Academics, Programs, and Opportunities

Every student is assigned a faculty member who serves as that student’s academic adviser. At Oxford College, each student’s assigned adviser will also teach a Discovery Seminar in their first semester of study. Faculty advisers will also work with students throughout their two years at Oxford. Commitment to each student’s holistic development, from academics to extracurriculars and from career to personal growth, is valued over narrow alignment with students’ initial academic interests. Students meet with their adviser periodically throughout each semester to discuss degree progression, leadership opportunities, personal growth and development, career options, and summer plans such as study, internship and research. Adviser approval is required for registration and other changes to a student’s enrollment after registration.

Advisers, with support from Oxford College’s Advising Support Center, assist students in their transition from high school to college and in their selection of courses, major, and career. While advisers provide assistance, each student is responsible for knowing and meeting the requirements for graduation explained in this catalog. Students who wish to change advisers should consult the faculty adviser(s) with whom they are interested in establishing the advising relationship. Adviser Change Request Forms are available in the Advising Support Center.

Student responsibilities: Participate in enrollment according to published timelines, as well as satisfy all graduation requirements. Plan in advance to meet with the faculty adviser, as well as Advising Support Center as applicable. Follow all procedures and meet all deadlines required by Oxford College regarding enrollment; academic procedures, exceptions, and requests; and summer study, internships, and research.

Oxford College offers an orientation program at the start of the semester. All new students are required to attend in order to be introduced to important information and resources, connect to faculty, staff, and peers, and explore various academic and co-curricular opportunities. New students will be informed about dates and locations of orientation activities in the months leading up to the first day of class. Parents and supporters are encouraged to attend events on the first day of orientation to meet the faculty and administration and become acquainted with the educational philosophy of Oxford College. 

Student responsibilities (illustrative not exhaustive): attend and participate in Oxford’s orientation program. 

The standard unit of credit in the semester system is the semester hour. Most courses earn between three and five semester hours of credit, meeting for 150–250 minutes/week. Physical education classes earn one semester hour of credit and also meet for 150 minutes/week. Laboratories for science courses meet for additional hours each week. Generally, students should dedicate two to three hours per credit hour for study, readings, homework, flipped classroom videos/work, and completion of assignments.

To complete an associate’s degree program within four semesters and a bachelor’s degree program within eight semesters, the recommended course load for most students is 15 to 17 credit hours per semester. This translates to 45-51 hours per week of class attendance and out of class work and study. Students must enroll in at least 12 hours for full time enrollment.

Students must enroll in 12 to 19 in any regular semester, with the following exceptions.

• GRADUATING STUDENTS: Seniors in ECAS and the BBA program, in their final semester of study, may enroll in fewer than 12 hours or more than 19 hours (but no more than 22 hours) if those hours complete their degree requirements. This requires permission from the academic affairs office in each respective undergraduate In Oxford College, students in their fourth and final semester of study may request to overload if those hours complete their AA requirements. Oxford students who are enrolled beyond their fourth semester of study may enroll in fewer than 12 hours as needed to complete their AA requirements.
• UNDERLOADS: Students must enroll in a minimum of twelve credit hours in a regular semester, except for students who have received credit load accommodations from the Department of Accessibility Services (DAS). The academic affairs office in each school may allow a student to drop below 12 hours as a part of a response to exceptional
• OVERLOADS: Students may petition the academic affairs office of their undergraduate program (OUE in ECAS, ASC in Oxford, Nursing Program Director, and BBA Advising in the BBA program) to overload up to twenty-two (22) credit These petitions will be considered if the student’s cumulative GPA is above 3.5, and/or if there are extraordinary reasons for this exception. Students should not expect to be approved for exceptions on a regular basis. Students with outstanding incomplete grades at the start of a semester may not overload.

International students need additional permission from International Student & Scholar Services office to underload and should consult Oxford’s International Student Program office.

Students receiving financial aid should consult with the Oxford College Financial Aid Office regarding effects of underloading on aid.

All credit for academic work must be awarded in the semester in which the work is undertaken, including summer sessions and internships.

Student responsibilities: enroll in at least (twelve) 12 credits each regular semester and no more than nineteen (19). Satisfy eligibility requirements, follow procedures, and meet all deadlines if an overload or underload is desired. Consult with Oxford ISP, as applicable.

