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Colby’s Liberal Arts Curriculum

Our commitment to the liberal arts ensures that students in all programs leave Colby with a comprehensive education that positions them for success and leadership in any arena.
Students reading in class

While students will gain considerable depth in a discipline from their majors, minors, and concentrations, the breadth of our curriculum will be experienced by completing 3- or 4-credit courses that satisfy our area and diversity requirements. First-year students are also required to take a writing-intensive course (W1) and should begin work on their foreign language requirement.  These requirements are described in more detail below and offerings for fall 2026 are listed for you to browse (current at the time this site was updated in May; please use Find Courses for Registration in Workday for the most up-to-date information). 

Diversity Requirements

Students are required to pass two three- or four-credit-hour courses that have as a central focus overcoming prejudice, privilege, oppression, inequality, and injustice. Thus, typically structures, workings, progress, and consequences of political and cultural changes directed for or against this focus constitute most of the course.

One of these courses must deal with these issues as they concern the United States (U designation in course description), and one must deal with these issues in a context other than the United States (International; I designation in course description).

Many of our courses look at diversity through the lens of an area requirement, such as literature, art, history, or social sciences. In the sections below, you can find lists of courses that meet just U or I; several of these may also meet an area requirement. Courses that show up with the same title in more than one department are cross-listed and are being jointly offered by more than one department (and can be taken in either department). 

By Department – US Diversity requirement 

African American Studies 

  • AA 125-A – Introduction to African American Cultures
  • AA 171-A – Histories of the Present
  • AA 218-A – African American Migrations: Exiles, Expats, and Travelers
  • AA 228-A – Introduction to Race, Ethnicity, and Politics
  • AA 247-A – African-American History, from Slavery to Freedom
  • AA 319-A – Art, Medicine, and Race
  • AA 334-A – The Great Depression: America in the 1930s
  • AA 393-A – Junior Seminar: Theories of Culture

American Studies

  • AM 125-A – Introduction to African American Cultures
  • AM 171-A – Histories of the Present
  • AM 232-A – Queer Identities and Politics
  • AM 255-A – Sounding the Great Migration: 1900-1945
  • AM 319-A – Art, Medicine, and Race
  • AM 366-A – Race, Gender, and the Graphic Novel
  • AM 393-A – Junior Seminar: Theories of Culture

Art

  • AR 319-A – Art, Medicine, and Race

Economics

  • EC 472-A – Seminar: Stereotypes and Discrimination

Education

  • ED 101-A – Education and Social Justice
  • ED 213-A – Schools and Society
  • ED 215-A – Child and Adolescent Development in Education

Government

  • GO 228-A – Introduction to Race, Ethnicity, and Politics
  • GO 314-A – Civil Liberties in American Constitutional Law

History

  • HI 131-A – Survey of U.S. History, to 1865
  • HI 247-A – African-American History, from Slavery to Freedom
  • HI 334-A – The Great Depression: America in the 1930s
  • HI 342-A – The Decade of Maximum Danger: American Society and Politics during the 1960s

Latin American Studies

  • LA 245-A – Sociology of Immigration

Music

  • MU 255-A – Sounding the Great Migration: 1900-1945

Psychology

  • PS 223-A – Social Identities

Religious Studies

  • RE 237-A – Cults in America

Sociology

  • SO 131-A – Introduction to Sociology
  • SO 131-B – Introduction to Sociology
  • SO 213-A – Schools and Society
  • SO 245-A – Sociology of Immigration

Spanish

  • SP 127H-A – Spanish Language for Heritage Learners
  • SP 131H-A – Spanish Composition for Heritage Learners

Science, Technology, and Society

  • ST 319-A – Art, Medicine, and Race

Women’s, Gender, and  Sexuality Studies

  • WG 101-A – Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
  • WG 101-B – Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
  • WG 232-A – Queer Identities and Politics
  • WG 366-A – Race, Gender, and the Graphic Novel

By Department – International Diversity requirement

African American Studies

  • AA 124-A – Performance, Politics, and Practice
  • AA 162-A – History of the Atlantic World
  • AA 268-A – Afrofuturism and Social Justice
  • AA 341-A – Culture, Mobility, Identity: Encounters in the African Diaspora

Anthropology

  • AY 112-A – Cultural Anthropology
  • AY 112-B – Cultural Anthropology
  • AY 112-C – Cultural Anthropology
  • AY 212A-A – Feeling, Sensing, Thinking in Catastrophic Times
  • AY 213A-A – Constructing the Enemy: Race, Religion and Globalization
  • AY 250-A – Introduction to World Music
  • AY 262-A – Music in Life, Music as Culture: Introduction to Ethnomusicology
  • AY 341-A – Culture, Mobility, Identity: Encounters in the African Diaspora

