Global Film Histories II, or FMMC 0104 TV and American Culture. In addition, minors must take four additional courses that are listed or cross-listed as FMMC, with at least one course at the 0300 or 0400-level. At least one of the four electives must be a critical studies or history course.

The joint major with FMMC is a combination of two disciplines, culminating in a joint senior project; the plan for joint majors is negotiated between the student and the two departments in which the joint program of study is pursued at the time of declaring the joint major.  The senior project  must combine aspects of both majors and in most cases will require approval, supervision, and evaluation from either departments or programs. The Film and Media Culture part of the joint major requires a minimum of seven courses, including four introductory-level courses (FMMC 101; FMMC 102 or FMMC 103; FMMC 104; FMMC 106 or FMMC 200), a 300-level theory course, FMMC 0700 Film and Media Senior Tutorial (or the equivalent senior project course in the other department), and any courses required or appropriate prior to undertaking the joint senior project. FMMC supports a concentration in American Studies, as detailed on its page.

Joint Major with English

A common joint major is ENAM/FMMC, combining an interest in storytelling in both literary and visual forms. Joint ENAM/FMMC majors are required to fulfill the basic Joint requirements for FMMC as listed above, and are encouraged to take the relevant electives FMMC 0257 Storytelling in Film and Media and FMMC 0279 Film and Literature if possible. Students who wish to write a screenplay for their joint senior project are required to take FMMC 0106 Screenwriting and FMMC 0341 Advanced Screenwriting; additionally, their screenwriting project must be tied to literary topics or issues (including adaptation).

The faculty of Film and Media Culture will award honors to select students based on their overall excellence in film and media coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.7, and on the merit of their senior project.

FMMC 0101 Aesthetics of the Moving Image (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Fmmc 0102 global film histories i (fall 2024), fmmc 0104 television and american culture (spring 2025), fmmc 0106 screenwriting (fall 2024), fmmc 0200 filmmaking (fall 2024), fmmc 0204 classic hollywood/new hollywood (spring 2025), fmmc 0206 faking reality: mockumentaries, hoaxes & pseudo-docs (fall 2024), fmmc 0207 the anime industry: studios, genres, media mix (spring 2025), fmmc 0213 media curation and exhibition (fall 2024), fmmc 0223 fan video: cultures, theory, practice (spring 2025), fmmc 0225 gothic and horror (fall 2024), fmmc 0227 black american cinema (spring 2025), fmmc 0253 hong kong cinema (spring 2025), fmmc 0256 british crime drama (fall 2024), fmmc 0334 videographic film and media studies (fall 2024), fmmc 0335 advanced filmmaking (spring 2025), fmmc 0341 advanced screenwriting (spring 2025), fmmc 0350 documentary film in contemporary china (spring 2025), fmmc 0354 film theory (spring 2025), fmmc 0358 theories of spectatorship, audience, and fandom (fall 2024), fmmc 0507 advanced independent work in film and media culture (fall 2024, spring 2025), fmmc 0700 senior tutorial (fall 2024), food studies minor.

Middlebury students can minor in Food Studies, or submit an Independent Scholar proposal if they want to go more deeply into Food Studies than the minor or another department’s major will allow. For the Independent Scholar process, please check the Degree Program and Projects section of the Middlebury Handbook and talk with the Food Studies Program Director.

The minor requires completion of 5 courses, distributed as indicated below, and an immersive learning experience.

1)   Two introductory courses , selected from the following (noting that some courses have prerequisites):

• ENVS 0112 Natural Science & the Environment
• FOOD 0280  Middlebury’s Foodprint: Introduction to Food Systems Issues
• FOOD 0281 Food Power & Justice
• ANTH 0211 Environmental Anthropology
• SOCI 0236 Sociology of Food (not taught at present, but still listed)
• ANTH 0345 Anthropology of Food (NB: Although not an introductory course for an ANTH student, this course would introduce students to anthropological perspectives on Food Studies and typically has no prerequisites.)
• GEOG 0208 Land & Livelihoods

2)   Two elective courses related to food, from any department :

• BIOL 140 Ecology and Evolution
• BIOL 203 Biology of Plants
• BIOL 323 Plant Community Ecology
• BIOL 0392 Conservation Biology
• CHEM 270 Environmental Chemistry
• ECON 0228 Economics of Agricultural Transitions
• ENVS 0215 Contested Grounds
• ENVS 0245 Human Environment: Middle East
• ENVS 0385 Global Political Ecology
• FOOD 0310 Agroecology
• FOOD 0380 Hunger, Food Security & Food Sovereignty
• GSFS 0430 Queering Food
• GEOG 0216 Rural Geography
• GEOG 208 Land and Livelihoods
• GEOG 0225 Environmental Change in Latin America
• GHLT 0267 Global Health
• GEOL 0255 Surface & Ground Water
• GEOL 0257 Soils, Geology & Environment
• HIST 0352 Food in the Middle East: History, Culture, and Identity
• CMLT/ITAL 0299 Literary Feasts: Representations of Food in Modern Narrative
• ITAL 0356 A Culinary History of Italy
• PGSE 0321 With Flavor: Food and Brazilian Culture

3)   One upper-level seminar   or course  (i.e., 300 or 400 level) focused on Food Studies, selected from the following (noting that some courses have prerequisites):

• INTD 0426 Health, Food, and Poverty: Critical Frameworks for Social Change. (Note: This course was developed by faculty from Global Health, Food Studies and Privilege & Poverty, as a capstone for students from our programs. Each student will design and plan their own social change project.  This is the preferred option for an upper-level seminar.)
• FOOD 310 Agroecology 
• FOOD 312 Food Policy
• FOOD 380 Hunger, Food Security & Food Sovereignty
• ANTH/IGST 0460 Global Consumptions: Food, Eating, and Power in Comparative Perspective

OR an Independent Study  (500- or 700-level) on a topic selected by the student and supervised by a Food Studies affiliated faculty member, integrating issues relevant to Food Studies

NB: Depending on the courses available in the student’s final year, other upper-level seminars or courses may be substituted for the ones listed above with approval of the Food Studies Director.

4)  Immersive learning experience . This may be an internship (through the FoodWorks or Shepherd Fellowship Program, one of the Food Tracks offered through Study Abroad, or independent); service-learning associated with a course; or an independent study connected with a community-based organization. When declaring the minor, the student should explain the immersive learning experience s/he intends to do.

Independent Research

If courses allow students to do independent research, students are expected to use the opportunity to explore food or agricultural issues. Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of international study, and to take courses relevant to the Food Studies minor while abroad. Note that Middlebury has Food Studies tracks in Italy, Spain and Chile.

Course Substitutions

Courses may be substituted for the introductory or elective courses with the approval of the program director. Approval requires submission of a petition form . Approval of a course for minor credit requires the student to show that they made connections between the course material and their study of Food Studies, for example by writing a final paper on a food systems or agricultural topic. Students must turn in this paper or other approved course material for review for credit.

Declaring a Minor

To declare the minor, submit the following to the Program Director: (1) a minor declaration form and (2) a 500-750 word statement explaining how the classes you chose fit together and further your educational goals within Food Studies, and how your immersive learning experience contributes. To declare the minor, these materials must be submitted at least two weeks before the end of the add period of your seventh semester at Middlebury.

FOOD 0280 Middlebury's Foodprint: Introduction to Food Systems Issues (Fall 2024)

Food 0299 literary feasts: representations of food in modern narrative (in english) (spring 2025), food 0310 agroecology (fall 2024), food 0500 independent study (fall 2024), lois ’51 and j. harvey watson department of french and francophone studies.

Total of no fewer than 10 courses. All courses for the major must be taught in French.

I.  Two introductory-level courses in reading and culture: FREN 0209, FREN 0210, FREN 0220-0229, or specified courses in France (Paris, Poitiers, Bordeaux), or Cameroon; or equivalent in the Middlebury summer French School when offered. II.  One course in contemporary French or Francophone studies: FREN 0230-0239, courses on contemporary France, or specified French or Francophone studies in France (Paris, Poitiers, Bordeaux), or Cameroon; or equivalent in the Middlebury summer French School when offered. III.  One course on the history of France or a Francophone region or country. IV.  Three advanced courses in French or Francophone studies (FREN 0300 level). V.   One unit of senior work, usually a senior seminar (FREN 0400 level. Honors candidates may fulfill the senior work requirement by writing an Honors essay (FREN 0700) or Honors thesis (FREN 0701).

During their senior year, majors must take at least one advanced course (Category IV) in French at Middlebury in addition to the senior seminar.

Other courses counting for the major include:

(1) At the Vermont campus: FREN 0205, FREN 0255, among others; certain advanced courses offered during the winter term (with permission of the chair); certain summer courses at the 0300 (intermediate) or 0400 (advanced) level; and,

(2) In France and Cameroon: language and linguistics courses; comparative literature (with a major French or Francophone component); French or Francophone arts, theatre, cinema, television, or politics.

All majors study abroad for a semester or a year in a French-speaking country. The year program carries nine units of credit; the semester program carries four or five units of credit. In order to ensure that students are exposed to a variety of disciplines, no more than five units (full-year program) or three units (semester program) may be counted toward the French and Francophone Studies major. Most courses in France will be at the advanced level.

The French and Francophone Studies Department does not offer a joint major.

Required for a Minor

Minimum of five courses, FREN 0205 and above, including at least two introductory courses (FREN 0209, FREN 0210, FREN 0220-0239) and at least one course at the advanced level (Category IV) to be taken during the student’s final two semesters. The minor may include courses taken at the Middlebury School in France or the School in Cameroon (maximum of two from the semester program, three from the full-year program).  Students electing the French minor are encouraged to consult with faculty members in the French Department about course planning.

Students with a College Board AP score of 4 or 5 will receive one unit of credit toward graduation if the first course successfully completed at Middlebury is FREN 0209 or above in accordance with placement and departmental advising. AP credits may not be counted toward the major or minor.

Upon completing at least two 0300-level courses in French or Francophone studies, majors are required to complete senior work consisting of a significant research paper in the context of a senior seminar (0400-level).

Exceptional students with a grade point average in French and Francophone Studies of 3.8 or higher may petition the department to pursue an independent project for honors in French and Francophone Studies. Candidates for honors may propose a one-semester senior honors essay (FREN 0700) or a senior honors thesis (FREN 0701, one semester and winter term). Eligible students should consult the departmental guidelines and present their proposals well in advance of registration for the term in which the work is to be started. The department will determine whether to award honors, high honors, or highest honors on the basis of a student’s work in the department and performance on the senior honors project.

International and Global Studies Major with French Language

Along with other required courses and senior work as described in the International and Global Studies Major section, completion of the French language component requires: (1) proficiency in French (a minimum of two of (FREN 0209, FREN 0210, FREN 0220-0239) or work in the French summer school at the 0300 level or above); (2) at least one semester, and preferably a year, at the Middlebury College School in France, or in Cameroon, or in another French-speaking country; and (3) one or more courses at the 0300 or 0400-level upon return from abroad.

International and Global Studies Major, European Studies Track

For Classes of 2015.5 and 2016 only. New rules, available in the International and Global Studies section, apply to the Class of 2017

(1) Language proficiency: see above; (2) regional specialization: choose from FREN 0230 and courses at the 0300-level, or others (Vermont campus), in consultation with the track director; courses in French or Francophone studies at Middlebury in France or in another French-speaking country; (3) disciplinary specialization: two courses from (FREN 0209, FREN 0210, FREN 0220-0239); three advanced French or Francophone studies courses at Middlebury or one of the Middlebury Schools in France; (4) at least one semester, and preferably a year, at the Middlebury College School in France or in another French-speaking country; and (5) one or more courses at the 0300 or 0400 level, or senior independent work in French, upon return from abroad.

Study Abroad in France and in Cameroon

Middlebury offers both year and semester abroad programs in France (Paris, Poitiers and Bordeaux) and in Cameroon.  Students planning to study in France or Cameroon must have completed two full years of college credit by the time they undertake their study abroad; they must have successfully completed at least one course beyond FREN 0209 (previously FREN 0210)  by the time they arrive abroad; and they must have an average in French of at least B. We expect all applicants to demonstrate their commitment to French and maintain their fluency by continuous study of French from the time of their enrollment at Middlebury and to maintain their academic level if they are accepted to study abroad.  They are required to take a French course in the semester before study abroad. Students may count three courses from the semester program, five from the full year program toward a major in French; two courses from the semester program and three from the full year program toward a minor in French.

It should be noted that while students wishing to attend one of our programs in France or in Cameroon must demonstrate a level of proficiency in the language that will allow them to function successfully in the French or Cameroonian university setting, they need not be French majors: the C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in France (Paris, Poitiers, and Bordeaux) offers students the opportunity to take courses in history, history of art, economics, cinema, political science, psychology, sociology, studio art, the natural sciences, and the environment, among other disciplines, in addition to courses in languages and literature. Students interested in studying abroad should speak to someone in the Office of International Programs & Off-Campus Study, Sunderland Language Center, well in advance of applying. They will need to seek prior approval of School in France and School in Cameroon courses from the appropriate department chairs if they wish course work to count toward a specific minor or major. The Office of Off-Campus Study will provide information about the program and application forms.

FREN 0101 Intensive Beginning French (Fall 2024)

Fren 0105 accelerated beginning french (spring 2025), fren 0201 intermediate french i (fall 2024, spring 2025), fren 0205 toward liberated expression (fall 2024, spring 2025), fren 0209 self and society: effective writing in french (fall 2024, spring 2025), fren 0224 travelers and migrants in french and francophone literature (fall 2024), fren 0226 dystopian visions in french and francophone culture (spring 2025), fren 0227 violence, tolerance, resistance: french literature around the age of enlightenment (fall 2024), fren 0230 introduction to contemporary france (spring 2025), fren 0302 gender & sexuality in medieval french literature (spring 2025), fren 0310 rebirth and renaissance: narrating the past, present, and future in 16th- and 17th -century france (spring 2025), fren 0318 french ecofictions (spring 2025), fren 0355 francophone cinema across the mediterranean (fall 2024), fren 0394 new french identities: black and beur expression (fall 2024), fren 0500 independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), fren 0700 senior honors essay (fall 2024, spring 2025), fren 0701 senior honors thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), program in gender, sexuality and feminist studies.

For students who matriculate in Fall of 2022 or later

The major requires a minimum of ten courses as outlined below.

Major requirements (10 courses total)

1. Core (5 courses):     GSFS/SOCI 0191       GSFS 0200      GSFS 0289      GSFS 0320      GSFS 0435  

2. Distribution Requirements  (2 courses, one in each):

  A.  Feminist Approaches to Science Technology, Health, and Medicine (FemSthm)        GSFS/BLST 0414 Black Listed        ENVS/GSFS 0209 Gender, Health & Environment        GSFS 0329 Politics of Reproduction        HIST/GSFS 0311 Gender, Sexuality & Psychiatry        GSFS/ENGL 0242 Critical Conditions   B. Global and Decolonial Feminisms (GloDeFem)       GSFS 0262 Mobile Women       GSFS 0310 Beyond#MeToo       GSFS/FMMC 0264 Indian Cinema       GSFS/SOCI 0313 White People       GSFS/SPAN 0389 Decolonizing Porn       GSFS/ANTH 0337 Love, Sex & Marriage       GSFS 0318 Third World Feminism       GSFS/SPAN 0487 Witches in Global Visual Culture       SPAN/GSFS 0492 Patriarchy’s Toxic Imagination

3. Electives (3 courses bearing the GSFS prefix) Senior work + two electives (2 courses with GSFS prefix) or Three electives (3 courses with GSFS prefix)   Senior Work: Senior work is optional and by application only. To be eligible to conduct senior work, students must first complete Feminist Engaged Research. During Feminist Engaged Research, students will receive information regarding how to apply to continue their research or projects. If students are granted approval, they will then enroll in GSFS 0700 for a one semester essay or project. If students want to complete a two-semester thesis or project following the completion of Feminist Engaged Research, they will register for GSFS 0700 as well as GSFS 0710. 

Joint Major: The joint major requires a minimum of seven (7) courses each in the two departments/programs. For GSFS, the requirement includes:

GSFS 0191 GSFS 0200 GSFS 0289 GSFS 0320 GSFS 0435

Distribution (2 courses, one in each)

  a. Feminist Approaches to Science, Technology, Health, and Medicine (FemSTHM)   b. Global and Decolonial Feminisms (GloDeFem)

Minor Requirements: The minor requires a minimum of five courses including: 

Two of the following courses: GSFS 0191, GSFS 0200, GSFS0289, GSFS 0320 or GSFS 0435

Any three electives with the GSFS prefix.

GSFS 0105 Victoria’s Secrets (Spring 2025)

Gsfs 0114 reading women's writing: living a feminist life from mary wollstonecraft to sara ahmed (spring 2025), gsfs 0172 writing gender and sexuality (spring 2025), gsfs 0191 gender and the body (fall 2024), gsfs 0200 feminist foundations (fall 2024, spring 2025), gsfs 0206 contemporary women playwrights (spring 2025), gsfs 0207 economics and gender (fall 2024, spring 2025), gsfs 0210 history of sexuality in the united states (spring 2025), gsfs 0214 modern and contemporary japanese women writers (spring 2025), gsfs 0218 gender and public policy in the u.s. (fall 2024), gsfs 0238 queerness and collectivity in german cinema (fall 2024), gsfs 0242 critical conditions: gender, literature, and illness (pre-1800) (fall 2024), gsfs 0256 british crime drama (fall 2024), gsfs 0262 mobile women: transnational work patterns (fall 2024), gsfs 0289 introduction to queer critique (spring 2025), gsfs 0291 feminist joy (spring 2025), gsfs 0302 gender & sexuality in medieval french literature (spring 2025), gsfs 0311 gender, sexuality, and psychiatry in us history (fall 2024), gsfs 0314 sociology of heterosexuality (spring 2025), gsfs 0318 third world feminism (fall 2024), gsfs 0320 feminist theory (fall 2024), gsfs 0334 feminist epistemologies: knowledge, ignorance and social power (fall 2024), gsfs 0338 gender and the making of space (spring 2025), gsfs 0358 theories of spectatorship, audience, and fandom (fall 2024, spring 2025), gsfs 0366 life of the party: queer of color nightlife (spring 2025), gsfs 0372 gender and international relations (spring 2025), gsfs 0374 women in the black freedom struggle (fall 2024), gsfs 0414 black, listed: surveillance, race, and gender (spring 2025), gsfs 0435 feminist engaged research (fall 2024), gsfs 0462 literature of displacement: forced migration, diaspora, exile (spring 2025), gsfs 0487 witches in global visual culture (fall 2024), gsfs 0500 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), gsfs 0700 senior essay (fall 2024, spring 2025), gsfs 0710 senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of geography, required for the major in geography.

Ten (10) Courses:

• GEOG 0100 (Intro Course/ Place and Society)
• GEOG 0151 (The Global Environment) OR ESCS 0112 (Environmental Geology)
• Two (2) of the following methods courses:

      GEOG 0251 (Mapping Global Environmental Change)

      GEOG 0261 (Human Geography with GIS)

      GEOG 0271 (Cartography)

      GEOG 0281 (Place Based Data and Analysis)

• Five (5) Geography electives, at least one must be numbered below 0250.

At least three of the electives must be semester-long courses, completed on the Middlebury Campus.

• One (1) 0400- level geography seminar OR a 0700-level senior independent project

*Pre-req for 0400 is at least one elective numbered over 0250.

*Pre-req for 0700 is at least one elective at the 0300 level

Students wishing to pursue independent 0700-level senior work must have a proposal approved by a primary advisor and second reader prior to registering for the 0700-level credit.

Required for a Joint Major in Geography

Seven (7) Courses:

• GEOG 0100 (Intro Course/ Place and Society) OR GEOG 0151 (The Global Environment)
• One (1) GEOG Course numbered between 0250 and 0300
• Four (4) GEOG electives, numbered below 400, (at least one of which must be numbered below 0250)

At least two of the electives must be semester-long courses completed on the Middlebury Campus.

• One (1)  0400- level geography seminar OR a 0700-level senior independent project

                   *Pre-req for 0400 is at least one elective numbered over 0250

                   *Pre-req for 0700 is at least one elective at the 0300 level.

Required for a Minor in Geography

The Geography minor consists of 5 courses: one course at the 100-level; one course numbered between 0250 and 0300; three additional geography courses numbered below 0400.

Advanced Placement

One course credit will be awarded for an advanced placement (AP) score of 5 in human geography. Geography majors who receive a 5 on the AP exam may count this course credit as one 0200-level equivalent toward their major requirements, but are still required to complete GEOG 0100. The AP credit may not be used to satisfy joint major or minor requirements.

Students who seek to earn honors are required to write a two-credit honors thesis. They must have at least a 3.3 GPA in the major when they propose the thesis and must have a 3.5 GPA in the major, not including the thesis grade, to be considered for honors upon graduation. In order to complete a senior thesis, students must have a proposal approved by a primary thesis advisor and a secondary reader prior to registering for the first 0701 credit. Upon completion of the thesis, thesis students will present their work in a public lecture and defend the thesis in front of the departmental faculty. Thesis presentations and defenses will typically take place during the final week of classes or the examination period. Upon completion of the presentation and defense, the primary advisor and secondary reader will be responsible for evaluating and grading the thesis. It is strongly encouraged that students considering a thesis discuss their ideas with an advisor during the semester prior to registering for formal thesis credits. Honors will be conferred or denied on the basis of an evaluation of the thesis by the faculty and the student’s GPA in the major, as explained above.

GEOG 0100 Place and Society: Local to Global (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Geog 0151 the global environment (spring 2025), geog 0202 border geographies (spring 2025), geog 0208 land and livelihoods - from local to global (spring 2025), geog 0209 human geography of hazards (fall 2024), geog 0212 urban geography (spring 2025), geog 0213 population geography (spring 2025), geog 0225 environmental change in latin america (fall 2024), geog 0232 a black sense of place: black geographies (fall 2024), geog 0251 mapping global envrn change (fall 2024), geog 0261 human geography with gis (fall 2024, spring 2025), geog 0271 cartography (spring 2025), geog 0281 placebased data analysis (spring 2025), geog 0361 open giscience (spring 2025), geog 0381 fieldwork in geography (fall 2024), geog 0413 seminar in population geography: migration in the twenty-first century (fall 2024), geog 0500 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), geog 0700 senior research (fall 2024, spring 2025), geog 0701 senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of german.

Students are normally required to complete eight courses in German, above GRMN 0299, including at least one advanced level seminar (above GRMN 0399) or a 0700 level honors thesis during the senior year. Where appropriate, one course may be taken in English. At the beginning of each term a placement test is administered for incoming students to determine which course would be most suitable for their level of competence. The department expects that majors will spend at least one semester of study in a German-speaking country before graduating. Normally, they will spend one or two semesters at the  Freie Universität  in Berlin, the  Universität Potsdam  and/or the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität in Mainz.

