Academic Basics of Chicago

Becoming part of an intellectual community

Although every university worthy of the name is about the creation and dissemination of knowledge, Chicago is just a bit more committed than other places. People at Chicago know what they care about most and what they enjoy most: learning, testing, critiquing, disputing, convincing, persuading, dissuading, explaining, and researching. The result is that there are only a few places on the planet that are in Chicago's league when it comes to research, teaching, and the intensity of intellectual life.

To enjoy the pleasures of an intellectual life, you need to make connections with people who share your interests. This takes some students more time than others. The size of the University helps enable everyone to find his or her communities. It is big enough and diverse enough to include people with an enormous range of interests, backgrounds, attitudes, orientations, and identities, yet small enough to enable you to find people and for them to find you. But don't wait to be discovered — take some initiative.

One path to finding companions, friends, and teachers here is to let people know who you are and what you really care or know about. Yes, some of your professors really do want to know what is important to you, but don't be surprised if they challenge you. Take the challenge as the compliment that it is. And return the favor — challenge them.

Remember that this is your university: you can go anywhere on campus, knock on any door, and ask anyone anything. Something happening at the Center for Gender Studies that interests you? Go to it. Heard about a talk on medical ethics in the hospital? Show up for it. Intimidated? Others have gotten over it, and so will you.

Understanding the academic calendar

When the University of Chicago opened, the four-quarter academic year was an innovation. It was the brainchild of the University's first president, William Rainey Harper, who wrote in his debut annual report: "The student will receive his diploma, not because a certain number of years have passed and a certain day in June arrived, but because his work is finished." At Chicago, there is a graduation ceremony (called Convocation) at the end of each quarter.

The 10-week-quarter system can be challenging. Because every day counts, efficient study habits and time management skills are crucial (for resources to hone your skills, see Studying Smart).

Chicago's academic calendar is available online at academic-calendar.uchicago.edu. Some professional schools follow their own calendars; check with your school for details.

Undergraduate programs of study

Whatever the focus of your studies here, you'll end up with skills that few others have. It might sound pompous, but it's true. Students don't go through the University of Chicago experience and have nothing to show for it—especially when it comes to writing and analytical skills.

You can earn the bachelor of arts or the bachelor of science degree. At the University of Chicago, majors are called concentrations. Most majors comprise 11 to 19 courses. The combination of a major and electives equals 27 courses (so if your major requires 13 courses, you take 14 electives). Some programs offer both majors and minors. You need a total of 42 courses for a degree.

For complete descriptions of majors, minors, and all requirements, see Courses & Programs of Study, available online at collegecatalog.uchicago.edu.

How to change your major

It's not at all unusual for a student to start off majoring in one thing, only to turn in a completely different direction. If you're a first-year student without a planned major, don't fret—actually, all first-years are classified as common-year students, so your major isn't even a factor. Some students even change majors at the beginning of their fourth year. To change your major or to find out more about one, make an appointment with your College adviser.

The University offers the following major programs in the College (programs with asterisks offer minor programs to students in other majors):

Choosing courses

Your most important resources in determining your course selections are the catalog Courses & Programs of Study and the quarterly Time Schedules, which lists course times, sections, locations, and professors. Time Schedules is kept current on the Web at timeschedules.uchicago.edu. Information for Entering Students is also helpful to first-year and transfer students.

If you're a little overwhelmed by the selection, talk to your adviser or an advanced student. And take a look at the student-written Course Evaluations, available online at evaluations.uchicago.edu.

If you start a class and realize that it's not for you, you can switch out of it (see www.college.uchicago.edu/academics/registration.shtml for details on the process). You can even sit in on classes or look at syllabi before you make a final decision. You can drop a class up through the third week; after that you will have to follow a formal process to withdraw (the withdrawal appears on your transcript as a W).

The calendar of registration dates and deadlines is available online at registrar.uchicago.edu. You can also go online to check your registration, grades, addresses, and other information, as well as order transcripts and confirmation of student status at cmore.uchicago.edu.

When you initially enroll , a one-time $35 fee will entitle you to all the transcripts you'll ever need to order for life.

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