With the exception of General Studies, each department or area of course offerings is presented in the following pages in alphabetical order and not by divisions (General Studies information is found at the beginning of the section). Departmental listings begin with the names of faculty members in the department, followed by a brief summary of purpose and a description of requirements for a major and minor concentration, and, if it is unique, the honors requirement in that department. Basic information on college personnel can be found in the Directories section of this catalog.
Students registering for courses in the 2023-2024 academic year should read the appropriate descriptions that follow, be familiar with the academic information that precedes this segment of the catalog, and read carefully the Registrar’s information that is provided by email prior to registration each semester.
An attempt has been made to make each course description as self-contained as possible by keeping symbols and other such devices to a minimum. The term “course” generally means a semester of academic work. Each course is numbered and titled, and on the next line the semester(s) the course is offered, the professor teaching the course and the number of credits for the course.
Whitman College courses are numbered 100-499. The first digit of the course number indicates the general level of the course: 100, Introductory; 200 and 300, Intermediate; 400, Advanced. Although Whitman College does not have an upper-division requirement, courses numbered 200 and higher have been designated as upper division for reference.
This numbering system generally applies to all departments with the following exception: sport studies, recreation and athletics activity courses are numbered consecutively at the 100 level with the exception of intermediate and advanced level activities and courses for intercollegiate athletics.
The course descriptions provide general information which may be used for program planning. However, students should be aware that it may be necessary to make changes in this schedule of course offerings after the catalog has been released for distribution. The most accurate schedule information appears via the Search for Classes Web link on the student portal.
Whitman College reserves the right to change the courses of instruction and the teaching personnel listed herein at any time because of changing circumstances, including withdrawing courses for which there is not sufficient registration. Such changes apply to all students — prospective students, those currently enrolled, and former students returning to the college.