Wheaton College’s bold and innovative curriculum encourages students to develop a broad foundation of knowledge, consider important issues across disciplines and from many perspectives, practice putting their knowledge to work through experiential learning and internships, explore cultures beyond their own and work to understand how structures of power and inequality operate in a global world.
The Compass curriculum gives students the freedom and flexibility to create their own path to success, with personalized advising and professional mentorship. The curriculum encourages students to connect academics to career interests and builds on Wheaton’s core principles of intellectual curiosity, global citizenship, experiential learning, social justice, diversity and inclusion, and collaborative community.
Compass combines a small number of requirements with many optional pathways, allowing students to create the education that meets their needs.
Requirements
Connected First-Year Experience
The First-Year Experience course combines the deep discussions, reading and writing of a traditional first-year seminar with cross-disciplinary discovery, encouraging students to consider complex problems and questions through multiple lenses, right from the start.
Sophomore Experience
In their second year, students begin infusing their education with real-world experience and professional connections, through an experiential course, internship, enhanced employment opportunities, service project, study abroad, or leadership opportunity.
The Major
All Wheaton students complete at least one major, which ensures an in-depth exploration of their chosen discipline and a capstone experience in that field. (Many students choose more than one major, with specific requirements for each.)
Mentored Academic Pathway (MAP)
Students will meet regularly with their MAP faculty advisor as they craft their educational plan, follow up, reflect and refine that plan. A set of required reflections will help students reflect on their experiences, set their goals and chart their course.
Optional Pathways
Honors & Scholars
Three signature honors and scholars programs encourage students to challenge themselves and expand their studies in exciting ways.
LEAPS
Liberal Education and Professional Success (LEAPS) programs combine classroom learning, experiential opportunities and alumni and professional mentorship to develop professional skills geared toward specific areas or industries.
Minors
With over 50 available minors, students can customize their education and develop their interests in many areas.