Elective Courses
In the elective area, students are free to explore fields not otherwise included in the academic program by exploring a diversity of interests, satisfying a curiosity aroused through Connections, or bolstering their major with related study. Whatever the preference, the student should choose electives with a thoughtful awareness of the design of his or her education.
College Courses
Physical Education
Sustainability Course Attributes
At Connecticut College, sustainability is defined as a framework by which long-lasting solutions to local and global challenges are developed through understanding the connections among social equity, environmental stewardship, and economic well-being and including all three within all decision-making and strategic planning processes.
To help students identify courses with a sustainability theme and to track curricular offerings over time, two attributes are provided in the catalog and on the course schedule. These two designations differ in the degree that sustainability plays in the core subjects of the course:
Sustainability-Focused Course (SFC): courses with a primary and explicit focus on sustainability or sustainability challenges. It is particularly valuable if the course title or
description indicates a primary and explicit focus on sustainability.
Sustainability-Inclusive Course (SIC): courses that include a unit or activities related to sustainability, a sustainability challenge or ties in the course topics to sustainability regularly. The course description or syllabus should preferably incorporate sustainability themes or challenges.
The SFC and SIC attributes are self-designated by the instructors and departments offering the courses. It is not required that any student take a course with either designation.
Community-Based Learning Course Attribute
At Connecticut College, community-based learning (CBL) encompasses a broad spectrum of curricular activities that link learning inside and outside of the classroom. In CBL courses, students engage in work designed to benefit community partners as well as to develop their own skill and knowledge relevant to the course’s learning objectives. CBL courses include a theoretical foundation for community engagement and often include reflection activities that enable students to make connections between theory and practice. CBL can take many forms; for example, some courses place students in individual placements within community organizations, while other courses have students work with community partners to complete a defined project that addresses a community need.
To help students identify courses with a community-based learning component, the CBL attribute is provided in the catalog and on the course schedule.
Community-Based Learning Course (CBL): While community-based learning can take many forms, this designation specifically identifies those courses with community-based learning experiences that occur outside of the regularly-scheduled course time. The federal regulations defining the credit hour state that for each credit hour awarded for a particular course, a course will provide at least one hour/week of faculty instruction and at least two hours/week of out-of-class work. For courses with the CBL designation, community-based learning may comprise some of this “out-of-class” work.
The course description and syllabus should include information about the community-based learning element of the course.
The CBL attribute is self-designated by the instructors and departments offering the courses.
It is not required that any student take a course with the CBL designation to meet Connections requirements or to fulfill general progress towards their Connecticut College degree. However, some curricula (i.e. majors, minors, pathways, certificates) may require CBL coursework.