<p>Is there a difference between a program offering a liberal arts education at a research university and that of a traditional liberal arts school? For instance, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (Northwestern University) vs. Amherst College. I know at Weinberg, one must take courses in different disciplines (social sciences, humanities, etc.). How would that be (if it is) different from an LAC program? </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Lacs vary considerably in their requirements ranging from Hampshire College which has to my knowledge no gen eds to St. John’s College, a school where every courses is required an no curricular freedom exists. </p>
<p>One of the biggest benefits to a LAC versus the arts and sciences department at a larger research university is that intro classes are much smaller and the classes are taught by professors rather than relying on teaching assistants to do much of the grunt work. At a larger school, there may be a greater variety of intro classes than at a smaller institution.</p>
<p>(To elaborate on whenhen’s remarks …)</p>
<p>The issue of course requirements (open curriculum v. distribution requirements v. core curriculum) is independent from the issue of LAC v. university. Both more restrictive and more open programs exist among both universities and LACs. Academic differences include differences in class sizes, the variety of majors and courses, and perhaps the kind of faculty attracted to the school. </p>
<p>Selective universities don’t necessarily have a smaller percentage of small classes than LACs do. For example, the percentage of small classes (< 20 students) at Chicago (75%), Northwestern (75%), and Princeton (71%), is greater than the percentage of small classes at Davidson (69%) and some other LACs. However, as far as I know, no other selective universities have a lower percentage of large classes (>= 50 students) than Chicago’s 5%. Many (if not most) LACs do. Davidson has NO classes that large. At Princeton, 11% of classes have 50 or more students. Large classes (sometimes as large as 200 or more students) may be concentrated in the first two years, the most popular majors, and pre-med courses. This means that even at some selective private research universities that look very good on paper, many students will be exposed to large classes. </p>
<p>Large classes (let’s say 100 or more students) at research universities, whether private or public, are likely to have discussion sections taught by graduate teaching assistants. This almost never happens at LACs. On the other hand, a selective research university may be more likely than a LAC to attract very influential and prominent scholars. They won’t necessarily be excellent or very engaged teachers, but may attract strong grad students, grant money, and promising younger professors to the program. </p>
<p>A large research university can offer more majors and more courses than a small LAC can. This is something to consider if you are likely to place out of elementary courses in math, science, or foreign languages, or if you want a low-demand major such as linguistics. If you want strong pre-professional programs in areas outside the scope of the liberal arts (such as architecture, business, specific engineering disciplines, or nursing), you aren’t likely to find them at a LAC.</p>
<p>The top LACs as a class tend to compare very favorably with or even out-perform research universities (even some of the most selective ones) for per capita PhD production (i.e. the percentage of alumni who go on to earn doctorates). I built my own ranking of the schools listed on the 50topcolleges site, based only on PhD production (adjusted for institution size), average SAT-CR, and percentage of large classes (>= 50), equally weighted. The top 7 colleges, by these criteria, are all LACs (Harvey Mudd, Swarthmore, Pomona, Carleton, Haverford, Williams, Amherst). Only 6 of the top 20 by this formula (Yale, Caltech, Harvard, Chicago, Princeton and Columbia) are research universities; all of these 6 are super selective. LACs in this top 20 include a few schools that are somewhat less selective (Reed, Grinnell, Oberlin, Macalester), with admission rates as high as 40-50%.</p>
<p>You can get a great education at a LAC or a university. IMO, The biggest difference is the environment in which you will live and study for four years. I would suggest that you visit a couple of universities and a couple of LACs and see where you feel most comfortable. Two reasonable people can have two different opinions on this. In my own family, my S felt a LAC was too small and had a fantastic education and a great overall experience at a mid sized university. My D thrives on intimacy and decided almost immediately that she wanted to attend a LAC (with its close knit community, small classes, easy access to professors etc.) and she is also having an amazing experience and getting a great education. </p>
<p>In terms of required classes, that can vary greatly college to college not by if a school is a LAC or a university.</p>