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.
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.
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 1
Start building your academic, co-curricular and career foundation
Year 2
Choose your path. Find your community
Deepen engagement with the discipline in partnership with your
advisor and department
Start to develop an animating question to guide your inquiry
through your introductory seminar
Propose a Senior Integrative Project through your introductory
seminar
Year 3
Dive deeper into majors, minors, pathways and centers.
Engage locally and globally
Year 4
Complete your academic journey and launch your career
Senior presentations, capstones, recitals, showcases, final shows
Apply to postgraduate fellowships, graduate programs,
career opportunities
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Connections Program at Connecticut College?
Connections is Connecticut College’s integrative general education program for all students. It brings together courses, advising, interdisciplinary learning, and experiences beyond the classroom to help students connect their interests and build a personalized academic journey.
What is a First-Year Seminar?
Every first-year student takes a small seminar during their first semester. Seminars are limited to 16 students and emphasize discussion, writing, critical reading, and close interaction with faculty. Your seminar instructor also serves as your pre-major adviser.
What is an Integrative Pathway?
An Integrative Pathway is an optional interdisciplinary program organized around a broad theme such as public health, creativity, food, social justice, or entrepreneurship. Students connect courses from different disciplines with an off-campus experience and a personally meaningful “animating question.”
How does Connections include internships, study away, and other real-world experiences?
Students can connect their academic interests with experiences such as internships, study away, research, volunteering, and community-based learning. Students in Pathways and Centers develop Global/Local Engagement experiences that relate directly to their academic interests.
What is the All-College Symposium?
The All-College Symposium is an annual campus-wide event where students in Integrative Pathways and interdisciplinary Centers share how their coursework and experiences have come together through talks, panels, and poster presentations.
Scenes from the 2025 All-College Symposium
