The Kalamazoo Curriculum

Kalamazoo College’s unique K-Plan encourages students to become "At Home in the World" by providing a curriculum that allows them to:

• develop life-long learning and communication skills;
• explore disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields;
• identify and pursue an intellectual passion, personal aspiration, or career path; and
• forge a customized, coherent education by integrating classroom and experiential learning, study abroad, and co-curricular activities into a unified whole.

The general education curriculum that supports the K-Plan features breadth across the liberal arts, a strong global and intercultural focus, widespread participation in meaningful study abroad and service-learning, rigorous majors, capstone experiences including Senior Individualized Projects for all students, and a dedication to integration of the entire “K” experience. Three Shared Passages Seminars serve as both preparation for and integration of the rich, transformational components of the K-Plan. Emphasizing student ownership of the educational experience, this curriculum encourages students to develop both an ability to think creatively and analytically about a variety of issues and ideas, as well as to bring unusual depth and passion to their particular field of interest.

The rich and multifaceted Kalamazoo curriculum is balanced by a set of graduation requirements designed to encourage student agency and intentionality in students’ curricular exploration and integration. Please refer to the academic catalog for requirement details.

What changed
in 2009? ►

Encouraging students to develop an ability to think creatively and analytically about a variety of issues and ideas, and to bring unusual depth and passion to their particular field of interest