<p>Well I feel silly for admitting this, but I honestly am completely baffled by hours/degree requirements/majors. I'm going to attend Rhodes College in Memphis, TN and probably major in International Studies, but I was reading the college catalogue and I became really confused. If anyone has enough time could they explain some of it for me? So do you have to fulfill requirements for a degree in addition to requirements for your major? I also don't really understand how an academic "hour" is determined. </p>
<p>The Catalogue is online if anyone needed to look in it or something.</p>
<p>Well, for starters you are definitely not alone in the confusion about degree requirements--Rhodes has recently been in the process of switching over to a new system. I'm a senior this year so it has been a little tricky to figure it all out, but here are the basics. There is a degree requirement that is separate from your major's requirement since this is a liberal arts degree. For example, you may have to take a fine arts course (theatre, music, etc.) in order to receive a degree, even though this would obviously not count towards you IS major. Almost all courses offer the same amount of hours--most students take an average of 16 credit hours a semester, or 18-19 credit hours max. For example, I am currently taking 18 credit hours, which means I am in class for 11 hours and 30 minutes each week. Most advisors suggest that first year students work on their general degree requirements first and take one or two classes in your prospective major (just in case you do change your mind). I hope this answers your question--let me know if I can clarify at all. Also, don't worry too much because you will be assigned an academic advisor during when you arrive on campus and they are so helpful.</p>