During regular fall or spring semesters, Oxford students may enroll in courses at Emory College with the permission of the deans of both Oxford and Emory Colleges, or their designees. Such courses should not be equivalent to courses offered at Oxford and normally must be courses required of Emory College sophomores as prerequisites to a particular academic major or program. Students must be in good standing and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or better to be eligible to take courses at Emory College. Students are normally limited to a maximum of one Emory College course each regular semester. Students should send such requests to the associate dean for academic affairs no later than the end of Oxford preregistration for the relevant semester.

Summer School is conducted jointly with Emory College, Goizueta Business School, and the School of Nursing on the Atlanta campus. There are three summer sessions during which students can take courses through Emory’s Atlanta Campus: Maymester, Summer Session I (six weeks) and Summer Session II (six weeks). Courses are offered online and in-person.

Students interested in taking courses offered through Emory’s Summer School must consult with and receive permission from the Advising Support Center. The Advising Support Center will review course eligibility, academic placement, and prerequisite requirements. The Advising Support Center can help students enroll, make changes to their schedules during add/drop/swap period or withdraw from courses on or before the withdrawal deadlines. Summer enrollment can help supplement academic progress at Oxford College; however, summer session may not be used to replace a regular semester of residency at Oxford.

Summer School courses can count towards general education courses and Oxford College graduation requirements. Some components of Oxford’s General Education Program (specifically Discovery Seminars), cannot be taken through Emory College Summer School. These courses are only offered at Oxford College.

Summer School courses can satisfy intended major requirements, as well.

Summer School courses at Emory’s Atlanta Campus will not count towards Emory College’s residency requirement, which all Oxford students who continue on to Emory College must satisfy after they have fully continued on to the Atlanta Campus.

Students may not combine transient study as well as Emory College of Arts and Sciences summer school. Students for whom this presents a hardship should include in their narrowly tailored plan for academic work a request for a formal exception to this policy.

Further information about summer school, including session dates, class schedule links, and preregistration permission forms can be found on the Oxford College Office of the Registrar website.

Oxford students are limited to no more than 2 courses (fewer than 8 credits) per six-week session.

Students who have not completed at least one regular semester of degree-seeking or dual enrollment study at Oxford College or Emory College are ineligible for summer school enrollment. Students must attempt at least one regular semester between any consecutive summer semester enrollments.

Student responsibilities: satisfy all eligibility requirements. Meet with the Advising Support Center for consultation and approval. Follow all procedures and meet all deadlines required summer school.

Oxford students have many opportunities to participate in artistic presentations in music, theater, visual arts, and dance. One-, two-, and four-credit hour courses are available, depending upon the discipline. Faculty members direct the arts programs.

Opportunities are open to all students regardless of potential major or whether or not they are enrolled in arts classes. Our students perform in plays, perform in and choreograph dances, sing in the Oxford Chorale, play instruments in chamber ensembles and soul bands, create musical compositions, and exhibit visual arts. Many Oxford students successfully major or minor in the arts at Emory College, yet most who participate in the arts at Oxford do so to expand their total educational experience.

Undergraduate Internships provide excellent opportunities to explore professional pathways that deepen the Oxford liberal arts general education program. While an external internship experience is uniquely valuable, Oxford College also offers academic credit for coursework completed in conjunction with an internship during the academic year as well as the summer sessions. There are two such opportunities; each carry one S/U credit. In both cases, students are responsible for securing their own internships. To be eligible, each student must meet any eligibility criteria for the internship and be in good academic and conduct standing. Enrollment is by permission only using an online application. All course components must be completed at the “satisfactory” level to earn a “satisfactory” grade in each course. The Center for Pathways & Purpose guides students through multiple in-house internship and externship opportunities and helps facilitate other institutional requirements from external internships that students contract independently. Career and Professional Development also serves as instructor of record for most sections of INTER_OX490RE.

Internship courses traditionally feature experiences in the summer. Internship courses will not officially complete until after the internship has concluded. Sophomore students participating in internship courses will wait to apply to graduate from Oxford College in the summer. Final grades are determined after the internship concludes and course components are graded. 

