Undergraduate Program

The Academic Program

Colgate’s curriculum includes a wide range of study opportunities in the arts, natural sciences, and social sciences. It is structured to provide a well-rounded liberal arts education and to prepare students for graduate and professional schools. A student’s academic program consists of courses in the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum, courses in a major, electives, and physical education classes. There are 56 majors offered, several of which are interdisciplinary in nature and offer honors programs. Qualified students are encouraged to participate in one of Colgate’s more than 20 off-campus study groups. Other academic options include independent study courses, guided research, and approved off-campus (non-Colgate) study programs.

The Academic Curriculum

The following sections describe important features of the curriculum. For more specific course requirements see Majors and Minors .

Academic Credit

Academic credit toward the Colgate degree is expressed in terms of course credits. Most courses taken at Colgate carry one course credit (1.00) or the equivalent of four credits on the semester-hour basis. Fractional credit (0.25 or 0.50) is awarded for academic opportunities that do not fit easily into the standard one course/one credit structure. Fractional credit of 0.25 or 0.50 may be awarded for two types of courses: (1) stand-alone fractional credit courses that have a clear intellectual rationale independent from other courses (e.g., approved half-semester courses, independent study/research); and (2) add-on fractional credit courses comprising components that intellectually engage students in ways that extend beyond the content of the full-credit course to which they are attached (e.g., laboratories, service learning, extended study, and performance). Add-on fractional credit may be either required or optional. A maximum of 2.00 course credits from add-on fractional credit courses may count toward the 32-course credit graduation requirement. There is no limitation on the number of stand-alone fractional credit courses that may count toward graduation.

All fractional credit courses receive separate grades. One-half credit courses are equivalent to two credits on the semester-hour basis and are indicated as 0.50 on the academic record. One-quarter credit courses are equivalent to one credit on the semester-hour basis and are indicated as 0.25 on the academic record.

As used in the catalog, the term “course” means a 1.00 course credit, as distinguished from fractional credit courses. All laboratories included in course descriptions as bearing academic credit carry 0.25 course credits, unless noted otherwise.

Curricular Requirements for Graduation

Students must complete a minimum of 32.00 course credits (with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00) and requirements for the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum, a major, and foreign language and writing (if stipulated upon admission). Additional requirements, including residency and physical education, are described in Academic Regulations .

The Liberal Arts Core Curriculum: Living and Learning in a Diverse Community

Summary

The required Liberal Arts Core Curriculum has the following structure for students who arrive after the Spring of 2023:

The Components

Core Communities    

Core Conversations  

Core Sciences  

The Liberal Arts Practices

Artistic Practice and Interpretation   

Confronting Collective Challenges  

Language Study    

The Process of Writing   

Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning   

Areas of Inquiry

Human Thought and Expression   

Natural Science and Mathematics   

Social Relations, Institutions, and Agents   

Physical Education and Wellness    

Distinction    (optional) 

Students will fulfill the LACC in no fewer than 10 and no more than 12 courses.

Fulfilling the Core Components:

These three component courses are not sequential. Students may complete the three required component courses in any order but are expected to complete the three courses by the end of their sophomore year. Exceptions may be made for students completing certain programs (for example, pre-medical study) and for students with special individual circumstances. Students who have not completed the three component courses by the end of the second year are required to obtain permission of the course instructor to enroll as juniors or seniors in component courses.

Students entering Colgate in the Fall of

• 2021 must successfully complete Core 151 and 152 in addition to Core Communities and Identities and Core Scientific Perspectives; or Core Conversations in place of either Core 151 or 152. As Core 151 and Core 152 are no longer offered, students who still need one of these courses must consult with the University Professor of Core Conversations to decide on a suitable substitute course.  The University Professor must approve the substitute course in order for it to satisfy the requirement.
• 2022 must complete three component courses. In addition to Core Communities and Identities and Core Scientific Perspectives, they must successfully complete one of the following, or two if they wish: Core 111 (Conversations) or CORE 151 (Legacies of the Ancient World) or CORE 152 (Challenges of Modernity). The second course would count toward graduation but would not fulfill a requirement.
• 2023 and beyond must successfully complete Core Communities, Core Conversations, and Core Sciences. A Global Engagements course (see the previous core curriculum) is no longer required.

Students entering Colgate in the Fall of 2021 or 2022 may substitute Core Communities for Core Communities and Identities, and Core Sciences for Core Scientific Perspectives.

Fulfilling the Liberal Arts Practices and Areas of Inquiry:

To ensure a well-rounded liberal arts education, students must engage with disciplines throughout the curriculum and across the full reach of the academic program at Colgate. Thus, to fulfill the Liberal Arts Practices and Areas of Inquiries requirements, students must successfully complete at least seven courses, from at least six different subjects.

Although a course may carry multiple tags, a student may not fulfill multiple designations through a single course. The following exceptions apply:

• Students may double-count their Process of Writing Practice course to also fulfill one Liberal Arts Practices or Areas of Inquiry requirement.
• Students may double-count the FSEM to fulfill one Core Component or any Liberal Arts Practice / Area of Inquiry requirement except their Process of Writing course.

Students may complete these requirements in any order, at any point during their progress toward a degree. Only full, 1.0-credit courses and repeatable fractional-credit courses may carry Liberal Arts Practices and Areas of Inquiry tags. Courses approved for transfer credit may count toward the requirements, provided they carry at least 0.75 Colgate course credits.

Students entering Colgate in the Fall of

• 2021 or 2022 must successfully complete two courses, in different subject codes, in each of the three Areas of Inquiry.
• 2023 and beyond must successfully complete one course in each of the three Areas of Inquiry plus one course in each of the five Liberal Arts Practices. (See above for double-counting options.)

Apart from transfer students, all Colgate undergraduates entering in the Fall of 2023 or later are required to meet these requirements; students may not place out of any of them. None may be fulfilled by Advanced Placement credits or other pre-matriculation credit. Liberal Arts Practices and Areas of Inquiry requirements may be fulfilled on Approved Programs and at other institutions approved by the University for transfer credit. Component courses must be successfully completed at Colgate. 

For additional information see the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum .  

