<p>Can someone just give me a one sentence answer and why it is good (why people like it)?</p>
<p>They don't have to take required courses that they might not want to take.</p>
<p>Students get to explore different fields and figure out what it is exactly they like and won't be behind on "required" courses and receving credits or wahtever for them</p>
<p>All Brown students are required to pass 30 courses to graduate, complete the requirements for at least one concentration (major), and demonstrate competency in writing. Other than that, there are absolutely NO required courses and no distribution requirement.</p>
<p>Ok, that was the two sentence answer. Other features of the open curriculum include:
ANY class can be taken for a grade (A / B / C or No Credit -- no plusses or minuses, although this may change soon), or pass / fail (satisfactory / no credit or S/NC for short.
Because of this, the school does not calculate GPA.
Any class can be dropped up until the final day the class meets before the final.
Dropped and failed classes never apear on your external transcript.
Students are actively encouraged (not just permitted) to design their own concentration, do an independent study or a group independent study project (GISP).
There are no minors, only concentrations (majors).</p>
<p>Why it's great for some people (but not as great for others):
--It allows you to explore classes in any field you want, even if it's unfamiliar to you.
--It allows you to go into more depth in a particular field if you like, without being bogged down by a core curriculum or distribution requirements.
--It allows you to distribute your classes however you want and learn whatever you think is useful or interesting.
--It allows you to stress out less about grades and think more about what you're actually learning.
--It allows you to avoid classes in areas you detest (never take another math / english / foreign language class again... unless you want to!)
--It attracts very independent-minded, creative students who care more about actual learning than about grades.
--Everyone in any class you take is there either because they specifically wanted to take that class, or because it's required for a major that they decided to take.
--Even if you're not so excited about studying for a midterm or pulling an all-nighter to write a paper, you always know you're doing it for a class that YOU chose to take.
--People are more cooperative academically, because they're not as worried about competing with each other for grades.</p>
<p>Wow ILoveBrown, thank you so much for that response. I really appreciate the time you took to write that and explain in for me. Thanks. :}</p>
<p>I heart open curriculum.</p>
<p>Wow, that sounds really nice, I never knew that. </p>
<p>One more question, this might the wrong board to ask this, but do you guys know any other colleges that have this type of curriculum. </p>
<p>The reason I ask is cause I probably have no chance of getting into Brown...</p>
<p>Thank you for your most insightful post, ILoveBrown....</p>
<p>"It attracts very independent-minded, creative students who care more about actual learning than about grades."</p>
<p>this statement immediately grasped my attention.</p>
<p>Insane8914,</p>
<p>The subject was discussed on this thread:</p>
<p>No math!!!</p>
<p>Apply to Wesleyan.</p>
<p>um the best thing ever</p>
<p>ilovebrown, i think that is one of the best short descriptions of brown's open curriculum i've come across</p>
<p>well done</p>
<p>I have a REALLY important question: if Brown has an open curriculum, how can you expect to get an excellent, intense education in your major (or concentration). I mean, the reason that you're going to college is to learn your major so you can make a profession out of it. If the curriculum is so open, how can you expect to learn everything about your major if the curriculum is so loose. In a way, I would want requirements so I would know the core classes to take. For example, in engineering, I would want to take every possible engineering class that applies to my major. So if it so loose, I wouldn't have to take some of those classes. Does each student get an advisor to help pick out classes?</p>
<p>ILoveBrown said:</p>
<p>"All Brown students are required to pass 30 courses to graduate, complete the requirements for at least one concentration (major)..."</p>
<p>So thus, you do have to complete a set of required calsses within your major. Otherwise, it would be like you said- Brown would be graduating incompetent students.</p>
<p>The system, I think, is more to protect against Egyptologists having to pass Multi-variable Calc, etc. Which is very nice! :D</p>
<p>that's a good question</p>
<p>first, the open curriculum does not preclude rigor--you are free to choose your classes and your concentration but once you commit to a concentration you have to fill certain requirements to get a degree in that area</p>
<p>for example, to concentrate in engineering, there are 9 core requirement classes + 6 additional electives you must take of your choosing
<a href="http://www.engin.brown.edu/undergrad/handbook/EUP_05-06_V1(w-o).pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.engin.brown.edu/undergrad/handbook/EUP_05-06_V1(w-o).pdf</a></p>
<p>you will have many advisors to help you choose classes--a concentration advisor to help you select electives and projects, and other advisors to help you with pursuits outside your area of concentration</p>
<p>hope this helps</p>
<p>Some sidebar benefits to the open curriculum-- by the time you are out in the real world, you:</p>
<ul>
<li>have a 4-year unfettered head start on finding your personal life's path</li>
<li>are accustomed to having full responsibility for all your choices (which generally means you'll make better & better ones...) </li>
<li>are used to being fully engaged with what you are doing, so have a fairly high standard for how you want to spend your time for the rest of your life</li>
<li>have made at least a few dumb choices, regretted them, regrouped from them, and thus learned the critically-important life skill of making course-corrections</li>
<li>have gotten so comfortable with running your own show that big stuff-- like starting your own business, inventing your own job, moving to a different country, changing the world-- all seems fun & normal rather than scary and daunting</li>
</ul>
<p>open curriculum = boot camp for finding where you fit, what makes you tick, and what you can offer the world</p>
<p>There you have it from an alumn. Open curriculum = awesome college experience + awesome life experience!</p>
<p>
[quote]
The system, I think, is more to protect against Egyptologists having to pass Multi-variable Calc, etc. Which is very nice!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I think I can speak for my daughter who is concentrating in Egyptology -- yes, it is very nice. One of the first things she said when she found out she was admitted to Brown was, "I don't have to take any more math!"</p>
<p>If Brown doesn't calculate GPA, what happens when you are applying to graduate school/med school/law school/etc? Do you just put "N/A" when they ask for GPA or something?</p>