Students majoring in German will need to enroll in at least one course above 0299 before going abroad. This course can be taken in the Middlebury German Department or during the German School in the summer. They will also need to enroll in two courses on campus after their return from Study Abroad. As a fulfillment of their degree requirements, German majors may count not more than 5 courses taken outside of the German Department at Middlebury College.

To be a candidate for honors, students must have an average of at least B+ in German. Honors work (a senior thesis or project) is normally done during a student’s last year at Middlebury.

Minor in German

The German minor consists of a sequence of five courses, taught in German, starting at or above the 0200-level. At least three of those courses must be at the 0300-level or higher and  at least three of the five required courses have to be taken during the regular academic year at Middlebury College.  First-year students who place above the 0200-level in the placement test must take at least one 0400-level course as part of their minor. One course may be satisfied through advanced placement (AP) credit in combination with a departmental placement test.

Credit for Advanced Placement 

Credit for Advanced Placement is given for scores of 4 or 5, a high score on the departmental placement test, and a placement conference with the student. In addition, the student must successfully complete at least one course above the 0200-level in the department,  taught in German , to qualify for AP credit.

Study in Germany

The  Middlebury School in Germany  has sites located in Berlin, Potsdam and Mainz.

GRMN 0101 Beginning German (Fall 2024)

Grmn 0103 beginning german continued (spring 2025), grmn 0111 accelerated beginning german (spring 2025), grmn 0201 intermediate german (fall 2024), grmn 0202 intermediate german continued (spring 2025), grmn 0238 queerness and collectivity in german cinema (fall 2024), grmn 0350 advanced writing workshop (fall 2024), grmn 0370 german linguistics (in german) (fall 2024), grmn 0381 dramatic changes and challenges (spring 2025), grmn 0480 the berlin wall: then and now (fall 2024), grmn 0499 open topics research seminar (spring 2025), grmn 0500 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), grmn 0700 honors project (fall 2024, spring 2025), global health minor.

The minor in Global Health is more flexible than many other majors and minors on campus. Students design a course of study within the minor that fits their own educational goals. Choosing courses therefore requires substantial thought and planning on the part of the student.

The minor in Global Health is available to students who complete the courses listed below. No course for the minor may also count towards a student’s major. No more than two courses taken from the same department may count towards the minor.

All students must take a total of five courses for the minor:

(1) the core course:

GHLT 0257 Global Health

(2) One of the following methods courses (if the methods requirement is met through coursework for a major, students may substitute an additional elective in place of a methods class):

• ANTH 0302 The Research Process: Ethnography and Qualitative Methods
• BIOL 0211 Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis
• ECON 0111 Economic Statistics 
• GEOG 0251 Mapping Global Environmental Change
• GEOG 0261 Human Geography with GIS
• GEOG 0281 Place Based Data and Analysis
• GHLT 0232 Principles of Epidemiology
• PSCI 1130 Statistics for Social Sciences
• PSYC 0201 Psychological Statistics
• SOCI 0385 Social Statistics
• STAT 0116 Introduction to Statistical Science
• STAT 0201 Adv Intro to Stat and Data Science
• AP credit for Statistics

(3) Three elective courses; no more than one course may be a 0100-level course. Classes that count as electives are listed on the “Courses” tab. Please note, different requirements apply to students matriculating in the fall of 2024 or later.

Petition for Course Credit

Many other appropriate courses exist on campus, depending on the educational goals of a particular student. Courses may be substituted for the methods or elective courses with the approval of the program director. Approval requires submission of a petition for course credit form . Approval of a course for minor credit requires the student to show that they made connections between the course material and their study of Global Health, for example by writing a final paper on a public health topic. Students must turn in this paper or other approved course material for review for credit.

Declaring the Minor

To declare the minor, submit the following to the Program Director: (1) a minor declaration form  and (2) a 200-500 word statement explaining how the classes you chose fit together and further your educational goals within the field of Global Health. To declare the minor, these materials must be submitted at least one week before the end of the add period of your seventh semester at Middlebury.

In addition, students minoring in Global Health are strongly encouraged to take advantage of Middlebury’s resources by studying abroad, preferably in a program with health-related courses, and by becoming proficient in a foreign language.

GHLT 0211 Public Health of Disasters (Spring 2025)

Ghlt 0232 principles of epidemiology (spring 2025), ghlt 0235 social entrepreneurship and global health (fall 2024), ghlt 0257 global health (fall 2024, spring 2025), ghlt 0258 healthcare in the u.s. (fall 2024), ghlt 0310 planetary health (fall 2024), ghlt 0500 independent study (spring 2025), modern hebrew and israeli society.

The minor consists of five courses, some of which can be taken in the summer at the Middlebury School of Hebrew or abroad. Courses taken elsewhere may be granted credit with the permission of the director of the Studies in Modern Hebrew and Israeli Society. Students should plan the minor knowing that beginning Modern Hebrew is only offered in the fall term.

Students have two options: Either take two semesters of Modern Hebrew starting at the level of HEBM 0102 or higher and three content courses about Israeli society or take three semesters of Modern Hebrew, starting at the level of HEBM102, and two content courses about Israeli society. The content courses must be at HEBM 200 level or higher and may be in English. When appropriate, students may substitute independent study (HEBM 0500) for one of the courses required for the minor.

Classical Hebrew

Students interested in studying Classical Hebrew should contact Professor Robert Schine at [email protected] .

HEBM 0101 Introductory Modern Hebrew I (Fall 2024)

Hebm 0103 introductory modern hebrew iii (spring 2025), hebm 0201 intermediate modern hebrew i (fall 2024), hebm 0231 zionism and the "roads not taken" (1880-1948) (spring 2025), hebm 0237 the origins of the israeli-palestinian conflict (fall 2024), hebm 0500 independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of history.

• All students declaring a History major or joint major will adopt the requirements detailed below. 
• Students choosing a History major or a joint major with a track in History of Science Medicine and Technology (HSMT) will adopt the requirements specific to HSMT detailed below.

Required for the Major in History

The History Major with a specific geographical focus within the history department provides a broad understanding of the development of human societies and cultures throughout history and around the world. Students will have an opportunity to examine how governments, societies, and individuals have shaped and have been shaped in specific geographical regions of interest to them.  

Students must take 11 history credits before graduation including: (1) at least one but no more than three 0100-level credits; (2) three credits, 0200-level or above, in three of the following seven areas: North America; Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean ;  the Middle East and North Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; South and Southeast Asia, including the Pacific; North Asia including China, Korea, Japan, and the Asian Steppes; (3) two 0400-level reading seminars in two different geographical regions, one of which may be trans-regional for those not writing a thesis OR one 0400-level reading seminar for those writing a thesis; (4) HIST 0600.

Of the eleven credits required for this track, one must be comparative   and two must deal primarily with the period before 1800. Courses which qualify as comparative or for the pre-1800 requirement are identified in the course descriptions. Students planning to spend all or part of the junior year abroad should consult with the department before the second semester of their sophomore year. Students planning to go abroad or away for a full year may request to have a maximum of three courses count towards the major. Students planning to go abroad for one semester may request to have a maximum of two courses count towards the major. Upon their return to Middlebury, students must fill out the transfer of credit form from the Registrar’s office and have it signed by the chair as soon as possible. Students may take a maximum of two cross-listed HIST/CLAS courses to fulfill History requirements. HIST 0400 and 0600 seminars must be taken in the history department at Middlebury. Cognates or other departmental seminars will not be accepted.

Honors Thesis

Students who have earned a minimum 3.5 GPA in at least 5 history department courses (including up to two courses taken abroad) and at least a B+ in HIST 0600, are eligible to write a two-term honors thesis (HIST 0700). See information below.

Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate

Up to two IB credits or AP history courses, with a grade of 4 or 5, can count toward the major requirement of 11 history credits, but cannot be used to fulfill any specific requirements listed above. Students counting AP European History may not count HIST 0103 or 0104 toward the major, and those counting AP U.S. History may not count HIST 0203 or 0204 toward the major.

Students must take at least eight credits in history, chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. Cognates are not allowed. A student must take: (1) at least one course in two of the following seven areas: North America; Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe; Middle East and North Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; South, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific; North Asia including China, Korea, Japan, and the Asian Steppes and one course that is trans-regional or comparative. The choice of courses should depend upon the need to achieve an intellectual coherence and integrity in the student’s program; (2) two 0400-level reading seminars, one of which must be taken in the senior year and enable students to combine work from both disciplines, or one 0400-level reading seminar for those writing a thesis.  (3) HIST 0600. HIST 0400 and 0600 seminars must be taken in the history department at Middlebury. Cognates or other departmental seminars will not be accepted. No more than two courses may be taken abroad or at another undergraduate institution. 

Joint Major Honors Thesis

Students who have earned a minimum 3.5 GPA in at least 5 History department courses (including up to two courses taken abroad) and at least a B+ in HIST 0600 may choose to write a two-term honors thesis (HIST 0700).  Joint majors choosing to write a thesis must combine the skills of both major disciplines in their thesis.

AP and IB credit cannot be counted towards a joint major in history.

Students must take at least five credits, including one 0100-level course, one 0200-level course and one 0400-level course. Students are strongly encouraged to take HIST 0600 as one of the elective courses. HIST 0400 and 0600 seminars must be taken in the history department at Middlebury. No more than two courses may be taken abroad or at another undergraduate institution. Cognate courses cannot be counted towards the minor. AP and IB credit cannot be counted towards a minor in history.

Track in History of Science, Medicine, and Technology

The History of Science, Medicine, and Technology Track (HSMT) within the history department provides a broad understanding of the development of science and its contested role in society throughout history and around the world. Through this track, students will have an opportunity to examine how governments, societies, and individuals have shaped and been shaped by science, medicine, and technology. 

Students must take 11 history credits before graduation including: (1) at least one but no more than three 0100-level courses; (2) five courses that focus on HSMT.  At least 4 of these courses must be HSMT-designated courses within the history department.  In consultation with and at the discretion of the history department Chair, 1 course may be a cognate from another department, from another college or university, or from study abroad; (3) two 0400-level reading seminars for those not writing a thesis OR one 0400-level reading seminar for those writing a thesis. When possible 400-level seminars should be in HSMT; (4) HIST 0600. A senior thesis will count as 1 HSMT course if on a relevant HSMT topic.

Of the eleven credits required for this track, one must be comparative and two must deal primarily with the period before 1800. Courses which qualify as comparative or for the pre-1800 requirement are identified in the course descriptions. Students planning to spend all or part of the junior year abroad should consult with the department before the second semester of their sophomore year. Students planning to go abroad or away for a full year may request to have a maximum of three courses count towards the major. Students planning to go abroad for one semester may request to have a maximum of two courses count towards the major. Upon their return to Middlebury, students must fill out the transfer of credit form from the Registrar’s office and have it signed by the chair as soon as possible. Students may take a maximum of two cross-listed HIST/CLAS courses to fulfill History requirements. HIST 0400 and 0600 seminars must be taken in the history department at Middlebury. Cognates or other departmental seminars will not be accepted.

Students who have earned a minimum 3.5 GPA in at least 5 history department courses (including up to two courses taken abroad) and at least a B+ in HIST 0600, are eligible to write a two-term honors thesis (HIST 0700).

Up to two IB credits or AP history courses, with a grade of 4 or 5, can count toward the major requirement of 11 history courses, but cannot be used to fulfill any specific requirements listed above. Students counting AP European History may not count HIST 0103 or 0104 toward the major, and those counting AP U.S. History may not count HIST 0203 or 0204 toward the major.

Joint Major Requirements in HSMT Track

Students must fulfill the following requirements: (1) 8 credits in history, as specified under “Joint Major Requirements”; (2) of the 8 credits, 5 must focus on HSMT, and one must be a 400-level seminar taken in the history department or a senior thesis, which may count as 1 HSMT course; (3) in consultation with and at the discretion of the history department Chair, 1 course may be taken abroad. Cognates or other departmental seminars will not be accepted. AP and IB credit cannot be counted towards a joint major in HSMT track.

The department does not offer a minor in HSMT.

Courses in the History Department

As a rule, the History Department has no pre-requisites except for in designated 400-level courses. Courses are not arranged hierarchically; they are arranged thematically and chronologically, with the 100-level courses being the broadest and the 300 and 400-level courses being the most specific in subject matter.

HIST 0100-Level Courses

These courses deal with events and processes that affect human societies over long periods of time and across broad geographical areas not confined to national boundaries. Courses include components that act as introductions to the field of history.

HIST 0200-Level Courses

These are lecture courses that deal with a single cultural or national entity, or a clearly related group of such entities, over a substantial period of time (usually a century or more).

HIST 0300-Level Courses

These courses, for the most part, are topically focused courses. Many of them are lecture courses and some are taught in a seminar format. These are not, however, seminars that fulfill the reading seminar requirement.

HIST 0400–Level Reading Seminars

These topically based seminars, which usually meet once a week involve reading and analyzing texts, discussions, student presentations, historiography and writing or producing a final project. The history department offers many types of seminars: seminars on a topic within a given country or region; transnational or global seminars, digital humanities seminars and public history seminars.  Seminars are open to all students except those designated for seniors and juniors. See course description for requirements. A list of seminars is available from the department.

HIST 0600: Writing History

In this course students discuss historical methods and writing strategies to create convincing historical narratives.  With the approval and guidance of the professor, students complete a 20-25-page research paper based on primary and secondary sources. Students take this course in the fall of their junior year or with permission in the spring. If students are away for the entire junior year, they can take the course in the fall of their senior year.

HIST 0700 & 0701 Senior Honors Thesis

If students have earned a minimum 3.5 GPA in at least 5 History department courses (including up to two courses taken abroad) and at least a B+ in HIST 0600, they may choose to write a two-term honors thesis (HIST 0700). Writing a thesis is a prerequisite for departmental honors. Students must submit a thesis proposal to the department chair and coordinator one week prior to course registration for the term in which the thesis is to be started. Students opting to write a thesis must also take at least one 0400-level reading seminar prior to graduation, but preferably before their last semester at Middlebury. Students may not write a thesis in the same semester that they are taking HIST 0600. If students submit a request to write a senior thesis in the semester in which they are taking HIST 0600, they may receive conditional approval pending the completion and grade in HIST 0600.

Approved students will write a two-term thesis under an advisor in the area of their choosing. The department strongly encourages students to write their theses during the fall and winter terms. Winter/Spring theses are also acceptable with the permission of the chair and the theses advisor. On rare occasions and for compelling reasons, a student may initiate a thesis in the spring of an academic year and finish in the fall of the following year with the approval of the department. All students beginning their thesis in a given academic year must attend the Thesis Writers’ Workshops held in the fall and winter of that year. Further information about the thesis is available from the department.

Overall History Honors

To receive departmental honors, high honors*, or highest honors** students must have completed an honors thesis   (HIST0700) with a grade of B+, A-*, or A** and must have achieved an overall average of at least 3.5, 3.67*, or 3.75** in all departmental courses.

The 0100-level courses (0100-0199) deal with events and processes that affect human societies over long periods of time and across broad geographical areas not confined to national boundaries. These courses include components that act as introductions to the field of history.

HIST 0400-Level Reading Seminars

Unlike the courses below the 0400 level, which are primarily lecture courses, these courses are reading seminars on particular periods or topics. They are open to all students, although in cases of overcrowding, history majors will be given priority. First-year students are admitted only by waiver.

HIST 0600 Research Seminar

All history majors are required to take HIST 0600 their junior fall or, if abroad at that time, their junior spring or senior fall semester . In this course students will conceive, research, and write a work of history based on primary source material. After reading and discussion on historical methods and research strategies, students will pursue a paper topic as approved by the course professors.

HIST 0700 and 701 Senior Independent Study I & II

All senior history majors who wish to receive honors will write a two-term thesis under an advisor in the area of their choosing. The department encourages students to do their theses during the fall (700) and winter terms (701). Fall/spring theses are also acceptable and, with permission of the chair, winter/spring. On rare occasions, with departmental approval given for compelling reasons, a thesis may be initiated in the spring of an academic year and finished in the fall of the following year. All students beginning their thesis in a given academic year must attend the Thesis Writers’ Workshops held in the fall and winter of that year. Further information about the thesis is available from the department.

HIST 0108 The Early History of Islam and the Middle East (Fall 2024)

Hist 0112 modern east asia (spring 2025), hist 0115 genocides throughout history (spring 2025), hist 0131 archaic and classical greece (fall 2024), hist 0201 modern american jewish history (fall 2024), hist 0210 history of sexuality in the united states (spring 2025), hist 0212 civil war and reconstruction: 1845-1890 (spring 2025), hist 0215 cold war america (fall 2024), hist 0216 history of the american west (fall 2024), hist 0217 the history of urban america (spring 2025), hist 0218 slavery and freedom in the american north (spring 2025), hist 0222 united states environmental history: nature and inequality (spring 2025), hist 0231 imperial china (fall 2024), hist 0236 history of modern japan, 1850-1945 (spring 2025), hist 0237 chinese philosophy (fall 2024), hist 0239 history of postwar japan, 1945-2000 (fall 2024), hist 0246 history of modern europe: 1900-1989 (fall 2024), hist 0247 russia: tsars, tsarinas, and terrorists (spring 2025), hist 0266 egypt, iran, and turkey: alternative modernizations (fall 2024), hist 0276 struggles for change in southern africa (spring 2025), hist 0303 oil, opium, and oligarchs: modern asian empires (spring 2025), hist 0305 confucius and confucianism (spring 2025), hist 0311 gender, sexuality, and psychiatry in us history (fall 2024), hist 0315 health and healing in african history (spring 2025), hist 0319 readings in the philosophy of history (spring 2025), hist 0324 race, medicine, and health in u.s. history (fall 2024), hist 0331 sparta and athens (spring 2025), hist 0334 contested kyiv: ukranian-russian relations in historical context (spring 2025), hist 0339 christians in the modern middle east (spring 2025), hist 0345 clinics and cures (fall 2024), hist 0347 everyday life in south africa, apartheid and beyond (fall 2024), hist 0352 food in the middle east: history, culture, and identity (spring 2025), hist 0361 police power: theory and history (spring 2025), hist 0377 colonial commodities & slavery in the americas (spring 2025), hist 0435 american conservatism after 1932: ideology, politics, history (fall 2024), hist 0440 south asian migrations (spring 2025), hist 0441 african environmental histories (fall 2024), hist 0445 vermont life’s vermont: a collaborative web project (spring 2025), hist 0447 calderwood seminar in public writing: reporting genocide (fall 2024), hist 0448 black and jewish feminist perspectives (spring 2025), hist 0500 special research projects (fall 2024, spring 2025), hist 0600 writing history (fall 2024, spring 2025), hist 0700 senior independent study i (fall 2024, spring 2025), hist 0701 senior independent study ii (spring 2025), department of history of art and architectural studies, architectural studies track.

• HARC 0130 (Introduction to Architectural Design)
• HARC 0230 (Modern Architecture)
• HARC 0259 (Global History of Pre-Modern Architecture)
• HARC 0330 (Intermediate Architectural Design), or a pre-approved substitute.
• A pre-approved art-practice studio course in Studio Art, theatre set or lighting design, Film and Media Culture, or dance.
• Three additional courses that (a) deal with architectural history, theory or practice, urbanism, or modern/contemporary visual culture, and (b) range from the 0100- to the 0500-level; all selected in close consultation with the academic advisor
• HARC 0731 (Thesis in Architectural Studies: Research) and HARC 0732 (Thesis in Architectural Studies: Design), open only to Architectural Studies majors and joint majors, to be taken sequentially.

A joint major consists of seven (7) courses:

A proposed program of study, including educational rationale and specific courses to be taken, must be submitted to the Architectural Studies director for approval before registering as a joint major.

• HARC 0330 (Intermediate Architectural Design), or a pre-approved substitute
• One course that (a) deals with architectural history, theory or practice, urbanism, or modern/contemporary visual culture; (b) is at the 0100 to 0500 level; selected in close consultation with the academic advisor

Required for Architecture and the Environment Joint Major

The Architecture and the Environment joint major consists of fourteen courses:

For Architectural Studies (seven courses):

• HARC 0231 (Architecture and the Environment; joint major capstone)
• HARC 0731 (Thesis in Architectural Studies: Research) and HARC 0732 (Thesis in Architectural Studies: Design), open only to Architectural Studies majors and joint majors, to be taken sequentially

For Environmental Studies (seven courses):

• ENVS 0112, ENVS 0211, ENVS 0215, and GEOG 0120, all to be taken before the end of junior year
• Two ES Cognate Courses (one science course with a lab, and one course in social science, humanities, or team-taught from the approved Environmental Science cognate list)

Required for the Minor

The minor consists of five courses:

• HARC 0330 (Intermediate Architectural Design), or a pre-approved substitute. 
• One course that (a) deals with architectural history, theory or practice, urbanism, or modern/contemporary visual culture and (b) is at the 0100 to 0500 level, selected in close consultation with the academic advisor

The Architectural Studies GPA is calculated based on those courses that satisfy the requirements for the major and joint majors. Only courses taken at the Middlebury College campus and applied towards Architectural Studies will be used in the calculation of GPA for purposes of determining honors. Honors are awarded to students with a GPA of 3.5 and a thesis grade of B+ or higher; high honors to students with a GPA of 3.7 and a thesis grade of A- or A; and highest honors to students with a GPA of 3.8 and a thesis grade of A.

The major, joint majors and minor in Architectural Studies do not result in a professional degree in architecture. Many graduate architecture schools expect applicants to have taken college-level courses in calculus and physics. Please consult with your advisor if you are considering a career in design. Students may acquire hands-on experience by participating in the Architectural Studies/Habitat for Humanity of Addison County projects, the summer design+build program, several other co-curricular initiatives, as well as architectural internships.

Please Note: Courses taken outside of the department may, by prior approval, be used to satisfy major, joint major, and minor requirements.

Art History and Museum Studies Track

The major consists of ten courses encompassing multiple geographical regions and cultural traditions:

• HARC 0100 (An Introduction to Global Visual Culture)
• Two courses that focus on arts and cultures pre-1750
• Two courses that focus on arts and cultures post-1750
• One 300-level CW Seminar in Art History
• Two additional courses one of which may focus on art production (Studio Art, Architectural Studies, theatre set or lighting design, Film and Media Culture, or Dance)
• Senior thesis consisting of HARC 0710 and HARC 0711, the research and writing sequence, to be taken in senior fall and winter terms

The joint major consists of seven courses encompassing multiple geographical regions and cultural traditions:

A proposed program of study, including educational rationale and specific courses to be taken, must be submitted to the History of Art/Museum Studies chair for approval before registering as a joint major.

• One course on arts and cultures pre-1750
• One course on arts and cultures post-1750

The minor consists of five courses encompassing multiple geographical regions and cultural traditions:

• One course at the 300-level or above

Most graduate programs in art history and classical archaeology require students to pass reading examinations in at least two foreign languages. For this reason, students interested in graduate study should pursue at least one foreign language during their time at Middlebury. 

Students interested in working in the art world (museums, auction houses, galleries, etc.) may acquire practical experience via internships at the Middlebury College Museum of Art and other museums, as well as by participating in the Museum Assistants Program (MAP) and, during the summer, MuseumWorks at the Middlebury College Museum of Art and the Middlebury Museum Studies program in Oxford, UK.