Art

  • AR 125-A – Art and Architecture of the Islamic World, 622-1258

Classics

  • CL 136-A – Myth and Magic

East Asian Studies

  • EA 144-A – Patterns in East Asian History, to 1600
  • EA 244-A – Brothers at War: The Two Koreas, 1945-Present
  • EA 333-A – Colby and China: Alumni, Archives, and U.S.–China Encounters, 1850–1950

Education

  • ED 243-A – Schooling Around the World: Comparative Perspectives

English

  • EN 311-A – Global Middle Ages

Environmental Studies

  • ES 234-A – International Environmental Policy

Global Studies

  • GS 212-A – Feeling, Sensing, Thinking in Catastrophic Times
  • GS 213-A – Constructing the Enemy: Race, Religion and Globalization

History

  • HI 144-A – Patterns in East Asian History, to 1600
  • HI 162-A – History of the Atlantic World
  • HI 244-A – Brothers at War: The Two Koreas, 1945-Present
  • HI 333-A – Colby and China: Alumni, Archives, and U.S.–China Encounters, 1850–1950

Italian

  • IT 247-A – Mafia Movies: Mobsters, Martyrs, and Myths

Music

  • MU 252-A – Introduction to World Music
  • MU 262-A – Music in Life, Music as Culture: Introduction to Ethnomusicology

Performance, Theater, and Dance

  • TD 124-A – Performance, Politics, and Practice

Distribution Areas

Students are required to pass one 3- or 4-credit-hour course in the Areas of Arts, Historical Studies, Literature, Quantitative Reasoning and Social Sciences and two 3- or4-credit-hour courses in the Area of Natural Sciences, one of which must have a lab. Courses that satisfy these requirements are listed in the sections below. Note that some of the courses listed here also appear in the diversity course lists and thus satisfy both an area distribution requirement and a diversity distribution requirement. Courses that show up with the same title in more than one department are cross-listed and are being jointly offered by more than one department (and can be taken in either department). 

Designated with the letter A, these are courses in the history, theory, and/or practice of the creative arts.

By Department – Arts requirement

African American Studies

  • AA 124-A – Performance, Politics, and Practice

American Studies

  • AM 255-A – Sounding the Great Migration: 1900-1945

Art

  • AR 111-A – Introduction to Western Art: Prehistory through the Middle Ages
  • AR 125-A – Art and Architecture of the Islamic World, 622-1258
  • AR 215-A – Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East and Egypt
  • AR 221-A – Drawing I
  • AR 236-A – Vienna 1900
  • AR 267-A – Advanced Topics in Design: Architectural Imaging
  • AR 278-A – 19th-Century European Art
  • AR 340-A – Art and Activism in Contemporary Cuba

Anthropology

  • AY 250-A – Introduction to World Music
  • AY 262-A – Music in Life, Music as Culture: Introduction to Ethnomusicology

Cinema Studies

  • CI 142-A – Introduction to Cinema Studies
  • CI 142-A – Introduction to Cinema Studies
  • CI 142-B – Introduction to Cinema Studies
  • CI 142-B – Introduction to Cinema Studies
  • CI 226-A – Japanese Cinema and Culture
  • CI 256-A – Film for Thought: The Art of French Cinema
  • CL 215-A – Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East and Egypt

East Asian Languages and Cultures

  • EA 226-A – Japanese Cinema and Culture
  • EA 233-A – Voice, Language, and Meaning: Music in the Sinophone

English/Creative Writing

  • EN 142-A – Introduction to Cinema Studies
  • EN 142-A – Introduction to Cinema Studies
  • EN 142-B – Introduction to Cinema Studies
  • EN 142-B – Introduction to Cinema Studies
  • EN 278-A – Fiction Writing I
  • EN 278-B – Fiction Writing I
  • EN 279-A – Poetry Writing I: Ecopoetics
  • EN 279-B – Poetry Writing I
  • EN 280-A – Creative Nonfiction Writing I