First-Year Seminars (FSEM) Program

Director Karn

All first-year students must enroll in a first-year seminar (FSEM). FSEM courses are drawn from all four academic divisions and, therefore, from many different parts of the academic curriculum. Academic departments and programs frequently offer their introductory-level courses as FSEMs, and some Core component courses (see below) may be taught as FSEMs. Faculty may also develop new FSEM courses around topics which they feel will be of broad interest to new members of the learning community. FSEMs may carry any of the Area of Inquiry tags or Liberal Arts Practices tags except for the Process of Writing (details below). 

In all cases, FSEMs are designed to introduce students to a variety of liberal arts topics, skills, and ways of learning. These include academic integrity, effective writing practices, information literacy, and institutional resources available to support intellectual engagement, personal growth, and well-being. The FSEM program emphasizes all aspects of the learning process, both in and out of the traditional classroom setting. Each FSEM cohort connects directly with one of the living and learning communities that constitute the Residential Commons program.

Living and Learning Workshop (LLW)

Director Henke

First-year students are also required to participate in the Living and Learning Workshop (LLW), which is administered jointly by the faculty and the Dean of the College division. The LLW aims to provide first-year students with an ongoing orientation process and to support students in their development, both inside and outside of the classroom. The Workshop seeks to build an inclusive campus community with well-adjusted and socially aware students who are ready to manage the academic and personal challenges which come with a rigorous liberal arts education. Individual workshop sessions address pressing social and student-life issues such as diversity, equity, and inclusivity, sexual violence, drug and alcohol abuse, mental and physical well-being, and civic engagement. These workshop sessions, which take place in the first half of the fall semester, also encourage academic and career preparation with a focus on fundamental research skills, effective writing, and career exploration.

Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum (CLAC)

Colgate University seeks to create an international ethos for the liberal arts by expanding the range of curricular settings in which students and professors pursue knowledge through the study of materials produced in multiple languages. Beyond the language and literature departments, faculty across all academic disciplines regularly include sources originally published in a wide variety of languages in their curricula. Through the CLAC program, faculty may choose to offer a supplemental component to a particular course in which students learn new language skills related to the primary course or read course materials in their original language.

Major Programs

Students investigate a body of knowledge in depth in a major. An official major must be selected and filed in the Office of the Registrar no later than the second term of the sophomore year. Students who fail to declare a major by the announced deadline will not be permitted to register for the upcoming term. A student may subsequently change majors with the approval of the new department chair or program director and the filing of a new declaration of major form with the registrar. Most major programs are centered on a single discipline and supervised by one academic department; however, a number of interdisciplinary majors permit students to major in a subject that involves several related departments. Some even cross divisional boundaries. A minimum grade of C- in introductory courses is normally needed for admission to a major. For graduation, the minimum grade point average (GPA) required for courses counted toward the major is 2.00 (C).

The major program includes at least eight courses. Most departments or programs also require a senior-level seminar or research course or independent study.

Students may pursue a double major, a major and a minor, or a major and two minors (i.e., students pursuing a double major may not pursue a minor.) No more than two majors, one major and one minor, or a major and two minors, may be recorded on a student’s transcript. Students should see Majors and Minors  for an alphabetical list.

Bachelor of Arts Degree (AB) Programs

The major programs are approved by the Dean’s Advisory Council and registered officially with the New York State Education Department. Specific major and honors requirements are found in Majors and Minors .

Double Major

Some students elect to fulfill the requirements for two separate majors. This choice helps focus the plan of study but greatly reduces one’s freedom in electing courses each semester.

Students wishing to declare a second major must formally file their plan with the registrar by the full-term course withdrawal deadline in the first term of the senior year.

The form filed first will be considered the primary major, unless the registrar is informed that the second form filed is to be the primary major. Students who elect to complete a double major must let each supervising department or program know that a second major is being pursued.

A course may be used to satisfy requirements in both majors. A student will only be considered to have completed a double major when at least seven of the courses completed in fulfillment of each major are unique. If the primary major requires cognate courses (which must be taken but which are not actually considered part of the major), these cognate courses may be counted toward the second major. The minimum GPA of 2.00, required for completion of the primary major, also applies to a second major.

Topical Majors

Topical majors allow students, with the advice of an academic adviser, to design an independent, interdisciplinary course of study outside the existing department and program structure. Topical majors are used for student major programs that encompass courses from more than one department or program. The three topical major programs are in Arts and Humanities, Natural Science, and Social Sciences. Although administered at the divisional level, some topical majors may cross divisional lines. Topical major programs are approved by the respective division directors. In all cases, Colgate’s general requirements for graduation will apply. Topical majors are described under their respective divisions within the alphabetical order of Majors and Minors .

Minor

Every department and nearly every program at Colgate offers an optional minor consisting of at least five designated courses or types of courses. A major and a minor, or two minors, may have overlap of course requirements, but at least seven courses must be unique to the major and at least four courses must be unique to each minor. Minors should include coursework at the intermediate or advanced level. A minimum GPA of 2.00 (C) is required in all courses counted toward a minor. Minors must be filed with the registrar by the full-term withdrawal deadline in the first term of the senior year. No student may declare a minor in the same field as the student’s major.

Academic Advising

Faculty advising can be essential to a student’s success and sense of satisfaction with the academic program. Colgate recognizes that academic advising needs can be diverse, and individual expectations and requirements often change with time. Effective advising develops in a timely fashion when students take the responsibility of reading this catalog and the Colgate Student Handbook, and seek assistance early and often.

Academic advising typically follows this pattern during the four years at Colgate:

Prior to the first semester

Incoming students submit course preferences and their academic experiences to assist the registrar’s office in creating a schedule aligned with the student’s interests. The first-year web pages and summer pre-matriculation academic advisers serve as the primary resources for academic planning and course selection.

The First Semester - Course-Based Advising

One of the four courses that each student selects for the first semester is a first-year seminar. The instructor for this course serves as the academic adviser for each student enrolled in the seminar. During the first-year orientation program, students meet with their academic advisers in individual advising sessions and review their fall course schedules.

Throughout the semester, the academic adviser serves as an important source of counsel and guidance, gives information on course withdrawal and registration for spring term, and monitors midterm reports. Each semester, students are required to consult with their academic advisers prior to registration.

The Second and Third Semesters - Transition Advising

The advising relationship with the first-year seminar instructor usually continues until a major is selected. Students may change their official advisers by completing a form available from the Office of the Registrar.

