What are Open Curriculum Colleges?
Open curriculum colleges are ones that let you to choose your own classes. You may still have to declare a major, but you may direct your own course plan. Depending on the college, an open curriculum may allow you to craft your own major too. Some schools (Cornell is one) call this an “individualized major.” Here, you don’t have to commit to a major offered by the school. Instead, you may be able to choose topics that make sense to your unique plans goals for your career.
Open Curriculum vs Core Curriculum
A core curriculum differs from an open curriculum as it typically specifies courses you must take. You have to satisfy these credits to earn your degree. What that means is that all undergrads take a set of common (core) classes. Core classes tend to include general education (GE) topics. Like math, science, social studies and foreign language.
You have to take these courses no matter what major or school within a college. The idea behind this is that when you study these subjects, it helps to mold a well rounded learner. In an open curriculum, you may not have GE classes. And, in some cases, you don’t have to use a formula for how you use credits.
That doesn’t mean you don’t choose a major or focus. But when you do, you may not have to meet any core requirements. Since you may not have to take these common classes, you may have more credits to play with. So, many students pursue a double major with room to explore both in a deep way.
How Do Open Curriculum Colleges Work?
In an open curriculum college, academic advisors typically help you choose courses around a professional goal. This goal might be a desire to blend two areas like chemistry and bio. Or, you want to learn how to raise money, impact public policy, or get into law school.
While not the same as independent study, an open C is flexible. Mostly in the area of lower division classes. A school may allow you to replace honors and advanced courses in their place. With the format, many schools accept only those students with strong grades. So, you may need to show case talents, interests and goals to get in. And some schools expect you to write a proposal that explains how your classes all fit together.
Is an Open Curriculum College Right for you?
If you are a self starter and like flexibility, an open curriculum may be perfect. As a rule, it offers a very broad based liberal arts education. And, is one you could mold to the topics you can’t wait to learn about. Liberal arts topics often relate to big ideas, themes, events, arts and culture. You also read and write a lot. And this may help you grow as a thinker, problem solver and communicator.
On the other hand, a core curriculum provides more structure. You tend to have GE classes to fill as well as ones in your major and focus. This path may suit you if you prefer to map a journey out in advance. Or if you want to dive into one technical area and learn about it from different sides.
30 Open Curriculum Colleges
We used data from the US Department of Education to create a list of the 30 Open Curriculum Colleges.
Amherst College is a four year private, liberal arts school with 1,855 undergrads. In MA, the school offers 36 fields of study. Some programs include economics, math and English.
Open Curriculum Requirements
Amherst has no distribution requirements and no core curriculum. Instead, students may choose the courses that matter to them the most. With over 850 courses to choose from, many students pursue a double major.
Open Curriculum Programs
Anthropology, Buddhist Studies, Asian Pacific American Studies.
$25,208
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
95%
Brown U is a four year private school with 6,752 undergrads and is known for robust research. The campus, in RI offers 57 fields of study. Some choices are economics, comp sci, applied math and bio.
Open Curriculum Requirements
Students may develop a customized course of study with the freedom to study what they choose.
Open Curriculum Programs
Engineering, Behavioral Decision Sciences, Biophysics, Classics.
$31,685
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
97%
Grinnel is a four year private school with 1,683 undergrads. In IA, it offers 30 fields of study in the liberal arts. A few of these areas are economics, poli sci, comp sci and bio.
Open Curriculum Requirments
Grinnell believes in free inquiry and the open exchange of ideas. All students take a First Year Tutorial, and this is the only required class.
Open Curriculum Programs
American Studies, Bio, Art History.
$25,358
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
87%
Hamilton is a four year private school in NY, with 1,989 undergrads. A liberal arts school, it offers 37 fields of study in the liberal arts. Some choices include economics, math, poli sci and language.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You need to pass 3 writing courses. By the end of your second year, you must also complete at least one quantitative and symbolic reasoning course. The school also wants you to take part in the First Year Course and Proseminar programs. You must also take a range of liberal arts classes that support cultural analysis and need to choose a focus. The program caps with a senior project.
Open Curriculum Programs
Astronomy, Art History, Digital Arts and Cinema.
$25,160
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
92%
Hampshire is a four year private school with 1,175 undergrads. In MA it offers 51 fields of study. Among these areas are film and video, fine and studio arts and writing studies.
Open Curriculum Requirements
Students may design their own program with the 5 College Consortium that includes Dance, Film, Astronomy and Architectural Studies.
