Jan Plan: An Opportunity for Exploration

Jan Plan in Action

  • Video: Pastoral Jan Plan in India

    Postcolonial Pastoral: Ecology, Travel, and Writing is a Jan Plan that travels to Uttarakhand, India. Carla Arohnson '13 produced this video in 2013.


  • Maine Jewish History Project 2013

    The Jewish Studies 221 Jan Plan produced research on Tau Delta Phi, Jewishness at Colby, Jewish philanthropy at Colby, and Ludy Levine '21.


  • Anatomy and Physiology "Grand Rounds"

    The Morning Sentinel covered the grand rounds oral presentations in BI265: Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology.


  • GE279: Geology of Bermuda

    Studying 2 million years of geological history in Bermuda, students based at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) record experiences in a blog.


  • Memorable Jan Plans?

    Colby students only have to complete three Jan Plans, but 92 percent do one all four years. Facebook followers offer insights.


  • 31 Days in Deutschland

    Kara Witherell '15 writes a blog (with photos) on her experience as an English language assistant teaching at Loisenlund, a boarding school in northern Germany.


  • Studying Law in Cuba

    Government 297j takes students to Havana, Cuba, for nine days to study the legal system there. A blog chronicles the experiences of students in the 2013 Jan Plan.


  • More »

Colby’s Jan Plan, officially “the January Program,” offers students opportunities to experiment outside of their major or to tackle a special challenge or focused research within their major. Jan Plan allows Colby to bring visiting faculty members to campus and to offer courses beyond its core liberal arts curriculum.  Read the Jan Plan mission statement »

Options Abound

South Africa Jan Plan Jan Plan in South Africa
  • Courses On Campus
    By completing one of the many courses offered on campus, students may earn Jan Plan credit and up to three credit hours toward the 128 hours required for graduation.

  • Courses Off Campus
    Off-campus courses may earn credit hours in addition to Jan Plan credit.

  • Non-Credit Courses
    Among popular Jan Plan courses that don't earn credit hours but help fulfill the January Program requirement are Emergency Medical Technician Training, Furniture Making, and Introduction to ArcGIS.

  • Internships
    January offers a great opportunity to gain knowledge and experience through internships, whether students live on campus or travel anywhere in the world.

  • Research
    Research is important in all of Colby's academic divisions, and Jan Plan offers excellent opportunities for focused and intensive research under the supervision of a Colby faculty member.