The world needs creative, adaptive thinkers

The Connections Program (“Connections”) is Connecticut College’s integrative general education experience for all students.Through CONNECTIONS, you will foster intellectual curiosity and critical thinking while tying together your experiences in and out of the classroom, and across different disciplines and ways of knowing. With support of mentors and peers you will develop your individual educational journey and reflect on what you have learned. You will put the liberal arts into action by engaging with global and local communities.

Connections components include First-Year Seminars, ConnCourses, Modes of Inquiry, Social Difference and Power, World Languages and Cultures, and Writing Across the Curriculum. Connections also includes our optional Center Certificate Programs, the Museum Studies Certificate Program, Integrative Pathways, and the All-College Symposium.

Year by Year Experience

YEAR 1

START BUILDING YOUR ACADEMIC, CO-CURRICULAR AND CAREER FOUNDATION

YEAR 2

CHOOSE YOUR PATH.
FIND YOUR COMMUNITY

Declare a Major

Deepen engagement with the discipline in partnership with your advisor and department

Declare a Major + Declare a Pathway

Start to develop an animating question to guide your inquiry through your introductory seminar

Declare a Major + Apply to an Academic Center

Propose a Senior Integrative Project through your introductory seminar

YEAR 3

DIVE DEEPER INTO MAJORS, MINORS, PATHWAYS AND CENTERS. ENGAGE LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY

Connect internships, research, study away, community-based learning with major, pathway, and center learning

YEAR 4

COMPLETE YOUR ACADEMIC JOURNEY
AND LAUNCH YOUR CAREER

Senior presentations, capstones, recitals, showcases, final shows

Complete and present senior research at the All-College Symposium

Apply to postgraduate fellowships, graduate programs, career opportunitiesr

Connections Printable Version

All students at Connecticut College must complete these Connections program requirements.

1 Creative Expression course
1 Critical Interpretation and Analysis course
1 Quantitative and Formal Reasoning course
1 Scientific Inquiry and Analysis course
1 Social and Historical Inquiry course

a first-year seminar during the initial semester
2 semesters of study of one foreign language
a ConnCourse during your first 2 years
2 Writing courses
2 Social Difference and Power courses

Making Connections

Making Connections: Maricela's Story

Maricela Camargo '25 is a neuroscience major and PICA (Program in Community Action) scholar in Connecticut College's Holleran Center for Community Action. She has been researching whether patients with limited English proficiency receive equitable care in our healthcare system. Maricela presented her work at Conn's 2024 All-College Symposium.

Making Connections: Alex's Story

Alex Mitchell '25, an Economics major and Hispanic Studies minor, is part of Connecticut College's Entrepreneurship Pathway. His research focuses on how the student-athlete experience impacts postgraduate financial success across different racial groups. Alex presented his work at Conn’s 2024 All-College Symposium.

“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, Director of CISLA

Scenes from the 2025 All-College Symposium

A full auditorium at the All College Symposium

A student explains his poster at the All College Symposium

Students check out the schedule for the All-College Symposium

A student presents her poster at the All College Symposium

A student stands at the podium at the All College Symposium

Students cheer at the All College Symposium

See the full gallery of images from the 2025 All-College Symposium.