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Classroom at Macalester

Academics at Macalester

As a student here, you’ll get the best of both worlds—the inspiring academics of a liberal arts education combined with the engaging experiences found in our surrounding Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. From first-year courses to capstone experiences, you’ll explore across disciplines and achieve deep knowledge in your major(s). Our curriculum is designed to develop critical thinking, creativity, and an inclusion mindset.

What did you learn today?

The academic experience at Macalester

Hear from a few students about their experiences and accomplishments at Macalester.

Macalester student talks about academics Open Modal

Willow from Montpelier, Vermont, uses her courses at Macalester to practice being a policy maker. A few examples: she’s written proposals for climate displacement agreements and worked on class projects about how to make American democracy more inclusive.

Macalester student talks about academics Open Modal

Jim from Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, took a geography course that partnered students with the St. Paul City Council to do policy analysis on providing universal child care for three year olds. At Macalester, you don’t have to wait to create change; it starts in the classroom.

Macalester student talks about academics Open Modal

Elika from Singapore took a course in history that led to a project at the Eastside Freedom Library in Minneapolis where she worked to uncover the racial viewpoints of Edward Duffield Neill, Macalester’s president in 1874.

Academic Program Overview

Below you can find the general overview of requirements and offerings, plus more about first-year courses, for your four years at Macalester. Once enrolled, the Academic Program and Advising office will be your resource for class registration, graduations requirements, and the most up to date course offerings.

General Distribution Requirements

The liberal arts education at Macalester is intentionally designed to widen your perspective and expand your personal and professional opportunities. As such, all students take:

TWO COURSES IN
-Social sciences (minimum 8 credits)

TWO COURSES IN
-Natural sciences and mathematics (minimum 8 credits) l

THREE COURSES IN
-Humanities (min 4 credits)
-Fine arts (min 4 credits)
12 credits total

Students must complete at least one course that meets Macalester’s Internationalism requirement and at least one course that meets the United States Identities and Differences requirement. These courses may also satisfy general distribution requirements.

Students must complete three courses that are writing-based. These courses can also satisfy general distribution and/or major requirements.

Students must also complete one to three (depending on the level of depth) courses that meet the quantitative thinking requirement. These courses can satisfy general distribution and/or major requirements.

Graduation Requirements

  • Earn 128 credits (typically by completing 32 courses)
  • Complete a First-Year Course in first semester
  • Demonstrate proficiency in a second language
  • Complete a major, which typically accounts for 10 courses.
  • Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0

A major is typically comprised of ten courses from an area of study and a minor is typically five courses from an area of study, Students must choose at least one major, but may also choose multiple majors or minors. Concentrations combine twenty-four to thirty-two course credits from various areas of study. Students select their courses in consultation with their academic advisor(s).

Students usually take four classes each semester, earning four credits for each class. A few classes provide five credits. It’s not unusual for a student to add a one- or two-credit physical education activity, theater practica, dance class, or private studio lesson/ensemble to their course load.

39

MAJORS

40

MINORS

11

CONCENTRATIONS

Areas of Study

(Majors listed in Bold.)


African Studies
American Studies
Anthropology
Art and Art History
Asian Languages and Cultures
Asian Studies
Astronomy
Biochemistry
Biology
Chemistry
Chinese
Classical Mediterranean and Middle East

Cognitive Science
Community and Global Health
Computer Science
Creative Writing
Critical Theory
Dance
Data Science
Economics
Educational Studies
English
Environmental Studies

Food, Agriculture and Society
French
Geography
Geology
German Studies
Global Indigenous Studies
History

Human Rights and Humanitarianism

Individually Designed Interdepartmental
International Development
International Studies
Japanese

Latin
Latin American Studies
Legal Studies
Linguistics
Mathematics
Media and Cultural Studies

Middle Eastern Studies and Islamic Civilization
Music
Neuroscience

Performance Design and Technologies
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science

Portuguese
Pre-Engineering
Pre-Law
Pre-Medicine
Psychology
Religious Studies
Russian Studies
Sociology
Spanish

Statistics
Theater
Theater and Dance
Urban Studies
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Visit our Departments

See more about the various areas of study, concentrations and minors, and visit the department webpages.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is it possible to get credit for college-level work done while in high school?

    You can transfer a maximum of 20 credits to Macalester. However, you’ll need to meet a few conditions. The Office of the Registrar provides details here.

  • How does Macalester treat AP/IB placement and credits?

    Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate
    examinations may be used to:

    • Determine course placement. Each academic department sets its own standards for placement.
    • Calculate credit toward graduation. The maximum number of credits that may be granted is 23 (roughly the equivalent of five classes).

    Credit earned through AP or IB exams cannot be used to meet the general distribution requirements.

  • Does Macalester have a January term?

    No. However, students sometimes complete an independent study project or participate in a special course led by a faculty member.

  • May I take courses at other colleges in the Twin Cities?

    Macalester students may register for one course per semester at one of the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities. Visit macalester.edu/registrar/schedules/actc/ for more information.