How to Read
a Program Description ...


Because Evergreen's curriculum is so distinct, the college describes its academic offerings in unusual detail. Until you are familiar with them, the complex descriptions in this Catalog can be intimidating, but Evergreen believes this is the best way to make sure students understand their options. In the center column below is a sample of a typical program description. The annotations along both sides will help you interpret all the information packed into each program description.

Program Type
>Coordinated Study: Working with a faculty team, students use multiple disciplines to explore a central question or theme.
>Group Contract: One faculty member works with a group of students, typically advanced-level students, to examine a specific topic.

Faculty Signature
Indicates whether you must obtain a signature code from a faculty member before registering. May also specify how and when to obtain a signature code.

Special expenses
Indicates expenses you should anticipate beyond books and normal supplies.

Internship allowed
States whether an internship possibility is an optional or required component of the program and whether the internship requires a faculty signature.

Travel Component
Indicates whether program participants will take field trips or study abroad.

Credit awared in . . .
At the end of each program, faculty will register the credits you earn as "credit equivalencies" that correspond to traditional disciplines and subjects. This tells potential employers and graduate schools reviewing your transcript what subject areas you have studied. This section explains the kind of credit equivalencies you can expect if you successfully complete the program.

Total Credits
Number of quarter hours that will be credited at the end of each quarter if you successfully complete this program. This part also state whether you may take part of a program for fewer than 16 credits and under what circumstances. You may, for example, be allowed to take a program for 12 credits while you are also enrolled in a related four-credit module. Part-time options may require permission of faculty.

  Horizon: Where
Land Meets Sky

Winter, Spring/Coordinated Study
Faculty: Llyn De Danaan, Marilyn Frasca
Enrollment: 50
Prerequisites: Junior and senior standing
and at least one quarter at Evergreen.
Faculty Signature: No
Special Expenses: $150 for art supplies; $500 for field trip expenses.
Internship Possibilities: No
Travel Component: One overnight field trip plus possible two- to three-week field trip during spring quarter.

This is a two-quarter study of sky, land and the place where the two meet. The study is anthropological, historical and artistic. Together we will read texts that describe the way in which people of many cultures have used the horizon line to create place, time, season and a romance between the celestial and the terrestrial in art, poetry and the imagination. We will understand how the horizon line creates points along which constellations, planets, the sun and the moon appear to rise and set and how buildings and stones have marked these points and now image-makers have celebrated them.

During spring quarter we hope to study on site in Northern New Mexico where we will give attention to Anasazi cultures as a part of our group research. Faculty will provide workshops in cultural anthropology, research methodology, drawing and journal writing.

Credit awarded in cultural anthropology, anthropology of pre-historic Southwest United States, drawing, art history and research methods.

Total: 12 or 16 credits winter quarter and 16 credits spring quarter. Students may enroll in a four-credit course winter quarter.

Program is preparatory for careers and future studies in arts and humanities.

  Quarter(s)
Lists the quarters during which program will run.

Faculty
Lists members of the faculty team scheduled to teach the coordinated study program or the faculty member schedule to lead group contract.

Enrollment
Describes the number of students who may enroll. Core programs typically allow 22 student per faculty; all level programs typically allow 23; intermediate and advanced programs and group contracts typically allow 24.

Prerequisite
Lists conditions you must meet to be eligible to take this program. Those might include studies you should already have completed, the academic standing expected of you or both. Core courses will require "Freshman standing"; all level programs will not list prerequisites but will state that the "up to 25% of enrollment reserved for first-year students"; intermediate programs may specify "sophomore standing"; and advanced programs might restrict enrollment to students with junior and/or senior standing. This portion might state other entry requirements, such as faculty review of student portfolio.

Program Description
This condensed description explains the theme or question at the heart of the program and how participants will approach it. The content of each description varies, but you will usually find examples of books to be read, activities planned and the disciplines and modes of study that participants will use. The description may also specify if this is a particular type of program Core, advanced, etc. For more complete information, make an appointment with a faculty member, ask for a copy of the syllabus, stop by the program's table at the Academic Fair or talk to an adviser at Academic Planning and Experiential Learning.

Program is preparatory . . .
Indicates how this program might be useful in preparing for future studies or careers.


Programs for First-Year Students | Culture, Text, Language | Environmental Studies l Expressive Arts | Scientific Inquiry | Social Science | Native American and World Indigenous Peoples Studies | Tacoma Program


How to Read a Program Description at Evergreen

Last Updated: August 25, 2017
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