<p>I'm sorry to repeat a similar kind of question as I asked before. I really like to specialize in one subject such as biology, so I think I'm a person who prefers research universities rather than LACs. But are LACs favored by students who like specialization in a single subject, too?</p>
<p>How do you see specialization having anything to do with the price of tea in China?</p>
<p>Sorry. I think my question was irrelevant.</p>
<p>I think he/she’s thinking that at LAC’s you have more of a “liberal arts” curriculum forcing one to take classes outside of the major. However, most Universities have general education requirements anyway that will force you to do this, so the difference should be negligible.</p>
<p>Thanks so much. That’s what I really wanted to know, and I’m relieved to hear that.</p>
<p>Look at the college graduation requirements. Specialization isn’t decided on Uni vs LAC. At most schools, you will take about 1/3 to 1/2 classes in your major, and the rest general requirements and electives.</p>
<p>Some uni’s don’t have distribution requirements. Like at Brown, I think my daughter was pretty lopsided, taking almost everything in math, physics, chem, and computer science. She did dabble in a few other classes, but not as much as if there were distribution req’s. You could probably be a bio monster there if you wanted to. But that’s not to say you couldn’t do the same at Grinnell (one of the colleges that produce the most students who go on to Life Sciences PhD’s) where there are no distribution req’s. Another one of those top phD producing colleges in the Life Sciences, University of Chicago will make you take 2 years of core requirements.</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice. I’m glad to hear that Grinnell, one of my choices, has no distribution requirements. I will check about other LACs with similar qualities such as Reed and Carleton, both of which are also my choices.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Grinnell does effectively have distribution requirements.</p>
<p>[Academic</a> Policies - Grinnell College - Acalog ACMS?](<a href=“Grinnell College - Acalog ACMS™”>Academic Policies - Grinnell College - Acalog ACMS™)</p>
<p>
</code></pre>
<p>“Division” is one of humanities, social studies, or science. Although you can totally avoid one of the divisions if you want, you need to include at least 32 credits in each of the other two divisions, and cannot use more than 48 credits on courses in any one department toward the 124 credits needed for graduation (i.e. need 76 credits in other departments besides your presumed major department).</p>
<p>Thanks for your reminder. I just learned some other LACS which are open curriculum and will suffice my need, so I have no problem.</p>
<p>UCB-Thanks for the clarification on Grinnell, I know they don’t call it an open ciric. just that you do a plan with your adviser, never looked at the details but looks like a lot of freedom.</p>
<p>OP I don’t think you need to have an open curriculum to be very successful in your area. I was just pointing out it is one way to go. I actually think my daughter missed out on a lot of interesting classes by being so lopsided. She wasn’t like that in high school.</p>
<p>I don’t think you need to be concerned at the level of LAC’s you are talking about. You will certainly get to do research. It may be more accessible to you than the research universities you mention. I don’t know how widespread research is available there, something to check out, maybe everyone determined will get it, but maybe not. I do think you will get where you want to go at any of the Uni’s or LAC’s you mention, it is just a matter of other factors and preference.</p>