Open Curriculum Programs
Marine Science, Entrepreneurship, Applied Design and Music.
$28,173
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
68%
6 NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study
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NYU is a four year private school that serves 26,339 undergrads. In NYC, it offers 152 fields of study in liberal arts, sciences, business and beyond. Within NYU, this school is a smaller unit for BA and MA students.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You will consult with advisors to develop a program of study centered around a theme, problem, activity or idea. To mark your progress, there are marked expectations for each year of study. And, at the end of your final year, there is a final project.
Open Curriculum Programs
Liberal Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Math.
$42,397
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
85%
Smith is a four year private liberal arts school with 2,496 undergrads and 49 fields of study. In MA it is one of the largest women’s colleges in the US. While the school also admits male students, this policy applies to grad programs only. Some of the undergrad programs are in psych, economics, bio and languages.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You have the freedom to customize your studies drawing from social sciences, history, arts, languages, literature, math and natural science.
Open Curriculum Programs
Africana Studies, Comp Sci and Dance.
$28,193
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
88%
8 University of Rochester
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U Rochester is a four year private school with 6,348 undergrads. In NY, the school offers 66 fields of study (and 12 libraries). Of these, registered nursing, bio, economics and music are some that they offer.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You work with an advisor to design their plan of study. There are no gen ed classes to take though you do select a major and many opt to pursue a double or triple major.
Open Curriculum Programs
Humanities, Social Science and Natural Sciences.
$29,373
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
88%
Vassar is a four year private school with 2,436 undergrads. In NY, it offers 43 fields of study. Some of these are economics, poli sci, psych and bio.
Open Curriculum Requirements
General curricular requirements are flexible. But you must fulfill three requirements. Freshman writing, a quantitative course and foreign language.
Open Curriculum Programs
Anthropology, Cognitive Science, English, Film.
$27,808
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
91%
10 Wake Forest University
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Wake Forrest is a four year private school with 5,225 undergrads. In NC, it offers 35 fields of study. Some programs are economics, communication, psych and finance.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You will work with faculty advisors to craft a broad plan of study and declare a major in your second year.
Open Curriculum Programs
Applied Math, Bioethics, Journalism, Health Policy.
$32,129
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
88%
Wesleyan is a four year private school with 2,922 undergrads, In CT, it offers 36 fields of study. Some majors are economics, area studies, English and poli sci.
Open Curriculum Requirements
Students may create their own plan for gen ed but must satisfy some disbursement requirements.
Open Curriculum Programs
Applied Data, Film Studies, Religion, Theatre.
$26,291
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
93%
12 James Madison University
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James Madison U is a four year, public school with 19,679 undergrads. In VA it offers 46 fields of study, some available online. Of these, the some majors are in mental and social health services, communications and liberal arts.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You must take gen ed classes in five cluster areas. As long as you meet the GE credits, you may take courses in any area.
Open Curriculum Programs
Geology, Philosophy, Hospitality Management.
$21,281
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
83%
13 California College of the Arts
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California College of the Arts is a four year school with 1,453 undergrads. In San Francisco, this small school offers 9 fields of study. A few are design, fine and studio arts, graphics and architecture.
Open Curriculum Requirements
Some programs map out a first year core curriculum.
Open Curriculum Programs
Architecture, Fine Arts, Design, Humanities and Science.
$35,458
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
65%
14 University of Washington
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U Washington is a four year public school with 30,905 undergrads in their main campus in Seattle. Out of 136 fields of study, some area include psych, communication, biochemistry and economics.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You may need at least three credits in a ‘diversity’ study area.
Open Curriculum Programs
Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences.
$12,001
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
83%
Cornell College is a four year private school that has 1,022 undergrads. In IA, the school offers 40 fields of study. Economics, psych, health and biochem are some.
Open Curriculum Requirements
There are specific requirements to follow but you have some flexibility in how to fill them.
Open Curriculum Programs
Pre Health Sciences, Law and Society, Business, Literacy Arts.
$27,204
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
68%
The City University of New York, aka CUNY, is a four year public school with 12,503 undergrads in its NYC campus. A large school, it offers 57 fields of study in areas are psych, bio, liberal arts and sciences.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You need to complete a Common Core, but there may be some flexibility around course choice.
Open Curriculum Programs
World Culture, Liberal Arts, Business, Finance.
$3,744
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
49%
17 Indiana University Bloomington
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Indiana U Bloomington is a four year public school with 32, 991 undergrads. There are 87 fields of study to choose from. Among them are business, public administration, computer and info sciences.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You must satisfy Common Ground gen ed classes.
