Introduction to Academics at Roanoke College

Many students coming from abroad will probably find the American university very different from the traditional system in their home countries. In fact, most American post-secondary institutions are described as colleges, rather than universities. Roanoke College was founded in 1842 as a liberal arts college, a concept unique to the United States. The term "liberal arts" refers to an education that requires a foundation of knowledge in many fields. As surprising as this may seem to international students, it is common for Roanoke College students to take the majority of their classes outside of their planned field of study for the first few semesters. In fact, students are not required to choose a field of study until their second year at Roanoke. Each student has the freedom to explore many academic areas at once. For example, a student can major in Spanish, as well as business administration, and then take courses in psychology or sociology.

During graduation, international students carry their nations' flags.

Knowing about the typical characteristics of the liberal arts college experience will help the international student be more prepared for what to expect upon arrival at Roanoke. Roanoke College welcomes about 1,900 full-time students each year from 41 states and 22 countries. With a faculty of 104 professors, the typical class size is 18 students and 95 percent of all classes have fewer than 30 students. Your professors will get to know you very well by the end of your first semester. Also, participation and attendance in classes is a very important part of the academic protocol.

There are many resources to help students succeed academically. For example, free peer tutoring is available several nights a week, and professors maintain office hours so students can come to them for help. All in all, the Roanoke College academic atmosphere is flexible and personalized, but students are expected to meet high standards of scholarship.