Academic Advising

Begin your journey at Trinity by considering interesting Majors and minors. Explore your options across five academic disciplines, with over 40 Majors and minors available to you. Visit the Majors and minors page for more information.

Every Trinity College student fulfills the curricular requirements of an academic Major. Early exploration in the college process allows students to find the right major, which must be declared by the end of the sophomore year. By beginning with a working plan, students can target areas that are interesting and may later become a focused area of expertise.

Visit the entry courses to majors website to see which courses you should explore to build a foundational knowledge that’s interesting to you.

Fall 2026 registration is underway! Whether you are under-enrolled, looking to explore a new field, or seeking electives beyond your major, here are some open courses that you may wish to consider. You can always visit the Course Enrollment page to see all open and waitlisted courses for the upcoming term.

INTS 275-01-3460: Georgraphy of China (TR 2:55-4:10PM)

PBPL 321-01-1680: American Legal History (TR 10:50AM-12:05PM)

*Now admitting first-year students

This list is provided by Department Chairs and Program Directors.

Francophone Studies 

Some important things to know about Trinity’s Francophone Studies (FREN) program:

• The Francophone Studies program offers a range of classes from French 101 to upper-level courses on literary, cultural, and political topics, nearly all of which are conducted in French
• Incoming students with any prior experience with French should take the placement exam to determine the appropriate level and browse our course offerings.
• Note that students who fulfill their language requirement by placing above the 201 level will need to complete an in-person oral interview and written exercise to confirm their level

What are some ways to get involved with Francophone Studies at Trinity?

• Students may complete a Minor (5.5 credits) or a Major (11 credits). Most students are double majors!
• Join us for the FREN annual Open House held in October, or the annual April in Paris francophone film festival at Cinestudio!
• Consider a Study Away program in a francophone country
• The Francophone Studies program isn’t only for students who learn French as a second language; it’s also for students from French-speaking backgrounds! Heritage speakers often take our upper level courses, and are also encouraged to consider becoming (paid) peer tutors at the Blume Language and Culture Learning Center

Students interested in the Francophone Studies program are welcome to reach out to Prof. Blase Provitola ([email protected]) with questions.

Theater and Dance

From Prof. Rebecca Pappas, Chair of Theater and Dance…

I am writing to ask you to recommend Theater and Dance (THDN) courses to first-year students, including those who may not be planning to major or minor in the department but have experience or interest in theater and dance. We often find that arts interested students come in feeling that Theater and Dance is not an important or serious way to spend their time during college and we want to welcome those students and give them a nudge towards something they love or are curious about.

COURSES

The following courses offer accessible and generative entry points into embodied learning, collaboration, and creative practice, and they work well alongside a wide range of academic paths. They currently have space and are great for incoming students.

• THDN 140 Improvisation as Composition TR 1:30-2:45 pm Practice making fast, bold decisions. Strengthen your adaptability, collaboration, and creative problem-solving—skills that serve artists, leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, and anyone who needs to think quickly and work well in a team. Perfect for athletes and those interested in Education, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Science, Neuroscience, Political Science, and Psychology. ARTW
• THDN 293 Playwrights Workshop M 1:30-4:10 pm. (While this course has a prerequisite we are happy to welcome first years with an interest in theater or film, just email [email protected]). In Playwrights Workshop, you’ll generate original scripts, experiment with structure and dialogue, and hear your work read aloud in a supportive, creative environment. Perfect those interested in Anthropology, Creative Writing, Film Studies, English, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Political Science, Public Policy & Law. (Cross referenced with FILM) ART.

These courses are already full but we can work to find space for especially motivated potential majors. Please email me if needed [email protected]:

• THDN 103 Basic Acting MW 10-12 pm (while it may appear there are only a few slots we are reserving 5-6 slots for first year students.) An introduction to the basic elements of acting. Students will work on releasing tension, developing their powers of concentration, promoting spontaneity through improvisation, and exploring a systematic approach to preparing a role for performance. A great match for students interested in Psychology, Sociology, Public Policy and Law, Education, History, and Philosophy. (Cross referenced with FILM) ARTW.
• THDN 107 Intro to Performance TR 9:25-10:40 am (while it may appear there are only a few slots we are reserving 12 for first year students between the two sections) How do cultures use performance to shape identity, ritual, protest, and storytelling? Explore global performance practice alongside hands-on creative work. Build cultural literacy, critical thinking, and confidence in your presence. Ideal for those interested in Anthropology, Sociology, International Studies, and Religious Studies. ARTW.

Please let your arts interested students know about these upcoming events:

Please join us for our Arts Welcome Cookout, Wednesday September 9, 5-7 pm at the Austin Arts Center. This is a chance to meet faculty and students across arts departments and enjoy a (meat or vegetarian) burger.

Technical Theater Workshop, Saturday, September 19, 9:30-4:30 pm with Production Manager, Michael Lenaghan. Whether you are new to technical theater or looking to strengthen your backstage skills, this workshop offers a practical introduction to the tools, terminology, and teamwork that make a theater production run smoothly. Lunch Provided. Represents 8 hours of Production Credit for THDN majors and a Wellness Experience.

