Academic ExperienceHallmarks of a CLA Education
 Your
student can experience the best of many worlds in their academic
pursuits at the university: an exceptional range of educational
opportunities in a setting committed to undergraduate support and
excellence. CLA students have access to classroom instruction by
professors in many nationally-renowned departments; they can work in
subject areas reaching from the classics to the cutting edge -- many of
which are simply not available at universities with fewer resources;
and they can hone their skills in classes that average 21 students per
instructor.
In addition to the rich diversity of educational
choices available to CLA undergraduates, all of our degrees share at
least three important features in common, regardless of the particular
major selected. The first is the breadth of the education
offered: liberal arts graduates are given a solid grounding in the
major areas of contemporary intellectual life, including the arts and
humanities, social and historical studies, and mathematics and natural
sciences. We believe it is important for our graduates to have an
understanding of the issues and ideas driving our rapidly diversifying
and increasingly interconnected national and global communities, and
the breadth of the CLA degree requirements is designed to help develop
that understanding.
The second feature which all liberal arts degrees have in common is at least one depth component
-- usually the major. As a CLA graduate, your student will have a
well-developed, broadly applicable understanding of at least one
subject area. This understanding typically will include knowledge of
the history and development of the subject, the methods and issues
defining the field, the characteristics of good research in the area,
and the opportunities available to graduates in the field. We feel that
having a fundamental grasp of at least one discipline is necessary to
provide students with the widest range of options after graduation,
including the option of gaining further expertise in the major field
through graduate level study or professional training. Most majors also
prepare students for other post-graduate options such as professional
school or entry into a career track.
The third feature shared by all liberal arts degrees is the development of a suite of skills
vital to almost every area of professional and intellectual life. These
include critical and analytic skills -- the basic tools of effective
reasoning, communication skills -- including the ability to write and
speak effectively in a variety of formats, and the ability to learn.
The successful experience of countless CLA undergraduates indicates
that having "learned to learn" is one of the most valuable benefits of
their college education. In today's knowledge economy those who can
reason, communicate, and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances hold a
distinct competitive advantage, and this is something we want for all
CLA graduates.
Additional information about the CLA degree appears below.
A Broad EducationOur
liberal education requirements and degree requirements are designed to
insure that all students, regardless of their choice of major, complete
a core of coursework necessary to insure a broad understanding of
today's world of ideas and knowledge. Specific details regarding these
requirements can be found at the following links: MajorsStudents
will choose at least one major, but many choose to pursue double
majors, minors, or even an individualized major. (For more on
individualized majors, see Individualized Degree Programs and the Inter-College Program.)
All students also do a Senior Project, bringing their studies into
focus and providing them with an intensive experience of their chosen
field.
Second Language Study
The ability to communicate in and understand a second language is a
distinct feature of the CLA BA degree. Both the business and the
educational community increasingly recognize the benefits of second
language study for professional life and for a variety of goals ranging
from personal development to civic engagement.All CLA students earning
a BA degree will have at least a two-year, college-level proficiency in
a second language. Students can take not only Spanish, German, and
French, but also less-commonly-taught languages like Italian, Urdu, or
Chinese. CLA offers the following second languages.
Additionally, students can take advantage of a wide variety of special learning opportunities, including (to name just a few):- First-Year Interest Groups (FIGS) -- thematically chosen classes that bring the same group of students together for 3 to 5 classes in their first semester
- Freshman Seminars -- in-depth 15-student courses taught by faculty members on specialized topics
- Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) -- offers students the opportunity to pursue in-depth study with faculty members
- Learning Abroad -- an increasingly important, accessible, and affordable option
Career ExplorationStudents can start investigating their career interests from day one at the Career and Community Learning Center.
Important Academic and Policy Information
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Ask CLAIRE
to get CLA Information, Resources, and Explanations
Telephone:
(612) 625-3846
Address:
Office of the Assistant Dean
106 Johnston Hall
101 Pleasant Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55444
Hours:
8:00 - 4:30 Monday -Friday
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