Electives and Alternate Studies

The three-term academic calendar provides the structure needed to offer enriching elective opportunities to juniors and seniors. In the English, Visual/Performing Arts, and Philosophy and Religion Departments, where many upper-level courses run for two terms rather than three, a wide range of spring electives is available to students. Although the majority of courses offered by the History, Foreign Language, Mathematics, and Science Departments are three-term courses, these departments also offer a program of spring term electives. A complete description of spring term electives is published each January, and the electives booklets are distributed to faculty advisors at this time.

Alternate Studies, for Seniors

During their final spring term at Deerfield, seniors have the opportunity to pursue an alternate studies project that allows them to determine their own direction and pursue a special interest. Projects take place on or off campus and range from the equivalent of one to five courses of normal study. A faculty advisor selected by the student supervises each senior alternate study program, and students must present reports at the completion of the project. Recent projects include work in music, art, and creative writing; volunteer work at hospitals and schools, Historic Deerfield, and local service agencies; and internships with businesses, law firms, research facilities, and surgical and veterinary practices.