Course Registration

Freshmen and sophomores will be assigned to English courses. New juniors generally take English III, but may seek departmental permission for the CL English III Seminar. New seniors and postgraduate students should select their three (3) first-choice and three (3) second-choice electives for each term. Note that certain senior electives, listed in the course selection book, require permission of the department. Sophomores will be automatically enrolled in the required Writing Workshop for all three terms. 

Third-level proficiency in one language is a graduation requirement. Students may select two modern and classical languages, but a two-year commitment in the second language is expected. New seniors and postgraduate students are not allowed to elect the first level of a language, unless they receive departmental permission. For international students for whom English is not their native language a two-year commitment is required, unless they have entered Loomis with academic study of their native language at the secondary-school level; with permission from the Director of Studies those students may be considered exempt from the requirement. For new juniors who have completed two years of language study already, a choice of completing third-level by senior year or two years of a new modern or classical language may be determined in consultation with the Director of Studies. 

The World History requirement must be taken during either freshman or sophomore year. It is expected that juniors will take US History (regular or CL). Credit for US History taken in the 10th grade (prior to attending Loomis Chaffee) must be approved by the department and the director of studies. 

Students are urged to continue the study of mathematics beyond the diploma requirement of Algebra II and Geometry. It is typical for a student to study mathematics each year. 

Students must take two years of science, one a life science, such as biology or environmental science, and the other a physical science, such as chemistry or physics. Students are strongly encouraged to take at least one science course of either variety during freshman or sophomore year. Students should ensure that they have met appropriate prerequisites and co-requisites prior to selecting specific elective courses, as outlined in Course Offerings & Descriptions. 

Students must receive credit for two courses from these subjects (found across the departments of History, Philosophy & Religious Studies, and Social Sciences); one of these courses must be taken at the junior/senior level; at least one of these must be Philosophy or Religious Studies. All are term courses for 1/3 credit. 

Students who enter as freshmen must take three courses in the arts; all others must take two art courses. 

Visual Arts: Students should be aware that there are charges for certain supplies, such as camera rentals. 

Performing Arts: Please note that there is an additional charge for instrumental lessons; lessons must be arranged on-campus and through the music department. Credit will be given only after a full year of lessons, consisting of eight to ten (8-10) lessons each term, for a minimum total of twenty-six (26) lessons. 

For each term, students should select either: (1) a team activity or (2) a physical exertion activity. Further requirements regarding type of after-school activity are outlined on page 60 in the Course Descriptions book. 

If you have chosen five full academic courses (yearlong or term) in any term you may not, under most circumstances, take an additional full course. Academic courses are English, Modern & Classical Language, History/Philosophy/Religious Studies, Social Sciences, Math, Science, Art/Music/Theater, Computer Science/Design Thinking/Entrepreneurship, and Interdisciplinary.

Students may take one or (more rarely) two yearlong half course(s) in addition to the five full courses. This is often a wise way for students with five classes each term to add a diploma requirement credit in visual or performing arts. Students should be taking a long view - planning out all four years to be sure that the senior year is not unnecessarily crowded with diploma requirements. A broad selection of classes across the disciplines throughout the four years is the best profile for any student.

A term course runs for one third of the year on the same schedule as a year course, meeting two or three times per week. A year course runs for the full year, two or three times per week. A half course runs all year at half intensity — one to two meetings per week. Half courses are an exception to the five-course rule, not because they are less important, only because they require less reading and generally have no “homework” outside of class. While practice or occasional extra work will be expected in these courses, the majority of the work and learning is done within the context of the rehearsals or classes themselves.

Four full academic courses (yearlong or term) in any term is the minimum required course load. Students may elect this curriculum in one term or throughout their time at Loomis Chaffee, though most students do take five and certainly strive to do so. Arts may not be a fourth full course. To complete an academic year and be invited to return, a student must earn a total of at least four year-end credits, not including half-course credits. To receive a diploma, a student must earn a minimum of sixteen credits (full-course equivalents) between grades nine and twelve, although most Loomis Chaffee students earn between nineteen and twenty credits, not including half credits, in those four years.

Loomis Chaffee does not accept credit from other schools, except credit at admission for sequential disciplines. Classes in English, language, history, math, science or any other discipline may be taken in the summer to reinforce understanding or to enrich a student's performance, but they do not receive Loomis Chaffee credit. The only class that is currently approved for students to take for both credit and advancement to a higher level is Geometry, and that only with departmental approval. A student recommended for summer advancement will remain scheduled for geometry until they pass the examination that is administered at the close of the summer vacation. It is the student’s responsibility in that case to obtain our math department’s geometry curriculum and to find the local resource that can provide an equivalent preparatory experience.

Learn more about Summer Acceleration in Mathematics

No. One course must be taken as a junior or senior, and both may be taken then. Two courses taken as a freshman/sophomore does not fulfill the requirement. Additionally, one of the two must be in philosophy or religious studies.

Think of it as one extra English class per week for sophomores. It is automatically scheduled for each term. The Writing Workshop is required but is not graded or credit-bearing.