Marlboro College

Curriculum

Students enjoy broad discretion in determining their course of study at Marlboro. In their freshman and sophomore years, students are encouraged to study broadly in the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences. Most students sample a broad array of courses in class sizes ranging from eight to 20 students.

Writing is a fundamental component of a Marlboro education. In accordance with the Mission, all students are required to demonstrate that they can write clearly, concisely, and correctly in a portfolio of work called the Clear Writing Requirement. Within three semesters of enrolling, students must pass the Clear Writing Requirement - 20 pages of non-fiction with a 3.0 (grade of "B") or higher.

Students' final two years at Marlboro are spent in classes with fewer than 10 students, in one-to-one tutorials with faculty and in independent study. Juniors and Seniors work with one or more faculty sponsors to develop a Plan of Concentration, which is typically interdisciplinary in nature. Through individual instruction, course work, and independent research and study, the Plan culminates in a coherent set of projects and papers. Plans of Concentration are as different as the students who develop them. A Plan could be as general as a survey of biology and chemistry in preparation for medical school. A Plan could be as specific as an examination of development theories and their impact on women in Tanzania or as creative as a collection of original short stories. After a student completes their Plan there is an oral examination with an outside evaluator prior to graduation.