The Fourth Semester - Declaration of the Major

In the spring semester of the sophomore year, each student wihout a major must declare one by submitting a major declaration form to the Office of the Registrar. The student chooses or is assigned a major adviser during the submission process. The major adviser is a mentor who advises students about requirements in the context of a sound, comprehensive academic program.

The Administration’s Role in Academic Advising

The academic advising program is administered by the Office of the Dean of the Faculty and Provost.

Honors and Awards

Colgate University encourages students to strive for excellence in their chosen fields of academic endeavor and honors those who achieve distinction in their academic performance.

Honors in Major

Students who earn honors in their majors have so mastered their disciplines that they are able to complete, with distinction, original work appropriate to their chosen fields of study. Specific requirements for Honors and High Honors are indicated on the Department/Program pages. Most major honors require completion of department or program courses with a designated grade point average (GPA) as well as a project designed and pursued independently under the guidance of a faculty sponsor. Departments and programs will determine whether the oral presentation and/or written reports are of a quality appropriate for honors. For details consult the departmental or program major listed alphabetically in Departments and Programs . 

University Honors

Students who maintain a consistently high grade point average (GPA) throughout their academic careers are recognized for their achievements by the awarding of university honors at graduation. University honors (based on all courses attempted while enrolled at Colgate) are summa cum laude (3.80), magna cum laude (3.50), and cum laude (3.30). Beginning with the Class of 2028, students in the top 5% of the graduating class (with the threshold set in May for the following August and December) will receive summa cum laude. The next 10% (or those in the top 15% but not receiving summa) will get magna cum laude. The next 15% (or those in the top 30% but not receiving summa or magna) will receive cum laude.

GPAs for university honors are established and reviewed by the Dean’s Advisory Council. A minimum of 22 Colgate courses taken for a grade will be considered for university honors. Transfer students who have taken between 16 and 22 Colgate courses for a grade will be considered for university honors.

The valedictorian and salutatorian are the students who have the highest and second highest rank in the graduating class based upon the cumulative GPA in all courses taken for a grade. Transfer students must be enrolled at Colgate for at least six terms in order to be considered eligible for the university honor of valedictorian or salutatorian.

The Dean’s Award

The following awards are presented each term to students who achieve the following

Dean’s Award with Distinction - Students who receive a term grade point average of 3.6 or higher while completing at least 3 course credits for a conventional letter grade and a minimum of 3.75 total course credits.

Dean’s Award - Students who receive a term grade point average of 3.3 or higher while completing at least 3 course credits for a conventional letter grade and a minimum of 3.75 total course credits.

See Grading Policies  

Other Awards

The Bernard and Sydell Citron Pre-Medical Scholastic Prize — established in 1964. The income from this fund, but not less than $250 annually, is to be paid to the graduating pre-medical senior who has been accepted in a medical school and who has attained the highest scholastic standing among all the pre-medical students graduating that year.

The Class of 1884 Public Speaking Prize — established in 1884 to offer a prize for debate.

The Class of 1997 Endowed Graduate Fellowship — established to provide financial assistance for one or more graduating seniors. Preference is given to a candidate pursuing a graduate level degree.

The George W. Cobb Awards — awarded to recognize outstanding achievement by undergraduates. No fewer than 10 nor more than 20 awards are made annually to those students who, during the college year immediately preceding the award, shall have demonstrated qualities of outstanding leadership and influence among their fellow students and shall have exercised effective influence in bringing to the college students of the highest character and personal qualities. The recipients of these awards are to be known as the George W. Cobb Fellows.

The Colgate Alumni Corporation 1819 Award — given annually to the senior whose character, scholarship, sportsmanship, and service to others best exemplify the spirit that is Colgate. The 1819 Award is the most selective and prestigious award Colgate University bestows upon a graduating senior.

The Colgate Professional Writers’ Award — juried prize that recognizes and encourages outstanding nonfiction writing by undergraduates.

The Dean’s Community Service Awards — conferred on the individual or student group that conducted outstanding community service during the school year.

The Dodge Prizes — established by Ebenezer Dodge, D.D., LL.D., president of the university 1868–90, and awarded to the first-year students who achieve the highest academic record during the first year of their college career, as determined by their grade point averages.

Lampert Award for Outstanding Scholarship — awarded to the student with the most outstanding project of the annual Lampert Fellowships in Civic and Global Affairs.

The Adam Clayton Powell Jr. ‘30 Award — recognizes seniors who have made outstanding contributions to Colgate and, in the process, enriched the life of the student community of color.

The Professor Daniel H. Saracino Endowed Fund for Phi Beta Kappa — created in honor of Daniel H. Saracino, Neil R. Grabois Professor of mathematics, to support the work of the Colgate chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. An award will be given annually to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average among those elected to Phi Beta Kappa. In addition, as many as two prizes per year may be awarded at the discretion of the chapter in recognition of specific scholarly or creative projects that are of exceptional merit.

The Edward M. Stimets Memorial Award — conferred on the student who, in the judgment of the dean of the faculty, the dean of the college, the dean of first-year students, and the president of the Student Government Association, contributed the most to Colgate in their first year.

The Dr. Leo H. Speno ‘26 Endowed Prize Fund — established in memory of Dr. Leo H. Speno ‘26. This prize will be awarded annually to as many as four seniors who meet at least two of the following criteria: above-average GPA, member of a varsity athletic team, member of a fraternity or sorority, involved in the religious life of the university, involved in service activities in the Colgate and/or Hamilton communities. Special preference will also be given to students who meet the criteria and have demonstrated an interest in pursuing a career in the medical sciences.

The Jewish Student Life Award — awarded by the program for outstanding Jewish student leadership.

The Kingsford Prizes in Public Speaking — established in 1881 for prizes in public speaking.

The Lewis Oratory Prize — established in 1867 in memory of George W.M. Lewis for the orator who excels in the composition and delivery of an original oration.

The George E. Stevenson Prize — established in 1920 for a prize in extemporaneous speaking.

See department/program pages for specific departmental awards.

Off-Campus Study

Acquiring an intercultural perspective is an important goal of Colgate’s liberal arts education. The university offers an academically, geographically, and culturally diverse array of off-campus programs that combine rigorous academic study with meaningful cultural engagement. The global campus provides access to lectures by distinguished scholars and readings by well-known writers; it opens the doors of museums, libraries, theaters and temples; and it allows students to experience the day-to-day fascination of a new and stimulating environment.

