<p>How is the environmental science department at Lafayette?</p>
<p>Is Lafayette “all about engineering?” Even when checking out the enviro studies/enviro sci page under academics, all the students are engineering students…</p>
<p>susanbpr,</p>
<p>The environmental science major is very effective in preparing students for a wide variety of careers. Rather than being run by a single department, it is jointly coordinated by faculty from a wide variety of disciplines (biology, chemistry, economics, etc.). As one of Lafayette’s newest majors, it has grown very rapidly in the past few years and it is continuously expanding. To learn more about the environmental science program, see the following link–> <a href=“http://environment.lafayette.edu/”>http://environment.lafayette.edu/</a></p>
<p>To answer your question about Lafayette being “all about engineering,” I would like to refer you to a post I wrote a little while ago (on page 5). For your convenience, the relevant excerpt of it is copied below.</p>
<p>"First, I’d like to give you a little explanation about Lafayette’s strengths as a whole, and why you have read so much about Lafayette’s science prowess. What makes Lafayette a unique institution is the academic dynamic we have. Lafayette is first and foremost an undergraduate only liberal arts college. We strive to give our students a well-rounded education. However, what distinguishes us from other LACs is that we have a very strong engineering division within the liberal arts context. As such, strengths in the maths and sciences radiate from that engineering division. Many LACs are known for being strong in the humanities, but weaker in the STEM fields, which is why we heavily advertise our engineering as a distinct strength among our peer institutions. By having that engineering and liberal arts combination, we possess very well-rounded strengths in all four of our academic divisions (engineering, natural science, social science, humanities). Along with those well-rounded strengths, we try to maintain balance in our student body–every incoming class has roughly 25% intending to pursue majors in each division. Going right along with that, Lafayette is also known for placing a high emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. There are no “schools” within the college- just divisions. Students do not apply to a specific program or major, because all of our departments are very much integrated. There are courses co-taught by professors in different departments, research collaborations by students in very different majors, and faculty who encourage their students to expand their horizons beyond their primary discipline. I know some people here who are double majoring in subjects such as art and neuroscience, or English and physics-- subjects you wouldn’t ordinarily think about together. Lafayette’s balance of academic strengths, along with our interdisciplinary emphasis, is what makes Lafayette stand out. That is what I refer to when I speak of our unique “academic dynamic.”</p>
<p>Please let me know if you have any other questions!</p>
<p>Taylor</p>
<p>Hi Taylor,
I’d appreciate if you could provide some general instructions on course selecting. How many courses can one take at most in one semester / academic year? I can choose any course I want in addition to the Common Course of Study, right? Also, is there any way I can be in touch with the upperclassmen to buy used book?</p>
<p>Thanks very much. I’m researching on my curriculum and I dunno where to start …</p>
<p>ursawarrior,</p>
<p>The normal course load for a Lafayette student is 4 courses per semester. After your first semester, you may petition to take a 5th course each semester (which is approved provided that you are in good academic standing). If you are an engineer, the standard course load is 5 courses per semester starting sophomore year (in which case you can petition for a 6th). Most students, however, are kept busy with the standard 4 course semester (or 5 course semester for upperclassmen engineers). </p>
<p>You may register for any courses you would like, and there is no restriction as to when you fulfill the requirements of the common course of studies- you can complete them as a first year, or even as a senior if you wish. You are more or less in control of what classes you take and when you take them.</p>
<p>As for books, you can purchase used books from the College Store. Alternatively, you may rent books from there, which is a cheaper option.</p>
<p>Course selection information will be sent to you soon, and registration occurs in June. If you would like me to help you in crafting a potential first semester schedule, please PM me and I would be happy to help!</p>
<p>Taylor</p>
<p>Taylor</p>