Introductory Internship in the Liberal Arts (INTER_OX 490RE) combines asynchronous work and readings with face-to-face meetings with a cohort of others and the instructor and is offered each semester and carries the Experiential Learning (E) credit. INTER_OX490R is only offered during the summer and is subject to summer school tuition and fees. This course introduces students to several core concepts related to general professionalization, navigating difficult discussions in the workplace, understanding employability vs employment, and building capacity for improvement in multiple situations. INTER_OX 490RE is intended to introduce students to competencies that will be the basis for curricular and co-curricular reflection and life design throughout the first two years of undergraduate liberal arts study.  

Disciplinary Internship in the Liberal Arts (INTER_OX 492RE) is offered in the fall and spring semesters and offers a student the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member to pair their work experience with specific content in an academic discipline.  INTER_OX 492RE is designed, planned, and submitted for review in complete collaboration between student and a faculty member as the designated mentor.  

Learning to Lead aims to give new first-year students an introductory look at the definition and process of leadership. The course revolves around three questions: What is leadership? What is good leadership? What do good leaders do? Starting with an overview of historical perspectives of leadership, students will explore how leadership theories and topics can be applied to their time at Oxford and beyond.

The Lyceum Committee is comprised of members of the Oxford College faculty and staff. Its goal is to plan academic and artistic events for Oxford College students faculty, staff, and members of the community. Every academic year, the committee offers a series of lectures on political, social, and religious topics by renowned speakers and presents artistic performances by national and international artists. The Lyceum Committee wishes to highlight the cultural and religious diversity at Oxford College and Emory University. This diversity entails the willingness to forsake prejudice, intolerance, and xenophobia and not only encounter but also understand and embrace others in a community of learning and mutual trust.

Oxford Studies is a one-hour, elective, multidisciplinary course, which, through attendance, participation, and written reflection, encourages thoughtful involvement in the cultural, artistic, and educational activities available in our community beyond the confines of the traditional classroom. Students earn credit by attending lectures, panels, music, theater, and dance events and by writing critiques of events. Oxford Studies supports the college’s mission by promoting engagement with liberal arts issues of shared interest. It is offered every semester and may be repeated for credit. Students can enroll in Oxford Studies during class registration each fall and spring. As a student, it is your responsibility to add the class to your schedule during the relevant enrollment period.

The Pierce Program in Religion began in 1976 with a gift from the D. Abbott Turner family. William Turner and the other members of the Turner family endowed the Pierce Chair in Religion in honor of two of their ancestors: Dr. Lovick Pierce and Bishop George Foster Pierce. Bishop Pierce, William Turner's great-great-grandfather, was president of Emory College from 1848 to 1854. Pierce’s main priority is sponsoring high-impact programs in social justice (ethics) and interfaith dialogues.

• Oxford College Department of Religion: The Department of Religion offers courses that fulfill general education requirements at Oxford College and Emory College as well as requirements for a religion major or minor on the university level.
• Pierce Lecture Series: This series, which includes the Chaplain’s Lecture Series, brings distinguished lecturers in interfaith dialogues, religious studies, and ethics.
• The Dana Greene Distinguished Lecturer Series: The Dana Greene Distinguished Lecturer Series brings to Oxford College notable leaders in scholarship and creative expression. These lectures strive both to exemplify and encourage various types of intellectual discovery and creativity. They aim to explore not only the content of those intellectual and creative efforts; they also strive to exhibit the personal, professional, communal, and ethical contexts of those endeavors.
• Social Justice Initiatives: Pierce supports and collaborates with high-impact, primarily student-driven initiatives that fit within the parameters of Pierce’s social justice mission. For example, in partnership with Common Good Atlanta, Oxford college faculty teach accredited college courses inside a Georgia state prison, with Oxford students participating in combined discussions and writing exchanges with incarcerated students, extending the intellectual, social, and psychological benefits of college to incarcerated people.
• Emory Studies in Early Christianity and Rhetoric in Religious Antiquity: Emory Studies in Early Christianity and Rhetoric in Religious Antiquity are book series that investigate early Christian literature in the context of Mediterranean literature, religion, society, and culture.
• Global Connections: Sponsored by the Pierce Program in Religion and housed in the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, Global Connections is a travel experience designed to help students create meaning in their lives and connect their religious and spiritual convictions with social justice issues, including peace, poverty, human rights, and the environment.
• The Dr. Lovick Pierce and Bishop George F. Pierce Chair of Religion David B. Gowler: David B. Gowler is the Dr. Lovick Pierce and Bishop George F. Pierce Chair of Religion; and a senior faculty fellow, the Center for Ethics, Emory University.