Please note : Courses taken outside of the department may, by prior approval, be used to satisfy major, joint major, and minor requirements.

The History of Art and Museum Studies GPA is calculated based on those courses that satisfy the requirements for the major and joint major. Only courses taken at the Middlebury College campus and applied towards History of Art/Museum Studies will be used in the calculation of GPA for purposes of determining honors. Honors are awarded to students with a GPA of 3.5 and a thesis grade of B+ or higher; high honors to students with a GPA of 3.7 and a thesis grade of A- or A; and highest honors to students with a GPA of 3.8 and a thesis grade of A.

HARC 0100 An Introduction to Global Visual Culture (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Harc 0130 introduction to architectural design (fall 2024, spring 2025), harc 0201 italian renaissance art: 1350-1550 (spring 2025), harc 0204 approaches to islamic art (fall 2024), harc 0209 venice in renaissance (fall 2024), harc 0216 introduction to industrial design (fall 2024, spring 2025), harc 0219 understanding early medieval and romanesque art: seeing ste. foy (fall 2024), harc 0230 modern architecture (spring 2025), harc 0231 architecture and the environment (spring 2025), harc 0243 art and protest (spring 2025), harc 0247 realism, impressionism, and post-impressionism (1850-1905) (fall 2024), harc 0251 court, castle, and cathedral: the gothic world (spring 2025), harc 0256 photography in the middle east (spring 2025), harc 0259 a global history of pre-modern architecture (fall 2024), harc 0260 contemporary art (1960-present) (spring 2025), harc 0268 arts of asia (spring 2025), harc 0269 introduction to african art and architecture (fall 2024), harc 0275 architectural design analysis: observe, distill, create (spring 2025), harc 0276 introduction to sustainable landscape design (fall 2024), harc 0301 ways of seeing (fall 2024), harc 0306 materiality and meaning in medieval manuscripts (spring 2025), harc 0318 imperial splendor: the art and architecture of india's mughal empire (spring 2025), harc 0330 intermediate architectural design (fall 2024), harc 0338 gender and the making of space (spring 2025), harc 0339 home: the why behind the way we live (fall 2024), harc 0352 the good, bad, and ugly: gods, goddesses, and demons in indian art (fall 2024), harc 0354 the rhetoric of public memory (spring 2025), harc 0356 awe (fall 2024), harc 0357 orientalism and the visual arts (fall 2024), harc 0359 artemisia gentileschi (spring 2025), harc 0368 the rise and fall of detroit: urban histories and architectural fragments (spring 2025), harc 0369 design, ornament, and adornment: self-expression and dissent (fall 2024), harc 0371 as/habitat for humanity housing unit: research, planning, and schematic design (fall 2024), harc 0373 as/habitat for humanity housing unit: construction documents (spring 2025), harc 0376 /volver a los 17/: resistance and memory in chilean art and literature since 1973 (spring 2025), harc 0377 design lab i (fall 2024, spring 2025), harc 0378 design lab ii (fall 2024, spring 2025), harc 0510 advanced studies (fall 2024, spring 2025), harc 0530 independent architect. design (fall 2024, spring 2025), harc 0540 supervised independent work in museum studies (fall 2024, spring 2025), harc 0710 senior thesis research seminar (fall 2024), harc 0731 thesis in architectural studies: research (fall 2024), independent scholar program.

The Independent Scholar Program is designed to meet the needs of outstanding students who have clearly defined educational goals that cannot be fulfilled within the framework of a normal departmental or interdisciplinary major. Independent Scholars plan their own curricular programs with the assistance of a faculty adviser. Independent Scholars cannot propose two majors, but can pursue an independent scholar major and one minor. For the 2024-25 academic year, application materials are due to the Curriculum Committee by Monday, October 7, 2024, for fall review; and Monday, February 17, 2025, for spring review. Eligibility : For an application to be considered, a student must be in the sophomore year and have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. If approved, students must fulfill all requirements for the degree using their approved Independent Scholar plan as their major course of study. Independent Scholar proposals will be evaluated in light of feasibility, academic disciplinary integrity, and demonstrated ability of the student. A successful proposal must articulate a fully developed program of study, must include a methods course, and must demonstrate compellingly that the student’s academic goals cannot be met through existing majors. Application process : To be designated an Independent Scholar, a student must undergo a rigorous approval process overseen by the Curriculum Committee. The process begins with an interview with the dean of curriculum. The student must subsequently prepare and submit a well-defined program to the Curriculum Committee, covering a description of the aim of the program, the independent work, and the courses he or she proposes to comprise the major. The proposal must be accompanied by a written endorsement of a faculty member who is willing and qualified to supervise the student, as well as a statement of support from an alternate faculty member. The Curriculum Committee will review all submitted materials, and if warranted, convene a meeting with the candidate and advisers. Final approval rests with the Curriculum Committee. An applicant whose proposal is denied is entitled to meet with the dean of curriculum or the Curriculum Committee. Oversight : The Curriculum Committee will solicit updates from each Independent Scholar twice a year. Changes to the program must also be submitted to the Curriculum Committee, and the faculty supervisor will cosign all registration materials. The Major Declaration Form and Degree Audit Forms will be signed by both the faculty adviser and dean of curriculum. Students who elect to withdraw from the Independent Scholar Program, or who have their independent scholar status withdrawn, may be allowed, at the discretion of the committee, to graduate in general studies, without a formal major in any department. Senior work : The INDE 0800 is a culminating experience for this program of study. This project brings together the course work the student has completed and incorporates all aspects of the study into one final project. Students applying to be independent scholars are asked to provide an indication of possible INDE 0800 projects at the time that they submit their proposals. Students are able, however, to change the topic of their INDE 0800 project in order to respond to new interests and information acquired during the course of their study. The INDE 0800 project is undertaken for one or two terms. Students who wish to be considered for honors must work with a thesis committee. Thesis work most typically follows the procedures for the department most closely related to the project. Others may choose to work with an individual faculty member, usually the student's adviser. The choice of senior project is flexible. For example, with permission from the adviser, a student in the performing arts might want to incorporate a dance performance, musical composition, or some other feature as part of his or her course of study. Honors : In order to be considered for honors, independent scholars normally must meet two criteria: a minimum average of B+ in courses taken towards the major and a minimum grade of B+ on the senior work component. The Dean of Curriculum oversees the first requirement and will inform the adviser of the student's eligibility. The senior work component must be evaluated by a committee of three faculty members (one of whom, at the adviser's request, may be a faculty member on the Curriculum Committee). Minimum thesis grades for each level of honors are B+ (Honors), A- (High Honors), and A (Highest Honors), but the determination of the appropriate level will be made by the thesis committee. For more information about this program, contact the Dean of Curriculum.

Interdepartmental Courses

Intd 0103 persuasive storytelling: an oratory lab (fall 2024), intd 0109 posse scholars leadership development (fall 2024), intd 0116 accounting, budgeting, and the liberal arts (fall 2024, spring 2025), intd 0120 introduction to business and enterprise (fall 2024, spring 2025), intd 0121 community connected learning (fall 2024, spring 2025), intd 0130 business ethics (spring 2025), intd 0140 social capital, social networks and trust: in israel and in the united states (spring 2025), intd 0204 community connected experiential learning capstone (fall 2024), intd 0205 marketing: formulation, methods, and research (fall 2024), intd 0208 finance, regulation, and policy (fall 2024), intd 0209 big business, big data, & big obligations (fall 2024), intd 0210 sophomore seminar in the liberal arts (fall 2024), intd 0213 nonprofit management & civil society (fall 2024), intd 0217 introduction to finance (fall 2024), intd 0221 creating new enterprises to solve significant problems: for-profit and social entrepreneurship (spring 2025), intd 0222 sustainable finance (fall 2024), intd 0224 town & gown: a history of middlebury and middlebury college (fall 2024), intd 0226 gateway to community connected experiential learning (fall 2024), intd 0228 theories and fundamentals of conflict transformation (spring 2025), intd 0229 introduction to text as data (fall 2024), intd 0231 public management: creating public value (spring 2025), intd 0232 conflict transformation: approaches and skills (fall 2024), intd 0233 ethnography of organizations (fall 2024), intd 0236 numbers & narratives: human stories in business data (spring 2025), intd 0258 healthcare in the u.s. (fall 2024), intd 0303 capitalism & its criticisms (fall 2024), intd 0304 global challenges and opportunities (spring 2025), intd 0322 the pride & prejudice of professions (spring 2025), intd 0407 leadership (fall 2024), intd 0500 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), program in international & global studies, general requirements.

A major must specialize in one of the following tracks: African Studies, East Asian Studies, European Studies, Latin American Studies, Middle East and North African Studies, Russian and East European Studies, South Asian Studies, Global Environmental Change, Global Gender and Sexuality Studies, Global Migration and Diaspora Studies or Global Security Studies. IGS majors may not double count any course, including required language courses, towards their regional or thematic specialization.

Regardless of their track, all majors must complete the following: IGST 0101, five regional or thematic courses, three global courses for the regional tracks or three regional courses for the thematic tracks. Students must also study one of the non-English languages taught at Middlebury; study abroad for at least one semester (on a Middlebury Program); complete at least one advanced level language course upon return from abroad; and take a 0400 level IGST senior seminar. With the preapproval of the IGS director, a student may take a thematic global seminar in a department.

There is no IGS minor. However, IGS majors are strongly encouraged to minor in any department or program that offers a minor and can accommodate them, so long as they do not double-count any course. Students wishing to minor in the department that teaches the IGS language of their focus should discuss their minor with the IGS director.

Specific Requirements

All IGS majors are required to take IGST 0101 and are expected to do so before studying abroad. IGST 0101 is not open to seniors except for those who declared the major as sophomores and spent the fall semester of their junior year abroad. Students who declare their major as a sophomore but have not taken IGST 0101, and plan to study abroad for only one semester must take it in the fall of their junior year prior to going abroad.

Language Study

Students must become proficient in one of the languages that Middlebury College teaches. Individual language departments determine what level of study constitutes proficiency, and students are expected to do advanced work in their target language. All majors must take at least one advanced course in the language of study upon returning from abroad and are encouraged to take more than one.  Students who, upon declaring the IGS major, have been determined proficient in one of their region’s languages will continue to take this language at the advanced level and are strongly recommended to take one year or equivalent of another language. The additional language should be chosen in consultation with the advisor.

There are no language requirements for South Asian Studies majors or students who major in a thematic track but study abroad in India: these students must study a language when abroad, but are not expected to achieve language proficiency or complete an advanced language course once they return. Instead, these majors must take one additional regional or global course in their senior year.

Language Study for East Asian Studies

Students who already have native proficiency in Chinese must fulfill the language requirements for Japanese. Students who already have native proficiency in Japanese must fulfill the language requirements for Chinese. The Chairs of the Chinese and Japanese Studies departments or their designees determine what constitutes native proficiency by evaluating students individually through interviews or tests.

Note: for EAS majors whose language is Chinese, the language requirement is: (1) CHNS 0101-CHNS 0202 (strongly encouraged to attend Middlebury Chinese Summer School, or take CHNS 0301/0302); (2) one semester at one of the three Middlebury CV Starr Schools Abroad in China; and (3) one, preferably two, of the following: CHNS 0411, 0412, 0425, 0426, OR 0475 upon return from study abroad in China.

Language Study for Latin American Studies

Students who place into Spanish 0220 or above must take at least two semesters of Portuguese (0210 and above) to fulfill the language requirement. Students who place into Portuguese 0215 or above must take at least two semesters of Spanish (0105 and above) to fulfill the language requirement.

Regional Specialization

IGS majors must take five courses that correspond to their regional track, in at least three departments. See  the list of approved courses . At least three regional courses must be taken at Middlebury. For East Asian Studies majors, at least three of the regional courses should be exclusively or primarily on the country that is the focus of language study, and at least one should be on East Asia as a region or the East Asian country that is not the focus of language study.

Thematic Specialization

IGS majors must take five courses that are specific to their track, in at least three departments. At least three thematic courses must be taken on the Middlebury College campus.

Global Courses

Students with regional specializations are required to take three global courses; only one can be at the 0100 level. Global courses are thematic, transregional, and/or comparative. They highlight the connectivity of places and stress the circulation and interaction of peoples, cultures, ideas, and other phenomena beyond state boundaries.

Regional Courses for Thematic Tracks

Students   with thematic specialization are required to take three regional courses that correspond to their language of specialization. Except for students who study abroad an entire year, these courses must be taken on the Middlebury College campus.

Students must study abroad for at least one semester (and preferably two) on a Middlebury-approved study abroad program in their region of focus. Study abroad must be in the language of study at Middlebury. Effective for the class of 2021, students who study abroad for one semester may count up to two credits and those who study abroad for a full year may count up to four credits toward the major. Major credit will be granted, pending approval, upon the student’s return from abroad. For regional courses, approval is granted by the regional director and for global courses by the IGS director. Students should share the syllabi and all written work for all courses they wish to count with the track or program director, respectively.

Advanced Placement credit will not count toward the major.

The senior program consists of: (1) a senior IGST seminar at 400-level or with permission of IGS director, a thematic senior seminar in a department  and (2) an upper-level course, preferably two, in the language of emphasis after returning from abroad. The language departments will determine which courses fulfill this requirement, in consultation with the program director. South Asian Studies majors or students who major in the thematic track and studied abroad in India do not take an upper-level language course, but rather, one additional regional or global course.

Students who seek to graduate with Honors may elect to write a two-term senior honors thesis. Students are eligible to write an honors thesis if they have a 3.5 GPA or better in all courses that count for the major. These include all language courses, all regional courses, all global courses, all courses taken abroad, and all courses with an IGST designation. Thesis grades do not count in the calculation of the GPA for honors. See thesis guidelines .

Honors are awarded to students with a GPA of 3.5 and a thesis grade of B+; high honors to students with a GPA of 3.7 and a thesis grade of A- or A; and highest honors to students with a GPA of 3.8 and a thesis grade of A.

Seniors wishing to pursue a one semester independent research project should register for IGST 0700.

Winter Term Course

Students may count no more than one winter term course taken at Middlebury towards IGS requirements, pending approval of the track director. Students wishing to count a winter term course must provide the track director with a copy of the course syllabus.

African Studies

Language/Culture : Language competency in French or Swahili; satisfactory completion of at least one advanced French course or one independent study in Swahili upon students return from abroad. If French is the language of emphasis, students must study an appropriate indigenous African language to a level of reasonable competence while abroad. The French Department will specify which courses fulfill the French requirement. The African Studies director will specify which courses fulfill the Swahili requirement.

Regional Specialization : See Requirements above. Study Abroad : See Requirements above. Senior Program : See Requirements above.

East Asian Studies

Language/Culture : Satisfactory completion of advanced work in either Chinese or Japanese. The Chinese and Japanese departments will specify which courses fulfill this requirement. Students who already have native or near-native proficiency in Japanese must fulfill the language requirements for Chinese, while students who already have native or near-native proficiency in Chinese must fulfill the language requirements for Japanese.

European Studies

Language/Culture : Satisfactory completion of at least one advanced course taught in the language of emphasis (French, German, Italian, or Spanish). Individual departments will specify which courses fulfill these requirements. Regional Specialization : See Requirements above. Study Abroad : See Requirements above. Senior Program : See Requirements above.

Latin American Studies

Language/Culture : Satisfactory completion of advanced work in either Portuguese or Spanish. Students who place into Spanish 0220 or above must take at least two semesters of Portuguese (0115 and above) to fulfill the language requirement. Students who place above Portuguese 0115 must take at least two semesters of Spanish (0104 and above) to fulfill the language requirement. Regional Specialization : See Requirements above. Study Abroad : See Requirements above. Senior Program : See Requirements above.

Middle East and North African Studies

Language/Culture : Successful completion of three years of Arabic or Modern Hebrew (or the equivalent as determined by the Arabic or Hebrew program). Students who choose Modern Hebrew must be willing to pursue language study beyond Middlebury, if the Colleges Hebrew program is unable to offer a full range of advanced courses.

Russian and East European Studies

Language/Culture : Satisfactory completion of at least one advanced course taught in Russian.

South Asian Studies

Language/Culture : Students must pursue a formal course of study of a South Asian language while abroad.

Regional Specialization : See Requirements above. Study Abroad : See Requirements above.

Senior Program : See Senior Program above. Note: because Middlebury does not currently offer a South Asian language, students are not required to take an additional language course on their return from South Asia; instead, they must take one additional regional or global course.

Global Environmental Change

The planet is facing extraordinary challenges; among them are climate change, loss of biodiversity, environmental degradation, and the unequal distribution of critical resources. Indeed, the environmental challenges that the world now faces have never been more complex, posing greater threat to people around the globe. This track exposes students to the complex relationship between people and their environments at local, national and global scales. It highlights issues of social and environmental (in)justices as experienced cross-culturally, and the ways people have responded to and addressed environmental change.

Language/Culture:  See Language Study above. Because issues relating to the environment transcend countries and regions, majors may learn any language taught at Middlebury. Students wishing to study in programs that focus on Global Environmental Issues in an English-speaking country may do so, provided that they also study at least one semester on a Middlebury program in the region corresponding to their language.

Track Requirements:  Students must take 5 thematic courses from the list of approved courses. They must take one introductory course, two courses on environmental impact; one course on social (in)Justice and the environment; one course on responses and adaptation to environmental change. No more than one course can focus on the U.S, and not more than one course can be at the 400 level. Some courses are listed in more than one category. Courses cannot double count.

Note: Some courses may have pre-requisites. These courses must be taken in at least three departments/interdisciplinary programs.

Senior Requirements : See Senior Program above.

Global Gender and Sexuality Studies

Concerns pertaining to gender and sexuality, as well as how feminism is articulated around the world, have become central to the interdisciplinary project of international and global studies. The thematic cluster will be comprised of five courses, through which students can gain the knowledge and tools to bring feminist epistemologies to bear on their analyses of international and global issues. Scholars in feminist and queer studies—and in the subfields of postcolonial feminism and transnational queer studies, for example—have centralized the construction of space and place in ways that will be useful to IGS students. The cluster reflects the rigor of feminist and queer analyses of the global and international and is flexible enough to permit choices among students. The core GSFS courses will offer students the theory and methods needed for an engagement with global concerns, while the courses in the breadth requirements will enable an analysis of specific national/transnational courses. Since GSFS is an interdisciplinary program, the track reflects an interdisciplinary approach to questions of gender and sexuality

Language/Culture:  See Language Study above. 

Track Requirements:  Students must take 5 thematic courses from the  list of approved courses . They must take one introductory course (GSFS 0191, 0200, or 0289); Feminist Theory (GSFS 0320); one critical race studies course; and two transnational/national feminism courses, one of which should be taken during the study abroad semester.

Study Abroad:   See Study Abroad above. At least one study abroad course should transfer as a GSFS elective that meets the national/transnational feminism breadth requirement. In the semester prior to studying abroad, the student should consult with the GSFS director to confirm the proposed course would transfer appropriately.

Global Migration and Diaspora Studies

Migrations and diasporas have shaped human political, economic and cultural interaction among diverse peoples across the globe for millennia. Migratory flows, whether forced or voluntary, shape the way individuals “imagine” and construct their communities. This thematic track equips students with the knowledge and tools to understand and analyze the multiple influences of migration and diaspora at a global, national and local scales. In addition to theories of migration and issues of rights, students will examine specific case studies that highlight topics such as justice, belonging, and the migrant experience. GMDS offers students powerful insights into diasporas, exiles, refugees and other types of migrations and the international laws and global forces that shape them. The program’s interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives will allow students to understand and participate in the rich debates around the world.

Track Requirements:  Students majoring in IGS/Migration and Diaspora Studies must take 5 thematic courses—in at least three departments across two divisions—from the list of approved courses.

• One Introductory course
• Two courses in causes of population shifts
• One course on race and ethnicity
• One course the migrant’s experience

Study Abroad:  All Global Migration and Diaspora Studies majors must study a foreign language and study abroad in at least one region corresponding to that language. Because issues relating to migration and diaspora transcend countries and regions, majors may learn any language taught at Middlebury. Students wishing to study in programs that focus on Migration Studies in an English-speaking environment may do so, provided that they also study at least one semester in the region corresponding to their language.

Global Security Studies

Security concerns are generated by a constellation of economic, political, historical, and environmental forces and are experienced at different scales—from the local to the global, and from the individual to the state. By drawing on courses from various departments, this track exposes students to security issues along three dimensions: global, international, and societal. The track highlights strategic concerns and issues of injustice, as well as the causes of insecurity over time and how it is experienced cross-culturally.

Language/Culture:  See Language Study above.

Track Requirements:  Students must take 5 thematic courses, in at least three departments and across two divisions. They must take one introductory course, two courses on international security issues, one course on societal security issues, and one course on global security issues. 

Study Abroad:   Security Studies majors must learn a foreign language and study abroad for at least one semester in the region corresponding to that language. Because security issues transcend countries and regions, majors may learn any language taught at Middlebury. Students who wish to study security issues abroad in an English language environment may do so,  provided  that they also study at least one semester in the region corresponding to their language.

Senior Requirements:  See Senior Program above.

IGST 0101 Introduction to International and Global Studies (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Igst 0144 foundations of european studies: texts, contexts, and legacies (fall 2024), igst 0237 the origins of the israeli-palestinian conflict (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0252 introduction to latin american studies (spring 2025), igst 0304 global challenges and opportunities (spring 2025), igst 0407 leadership (fall 2024), igst 0408 what is neoliberalism historical origins and global itinerary (spring 2025), igst 0422 illicit econ/globalperspective (fall 2024), igst 0452 ecocriticism and global environmental justice (fall 2024), igst 0483 the rise of asia and us policy (spring 2025), igst 0500 east asian studies independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0501 latin american studies independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0502 middle east studies independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0503 african studies independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0504 south asian studies independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0505 european studies independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0506 rees independent project (spring 2025), igst 0507 global security studies independent project (fall 2024), igst 0508 global gender and sexuality studies independent project (fall 2024), igst 0700 senior work (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0701 russian and east european studies senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0702 european studies senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0703 latin american studies senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0704 east asian studies senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0705 african studies senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0706 middle east studies senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0707 south asian studies senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0708 global security studies senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0709 global migration and diaspora studies senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0710 global gender and sexuality studies senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), igst 0711 global environmental change senior thesis (spring 2025), program in international politics and economics, courses in political science.

PSCI 0103, PSCI 0109, PSCI/IPEC 0304 and three electives in comparative politics or international relations. At least one elective should be a 0400-level senior seminar in comparative politics or international relations. See eligible electives . PSCI/IPEC 0304 must be taken at Middlebury College. Majors are encouraged to take IPEC 0240 prior to PSCI/IPEC 0304.

