The classes can be taken in any order, with the exception of the first year seminar that is taken in the student's first semester. Some first year seminar offerings can fulfill a core requirement, and programs of Distinction and High Distinction are available to recognize the importance of the core program. Colgate also has a distribution requirement of six courses. Most students fulfill these requirements by taking courses that fall within their normal range of interests. Average class size is 19.
Class size varies by the level and type of course.
Even in the first year students should expect most classes to be fewer than 30 students. Of 713 courses offered last year, only 11 had more than 50 students. There were 3 times as many courses with fewer than 20 students as those with 30 or more. There are 281 faculty members. Ninety-eight and one half percent of the faculty have a Ph.D. or highest terminal degree in their field.