<p>Concerning the news about the Main Line drug ring and Lafayette’s “involvement” - do you believe the school could or should do more to help combat this - or was Lafayette just unlucky to have their name involved and the drug problem is no better or worse than any other similar institution? Love to hear your opinion as a student more so than an “authority” speaking for the school (although I understand if that if tough or impossible to separate at this point).</p>
<p>Glublamj,</p>
<p>In light of the recent drug ring incident, it is very disappointing to me that Lafayette students would be involved in activities of that nature. Like at all colleges, drugs and alcohol can be found on our campus for those who actively seek it out. However, by no means do they dominate our campus. In fact, surveys from our health center indicate that the overwhelming majority of students here do not take drugs or drink excessively (if at all). Even for the minority that do take drugs, the number of students involved in actual dealing is extremely small. The two students implicated in the drug ring are part of a tiny minority, and the incident is not at all an indicator that drugs are prevalent on campus. Personally, I have not seen a prominent drug culture on campus at all. Some students do drink (most of whom do so responsibly), but my encounters with drugs have been few and far between, and they usually involve the same few people. As an RA, I am glad that I have rarely had to address such problems- they were all isolated incidents. As someone who does not do drugs and drinks rarely, I have had no problem finding a group of great friends who are not at all into any of that.</p>
<p>Lafayette constantly strives to educate its students on the dangers of drugs and alcohol, and it is even a part of our orientation program. When students are caught with illegal substances, disciplinary action is always taken. To decrease the amount of drugs on campus, Lafayette can always provide more drug education for students and impose harsher sanctions for the sake of deterrence. However, no matter what Lafayette does, I think there will always be those unfortunate few who disregard all warnings. That will never change. The important thing is to remember that this group will always be a minority, and there is no pressure on the students to get involved in it. Your experience here is what you make it; if you actively search for drugs, you will find them. If you want to completely stay away from it (like the majority of students), you will have no problem finding a community and group of friends who feel the same way.</p>
<p>If you have any other questions, please let me know. I hope this helps!</p>
<p>Taylor</p>
<p>I would like to ask when students have to pay tuition and other fees (which are total school fee minus financial aid). Do we pay them at the Office of Admission upon arrival at Lafayette, or before that?</p>
<p>^^thank you Taylor.</p>
<p>(I’m not sure if this is where I’m supposed to be posting this question…)</p>
<p>Hi! I’m considering (emphasis on considering) a BS in Computer Science, but is it possible to double major (or minor) in a non-science? It seems like there are an awful lot of requirements (and that common course of study) to fulfill…</p>
<p>Also, there are three introductory courses to choose from (CS 104, 105, and 106), but for BS’ers, 106 isn’t listed in one of the guides. Just the other two. However, in other places it is. Do you know if taking 106 would impact me negatively in any way? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>While no specific knowledge on the CS degree, I would be surprised if you can’t do a second major in a non-science field. My son is working on a Mech. Engineering/Philosophy dual degree. He is also looking at adding a minor to this. There is overlap in the requirements. Some courses will provide credit for the major and for the common core, or two items in the common core. </p>
<p>My son has AP credits and is taking some summer classes. It will take planning and you may need to take 5 courses for some semesters, but this is the standard course load for engineers. My son laid out all of his courses for the four years(he was looking at 3 possible majors). He tried to structure when he took each course to delay as long as possible deciding which major he would obtain.</p>
<p>Last year, CS 104 and CS 105 were offered in the fall, while CS 106 was offered in the spring. This is probably why you are not seeing it in your guide.</p>
<p>@seniormoe, I am actually a CS/Econ dual degree candidate. I have no AP credits, so I’ll have to be taking 5 courses every semester and 6 courses one semester. It’s a lot of work, but with careful planning and a lot of work, you ca definitely do it. HOWEVER, you do not have to do a BS/AB dual degree like me. You can double major/minor and even if you do, AP credit and summer/interim courses could waive some requirements so that you don’t have to take 5 or 6 courses. </p>
<p>Ivan is right. It is fairly easy to double major here, provided that you plan out your schedule accordingly.</p>
<p>Taylor</p>