Courses in Economics

ECON 0150  or  ECON 0250 (only one will count towards this requirement), ECON 0155  or  ECON 0255 (only one will count towards this requirement), ECON 0111, IPEC0240 (formerly ECON 0240) and two electives with an international orientation. One elective should be a 0400-level senior seminar. See eligible electives . Majors must take a minimum of five courses in economics, regardless of credits earned at the secondary level (see the Advanced Placement policy for detailed information); at least four economics courses meeting the major requirements must be taken at Middlebury College, including the 0400-level seminar. Majors should take IPEC 0240 prior to PSCI/IPEC 0304. Majors are strongly encouraged to take ECON 0111 prior to any 400-level seminars.

Majors must achieve the language department’s standard of linguistic competence before going abroad or must demonstrate equivalent competence in a language taught at Middlebury College through a language placement exam. Foreign language study while at Middlebury College is strongly encouraged.

Term or Year Abroad

Students are required to study abroad at least one semester (Fall or Spring). Under normal circumstances, this will be completed at one of the Middlebury schools abroad. Majors should complete PSCI 0103, PSCI 0109, ECON 0150  or  ECON 0250, ECON 0155  or  ECON 0255, and ECON 0111 before studying abroad. Majors are encouraged, but not required, to take IPEC 0240 and PSCI/IPEC 0304 before studying abroad.

See the  Advanced Placement  policy for detailed information. Regardless of any AP credit, student must take a minimum of 5 courses in each discipline.

Winter Term Courses

Winter Term courses count towards the major only if they are listed on the  IP&E Courses  prior to winter term registration. No more than one Winter Term elective in economics and no more than one Winter Term elective in political science may count toward the major.

Double Majors and Minors

Because of the complex and interdisciplinary nature of the International Politics and Economics major, IP&E students are strongly advised not to pursue an additional major or minor, with the exception of a major or minor in their language of focus for IP&E. In addition, IP&E majors may not minor in either economics or political science.

Declaring a Major

To declare a major, students need to fill out both a  major declaration form  and an  advising wizard form . Discuss your plan for completing the major (outlined on the advising wizard form) with your advisor who can be from either the political science or economics department. Have both your advisor and the Director of International Politics and Economics sign the major declaration form and turn in to the program coordinator and Registrar’s Office.

First Semester Senior Year

Early in the first semester of your senior year, complete the IP&E advising wizard form and email to the IP&E Director and Coordinator. When doing this, verify all information using the degree progress worksheet in BannerWeb, including the study abroad requirement, study abroad transfer credits and any AP/IB credits.

In addition to their 12 required courses, qualifying students can choose to write a senior thesis. To launch a thesis project, students must obtain a thesis advisor in both political science and economics, and submit to their advisors a thesis prospectus for formal approval. To identify suitable thesis topics, it is highly recommended that IP&E thesis candidates begin consulting with potential advisors during their junior year. For details, deadlines, and a timetable, see the  Honors Thesis page .

Honors Thesis Requirements

The determination of honors, high honors, and highest honors is based on the following:

• The level of the grade achieved on the thesis.
• The level of the average grade received in all Middlebury College courses that count toward the IP&E major.

Honors candidates must have the following:

• An IP&E course average of 3.3 and a thesis grade of B+ to attain honors.
• An IP&E course average of at least 3.5 and a thesis grade of A- to attain high honors.
• An IP&E course average of at least 3.7 and a thesis grade of A to attain highest honors.

Note: Thesis grades do not count in the calculation of the GPA for honors, and a thesis cannot be pursued as a fifth course during any term.

IPEC 0240 International Economics: Theory and Policy (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Ipec 0304 international political economy (fall 2024, spring 2025), ipec 0500 independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), ipec 0700 senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of italian.

During the academic year our program emphasizes the study of literature and culture in the context of language acquisition. The other integral components of Italian at Middlebury are the Italian School (summer immersion program), and the C. V. Starr-Middlebury College School in Italy (junior year or semester), where students can take courses in our beautiful Sede in Florence, or can direct-enroll in our programs at the University of Firenze. These rich programs encourage students to deepen and broaden their study of Italian literature, cinema, history, art history, political science, and many other disciplines. During the academic year in Middlebury, all four levels of courses in Italian are available every semester, and—for qualified students—faculty members are also available to direct independent research projects (ITAL 0550).

Major in Italian

For a full or double major in Italian, students must complete nine credits beyond ITAL 0103, including independent senior work (ITAL 0755). Please note: ITAL 0101, 0102, and 0103 do not count for the major. The standard curriculum includes: two courses at the 200-level (0251 and 0252); three credits abroad plus one course at the 300-level at Middlebury (or four courses at the 300-level); two courses at the 400-level (but only one for students who spend a whole year in Italy); ITAL 0755 (your capstone course, can be a research project such an essay, or a creative work such as a Podcast or a video). Majors are normally expected to study at least one semester at the C.V. Starr-Middlebury College School in Florence, Italy. No more than three credits per semester from Study Abroad in Italy are applicable to the major. Upon return from Italy, students normally take an Italian course each semester.  A student can complete major requirements at all levels with courses taken at the Middlebury Summer Italian School. One credit towards the Major can be fulfilled by successfully taking a course in English with an approved section in Italian (History of the Italian Language; Italian Cinema; Italy Through Sicily).

Joint Major in Italian

For the joint major in Italian, students must complete seven credits beginning with ITAL 0251, including one course at the 0400 level. Students must also complete a joint project credited in either of the two disciplines, as well as fulfill the requirements in the second discipline. Students are normally expected to complete one semester at the C.V. Starr-Middlebury College School in Florence, and at least one course at the University of Firenze. No more than three credits per semester from coursework in Italy are applicable to the Italian part of the major.

International and Global Studies Major with Italian

(European Studies Track)

Along with other required courses and senior work as described in the International and Global Studies major section, the Italian language component of an International and Global Studies major requires completion of the following: 1) Italian courses required for study in Italy (see below); 2) one semester, and preferably a full year, at the C.V. Starr-Middlebury College School in Florence; 3) at least one 0400-level course in Italian upon return from Italy. Regional specialization requirements for the International and Global Studies major may include ITAL 0290-level courses (in English) as well as 0300-level courses taught at Middlebury or in Italy.

Minor in Italian

The Italian minor consists of six courses: ITAL 0251, ITAL 0252 (or two courses counted from ITAL 3251-3252-3253 in the Italian Summer School) and four courses at the 0300-level or higher. Students entering the program with a standing beyond the ITAL 0252-level are required to take at least one 0400-level course as part of the Italian minor. All courses at the 0300-level can be completed during the academic year at Middlebury, at the Italian School, or at the C.V. Starr-Middlebury College School in Florence.

Students who major in Italian are required to complete a senior project (ITAL 0755).

To earn departmental honors, high honors*, or highest honors** a student must have at least a 3.6, 3.7*, or 3.8** average or above in Italian courses other than the senior project, have a project defense, and receive a grade of at least B+, A-*, or A** on the thesis (ITAL 0755).

Fulfilling The Middlebury College Writing Requirement

All Italian majors, joint majors, minors, and International and Global Studies majors with literature and culture focus in Italian are strongly encouraged to fulfill their college writing requirement by enrolling in CMLT 0101 Introduction to World Literature.

Requirements for Junior Year/Semester Abroad

The Italian language proficiency requirements for participation in study abroad in Italy can be completed with any combination of courses at the Middlebury campus (summer or academic year) that culminates with the successful completion of ITAL 0252 during the academic year or ITAL 3253 at the Summer School. Students must also have an overall academic average of at least B-, an average of B in Italian (or additional course work), and be enrolled in an Italian course the semester before departure. Because of the demanding and intensive nature of our programs in Middlebury, and because of the difficulty of finding equivalent programs in the United States or in Italy, we do not accept alternative programs for the fulfillment of study abroad requirements.

C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in Italy-Florence

Students may study for a semester or for a full year in Italy. Fall and spring term students enroll for language, literature, and civilization courses in September and January. For examples of recent courses, please refer to the course database:  http://www.middlebury.edu/international/sa/cid .  Students studying in Florence are also expected to enroll in at least one course at the Università degli Studi di Firenze. Subject areas generally offered there include archeology, philology, Italian literature, linguistics, international relations, political science, comparative politics, sociology, history, art history, and history of economics.

ITAL 0101 Beginning Italian (Fall 2024)

Ital 0103 beginning italian iii (spring 2025), ital 0123 accelerated beginning italian (spring 2025), ital 0251 an introduction to contemporary italy (fall 2024), ital 0252 italian culture ii: from the sixties to the present day (spring 2025), ital 0299 literary feasts: representations of food in modern narrative (in english) (spring 2025), ital 0301 the power of words: debating global issues in italian (fall 2024, spring 2025), ital 0354 italian identities: gender, race, culture (spring 2025), ital 0401 the power of words: debating global issues in italian (fall 2024, spring 2025), ital 0454 italian identities: gender, race, culture (spring 2025), ital 0550 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), ital 0755 senior honors (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of japanese studies.

The major requires students to achieve proficiency in Japanese language and culture. In addition, students must study in Japan for at least one semester and complete a 0400-level seminar in the Japanese Studies department.

Proficiency in Japanese Language

Proficiency in Japanese language requires four years of study (completion of JAPN 0402) or equivalent with at least 4 semesters of language at Middlebury in cases of advanced placement. To meet the language proficiency requirement, students are strongly encouraged to begin the study of Japanese in their first academic year. Students who begin study of Japanese in the sophomore year must attend the summer Middlebury School of Japanese or achieve completion of the equivalent of JAPN0202 before study abroad in Japan.

Proficiency in Culture

Proficiency in culture requires a total of five elective content courses. At least three of the content courses must come from those offered by the department, while two may come from courses taken during study abroad or courses with a focus on Japan taught in other departments at the College (History, Religion, History of Art, etc.) and cross-listed in Japanese Studies. Departmental courses fulfilling the elective content course requirement include all courses below the 0400-level taught by the department in English.  At least two elective content courses must be taken before approval for study in Japan.  (One of the two courses may be one of the Japan-focused content courses cross-listed in the department.)

Studying in Japan

Studying in Japan for one semester (Fall or Spring) is required, but studying in Japan for the full junior year is strongly encouraged. Elective content courses taken in Japan may count toward the major as determined by the department on a case-by-case basis.  

Senior Seminar

Seniors are required to take at least one seminar in the Japanese Studies department at the 0400 level.

Successful completion of a 0400-level seminar and JAPN 0700 Senior Thesis with a grade of B+ or above are required for graduation with departmental honors. Departmental honors will be awarded according to the grade point average of courses taken in the department, in the summer Middlebury Japanese School, and in Japan. A grade point average of 3.3 in these courses is required for graduation with honors. A grade point average of 3.75 and a grade of A on the thesis are required for High Honors.

Courses required for the minor in Japanese are completion of language courses to the level of JAPN 0202, or the equivalent, or at least four terms of Japanese in case of advanced placement, and two additional courses offered by the Japanese Studies department in culture, literature, linguistics, or film.

JAPN 0101 First-Year Japanese (Fall 2024)

Japn 0103 first-year japanese (spring 2025), japn 0201 second-year japanese (fall 2024), japn 0202 second-year japanese (spring 2025), japn 0210 introduction to japanese linguistics (in english) (spring 2025), japn 0214 modern and contemporary japanese women writers (spring 2025), japn 0221 sex and death in classical japanese culture (fall 2024), japn 0231 emotion in japanese (spring 2025), japn 0232 narrating okinawa inliterature (fall 2024), japn 0234 voices from the margin (spring 2025), japn 0239 history of postwar japan, 1945-2000 (fall 2024), japn 0301 third-year japanese (fall 2024), japn 0302 third-year japanese (spring 2025), japn 0310 variation and change in japanese (in english) (fall 2024), japn 0401 advanced japanese (fall 2024), japn 0402 advanced japanese (spring 2025), japn 0475 advanced reading in japanese studies (fall 2024), japn 0500 independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), japn 0700 honors thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), jewish studies minor.

This program offers a minor in Jewish Studies to students who complete the following requirements:

One of the following courses that offer a broad introduction to Jewish Studies:

• RELI/JWST 0160 The Jewish Tradition
• RELI/JWST 0261 Jewish Thought: Modern Era
• HIST/JWST 0201 Modern American Jewish History

Four additional courses pertinent to Jewish Studies, one of which must be a seminar (300 or 400-level), from among the following:

• ENAM/LITS 1022 Kafka and his Influence
• HEBM 0254 Rite/Ritual: Israel & Society
• HEBM 0258 Israeli Society Through Film
• HIST/JWST 0250 The Jews in Modern Europe
• HIST/JWST 0257 The Holocaust
• RELI/JWST 1043 Prophets and Politics
• RELI/JWST 0297 Middle East Political Religion
• RELI/ENAM 0180 Biblical Literature
• RELI/JWST 0280 Hebrew Bible / Old Testament
• RELI 0332 The Ten Commandments
• RELI 0356 Islam and Judaism
• RELI/JWST 0360 Seminar in Jewish Thought
• RELI/JWST 0362 Religion and Nationalism - Israel and Palestine
• RELI/JWST 0380 Seminar in Biblical Studies
• RELI/JWST 0388 Reading the Book of Job

Up to two courses in Hebrew language or texts (HEBR or HEBM 0201 and higher) may count toward the requirements for the minor.

Other appropriate courses, including Winter Term courses, may be substituted with the permission of the program director.

JWST 0160 Jewish Traditions (Fall 2024)

Jwst 0201 modern american jewish history (fall 2024), jwst 0231 zionism and the "roads not taken" (1880-1948) (spring 2025), jwst 0257 the holocaust (spring 2025), jwst 0275 sociology of modern antisemitism (fall 2024), jwst 0302 american jewish life (spring 2025), jwst 0389 "in the beginning: reading genesis" (fall 2024), jwst 0448 black and jewish feminist perspectives (spring 2025), linguistics minor.

The linguistics minor consists of a minimum of  five courses : two required introductory level courses and three electives.

Required courses for the minor are as follows: LNGT 0101 Introduction to Linguistics or LNGT/ANTH 0125 Language Structure and Function LNGT 0102 Introduction to Sociolinguistics or LNGT/ANTH 0109 Language, Culture, Society Electives include the following:

LNGT 0101 Introduction to Linguistics LNGT 0102 Introduction to Sociolinguistics LNGT 0107 Introduction to TESOL LNGT 0109 Language, Culture, Society LNGT 0125 Language Structure & Function LNGT 0206 Narratives in News Media LNGT 0208 Cultural Rhetorics LNGT 0226 Phonetics and Phonology LNGT 0233 History of French Language LNGT 0242 Non-Native Speakers LNGT 0243 How Languages are Learned LNGT 0250 Morphology and Syntax LNGT 0261 Revival of the Hebrew Language LNGT 0270 Chinese Sociolinguistics LNGT 0280 Semantics, Logic and Cognition LNGT 0305 Holocaust/Exile in Translation LNGT 0337 French Language and Society LNGT 0396 Linguistic Anthropology Method LNGT 0495 Language and the Environment LNGT 0500 Independent Work LNGT 1005 Introduction to Tranlation Studies LNGT 1230 Data Science Across Disciplines LNGT 1304 Mayan Language Revitalization LNGT/WRPR 0110 English Grammar: Concepts & Controversies LNGT/JAPN 0210 Japanese Linguistics LNGT/ARBC 0227 Arabic Sociolinguistics LNGT/RUSS 0232 Nature and Origin of Language LNGT/CHNS 0270 Chinese Sociolinguistics LNGT/SPAN 0303 Introduction to Spanish Phonetics/Pronunciation (taught in Spanish) LNGT/JAPN 0310 Variation & Change in Japanese LNGT/SPAN 0322 Hispanic Linguistics (taught in Spanish) LNGT/PHIL 0354 Philosophy of Language LNGT/GRMN 0370 German Linguistics (taught in German) LNGT/SPAN 0422 Hispanic Bilingualism (taught in Spanish) LNGT/SPAN 0390 Linguistic Variation (taught in Spanish) LNGT/ANTH 0395 Environmental Communication LNGT/SPAN 0426 Spanish in the US (taught in Spanish) LNGT/ARBC 0435 Arabic Diglossia (taught in Arabic) Please Note: Students are advised to check with the director for a complete list of courses that count as electives . All electives are taught in English, unless otherwise indicated .

LNGT 0102 Introduction to Sociolinguistics (Fall 2024)

Lngt 0125 language structure and function (fall 2024), lngt 0206 narratives in news media (spring 2025), lngt 0210 introduction to japanese linguistics (in english) (spring 2025), lngt 0226 the sounds of language: introduction to phonetics and phonology (fall 2024), lngt 0227 arabic sociolinguistics (taught in english) (spring 2025), lngt 0231 emotion in japanese (spring 2025), lngt 0233 history of the french language (spring 2025), lngt 0270 chinese sociolinguistics (taught in english) (spring 2025), lngt 0310 variation and change in japanese (in english) (fall 2024), lngt 0322 introduction to hispanic linguistics (spring 2025), lngt 0370 german linguistics (in german) (fall 2024), lngt 0396 linguistic anthropology methods (spring 2025), lngt 0422 bilingualism in the spanish-speaking world (fall 2024, spring 2025), lngt 0500 independent work (fall 2024, spring 2025), program in literary studies.

The overall design of the program is simple, and its expectations are clearly defined. This is a program of study designed for students who by the time of their graduation from Middlebury wish to secure a comprehensive background in a full range of major achievements of world literature, as well as an ability to read and appreciate works of literature in at least one language other than English.

To accomplish those ends, each Literary Studies major is required to take a total of 15 courses in literature over the course of four years. No more than six of these courses may be taken within a single department, and the individual courses may be selected from the literature of any language and of any period. They can be wide-ranging surveys or courses devoted to the study of single authors.

The specific selection of courses is entirely up to the student, but in order to fulfill the requirements for the major, he or she will be expected to take the following:

• Two courses—one historical, one generally theoretical in orientation—selected from the list specified below under the “Summary of Major Requirements”
• One literature course in a foreign language (including Greek and Latin)—normally 0300-level (though FREN 0210 and the FREN 0200-series will usually qualify); and
• A Colloquium for majors to be taken during the fall semester of the senior year.

In addition, in conjunction with an independent reading course taken during the fall semester of the senior year, the student will arrange to take a one-hour oral examination in an area of specialization (as described below) that he or she has defined. This oral examination takes place at the end of the fall semester, and it is followed by a five-hour written comprehensive examination at the end of winter term. 
The written examination will require the student to demonstrate a knowledge of a range of major works by the authors listed below. For reasons of practicality, the number of authors from this list whose works students will actually have an opportunity to discuss on the comprehensive examination in any given year will be limited to 12.


Range of Authors

The following current list will give the student a clear sense of the particular range of major authors it is presumed that he or she will be familiar with by senior year:

• Tirso de Molina
• Lope de Vega
• Shakespeare
• Murasaki Shikibu
• Chikamatsu Monzaemon
• Natsume Soseki

In addition to works by authors whose names appear on this primary list, Literary Studies majors will be urged to deepen their general cultural background by becoming acquainted with the Old and New Testaments (especially Genesis, Psalms, Job, Song of Songs, Matthew, John, Revelation, and the Epistle to the Romans), as well as principal works of Plato, Aristotle, Rousseau, Darwin, Marx, and Freud. A full list of the specific works by these authors included on the current Literary Studies comprehensive reading list is available on the Literary Studies Program website, or from the directors of the program.

Beyond the two historical and theoretical courses required for the program (both of which are counted toward the major), the 0300-level foreign language literature course, the senior year colloquium (LITS 0705) and independent reading course (LITS 0701), and the total of 15 courses, the general, defining requirement for the Literary Studies major is the winter term comprehensive examination (LITS 0700), the overall range of which is specified in the comprehensive reading list. In the process of working toward this general literary education, the student will also be expected to use the independent reading course (LITS 0701) to focus on a group of works chosen to represent an individual specialization in the literature of a particular culture (e.g., German, English, American, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, etc.), or period (e.g., the eighteenth century, the twentieth century, etc.), or genre (e.g., the novel, the drama, lyric poetry, etc.). The specific authors and the 10 to 12 texts selected by the student for this specialization will be approved by the director in conjunction with two faculty examiners with relevant expertise in the fields represented. This oral examination is the culmination of the independent reading course (LITS 0701) in the fall semester. At the end of the following winter term, there is a five-hour written winter term comprehensive examination based on the reading list. Students qualifying for honors (a B+ average in the major, including the comprehensive examination) will complete a Senior Honors Essay (LITS 0710) in their final semester.

After completing all the specified requirements, the student will be graduated from Middlebury College as a Literary Studies major with a particular area of interest: for example, epic poetry, European drama, Japanese literature, the literature of the nineteenth century, etc. Should the student wish to pursue graduate study, depending on the nature of his or her interests and preparation, the student would be in a good position to do so in such fields as English or American literature, comparative literature, or the literature of a specific foreign language; in addition, he or she would have a secure background for further studies in such fields as law, political philosophy, religion, journalism, publishing, medicine, and cultural and intellectual history.
 Literary Studies majors have gone on to do work in all these areas.

As indicated above, students will be eligible for departmental honors in Literary Studies if in their combined performance in literature courses and on the two parts of the comprehensive examination they have achieved an average grade of B+ or higher. Honors will be awarded on the basis of the overall grade average in the major, performance on the comprehensive examination, and a senior honors essay of 30-40 pages to be completed during the spring semester of the senior year (this project counts as one course). A one-hour oral examination on the content and implications of this honors essay is also required, and this examination will be conducted by two faculty members with particular expertise in the fields represented.

Summary of Major Requirements

Total of 15 courses (no more than six in any one department).

(1)  Two courses selected from the historical and theoretical courses listed below, one from each category, as currently offered. (With the permission of the director, alternative courses may be substituted for those specified here.)

Historical :

• CLAS 0150 Greek and Roman Epic
• RELI 0180 Introduction to Biblical Literature

Theoretical :

• ENAM 0205 Contemporary Literary Theory

(2)  One course in literature in a foreign language (normally 0300 level, but FREN 0201 and FREN 0220 series would usually qualify).

(3)  At least four literature courses, but no more than six, to be taken within a single department. (Courses in language instruction may not be counted toward this requirement.)

(4)  Independent Reading Course (LITS 0701) in Area of Specialization (by genre, period, theme, or national literature), an area of particular interest  defined by the student in consultation with the director. A one-hour oral examination, to be taken in the fall semester before the winter term written comprehensive examination in the senior year, is devoted to this area of special interest. The 10 to12 texts required for this examination will be chosen by the student in conjunction with the director and two faculty examiners with appropriate backgrounds in the fields represented.

(5)  Senior Colloquium for majors (LITS 0705, open to non-majors if space is available), focused on a range of works on the comprehensive reading list.

(6)  Senior Comprehensive Examination (LITS 0700) in preparation for the written comprehensive examination. Students engaged in such preparation arrange  to meet with one another over the course of winter term, and often solicit faculty participation in discussions of individual texts they have chosen to work on as a group.

(7)  Written Comprehensive Examination (LITS 0700) (on works that appear on the Literary Studies comprehensive reading list), taken at the end of winter term of the senior year. As indicated, this five-hour written examination represents the second part of the comprehensive requirement, the oral specialization examination in LITS 0701 being the first.

