Majors
CMC
students are known for their eclectic choice of majors as many students
pursue a double major or a dual major. ( A student with a double major
fulfills all course requirements in both majors while a student with a
dual major fulfills slightly fewer courses than a full major in both
departments). Students are also allowed to complete a major at one of
the other Clarmont Colleges that may not be offered at CMC. Another
option is the self-designed major, which must be planned with direction
from a faculty advisor.
Requirements
CMC
has various general education requirements that all students,
regardless of major, must fulfill. These include three semesters of
social sciences, two semesters each of science and humanities courses,
and one semester of literature, math (calculus-based), and world
civilization. Additionally,all students must either demonstrate
proficiency in a foreign language or complete three semesters of foreign
language study.
An
additional requirement for all CMC students is the senior thesis, a
major research paper of project designed by the student. Normally
completed during the senior year and overseen by a faculty advisor, this
one or two semester venture is usually on a topic of interest within
the student's major field of study. Social science and humanities
students design and carry out experimental research, and often students
choose to do a creative project such as a short film or a novel.
Professors
Do
not choose CMC if you want to go through four years of college as an
anonymous students in the back of the classroom. the vast majority of
CMC professors want to hear your ideas and opinions, they want you to
ask questions, they hope that you will come to their office hours, and
they would like to know how you are doing outside of school as well. It
is not uncommon to find professors eating lunch with students in the
dining hall and students are often invited to professors homes for class
gatherings.
My
professors introduced me to fundamental schools of thought that bend my
mind and make me feel more engaged in the rest of my life. The best
classes here leave me thinking about the basic values and truths of the
world after I leave the classroom. They also spark conversations about
anything and everything with my friends.
Comparing
this school with what I have heard about other colleges from friends,
CMC demands more hours of work than most colleges, but it repays me for
my pain.
Feedback
However, the payoff may not be initially
in terms of grades. The bar is set high and new students may not also
receive the straight as that they earned in high school. Students must
challenge themselves to master material and improve their knowledge and
they do so in an environment that is collaborative and supportive.
Competition with one's fellow student is virtually unheard of and most
CMCers note that there is a sense of solidarity when exam or term paper
time rolls around.
Grades
at CMC are based on a 12-point, rather than 4-point scale, with 12
being an A, 11 equal to an A-, 10 is a B+, and so forth. The Dean's List
credits students who have achieved a GPA of 10.0 or higher during the
previous semester, and the Distinguished Scholar List is a mark of
achievement for those who earned a GPA of 11.0 or higher.
Because
there is a special emphasis on writing as part of a CMC education,
first-year students may be dismayed when they receive their first papers
back. CMC professors work to improve their students writing through the
application of proper grammar, the use of effective techniques, and
clear structure. A popular government professor requires first-year
students to review effective writing techniques before writing their
first paper of the semester, and one literature professor in recent
years required that his students write an essay on the correct usage of
the word "like". The Writing Center is a unique resource that offers
writing help and specialized workshops for students who would like extra
help. Writing at the college level can seem daunting at first but CMC
grade report that their training in writing has served them well in
their professional lives.
Throughout
their college career students can count on the advice and guidance of
their faculty advisor. Students are assigned faculty advisors in their
interested field of study at the beginning of their first year.
Research and Other Programs
CMC
students have more opportunities to participate hands-on in original
research than at any other liberal arts college nationwide. While a
number of American universities house research centers, work at these
centers is usually reserved for professors and graduate students.
Students at CMC are able to gain valuable experience in their chosen
field by initiating research projects, supervising fellow student
researchers, publishing in academic journals, organizing and
participating in conferences, and attending group study trips organized
by the research institutes.
I
studied in Oxford and had a wonderful time. This was my first trip
outside the United States, and it really showed me what the United
States is like from a different cultural viewpoint. Being in the UK for
the election as well, showed me how they see and interpret the U.S. and
U.S. policy abroad, especially in Europe.
Off-Campus Experience
Students
may exchange at one of the following liberal arts colleges in the
United States: Colby, Haverford, Morehouse, or Spelman Colleges. The
Washington. D.C. Semester includes a full-time internship with an
elected official, government agency, or public interest group, courses
with CMC faculty, and a major research paper requirement. This
experience infects many students with the "DC bug" and has led to the
start of many students future careers in Washington.
Study
abroad programs are offered in more than fifty cities in Europe, Asia,
Africa, Latin America, Australia, and the Middle East.
CMC
also offers students many opportunities to complete internships in
cities around the world, in Washington D.C., and in locations closer to
home through opportunities such as the Mckenna International Internship
program, the Community Service Internship program, and other internship
opportunities offered through the various research institutes.
Special Degree Programs
CMC
offers many special degree programs that allow students to combine
fields of study or to accelerate the completion of their undergraduate
and postgraduate degrees through various partnership programs. Politics,
Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) is an interdisciplinary major modeled
after an Oxford University program in which students participate in
small seminars and tutorials with faculty. The Environment, Economics
and Politics (EEP) major is a unique interdisciplinary program that
trains students to analyze and develop policy solutions for
environmental issues. CMC sponsors cooperative programs with graduates
schools that allow CMCers to combine their study at CMC with eventual
postgraduate study. CMC offers several accelerated degree programs
including: the Robert A. Day 4+1 B.A/M.B.A. with the Drucker School of
Management at Claremont Graduate University; a 3+2 B.A/M.S. in Applied
Biology with Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences, and a 3+3
B.A/J.D. with Columbia Law School. Additionally, students interested in
engineering may participate in accelerated programs in
Economics/Engineering or Management/engineering by combining a B.A. from
CMC with a B.S. from a top engineering school like Cal. Tech or
Claremont Consortium partner Harney Mudd College. Another unique degree
program is the Management Engineering program in which CMC students can
earn a B.A. from CMC and a B.S. in engineering from schools including
Cal Tech or Claremont Consortium partner Harvey Mudd.
0 comments:
Post a Comment