Small classes are the foundation of COA's curricu-lum.
Students design their own programs of study, with a few distribution requirements.
First-year students are also required to take one of several courses which provide a historical survey or historical approach in the context of a subject area of scientific, philosophical, economic, political, or artistic movements. A student must take a minimum of two courses in each resource area, each from a different instructor on the regular or adjunct COA faculty. A student combines course work from all three resource areas to design programs of study which are interdisciplinary and individualized. One of the two credits in this area must be in visual arts. The following cannot be used to satisfy the resource area requirement - independent studies, practica, tutorials, group studies, or courses from visiting faculty members.