(8)  Students achieving an average grade of B+ or higher in the program will be eligible for honors. Honors will be awarded on the basis of the overall grade average in courses in the major, performance on the comprehensive examination, and a senior honors essay of 30-40 pages, to be completed (for one course credit) during the spring semester of the senior year; a one-hour oral examination on the content of this essay is administered by two faculty examiners with expertise in the field of investigation represented.

Please Note:  Any literature course in the Middlebury College curriculum (and in approved programs abroad or at other U.S. institutions) may be used to fulfill the requirements in the Program in Literary Studies. Hence, in addition to the specific LITS course descriptions indicated below, students majoring in Literary Studies as well as non-majors with an interest in literature are urged to read through the entire literature offering by various departments (including language departments) to secure a full sense of the range of courses available in any academic year.

LITS 0510 Independent Essay Project (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Lits 0701 independent reading course (fall 2024, spring 2025), lits 0705 senior colloquium in literary studies (fall 2024), lits 0710 senior honors essay (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of luso hispanic studies, major in spanish.

The major consists of a minimum of nine courses numbered 0300 or above. The requirements are as follows:

• At least six courses must be at the 0400 level or above. Or, a student must complete at least five courses at the 0400 level or above and a thesis. At least one of these 0400 level courses must be taken at Middlebury College during academic year in the student’s senior year. The other elective courses may be taken on the Middlebury College campus during the academic year or at the Middlebury Spanish School, the School in Spain, the Schools in Latin America, or, with departmental approval, at study abroad programs in Latin America sanctioned by Middlebury’s Programs Abroad Committee.
• Study abroad in in a Spanish-speaking country for at least one semester is highly recommended and a course at the 300 level is required before studying abroad. Students are expected to consult with their advisor when selecting courses and making plans to study abroad.

The Spanish component of a joint major will consist of at least six courses from departmental offerings numbered 0300 and above, as follows:

• At least five courses must be at the 0400 level or above.
• At least two of these 0400 level or above courses must be taken at Middlebury College during the academic year. At least one of these 0400 level courses must be taken at Middlebury College during academic year in the student’s senior year. The other elective courses may be taken on the Middlebury College campus during the academic year or at the Middlebury Spanish School, the School in Spain, the Schools in Latin America, or, with departmental approval, at study abroad programs in Latin America sanctioned by Middlebury’s Programs Abroad Committee.
• Study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country for at least one semester is highly recommended and a course at the 300 level is required before studying abroad. Students are expected to consult with their advisor when selecting courses and making plans to study abroad.

Spanish or Portuguese Courses

• Courses at the SPAN or PGSE 0100 through 0200 levels are Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Intermediate language instruction focused on developing skills in speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing.

• Courses at the SPAN or PGSE 0300 level introduce significant themes in literature, film and media, linguistics, and cultural studies. For Spanish, these courses are closed to juniors and seniors returning from study abroad.

• Courses at the SPAN or PGSE 0400 level are advanced offerings that explore in greater depth a specific line of inquiry applied to literary, cultural, film and media, or linguistic issues in the Lusophone and/or Hispanophone worlds, and satisfy the International Studies advanced language requirement in Spanish or Portuguese. (If a PGSE 400-level course is not available to a student, a 300-level one would fulfill the requirement.)

All courses taken abroad in Spanish or Portuguese are considered to be at the 400 level, regardless of their course number.

Minor in Spanish

The Spanish minor consists of at least four courses numbered 0300 or above, one of which must be at the 0400-level or above and taken at the Middlebury College campus during the academic year. Courses can be taken on campus during the academic year or at the Middlebury Spanish School, one of our Middlebury Schools Abroad Spanish-speaking sites, or, with departmental approval, at a Spanish-speaking site from study abroad programs sanctioned by Middlebury’s Programs Abroad Committee.

Minor in Portuguese

The Portuguese minor consists of at least four courses numbered 0300 or above. Courses can be taken on campus during the academic year or at the Middlebury College Portuguese Language School, the C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in Brazil, or, with departmental approval, at study abroad programs sanctioned by Middlebury’s Programs Abroad Committee. At least one 0300-level or above course must be taken at the Middlebury College campus during the student’s final academic year.

Senior Work in Spanish

During the senior year, majors and joint majors must complete a 0400-level course.

International and Global Studies Major with Spanish or Portuguese Language

Along with other required courses and senior work as described in the International and Global Studies Major section, completion of the Spanish or Portuguese language component requires: (1) proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese (a minimum of one course at the 0300 level or above, or work in the Spanish or Portuguese summer school at the 0300 level or above); (2) at least one semester, preferably a year, abroad in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking country; and (3) one or more courses at or above the 0400 level upon return from abroad. (If a PGSE 400-level course is not available to a student, a 300-level one would fulfill the requirement.)

College credit is awarded for successful performance on the Advanced Placement Examinations in Spanish Language and/or Spanish Literature. In all cases the student must satisfactorily complete a course at the 0300 level before the credit will be awarded. AP credit does not affect course placement, nor does it count towards the major or minor. There is a maximum of one credit allowed for Spanish AP.

For placement in advanced PGSE classes, students must consult with the Chair of the department or with one of the department’s Portuguese faculty members.

Programs Abroad for Juniors

The department expects that majors will spend at least one semester in residence in a Spanish-speaking country. Middlebury Schools Abroad offer both year and semester programs at the following sites:

• Argentina (Buenos Aires)
• Chile (Concepción, Santiago, Temuco, Valdivia, Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, and Villarrica)
• Puerto Rico (San Juan, Mayaguëz)
• Spain (Madrid, Córdoba, Getafe, and Logroño)
• Uruguay (Montevideo)

Internship opportunities are available. For more information on these programs, please see the  Schools Abroad . Students who are interested in going abroad and who are also double or joint majors or are thinking of participating in the teacher education program should consult with their advisors in both areas as early as possible to avoid any conflict in plans.

Students who are planning to study abroad in one of our Middlebury Schools Abroad Spanish-speaking sites are required to have taken at least one content course at the 0300 level or above. A content course is one that meets a requirement other than LNG.

For Portuguese, Middlebury’s School in Brazil offers both year and semester programs in Belo Horizonte, Florianópolis, or Niterói. Internship opportunities are available. For more information on these programs, please see the  Schools Abroad . Students who are planning to study abroad at the Middlebury C.V. Starr School in Brazil are required to have taken at least one course at the 0215 level or above.

Honors in Spanish

The department will award honors on the basis of a student’s work in the department and performance in SPAN 0705. All students interested in receiving honors must contact their advisors at the start of their last year at Middlebury; either in September or in February. Please see complete information about the requirements in  Thesis Guidelines .

PGSE 0115 Accelerated Beginning Portuguese (Fall 2024)

Pgse 0215 advanced portuguese (spring 2025), pgse 0315 japanese immigration to brazil (fall 2024), pgse 0335 the black lusophone atlantic (in english) (spring 2025), pgse 0375 colonial discourse and its legacies in the lusophone world (fall 2024), pgse 0500 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), span 0101 beginning spanish i (fall 2024), span 0104 beginning spanish ii (fall 2024, spring 2025), span 0201 intermediate spanish (fall 2024, spring 2025), span 0220 intermediate spanish ii (fall 2024, spring 2025), span 0250 spanish for heritage speakers (spring 2025), span 0306 narratives of diversity in 21st century spain (fall 2024, spring 2025), span 0307 ideas and cultures of the southern cone (fall 2024), span 0315 hispanic film (fall 2024), span 0318 resistencia latinex (spring 2025), span 0321 latin american queer culture (fall 2024), span 0322 introduction to hispanic linguistics (spring 2025), span 0330 migrant oral narratives: resistance and self-care from central america to vermont (fall 2024), span 0331 youth cultures in contemporary spain (spring 2025), span 0336 hispanic performance studies (spring 2025), span 0340 representations of social, cultural, and political identities in spain (fall 2024, spring 2025), span 0347 indigenous peoples and social movements in bolivia (fall 2024), span 0365 catholicism in latin america (spring 2025), span 0422 bilingualism in the spanish-speaking world (fall 2024), span 0468 in the middle of nowhere: rural spain through history (fall 2024), span 0481 understanding the myth of don juan in the western tradition (spring 2025), span 0487 witches in global visual culture (fall 2024), span 0490 latin america in paris/paris in latin america (spring 2025), span 0496 hispanic catholic ascetics, mystics and saints (fall 2024), span 0500 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), span 0705 senior honors thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of mathematics and statistics.

Students majoring in mathematics may choose to complete either the standard mathematics major requirements listed below or the Applied Mathematics Track. For more information about applied math at Middlebury, please visit this page .

Required for the Major in Mathematics

The standard mathematics major consists of eleven courses total, at least six of which must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont:

• Core courses: MATH 0122, MATH 0200, MATH 0223, MATH 0302, and MATH 0323 (at least one of the latter two to be completed by the end of the junior year)
• Electives: : five MATH electives at the 0200-level or above. Students may substitute up to two courses with a STAT prefix. One of these can be at the 200 level; the other must be at the 300 level or above.  (Courses listed with both a MATH and STAT prefix would not count as one of these two substitutions.) 
• Senior work: A 0700-level MATH seminar in the senior year

For students who matriculated Fall 2023 or earlier: Students can include a post-calculus course sequence of probability (MATH 0310) and either statistical inference (MATH 0311) or stochastic processes (MATH 0410). Completion of one of these designated sequences (0310→0311 or 0310→0410) may be counted in place of MATH302 for the mathematics major requirement.

Note : Students are strongly encouraged to include a proof-based course such as MATH 0241 or MATH 0247 early in their programs. This is especially helpful prior to taking MATH 0302 or MATH 0323. 

Students planning a 3-2 engineering program who wish to major in Mathematics should complete the 700-level senior seminar in their sixth semester at Middlebury. 

Required for the Major in Statistics

Eleven courses total, at least six of which must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont:

• Core courses: MATH 0122, MATH 0200, MATH 0223, STAT 0201 or (STAT 0116 and STAT 0118), STAT 0211, MATH/STAT 0310, MATH/STAT 0311;
• Electives: three STAT electives at the 0200-level or above, one of which must be a Group B elective (MATH 0323, MATH 0410, STAT 0412). Students may substitute one non-Group B STAT elective with any one MATH course at the 0200-level or above.
• Senior work : A 0700-level STAT seminar in the senior year.

Students who need to start the Calculus sequence with MATH 0121 can reduce the elective count by 1, but still must include an elective at the 0400 level.

Please visit this page for more information about Statistics at Middlebury College.

Required for the Applied Mathematics Track

Students who choose the Applied Math Track within the mathematics major must take a total of eleven courses, at least six of which must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont:

• 5 Core courses: MATH 0122, MATH 0200, MATH 0223, MATH 0226, and MATH 0323
• 2 Required Electives: Students must take one elective from each of the categories below.       - Computational Elective: Choose one of MATH 0228 or MATH 0328       - Advanced Differential Equations Elective: Choose one of MATH 0315 or MATH 0326
• 3 Electives that count towards the mathematics major at the 0200-level or above.
• Senior work: A 700-level applied mathematics seminar. Current applied mathematics seminars are MATH 0715 and MATH 0728.

Please visit this page for more information about Applied Math at Middlebury College.

Students who wish to be considered for departmental honors in mathematics must take one additional elective (12 courses total). Honors designations are based on senior work and GPA within the major.

Required for the Minor in Mathematics

Six courses total at least half of which must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont:

• Plus three MATH courses at the 0200-level or above

The Department of Mathematics does not offer a joint major.

There is no minor in Statistics.

Advanced placement in the department is offered to first-year students whose secondary training indicates they can commonly bypass one or more of the beginning courses in mathematics.

Majors typically begin their study of mathematics in MATH 0122 or MATH 0200. Mathematics majors who need to begin the study of calculus with MATH 0121 may arrange with their advisors to use this course as one of the required electives. Credits for MATH 0121 and 0122 may be earned through the College Board AP exams or international exams such as the A-Levels or IB. At the discretion of the chair, additional courses may be waived in recognition of exceptional secondary school preparation. However, in all cases the major must include at least seven (7) Middlebury College or approved transfer courses, and the minor must include at least 4. Students who have earned grades on advanced placement calculus exams that are eligible for credit may not register for the equivalent course at Middlebury College.

Thus students who have earned 4 or 5 on the Calculus AB exam or a 3 on the Calculus BC exam may not register for MATH 0121, students who have earned 4 or 5 on the Calculus BC exam may not register for MATH 0121 or MATH 0122. This policy applies irrespective of whether students choose to use their AP credits toward meeting Middlebury’s graduation requirements. The following international credentials carry the same credit as a 4 or 5 on the Calculus BC Exam: A-level exam with a mathematics grade of A, B, or C; or IB Higher Level Mathematics with a grade of 6 or 7.

AP Statistics is not a substitute for any of the introductory statistics courses offered within the Mathematics and Statistics Department at Middlebury.

See more information on Placement .

Other Credits

Because of the wide variation in course offerings at other institutions, students wishing to substitute a course from another college for any course in mathematics must seek approval from the department before registering for the course.

MATH 0121 Calculus I (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Math 0122 calculus ii (fall 2024, spring 2025), math 0200 linear algebra (fall 2024, spring 2025), math 0223 multivariable calculus (fall 2024, spring 2025), math 0226 differential equations (fall 2024, spring 2025), math 0230 euclidean and non-euclidean geometries (spring 2025), math 0247 graph theory (fall 2024), math 0302 abstract algebra (fall 2024, spring 2025), math 0310 probability (fall 2024, spring 2025), math 0315 mathematical modeling (fall 2024), math 0323 real analysis (fall 2024), math 0328 numerical linear algebra (spring 2025), math 0410 stochastic processes (spring 2025), math 0500 advanced study (fall 2024, spring 2025), math 0705 quadratic number fields (spring 2025), math 0710 advanced probability seminar (fall 2024), stat 0116 intro to statistical science (fall 2024, spring 2025), stat 0118 introduction to data science (fall 2024, spring 2025), stat 0201 advanced introduction to statistical and data sciences (fall 2024, spring 2025), stat 0211 regression (fall 2024), stat 0218 statistical learning (fall 2024, spring 2025), stat 0219 time series analysis (fall 2024), stat 0310 probability (fall 2024, spring 2025), stat 0311 statistical inference (spring 2025), stat 0500 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), middlebury institute courses, miis 8503 science & technology for npts (fall 2024), miis 8504 intro to wmd nonproliferation (fall 2024), miis 8505 introduction to terrorism (fall 2024), molecular biology & biochemistry.

The requirements for the major in molecular biology and biochemistry provide a multidisciplinary yet integrated approach to examining life at the macromolecular, cellular, and organismal levels. The major is composed of 15 required courses including foundation courses, advanced courses, and four electives selected among three thematic suites. Required foundation courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology establish a strong, broad understanding of the science necessary for advanced study. Required advanced courses in the core areas of molecular biology and biochemistry build on this foundation. Finally, elective courses offer advanced opportunities to explore a wide variety of specific topics including neurobiology, developmental biology, computational biology, data science, molecular genetics, and biochemical mechanisms. Students may engage in mentored independent research in these areas. To declare the MBBC major, complete a major declaration form  and forward it along with the names of three MBBC faculty affiliates who could serve as your academic advisor to Grace Spatafora at  [email protected] . The MBBC Director will work with you to identify who will serve as your academic advisor. Feel free to reach out to the MBBC faculty with questions.

Required Background Courses

A single course may not fulfill more than one requirement.

• PHYS 0108 Physics in Motion or PHYS 0109 Introductory Mechanics
• BIOL 0140 Ecology and Evolution
• BIOL 0145 Cell Biology and Genetics
• BIOL 0211 Experimental Design and Data Analysis or STAT 116 Introduction to Statistical Science or STAT 0201 Advanced Introduction to Statistical and Data Science
• CHEM 0103 Gen. Chemistry I and CHEM 0104 Gen. Chemistry II or CHEM 0107 Adv. Gen. Chemistry
• CHEM 0203 Organic Chemistry I: Structure and Reactivity
• CHEM 0204 Organic Chemistry II: Synthesis and Spectroscopy
• BIOL 0314 Molecular Genetics
• CHEM 0322 Biochemistry of Macromolecules

Required Elective Suite Courses

A list of appropriate electives is provided within each suite. However, not all listed courses are offered every year. Also, as other appropriate courses may become available on campus, there may be additional course options within each suite. Majors will be kept informed of currently available courses that fit within the two elective suites below. 

1. Quantitative Suite  (students must take 2 classes in this suite)

• CHEM 0355 Thermodynamics and Kinetics*
• CSCI 0201 Data Structures*
• CSCI 0321 Bioinformatics Algorithms*
• MATH 0200 Linear Algebra
• MATH 0223 Multivariable Calculus*
• STAT 0118 Introduction to Data Science or XXXX 1230 Data Science Across Disciplines    

2. Advanced Elective Suite (students must take a total of 3 distinct classes in this suite, one of which must be a laboratory course. A semester of independent research qualifies as a laboratory course - ie. BIOL 0500-0701, NSCI 0500-0701, or MBBC 0500-0701.)

• BIOL 0225 Human Genetics
• BIOL 0280 Immunology
• BIOL 0305 Developmental Biology
• BIOL 0310 Microbiology
• BIOL 0324 Genomics
• BIOL 0330 Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis
• BIOL 0331 The Genetics of Cancer
• BIOL 0333 Receptor Biology
• BIOL 0350 Endocrinology
• BIOL 0365 Molecular Microbial Ecology
• BIOL 0449 Extremophiles: conquering Earth’s Extreme Environments
• BIOL 0450 Topics in Reproductive Medicine
• BIOL 0475 Neuroplasticity
• CHEM 0303 Chemical Biology
• CHEM 0425 Biochemistry of Metabolism
• NSCI 0235 Mighty Mitochondria
• BIOL, CHEM, NSCI, or MBBC 0500-0701 Independent Research
• PHYS 0241 Biomedical Imaging*

*Courses with pre-requisites other than courses already required for the MBBC major (or by waiver for some). There is no minor in molecular biology and biochemistry.

Prospective students are encouraged to begin the Introductory Chemistry and Introductory Biology sequences and Mathematics during their first three semesters at Middlebury. CHEM 0204 may be taken either concurrently with CHEM 0322, or afterwards. BIOL 0331, BIOL 0333 or BIOL 0310 are examples of courses with sections that fulfill the CW requirement.

Students may be able to bypass introductory courses in chemistry on the basis of AP credit or proficiency exams. Those who bypass CHEM 0103 may begin with CHEM 0104 (fall or spring) or CHEM 0107 (fall only). AP Physics credit will satisfy the physics requirement (PHYS 0109).

AP Statistics will not satisfy the statistics requirement. Students with AP Statistics credit will be required to enroll in BIOL 0211 or MATH 0116. AP Calculus, IB or A-level Mathematics exams, bypass exams, or any pre-college course in calculus cannot be used to satisfy electives in the Quantitative Suite. Students will need to enroll in courses at Middlebury to satisfy this requirement. Student placement in math classes at the College is decided by the Math Department based on either scores on advanced placement exams or review of high school records.

Some graduate schools may require two semesters each of mathematics and physics. Students interested in the health professions can learn more about the pre-health requirements by reaching out to the health professions team for individual support.

Study Abroad and Transfer Credits

Students who consider taking summer courses or courses abroad must consult with their advisor about the process of transferring credit from another institution. With approval of the Program Director, transferred credits may count towards the major requirements. 

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Research

Research is an important component of a well-rounded academic pursuit; it contributes to the development of independence and creativity, as well as to the depth of knowledge needed to become an active contributor to the scientific community. Majors may undertake independent research with a faculty mentor in MBBC or in other Departments and Programs, provided the research falls within the mission of the major. Any major is eligible to perform an independent study research project (BIOL 0500, CHEM 0500, NSCI 0500, or BIOL/CHEM/NSCI/MBBC 0700) with the consent of a mentor.

Requirements for Honors

Senior thesis research may be initiated by any junior with the consent of a mentor. Students considering senior thesis research are urged to begin conversations with faculty early in their junior year (certainly by winter term) because many thesis projects begin during the summer preceding the senior year. Those eligible for honors or high honors in molecular biology and biochemistry will: (1) complete at least two semesters of research, which may include winter term; (2) enroll in MBBC 0701 for their final semester of research; (3) graduate with a minimum GPA of 3.3 for all courses counting towards the major; (4) present a public seminar describing the significance, methodology, results, and conclusions of their research; (5) successfully defend their thesis before a committee of three faculty, two of whom must be affiliated with the MBBC program; and (6) earn a grade of at least B+ for MBBC 0701, as determined by the members of the MBBC program, with the grade based on their research performance, their written thesis, their thesis presentation and their thesis defense.

MBBC 0500 Independent Research (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Mbbc 0700 senior independent research (fall 2024, spring 2025), mbbc 0701 senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of music.

For students who matriculate Fall 2024 or later: Seven required Music courses (including MUSC 0160 or passing placement test score.) • MUSC 0101 • MUSC 0160 OR passing placement test score • MUSC 0209  • MUSC 0260  • MUSC 0261  • MUSC 0333  • MUSC 0334  • One performance course at the 0200-level or above (MUSC 0205 counts) • Two electives at the 0200-level or above • MUSC 0400 (0101, 0209, 0260, 0261, 0333, and 0334 taken prior) • MUSC 0704 (senior work) is not a core requirement, but it is required for departmental honors   eligibility. Additionally, joint majors are required to take MUSC 0704 but not MUSC 0400, one   performance course at the 0200-level or above (MUSC 0205 counts), and one elective at the 0200-   level or above. For students who matriculated prior to Fall 2024: Majors are required to take MUSC 0101; MUSC 0209; MUSC 0260-0261; MUSC 0333; MUSC 0334; a performance elective such as MUSC 0240, 0243, 0244, or 0500; two 0200-level or above elective music courses; and MUSC 0400 senior seminar.

Demonstrated proficiencies

Music majors will be required to demonstrate basic piano and sight-singing proficiencies in the semester at the end of Theory II (MUSC 0260). If preparation is needed, music majors are required to take a semester of  keyboard harmony, arranged through the music office.

In addition to the curricular requirements, majors are required to participate for three semesters in at least one departmentally-approved ensemble: African Music and Dance Ensemble, Afropop Ensemble, Middlebury College Orchestra, Middlebury College Choir, Middlebury College Community Chorus, The Sound Investment Jazz Ensemble, or Middlebury Community Wind Ensemble.

Joint Majors are required to take MUSC 0101; MUSC 0260-0261; MUSC 0333; MUSC 0334; two 0200-level or above elective music courses; and MUSC 0704 (senior work that combines both majors and is agreed upon by the advisers and department or program chair)

Students who pursue the minor in music are required to complete five music courses, two of which may be general introductory courses (0100 level) and three other courses at the 0200-0400 levels.

