Knox College Top Questions

My major is very unique in that it is interdisciplinary as well as the fact that I am the only declared American Studies major at Knox right now. Being an AMST major, I have been allowed ti kind of create my own curriculum. There are core requirements to study, but the interdisciplinary nature has allowed to focus in on an area of study that holds my interest. I am glad that I chose this major because it has allowed to me really dig into issues that I find interesting.

A large part of what I contributed in Knox: A Big Picture could be cut and pasted here. Since Knox is such a small school, professors do tend to know students by name which increases accountability for factors such as class attendance, participation and most importantly, grades. My department, biology, is incredibly supportive on independent investigation and encourages independent study as well as requiring students to perform senior research. Such and education prepares graduates in the major for jobs in research as well as preparation for higher education. One characteristic Knox requires of all students is curiosity, so it is not at all uncommon to come across students having intellectual discussions outside of the classroom setting. We are indeed a competitive bunch, but also supportive. We help each other along.

All my professors know my name and know at least a little about me. That is one of the great things about going to a smaller college, the level of attention you receive is much higher than a large school. I have many friends that go to the University of Illinois or Western Illinois and their class sizes are ridiculous. Some students can just show up on test days and still pull of a C or a B in the class. Here at Knox there has not been one class that I have taken that has not had an attendance policy. The professors here really dedicate themselves to helping the students learn, if they put in the necessary effort. The writing department is especially good, the school itself is known for how it improves writing. My creative writing has taken leaps and bounds since I have been here.

I know all my professors by their first names and I have been to my academic advisor's house on numerous occasions for dinner. I have loved all my classes at Knox! Class participation is almost always a given due to small class sizes. Students definitely have intellectual discussions outside of class. The most unique class I have taken is Israel/Palestinian Film and Theater with a visiting professor/Israeli playwrite. Knox provides a fantasic liberal arts education.

Professors here tend to go by first name. All the teachers I have had classes with have been really open and willing to help. Even some of the teachers I've never had a class with helped me with one thing or another or just been cool to hang out with. Classes here are a lot of work. If you want to just cruise through without working your ass off every day you will not make it through even one term. Knox prides itself in making any class that would be easy anywhere else, particularly intense.

Most of the classes are small- approx 15 students. Many people continue conversations they had in class outside of the classroom. I would say students are competitive and students care deeply about their academics. Professors are very easy to get in contact with and it's common to be invited to a professors house for dinner.

The classes are usually small enough that the professors know everyone by name. The academics are challenging and keep you on your toes.

Your professors always know your name, and you will see them frequently around campus and in the town. Once a year one of my professors (and I know many other who would do this) would have a pizza party at his house. My favorite class was Constitutional Law with Lane Sunderland. There were 12 kids in my class and it was taught just like it is at a law school. The way he led discussions really helped us digest the material, and his stories are always interesting and he is a wonderful professor at engaging the students. My least favorite class was Comparative Politics. The professor would curve everyone who got below a 70{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} on exams up to a 70{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. So if you are fine getting a c- you could get literally a 20{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} on your exam and he would give you a c-. He really didn't try to teach anything, and discussions were awful and painful- and in a classroom of 20 kids you cannot avoid them. He made us do numerous irrelevant group projects and forced everyone to eat international food to earn our class participation points. Probably the most rediculous class I have ever taken. Students always have intellectual conversations outside of class, and study groups are common. There really isn't any sort of competative pressure, everyone is treated pretty equally. The most unique class I took was Politics and Elections. The entire class you just followed a senate campaign and studied up on your assigned candidates and so the class completely focused on real intuative skills you would use in any public policy or political fields. You had to write a paper in past tense about who won the race but turn it in at 7am on election day so you wouldn't actually know who won! It was stressful but exciting. I think having the structure of a liberal arts education is vital in today's job market. Knox focuses on learning for its own sake, but also has job placement and viable marketing techniques to make sure regardless of your major you have numerous opportunities upon graduation.

Professors absoultely know my name! Class sizes are small so we have the chance to get to kno our professors and each other. Depending on the class you're in (lower levels are, obviously, less challenging) but I spend a good amount of time in the library working on classes. My classes don't typically take over my life, but I do spend a good amount of time studying and working closely with my professors. I see professors outside of class for the ocassional dinner with other students at his/her home or out at a restaurant. Education at Knox is about experience and learning - not about learning the "right things" to get a job. Everything is very hands on.

I hear that our creative writting program is top notch. It's a liberal arts education so there are requirements that you take a little bit of everything before you graduate. Yes Knox students do have intellectual conversations outside of class. The education you get here is not job specific it's learning just for the sake of learning.