All students studying abroad on approved programs that are hosted in a non-English speaking country, or in a country in which English is one of many official languages, are required to take at least one language class in that program’s native language or one course taught in a local language other than English during the program. Please consult the Off-Campus Study web page for a list of language requirements for each program. Exceptions will not be granted except in extreme circumstances.

The off-campus study program is administered by the Office of Off-Campus Study in McGregory Hall. Options include semester-long Colgate study groups directed by Colgate faculty; semester-long approved programs offered by other universities or education providers; and extended study courses taught by Colgate faculty that includes an off-campus component from 14-21 days.

Students are advised to meet with an off-campus study adviser to learn more about their options and plan in order to take best advantage of this opportunity. Students should consult their academic adviser and department early in the process to discuss degree requirements and any courses to be applied towards the major or minor.

For more information see Off-Campus Study.

Application and Enrollment

Application to off-campus study programs is made through the Office of Off-Campus Study. Applicants must meet the GPA requirements and prerequisites of their desired program, and be in good academic standing with Colgate in the following areas: academic, financial, and disciplinary. Students must demonstrate personal and academic maturity equal to the demands of the off-campus program, which often exceeds the demands of the campus. This maturity should be attested to by the student’s academic record, administrative dean, and academic adviser. Admission to an off-campus study program is competitive and not guaranteed.

The application deadline is normally in November for Colgate Study Groups (Faculty led) and may be found online at colgate.edu/OCS. The annual deadline for approved, non-Colgate programs is in early February for all of the following year, fall and spring semesters. Approved programs are reviewed by Colgate’s academic departments and listed on the Off-Campus Study Programs website at colgate.edu/OCS.

The number of students permitted to study off campus is managed by the university and student numbers must be balanced across semesters. Study Groups are scheduled to balance between fall and spring semesters. In order to continue to maintain all on-campus activities and support systems (including housing), approved program applicants must also be balanced across semesters. Colgate makes every effort to accommodate requests for off-campus study that will enable students to deepen their liberal arts education with coursework sponsored by other institutions. Nonetheless, the university needs to balance enrollments across both semesters and so reserves the right to regulate the number of students who are granted permission to study off campus each semester. Careful and early planning is vital to successful off-campus study. Students should discuss projected off-campus study plans with OCS and their academic advisers, considering options for both fall and spring terms that will achieve their educational objectives. Students attending a Colgate study group, approved program, or extended study remain enrolled at Colgate during their time off-campus.

Please refer to the Off-Campus Study  section in Academic Regulations, for additional policies concerning the transfer of credit and grades from off-campus study programs.

Off-campus programs during the final semester

Any senior electing to participate in an off-campus study program, including an extended study, in their final semester will not be eligible to have their degree conferred at the end of that semester. The degree will be awarded on the conferral date following documented completion of all degree requirements and off-campus study coursework. Students who wish to participate in the May ceremony should contact the registrar’s office no later than January to determine eligibility.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Colgate’s off-campus study tuition and financial structure make programs accessible for all students, regardless of financial means, just as it does for on-campus programs. The tuition structure helps to ensure that Colgate programs meet the university’s high standards for academic rigor and quality.

All Colgate students who study on a Colgate-directed study group or on an external approved program continue to pay Colgate tuition and are eligible for Colgate need-based financial aid when studying off campus. Students are billed for tuition by Colgate for the semester they will be off campus plus the cost of any room, board, or other expenses charged by the individual study group or approved program. Students are responsible for paying other non-billable expenses, such as airfare, government visas, books, refundable deposits, optional fees, and personal incidentals directly. Off-campus study cost estimates are available under the Costs and Aid section of the OCS web page at colgate.edu/OCS.

Students receiving need-based financial aid will have their financial aid package reviewed by the Office of Financial Aid for the semester they will be abroad. Financial aid is applied to students’ accounts at the time of billing. Students are responsible for paying any balance due to Colgate. If there is a credit due, it will be released to the student shortly before the start of the semester.

Financial aid may be increased to meet the additional cost of off-campus study for only one semester and one extended study. Students participating in an additional semester-long or extended study program will have their awards capped at the amount they would have received if they were to remain on campus.

For information regarding withdrawal from off-campus study, see Withdrawal and Refund Policy  section in Expenses.

Colgate Study Groups

Colgate study groups provide students the opportunity to study off campus for a semester under the guidance and mentorship of a Colgate faculty member. Each study group has a unique academic focus and immerses students in new cultures, perspectives and experiences. Depending on the program, students will live together with their peers in apartments, with local students in university dorms, or with local host families. Study groups primarily accommodate registered Colgate students, though occasionally a few students from the New York Six group of colleges or Syracuse University may participate on certain study groups with visiting-student status on a space-available basis. Study groups normally enroll 15-18 students and are subject to minimum enrollment numbers to operate.

Colgate regularly offers the following semester-long study groups on an annual or biennial basis and currently all international study groups and the Santa Fe Study Group satisfy the Global Engagements requirement (U.S.-based groups normally do not satisfy the requirement). For specific study group details, consult the OCS web pages at colgate.edu/OCS. It should be noted that changes may occur in the scheduling of study groups and that new groups may be added.

• Australia: University of Wollongong (fall and spring)
• China: Taiwan, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai (fall)
• England: London Economics (fall and/or spring)
• England: London English (fall and/or spring)
• England: London History (spring)
• England: University of Manchester (fall)
• Germany: University of Freiburg (spring)
• Italy: Ca’Foscari University, Venice (fall)
• Jamaica: University of the West Indies, Kingston (spring)
• Japan: Kyoto (fall or spring)
• New Zealand: University of Otago (spring)
• Singapore: National University of Singapore (fall)
• Scotland: St. Andrews University (fall or spring)
• South Africa: University of Cape Town, Cape Town (fall)
• South Korea: Yonsei University, Seoul (fall)
• Spain: Madrid: CEU (fall)
• Switzerland: The Graduate Institute, Geneva (fall or spring)
• Trinidad: University of the West Indies, St. Augustine (spring)
• United States: New York City Film Studies (every other fall)
• United States: Bethesda Biomedical Research, Bethesda, MD (fall)
• United States: Washington, D.C. (spring)
• United States: Santa Fe, New Mexico (fall)
• Wales: Cardiff University (spring)

Approved Programs

Colgate allows students to study off campus on a select list of approved programs offered by third-party educational program providers, New York Six off-campus exchanges, or other U.S. universities, or to enroll directly in certain exchanges with approved partner foreign universities throughout the world and earn transfer credit toward degree requirements. Approved programs have been carefully vetted by the Off-Campus Study Committee and by individual academic departments for compatibility with Colgate’s curriculum. In addition to meeting Colgate’s expectations for academic rigor, they offer strong on-site support services and emergency support, and provide opportunities for meaningful engagement in the host culture.

