Claremont McKenna College - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Professors at Claremont McKenna are friendly, hands-on teachers who care about the academic and general well-being of their students. With most classes enrolling fewer than 19 students, it’s easy to be heard in class; even in lecture classes, discussions are encouraged. While there is a hefty workload, Claremont is not a grind school, and generally, the work ebbs and flows in regular cycles. It is not unusual to have two weeks of intense paper-writing and midterm-taking followed by a few weeks of reading. It is essential to have prioritizing skills at Claremont, since keeping up on homework, extracurriculars, and social life is a constant—but manageable—juggling act. Most classes are structured around three or four major assignments; because there are so few, professors expect a high level of effort and a certain amount of creativity and originality. Students are supportive of one another, no one judges anyone else by the grades they get, and most classes assign group work.

Government and economics are the two most popular majors at the school, but that shouldn’t deter anyone not considering either, as many of the other departments are diamonds in the rough. How does taking your introductory psychology class with Diane Halpern, the president of the American Psychological Association, sound? Students tend to take classes from every professor in the department, and the resources of the whole group will be available when looking for jobs, internships, or research opportunities.

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

Students Speak Out

CMCHL says: Claremont McKenna College 2016 Business

The teachers at Claremont McKenna... The teachers at Claremont McKenna College are some of the most brilliant in their field. They are very passionate and enthusiastic about the subject they teach. Even better, they are very accessible. The student body is very small, and they make it a point to always be available to students for help on schoolwork or just some intellectual discussion. The workload varies from class to class, but on average the workload is intense but manageable. Again, maintaining an open communication with professors can drastically simplify things. The economics and government departments at CMC are among the best, if not the best, in the nation. Thus, there are very high standards in the classes that fall within those fields and a lot of work is required to achieve good grades. 12345 Academics: March 11, 2009 Report

cmcstudent08 says: Claremont McKenna College 2016 Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences

The teachers can be hit or miss.... The teachers can be hit or miss. Most of the tenured professors are amazing and really know their stuff, but they know that they're experts and expect very little contribution that conflicts with their ideas. Some of the new professors really struggle with the small class size. The workload is determined by what classes you take, but always expect to be kept on your toes. 12345 Academics: March 11, 2009 Report

CMCMS says: Claremont McKenna College 2014 Psychology

The teachers are wonderful. They... The teachers are wonderful. They are always there to help you, and you often see them eating in the dining hall, too. All of my teachers have remembered my name. The workload is hard, but that is what college is for. Fortunately, the semester system has plenty of time. 12345 Academics: March 11, 2009 Report

CMCEA says: Claremont McKenna College 2014 English Language and Literature

Class size is small, so professors... Class size is small, so professors tend to be really interested in making sure their students learn. Most also make a point to learn students' names. If you go in during office hours, professors are very helpful and sometimes boost your grade. The workload isn't bad unless you are a science major. 12345 Academics: March 10, 2009 Report

CMCDP says: Claremont McKenna College 2014 Business

This school is renown for its... This school is renown for its economics and government programs. The school is hard, but it's worth it. 12345 Academics: March 08, 2009 Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Claremont students can cross-register for any classes across the Consortium, often including graduate-level classes, and students can even major through another college while still receiving a Claremont McKenna College degree.

Claremont McKenna does not offer minors. Instead, students may choose to dual major, which slightly reduces the course load of both majors, making two areas of study more manageable. Best of all, tell someone at home you’re a bio-lit dual major, and they’ll assume you’re actually doing the full double!

Claremont also offers sequences, which allow students to get credit for other areas of study. Some examples are the Leadership, Gender Studies, Human Rights, Genocide and Holocaust Studies and Financial Economics sequences. Students may only get credit for one sequence.

Write for Us!

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more >