Spring Elective Guidelines

You are ultimately responsible for your own spring registration.  You must first meet with your academic advisor to discuss your program and together with your advisor you will register on-line.

In making your selections keep in mind Deerfield’s graduation requirements as well as the specific guidelines set forth by the academic departments in their respective sections of this booklet.

Note that periods have been assigned to electives so only sign up for electives that are offered in your free periods.  If you have any questions about any of the procedures, please see the Registrar.  Seniors, please see special guidelines below.

Fall and Winter Courses that Terminate

The courses listed below end at the conclusion of the winter term.  Freshmen and sophomores enrolled in these courses should already be scheduled into a course for the spring term.

If you are a junior or a senior, you must sign up for spring term electives to take the place of any and all of these courses in which you are presently enrolled unless you are a senior with a Directed Study or an Alternate Studies Project (see Senior Guidelines).

Unles specifically noted under the guidelines of each academic department section of this catalogue, all other courses in session during the fall and winter terms continue throughout the spring and you must complete them.

Two Term Courses Terminating:

• English: English IV (except Honors Literature and Cambridge Seminar).
• History: Creative Impulse, Modern Times, Ordinary People/ Extraordinary Times and Topics in Asian History I
• Foreign Language: (none)
• Mathematics: (none)
• Philosophy & Religious Studies: Political Philosophy and Religions of the World
• Science: (none)
• Visual & Performing Arts: Architecture, Visual Design, Topics, Acting, Tutorial in Acting and Directing for the Theatre

Course Period Shifts or Changes after Registration

You may not shift the time period of any continuing course in which you are presently enrolled.  This stance is necessary in order to maintain course continuity and avoid further scheduling difficulties.  Changes from one elective to another will not generally be permitted after registration day, unless we are unable to schedule your requested courses.

Course Load

All students must carry five courses or their equivalent during the spring term.  “The equivalent of five” accounts for the fact that some seniors are involved in an Alternate Studies Project, which may take the place of one or more courses.

Guidelines for Seniors Only

Course Load

Seniors must continue all courses which are graduation requirements.  In addition, they must continue all yearlong courses unless they receive special permission from the appropriate department chair and the Academic Dean to leave the course. For interdisciplinary course descriptions, see the departments concerned.  You need to choose which department you wish to receive credit from when requesting any of these courses.

To receive a diploma in May seniors must pass all courses both for the spring term and for the year.

Alternate Studies Projects

A senior whose project has been provisionally approved to take the place of one or more courses should register only for the number of courses he or she anticipates taking in the spring.  If in doubt, check with Ms. Hemphill.

Should a project subsequently be altered or rejected, then it is the student’s responsibility to be enrolled in five courses on the opening day of the spring term.  Those not engaged in a project must carry five courses in order to be eligible for a diploma in May.

Directed Study

A senior who wishes to do a directed study in any department must prepare a proposal.  That form must then be approved by the teacher and the appropriate department chair and submitted to the Academic Dean’s office by 4 pm on Monday, January 31^st.

Course Failures

A senior may NOT drop any continuing course which he or she is failing.  In the event a senior fails a course, which ends in March, the Academic Standing Committee will determine how the student might meet his or her diploma requirements.

English Department Requirement

Under normal circumstances, four full years of English are required of Deerfield students.  However, three and four year seniors may be exempt from taking English during the spring term. NB: The exception to this is that student athletes planning to play Division I or II sports in college must take English in the spring term, under NCAA Clearinghouse guidelines.

NCAA Clearinghouse Guidelines

Approved one term courses can only be used for credit if you previously took a two term course in the same subject area, e.g. a two term history (Modern Times) combined with a history spring term elective (The Court and the Constitution) could be counted as a full year of history.

Not all classes you hope to take to meet high school graduation requirements may be used as core courses. Check Deerfield’s list of approved core courses at the eligibility center web site at ncaaclearinghouse.net.

If you intend to play Division I or II sports in college you need to pay attention to whether or not courses have been approved by the NCAA.