Colgate’s approved programs list is available on the Off-Campus study web pages at colgate.edu/OCS, and includes over 100 programs in over 50 countries. Approved programs expand the possibilities for students with diverse academic interests and goals by providing options in a wide range of locations as well as a variety of program models.

As a way of ensuring an immersive study abroad experience, students participating on approved programs that are hosted in a non-English speaking country or in a country in which English is one of many official languages, are required to take at least one language class in that program’s native language or one course taught in a local language other than English during the program. Often these courses are conversation-based and designed to enhance student ability to converse with local people. Please consult the Off-Campus Study web page for a list of language requirements for each country. Ordinarily, exceptions will not be granted.

Housing on Approved Programs

Colgate University requires that students on approved programs select housing arranged by the program and does not approve independent housing. Students are required to participate in housing offered by the program provider or outside organization.

Extended Study

A number of Colgate courses offer short-term study components that extend the course for 14 to 21 days beyond the campus and beyond the regular term. These programs offer opportunities for students to gain access to institutions and individuals relevant to their coursework that are not available on campus. Extended study is particularly attractive to students whose schedules do not permit them to participate in semester-long programs. The university has developed many extended study courses, of which up to eight are offered each year. Extended Study groups operate in either January or May immediately following the semester.

Prerequisites may exist for extended study courses. New extended study courses are added on a regular basis. Please see the OCS web page for a complete listing of courses offering extended study components.

Other Programs

Students with a compelling academic rationale whose academic interests cannot be met by a Colgate study group or approved program may petition the Office of Off-Campus Study to attend an alternate program. Students should begin by speaking with the associate director of off-campus study for advice about options and drafting a petition. Students should consult their academic advisers about the possibility of attending a program not already approved by Colgate. Petitions are vetted and determined by the Off-Campus Study Committee and require the support of a student’s academic department and academic adviser.

Students who do not submit a petition or whose petitions are denied, will not be eligible for Colgate financial aid or grant assistance, nor will academic credit transfer toward the degree.

Petitions for Travel to Countries under a U.S. State Department Travel Advisory

Colgate students are subject to the Colgate Travel Advisory policy that follows federal guidelines and restricts Colgate students from studying abroad or receiving funding in a country with a U.S. State Department level 4 rating.

Students may only receive sponsorship for activities abroad, including credit for study abroad; funding for internships, research, or volunteer activities; or sponsorship for extracurricular activities, such as music or sport, for countries for which the U.S. State Department has issued a country rating of levels 1 and 2, unless granted special approval through a petition process.

Countries designated a level 4 are those that do not have a US diplomatic presence and include North Korea, Iran, and Afghanistan. This often results in federal aid not being available for use in these countries. Colgate University will not approve undergraduate students to study in locations with a US State Department travel advisory of level 4.

Additional Academic Programs

Office of Undergraduate Studies (OUS)

Co-Directors Kuan and Stern

The Office of Undergraduate Studies (OUS) is led by a committed team, composed of a faculty director, an associate director, an administrative dean, and an OUS Fellow. This supportive four-year program aims to tap the potential of each OUS scholar, particularly in terms of academic excellence and leadership in the tradition of the liberal arts. The mission of the OUS program is reflected in Colgate University’s own mission, which includes providing a “demanding, expansive educational experience to a select group of diverse, talented, intellectually sophisticated students who are capable of challenging themselves, their peers, and their teachers.” As OUS students are a highly select, talented, and diverse group of students at Colgate, they especially fulfill and enrich Colgate’s mission and purpose. For information about the program, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Studies at 315-228-7375. For information about admission to Colgate through OUS, please contact the Office of Admission.

Pre-Engineering Studies

Co-Advisers Adhikari and Galvez

Colgate has cooperative agreements with Columbia University, Washington University (St. Louis), and Rensselaer Polytechnic University, under which students have the opportunity to combine an education in the liberal arts with an introduction to the courses needed for a degree in engineering. A student may earn a bachelor’s degree from both institutions by spending three years at Colgate as a physics major and two at the engineering school (the 3-2 plan) or by spending four years at Colgate and two at the engineering school (the 4-2 plan). Colgate students are limited to a total of 8 transfer credits, which includes pre-matriculation credits, summer credits, credit from Approved Programs, and credit transferred from the engineering program. They must complete at least 6 semesters enrolled at Colgate. Participation in Colgate Study Groups is counted as a semester in residence, but participation in Approved Programs does not. Students must complete all components of Colgate’s Liberal Arts Core Curriculum before starting at the engineering partner school. Up to 2 transfer courses from the engineering partner school can fulfill requirements for the Physics major at Colgate. Students who participate in the 3-2 program are allowed to replace the Physics 410 requirement with another course that receives upper-level physics credit. For further information, students should consult the Pre-Engineering advisers or the chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy .

Sophomore Residential Seminars

Director Baptiste

This program is a faculty-led, yearlong program that integrates residential, classroom, and academic-travel experiences. Students in the program live together with other members of their chosen seminar. Faculty who teach these seminars act as mentors, encouraging reflection and fostering discussion. In doing so, they help the members of the seminar build a community centered on an intellectual pursuit, but which extends beyond the classroom.

Members of the seminar travel with their professor for one week in January, deepening and broadening their understanding of the class material. (There is no charge to students for the travel component.) In the spring, all sophomore residential seminar students complete a 0.25-credit course, in order to develop the conversation of the class in light of the travel experience.

Applications for the SRS program are made available to rising sophomores at the beginning of the spring semester of their first year.

