Academic Program

A Clark education is unique in that it provides a high-quality liberal arts education with personal attention and advanced study opportunities, as captured in the three Clark signatures. Most students begin their Clark career with a first-year seminar, designed to help them develop the skills and habits of mind they will need to succeed at Clark. Clark has developed a unique program of liberal studies that fosters critical thinking skills and broadens perspectives. Because they can choose among many different courses, students can take courses that interest them and, at the same time, satisfy their broad liberal arts requirements.

By the spring of sophomore year, students declare a major in which they develop depth and expertise. The University offers 31 majors, 30 minors and ten interdisciplinary concentrations, which can be combined to match individual interests and academic goals. Once students choose a major, their academic department becomes their intellectual "home," where they are able to work closely with faculty on research and other creative projects. As students acquire increasing depth and sophistication in a field of their choosing, they are able to take advantage of Clark's wide array of courses to construct an individualized program of study suited to their interests and career goals. In many fields, students have the opportunity to enter an honors program or accelerate to an advanced degree.

First-Year Seminars

First-year seminars allow students to explore, in depth, various issues and subjects. First-year seminars focus on helping students develop core academic skills that will enhance success in later Clark courses: reading, writing, speaking, thinking, and debating, all at the college level of intellectual sophistication. Seminars are intensive, stimulating, and challenging, and are limited to no more than 16 students each. The professor who teaches each first-year seminar also serves as academic advisor to the students in the seminar until they declare a major. Thus, students who enroll in first-year seminars start their Clark careers by developing a close relationship with both a professor and a small group of students who share at least one intellectual interest. All first-year seminars fill a Program of Liberal Studies (PLS) requirement.

First-year seminars change from year to year. As an example, we expect to offer the following seminars in Fall 2008.