The chaplain is a resource for all members of the college community and an advocate for the religious and spiritual life groups on campus. Programs and counseling services offered through the office support students during their time at Oxford.

Respect for all religious and spiritual traditions is important at Oxford. All are welcome here, whether or not they are part of a religious, spiritual, or philosophical tradition. While here, students can participate in service, social, and religious programs sponsored by this office, the Interfaith Council, and the 10 chartered religious and spiritual life groups at the college.

Throughout the year, many events celebrate a variety of faith traditions and their holidays. You may view the Religious Observances Calendar at our website below. 

The resources of this office are available to all members of the college community. To find more information and learn more about Oxford’s chaplain, visit the website: https://oxford.emory.edu/life/campus_life/religious.html.

Education Abroad

Oxford College encourages enrolled undergraduate students to participate in Education Abroad programs offered through Emory College’s Education Abroad Office. Students must be in good academic and conduct standing to participate in any education abroad program.

There are two types of programs available through this office: summer study abroad and semester study abroad.

In addition to any summer or semester study abroad, both fall and spring start students must complete at least three regular semesters (fall and spring semesters only—summer study in Atlanta does not count towards this requirement) at Oxford College.

Summer Study Abroad

Students must consult with and receive approval from the Oxford College Advising Support Center before applying to participate. Students must have and maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA (although some programs may require higher GPA) and be in good academic standing. Courses taken through summer study abroad programs can count towards Oxford academic credits as well as the general education program. Both first- and second-year students are eligible to apply for these programs if they meet program specific eligibility criteria. Final grades are determined after travel concludes and coursework is graded.

Student responsibilities (illustrative not exhaustive): students must satisfy all eligibility requirements. Students should meet with the Advising Support Center for consultation and approval. Students must also follow all procedures and meet all deadlines required by Emory College’s Study Abroad Office.

Semester Study Abroad

Students must consult with and receive approval from the Oxford College Advising Support Center. The earliest semester that a student (at either Oxford College or Emory’s Atlanta campus) can study abroad is the fourth regular semester; for most students, this means spring of the sophomore year. Students must also maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, be in good academic standing, and complete all Oxford specific General Education Program requirements (tagged courses) at the end of the regular semester preceding the planned semester abroad. Students studying abroad apply academic credit from semester abroad programs to count towards the total academic credit hours required for their Oxford degree, as well as general education program requirements. Since many programs do not end within Oxford’s spring academic calendar, all spring study abroad students will apply to graduate during summer semester following the semester abroad.

Student responsibilities (illustrative not exhaustive): satisfy all eligibility requirements. Meet with the Advising Support Center for consultation and approval. Follow all procedures and meet all deadlines required by Emory College’s Study Abroad Office.

Typically involved parties: ASC, Emory College Study Abroad Office

Possible outcomes (illustrative not exhaustive): acceptance for a study abroad program, or denial. Additional costs, paperwork, and tasks. Deferred graduation date.

Global Learning Courses

Oxford College offers Global Learning programs as part of our Experiential Learning Program. This type of course features a short-term, faculty-led travel component embedded into a regular on-campus course during spring or fall semesters. All students in the course participate in the travel component, and the travel component is a significant portion of the course grade. 

Global Learning courses can satisfy the Experience and Application requirement of the General Education Program. Prerequisites (if any), and the course’s ability to fulfill any other requirements for the General Education Program or majors and minors, are determined by the faculty and department(s) in which the course is offered. Global Learning courses include coursework that takes place during the regular semester (fall and spring semesters only). For the travel component, students will depart with faculty either during a designated break (for example, Spring Break) or after regular courses conclude at the end of the semester. The travel site(s) may be domestic or international. 

Students must remain in good academic and conduct standing to participate in any Global Learning course. Enrollment in Global Learning courses requires approval, based on student application for the experience. Course leaders set criteria for students’ enrollment that reflect the background needed to benefit from the travel experience and any relevant safety considerations. 

