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The world needs creative, adaptive thinkers

CONNECTIONS is Connecticut College's reinvention of liberal arts education. It is a new kind of curriculum that lets you integrate your interests into a meaningful educational pathway, to carry you through college and into a fulfilling, effective career and life.

HOW IT WORKS

Find out more about each year of Connections

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

Declare a major
Apply to a Center or join a Pathway
Develop a question that is meaningful to you
Select coursework to inform your question
Prepare for global/local experiences

YEAR 3

Go deeper into your question
Engage with local and global communities
Study away
Complete an internship

YEAR 4

Pursue advanced courses, theses and research
Participate in a senior reflection seminar
Present at the All-College Symposium
Apply for post-college fellowships, graduate programs and jobs

Year 1

First-year seminar
ConnCourses

You'll start out with compelling introductory courses that prepare you to succeed over the next four years. In both your seminar and your ConnCourse, you'll find unexpected connections across the curriculum, and discover how your studies can apply to real-world problems.

A team of advisers

Your team is here for the sole purpose of helping you learn the ropes and get the most out of your Conn College experience.

What You'll Get

Confidence, capability and a sense of ownership of your education.

Year 2

Starting your own path

Working with your team, you will apply to a center or declare a pathway. By second semester, you will also declare your academic major.

Shaping a question

In your gateway course or thematic inquiry course, you will work with faculty and peers to orchestrate your education and develop a personally meaningful question to investigate over the next 2 1/2 years.

What You'll Get

Integration of your interests, focus in your studies and a multitude of perspectives.

Year 3

Global/local engagement

During or after your junior year, you'll hone your intellectual inquiry with expanded work beyond the classroom. You might study abroad, work in a summer internship or undertake an off-campus project. You might conduct research in the community or elsewhere in the world. You're going to get out there and do things.

What You'll Get

Real-world experience and opportunities to learn in different ways.

Year 4

Reflection seminar

Here, you'll get ready to present to the campus what you've learned by pursuing your animating question. Look back, synthesize and prepare to share.

Senior-year capstone

This is where you'll put it all together. You might take an advanced seminar or do an individual study, honors thesis, portfolio or performance.

All-college symposium

Time to put your knowledge out in the world. Anticipate pride, gratification, and yes, fun.

What You'll Get

Contemplation of what you've learned in college and the ability to articulate it clearly as you pursue your career or graduate studies.

“Study what interests you. Discover what compels you. Try to solve what mystifies you. Instead of merely pursuing credits, you'll be pursuing answers.” – Suzuko Knott, Associate Professor of German