Jefferson Academic Center
Attached to Atwood Hall is the Jefferson Academic Center, home to the Geography, Political Science, History, and Sociology departments, as well as Jefferson 320, a large auditorium often used for showing films. Outside of Jefferson, the Campus Green is Clark’s most popular outdoor space, where you'll find snow people in the winter and students studying or tossing a frisbee in the spring.
Media Gallery
Meet Our Faculty
Academics
📚 Academics
Information about Clark's academic program.
First-Year Intensive (FYI)
As the first step in our undergraduate curriculum, your First-Year Intensive (FYI) course builds the intellectual, social, and emotional foundations you need to thrive at Clark and beyond.
Typically limited to 16 students, FYI courses let you begin your Clark career by developing close relationships with a professor and group of peers who share your interests. Your FYI professor will likely be your academic adviser until you declare a major, and will help you navigate your transition from high school to college.
You can choose from more than 30 different courses, which change from year to year. No matter which FYI you take, you’ll learn in a supportive, welcoming environment and you’ll build crucial skills — including critical thinking, writing, and debating — that will increase your confidence and success in other courses.
Typically limited to 16 students, FYI courses let you begin your Clark career by developing close relationships with a professor and group of peers who share your interests. Your FYI professor will likely be your academic adviser until you declare a major, and will help you navigate your transition from high school to college.
You can choose from more than 30 different courses, which change from year to year. No matter which FYI you take, you’ll learn in a supportive, welcoming environment and you’ll build crucial skills — including critical thinking, writing, and debating — that will increase your confidence and success in other courses.
Program of Liberal Studies (PLS)
Through Clark’s Program of Liberal Studies (PLS), you’ll learn to understand the world in diverse ways and to make vital connections across subjects. PLS courses fall into two broad categories: Critical Thinking courses and Perspective courses. You are required to take nine PLS courses over four years — one course from each of the nine areas — and your adviser will work with you to choose courses that match your interests.
Critical Thinking courses are designed to help you cultivate the essential critical-thinking skills that you’ll use in every course at Clark and throughout your life. You will take one course in Verbal Expression and one in Formal Analysis.
Perspectives courses introduce you to different ways of thinking, learning, and knowing in seven disciplines: Aesthetics, Global Comparative, Historical, Language and Culture, Natural Scientific, Values, and Diversity and Inclusion.
Critical Thinking courses are designed to help you cultivate the essential critical-thinking skills that you’ll use in every course at Clark and throughout your life. You will take one course in Verbal Expression and one in Formal Analysis.
Perspectives courses introduce you to different ways of thinking, learning, and knowing in seven disciplines: Aesthetics, Global Comparative, Historical, Language and Culture, Natural Scientific, Values, and Diversity and Inclusion.
Accelerated B.A./Master's Degree Programs
The accelerated degree program gives current Clark undergraduates who qualify a pathway to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. Depending on whether you started at Clark as a first-year or transfer student, you may be eligible to receive a full or partial tuition scholarship for the fifth year. Consider the cost of earning a master’s degree in two years elsewhere and you’ll see why Clark is considered a best value.
Clark offers 15 tuition-free degree programs, including Business Administration, Teaching, Communication, Geographic Information Science, and Biology. One in three Clarkies take advantage of this program, making a substantial return on their investment in a Clark education.
Clark offers 15 tuition-free degree programs, including Business Administration, Teaching, Communication, Geographic Information Science, and Biology. One in three Clarkies take advantage of this program, making a substantial return on their investment in a Clark education.