Summer Research

Each year approximately 200 Colgate undergraduates receive research assistantships and fellowships funded directly by Colgate, corporate or foundation grants, individual donors, or individual faculty research grants. This funding provides a weekly stipend to enable students to work full time during the summer on research or scholarly projects in close collaboration with one or more faculty members. Often these activities result in presentation of papers at professional meetings or publication in the scientific and scholarly literature, with undergraduate students as co-authors, performers, and exhibitors.

Student/faculty-initiated research proposals are used as the basis for awarding summer research assistantships or fellowships of eight to ten weeks in duration. Partially subsidized on-campus housing options and special academic and recreational events enhance this scholarly summer community at Colgate.

Colgate understands the educational value of research by undergraduate students and is committed to its support. The college is recognized as a national leader in this activity with students and professors from all academic divisions participating. Details about on-campus summer research opportunities may be obtained from department chairs, division directors, or the Center for Learning, Teaching, and Research.

Teacher Preparation Programs

Director Gardner

Programs are available to prospective elementary and secondary school teachers in the fields of childhood education, English, mathematics, social studies (economics, geography, history, political science, sociology) and natural science (biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics). Students in these programs major in academic areas for which childhood and adolescence teaching certification is sought and take appropriate coursework in the Department of Educational Studies. Students who wish to gain New York State teacher certification have the option of completing their professional semester in the fall term of their undergraduate senior year, directly following graduation as part of the ninth semester program, or as part of graduate-level coursework. To be eligible for the ninth semester program, students must have received their Colgate degree in the academic year prior to the professional semester and completed all other certification requirements prior to enrolling in the ninth semester. In the ninth semester, students are allowed to enroll only in the professional semester courses, which consist of two or three seminars (depending upon adolescence or childhood certification) and student teaching. Students interested in the ninth semester program should meet with an educational studies faculty member to determine if they are eligible and apply to the program in the spring of their junior year. Colgate’s undergraduate adolescence and childhood certification programs and the MAT adolescence programs are accredited through the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).

Successful completion of all requirements in all teacher preparation programs leads to recommendation for New York State initial teacher certification.

For more information see educational studies department  page.

New York Six Liberal Arts Consortium

Established with the support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the New York Six Liberal Arts Consortium facilitates collaboration among its member institutions in fulfilling their educational missions and serving the public good. Through the sharing of expertise and resources, the Consortium enhances options for students, faculty, and staff. In addition to Colgate, members of the consortium include Hamilton College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Skidmore College, St. Lawrence University, and Union College.

In some semesters, the New York Six Consortium makes certain courses available for cross-registration, allowing students from consortium institutions to participate in courses offered at the other institutions. If available, this information will be included in Colgate’s course offerings and is open to students who have completed at least one semester at Colgate. To be eligible to cross-register, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 3.00 course credits at Colgate. Courses taken as part of this cross-registration program will count as institutional (Colgate) credit, and grades earned will be recorded on the Colgate transcript and calculated into the Colgate grade point average. Because cross-registered courses count as part of the student’s full-time Colgate course load, no additional tuition is assessed by the host institution. Normally students may only cross-register for one New York Six course per term. A maximum of three New York Six credits will count toward the Colgate degree. 

Less-Commonly Taught Language Program

The Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTL) Program provides opportunities for students to study languages not available through the regular Colgate curriculum. LCTL courses are offered through two methods: shared course initiatives with instructors located on other campuses and self-instructional language courses overseen by the Director of the Keck Center for Language Study and the Language Council. LCTL courses are never offered for languages being taught on campus at Colgate. The Language Council regularly reviews the effectiveness of LCTL courses to determine whether they are suitable for the Colgate curriculum.

Upon approval from the Language Council, the Curriculum Committee, the Registrar, and any other relevant program of study, shared courses will be listed among the course offerings. Students will receive credit for courses taught by the New York Six Liberal Arts Consortium members according to the guidelines of that agreement. Courses taught at any other institution will be treated as transfer credit.

Students with a compelling academic rationale to study a language not offered through any other means may apply for a self-instructional language course. The application procedure includes writing a detailed explanation of how the language study fits within the student’s broader academic studies and an interview by members of the Language Council. Students may earn a maximum of 0.5 credits per semester for self-instructional language study. All self-instructional language courses must be taken with the S/U grade option. The final grade in the course will be determined by the director of the Keck Center, and will be based upon completion of self-instructional materials, regular meetings with a native-speaking language partner, and an assessment by an outside reviewer. All courses will have the ‘LCTL’ course designation. Students interested in LCTL should contact the director of the Keck Center for Language Study.

Cooperative Arrangement with Hamilton College

With approval of the academic adviser and the Dean of Academic and Curricular Affairs, a Colgate student may take courses at Hamilton College, to be counted toward the bachelor’s degree at Colgate. These arrangements must be made prior to the end of the Colgate drop/add period each term. Credit and final course grades for courses taken at Hamilton College are recorded on the Colgate transcript. Grades earned at Hamilton College are calculated into the cumulative grade point average at Colgate.

Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships

The Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships (ONFS) advises and prepares students and alumni in their pursuit of nationally and internationally competitive external fellowships, scholarships, and grants.

Through the process of applying for any award, students and alumni engage in deep reflection about their intellectual, personal, and professional goals, along with developing their critical thinking, writing, and presentation skills. The Associate Dean of Fellowship Advising closely advises and supports students and alumni who are seeking Colgate’s nomination for fellowships that require it. For these nomination-based awards, the Dean and faculty committees are involved in the review and evaluation of applicants for nomination and the further mentoring of nominees.

Students and alumni pursuing fellowships which do not require nomination also stand to benefit from the Dean’s advice and support and are welcome and encouraged to work with ONFS on these applications. All interested students and alumni should contact ONFS well in advance of the deadline to begin the advisement and application process.

The most prominent fellowships, scholarships, and grants for which Colgate prepares students and alumni can be found on the Office of National Fellowships and Scholarships web page.

Honorary Societies

Phi Beta Kappa

The Society of Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776; Colgate’s chapter was organized in 1878. The Colgate chapter holds three elections each year, in September, February, and May. Seniors whose records of outstanding academic achievement are combined with the society’s traditional regard for moral character and a broad liberal education may be invited to join Phi Beta Kappa in a formal initiation ceremony.

