As a student here, you’ll get the best of both worlds—the inspiring academics of a liberal arts education combined with the engaging experiences found in our surrounding Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. From first-year courses to capstone experiences, you’ll explore across disciplines and achieve deep knowledge in your major(s). Our curriculum is designed to develop critical thinking, creativity, and an inclusion mindset.
Hear from a few students about their experiences and accomplishments at Macalester.
Willow from Montpelier, Vermont, uses her courses at Macalester to practice being a policy maker. A few examples: she’s written proposals for climate displacement agreements and worked on class projects about how to make American democracy more inclusive.
Jim from Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, took a geography course that partnered students with the St. Paul City Council to do policy analysis on providing universal child care for three year olds. At Macalester, you don’t have to wait to create change; it starts in the classroom.
Elika from Singapore took a course in history that led to a project at the Eastside Freedom Library in Minneapolis where she worked to uncover the racial viewpoints of Edward Duffield Neill, Macalester’s president in 1874.
Below you can find the general overview of requirements and offerings, plus more about first-year courses, for your four years at Macalester. Once enrolled, the Academic Program and Advising office will be your resource for class registration, graduations requirements, and the most up to date course offerings.
The liberal arts education at Macalester is intentionally designed to widen your perspective and expand your personal and professional opportunities. As such, all students take:
TWO COURSES IN
-Social sciences (minimum 8 credits)
TWO COURSES IN
-Natural sciences and mathematics (minimum 8 credits) l
THREE COURSES IN
-Humanities (min 4 credits)
-Fine arts (min 4 credits)
12 credits total
Students must complete at least one course that meets Macalester’s Internationalism requirement and at least one course that meets the United States Identities and Differences requirement. These courses may also satisfy general distribution requirements.
Students must complete three courses that are writing-based. These courses can also satisfy general distribution and/or major requirements.
Students must also complete one to three (depending on the level of depth) courses that meet the quantitative thinking requirement. These courses can satisfy general distribution and/or major requirements.
A major is typically comprised of ten courses from an area of study and a minor is typically five courses from an area of study, Students must choose at least one major, but may also choose multiple majors or minors. Concentrations combine twenty-four to thirty-two course credits from various areas of study. Students select their courses in consultation with their academic advisor(s).
Students usually take four classes each semester, earning four credits for each class. A few classes provide five credits. It’s not unusual for a student to add a one- or two-credit physical education activity, theater practica, dance class, or private studio lesson/ensemble to their course load.
MAJORS
MINORS
CONCENTRATIONS
(Majors listed in Bold.)
African Studies
American Studies
Anthropology
Art and Art History
Asian Languages and Cultures
Asian Studies
Astronomy
Biochemistry
Biology
Chemistry
Chinese
Classical Mediterranean and Middle East
Cognitive Science
Community and Global Health
Computer Science
Creative Writing
Critical Theory
Dance
Data Science
Economics
Educational Studies
English
Environmental Studies
Food, Agriculture and Society
French
Geography
Geology
German Studies
Global Indigenous Studies
History
Human Rights and Humanitarianism
See more about the various areas of study, concentrations and minors, and visit the department webpages.
You can transfer a maximum of 20 credits to Macalester. However, you’ll need to meet a few conditions. The Office of the Registrar provides details here.
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate
examinations may be used to:
Credit earned through AP or IB exams cannot be used to meet the general distribution requirements.
No. However, students sometimes complete an independent study project or participate in a special course led by a faculty member.
Macalester students may register for one course per semester at one of the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities. Visit macalester.edu/registrar/schedules/actc/ for more information.