Music Theory Placement Exam

Students may test into MUSC 0209 (Composition I) and MUSC 0260 (Music Theory II) by taking a placement exam rather than taking the pre-requisite MUSC 0160 (Theory I). Incoming students must take the placement exam before classes begin and only at the designated time at orientation. Current students must send an email to Professor Matthew Taylor at  [email protected]  to schedule the exam. Note: Placement tests should be arranged by November 1, and April 1, for the following semesters.

Departmental honors in music reflect a student’s overall achievement in and contribution to the department, as well as demonstrated excellence in MUSC 0704 (Senior Work). To take MUSC 0704, students must have at least B+ grade average in music courses; and must submit a proposal for senior work (of one or two semesters in length) by April 1 of the junior year. Of note: MUSC 0704 (Senior Work) does not count as a course toward fulfillment of the music major. Grade averages of B+ in senior work and B+ in departmental courses will be eligible for honors; A- in senior work and A- in departmental courses will be eligible for high honors; A in senior work and A in departmental courses will be eligible for highest honors.

The African Music and Dance Ensemble  is the core of MUSC 0244, for which enrolled students earn one (1) credit. The Ensemble gives students (with or without a musical background) a rich, hands-on experience with numerous East African (Ugandan) music and dance cultures through regular rehearsals and end-of-semester concerts. See course listing of MUSC 0244. (D. Kafumbe).

The following ensembles require two semesters of enrollment to earn (1) credit:

Afropop  is a dynamic and diverse blend of traditional African music with R&B, rock, pop, reggae, hip hop, funk, EDM, and many other Western and Afro-diasporic styles. Students learn songs by ear and create their own arrangement—most songs use three or four chords and pentatonic melodies. There are no prerequisites. The ability to read music is not required. See course listing MUSC 0205 .  (D. Kafumbe)

Middlebury College Orchestra  auditions for instrumentalists at the beginning of the semester. Twice-weekly rehearsals take place in Robison Hall in preparation for performances featuring music from all periods. See course listing for MUSC 0205. (E. Bennett).

Middlebury College Choir  performs concerts each fall and spring, participates in Baccalaureate and other College functions, and tours or engages in other projects annually. Audition required, with attention to sight-reading, listening skills, and vocal production. Intent to participate full year/multiple semesters strongly encouraged. Open to all students without prerequisite. See course listing of MUSC 0205. (J. Buettner).

College Community Chorus  performs concerts each fall and spring, usually including a major choral work for chorus and organ or orchestra. Open to all without audition; rehearsals focus on developing choral musicianship. See course listing of MUSC 0205. (J. Rehbach).

The Sound Investment Jazz Ensemble  uses traditional big-band instrumentation, playing the best of contemporary jazz arrangements as well as classic charts from the 75 years of swing and jazz band history. The ensemble also features student compositions and arrangements when available. An active performance schedule is typical. See course listing of MUSC 0205. (D. Forman).

Middlebury Community Wind Ensemble  is an off-campus community ensemble that students are invited to join that features woodwind, brass, and percussion; no auditions necessary. There are two performances each semester. Rehearsals take place at Middlebury Union High School. (M. McHugh).

Other Chamber Ensembles : String quartets, woodwind and brass ensembles can be formed and coached for interested students. Independent projects (MUSC 0500) can be arranged for these groups.

Private Music Lessons

Music majors and non-music majors are welcome to take private music lessons with Middlebury College Affiliate Artists. No auditions are required; private music lessons are considered extracurricular and do not confer course credit. The fall and spring lessons series include ten 45-minute lessons; the winter term series includes four lessons. Fees are billed directly to the student’s account (discounts may apply). More information is available online at https://www.middlebury.edu/college/academics/music/private-lessons .

MUSC 0101 Introduction to Music (Spring 2025)

Musc 0112 introduction to electronic music (fall 2024), musc 0160 music theory i: fundamentals (fall 2024, spring 2025), musc 0205 performance lab (fall 2024, spring 2025), musc 0209 music i (fall 2024), musc 0210 music ii (spring 2025), musc 0212 advanced topics in electronic music (spring 2025), musc 0230 musc 0230 the broadway musical: histories, identities, and performance (spring 2025), musc 0239 the cultural work of country music (spring 2025), musc 0245 collaborative improvisation: all-arts ensemble (spring 2025), musc 0260 music theory ii: diatonic theory (fall 2024), musc 0261 music theory iii: chromatic theory (spring 2025), musc 0309 advanced composition (fall 2024), musc 0333 music in western cultures (fall 2024), musc 0400 approaches to music inquiry (fall 2024), musc 0500 independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), musc 0704 senior work (fall 2024, spring 2025), program in neuroscience.

The major includes required background and foundations courses, electives, and senior work. Required background courses in biology, psychology, and chemistry, establish a foundation in science necessary for upper-level study. Foundation courses teach students to approach neuroscience from three intellectually different, but related directions. Elective courses offer opportunities to explore a wide variety of neuroscience related areas. Senior work requires all majors to integrate their specific training through research or a senior seminar.  Students may be exempt from some introductory courses through placement or bypass exams. For more information on placing out of a specific course, contact the chairperson of the relevant department. 

Please note that in accordance with the general college policy regarding interdisciplinary majors, majors in Neuroscience cannot declare more than one minor.

• PSYC 0105 Introduction to Psychology
• CHEM 0103 General Chemistry I or CHEM 0104 General Chemistry II or CHEM 0107 Advanced General Chemistry
• PSYC 0201 Psychological Statistics or BIOL 0211 Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis or STAT 0116 Introduction to Statistical Science or STAT 0201 Advanced Introduction to Statistical and Data Sciences . (The program strongly recommends that majors take PSYC 0201 or BIOL 0211, unless they have special interests that favor taking STAT 0116 or STAT 0201.)   
• PSYC 0105, CHEM 0103, and BIOL 0145 should be taken as early as possible.  
• We strongly recommend that PSYC 0201 or BIOL 0211 be taken by the end of the third year.

Foundations Courses

All are required:

• NSCI 0251 Fundamentals of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (Not open to seniors) 
• NSCI 0252 Fundamentals of Behavioral Neuroscience (Currently only open to NSCI Majors with the prerequisites of PSYC 0105 and NSCI 0251)

Majors must take three electives chosen from within or across the Biological, Psychological, or Philosophical groupings below:

Biological Studies of Neuroscience

• BIOL 0216 Animal Behavior
• BIOL 0235 Sexual Selection
• BIOL 0270 Neural Disorders
• BIOL 0370 Animal Physiology
• NSCI 0200 Pioneers of the Brain
• NSCI 0225 Brain Evolution
• NSCI 0320 Clinical Neuroscience
• NSCI 0345 Neurodevelopment

Psychological Studies of Neuroscience

• PSYC 0202 Research Methods
• PSYC/NSCI 0205 Emotions
• PSYC/NSCI 0206 Brain Plasticity
• PSYC/NSCI 0227 Cognitive Psychology
• PSYC/NSCI 0302 Conditioning and Learning
• PSYC/NSCI 0303 Sensation and Perception
• PSYC/NSCI 0309 Psychopharmacology
• PSYC/NSCI 0317 Biobehavioral Addiction
• PSYC/NSCI 0343 Behavioral Genetics
• PSYC/NSCI 0353 Social Neuroscience
• RELI/PSYC 0209 Mindfulness and Psychology
• LNGT 0226 Phonetics & Phonology

Philosophical Studies of Neuroscience

• PHIL 0214 Science and Society
• PHIL 0216 Science and the Quest for Truth
• PHIL 0220 Knowledge and Reality
• PHIL 0230 Moral Psychology (formerly PHIL 0310)
• PHIL 0252 Philosophy of Mind
• PHIL 0280 Semantics, Logic, and Cognition
• PHIL 0316 Philosophy of Science
• PHIL/LNGT 0354 Philosophy of Language
• PHIL 0360 Consciousness
• RELI/PHIL 0320 Yogacara Depth Psychology and Philosophy of Mind 

A senior seminar in a neuroscience area, approved by the program. Offerings vary year by year, but possible courses include: 

• BIOL/NSCI 0420 Neurogenetics
• BIOL/NSCI 0480 Neurobiology
• NSCI 0410 Neural Coding
• NSCI 0425 Methods in Neuroscience
• PSYC 0408 Family in Psychology
• PSYC/NSCI 0414 Rhythms of the Brain
• PSYC/NSCI 0418 Psychobio & Sex Diff. Critique
• PSYC/NSCI 0430 Memory: A User’s Guide
• PSYC/NSCI 0434 Genes, Brain and Behavior
• PSYC/NSCI 0437 Social/Emotional Brain or a NSCI relevant BIOL, PSYC or PHIL 0400 level course approved in advance by the NSCI Program) OR senior research (NSCI 0500, NSCI 0700 and NSCI 0701)

If a student completes their senior work by taking NSCI 0500/0700/0701, they may use one (and only one) senior seminar as an elective towards the major. In that case the seminar will be counted as an elective only after NSCI 0500/0700/0701 is completed.   However, if a student fulfills their senior work requirement using a senior seminar, they may not count an additional senior seminar as an elective, unless approved by the instructor in consultation with the program director

During winter term and as course offerings change there may be others that are available for NSCI seminar credit.  Seniors can do research with any faculty in the program, or with certain faculty in other departments provided the research project is approved by the neuroscience faculty and the project is related to understanding the nervous system and the mind.

Neuroscience does not allow joint majors.

Independent Research and Program Honors

Majors are encouraged to undertake independent research (NSCI 0500, NSCI 0700, NSCI 0701) with any faculty member in the program. Students considering any senior research should begin conversations with faculty early in their junior year. Those eligible for honors in neuroscience must (1) complete at least two semesters of thesis-related research (one term of NSCI 0500 or NSCI 0700 and one term of NSCI 0701); (2) have a minimum GPA of 3.3 in major courses (excluding NSCI 0500/0700/0701); (3) present a public seminar describing the background, methodology, results, and greater significance of their research; (4) submit a written thesis and (5) successfully defend their thesis before a committee composed of at least two Neuroscience faculty members, plus others as needed who may recommend High Honors after considering these five components of a thesis.

Study abroad can be a valuable experience that is encouraged, though majors must consult with the Office of Off-Campus Study and their advisor about the advisability of specific programs. Because the requirements for the NSCI major are complex, we recommend that students study abroad for a single term rather than an entire year. It is expected that, with the exception of courses satisfying the Fundamentals of Philosophical Neuroscience requirement, the required courses listed for the major specifically by number (i.e. PSYC 0105, BIOL 0145, PSYC 0201 or BIOL 0211, NSCI 0251, NSCI 0252) would be completed at Middlebury. Students may satisfy the Fundamentals of Philosophical Neuroscience requirement by means of an equivalent course taken abroad, but should seek approval for this course before going abroad.  NSCI electives may be taken abroad if they are determined to satisfy program requirements and are approved by the advisor and program director. Students generally receive major credit for a maximum of two courses taken abroad. The NSCI program does not grant major credit for Independent Study projects completed abroad.

Psychology Department placement exam:  Students who receive a passing score on the Psychology Department placement exam   may bypass PSYC 0105, however they will need to take an additional  elective to fulfill their Neuroscience Requirements. (More details can be found on the Psychology Requirements page.)

Statistics AP Exam:   Students matriculating  Fall 2016 or later  may not use the Statistics AP Examination in place of taking PSYC 0201 (Psychological Statistics) or BIOL 0211 (Biostats). Credit for PSYC 0201 is given to students matriculating   prior to Fall 2016  who achieve a score of 4 or 5 on the  Statistics AP Examination . These students do not need to take an additional course for the major.  

Chemistry AP and Placement Exam:  Students with a score  of 4 or 5 on the Chemistry AP Exam,  or who pass the  Chemistry Department Placement Exam,  may bypass CHEM 0103 and take CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107 instead.

Credit/No Credit

In accordance with handbook guidelines, courses taken under the Credit/No Credit option may not be used to satisfy major requirements, with one exception: a first course taken under the Credit/No Credit option in a department or program in which a student subsequently declares a major or minor may,  with the approval of the department chair or program director , be counted toward major requirements.

Accordingly, the NSCI program director permits the following: If PSYC 0105 is taken CR/NCR, the student must take an additional elective for a grade If CHEM 0103 is taken CR/NCR, the student must then take CHEM 0104 or CHEM 0107 for a grade If BIOL 0145 is taken CR/NCR, the student must take an additional elective for a grade PYSC 0201/BIOL 0211/STAT 0116 cannot be taken CR/NCR

NSCI 0200 Pioneers of the Brain (Spring 2025)

Nsci 0205 emotions (fall 2024), nsci 0227 cognitive psychology (fall 2024, spring 2025), nsci 0235 the mighty mitochondria (fall 2024), nsci 0251 fundamentals of cellular and molecular neuroscience (fall 2024, spring 2025), nsci 0252 fundamentals of behavioral neuroscience (fall 2024, spring 2025), nsci 0410 neural coding: visualizing how the brain computes (spring 2025), nsci 0434 genes, brain, and behavior (fall 2024), nsci 0500 independent research (fall 2024, spring 2025), nsci 0700 senior research (fall 2024, spring 2025), nsci 0701 senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of philosophy.

Majors must complete no fewer than eleven courses in the department, to include:

• Logic Requirement: PHIL 0180 (to be taken by the end of the sophomore year)
• History Requirement: any two courses in the history of philosophy at the 0200 or 0300 level.
• One course in Ethics and Social & Political Philosophy (ESP); and
• One course in Epistemology, Language, Metaphysics, Mind and Science (ELMMS).
• Upper-level Course Requirement:  Three courses at the 0300 or 0400 level, at least one of which must be a 0400-level course. (Students may count only one cross-listed 300-level course taught by faculty outside the Philosophy Department towards their upper-level course requirement. 0400-level courses will not normally satisfy the distribution requirement. Courses taken while abroad will not generally be allowed to substitute for the required 0400-level course.)
• Senior Independent Research Requirement
• At least two other philosophy courses, in order to fulfill the eleven-course requirement. 

Cognate courses may be substituted for no more than two departmental electives, but will not satisfy the departmental distribution requirement; such substitutions require the prior approval of a major’s departmental adviser, and must be at the 0200-level or above.

Senior Independent Research Requirement

Majors must complete a one-semester independent research project (PHIL 0710) in the fall of their senior year. Topics and advisers will be decided through consultation with members of the department. PHIL 0710 includes participation in the senior project workshop held for all students completing their independent work.

Students will be awarded departmental honors if and only if they receive a) at least an A- average in courses counted toward the major, and b) an A- on their senior project.  Students will be awarded high honors if and only if they receive a) at least an A- average in courses counted toward the major, and b) an A on their senior project. 

For the philosophy component of a joint major, students must take nine philosophy courses, including

• PHIL 0180, to be taken by the end of the sophomore year;
• One 0400-level seminar to be taken in the last three semesters;
• One course in the History of Philosophy (HIST)
• One course in Ethics and Social & Political Philosophy (ESP) and
• One course in Epistemology, Language, Metaphysics, Mind and Science (ELMMS)
• A course in which the student completes a senior independent project that shows evidence of having integrated the training of both major fields.  (Normally this course will be PHIL 0710, though other models may be appropriate.)  The topic and scope of the independent project is to be determined in consultation with both major advisers. 
• At least three other philosophy courses, in order to fulfill the nine-course requirement.

A total of six courses in philosophy, including PHIL 0180 and at least one course at the 0300 or 0400 level. Minors wishing to take a 0400-level seminar must have completed three other philosophy courses first. Enrollment priority in 0400-level seminars will be given to majors. Students electing the philosophy minor are encouraged to consult with faculty members in the Philosophy Department about course planning.

PHIL 0150 Introduction to the Western Philosophical Tradition (Spring 2025)

Phil 0156 contemporary moral issues (spring 2025), phil 0170 introduction to world philosophy (fall 2024), phil 0180 introduction to modern logic (fall 2024), phil 0201 ancient greek philosophy (fall 2024), phil 0205 human nature and ethics (spring 2025), phil 0212 justice and the state (spring 2025), phil 0214 science and society (fall 2024), phil 0215 philosophy of technology (fall 2024), phil 0237 chinese philosophy (fall 2024), phil 0252 philosophy of mind (fall 2024), phil 0286 philosophy and literature (fall 2024), phil 0305 confucius and confucianism (spring 2025), phil 0319 readings in the philosophy of history (spring 2025), phil 0334 feminist epistemologies: knowledge, ignorance and social power (fall 2024), phil 0353 social metaphysics (spring 2025), phil 0364 the philosophy of happiness (fall 2024), phil 0418 nietzsche and greek thought: tragedy and philosophy (spring 2025), phil 0500 research in philosophy (fall 2024, spring 2025), phil 0710 senior independent research (fall 2024), physical education.

The physical education program concentrates on lifetime sports and activities, so that all students leave Middlebury College with exposure to sports or recreational activities in which they have developed a degree of skill and interest, which will be an asset to them in later years. Each course carries one unit of physical education credit.

Before graduation, students must complete two courses to receive the required two credits. Students are encouraged to complete the credits by the end of their fourth academic semester at Middlebury (excluding winter term). In the case of transfer students, students are encouraged to complete the requirement by the end of their second semester at Middlebury. Students who have not completed their requirements will not be eligible to graduate.

Team Participation

Students may use participation on varsity intercollegiate teams as a way of satisfying the physical education requirement. The requirement will be fulfilled if a student participates in two seasons of varsity competition. Two-sport athletes may also satisfy both physical education credits through participation on two different varsity intercollegiate teams. 

The Physical Education Department also recognizes participation in five club sports. The five club sports that can receive a physical education credit are rugby, crew, water polo, sailing and equestrian, which have a coach on-site for practices and games. In order to receive a physical education credit, students must participate in one full season of crew, rugby, water polo, sailing or equestrian. Each of these club sports will equal one physical education credit per season.

Additional Courses

Students who wish to elect additional courses beyond those required for graduation may register with the department for the appropriate season and be scheduled for classes on a space-available basis. Some of the courses and activities follow:

• Certification Courses (textbook and related fee applicable): Lifeguard Training, and First Aid/CPR.
• Fee Classes: alpine skiing, martial arts, massage, meditation, horseback riding, Nordic skiing, spinning, and yoga. Instructors outside of the College generally teach these courses. The fees and times are available during Banner web registration.
• Equipment Sports (students provide equipment): tennis.
• More Equipment Sports (department provides equipment): archery, badminton, golf, and squash.
• Conditioning Courses: Resistance training, strength training, and swim for conditioning. 
• Dance Courses (as available): varying levels of ballet, jazz, and modern dance (DANC 0160, DANC 0161, DANC 0162, DANC 0260, DANC 0261, DANC 0276, DANC 0360, DANC 0361, DANC 0380, DANC 0381).

Students may also earn PE credits through programs offered by Student Activities and The Knoll. Approximately 75 courses are scheduled over five sessions each academic year.

The department schedules two seasons of instructional courses in the fall and spring terms and one season in the winter term. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and is open to students electing courses on a space-available basis. Students unaware of their physical education record should check with the Registrar’s Office to ensure completion of their program prior to graduation. Applications for transfer credit must be made in advance, following college procedure for academic credit transfer. The Registrar’s Office processes credits from transcripts for students transferring to Middlebury.

Medical Waivers

All requests for medical waivers must come from the student’s physician. Injuries and illnesses suffered on campus will be considered as exceptions to the previous statement and will be handled by the College health center.

Upcoming Academic Year Dates (2022-23)

• Fall I: September 19 - October 20
• Fall II: October 24 - December 1
• Winter Term: January 9 – February 2
• Spring I: February 13 - March 16
• Spring II: April 3 - May 5

Department of Physics

The physics program at Middlebury is designed to integrate physics into the liberal arts curriculum, as well as to provide challenging courses and research opportunities for students majoring in physics. Courses and student research activities in astronomy are also part of the physics program.

Courses designed especially for students not majoring in Physics include PHYS 0155 (Introduction to the Universe), PHYS 0106 (Physics for Educated Citizens), selected offerings in winter term, and first year seminars. Students majoring in the sciences for premedical, pre-engineering, and other professional programs, and others who desire a more analytical approach to physics, have two tracks to choose from. Students with little prior exposure to physics may prefer to begin with PHYS 0108 (Physics of Motion), followed by PHYS 0111 (Waves, Optics, and Thermodynamics) or PHYS 0114 (Electricity and Magnetism). Students who have successfully completed high school physics and calculus courses should instead opt for PHYS 0109 (Introductory Mechanics), a more accelerated version of introductory Newtonian mechanics than PHYS 0108. In addition, all students who complete PHYS 0114 may elect more advanced courses at the 0200-level or above. The physics department does not offer a minor.

For those majoring in physics, we offer a broad range of courses that emphasize a variety of topics in physics while building both theoretical understanding and experimental skills. Middlebury physics majors apply their education in a wide variety of careers. Some pursue graduate work in physics and related fields; others find their physics degrees valuable in engineering, medicine, business, law, teaching, government service, and other pursuits. The physics program is designed to serve the needs of both those intending advanced study in physics and those for whom formal work in physics will end with the Middlebury degree.

The physics department encourages its majors to study abroad to gain experience at international research facilities, improve language proficiency, and pursue academic interests outside of physics. Students who study abroad, or in a 2-1-1-1 pre-engineering program, may be eligible to transfer one upper-level physics course per term off campus for the physics major. Transfer is contingent upon approval of the department chair, for a maximum of two transferred courses. Students should obtain this approval before studying off campus.

Physics majors interested in obtaining high school physics teaching certification should consult the education studies program as soon as possible, preferably no later than the middle of their sophomore year.

Required for the Major in Physics

The major program consists of eight required physics courses: PHYS 0108 (Physics of Motion) or PHYS 0109 (Introductory Mechanics), PHYS 0114 (Electricity and Magnetism), PHYS 0214 (Relativity and Electromagnetism), PHYS 0216 (Waves and Fourier Analysis), PHYS 0218 (Quantum Physics), PHYS 0222 (Experimental Physics 1), PHYS 0321 (Experimental Physics 2), and PHYS 0350 (Statistical Mechanics); and a minimum of four PHYS electives, at least one of which must be PHYS 0301 (Intermediate Electromagnetism), PHYS 0318 (Quantum Mechanics) or PHYS 0330 (Analytical Mechanics), and at most one of which may be a designated 100-level elective if taken by the end of a student’s third fall/spring semester.  Designated 100-level electives include PHYS 0111 (Waves, Optics and Thermodynamics), and PHYS 0155 (Introduction to the Universe). One of CHEM 0351 or CHEM 0355 may also be counted for elective credit. Other electives must be selected from PHYS courses at the 0200 or 0300 level or approved courses taken abroad within the limits described above. In all cases, at least two electives must be courses in the Middlebury Physics Department at the 0200 or 0300 level. Mathematics at least through the level of MATH 0122 is also required; this requirement may be satisfied either at Middlebury or through appropriate pre-college courses in calculus.

For students completing double majors, courses counted towards another major cannot also be counted as electives toward the physics major. Independent study or senior work courses such as PHYS 0500, PHYS 0704, and PHYS 0705  may not be used for elective credit. In addition to recurring courses in spring and fall terms, PHYS courses that satisfy the elective requirement are occasionally offered during the winter term.

