Sterling College

A Unique Curriculum

“Each day I recognize how directly my Sterling experience in community life, creative problem solving, adventure, and critical thinking inform the experiences I’m having now.”— Melissa Kirkby (’00), Environmental Educator, Peace Corp in Tanzania

We’re leaders in hands-on learning—Sterling’s strong academics and experiential learning opportunities create a dynamic and progressive learning environment. Consideration for the environment is central to our liberal arts curriculum. In fact, we engage students in literature, math, history, sociology, economics, and more through the study of the environment. At Sterling College, students gain intellectual and physical competence, practical skills, and personal confidence in their ability to solve the kinds of problems we face in today’s world.

Students have just as many opportunities for learning off-campus as they do on-campus. Through our twenty-year-strong Internship Program, we have placed over 600 students in 45 states and 19 foreign countries. Internships help students gain real experience in their field of study. Through Global Field Studies, students are immersed in different cultures and learn about social ecology and environmental sustainability. Experiences in other countries help students develop a world perspective—a perspective that is important in our increasingly global economy.

In addition to academic programs, Sterling College participates in a federally funded Work Program. Through work experiences on and near campus, students develop communication skills, learn to work effectively in a team, and gain supervisory experience. Through work, students earn a minimum of $1,450 to pay for tuition and books. Our Work Program enhances every student’s academic experience.

Grounded in an awareness of the world and its communities, Sterling College demands a forward-looking approach to learning, to growing, and to living.