In American Conversations approximately 66 students and five faculty members work together over two years to study key issues and characteristics of life in the United States, from the colonial era to the present. Each cycle is staffed by core faculty from several departments. Additional faculty offer related interim courses. The program is organized into four common courses and a sophomore interim. Several general education goals are addressed in each course.
Accrued credit is granted after the second, third and fifth courses.
Credit for FYW is granted upon submission of a satisfactory portfolio of work from the first and second courses. These courses are open to students not enrolled in American Conversations and each carries its own general education credit. WRI The focus of each course is determined by its themes. Each set of instructors is guided by the structure provided by common types of assignments and a small set of dense facts. Both readings and other assignments used in common and those selected by the instructors are influenced by the general education goals being addressed in a specific course.