Guide to Division I Studies

The STAR Guide to Division I Studies

''IMPORTANT - This guide was up-to-date and relevant to students entering in Fall 2008. Since then, faculty have voted to replace the current distribution system with a yet-to-be determined system in which distributions are separate from the five schools. However, until such a system can be agreed upon, the system described in this guide still stands. ''

About Division I
Division I serves two essential purposes: to introduce students to a broad range of subject matter before they choose an area of concentration and to help students attain the methodological and critical tools of inquiry that will be necessary for Division II and Division III work. Students normally complete Division I during their first three semesters of enrollment. The first two semesters of Division I constitute the First-Year Program; this is followed by a transitional third semester ("Limbo") in which first-year work is systematically evaluated and plans for Division II work are begun.

Requirements
During the two semesters of their first year, the student must satisfactorily complete at least EIGHT courses (or independent studies/other appropriate evaluated education activities), distributed as following:

A. By the end of their second semester, the student must have successfully completed one 100-level or applicable higher-level course in each of the five schools of the College. These are [NS Natural Studies], [CS Cognitive Science], [IA Interdisciplinary Arts], [SS Social Sciences] and [HACU Humanities Art and Cultural Studies]. One of these courses must be the student's ""First Year Tutorial"". The professor of this tutorial will be the student's advisor for the entirety of Division I.

B.  Three additional courses drawn from the curriculum offered by any of the schools of Hampshire College or from the Five Colleges, for a total of eight courses in the first year.

C. At some point during the eight courses of Division I, students must fulfill the following seven Learning Goals:


 * Learn to read and interpret intellectual or artistic works (REA)


 * Write critically and analytically (WRI)


 * Understand quantitative methods of analysis (QUA)


 * Develop creative abilities in expressive modes (e.g. creative writing, visual and performing arts, music) (EXP)


 * Effectively present ideas orally (PRS)


 * Conceive and complete project-based work (PRJ)


 * Understand multiple cultural perspectives on intellectual or artistic subjects (MCP)

The easiest way to fulfill learning goals is to keep them in mind during course registration - most 100 level classes are posted on The Hub with a list of the learning goals they fulfill.

The Third Semester
After the second semester of enrollment, students are responsible for preparing a ::First Year Portfolio:: that includes eight first-year course evaluations, representative samples of work and a retrospective essay that reflects on their studies in the first year. At the end of the second or the beginning of the third semester, students meet with their first year advisor to discuss the development of an initial plan for Division II work. This plan may also address the need for further study to ensure the satisfactory completion of Division I. Division I is complete when the student satisfies the first-year requirements, submits a complete First Year Portfolio, and passes a Division I Examination - a meeting, where the advisor determines that the work over the first year has been satisfactory and that the student is ready to move on to Division II work. Passing Division I does not automatically move the student to Division II. Generally, students do not officially file as Div II until January or February of their second year - thus the nickname "limbo" for the third semester, as many students have no official advisor during this time. Still, it is necessary to officially pass Div I before filing Div II.

Academic Good Standing
At the end of the first two semesters, to be in a good academic standing, students must satisfactorily complete all required courses. Students who complete fewer than four courses in either of the first two terms will be placed on academic probation and will be expected to address the deficiencies in an academic contract to treturn to good standing in the subsequent term. To achieve good standing in the Third Semester, students must successfully complete the course of study that they negotiated with their advisor. Students completeing fewer than three courses in either of the first two semesters or students who remain on academic probation for two consecutive semesters are subject to academic withdrawal. The complete policy on standards may be found in "Non Satis Non Scire".

Students in bad academic standing at the end of their first year may, at the discretion of the advisor, be asked to strengthen their academic profil before entering into advanced study in Division II. In some cases, this work may require an extra semester of study where substantial additional preparation for advanced work is indicated.

For more information and to ask questions, visit the STAR Office