French

  • FR 256-A – Film for Thought: The Art of French Cinema

German

  • GM 238-A – Vienna 1900

Italian

  • IT 247-A – Mafia Movies: Mobsters, Martyrs, and Myths

Jewish Studies

  • JS 236-A – Vienna 1900

Latin American Studies

  • LA 239-A – Latin America at the Movies

Music

  • MU 181-A – Music Theory I
  • MU 181-B – Music Theory I
  • MU 233-A – Voice, Language, and Meaning: Music in the Sinophone
  • MU 252-A – Introduction to World Music
  • MU 255-A – Sounding the Great Migration: 1900-1945
  • MU 262-A – Music in Life, Music as Culture: Introduction to Ethnomusicology
  • MU 345-A – Composition Seminar

Philosophy

  • PL 234-A – Philosophy and Art

Performance, Theater, and Dance

  • TD 110-A – Intro to Dance: Physical Practice and Contextual Analysis
  • TD 120-A – First-Year Writing: Performing Spaces/Writing the City
  • TD 124-A – Performance, Politics, and Practice
  • TD 139-A – Stagecraft I
  • TD 139-B – Stagecraft I
  • TD 139-C – Stagecraft I
  • TD 171-C – Acting I
  • TD 243-A – Leadership Behind the Scenes: Stage Management
  • TD 365-A – Advanced Topics in Design: Architectural Imaging

Russian

  • RU 120-A – Reel Russia

Spanish

  • SP 239-A – Latin America at the Movies
  • SP 339-A – Writing for Gaia: Creative Non-Fiction in Spanish

Designated with the letter H, these are courses that investigate human experience by focusing on the development of cultures and societies as they evolve through time. 

By Department – Historical Studies requirement

African American Studies

  • AA 162-A – History of the Atlantic World
  • AA 247-A – African-American History, from Slavery to Freedom
  • AA 334-A – The Great Depression: America in the 1930s

Classics

  • CL 154-A – Ancient Medicine
  • CL 231-A – History of Ancient Greek Philosophy

East Asian Languages and Cultures

  • EA 144-A – Patterns in East Asian History, to 1600
  • EA 244-A – Brothers at War: The Two Koreas, 1945-Present
  • EA 297A-A – From Qi to Chemistry

French

  • FR 320-A – Joan of Arc: History, Legend, and Film

Global Studies

  • GS 276-A – Global History
  • GS 276-B – Global History

History

  • HI 111-A – The Not So Distant Past: Europe 1000-1600
  • HI 120I-A – United States and the Cold War
  • HI 120K-A – From King Cotton to Civil Rights: Transformations in the American South Since 1865
  • HI 131-A – Survey of U.S. History, to 1865
  • HI 141-A – Genocide and Globalization: 20th-Century World History
  • HI 144-A – Patterns in East Asian History, to 1600
  • HI 162-A – History of the Atlantic World
  • HI 173-A – History of Latin America, 1491 to 1900
  • HI 224-A – Germany and Europe, 1871-1945
  • HI 244-A – Brothers at War: The Two Koreas, 1945-Present
  • HI 247-A – African-American History, from Slavery to Freedom
  • HI 260-A – Caribbean History
  • HI 266-A – The Making of Modern Africa
  • HI 269-A – Astrology: A Global History
  • HI 276-A – Global History
  • HI 276-B – Global History
  • HI 285-A – Foundations of Islam
  • HI 297-A – From Qi to Chemistry
  • HI 320-A – Joan of Arc: History, Legend, and Film
  • HI 334-A – The Great Depression: America in the 1930s
  • HI 342-A – The Decade of Maximum Danger: American Society and Politics during the 1960s
  • HI 356-A – Cultures and Identities of the British Empire
  • HI 376-A – Doing History: Greater Reconstruction
  • HI 414-A – Research Seminar: History of Fear in Europe, 1300-1900
  • HI 429-A – History of How to Change the World

Jewish Studies

  • JS 181-A – Conceptions of Jews and Judaism

Latin American Studies

  • LA 173-A – History of Latin America, 1491 to 1900
  • LA 261-A – Caribbean History

Philosophy

  • PL 231-A – History of Ancient Greek Philosophy

Designated with the letter L, these are courses that focus on literary works of the imagination and/or written texts in which ideas and creative or aesthetic considerations play a crucial role. In these courses students not only read literature but are also taught literature analysis methods.

