Northland College pioneered environmental liberal arts in 1971. Since then, our visionary approach to academics has helped thousands of graduates make a difference in the world. In 2009, we again took a bold step, building on our innovative mission and creating a distinctive general education program that redefines environmental liberal arts education.
At the heart of this program are the Connections Curricula—Superior Connections , Growing Connections , and Natural Connections . These curricula integrate different approaches to common issues, and through them students explore the relationships among the liberal arts, the environment, and the future of our planet and society. This approach is deeply practical because 21st century work, particularly in the environment, demands people who can successfully incorporate multiple perspectives to achieve imaginative outcomes.
Each curriculum includes nine courses, eight of which are taught in integrated block formats and one of which focuses specifically on experiences beyond the classroom. Students select and complete either Natural, Growing, or Superior Connections in their first two years at Northland. During these years, students also enroll in elective courses and in courses required for an academic major. Transfer students complete portions of Natural Connections that are determined by the classes they have completed at other institutions.
Connections Curriculum
The foundation of Northland College’s academic program is established through one of its Connections curricula—Superior Connections, Growing Connections, or Natural Connections. For most students, the Connections curricula account for approximately one-third of the courses required for graduation. Academic major requirements and elective courses typically account for the other two-thirds.
All of the Connections curricula—Growing, Natural, and Superior—are designed to assure that students develop…
- foundational skills in communication, quantitative reasoning, and personal wellness;
- a breadth of disciplinary learning characteristic of a liberally educated individual;
- an understanding of human and cultural diversity; and
- an appreciation for the relationship between humans and the natural world that prepares graduates to live lives that are sensitive to the needs of an ecologically sustainable future.
In addition, the Connections curricula are structured to demonstrate the value of integrated, multidisciplinary approaches to understanding the world. After completing a Connections curriculum, students understand the strengths and limitations of specific academic disciplines and are prepared to think systemically and creatively about complex questions.
Students who successfully complete a Connections curriculum at Northland College have the option of declaring an environmental studies minor. (Transfer students who satisfy Connections curricula requirements through transfer equivalencies do not have this option.)
