Kalamazoo College

Academic Programs

Kalamazoo College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission and offers Bachelor’s degrees in over 25 programs. The College consists of seven departments: Fine Arts, Humanities, Interdisciplinary, Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Physical Education and Social Sciences. The largest programs on campus are in Social Sciences, Bio/Bio-Medical Sciences and Business. The curriculum features the “K Plan” including rigorous academics combined with experiential learning abroad and in the local community. The Study Abroad program is robust and leads many students into organizations such as the Peace Corps. Per the Mission Statement, “The mission of Kalamazoo College is to prepare its graduates to better understand, live successfully within, and provide enlightened leadership to a richly diverse and increasingly complex world.” This is attached to the school Strategic Plan, which states that their history of innovation including ‘co-education in the early 19th century, the Fellowship of Learning in the early 20th, and the Kalamazoo Plan (K-Plan) in the early 1960s’ motivates the school to ‘not merely to be “distinctive” but because we know it is the right course for students today.’

Student Life

There are over 1,400 undergraduate students enrolled in Kalamazoo College, most of whom live on campus among the 6 residence halls, as well as “Living Learning Housing Units” and special housing options. The school sponsors over 70 clubs and student organizations, including club sports and intramurals. For the varsity athlete, the orange and black Hornets, led by Buzz, field teams in 11 sports and participate in NCAA Division III competition. The campus calendar features anticipated events such as Fall Fest, Pride Ball and the Day of Gracious Living. Students are swell-acquainted with the general Vision of Kalamazoo College: provide innovative education that provides students with the following: A learning-focused environment that integrates academic excellence, experiential education, and outstanding co-curricular experiences; A learning community that is residential, diverse, inclusive, student-focused, and comprehensively internationalized; Multiple experiences for global learning and leadership that include an in-depth education abroad experience; Outstanding preparation for life and leadership. The Kalamazoo College experience will help graduates become: Outstanding leaders; Responsible global citizens sensitized to intercultural and international diversity; Innovative problem solvers prepared to address the challenges of the future; Effective agents of transformational change; Engaged, ethical citizens; and Alumni who maintain life-long connections with the College.