All courses offered in the undergraduate program fall under the four divisional headings and the interdivisional programs and concentrations heading, and the Conservatory of Music. Every semester, approximately 675 courses are offered as seminars, studio courses, tutorials, Senior Projects, and independent studies. The average class size is 15 in the Lower College and 11 in the Upper College.
100-level courses are primarily, though not exclusively, for first-year students;
200-level courses are primarily for Lower College students;
300- and 400-level courses are designed for Upper College students.
Most courses in the Lower College meet twice weekly for 80 minutes each session, although instructors may vary the length and frequency of meetings according to their estimation of a class's needs. Many seminars in the Upper College meet once a week for two hours and 20 minutes. Laboratory courses usually meet three times a week (two seminars or lectures and a laboratory session). Introductory language courses customarily have four one-hour sessions each week, intensive language courses have five two-hour sessions, and immersion language courses have five three-hour sessions each week. Most tutorials meet once a week for one hour.
All courses carry four credits unless otherwise noted. There are several two-credit seminars and intensive language courses carry eight credits and immersion language courses 12 credits. A normal course load is 16 credits each semester.
Opportunities through the Open Society University Network
In addition to Bard's regular course offerings, students can take advantage of opportunities through the Open Society University Network (OSUN), of which Bard is a founding member. Bard students may enroll in online courses offered by OSUN partners, or take Network Collaborative Courses, which are codesigned and offered at Bard and other OSUN institutions simultaneously.
The Bard College Catalogue contains detailed descriptions of the College's undergraduate courses, beyond what is offered this semester in the course list.