Workload
Phillips Academy’s academic program is based upon the premise that students are capable of studying independently, responsibly, and with self direction.
During junior year, students may take five or six courses as deemed appropriate by the student with guidance from the advisor and Advising Council, a group of faculty appointed by the dean of studies. Subsequently, students are expected to carry five courses each term. On occasion and with the approval of the Advising Council, programs of four or six courses may be taken (see page 7 for the six course and four course load policies). Over the span of their last two years, students are required to complete at least 27 trimester units, with at least 12 of those units taken in the Senior year.
No student may take more than two courses in one department per term. Furthermore, with the exception of spring term Seniors, a student who wishes to take two courses in a single department must take a five course load, with the following exceptions: two math courses when one—and only one—is a computer course; two art courses when one is art history; two music courses when one—and only one—is performance-based. Students who, in the spring term of their senior year, wish to take two courses in one department may do so as part of a four course load. Taking three courses in a single department is not permitted.
In most courses, especially those taken to meet diploma requirements, class time and homework together can be expected to require a total of about nine hours per week. Certain upper level elective courses, as noted in their descriptions, may require more than the standard four to five hours of homework per week.