By Department – Literature requirement

African American Studies

  • AA 125-A – Introduction to African American Cultures
  • AA 218-A – African American Migrations: Exiles, Expats, and Travelers
  • AA 268-A – Afrofuturism and Social Justice

American Studies

  • AM 125-A – Introduction to African American Cultures
  • AM 366-A – Race, Gender, and the Graphic Novel

Classics

  • CL 136-A – Myth and Magic

East Asian Languages and Cultures

  • EA 297-A – Kill Your Heroes: A Literary History of the Samurai

English/Creative Writing

  • EN 200-A – Foundations of Literary Studies
  • EN 200-B – Foundations of Literary Studies
  • EN 271-A – Critical Theory
  • EN 271-B – Critical Theory
  • EN 283-A – Environmental Humanities: Stories of Crisis and Resilience
  • EN 283-B – Environmental Humanities: Stories of Crisis and Resilience
  • EN 311-A – Global Middle Ages
  • EN 312-A – Death and Dying in the Middle Ages
  • EN 326-A – Strange Natures: Queer Landscapes of Early American Literature
  • EN 330-A – Shakespeare and Injustice
  • EN 337-A – Climate Fiction
  • EN 413W-A – Author course: Phillis Wheatley and her Literary Afterlives
  • EN 493K-A – Seminar: World Literature: Globalization and Its Discontents

Environmental Studies

  • ES 283-A – Environmental Humanities: Stories of Crisis and Resilience
  • ES 283-B – Environmental Humanities: Stories of Crisis and Resilience
  • ES 337-A – Climate Fiction

French

  • FR 128-A – Cultural Encounters: Engaging with Literature and Media
  • FR 340-A – Trauma and Resilience in the Francophone World
  • FR 493T-A – Seminar: Trauma and Resilience in the Francophone World

Greek

  • GK 248-A – Topics in Ancient Greek Literature: Homer

Italian

  • GK 248-A – Topics in Ancient Greek Literature: Homer

Jewish Studies

  • JS 143-A – Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament

Latin

  • LT 248-A – Topics in Latin Literature: Conspiracy of Catiline

Russian

  • RU 224-A – Vampires and Werewolves: Slavic  Myth in Contemporary Culture
  • RU 325-A – Advanced Russian I: Literature and Identity
  • RU 425-A – Advanced Russian I: Literature and Identity

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

  • WG 366-A – Race, Gender, and the Graphic Novel

Designated with the letter Q, these are courses that focus on quantitative or analytic reasoning about formally defined abstract structures. These courses teach quantitative and formal reasoning methods and strategies to solve problems for a variety of settings, plus how to interpret solutions and their range of validity.

By Department – Quantitative Reasoning requirement 

Computer Science

  • CS 151-A – Computational Thinking: Visual Media
  • CS 151-A – Computational Thinking: Visual Media
  • CS 151-B – Computational Thinking: Visual Media
  • CS 151-B – Computational Thinking: Visual Media
  • CS 152-A – Computational Thinking: Science
  • CS 152-A – Computational Thinking: Science
  • CS 166-A – Computational Thinking: Computer Vision
  • CS 166-A – Computational Thinking: Computer Vision
  • CS 231-A – Data Structures and Algorithms
  • CS 231-B – Data Structures and Algorithms

Government

  • GO 281-A – Concepts and Methods of Political Science Research
  • GO 281-B – Concepts and Methods of Political Science Research

Mathematics

  • MA 125-A – Single-Variable Calculus
  • MA 125-B – Single-Variable Calculus
  • MA 130-A – Single-Variable Calculus Revisited
  • MA 130-B1 – Single-Variable Calculus I Revisited
  • MA 130-B2 – Single-Variable Calculus Revisited
  • MA 130-C1 – Single-Variable Calculus Revisited
  • MA 130-C2 – Single-Variable Calculus I Revisited
  • MA 130-D – Single-Variable Calculus I Revisited
  • MA 135-A – Honors Calculus I
  • MA 135-A – Honors Calculus I
  • MA 160-A1 – Series and Multi-variable Calculus
  • MA 160-A2 – Series and Multi-variable Calculus
  • MA 160-B – Series and Multi-variable Calculus
  • MA 160-C – Series and Multi-variable Calculus
  • MA 160-D – Series and Multi-variable Calculus

Philosophy

  • PL 151-A – Logic and Argumentation

Psychology

  • PS 214-A – Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology I
  • PS 214-B – Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology I

Statistics

  • SC 212-A – Introduction to Statistics and Data Science
  • SC 212-B – Introduction to Statistics and Data Science
  • SC 212-C – Introduction to Statistics and Data Science
  • SC 212-D – Introduction to Statistics and Data Science
  • SC 212-E – Introduction to Statistics and Data Science
  • SC 212-F – Introduction to Statistics and Data Science

Sociology

  • SO 271-A – Introduction to Sociological Research Methods

Designated with the letter N, these are courses that focus on the understanding of natural phenomena through observation, systematic study, and/or theoretical analysis. Students take two N courses and one of them must contain a substantial laboratory component (Lb for required lab; OptLb for optional lab).

