E X
C O
APPLY TO TEACH
Anyone, town or gown, can teach an ExCo on whatever they are passionate about! When reviewing course applications, the ExCo Committee is subject-agnostic and solely considers applications based on the instructor’s commitment to the course, familiarity with the subject matter, and depth of thought when making the syllabus.
DrugsCo Instructor Rachel Clark
What You'll Need
Syllabus
Because of ExCo’s more liberal definition of education, ExCo syllabi must be extremely clear and thorough in their explanation of classes. A good syllabus keeps you and your students on track, and can alleviate problems of hazy goals and lack of direction. It also helps students to make informed and quick decisions about whether to enroll.
Letters of Rec
We require two: a General Recommendation, written by a friend or coworker who knows you well and is aware of the extent of your knowledge in the course material; and a Faculty Recommendation, written by a professor, coach, boss, or anyone else who can speak to your professionalism and interpersonal skills and has been a supervisor of yours.
Interview
Each applicant is expected to sign up for a 15-minute interview slot. Interviews are generally held in our office, with one to two Committee members present. Co-instructors for a course must each interview individually.
(In addition to the application form...)
TYPES OF COURSES
ExCo instructors teach 1-2 credit courses through the ExCo Department at Oberlin College. Courses are categorized as either “practicum” or “academic.”
Practicum Courses
Practicum courses include dance, theater, sports, martial arts, games, etc. (Courses on music, arts, crafts, and DIY can sometimes fall into either category.)
Minimum requirement for a 1 credit practicum course:
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12 week class schedule
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2 hours of meetings per week
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1 hour out of class work (practicing, attending events, etc) per week
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2 forms of evaluation
Practicum courses very rarely are offered for 2 credits, but you may discuss the matter with the ExCo Committee if you think your course could qualify as such. Course enrollment is limited to a maximum of 15 students per instructor.
Academic Courses
Academic courses are lecture and/or discussion based courses that explore topics of academic relevance. These often include courses on society, culture, language, religion, math, science, media, literature, etc. (Courses on music, arts, crafts, and DIY can sometimes fall into either category.)
Minimum requirements for a 1 credit academic course:
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12 week class schedule
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1-2 hour of meetings per week
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1-2 hours of reading / assignment work per week
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2 forms of evaluation
Minimum requirements for a 2 credit academic course:
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12 week class schedule
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2 hours of meetings per week
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2-3 hours of reading / assignment work per week
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3-4 forms of evaluation (3 is acceptable only if one of them is particularly large)
Course enrollment for academic courses is limited to a maximum of 15 students per instructor.