Colorado College - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

One of CC’s most important characteristics is its size. It’s one of the few small liberal arts colleges in the region, and its class size limit of 25 or fewer students per professor engenders an intimate atmosphere unheard of in larger universities. Professors at CC are quick to befriend students, invite them to engage in conversation, and debate both in and out of the classroom. Many professors take a personal interest in their students, although there is the occasional “aloof” professor that seems to see the job as more of a daily chore. Despite being friendly, professors demand much from their students. Many students spend six to eight hours per night on homework and may still go to class feeling unprepared. Part of this burden is a product of the Block Plan: the typical conversion is that one class day at CC is like a whole week in other schools. Most students find it difficult to skim over their work, as most classes are based largely on class discussion.

While CC has traditionally been strong in natural sciences, the college also has strong programs in the social sciences and humanities. Science majors complain that students in other areas get off easy, and enjoy a much lighter schedule. As true as this may be, non-science students certainly don’t breeze through their studies. Most professors expect that their students prepare thoroughly, not only for tests, but for their everyday classes. Colorado College has been called the “Stanford of the Midwest” by several authorities in college education, and the “Harvard of the West” by those more centered on Ivy League institutions. Both of these names imply that Colorado College has reached a level of academic excellence attained by few schools around the nation. Whether or not CC merits these prestigious nicknames is a matter of opinion, but there’s no doubt that the college has created a healthy reputation for the quality of its professors, as well as its student body.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Having taken many history and... Having taken many history and political science classes at CC, I find that the history department has its act together. I have yet to take a class that is poorly taught in history. However, I haven’t had the same experience with political science. While we have many of the top political minds in the country, their egos many times interfere with their ability to teach, leaving the class hating political science as opposed to loving it. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

Classes at Colorado College are... Classes at Colorado College are entirely situational. Many times I find that classes are hit or miss, depending greatly on the professor. Many times, you can get a professor who is super-intelligent, yet hasn’t a clue how to relay that information to the students. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The teachers are great and very... The teachers are great and very approachable. I have found that most of my classes are interesting and keep me excited. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The teachers range from those... The teachers range from those whose tutelage has affected and improved my life by getting me to think about things differently, to those whose names I hardly remember a block later because I felt they taught only the material required of them. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The teachers at school are... The teachers at school are amazing. They seem to honestly care about your understanding of the material. Most classes are interesting, but once in a while you end up taking a really stupid class that seems like a waste of a block. Sometimes, I find that the descriptions of the class aren’t always what the class is actually about. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Colorado College is one of only two colleges in the United States to utilize the Block Plan. On the Block Plan, students take only one class at a time for three and a half weeks. In between blocks, students have four-day vacation periods called block breaks. The school believes that the Block Plan allows students to immerse themselves in a subject rather than having to spread effort and brain space over four or five different classes at the same time.

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