Prospective majors must begin the physics sequence no later than the sophomore year (typically no later than the third fall/spring term on campus). Starting in the first year allows more flexibility in the choice of courses and senior work and increases the feasibility of off-campus study. Students majoring in physics are advised to complete MATH 0122 (or equivalent) by the end of their first two regular terms. Students planning graduate work in physics or a related subject should elect as many as possible of PHYS 0301 (Intermediate Electromagnetism), PHYS 0318 (Quantum Mechanics, and PHYS 0330 (Analytical Mechanics). In addition, MATH 0200 (Linear Algebra), MATH 0223 (Multivariable Calculus), and MATH 0225 (Topics in Linear Algebra and Differential Equations) are strongly recommended for those anticipating graduate study. Most physics majors will find computer programming skills through the level of CSCI 0201 extremely valuable.

Courses in Astrophysics: For those students majoring in physics who wish to pursue courses with a focus on  astrophysics we offer courses at all levels of the curriculum, including PHYS 0155 (Introduction to the Universe), PHYS 0255 (Introduction to Astrophysics), and PHYS 0370 (Cosmological Physics).

With permission of an advisor and the department, students may complete a senior project (PHYS 0704), which involves a significant piece of experimental or theoretical research to be completed in the final year at Middlebury. Topics in recent years have included work in astrophysics, atomic physics, biophysics, condensed matter physics, cosmology, environmental applications, optics, laser spectroscopy, classical and quantum waves, and quantum computing.  Outstanding performance in PHYS 0704 may, with the permission of the advisor and department, allow continuation of the senior project as a senior thesis (PHYS 0705).

A minimum grade average of B in physics courses is required of all honors candidates. To be eligible for departmental honors, a student must also complete a semester-long senior project (PHYS 0704). Honors in physics are awarded primarily on the basis of excellent senior work combined with depth and excellence of coursework in physics. A student’s overall accomplishments in the department, including teaching assistantships and leadership, are also considered in the awarding of honors.

Pre-Engineering

Some students study physics with the intent of eventually doing engineering, either through a dual degree or in graduate school. Students who pursue a physics major en route to a 3-2 engineering degree (in which the Middlebury component is completed by the end of the junior year) take the same eight-course sequence outlined above and two electives, at least one of which must be PHYS 0301, PHYS 0318 or PHYS 0330. Students in a 2-1-1-1 pre-engineering program (those who return to Middlebury for the senior year) take the normal physics major and choose electives in consultation with the pre-engineering advisor.

PHYS 0108 The Physics of Motion (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Phys 0109 introductory mechanics (fall 2024), phys 0111 oscillatory motion, waves, optics, and thermodynamics (fall 2024, spring 2025), phys 0114 electricity & magnetism (spring 2025), phys 0155 an introduction to the universe (fall 2024), phys 0214 relativity and electromagnetism (fall 2024), phys 0216 waves and fourier analysis (fall 2024), phys 0218 quantum physics (spring 2025), phys 0222 experimental techniques in physics i (spring 2025), phys 0301 intermediate electromagnetism (fall 2024), phys 0318 quantum mechanics (spring 2025), phys 0321 experimental techniques in physics (fall 2024), phys 0330 analytical mechanics (spring 2025), phys 0350 statistical mechanics (fall 2024), phys 0370 cosmology (fall 2024), phys 0500 independent study and special topics (fall 2024, spring 2025), phys 0704 senior project (fall 2024, spring 2025), phys 0705 senior research and thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of political science.

Students who matriculate in Fall 2020 or later will adhere to the following requirements.

Students who matriculated prior to Fall 2020 may choose either the following requirements or the previous requirements , below.

Required for the Major in Political Science

All regular fall and spring term political science courses fall into one of five categories: (1) American Politics, (2) Comparative Politics, (3) International Relations and Foreign Policy, (4) Methods, and (5) Political Theory. A major must take ten regular political science courses, including:      (1)  At least one American Politics course      (2)  At least one Comparative Politics course      (3)  At least one International Relations and Foreign Policy course      (4)  At least one Methods course      (5)  At least one Political Theory course

Each of the five categories must be fulfilled by a course taken at Middlebury College in Vermont. We recommend that students start with 100-level courses, whenever possible. No more than one of the ten PSCI major credits may be obtained through a winter term course, and the course is eligible to fulfill a category requirement if it has a PSCI designation. At least seven of the ten courses must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont.

One of the ten required courses must be a PSCI or PSCI cross-listed 0400-level senior seminar offered by a member of the Middlebury faculty in Vermont. Work done in programs abroad, at other North American colleges and universities, or in the Washington Semester program will not count as the equivalent of a Middlebury seminar. IGST seminars co-taught by PSCI faculty cannot substitute for 0400-level PSCI seminars but will count as an elective towards the 10 required courses in PSCI.

Students who elect to seek departmental honors write a thesis in their senior year. Honors candidates should initiate the process by contacting their prospective faculty advisor during their junior year (including students who are abroad during their junior year). Candidates must submit an honors thesis proposal to their advisor prior to the term(s) in which the thesis is to be written. If the proposal is approved, the student may register for PSCI 0500 (independent project) in the first term of the thesis, followed by PSCI 0700 for the second and third terms. All students who plan to write a thesis are strongly encouraged to enroll in a Methods course before their senior year. After an oral examination of the completed thesis, honors are conferred or denied on the basis of (1) the level of the grade achieved on the thesis; and (2) the level of the average grade received in other fall and spring courses taken at Middlebury. Courses taken abroad do not count toward the grade point determination. Honors theses candidates will have a political science course average of at least 3.33 and a thesis grade of B+ or higher to attain honors; a political science course average of at least 3.50 and a thesis grade of A- or higher to attain high honors; and a political science course average of at least 3.67 and a thesis grade of A to attain highest honors. For a full description of regulations, check the Thesis Procedures and Schedule page on the PSCI website.

Independent Study

Students with demonstrated preparation and proficiency in the field may elect independent study projects (PSCI 0500). These projects are prepared under the supervision of a member or members of the department. The PSCI 0500 projects may not be substituted for the seminar requirement. The PSCI 0500 projects are reading and research courses; the department will not award PSCI 0500 credit for political experience such as congressional internships. No more than one of the ten courses required for the major may be a PSCI 0500 credit.

Students wishing to do a joint major in political science and another department or program of studies must take eight regular political science courses. Among the eight total courses required for the major, the student must take at least one course in each of the five categories, including a 0400-level seminar. Students must also give evidence of having used the training in both majors, usually in a seminar paper, but sometimes in an independent project or thesis. At least five courses including the 0400-level seminar must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont. Students may count a maximum of one political science winter term course toward the eight required courses for the joint major. Joint majors do not qualify for honors in political science. (Double majors are eligible.)

The IP&E major allows students to combine the study of politics, economics, and languages, linking these disciplines with an appropriate experience abroad. Students wishing to pursue this major should refer to International Politics and Economics in both the General Catalog and the online catalog.

International and Global Studies Major

IGST seminars co-taught by PSCI faculty cannot substitute for 0400-level PSCI seminars unless they are cross-listed IGST/PSCI seminars. It is highly recommended that IGST thesis candidates supervised by a PSCI faculty member enroll in a PSCI Methods course before their senior year.

Minors in Political Science

The minor in political science will consist of five courses taken at Middlebury College, which must come from at least three of the five categories of courses offered by the department, and may include a maximum of one winter term course. At least one of the courses must be at the 0300-level or above.

Students may not apply credits earned prior to matriculation toward the ten courses required for the PSCI major.

Previous Requirements

Optional only for students who matriculated prior to Fall 2020.

A major must take ten regular political science courses. One of these ten must be an introductory course in the political theory subfield (PSCI 0101 or PSCI 0107). Two additional courses must be introductory courses in two of the three other subfields: American politics (PSCI 0102 or PSCI 0104); comparative politics (PSCI 0103); and international relations (PSCI 0109). These three required introductory courses should normally be completed before the end of the sophomore year. Among the ten total courses required for the major, the student must also fulfill the field distribution requirement, and complete the 0400-level seminar. At least seven of these ten courses, including the 0400-level seminar, must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont. Students may count a maximum of one political science winter term course as one of the ten required courses for the major. Winter term courses may be used to fulfill the field distribution requirement.

The Field Distribution Requirement

All regular fall and spring term political science courses are classified in one of the following four fields: Political Theory, American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Relations and Foreign Policy. Students must take at least two courses in any three of these fields and one course in the fourth field .

The senior program consists of a seminar of the major’s choice. Each seminar includes advanced work appropriate to the field in which the seminar is offered. The seminars are the 0400-level courses offered by the department. Seminars are open to juniors and seniors. Normally, the senior program requirement must be completed by taking a seminar offered by a member of the Middlebury faculty. Work done in programs abroad, at other North American colleges and universities, or in the Washington Semester program will not count as the equivalent of a Middlebury seminar. IGST seminars co-taught by PSCI faculty cannot substitute for 0400-level PSCI seminars but will count as an elective towards the 10 required courses in PSCI.

Students who elect to seek departmental honors write a thesis in the senior year. All students who plan to write a thesis are strongly encouraged to enroll in PSCI 0368 before their senior year (and students writing a political theory thesis are encouraged to take a 0300-level theory course). Honors candidates should initiate the process by contacting their prospective faculty advisor during their junior year (including students who are abroad during their junior year). Candidates must submit an honors thesis proposal to their advisor prior to the term(s) in which the thesis is to be written. If the proposal is approved, the student may register for PSCI 0500 (independent project) in the first term of the thesis, followed by PSCI 0700 for the second and third terms. After an oral examination of the completed thesis, honors are conferred or denied on the basis of (1) the level of the grade achieved on the thesis; and (2) the level of the average grade received in other fall and spring courses taken at Middlebury. Courses taken abroad do not count toward the grade point determination. Honors theses candidates will have a political science course average of at least 3.33 and a thesis grade of B+ or higher to attain honors; a political science course average of at least 3.50 and a thesis grade of A- or higher to attain high honors; and a political science course average of at least 3.67 and a thesis grade of A to attain highest honors. 

Students with demonstrated preparation and proficiency in the field may elect independent study projects (PSCI 0500). These projects are prepared under the supervision of a member or members of the department. The PSCI 0500 projects may not be substituted for the seminar requirement. The PSCI 0500 projects are reading and research courses; the department will not award PSCI 0500 credit for political experience such as congressional internships.

Students wishing to do a joint major in political science and another department or program of studies must take eight regular political science courses. One of these eight must be an introductory course in the political theory subfield (PSCI 0101 or PSCI 0107). Two additional courses must be introductory courses in two of the three other subfields: American politics (PSCI 0102 or PSCI 0104); comparative politics (PSCI 0103); and international relations (PSCI 0109). These three required introductory courses should normally be completed before the end of the sophomore year. Among the eight total courses required for the major, the student must also take at least two courses in any two of the four fields of political science and one course in the third and fourth fields and complete a 0400-level seminar. Students must also give evidence of having used the training in both majors, usually in a seminar paper, but sometimes in an independent project or thesis. At least five courses including the 0400-level seminar must be taken at Middlebury College in Vermont. Students may count a maximum of one political science winter term course as one of the eight required courses for the joint major. Winter term courses may be used to fulfill the field distribution requirement. Joint majors do not qualify for honors in political science. (Double majors are eligible.)

International Politics and Economics Major :  The IP&E major allows students to combine the study of politics, economics, and languages, linking these disciplines with an appropriate experience abroad. Students wishing to pursue this major should refer to International Politics and Economics in both the General Catalog and the on-line catalog.

International and Global Studies Major :  IGS seminars co-taught by PSCI faculty cannot substitute for 0400-level PSCI seminars, In addition, it is highly recommended that IGS thesis candidates enroll in PSCI 0368 before their senior year.

The minor in political science will consist of five courses taken at Middlebury College, which must come from at least two of the four fields in the department, and may include a maximum of one winter term course. At least one of the courses must be at the 0300-level or above. The five course requirement will not be reduced by AP credits.

A score of 4 or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in American politics will entitle the student to exemption from PSCI 0104; such a score may satisfy the requirement of one course in the American politics field. A score of 4 to 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in comparative politics will entitle the student to exemption from PSCI 0103; such a score may satisfy the requirement of one course in the comparative politics field. While supplying two college credits, advanced placement in both American politics and comparative politics will only count as one of the ten courses required for the political science major. Students will also receive only one distribution credit for AP courses, and notwithstanding the distribution credit, all students must take at least one course in each subfield.

PSCI 0101 Introduction to Political Philosophy (Fall 2024)

Psci 0102 the american political regime (spring 2025), psci 0103 introduction to comparative politics (fall 2024, spring 2025), psci 0104 introduction to american politics (fall 2024, spring 2025), psci 0109 international politics (fall 2024, spring 2025), psci 0140 social capital, social networks and trust: in israel and in the united states (spring 2025), psci 0204 left, right, and center (fall 2024), psci 0206 the american presidency (fall 2024), psci 0210 frontiers in political science research (spring 2025), psci 0211 conservation and environmental policy (fall 2024), psci 0213 qualitative methods in political science (fall 2024, spring 2025), psci 0215 federalism, state and local politics (spring 2025), psci 0219 what can i say free speech v. racist speech in the united states and europe (spring 2025), psci 0221 contemporary chinese politics (spring 2025), psci 0229 introduction to text as data (fall 2024), psci 0247 politics of international migration, borders, and migration controls (spring 2025), psci 0249 how to win the argument: rhetoric and democracy (fall 2024), psci 0262 might and right among nations (fall 2024), psci 0275 comparative politics of religion (spring 2025), psci 0286 authoritarian politics (fall 2024), psci 0290 contentious politics in asia (fall 2024), psci 0304 international political economy (fall 2024, spring 2025), psci 0306 american constitutional law: the first amendment (fall 2024), psci 0308 u. s. national elections (fall 2024), psci 0310 american public policy (spring 2025), psci 0314 globalization, terrorism, and global insurgency (fall 2024), psci 0317 ancient and medieval political philosophy (spring 2025), psci 0319 the politics of taxes (spring 2025), psci 0326 the media and minorities (spring 2025), psci 0392 asymmetric conflict research practicum (fall 2024), psci 0411 the politics of money and finance (fall 2024), psci 0418 the future of u.s. democracy (fall 2024), psci 0421 american environmental politics (spring 2025), psci 0422 guns, drugs, people: the illicit economy in the global perspective (fall 2024), psci 0429 seminar on the u.s. congress (spring 2025), psci 0450 ethnic conflict (fall 2024), psci 0452 ecocriticism and global environmental justice (fall 2024), psci 0469 chinese political economy (spring 2025), psci 0483 the rise of asia and us policy (spring 2025), psci 0500 independent projects (fall 2024, spring 2025), psci 0700 honors thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of psychology.

In keeping with this philosophy, the department offers a broad range of courses that provides students with the opportunity to learn about basic research and its applications in a variety of areas, including social, cognitive, behavioral, cultural, clinical, environmental, educational, biological, and developmental psychology.

Requirements for the Major in Psychology

The psychology major consists of a minimum of 10 courses in five categories: (I) Foundation courses, (II) Core courses, (III) Labs, (IV) Advanced seminars, and (V) Electives.       

I. Foundation courses :  The foundation courses provide students an overview of the field, the background, and the skills necessary to understand psychology as an empirical science. The required foundation courses are Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 0105) and the Statistics/Research Methods sequence (PSYC 0201 and PSYC 0202). Most students complete the Statistics/Research Methods sequence by the end of their sophomore year, but no later than the end of their junior year.

II. Core courses :  All students must complete at least three core courses, one each from three of the five areas below.  Core courses ensure that students have a broad understanding of various subfields within the discipline. Students are strongly encouraged to complete core courses no later than the end of their junior year.

We offer core courses in the following areas:

• Clinical :   Psychological Disorders (PSYC 0224)

Cognitive : Cognitive Psychology (PSYC 0227— formerly PSYC  0305 ) or Emotions (PSYC 0205)

• Developmental : Adolescence (PSYC 0216) or Child Development (PSYC 0225)
• Physiological : Brain and Behavior (PSYC 0226— formerly PSYC 0301 )
• Social/Personality :  Social Psychology (PSYC 0203) or Personality Psychology (PSYC 0204) or Cultural Psychology (PSYC 0220)

III. Labs:  All students must take at least one course with a lab section in addition to Psychological Statistics and Research Methods in Psychology. The lab course may also fulfill another course requirement simultaneously (e.g., a core or an elective course). Lab courses are designated as such in the course descriptions.

IV. Advanced seminars:  Each student must take one advanced seminar (0400-level course) in psychology.  Advanced seminars in psychology emphasize the synthesis and integration of theory; these may be taken during junior and/or senior years.  V.   Electives :  Finally, students must choose any three additional courses from the psychology curriculum, including winter term. In addition to regular content courses, PSYC 0350, PSYC 0500, PSYC 0700, or the PSYC 0701/0702/0703 sequence may be used to satisfy one of the elective requirements.

Requirements for the Minor in Psychology

To earn a minor in psychology students need to complete five psychology courses, including the following:

• Two foundation/core courses from among PSYC 0201, PSYC 0202, PSYC 0203 (or PSYC 0204), PSYC 0205, PSYC 0216 (or PSYC 0225), PSYC 0224, PSYC 0226 (formerly PSYC 0301), and PSYC 0227 (formerly PSYC 0305)
• Two electives (any fall, spring, or winter term PSYC courses; one of which can be PSYC 0350, PSYC 0500, or PSYC 0700).

Research Opportunities:   There are options for students who are interested in conducting research in psychology.  Students need permission from a faculty member prior to enrollment in these courses.   

• Sophomores and Juniors   may take Directed Research (PSYC 0350) or Advanced Research (PSYC 0500) under the supervision of a faculty member.
• Seniors  may choose to pursue Senior Research (PSYC 0700) or a Senior Thesis (PSYC 0701/0702/0703).  Senior Research and Senior Theses offer students the opportunity to further synthesize and integrate psychology theory and data by conducting research in collaboration with a faculty mentor.

Students cannot take more than one psychology independent research course (PSYC 0350, PSYC 0500, or PSYC 0700) per semester.

Departmental Honors in Psychology

Students who meet the department requirements may apply to the department to complete a senior honors thesis in psychology.  A thesis requires students to apply their skills and knowledge to the completion of a year-long empirical research project. Students intending to complete honors work are expected to submit a  Thesis Intent Form  by the stated deadline (early to mid-March) of their junior year. Therefore, students should consult with a faculty member before that deadline to actively begin planning their research. The psychology thesis requires three semesters (including Winter Term) of independent research. During the fall term of their senior year, candidates will enroll in PSYC 0701. During the winter and spring terms, after meeting the special requirements listed in the course description and being accepted into honors candidacy, they will enroll in PSYC 0702 and PSYC 0703, respectively (adjustments to this schedule will be made for students entering in February). A minimum GPA of 3.5 in psychology department courses is required for admission to honors candidacy.   

Students can bypass PSYC 0105 and move directly to a higher-level course if they earned a Psychology AP Examination score of 4 or 5, or earned a score of 6 or 7 on the IB (International Baccalaureate) Higher Level psychology exam. Students who achieved a score of 4 or 5 on the Psychology AP Examination can also earn course credit for PSYC 105 (for Middlebury College’s policy on the use of AP credits, see:  http://www.middlebury.edu/offices/academic/records/ap ).

Students who wish to use an AP or IB score to bypass PSYC 105 must submit their Psychology AP or IB score to Middlebury prior to enrolling in a course with PSYC 105 as a pre-requisite.  Psychology Department faculty will not provide waivers for courses with PSYC 105 as a pre-requisite based upon an AP or IB score that has not been submitted to the College.

Beginning with students matriculating in the Fall of 2016, the department will not grant course credit for the Statistics AP Examination towards the major, the minor, or as an equivalent for PSYC 0201 (Psychological Statistics).

Transfer Credits in Fulfillment of the Psychology Major and Minor

Students may transfer no more than two psychology courses toward the major or minor while enrolled as a full time student at Middlebury. Students wishing to obtain approval to transfer more than two courses must petition the department in advance.

Major in Neuroscience

See the Neuroscience Program listing for a description of this major.

Major in Environmental Studies with a focus in Psychology

See the Environmental Studies Program listing for a description of this major.

Education Studies Minor with a Psychology Major

Up to two of the Psychology courses required for the Education Studies minor may also be counted towards the Psychology major.

PSYC 0105 Introduction to Psychology (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Psyc 0201 psychological statistics (fall 2024, spring 2025), psyc 0202 research methods in psychology (fall 2024, spring 2025), psyc 0203 social psychology (fall 2024, spring 2025), psyc 0205 emotions (fall 2024, spring 2025), psyc 0224 psychological disorders (fall 2024, spring 2025), psyc 0225 child development (fall 2024, spring 2025), psyc 0226 brain and behavior (spring 2025), psyc 0227 cognitive psychology (fall 2024, spring 2025), psyc 0307 human sexuality (spring 2025), psyc 0323 children and families living with illness: psychological, spiritual, and cultural perspectives (fall 2024), psyc 0344 introduction to psycholinguistics (spring 2025), psyc 0345 gender and sexual development (fall 2024), psyc 0350 directed research in psychology (fall 2024, spring 2025), psyc 0413 approaches to clinical psychology: theory and practice (spring 2025), psyc 0434 genes, brain, and behavior (fall 2024), psyc 0439 resilience (spring 2025), psyc 0441 bilingualism and cognition across lifespan (fall 2024), psyc 0442 the science & practice of compassion & prosociality (fall 2024), psyc 0500 advanced research (fall 2024, spring 2025), psyc 0700 senior research (fall 2024, spring 2025), psyc 0701 senior thesis proposal (fall 2024, spring 2025), psyc 0702 senior thesis second semester (fall 2024, spring 2025), psyc 0703 senior thesis (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of religion.

The Religion major allows students to concentrate in a variety of sub-fields within the larger field of the study of religion. These sub-fields can be based on traditions, geographical areas, or themes.

While the plausibility of concentrating in a given sub-field depends on the availability of expert faculty members therein, the department currently offers the following concentrations: 

• Traditions,  such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. 
• Geographical areas , such as South Asia, East Asia, and the Americas.
• Themes , such as religion and politics, mysticism, ethics, and sacred texts.

Students are encouraged to consult with faculty members to explore other options or combinations thereof.

Ten Courses

The major will consist of at least ten courses, including no more than one winter term course, distributed as follows:

• A primary concentration of five  courses :  a four course concentration in a specific sub-field plus a  senior  project or thesis, RELI 0700, RELI 0701, related to that sub-field. The courses must include a  0 100  level course and a  0 300  level  seminar  that focus in that concentration.
• RELI 0400 , Seminar on the Study of Religion
• A  distribution  of  four other courses elected by the student in close consultation with his/her adviser, subject to the following provisions:

(1) Majors must make sure that they have had exposure to a variety of different religious  traditions  (for example, Asian and Western) as well as a variety of  methodological  approaches to the study of religion (for example, historical, sociological, anthropological, or philosophical).