And if they are interested in performing below is information about our 26-27 performances:

What’s Your Move?
Nov 19-21

The fall dance concert on the Goodwin stage will feature work by student, faculty and guest artist choreographers. It is an opportunity to gather around motion, celebrating a range of dance styles and practices. Come learn more about the concert and audition to participate, Info Session & Auditions: Fri Sep 11 @ 4 pm and Mon Sep 14 @ 7 pm in Trinity Commons 152.

The Flick
Feb 4-6

This three person play by Annie Baker centers on the employees in an old movie theater as they get to know one another and consider what it means to work together and authentically connect in an increasingly technological world. Staged in Cinestudio the play is an opportunity to consider how special it is to dwell together in time. The casting process is TBD.

Senior Projects
March 24 & 25

Seniors Bella Chirkis and Brayden Esler present their senior thesis projects. Bella’s explores narrative in choreography, while Brayden’s original play will explore the real life experience and aftermath of anterograde amnesia. Stay tuned for auditions and more information on these projects!

Cabaret
April 8-10

Beginning with the song Willkommen, the musical Cabaret presents a striking contrast between the hedonistic pleasures of gathering and the mounting power of fascism beyond the walls of the Kit Kat Club. As we stage our own production it is a chance to ask what this powerful musical has to teach us about welcome, power, and community. Auditions: Th Nov 5 @ 6:30 pm and Friday Nov 6 @ 6:30 pm. Call Backs: Friday Nov 13 @ 6:30 pm.
I am always happy to connect with student artists and I appreciate you helping them find their way into Theater and Dance.

Trinity requires 35 credits to graduate. Of these, three “Plus” credits will give you the opportunity to apply your learning in experiences like internships, Teaching Assistant-ships, Research assistantships, etc. These credits are listed on your transcript as “co-curricular credits” and contribute equally to your semester total. If you want, you can also design your “Plus” as three academic credits.

Explore internships, summer research, short term global study, J-Term courses, as well as leadership opportunities to fulfill your Trinity Plus.

Expand your horizons by studying away from Trinity. Whether you spend time studying domestically or traveling abroad, you are sure to gain new perspectives and additional context through exciting courses and programs away. Get more information by connecting with the Global Engagement Office.

The Health Professions Advising Committee (HPAC) exists for the purpose of assisting those who are interested in pursuing a career in a health profession. We advise, counsel, and evaluate students applying to health profession schools. The first step toward proper preparation for a career in the health care professions is to consult Professor Julia Bekanich, Coordinator for Health Professions and Lecturer in the Health Fellows Program. Learn more on the Information for Pre-Health Professional Students webpage.

First week of classes each semester. Students may freely add and drop courses via TConline, ideally in conversation with their academic adviser.

It is usually a good idea to wait to drop one class until you are sure of being able to add another. To see if there are spots available, check the Course Enrollments link on my.trincoll.edu to see whether a course has spaces available (green circle), or has a waitlist (yellow triangle—on tconline you can get on a total of two waitlists at a time). If it is full without a waitlist (blue square), you can email the professor to see if it might be possible to add.

Note that some courses require instructor permission to add: on the Course Schedules link, you’ll see a column called “permission required” that will tell you (with a Y or N) whether you need permission. If you do, contact the professor, who can give you a PIN: a number code that you submit on TConline when you register.

Add/drop week is the only time when you can freely change a course to pass/fail from a letter grade. You can change it back to a grade anytime through the last day of classes.

The withdrawal deadline is the last day to withdraw from a class without having to petition the Academic Affairs Committee to do so. The withdrawal form is located on the Registrar’s Office website, “Undergraduate Forms,” “Late add/late drop,” “withdrawal.” The registrar will require the student’s adviser to approve.

When should a student consider withdrawing from a course?

• When they decide that they will not be able to finish the course successfully
• When they decide that their total course load is too much for them, and that lessening it by one course could help them be successful in others

What are the results of withdrawing from a course?

• They will get a permanent “W” on their transcript. 
• Their GPA will not be affected
• Their status as a full-time student will not be affected (their total number of courses is determined by “courses attempted” by the end of add/drop, which would include a course they withdraw from)
• Depending on their current number of credits, withdrawing might affect their progress toward graduation, requiring them to take extra credits in future semesters and/or in J-term or summer
• Their academic standing could be affected, depending on their GPA and other credits. Find the rules for academic standing on page 47 of the Bulletin.

What if I want to withdraw after the official deadline?

• The student must petition the Academic Affairs Committee, which involves documenting medical or other reasons for withdrawal. Being behind in the coursework, or getting poor grades, are not a valid reason for this petition.

Meet with your academic adviser to discuss your list of courses for the following semester.

Register for next semester’s courses on your designated day via TConline.

You can declare a major at any point up until the Friday after spring break in your sophomore year. To do so, contact the chair of your desired department. The majors and minors page of the Trinity website has direct links to each available area of study. You can find the department chair within each major or minor’s website, under the “Faculty” tab of the website’s drop down menu.

Visit the Language Placement Exam website for more information including exam links, eligibility instructions, and the Second Language Requirement.