By Department – Natural Science Courses (N, NLb, and OptLb)

Astrophysics

  • AS 231-A – Introduction to Astrophysics

Biology

  • BI 142-A – Cancer: From the Clinic to the Lab and Back
  • BI 142-B – Cancer: From the Clinic to the Lab and Back
  • BI 163-A – The Cellular Basis of Life
  • BI 163-B – The Cellular Basis of Life
  • BI 163-C – The Cellular Basis of Life
  • BI 163-D – The Cellular Basis of Life
  • BI 218-A – Evolutionary Cell Biology
  • BI 230-A – Food: Biochemistry to Biopolitics
  • BI 241-A – Entomology
  • BI 271-A – Ecology
  • BI 271-B – Ecology

Chemistry

  • CH 121-A – Earth Systems Chemistry I
  • CH 141-A – General Chemistry I
  • CH 141-B – General Chemistry I
  • CH 147-A – Comprehensive General Chemistry

Earth Sciences (formerly Geology) 

  • ER 121-A – Earth Systems Chemistry I
  • ER 125-A – From Stardust to Planets
  • ER 129-A – The Water Planet
  • ER 231-A – Earth Structure and Tectonics
  • ER 254-A – Earth Surface Processes: Introduction to Geomorphology

Environmental Studies

  • ES 221-A – Ecological Restoration and Management
  • ES 271-A – Ecology
  • ES 271-B – Ecology

Physics

  • PH 141-A – Foundations of Mechanics
  • PH 141-B – Foundations of Mechanics
  • PH 141-C – Foundations of Mechanics
  • PH 141-D – Foundations of Mechanics
  • PH 141-E – Foundations of Mechanics
  • PH 141-F – Foundations of Mechanics
  • PH 143-A – Honors Physics

Science, Technology, and Society

  • ST 221-A – Ecological Restoration and Management
  • ST 230-A – Food: Biochemistry to Biopolitics

Designated with the letter S, these are courses that focus on theoretically and methodologically directed inquiry into various aspects of human behavior and interaction.

By Department – Social Sciences requirement

African American Studies

  • AA 228-A – Introduction to Race, Ethnicity, and Politics
  • AA 341-A – Culture, Mobility, Identity: Encounters in the African Diaspora

Anthropology

  • AY 112-A – Cultural Anthropology
  • AY 112-B – Cultural Anthropology
  • AY 112-C – Cultural Anthropology
  • AY 200-A – Digital Infrastructure and Development
  • AY 341-A – Culture, Mobility, Identity: Encounters in the African Diaspora
  • AY 352-A – Liberation Struggles

Biology

  • BI 106-A – Introduction to Epidemiology

Economics

  • EC 133-A – Principles of Microeconomics
  • EC 133-B – Principles of Microeconomics
  • EC 133-C – Principles of Microeconomics
  • EC 133-D – Principles of Microeconomics
  • EC 133-E – Principles of Microeconomics
  • EC 133-E – Principles of Microeconomics
  • EC 133-F – Principles of Microeconomics
  • EC 133-F – Principles of Microeconomics
  • EC 134-A – Principles of Macroeconomics
  • EC 134-B – Principles of Macroeconomics
  • EC 134-B – Principles of Macroeconomics
  • EC 134-C – Principles of Macroeconomics
  • EC 134-C – Principles of Macroeconomics

Education

  • ED 101-A – Education and Social Justice

Government

  • GO 111-A – Introduction to American Government and Politics
  • GO 111-B – Introduction to American Government and Politics
  • GO 131-A – Introduction to International Relations
  • GO 131-B – Introduction to International Relations
  • GO 131-C – Introduction to International Relations
  • GO 171-A – Introduction to Political Theory
  • GO 226-A – Media and Politics
  • GO 228-A – Introduction to Race, Ethnicity, and Politics
  • GO 252-A – Introduction to Politics of the Middle East
  • GO 267-A – Introduction to Policy Analysis
  • GO 267-B – Introduction to Policy Analysis
  • GO 420A-A – Seminar: Controversies in Contemporary Electoral Politics
  • GO 456-A – Seminar: Civil Society and Social Change in Latin America

Global Studies

  • GS 352-A – Liberation Struggles

Jewish Studies

  • JS 148-A – Inclusion and Exclusion: Dilemmas in Israeli Society
  • JS 252-A – Introduction to Politics of the Middle East