Minimum academic requirements include:

1. A course in mathematics, statistics, or logic (or AP equivalent)
2. Fluency in a second language, as demonstrated by a year of coursework at the intermediate level (or AP equivalent) or graduation from a non-English language secondary school.

Transfer students should take note that election requires a minimum of 16 courses taken at Colgate for a grade, not under the S/U option.

For questions, contact Professor Jason Meyers, Associate Professor of Biology, President, Eta Chapter, Phi Beta Kappa.

Other national honorary societies

Colgate also has a chapter of the national honor society of Phi Eta Sigma for first-year students.

Honor societies in specific disciplines include

• Lambda Alpha (Anthropology)
• Eta Sigma Phi (The Classics)
• Omicron Delta Epsilon (Economics)
• Gamma Theta Upsilon (Geography)
• Delta Phi Alpha (German)
• Pi Delta Phi (French)
• Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science)
• Psi Chi (Psychology)
• Alpha Kappa Delta (Sociology)

Career Services and Career Development Planning

Colgate Career Services, located in Benton Hall, is a comprehensive center of support that empowers students to engage in strategic exploration, discovery, preparation, and action, translating the liberal arts into a lifetime of meaningful work. The four-year plan – starting in students’ first semester – provides students with a helpful structure to navigate this process while ensuring an individualized approach to meeting students’ unique needs. 

Students engage with Career Services staff in a working partnership to help outline their first and next steps. Ultimately, Career Services staff aim to assist students to understand how to connect their personal identities, academics, and career interests to envision a fulfilling career direction, and then to successfully launch from Colgate in that pursuit. Students’ early engagement with the four-year plan is heavily structured by the Career Services staff. As students grow towards their junior and senior year goals, the professional staff supports them as they learn to direct their own career development and more independently utilize Colgate’s resources with the team’s support.

Core Programs and Services

Peer advising: Thirty-minute résumé and cover-letter critiques or basic networking strategy sessions, led by trained student staff.

Career advising: Individual 30-minute sessions with professional staff to identify the traits, interests, strengths, identities and values unique to each student — and how they connect to career options.

Industry-specific advising: Individual coaching sessions held with professional advisers in which students learn how to activate a targeted search toward a specific career, graduate school, or professional school path. Students focus their efforts on creating strong application materials and on networking.

Pre-law advising: Individual advising sessions with Colgate’s pre-law adviser to assist students to clarify their interest in a career in law, pursue opportunities to gain experience, and eventually, strategize on law school admission processes and decisions. Programming that includes law school deans helps students learn about admission requirements and strategies for applying.

Graduate and professional school preparation: Career Services works closely with faculty and academic departments to support students’ efforts to gain acceptance into graduate programs in the arts, sciences, and humanities, as well as into the full range of professional schools. 

Career search skills workshops: Interactive sessions that develop students’ ability to perform essential career-search skills, such as résumé, cover letter or personal statement writing, interviewing, networking, and salary negotiation.

Handshake: Colgate’s online job and internship platform that hosts both Colgate Premier and other internships and jobs.

Colgate Premier recruiting program: Employer partners from a diverse set of industries work with Career Services to specifically recruit Colgate students for internships and jobs. Premier employers engage through on-campus and virtual coffee chats and information sessions, résumé deadlines in Handshake, and interviews organized by Career Services.

Alumni- and employer-led sessions: Career exploration, networking, and industry-specific training sessions that introduce students to career options, networking contacts, and core skills sought across industries.

Signature Programs:

Class-specific career development plans: Career Services has developed a four-year intentional framework designed to empower students’ strategic career development. Through deepening one’s knowledge, skills, and experience within essential Career Development Areas (CDAs), students will develop a strong sense of self, purpose, and informed direction. Students will utilize this foundation to leverage their Colgate liberal arts experience into excellent post-graduate plans.

Career Exploration Week: First-years and sophomores are encouraged to engage in broad industry panels designed to help students learn about connecting academic and co-curricular interests with potential career paths.

Alumni Career Conversations: First-years and sophomores attend training to learn basic etiquette and skills related to exploratory networking. Students are then matched with alumni and parents for 1:1 virtual career conversations over winter break.

SophoMORE Connections: SophoMORE Connections is a two-day event that provides second-year students with an opportunity to explore their academic and career interests through conversations with alumni. Students also attend skill-building seminars and practice sessions that will prepare them for sophomore summer internship searches.

Immersion Trips: Co-sponsored between student organizations and Career Services, these trips are created for students to explore an industry through visits to different workplaces. Hosts are typically alumni, parents, or recruiters who partner with Career Services.

Michael J. Wolk ‘60 Conference on Medical Education: Biannual conference featuring panels and networking opportunities between students and alumni representing various health professions. 

Microcredential Initiative: With support from the Robert A. Fox ‘59 Management and Leadership Skills Program, Investment Studies Program, and Walters Family, these skill-based microcredentials courses and topical workshops engage students to build their industry knowledge, professional skills, and the leadership qualities that employers seek.

Summer Funding: Through Colgate’s generous alumni and parent donors, Career Services offers grants to subsidize students’ living costs to pursue unpaid and underpaid summer experiences.

John A. Golden ‘66 Endowed Fellowship: This selective program provides advising, programmatic, and financial support for sophomores, juniors, and seniors intent on pursuing law school or medical school. Golden Fellows are chosen through a competitive process evaluating focus on their professional field, demonstrated leadership potential, and GPA of 3.4 or higher.

Graduate School Access Fund: This fund provides financial support for students who seek admission to graduate or professional schools and who self-identify in at least one of the following populations: Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, bi/multiracial, or a recipient of Colgate’s financial aid. Students on an athletic scholarship who have demonstrated financial need, as assessed by Colgate’s Office of Financial Aid, are also eligible. Students are selected as recipients in their junior year.

Colgate Professional Networks (CPNs): Eleven interdisciplinary networks designed to connect alumni-to-alumni and alumni-to-students for professional development. The CPNs host regional and online topical programs and networking events. Current CPNs include: Arts, Creativity, and Innovation; Common Good; Consulting; Digital Business and Technology; Entrepreneur; Finance and Banking; Health and Wellness; Colgate Lawyers Association; Marketing, Media, and Communication; Real Estate; and STEM.

