Course change requests are not automatically granted. Many factors will be weighed when examining such a request, such as the limitations of the established class schedule, section sizes, and the student’s long-range academic program.
Changes are permitted for level and clerical corrections. Course preference changes from one course to another may be permitted if a student would be moving from a larger class to a smaller class. If there are collateral changes to accommodate a course preference switch, class size parameters must also be considered for any additional moves (i.e., if the switch is not a direct period swap, or a move into a free period).
Course changes will not be made based upon term preference, teacher requests, nor to move to a different section of a multi-section course (no matter what section sizes are).
Open Course Change Period
Dates: The day schedules are posted in August until the Sunday before classes begin.
Eligible courses: All courses, within policy guidelines.
Requirements: Students must fill out the course change request on the Daily Bulletin Forms page.
Consulted Course Change Period
Dates: The first full week of classes (Sunday – Saturday after the first three days of classes).
Eligible courses: All courses, within policy guidelines.
Requirements: Students must have a face-to-face conversation with their current teacher(s) about the request to switch out of their class and then work with an advisor or teacher to submit the course change request.
Level Change Period
Dates: Level changes may be made through the class week after midterms are released in the Fall Term. They may also be made in the week after the Fall Term ends.
Eligible courses: Courses on the leveled-course list (e.g. Spanish 2 to Spanish 1).
Requirements: Level change requests must be initiated by the instructor or Department Chair. Students may not initiate level changes. Instructors should be mindful that necessary collateral changes may disrupt students’ entire schedules.
Grades: Students who make a level change in weeks 1-3, will take 0% of the original course grade into their midterm grade. Students who make a level change in week 4, will take 30% of the original course grade into their midterm grade. Students who make a level change in week 5, will take 40% of the original course grade into the midterm grade. Students who make a level change in week 6, will take 100% of the original course grade into their midterm grade.
Open Course Change Period
Dates: Before the first week of Winter or Spring Term.
Eligible courses: One-term or two-term Winter or Spring courses only.
Requirements: Students must work with their advisor or teacher to submit the course change request. No conversation with the teacher of the course is required.
Level Change Period (Winter only)
Dates: The end of Fall Term through first week of classes (deadline Saturday of first week).
Eligible courses: Courses on the leveled-course list.
Requirements: Course change request submitted by teacher of the course or Department Chair (not advisor).
Consulted Course Change Period
Dates: The first week of classes for Winter or Spring Term (deadline Saturday of first week).
Eligible courses: One-term or two-term Winter or Spring courses only.
Requirements: Students must have a face-to-face conversation with their current teacher(s) about the request to switch out of their class and then work with an advisor or teacher to submit the course change request.
A request to change the pass/fail status of a course can be submitted during the Consulted Course Change Period of every term.
Students can submit a request to drop a 6th year-long or two-term course during the Level Change Period of Fall Term. Students may also drop at the end of Fall Term.
Language
ARA- 100, 200, 300, 400, 509
CHI- 100, 200, 300, 400, 509
FRE- 100, 200, 209, 300, 309, 400, 409, 509
GRE- 100, 200, 300
LAT- 100, 200, 209, 300, 400, 509
SPA- 100, 200, 300, 309, 310, 400, 509
Math
Entire Math catalog except for MAT515 and MAT529
Science and Computer Science
PHY- 100, 110
CHE- 200, 205
BIO- 300, 305, 309
SCI- 300, 309 (only if space available)
Before they enter Deerfield, all new students are required to take a math placement test to determine an appropriate class. Students who have already taken a language they wish to continue studying at Deerfield will take a placement test to determine what level class they should take. If the placement in either department is deemed inappropriate after the student arrives, then the teacher may suggest a change of level. Students may also request such a change if they feel they are misplaced, and should consult with their teacher and their academic advisor before contacting the Dean of Studies.
Students have a variety of opportunities to travel abroad through the Center for Service and Global Citizenship travel programs that run domestic and international trips during school breaks.
Study abroad and term-away opportunities are available to students through approved, partnered-programs. Study abroad is available in 10th through 12th grade, but typically students who choose to go abroad will do so during their junior year. Read more about off-campus study opportunities online here.
Yes. In order to garner Honors distinction a student must have a cumulative term average above 90.0%. High Honors requires an average of 93.0% or above. You can read more about Deerfield’s honor roll online here.
Because of its commitment to high-quality academics, Deerfield offers a wide range of rigorous courses. All of Deerfield’s classes are appropriately challenging, but courses designated as “honors,” “accelerated,” or “AP” provide an extra challenge for ambitious students.
All students are assigned a faculty advisor by late summer before they start school. After their first year, students may choose a new advisor, or continue with their original advisor, depending on the relationships they have developed with Deerfield’s faculty. Advisors are responsible for submitting course requests and writing an advisor report every term. They are available for questions a student may have and are involved in every major academic, co-or extra-curricular decision a student makes while at Deerfield. In addition, faculty eat lunch with their advisees every Thursday and may schedule other meetings for their advisees. Advisors are a key component of the Deerfield experience, as they provide guidance and support to students throughout their time at Deerfield.
academics@deerfield.edu
413-774-1470
Fax 413-772-1128
Boyden Library
Mon–Fri, 8am–4pm
7 Boyden Lane, PO Box 87
Deerfield, MA 01342
7 Boyden Lane, PO Box 87, Deerfield, MA 01342
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