Latin American Studies

  • LA 245-A – Sociology of Immigration
  • LA 340-A – Art and Activism in Contemporary Cuba
  • LA 456-A – Seminar: Civil Society and Social Change in Latin America

Psychology

  • PS 111-A – Introduction to Psychology

Public Policy

  • PO 267-A – Introduction to Policy Analysis
  • PO 267-B – Introduction to Policy Analysis

Religious Studies

  • RE 128-A – Introduction to the Study of Religion

Science, Technology, and Science

  • ST 112-A – Science, Technology, and Society

Sociology

  • SO 131-A – Introduction to Sociology
  • SO 131-B – Introduction to Sociology
  • SO 245-A – Sociology of Immigration
  • SO 267-A – Introduction to Policy Analysis
  • SO 267-B – Introduction to Policy Analysis
  • SO 372-A – Qualitative Research Methods

Spanish

  • SP 340-A – Art and Activism in Contemporary Cuba

Statistics

  • SC 106-A – Introduction to Epidemiology

“W1” courses are the foundation of Colby’s writing-intensive curriculum. These courses focus on our shared principles of excellent writing, no matter the discipline.  First-year students are expected to complete a W1 during their first year.

African American Studies

  • AA 120B-A – Critical Inquiries in Medical Ethics
  • AA 120L-A – Language, Thought, and Writing: Language + Race + Power

English

  • EN 120G-A – Language, Thought, and Writing: Community Literacy and Migration
  • EN 120J-A – Language, Thought, and Writing: True Crime
  • EN 120L-A – Language, Thought, and Writing: Language + Race + Power
  • EN 120U-A – Language, Thought, and Writing: Memoir and Social Justice
  • EN 178-A – Language, Thought, and Writing: Introduction to Creative Writing
  • EN 178-B – Language, Thought, and Writing: Introduction to Creative Writing

History

  • HI 120I-A – United States and the Cold War
  • HI 120K-A – From King Cotton to Civil Rights: Transformations in the American South Since

Music

  • MU 130-A – Bad Music

Performance, Theater, and Dance

  • TD 120-A – First-Year Writing: Performing Spaces/Writing the City

Russian

  • RU 120-A – Reel Russia

Writing

  • WD 115C-A – First-Year Writing: Reimagining the Essay
  • WD 115C-B – First-Year Writing: Reimagining  the Essay
  • WD 115D-A – First-Year Writing: Food for Thought
  • WD 115D-B – First-Year Writing: Food for Thought
  • WD 115F-A – First-Year Writing: Writing about Writing
  • WD 115L-A – First-Year Writing: Cross-Cultural Ideas of Family and AI
  • WD 115R-A – First-Year Writing: What is the Role of the Museum and Why Does It Matter?
  • WD 115R-B – First-Year Writing: What is the Role of the Museum and Why Does It Matter?
  • WD 120A-A – Language, Thought, and Writing: Literary Conversations

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

  • WG 120B-A – Critical Inquiries in Medical Ethics

In order to graduate, Colby students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language. They can do so through successful completion of a language course designated as 127; languages taught at Colby that fulfill this requirement are Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Spanish, and Russian. Alternatively, students may fulfill this requirement by means of a proficiency exam.

Here are the various ways to complete this requirement:

  1. If you want to study a language you have not studied before, register for the first of the three courses (usually 125).
  2. To continue studying a language you learned in high school, register for the course recommended to you upon completion of your language placement exam.
  3. If you are a native speaker of a language taught at Colby, contact the chair of that department to establish your proficiency level and have your foreign language requirement marked as fulfilled. You will not need to take a language while at Colby.

If you are a native speaker of a language not taught at Colby, we will work with you to verify your proficiency in that language once you are on campus. 

If you took a placement exam, you can find your score in Workday.

Language Placement Cut-Offs for Course Enrollment

Score

French

German

Italian

Spanish

200-450

FR125

GM125

IT125

SP125

460-530

FR126

GM126

IT126

SP126

540-610

FR127

GM127

IT127

SP127

620-630

FR128 or 131*

GM127 or 128 *

IT127 or 128 *

SP127

640-660

FR231 and above

GM231 or above *

IT141 or above *

SP128

670-690

FR231 and above

GM231 or above *

IT141 or above *

SP135 or 231

700-800

FR231 and above

GM231 or above *

IT141 or above *

SP135 or 231

* contact department for advice