Open Curriculum Programs
Accounting, Advertising, Music, Web Programming
$13,428
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
78%
18 Lesley University
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Lesley U is a four year private school with 2,108 undergrads. In MA, the school offers 33 fields of study. Some options are liberal arts and sciences, psych, business and design.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You may need to take required foundation credits.
Open Curriculum Programs
Art and Design, English, Math, Counseling.
$32,289
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
60%
Marlboro College in Vermont is a four year private school with 140 undergrads. The school offers 55 programs with options that include visual arts, film and video, political science.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You must show you can write clearly and effectively by the end of the first three semesters.
Open Curriculum Programs
Art History, Languages, Classics, Computer Science.
$17,497
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
64%
20 Evergreen State College
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Evergreen State College is a four year public school with 2, 962 undergrads. In WA, the school offers two main fields of study. Liberal arts and sciences; and biological and physical sciences.
Open Curriculum Requirements
Students could layer interests and their degree.
Open Curriculum Programs
Architecture, Art History, Bio, Leadership Studies.
$12,500
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
68%
Warren Wilson College, in NC, serves 635 undergrads. While a small school , they offer 21 fields of study. Some of these are in natural resources conservation, bio and psych.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You will take a liberal arts core, on campus work and community engagement. There is an option to also pursue a self designed major.
Open Curriculum Programs
Contemporary Writers, Leadership, Environmental Law, Business.
$26,017
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
53%
22 University of Maryland
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U Maryland is a four year public school with a main campus in Baltimore that has 11,156 undergrads. Here you may choose from 62 fields of study. Some are bio, psych, comp sci, and info sciences.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You must complete core credits and UMBC electives, but these may vary between programs.
Open Curriculum Programs
Africana Studies, Modern Languages, Education, English.
$18,706
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
64%
23 University of Michigan
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U Michigan is a four year public school. The Ann Arbor campus has 30,079 undergrads and there are 81 fields of study. Areas include research psych, comp and info science, business admin and economics.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You need to follow some guidelines related to writing, language, major, diversity and residence.
Open Curriculum Programs
Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, General Studies.
$16,010
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
92%
Hanover College is a four year private school with 1,099 undergrads. In IN, the school is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. They offer a liberal arts education and option to design your own major. Among the 34 available fields of study are physical ed, media studies, psych and economics.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You may have to follow some guidelines but programs are interdisciplinary.
Open Curriculum Programs
Art and Design, History, English, Pre Law, Humanities.
$21,121
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
67%
Swarthmore College is a four year private school with 1,544 undergrads. In PA, the school offers 60 fields of study. Some of these are economics, comp sci, bio and math.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You need to fulfill distribution, physical education, and foreign language requirements in order to graduate.
Open Curriculum Programs
Comparative Literature, Global Studies, Engineering, Art History.
$21,067
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
95%
UC San Diego is a four year public school with 30,279 undergrads. In La Jolla, the school offers 65 fields of study. Among them are comp sci, economics, bio and biochemistry.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You must follow some guidelines for core credits and may declare a second major.
Open Curriculum Programs
International Studies, Global Health, Literature, Poli Sci.
$13,318
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
89%
Oberlin College is a four year private school. In OH, it serves 2,785 undergrads and offers 38 fields of study. Among these are music, bio, poli sci and natural resources.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You must follow some guidelines to develop balanced programs.
Open Curriculum Programs
Cinema Studies, Creative Writing, Book Studies, Comparative American Studies.
$35,555
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
87%
St. Olaf College is a four year private school serving 3,022 undergrads. In MN the school offers 33 fields of study. Some are bio, economics, psych and math.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You must take some foundation and core classes.
Open Curriculum Programs
Film Studies, Linguistic Studies, Classics, English.
$23,386
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
88%
29 The University of Minnesota
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U Minnesota is a four year public school. The main campus in MN serves 31,451 undergrads. Of the 148 fields of study are psych, economics, comp sci and bio.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You need to complete liberal education and second language requirements.
Open Curriculum Programs
Liberal Arts, Science, Sociology, Technical Writing.
$17,479
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
78%
UC Berkeley is a four year public school with 30,845 undergrads. There are 75 fields of study to choose from. Among them are economics, cell bio, comp sci, and engineering.
Open Curriculum Requirements
You have to meet some guidelines for core classes and ones for your major.
Open Curriculum Programs
Comparative Literature, Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences.
$14,846
Financial Aid
Yes, if eligible
Grad Rate
93%
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