for instruction in physical education. Randolph–Macon is considered to be the first college in the South to offer English as a full discipline and to develop biology as a distinct study. Its computer science department is one of the oldest in the country associated with a liberal arts school; in the 1960s, when the program was established, many academics believed computer science to be more appropriate for a commercial trade or secretarial school than a traditional four-year institution. Since 1923, the college has been home to the Zeta of Virginia chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation's oldest academic honor society. Chi Beta Phi, the national science honorary society, was founded at Randolph–Macon in 1916. Academics As of 2021, Randolph–Macon offers two undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science. All students must satisfy the general collegiate curriculum, which requires them to take courses in each of the college's "Areas of Knowledge:" civilizations, arts and literature, natural and social sciences, mathematics, foreign languages, and wellness. Its most majors, based on 2021 graduates, were: Business/Commerce (63) Biology/Biological Sciences (49) Communication (31) Psychology (26) Political Science and Government (18) The college currently offers bachelor's degrees, though the institution has announced plans to provide a Master of Science in physician's assistant studies with the first cohort of students entering in 2021–2022. The student-faculty ratio is 12:1. Calendar Randolph–Macon operates on a 4-1-4 academic calendar. This allows for two four-month semesters (fall and spring) with a one-month term in January to split up the semesters. During the January Term (colloquially called "J-Term"), students are afforded the opportunity to take intensive study courses on the Randolph–Macon campus, travel the globe as part of a study-abroad course, or participate in professional internships in their field(s) of study and interest. Four-year degree guarantee In 2011, Randolph–Macon announced a four-year degree guarantee program. The college guarantees that entering freshmen will graduate in four calendar years and, if qualifying students are not able to meet that requirement, then Randolph–Macon College will waive tuition costs for the courses that the student needs to complete their degree. Facilities Randolph–Macon College has over 60 academic, administrative, athletic, and residential buildings on its campus of located in the heart of Ashland, Virginia. The oldest building is Washington-Franklin Hall, built in 1872, soon after the college moved to Ashland from Boydton. It was the first brick building in Ashland,