Course Descriptions
Not all courses described in the catalog are offered each year.
Course Levels
Courses are offered at the following levels:
- 100 level: Introductory courses with no prerequisites; designed primarily for first-year students and sophomores but open to all students.
- 200 level: Intermediate courses, with or without specific prerequisites; or introductory courses designed for students who have had at least a semester of college-level academic experience. Intended primarily for students with sophomore or junior standing but open to first-year students in their second semester and seniors.
- 300 level: Advanced courses that either have specific prerequisites or are designed for students who have had more than a year of college-level experience; intended primarily for students with junior or senior standing but open to sophomores with permission.
- 400 level: Courses intended for advanced undergraduates, including those who are preparing for graduate study.
- 500 level: Graduate-level courses. The prerequisite for all graduate-level courses is the permission of the program director.
- Courses offered at more than one level: A course may be offered to students at more than one level. Special requirements for students taking it at a higher level will introduce greater complexity and depth in exploring the subject, and require greater independence by the student. The special requirements will be pervasive throughout the work in the course – not represented solely by an extra assignment. A student who has taken a course at one level may not take the same course at another level.
Prerequisites may be waived with the permission of the instructor.
Current Wilson College Credit System
Wilson College uses a semester-hour system. All courses are 3 semester hours unless otherwise noted.
Course Formats
Wilson College offers four types of classes for all students. The type of course is noted on the course schedule upon registration. All courses are expected to use Wilson College's learning management (LMS) or a College approved online platform for course content, assignment uploads, grading, etc.
Traditional Course: The course is taught 100% face-to-face on Wilson campus or a College approved off-campus location. Students are expected to attend all classes in person during the semester. Wilson College's LMS or College approved online platform will be used to organize course material, assignment uploads, grading, etc. at the discretion of the instructor.
Hybrid Course: the course is 50% or less online using Wilson College's LMS. Students are expected to attend the face-to-face portion of the course on the Wilson College campus or a College approved off-campus site. Online course sessions will be held using Wilson College's LMS or a College approved online platform to deliver interactive internet-based instruction. Online class sessions may be asynchronous or synchronous (see definitions below) as identified in the course syllabus. For these sessions, students do not come to a classroom. Additionally, Wilson's LMS or a College approved online platform will be used to organize course material, assignment uploads, grading, and other course activities at the discretion of the instructor.
Online Course: The course is taught 100% online using Wilson College's LMS or a College approved online platform to deliver internet-based, interactive instruction. Students are not required to come to Wilson College's campus or any other physical location. However, some courses may require synchronous course meetings as defined below. Additionally, Wilson College's LMS or a College approved online platform will be used to organize the course material, assignment uploads, grading, etc. at the discretion of the instructor.
Asynchronous: The course has not mandatory course meetings or common log in times. Assignments/interactions and deadlines for completion will be outlined in the syllabus. All work/communication will be completed via Wilson College's LMS or a College approved online platform.
Synchronous: The course requires students to be online at the same time to participate in group chats, video chats, lectures, etc. as indicated on the syllabus. Course meeting times will be published at the time of registration on the course schedule. Assignments/interactions will take place via Wilson College's LMS, a College approved online platform, or other College approved methods of communication as outlined in the course syllabus.
Online courses have defined deadlines for course assignments. Students are expected to follow the calendar that is provided by the course instructor as part of the syllabus.
Complementary Modes of Learning Offered Across All Disciplines
The following courses are offered by all disciplines as faculty availability and student interest allows.
250 Independent Study
Independent investigation at the intermediate level of a topic chosen by the student in consultation with a faculty member. A student must be in good academic standing to pursue an independent study.
255 Introductory Internship
Work experience relevant to the student’s career interests. May be arranged through the director of career services with permission of the student’s adviser for one-half or full credit. Does not fulfill graduation requirements.
350 Independent Study
Independent investigation at the advanced level of a topic selected by the student in consultation with a faculty member. A student must be in good academic standing to pursue an independent study.
352 Collaborative Research
Research conducted with a member of the faculty that involves student participation in all aspects of the research project.
355 Internship
Work experience with significant academic content, having an appropriate, complementary role within the student’s academic program. Approval of the academic dean is required.
459, 460 Senior Advanced Study and Research
Independent, advanced study and research for the senior-level student in a specific phase of the major. Distinguished achievement in these courses provides a basis for the awarding of Honors in the Major. Academic policy states:
“Students who have completed at least 14 Wilson College courses and have shown a high degree of scholarly interest and achievement their academic work may be invited by the appropriate major area director to apply to the Committee on Academic Policy and Procedures for permission to seek Honors in the Major by taking courses 459, 460. The application describing the project to be carried out under the direction of a faculty member must have the approval of the faculty director and the student’s adviser and must be submitted no later than the date designated by the registrar for mid-semester grades in the third semester before the student expects to complete work for the degree.”
Approval of the Committee on Academic Policy and Procedures is required.
452 Collaborative Research
Advanced research conducted with a faculty member that involves student participation in all aspects of the research project. Prerequisite: 352 or appropriate research experience as determined by the faculty.
Capstone
The capstone is offered as a culminating experience for seniors in many of the disciplines that offer bachelor’s degrees through the Adult Learning Program (ALP). Students enrolled in the capstone work with a faculty director to plan a major paper, equivalent to a senior thesis, or to complete a project related to the major. Additional papers or requirements may also be assigned. In some majors, the capstone substitutes for another requirement, such as an internship, if completion of the internship is impractical or unnecessary (for example, for adults who are already employed full-time in the workforce).
Guided Study
Courses that are part of the regular curriculum may be offered through a guided study. Working under the guidance of a faculty member, students enrolled in these courses do a substantial amount of reading and writing independently to achieve the learning objectives of the course. Meetings are scheduled periodically between students and the faculty member to review assignments and discuss the material. A student must be in good academic standing to pursue a guided study.
Topics Course (170, 270, 370, 570)
A course offered as needed to cover topics of interest to students and faculty that are not covered in depth in the regular curriculum.
Key to Codes for Liberal Studies Designations
Courses that have one or more of the abbreviations below in the course description satisfy liberal studies or writing-intensive (WI) requirements:
ART The Arts
CC Contemporary U.S. Culture
CD Cultural Diversity
ES Environmental Studies
ESL Environmental Studies with a Lab
ETH Frontiers of Knowledge and Beliefs
FWC Foundations of Western Culture
HWC History of Western Culture
LIT Literature
NS Natural Science
NSL Natural Science with a Lab
NWC Non-Western Culture
WS Women’s Studies
WI Writing Intensive