From chemistry to sociology, Clark offers a diverse range of traditional subjects from which to choose your major. Each provides intellectual immersion and sought-after skills that prepare you to succeed wherever you go after Clark.
Clark’s programs offer something for nearly every type of student: computer science, comparative literature, geography, philosophy, entrepreneurship, international development and social change, and many others. Not interested in a traditional route? We also offer interdisciplinary programs, student-designed majors, and a wide variety of minors and concentrations that will help you take ownership of your education.
No matter which discipline (or disciplines) you make your focus, you’ll work closely with faculty members and classmates, explore the relationship between theory and practice, and build a foundation for advanced study and career success.
Clark’s more than 30 majors offer exceptional opportunities to put your knowledge into action and learn through firsthand research and creative work. For example:
- An environmental science major may take a course that involves lectures by local conservation experts and hands-on training at ecological sites throughout Massachusetts.
- A biochemistry and molecular biology major might conduct laboratory research alongside a professor and their peers, and have their results published in an academic journal.
- A music major may take a course that involves both teaching local elementary school students how to play instruments and exploring the relationship between the arts and social action.
- A geography major with an interest in urban development might complete an internship in a developing nation to help design and create improved public spaces.
- A media, culture, and the arts major interested in journalism might learn firsthand from staff at local newspapers about the challenges and responsibilities of an urban reporter.
You may formally declare your major as early as the second semester of your first year at Clark, and all students are required to declare a major by the end of their sophomore year. The number of courses required for a major at Clark can range from 12 to 19. If you are interested in some of the more intensive majors (such as biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, chemistry, management, or physics), you are encouraged to begin taking courses relevant to those majors in your first semester. However, most students should feel comfortable using their first few semesters to explore various academic disciplines throughout the liberal arts.
A minor or concentration can be chosen to complement your major, or to provide you with an opportunity to explore a completely different field of study. With a small number of exceptions, all major fields of study at Clark offer a companion minor. In addition, you can choose from five stand-alone minors — creative writing, education, German studies, innovation and entrepreneurship, and marketing — and 12 interdisciplinary concentrations, including Africana studies; computational science; health, science, and society; Holocaust and genocide studies; and mathematical biology and bioinformatics.
You must declare your intention to complete a minor or concentration by the end of your junior year. Minors and concentrations require the completion of a minimum of six courses.
Still Undecided?
If you are undecided about your academic direction, your summer and pre-major adviser can help. Talking with your classmates and professors is another great way to learn where your talents lie and to clarify your interests.