Disabled Students: 60% of the campus is accessible. Wheelchair ramps, elevators, special parking, specially equipped rest rooms, special class scheduling, and lowered telephones are available.

Services: Counseling and information services are available, as is tutoring in every subject. There is a reader service for the blind, and remedial math and writing.

Campus Safety and Security: Measures include 24-hour foot and vehicle patrol, self-defense education, escort service, and informal discussions. There are pamphlets/posters/films, emergency telephones, and lighted pathways/sidewalks.

Programs of Study: Bates confers B.A. and B.S. degrees. Bachelor’s degrees are awarded in BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE (biochemistry, biology/biological science, and neurosciences), COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS (art, Chinese, dramatic arts, East Asian languages and literature, English, French, German, Japanese, music, Russian, Spanish, and speech/debate/rhetoric), COMPUTER AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE (chemistry, geology, mathematics, and physics), ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (environmental science), SOCIAL SCIENCE (African American studies, American studies, anthropology, classical/ancient civilization, economics, history, philosophy, political science/government, psychology, religion, sociology, and women’s studies). Bioiogy, psychology, and English have the largest enrollments.

Required: Requirements for graduation include 5 courses in humanities, 3 each in natural science and social science, and 1 in phys ed. The total number of hours in the major varies by department, but students should take at least 32 courses, plus 2 short terms, and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0. A senior thesis is required.

Special: Internships, research apprenticeships, study abroad, and a Washington semester are possible. Dual, student-designed, and interdisciplinary majors, including classical and medieval studies, and a 3-2 engineering degree with Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Case Western Reserve University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Washington University in St. Louis are available. Students in any major may graduate in 3 years and a B.A.-B.S. is possible in all majors. Students may also participate in the Williams-Mystic Seaport program in marine biology and maritime history. There are 2 national honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, and 29 departmental honors programs.

Faculty/Classroom: 61% of faculty are male; 39%, female. All teach undergraduates and do research. The average class size in an introductory lecture is 21; in a lab, 16; and in a regular course, 17.

Admissions: 34% of the 1997-98 applicants were accepted. The SAT I scores for the 1997-98 freshman class were: Verbal-2% below 500, 19% between 500 and 599, 58% between 600 and 700, and 21% above 700; Math-15% between 500 and 599, 64% between 600 and 700, and 21% above 700. 88% of the current freshmen were in the top fifth of their class; 99% were in the top two fifths. Requirements: Candidates for admission should have completed 4 years of English, 3 each of math and history or social studies, and 2 each of science and foreign language. Essays are required and an interview on or off campus is strongly recommended. The submission of test scores is optional. Bates accepts applications on computer disk, but a printed copy is also required. AP credits are accepted. Important factors in the admissions decision are advanced placement or honor courses, evidence of special talent, and leadership record.