Students pay an additional fee to cover the expenses of travel. Students also purchase their own tickets for flights within parameters set by the program. Students who qualify for financial aid for the semester tuition may apply for additional aid to assist with the Global Learning fee, and scholarships are available to assist with the cost of airfare. 

The Global Learning course must fit in a student’s schedule and allowed credit hours at the time of pre-registration. Spring Global Learning courses often feature travel in early May or June, especially for international destinations. Since the travel component is a graded part of the course, Global Learning courses are not officially complete until AFTER the travel has concluded. Sophomore students participating in spring Global Learning courses will wait to apply to graduate from Oxford College in the summer. Final grades are determined after travel concludes and travel related projects are graded. Typically, students who will be graduating in summer solely because of their global learning course may participate in spring commencement activities if they are otherwise eligible to do so. 

Student responsibilities (illustrative not exhaustive): satisfy all eligibility and application requirements, remain in good standing, and maintain a passing grade in the Global Learning course. Follow all procedures and meet all deadlines set by the Global Learning program and course faculty before, during, and after travel. 

Possible outcomes (illustrative not exhaustive): acceptance, waitlist, or denial for a Global Learning course. Additional costs, paperwork, and tasks, including assignments due in summer. Deferred graduation date. Travel components may be canceled, or itineraries changed, due to factors outside of our control. 

Typically involved parties: Office of Academic Affairs, Oxford College faculty, Oxford College staff 

The Oxford College Undergraduate Research Program supports undergraduate research and scholarship opportunities. These opportunities happen in classrooms, laboratories, libraries, studios, and on stages across our institution. 

Oxford provides numerous opportunities for students to conduct professional research in their first and second year of college in all disciplines (Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering). 

The Oxford Research Scholars (ORS) program offers selected students the opportunity to work directly with faculty members for a full academic year on disciplinary research projects or projects related to the scholarship of teaching and learning. 

Students chosen as Oxford Research Scholars receive academic credit that fulfills the Experiential Learning (E) requirement and present their research during the annual Oxford Research Scholars Spring Symposium. As program participants, students learn how research within their disciplines leads to knowledge creation, are introduced to current research in their disciplines, and learn how research is organized and funded. Participation in ORS is for the full academic year, and participants enroll in 1-2 credit research courses with their faculty mentor in Fall and Spring. 

The SURE-Oxford program is an extension of Emory’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program.  The SURE program is a ten-week summer program during which undergraduate research fellows conduct full-time independent research under the direction of a faculty mentor. Summer researchers receive a housing award for residence on the Oxford College campus and a stipend to support their full-time attention to research training and professional development. Students are expected to participate in SURE for roughly 40 hours a week, which encompasses research time with faculty mentor and other SURE required programming. Students also travel once a week to the Atlanta campus (transportation provided) to participate in required SURE professional workshops and ethics seminars with SURE-Atlanta participants. 

Student researchers benefit from hands-on research, mentorship, networking opportunities, and graduate school preparation. SURE provides an opportunity for students to discuss research and start building their professional network with world-renowned researchers and the best and brightest peers from Emory and other institutions. SURE students come from all backgrounds and disciplines including the humanities, arts, social sciences, natural sciences, physical sciences and engineering. 

The Summer Oxford Research Scholars (SORS) program advances the scholarship of the faculty member with student assistance. Proposals are evaluated in terms of potential for this advancement, overall quality for the discipline, faculty rank, diversity of represented disciplines, and available funds. "Faculty" here denotes regular faculty as well as full-time staff with teaching/research responsibilities. 

Research can be independent (with regular reports to faculty member) or more actively supervised. Student hours and project duration: 2-40 hours per week, over 4 to 10-week duration. Campus housing is provided at no cost to student if required for the project; however, students are allowed to participate in Summer ORS without residing on campus. Faculty and student stipend are prorated based on total hours applied on project. This opportunity is open to current Oxford 1st or 2nd year students. 

The Oxford Research Scholars, SURE-Oxford programs, and the Summer Oxford Research Scholars Program reflect Oxford College’s recognition of the educational benefits achieved by involving first-year and sophomore students in the research process.  

Student responsibilities (illustrative not exhaustive): satisfy all eligibility requirements. Contact a professor whose research is of interest. Follow all procedures and meet all deadlines required by the program(s). 

Additional information is available at the following link: https://inside.oxford.emory.edu/academics/urs/index.html.