Liberal Arts Programme

• Student Course Load
• The Senior Seminar Series
• Independent Study Projects
• Internships
• Activities Programme
• Course/credit permutations
• Dropping or adding a course
• Pass/Fail option
• Auditing a course
• Workload and requirements

Student Course Load
The commonest course and credit permutations are detailed in the chart. If you wish to offer an alternative permutation, you should contact the Liberal Arts Programme office. You are advised that your academic programme should carry a minimum of nine units of credit, and a normal maximum of fifteen units of credit. You should note that, in addition to the permutations below, students have the opportunity to earn one extra unit of credit if they successfully complete the St. Clare's Senior Seminar course. Back to top of page

The Senior Seminar Series
The St. Clare's Seminar Series has been devised as a forum for sustained academic reflection for our undergraduate and other senior students. The Senior Seminar Series offers students an opportunity to discuss a range of stimulating issues and ideas as well as a chance to interact with scholars from Oxford University and other renowned academic institutions.

There are two elements to the Series: the Senior Seminar Series offers students an opportunity to discuss a range of philosophical issues and ideas, as well as a chance to interact with scholars from Oxford University and other renowned academic institutions. There are six Senior seminars. Each semester the Series is linked by a common theme which will be considered from a variety of disciplinary perspectives - Art, Religion, Literary Studies, Philosophy, Politics and the social sciences.

The Inquiry Seminar Series works along the same principle, but is focused on international themes and events. There are three Inquiry seminars.

Students will receive three units of credit if they fulfil the following conditions: full attendance at all nine of the seminars; maintaining a written record of each seminar detailing the main points of discussion, as well as the student's own responses and ideas. The Seminar Series should normally be taken in addition to the regular course load, and not as an alternative to a Core or Tutorial course. Take a look at the current series. Back to top of page

Independent Study Projects
An Independent Study Project is a good option for a student who wishes to pursue study, or fulfill a degree requirement, in an area not offered by St. Clare's. However, careful advance planning is necessary. Before departure you must get approval from your home institution; you must ensure that an approved faculty sponsor will assume responsibility for directing and evaluating the project, and you must ensure that there will be sufficient relevant resources at St. Clare's to conduct the project. There will be no teaching support at St. Clare's for these projects. At the end of the semester details of the Independent Study Project will appear on the transcript, but the award of credit is entirely at the discretion of your home institution. Back to top of page

Internships
International work experience challenges your personal interests and horizons. It also enables you to test your intended career field. St. Clare's can arrange a variety of internships, all of which provide many valuable opportunities for students.

If you wish to pursue an internship for credit you must secure official approval from your home institution before coming to St. Clare's. Furthermore, details of your proposed internship should be sent to St. Clare's at least eight weeks prior to your arrival. Please note that students are expected to devote the equivalent of one academic day per week to the internship, that there is no teaching support for internships, and that students will receive no payment. Students will receive full reports on their internship at the end of the semester. Academic credit for internships is entirely at the discretion of your home institution. Contact the Liberal Arts Programme office for more details. Back to top of page

Actitivies Programme
We encourage all students to get involved in activities beyond the classroom which will develop and enhance their overall experience of Oxford. Most students participate in St. Clare's Activities Programme, which offers a wide range of opportunities for service and other activities, both creative and sporting. There is no credit granted for Activities undertaken.

Course/credit permutations

Dropping or adding a course
The first teaching week of the semester is Drop/Add Week and no courses may be added after this time, unless specifically requested by the home institution. After the first week you may still withdraw from a course until the given date (three weeks after the start of the semester). After this given date you cannot withdraw from a course and, if you cease to attend, the course will be recorded on the transcript as a Fail grade.

If you wish to drop/add a course, you must submit a written request to do so to the Liberal Arts Programme Assistant Director before the end of the first teaching week of the semester. Only a course that is running that semester, that has already been listed on your application form, that has the space to accommodate you, and fits your existing timetable can be added to your programme. Back to top of page

Pass/Fail option
Students on the programme in good academic standing (with a grade point average of at least 2.8) may opt to take some courses on a pass/fail basis subject to the following regulations:

1. They inform the Assistant Director in writing before the end of drop/add week (the first week of classes).
2. No pass/fail courses are allowed within the student's major field of study.
3. A student who opts for a pass/fail unofficially will fail the course in question.
4. To secure a 'pass' on a pass/fail course, a student must earn at least the equivalent of a grade C in the course in question.
5. Major or Minor pre-requisites may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.
6. Students who opt for a pass/fail must satisfy all the requirements of that course (in the same way as if they were to be awarded a regular grade).
7. Students are also advised that they must satisfy all regulations pertaining to the pass/fail option in their home institution.

Auditing a course
If you wish to pursue a course without earning academic credit, you may 'audit' a course if space permits your attendance. Please note that neither examinations nor papers will be graded, and that registered students for the course in question have automatic priority.
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Workload and requirements
The workload for each course (Core and Tutorial) together with the relevant aims, requirements and methods, is detailed in the Long Descriptions (syllabi). These descriptions are distributed during the Course Registration Day, and you can also request them in advance from the Liberal Arts office or your Study Abroad office.

Generally speaking, each course (Core and Tutorial) will require three assessable pieces of work during the semester. Requirements may vary, and in one course three papers may have to be completed (one being an exam paper), in another three tests might be given, or a combination of these methods of assessment may be used.

Although the workload will vary a little from course to course and from week to week, you should expect to do the equivalent of a day's work for each course. This would include class or tutorial sessions (of between one and three hours), in addition to an average preparation and reading time of between three and five hours for each course each week. Back to top of page