The Academic Program

The academic program at Gutenberg is different from most colleges. Students do not sit in large lecture classes but actively participate in small discussion-based classes. Rather than reading textbooks that describe ideas, students read the great thinkers’ works firsthand. Rather than being one of thousands of students studying at an impersonal institution, Gutenberg students are part of a small, family-like institution. Finally, rather than narrowing their education with early specialization, students take the same courses. There are no majors and no electives, although there are occasionally optional courses. Students enter as cohorts and spend four years with their classmates, learning from the texts, from the faculty, but mostly from each other.

Student Status

Students taking no less than 12 credits are considered full-time students. Students taking less than 12 credits are considered part-time students. However, students who demonstrate proficiency in Greek and/or German—for example, by having previously completed language courses at Gutenberg or another institution—may appeal to have their language requirement waived. Students who have had their language requirement waived but who are otherwise taking all credits required of their grade level shall be considered full-time students even if the number of credits they are taking falls below 12.

Degree Requirements

All students must successfully complete every required course in order to graduate. The total number of credits required for graduation is 184.5. (One credit hour equals one hour of in-class work plus two hours out-of-class work, or the equivalent.)

In addition, students must pass a set of four qualifying exams at the end of their sophomore year. The exams, designed to determine the student’s mastery level of basic learning skills and necessary background material, cover the content of all their courses during the first two years. The exams provide a valuable opportunity for students to a) review, b) organize what they have learned into a coherent whole, and c) gain the personal recognition of how much they have mastered.

A student’s education culminates with the senior thesis. Students are given the opportunity to use the knowledge and skills they have acquired to examine in depth the thought of two authors of their choosing.

In order to receive a bachelor’s degree from Gutenberg College, students must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Complete all required courses with a passing grade.
  • Pass all second-year qualifying exams.
  • Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.3 (C+) or higher.
  • Pass the senior thesis.

Upon completion of these requirements, the student receives the degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Liberal Arts as authorized by the State of Oregon.

Fall Term Winter Term Spring Term
1st YEAR 1st YEAR 1st YEAR
WCIV 101 Ancient Civilization 6 WCIV 102 The Roman World 6 WCIV 103 The Middle Ages 6
MXG 101 Aristotle 1 MXG 102 Aristotle 1 MXG 103 Aristotle 1
GRK 101 Classical Greek 1 3 GRK 102 Classical Greek 1 3 GRK 103 Classical Greek 1 3
ART 101 Music 2 ART 102 Making Art 2 ART 103 Defining Art 2
WRT 101 Writing 1 2 WRT 102 Writing 1 2 WRT 103 Writing 1 2
MTH 101 Geometry 3 MTH 102 Geometry/Proportion Theory 3 MTH 103 Proportion Theory 3
Total     17 Total     17 Total     17
2nd YEAR 2nd YEAR 2nd YEAR
WCIV 201 The Enlightenment 6.5 WCIV 202 The Modern Age 6.5 WCIV 203 The 20th Century 6.5
MXG 201 New Testament 1 MXG 202 New Testament 1 MXG 203 Poetry 1
GRK 201 Classical Greek 2 3 GRK 202 Classical Greek 2 3 GRK 203 Classical Greek 2 3
SCI 201 Copernican Revolution 2 SCI 202 Copernican Revolution 2 SCI 203 Copernican Revolution 2
WRT 201 Writing 2 1.5 WRT 202 Writing 2 1.5 WRT 203 Writing 2 1.5
MTH 201 Algebra 3 MTH 202 Calculus 3 MTH 203 Logical Foundations 3
Total     17 Total     17 Total     17
3rd YEAR 3rd YEAR 3rd YEAR
GCON 301 Epistemology, Metaphysics, and Epics 6 GCON 302 Epistemology, Theology, and Medieval Lit 6 GCON 303 Theology and Literature 6
MXG 301 Kierkegaard 1 MXG 302 Kierkegaard 1 MXG 303 Kierkegaard 1
GER 301 German 1 3 GER 302 German 1 3 GER 303 German 1 3
SCI 301 Darwinian Revolution 2 SCI 302 Population Dynamics 2 SEM 301 Contemporary Issues Seminar 2
WRT 301 Writing 3 1 WRT 302 Writing 3 1 THES 301 Senior Thesis 1.5
Total     13.0 Total     13.0 Total     13.5
4th YEAR 4th YEAR 4th YEAR
GCON 401 Ethics and Literature 6 GCON 402 Social Theories and Modern Literature 6 GCON 403 Social Theories and Modern Literature 5
MXG 401 Biblical Hermeneutics 1 MXG 402 Biblical Hermeneutics 0.5 MXG 403 Biblical Hermeneutics 0.5
GER 401 German 2 3 GER 402 German 2 3 GER 403 German 2 3
SCI 401 Relativity Theory 2 SCI 402 Quantum Mechanics Theory 2 ART 401 Moving Images & Cinema 2
THES 401 Senior Thesis 3 THES 402 Senior Thesis3 3 THES 403 Senior Thesis 3
Total     15 Total     14.5 Total     13.5
                Total credits required for graduation 184.5