Degree Requirements

#UnitsRequirements
3 UnitsShared Passages Seminars
1 UnitFirst-Year Seminar
 First-Year Seminars do not satisfy major, minor, or concentration requirements.
1 UnitSophomore Seminar (SEMN 200-299)
 May be used to satisfy major, minor, or concentration requirements at the discretion of departments and programs.
1 UnitDisciplinary or Interdisciplinary Senior Capstone ((SEMN400-499 or a course from any program with 490, 491, or 492 designation)
 May be used to satisfy major, minor, or concentration requirements at the discretion of departments and programs.
Up to 3 UnitsSecond Language
 Demonstrated proficiency through the Intermediate Level (103 or 201, depending on the language).
1 or 2 UnitsSenior Integrated Project
 1 unit minimum *
1 UnitPhysical Education
 May be satisfied by completing activities, selected from physical education activity classes taken on campus or while on study abroad, intercollegiate sports, and Land/Sea.
8-12 UnitsMajor
 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.A Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in major coursework is required for graduation.
  
Residency, Unit, and GPA Requirements
  
36 UnitsMinimum 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 academic units*. These minimum units exclude units earned on Study Abroad, study away (including GLCA programs), and inter-institutional registration.
1 UnitPE/Wellness activities
2.00Cumulative 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.

  • Students may not double count a single course to meet multiple major or minor requirements (two different requirements for a single major or minor, requirements for two different majors or minors, or requirements for a major and a minor) except that requirements for the IAS major may be used to satisfy another major or minor. A single course may meet the requirements for a major and be a cognate course for another major or a minor.
  • All courses taken in the major field of study and that major’s associated cognates must be at C- or better.

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.