Internship Programs

Career advisers work closely with students to identify and apply for summer experiences, including internships, research, and long-term service projects. In many cases, students leverage Colgate’s resources, such as Handshake and the Colgate Premier program, connections with alumni, and program panelists, or faculty, to pursue experiences.

Colgate Internship Programs

The Jim P. Manzi Fellowship, provides stipends to Colgate students to perform summer-long community service internships at partnering Boston-based nonprofits.

Summer on the Cuyahoga, sponsored by the Colgate Club of Cleveland, is a unique initiative designed to bring Colgate students to Cleveland each summer for challenging paid internships, civic engagement, alumni connections, and social events. Students are introduced to the professional, civic, and personal offerings in northeast Ohio.

The Internship Credit Program allows matriculated students who have completed at least one semester at Colgate, but have not yet completed their degree requirements, to earn academic credit for internships under the following circumstances: Students must apply to Career Services prior to beginning the internship for approval to earn credit; the internship must entail a minimum of 120 work hours and the employer must require academic credit as a condition of hiring. Approved internships carry 0.05 course credit and are graded on a Pass/Fail (P/F) basis only. Students may complete a maximum of four unique internships, for a total of 0.20 credits. Internship credit appears on the transcript with a subject code of INTR and a course number corresponding to the student’s class level. Students may not apply internship credit toward the requirements for a Colgate degree.

Internship Funds

Through the generous support of alumni and parents, Career Services facilitates a competitive Summer Funding process in which students are awarded grants to pursue unpaid or underpaying summer experiences through the following funds: 

The Career Services Internship Fund and Career Services Endowed Internship Fund offers grants in support of unpaid or low-paid internships, research, and community service.

The Brill-Milmoe ‘69 Internship Endowment provides financial support to students to pursue unpaid or underpaid internships in government, NGOs, and private organizations engaged in governance, public policy or policy implementation, or communication.

The Browning Family Endowed Internship Fellowship provides financial assistance to one or more students pursuing internships. 

The Colgate Family Endowed Internship Fund, established by John K. Colgate Jr. ‘57, provides financial assistance to one or more students pursuing internships.

The Caroline E. Conroy ‘10 Endowed Fellowship provides financial assistance to one or more Colgate students who are participating in unpaid/underpaid internships relating to psychology.

The Class of 1966 Endowed Internship provides financial assistance for one or more Colgate student interns who qualify for need-based financial aid.

The Class of 1968 Endowed Internship provides financial assistance for one or more Colgate student interns who qualify for need-based financial aid.

The Class of 2015 Endowed Internship provides financial assistance for one or more Colgate student interns.

The Class of 2016 Endowed Internship provides financial assistance for one or more Colgate student interns.

The DeLuca Family Endowed Internship Fund provides internship funding for one or more Colgate student interns.

The Furstein Family Endowed Fund provides financial assistance for one or more Colgate students to participate in an internship, research, and/or service experience.

The Galvin Family Endowed Fellowship provides financial support to one or more Colgate students who qualify for need-based financial aid.

The Aaron Jacobs ‘96 Memorial Fund provides support for Colgate students who wish to intern in the financial or business fields. Preference will be given to students who would not otherwise be able to complete an internship due to financial constraints.

The David M. Jacobstein ‘68 and Cara Jacobstein Zimmerman ‘97 Endowed Fellowship provides financial support for Colgate students who wish to undertake a public interest summer internship in fields such as law or politics and qualify for need-based financial aid.

The Bernt ‘82 and Maria Killingstad Endowed Fellowship provides financial support to one or more Colgate students who qualify for need-based financial aid.

The Lecky Family Endowment provides financial support for one or more Colgate students.

The Milhomme International Internships are designed for students who want to enhance their cultural competency and gain career experience by means of an internship.

 The Dr. Merrill Miller Endowed Fellowship supports students who want to gain experience through an internship or research experience in health or other science-related fields.

The Kara M. Roell ‘97 Memorial Endowed Internship Fund provides financial support for one or more Colgate students to pursue experiential learning opportunities that support their career exploration and development.

The Gregory St. Pierre ‘95 Endowed Internship Fund provides financial support for one or more Colgate students.

The Arthur Watson Jr. ‘76 Endowed Fund for Career Planning provides financial assistance to Colgate first-years or sophomores who wish to pursue an unexplored passion or interest that may lead to a fulfilling career.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Colgate

Colgate’s entrepreneurship and innovation programs challenge participants to solve complex problems, think creatively, communicate powerfully, build resilience by overcoming failure, and most importantly take action. Students are supported by robust programs, access to seed funding, dedicated spaces, and a highly-engaged group of alumni and parent mentors with deep domain expertise. The entrepreneurial leaders who develop at Colgate are able to tackle today’s most pressing challenges by building, testing, and launching solutions that make an impact on Colgate, society, and the world.

Programs include the year-long Thought Into Action incubator in which students create a business, nonprofit, or campus venture; a summer accelerator that supports later-stage teams; on-campus venture support for student-run businesses; and an annual celebration of entrepreneurship featuring guest speakers and student pitches. Offices are based in Bernstein Hall, and student participants can work out of our downtown coworking space at 20 Utica Street.

Preparation for the Health Sciences

Colgate’s Health Sciences Advisory Committee (HSAC) is composed of faculty members and professional staff who counsel students planning for careers in the health professions. The committee believes it is important that students receive complete and accurate information related to planning careers in the health professions. Admission into professional schools in the health sciences is highly competitive. The HSAC provides support for students beginning at first-year orientation and continuing through the application and interview process. Committee members also prepare letters of recommendation for students applying to health science professional school. For more information, contact the Health Sciences Advising Office, 115 Wynn Hall, 315-228-7340 or visit the Health Sciences web pages or email healthsciences@colgate.edu.

Opportunities for High School Students

Community Scholars Program

The Community Scholars Program provides opportunities for high achieving junior and senior high school students in the area to enroll in Colgate courses for college credit. For additional information, including eligibility criteria and registration procedures, please contact your school guidance counselor or the Upstate Institute (315-228-6623).

High School Seminar Program

The High School Seminar Program provides opportunities for high school students from surrounding school districts to participate in late-afternoon non-credit bearing mini-seminars taught by Colgate faculty and administrators. For additional information, please contact the High School Seminar Coordinator at 315-228-6623.