| Courses |
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From its beginning in 1826,
Lafayette has put primary emphasis on education as preparation
for life. These special seminars and courses enhance the
main curriculum and offer distinctive experiences on campus,
at other institutions of higher learning, and abroad.
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| Research |
 Lafayette believes that close
working relationships between students and faculty members
greatly enhance the educational experience. Students have
the opportunity to do undergraduate research on their own
(with faculty guidance) or jointly with a faculty member.
In 2002, 35 Lafayette
students presented papers at the annual National Conference
on Undergraduate Research. Lafayette's delegation is one of
the largest among the 250 institutions that participate. |
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| Internships |
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Most students gain experience in a field of interest by participating
in internships during summer or externships during the January interim session. Faculty
members and Career
Services provide information on these opportunities,
some of which offer academic credit. A major value of an internship
is on-the-job experience—an accomplishment sought by employers
and graduate school admissions committees.
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Some recent internships
held by Lafayette students include:
- researching excess nitrogen in groundwater at the Marine
Biological Laboratory, Cape Cod, Mass.
- testing motor oil dispersants for Mobil Chemical Corp., Edison,
N.J.
- assisting with licensing at Jim Henson Enterprises, New York
City
- developing strategies to market birth control in a traditional
culture for Akzo-Nobel, Vietnam
- doing studies on hepatitis B vaccines for Merck & Co., Inc.,
West Point, Pa.
- client management with Mutual of New York.
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| College Writing Program |
 The First-Year and VAST seminars
emphasize class discussion and frequent writing assignments. They
are affiliated with the College Writing Program, which helps students
acquire necessary writing skills. Its special feature is the use
of peer review. Students are selected for their writing ability and trained as Writing Associates to assist others. They work with students individually on structure, purpose,
organization, style, and effective revision.
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| McKelvy House Scholars |
Each year 20 students
of high ability and promise are invited to reside together at McKelvy
House, a residence four blocks from the campus reserved for participants
in the McKelvy House Scholars Program. The program was established to recognize and 
encourage academic excellence, to stimulate exceptional students
to work at their own pace, and to facilitate exchange of ideas and
information among students with different interests and in different
disciplines. Admission is competitive and requires nomination by
a faculty member. |
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