Academics » Academic Catalog » Kalamazoo Curriculum » Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

#Units
  Requirements
3 Units   Shared Passages Seminars
1 Unit   First-Year Seminar (WRIT 130 or SEMN 100-199)
    First-Year Seminars do not satisfy major, minor, or concentration requirements.
1 Unit   Sophomore Seminar (SEMN 200-299)
    May be used to satisfy major, minor, or concentration requirements at the discretion of departments and programs.
1 Unit   Disciplinary or Interdisciplinary Senior Seminar (SEMN 400-499)
    May be used to satisfy major, minor, or concentration requirements at the discretion of departments and programs.
Up to 3 Units   Second Language
    Demonstrated proficiency through the Intermediate Level (103 or 201, depending on the language).
1 or 2 Units   Senior Individualized Project
    1 unit minimum *
1 Unit   Physical Education (5 activities)
    May be satisfied by completing five activities, each equal to 0.2 units, selected from physical education activity classes taken on campus or while on study abroad, intercollegiate sports, and Land/Sea. (PED 101 counts for two activities of the five required.)
8-12 Units   Major
    Every student must complete a major. Some students also choose to declare a minor, concentration, or second major, although those are optional. Some departments may require majors to pass a comprehensive exam to complete the major or graduate with honors. Majors, minors, and concentrations are described in the Academic Programs section of the catalog. Please consult those descriptions for requirements in those programs.
     
Residency, Unit, and GPA Requirements
     
36 Units   Minimum Required for Graduation, not including PE activities
    A minimum of 18 full-unit courses must be completed at Kalamazoo College, including 6 of the last 12 courses*. These minimum units exclude units earned on Study Abroad, study away (including GLCA programs), and inter-institutional registration.
1 Unit   PE/Wellness activities (5 activities)
2.00   Cumulative GPA

*Students on approved 3/2 engineering or health professions early entry programs are not subject to the SIP requirement or the requirement that 6 of the last 12 courses must be at Kalamazoo College.

Additional Key Curricular Components

Students should choose a wide-ranging set of courses, in consultation with their advisors, to expand their horizons and complement their major. Students are also encouraged to integrate the following key elements of the K Plan into their own learning experience:

  • Study abroad
  • Service-learning
  • Disciplinary and integrated, interdisciplinary minors
  • Student research
  • Career and Professional Development internships and externships
  • Guild participation
  • Land/Sea
  • Involvement in student activities and athletics

Note about Skills:
Development of skills such as writing, oral communication, cultural understanding, critical thinking, creative expression, reflection, quantitative reasoning, information literacy, and research skills will take place across the curriculum: in seminars, in many general education courses, and in the major. Majors may require liberal arts cognates to supplement or complement the learning that happens within the major, whether that be skill development, concept understanding, or related content.