(2) Majors must take at least one 0300  seminar outside  their primary sub-field of concentration within the religion department.

(3) In the absence of a suitable 0100 level course in a given concentration, Reli0100 (Introduction to Religion) will satisfy this requirement.

(4) In unusual circumstances, and with the prior approval of the instructor and the chair of the department, certain 0200 level courses can count as a 0300 level seminar for the purpose of satisfying major requirements.

Important note : Students should consult closely with faculty advisors to determine which courses in the department satisfy a given concentration. The chair of the department, in consultation with the student’s advisor, will determine how transfer credits and courses taken during study abroad will be applied toward departmental requirements.

Please note : the chair of the department must approve each joint major proposal. For the Religion component of a joint major, a student will complete  seven  courses:

• A  primary concentration  of  four  courses in one sub-field plus a  senior  project or thesis related to that sub-field as well  as the other major . These courses will include a 0100-level course and a 0300-level seminar that focus in that  concentration .
• RELI 0400.  Seminar on the Study of Religion

Two elective s, chosen to ensure exposure to a variety of different religious  traditions  (for example, Asian and Western) as well as a variety of  methodological  approaches to the study of religion (for example, historical, sociological, anthropological or philosophical).

In addition, the student will complete a s enior p roject or thesis, RELI 0700, RELI 0701, utilizing the expertise of both majors.

Religion Minor

The Religion minor will consist of at least  five  courses,  three  of which will focus in a single  concentration . One of the courses in the focus must be a  seminar  at the 0300-level or above.

The Minor in Jewish Studies

Refer to  Jewish Studies  for description.

The Minor in Hebrew

Refer to  Hebrew  for description .

Graduation with departmental honors requires maintaining an average grade of at least B+ in courses counted towards the major (including the thesis/project grade). High Honors will be reserved for students who choose to write a thesis and earn at least an A- in each course counted toward the major (including the thesis).  

RELI 0122 The Buddhist Tradition (Fall 2024)

Reli 0130 the global christian tradition (spring 2025), reli 0132 the ten commandments (fall 2024), reli 0140 hindu traditions of india (fall 2024), reli 0150 the islamic traditions (fall 2024), reli 0160 jewish traditions (fall 2024), reli 0170 american religion (spring 2025), reli 0180 an introduction to biblical literature (spring 2025), reli 0225 chinese religions (fall 2024), reli 0228 japanese religions (spring 2025), reli 0230 christian ethics (spring 2025), reli 0238 literature and the mystical experience (fall 2024), reli 0243 hindu ethics at, et (spring 2025), reli 0264 jews and christians: conflict and identity (fall 2024), reli 0271 death in latin america (fall 2024), reli 0275 religion and politics in iran (spring 2025), reli 0285 historical jesus and the gospels (fall 2024), reli 0325 seminar in buddhist studies: buddhists and others (spring 2025), reli 0334 dear paul: life and letters of the apostle (fall 2024), reli 0337 mary the mother of god: history, theology, and art (spring 2025), reli 0373 possessions: theories of power in american religion (spring 2025), reli 0375 church and state (fall 2024), reli 0384 women, religion, and ethnography (spring 2025), reli 0386 the bible and the lives of others (spring 2025), reli 0389 "in the beginning: reading genesis" (fall 2024), reli 0400 methods in the study of religion (fall 2024), reli 0500 independent research (fall 2024, spring 2025), reli 0700 senior project (fall 2024, spring 2025), reli 0701 senior research for honors candidates (fall 2024, spring 2025), department of russian.

To declare a major in Russian, students should contact the chair of the department or a faculty member. 

Normally, majors must complete the following courses:

• Second-year Russian (RUSS0201 and RUSS0202)
• The Russian Mind (RUSS0122); may be substituted for HIST0247 AND HIST0248. 
• The Golden Age of Russian Literature (RUSS0151)
• Four other courses, including at least one mainstream course abroad
• Senior seminar (RUSS0704). 

Each student’s program is planned individually with the department chair. Students who wish to pursue careers in government, business, or law may also consider a major in the Russian and East European studies track of the International and Global Studies program.

Russian majors also frequently combine their language study with a minor in economics, geography, history, or political science, or do a joint or double major with one of these subjects.

Minor Requirements 

The Russian department offers two minor programs: 

The Russian language minor (RULN) includes the following:

• First-year Russian (RUSS0101 - RUSS0103)
• Third-year Russian (RUSS 0311 and RUSS 0312)

The Russian literature and culture minor (RULC) includes the following:

• Any two of RUSS0122, RUSS0151, RUSS0152
• Three  additional content courses in the Russian department (RUSS/FMMC0245, RUSS0217, RUSS0219, RUSS0241, RUSS0351, RUSS0352, RUSS0354, RUSS0355, and RUSS/ENAM0359, or other appropriate courses pending approval of the chair. A first-year seminar may, on occasion, be substituted for one of these courses.  

Majors with a B+ average in Russian courses and a B average overall are encouraged to prepare an honors thesis, the final copy of which is due May 1 of the year of graduation. Departmental honors are determined by a combination of thesis grade and grade point average in courses taken in the Russian Department, the Russian School and Middlebury’s programs abroad. 

• Highest honors  will be awarded for a GPA of 3.75 plus A on the thesis. 
• High honors  will be awarded for a GPA of 3.5 and A- or better on the thesis. 
• Honors  will be awarded for a GPA of 3.35 and a grade of B+ or better on the thesis.

Junior Year Abroad

All Russian majors and language minors are encouraged to study abroad for a year. Middlebury’s Schools Abroad runs three programs in the Russian Federation, in Irkutsk, Moscow, and Yaroslavl, but their operations have been suspended as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 

In the spring of 2023 Schools Abroad opened a new site in Astana, Kazakhstan, based at Nazarbayev University, one of the premier institutions of higher learning in Central Asia. Russian is one of Kazakhstan’s official languages, alongside Kazakh, and it remains a primary means of communication among its citizens. Students will take Russian language courses and Middlebury-organized electives designed for language learners at Nazarbayev University, with the chance to take mainstream courses alongside Kazakh students at our other partner institutions in Astana, KAZGUU University and Eurasian National University. All coursework will be in Russian under the Middlebury Language Pledge.

In their first semester , all students will take conversation, composition, and culture/civilization courses organized exclusively for our students; students who have completed third-year-level Russian will also take one mainstream course with Kazakh students, either one offered at NU or selected from the university curriculum at our other partner institutions in Astana.

In the second semester , students who have not yet taken a mainstream course will take one, and students who have already taken one may take two or more, in addition to the courses organized for Middlebury. Majors are expected to take at least one mainstream course while abroad. Students unable to attend for a full year may study for one semester, preferably in the fall. The following courses are among those offered for our students at NU in recent semesters. While we cannot guarantee that each of these courses will be available on a regular basis, they are representative of the kinds of offerings students may expect:

• International Relations of Eurasia
• Anthropology of Islam
• Social Problems and Issues of Eurasia
• Orientalism and Soviet Culture
• History and Culture of Kazakhstan
• Russian Literature in the Context of Eurasia
• History of Kazakh Music
• Introduction to the Politics of Central Asia
• Russian Intellectual History from the Enlightenment to Eurasianism

See more detailed course descriptions .

RUSS 0101 Beginning Russian (Fall 2024)

Russ 0103 beginning russian (spring 2025), russ 0122 the russian mind (in english) (spring 2025), russ 0151 russian literature's golden age: 1830-1880 (in english) (fall 2024), russ 0201 intermediate russian (fall 2024), russ 0202 intermediate russian (spring 2025), russ 0241 putinism and contemporary russian culture (spring 2025), russ 0311 russian culture and civilization i (fall 2024), russ 0312 russian culture and civilization ii (spring 2025), russ 0410 advanced russian (in russian) (spring 2025), russ 0500 advanced studies in language and literature (fall 2024, spring 2025), russ 0700 senior independent study (fall 2024, spring 2025), russ 0704 senior seminar (in russian) (fall 2024), department of sociology.

A minimum of 10 courses will constitute the major. All sociology majors will complete SOCI 0101 (or SOCI 0105 for students who matriculated prior to 2024-25), SOCI 0301, SOCI 0305, and a 400-level seminar. In addition, majors will take six electives, with at least two at the 300 level. At least eight of these courses (and all of the core courses listed) must be fall and spring courses taught at Middlebury (e.g., not winter term courses or transfer credits).

Required for a Joint Major

A joint major consists of seven courses: SOCI 0101 (or SOCI 0105 for students who matriculated prior to 2024-25), SOCI 0301, SOCI 0305, a 400-level senior seminar in sociology, and three electives. No more than one elective may be taken outside of the regular fall and spring semesters at Middlebury (e.g., as a winter term course or transfer credit). Any departures from this program must be approved by the department chair.

The minor consists of five courses: SOCI 0101 (or SOCI 0105 for students who matriculated prior to 2024-25) and four electives. All courses must be taken at Middlebury (e.g., no transfer credits or internships), with no more than one winter term course.

Optional Senior Project in Sociology

To be eligible for departmental honors, students must complete an independent research project of at least one semester. This typically consists of either a one-semester senior project (SOCI 0700, one credit, usually 25–40 pages) or a two-semester senior project (SOCI 0710, two credits, usually 60–100 pages). Students who wish to work on a project for more than one semester must present their progress for review by two professors who will decide whether the project qualifies for extended study. A one-semester project can be either in the fall or spring semester; a two-semester project is usually in the fall and winter semesters or in the winter and spring semesters. Variation from these patterns is possible with permission from the department. Senior project requirements for joint majors and other special circumstances will be approved in consultation with both departments.

A SOCI 0700 project requires a project advisor. If the advisor thinks that the project may deserve an A– or A, a second reader must evaluate the project. A SOCI 0710 project requires a committee including the project advisor and a second reader from within the Sociology Department. It may also include an optional third reader from another part of the College or the local community. Upon completion of the SOCI 0710 project, there will be an oral defense.

Students who earn an A– or higher on a 0700 or 0710 project and average an A– or higher in all sociology courses receive departmental honors.

Current majors and minors who declared under the present system would continue to operate under this system. They would, however, have the option of choosing to shift to the new set of requirements and degrees if their current situation allows for it. Once the new departments are formed, all future majors and minors would operate under the new sets of requirements.

The joint major in Anthropology and Sociology consists of twelve classes. The core courses are any 100-level ANTH course, SOCI 0101 (or SOCI 0105 for students who matriculated prior to the 2024-25 school year), SOCI 0301 or ANTH 0302 or ANTH 0396 or ANTH 0492, and SOC 0305 or ANTH 0306. Students must also take one 0400-level SOCI course, one 0400-level ANTH course, and six electives. A 700-level course in ANTH or SOCI can replace one of the 400-level courses. No more than two electives may be taken outside of the regular fall and spring semesters at Middlebury (e.g., as winter term or transfer credit courses).

SOCI 0101 Introduction to Sociology: The Sociological Imagination (Fall 2024)

Soci 0191 gender and the body (fall 2024), soci 0235 the city and its people (spring 2025), soci 0238 visual sociology (spring 2025), soci 0240 inequality and the american dream (fall 2024), soci 0252 social psychology in sociology (fall 2024), soci 0265 genders and sexualities in the us (spring 2025), soci 0266 men and masculinities (spring 2025), soci 0275 sociology of modern antisemitism (fall 2024), soci 0301 the logic of sociological inquiry (spring 2025), soci 0302 american jewish life (spring 2025), soci 0305 social theory (fall 2024), soci 0307 social movements and collective action (fall 2024), soci 0315 writing the sociological imagination (fall 2024), soci 0356 the continuing significance of race in the united states (fall 2024, spring 2025), soci 0362 digital sociology (fall 2024), soci 0385 social statistics (spring 2025), soci 0402 sex and society (fall 2024), soci 0500 advanced individual study (fall 2024, spring 2025), soci 0700 one-semester senior project (fall 2024, spring 2025), soci 0710 multi-semester senior project (fall 2024, spring 2025), spanish and portuguese.

Please see Luso Hispanic Studies for course listing.

South Asian Studies Minor

This program offers a minor in South Asian Studies to students who complete the following requirements:

• Five courses on South Asia (as determined by the director of the South Asian Studies minor, in consultation with the South Asian Studies faculty).
• Three of which must be taken at Middlebury.

Department of Studio Art

(12 courses)

• ART 0157, or ART 0159, or another introductory level drawing course
• HARC 0100 or HARC 0268 (or an approved substitute in the history of art practice)
• Five studio art courses, three of which must be at the 0300 level or higher*
• Four additional courses in either studio art practice or any cross-disciplinary electives chosen in consultation with your advisors from the elective categories below
• ART 0700 is also required

*The 0300 level classes integrate to give students well-rounded experience in major approaches to the practice of visual art. Classes in sculpture, photography, printmaking and painting focus on unique properties of each medium, yet highlight technical and expressive connections with each other and other areas of the curriculum (see elective categories). Instruction is highly individualized in order to help students develop their own artistic voice.

Joint Major Requirements

(8 courses)

• HARC 0100 or HARC 0268 (or an approved substitute in the history of art-practice)
• Four electives in studio art, three of which must be at the 0300 level or higher
• One additional elective chosen in consultation with your advisors from the elective categories below

Minor in Studio Art

(6 courses)

ART 0157, ART 0159, or another introductory level drawing course; HARC 0100 or HARC 0268 (or an approved substitute in the history of art practice); four studio art courses, three of which must be at the 0300 level or higher. Minors are eligible to apply to enroll in ART 0700.

Foundation Classes

These courses teach essential visual ideas common to all visual art and design languages. They prepare a student to clearly communicate their creative expression in upper-level classes. Each category is unique yet designed to overlap fundamental concepts with other categories. Please see specific upper (300) level class descriptions for which type of Foundations class is required as a pre-requisite.

Drawing Foundations (art and design principles of line, shape, value, light, abstracted scale, perspective, structural anatomy, symbolic communication)   

• ART 0155 Cartoon, Caricature, Animation (incorporation of animation)  
• ART0156 Unlearning What You See   
• ART0157 Foundation Drawing   
• ART0159 Studio Art 1

2/Dimensional Foundations: (2-D art and design principles of shape, mass, sequencing, digital imaging methodologies, color theory, pattern, symbolic communication)   

• ART0163 Visual Storytelling   
• ART0195 The Digital studio   
• New class in color theory (proposed in our new position for the EAC)   

3/Dimensional Foundations: (3-D art and design principles of site, shape, materiality, physical scale, texture, spatial movement, symbolic communication)   

• ART0174 Spacing  
• ART0179 Ruins and Rituals   
• ART0180 Sculptural Architecture   

Elective Categories

History of visual art practice.

Any history course in the history of human visual culture.  For examples, please refer to the course descriptions of AMST 0225, FMMC 0267, HARC 0204, IGST 0420, and PHIL 0233.

Visual Imaging

Any course that seeks to understand and process knowledge through cognitive visual imaging.  For examples, please refer to the course descriptions of CSCI 0461, DANC 0361, GEOG 0325, GEOL 0211, and PHYS 0221.

Metaphorical Thinking

Any course that teaches how to process knowledge through mapping experience between two realms, linguistic or non-linguistic. For examples, please refer to the course descriptions of CRWR 0170, ENVS/DANC 0277, FMMC 0106, MATH 0121, PHYS 0101, PHYS 0201, THEA 0218, and SPAN 0320.

Creative Practice

Any creative practicum course. For examples, please refer to the course descriptions of DANC 0160, FMMC 0348, HARC 0330, and MUSC 0221.

Categories of honors are based upon cumulative departmental averages as follows:

• Honors, 3.7
• High honors, 3.8
• Highest honors, 3.9 or higher

Teacher Training

Students interested in teacher training in art should consult with the chairs of the Education Studies program and the Studio Art program .     

Many students in Studio Art wish to pursue visual art-practice in depth during junior year away from Middlebury. The program has long experience with many institutions abroad (as well in the U.S.) that offer excellent studio art programs. Students should consult with their advisors to develop a plan for which schools and programs of study are most suitable for their goals. More about Middlebury’s Study Abroad opportunities.

Program in Theatre

Students must complete a combination of eleven courses (eight core courses and three additional courses—see Senior Work requirements —in consultation with the advisor, in preparation for Senior 700 work) and a Crew Requirement (defined below).

Core Courses for the Double or Full Major

• An introductory course: ARDV 0116  The Creative Process  or THEA 0101  Visual Creativity for the Stage
• A design course: THEA 0111  Scenic Design I: Beginning , THEA 0113  Lighting Design I: Beginning , or THEA 0205  Costume Design I: Beginning  (or THEA 0101  Visual Creativity for the Stage , for students whose introductory course is ARDV 0116)
• THEA 0102 Acting I 
• THEA 0208 Theatre History 
• THEA 0214 Directing I: Beginning 
• A THEA dramatic literature course
• THEA 0406 Twentieth/Twenty-First Century Performance Aesthetics 
• THEA 0700 Senior Independent Project

Students must complete a combination of nine courses (seven core courses and two additional courses—see Senior Work requirements —in consultation with the advisor, in preparation for Senior 700 work) and a Crew Requirement (defined below). 

Students wishing to undertake a joint major in ENAM and Theatre should be advised that senior work will normally consist of two full-credit classes, ENAM 0708 and THEA 0708.  We strongly recommend that these classes betaken in the same semester, with the understanding that a central goal of the joint major is the thorough integration of both aspects of the joint major. A single-credit, single-semester joint project remains an option for those who wish to pursue a joint thesis that does not include a practical component such as acting or directing.

Core Courses for the Joint Major

• THEA 0102 Acting I
• THEA 0208 Theatre History
• THEA 0406 Twentieth/Twenty-First Century Performance Aesthetics
• THEA 0214 Directing I

Only one Production Studio in acting course may be counted in fulfillment of the joint major.

Senior Independent Project

Students may pursue independent senior projects in acting, directing, design (set, light, or costume), playwriting, literature, applied theatre, devised theatre or an intradisciplinary project (Single or Full major only)  All senior projects will include both experiential and analytical work. Intermediate Independent Projects (THEA 0500) are not required but may be proposed in all disciplines except acting. Please visit  Senior work  for a guide to Senior Work Course Requirements.

Crew Requirement

Required for any theatre major or minor.

This may be fulfilled by Assistant Directing, Stage Managing or Assistant Stage Managing (AD/SM/ASM)  a Faculty Show.  For those who have not AD/SM/ASM, the Crew Requirement  should be completed by the end of the 5th semester and will normally be satisfied by undertaking a running crew assignment (lights, sound, wardrobe) on a for-credit production. This requirement may also be fulfilled by completing THEA 0119 Fall Production Studio: Design or THEA 0129 Spring Production Studio: Design.

Theatre Minor

Students must complete a combination of six courses (four core courses and two Theatre electives) and a crew requirement.

• ARDV 0116 The Creative Process or THEA 0101 Visual Creativity for the Stage
• THEA literature course

Theatre Electives

Only one Production Studio course may be counted as an elective.

Same as above.

Honors, high honors, or highest honors are awarded to graduating seniors in the Theatre Program based upon their grade point average of 3.8 or better in theatre courses, and overall distinction in the department. 

THEA 0101 Visual Creativity for Stage (Fall 2024)

Thea 0102 acting i: beginning acting (fall 2024, spring 2025), thea 0111 scenic design i: beginning (fall 2024), thea 0113 lighting design i: beginning (spring 2025), thea 0119 fall production studio: design (fall 2024), thea 0120 theatre production and design (fall 2024), thea 0129 spring production studio: design (spring 2025), thea 0202 acting ii: voice for the actor (fall 2024), thea 0205 costume design i: beginning (fall 2024), thea 0208 theatre history (fall 2024), thea 0210 fall production studio: acting (fall 2024), thea 0214 directing i: beginning (spring 2025), thea 0218 playwriting i: beginning (spring 2025), thea 0220 spring production studio: acting (spring 2025), thea 0230 the plays of station eleven (spring 2025), thea 0242 out on stage: us queer drama (fall 2024), thea 0318 playwriting ii: advanced (fall 2024), thea 0325 costume design ii: advanced (spring 2025), thea 0406 twentieth/twenty-first century performance aesthetics (fall 2024), thea 0500 intermediate independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), thea 0505 intermediate independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), thea 0700 senior independent project (fall 2024, spring 2025), thea 0708 senior work: joint majors in theatre and english & american literatures (fall 2024, spring 2025), writing and rhetoric program.

The first writing intensive course is the f irst-year seminar , taught by faculty across the disciplines.

The second writing intensive course is generally taken by the end of a student’s sophomore year or as determined by their major area of study. This course is designated by a “CW.”  

The second-level CW course features in-class discussion of writing and attention to revision. College writing courses are limited in size, and faculty are asked to provide written responses to drafts and to meet individually with students to discuss their work. Peer review, or a writing workshop, is also recommended for college writing courses.

Expectations

Expectations for writing in the second-level CW course vary from department to department and class to class. Some classes require 20 pages of polished prose. Other courses might not think in terms of page numbers. Such courses include, but are not limited to, those that teach digital writing or writing with charts and graphs, or those that highlight short writing forms.

Information for Class Instructors

Instructors are encouraged to assign informal writing as well as formal writing. Informal writing, often known as “writing to learn,” might be graded or ungraded and might include journals, field notes, informal responses to readings, online discussions, and in-class writing. Informal writing can build student confidence and generate class discussion as well as be developed into formal writing projects. 

Formal writing assignments are often graded, but other faculty prefer the effects of “ungrading” until the end of the semester. Either way, faculty are encouraged to provide ample qualitative feedback on formal work. Formal writing projects can include critical and/or creative writing. Genres for formal projects include argumentative essays, research papers, critical narratives, literature reviews, case studies, op-eds, blogs, digital stories, videos, podcasts, short fiction or poems based on theory or research, etc.

In some departments, College writing classes are highly disciplinary and are only open to students majoring in the department or program. In other departments, the CW class is open to students across the College, and course content may vary widely.

Faculty seeking approval of their CW class should contact Catharine Wright, director of the Writing and Rhetoric Program. In addition, faculty may contact any member of the Writing and Rhetoric Program to discuss their goals for their CW class and to obtain feedback on writing assignments, syllabus design, the peer review process, responding to student writing, and evaluating work. Members of the Writing and Rhetoric Program are also available to visit classes to talk about writing.

WRPR 0101 Writing and Power (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)

Wrpr 0102 english language in global context (spring 2025), wrpr 0172 writing gender and sexuality (spring 2025), wrpr 0202 writing to heal (fall 2024, spring 2025), wrpr 0203 the rhetorics of sports (fall 2024), wrpr 0206 narratives in news media (spring 2025), wrpr 0212 issues and methods in tutoring writing: a practicum course (spring 2025), wrpr 0323 the rhetorics of death (fall 2024), wrpr 0334 writing and experience: exploring self in society (spring 2025), wrpr 0354 the rhetoric of public memory (spring 2025), wrpr 0500 independent research (fall 2024, spring 2025).