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Rochester Curriculum

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At the core of Rochester’s innovation is the student-centered Rochester Curriculum. Through this unique approach, there are no required subjects, allowing individual interests to lead academic investigation—and allowing Rochester students to study what they love.

While maintaining full control of his/her academic path, each student will learn about at least three divergent subject areas in depth. A student who completes a major in one subject area (e.g. the social sciences) will complete clusters of at least three related courses within each of the other two areas (arts/humanities and natural sciences/engineering/math).

This level of freedom has many advantages:

  • Within each subject area, the depth of study is typically greater than that found at otherwise comparable research universities.
  • Students assume personal responsibility to succeed in the courses they’ve chosen.
  • Each student is in each class by choice, leading to a more productive learning environment.
  • Faculty and students share an enthusiasm for the material—a natural catalyst for enhanced, one-on-one collaborations.

By eliminating the clutter of “general education” course requirements, your child’s college education becomes much more personalized—and all the more valuable.

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