Academic Advising Center
The Academic Advising Center helps undergraduate students plan their academic programs through a coordinated set of activities and services, including credit evaluations and exceptions to University policies (through College Board).
All matriculated incoming first year students are assigned a professional academic first year adviser by the center who helps them select first semester courses, including a First Year Intensive (FYI) course. After a student has registered for classes, the FYI professor becomes the student’s pre-major adviser. When the student has formally declared a major, typically in the sophomore year, the pre-major adviser is replaced by a faculty adviser in the student’s major department. A student’s academic adviser assignment is viewable within CUWeb.
For more information, undergraduate students are invited to contact the center at Advising@clarku.edu. Graduate student academic advising is controlled within each department and students should consult with their Academic Department for more information.
Accelerated Degree Programs (ADP)
Clark’s Accelerated Degree Program (ADP) is a benefit to students who have academically excelled in their undergraduate career. Intended to propel our students into the next level of their professional or academic career, the ADP program is an academically intensive, rigorous program. The eligible graduate programs span Clark’s research and professional focus. Students can elect to participate in applied professional programs, research programs or cohort-based programs in three of Clark’s graduate schools. Students must meet both the ADP eligibility and the admission qualifications for their specific school and degree program. ADP eligible programs vary in degree requirements, length and program specifications. Students interested in a particular degree program are encouraged to speak with their academic advisor or to contact the relevant academic department as early as possible.
Accelerated Degree Programs are listed in the Programs of Study section under the heading Accelerated Degree within this catalog. Interactive Media, BA/MFA does not offer Tuition Remission/Scholarship. For additional information click on Accelerated Degree Program Policies and Procedures
For further information, visit www.clarku.edu/accelerate or contact the Graduate Admissions Office via email (gradadmissions@clarku.edu) or at (508) 793-7373.
Career Connections Center
Career Connections Center offers undergraduate students a suite of resources to explore, prepare for and develop their post-graduation plans. Career Connection Center advisers, organized by academic disciplines, help students clarify their life after Clark path and develop a general strategy for moving forward. Through the Career Connections Center, starting in the first year, students can learn effective search strategies to find a job or internship, connect with employers and alumni career professionals, work on their resumes, practice interview skills, obtain advice, research careers, and much more. Our offices include:
- Career and Curriculum Development
- ClarkCONNECT
- On-Campus Student Employment
- Project, Internship, and Research Funding
- Employer Engagement
- Career Advising
- Job Shadow Program
Colleges of Worcester Consortium (HECCMA)
Clark is part of The Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts (HECCMA). Clark’s membership in this organization allows you to supplement your program with courses offered at the eleven other schools in the Consortium. All full-time undergraduate day students, except first year students and first semester transfer students, may enroll in one course per semester (fall or spring) at any of the following schools:
Cross-Registration
Cross-registration forms with instructions on registration procedures can be found online. More information, including a course search engine, cross registration policies, and ride sharing opportunities is available on the HECCMA web site.
Internship Database
Internships provide unique opportunities to experience career fields and industries before officially entering the workforce. Use this Consortium-wide database to explore the opportunities that exist in our area and consult with your professors and/or Career Services office to find the right match for you.
Honors Program
Honors Experience Program Admission
Most Honors Experience students will be selected through the regular admission process and begin as first-year students in the fall semester. However, for those who are not initially accepted or who transfer to Clark, an alternative selection process has been established: first year students who are not selected for the regular fall cohort and transfers who want to enter Clark before their sophomore year, can apply to the Honors Experience in the spring, then start honors in their second year. (It is not possible to enter the Honors Experience program after second semester of sophomore year.) These alternative applicants must have successfully completed four units or the equivalent elsewhere, and submit a 250-word essay explaining how they are intellectually curious, love to learn, and will actively contribute. These students will not be required to take an Honors First Year Intensive course, though all other requirements remain the same.
Program Requirements
The Honors Experience comprises four required courses, a senior culminating thesis or project, and three co-curricular activities. The experience is designed to allow for study abroad and can be combined with departmental honors programs and the accelerated master’s degree option.
Course requirements:
Year One - Students in the Honors Experience choose an honors first year intensive (FYI) course, and will take a second honors course, Education, Equity, and Possibility, in the spring semester.
Years Two and Three - During sophomore and junior years, students will take two honors-designated courses of their choosing. Such courses are interdisciplinary and respond to current big topics, and are typically taught by a team of faculty.
Year Four - Students complete an honors colloquium course where they share their departmental honors work or interdisciplinary research. This course also prepares students for their careers, helps them to reflect upon their honors experience, and provides a forum for the continued improvement of the program.
Co-curricular requirements:
Honors students will submit a plan for their co-curricular activities by the end of their first year, and revise that plan in subsequent years. This plan will be developed in conjunction with peer mentors and the Honors Advisor. At minimum, the plan should include three activities that involve leadership development, engaged citizenship, and/or career preparation. They may apply to an Honors Fund to financially support these activities as needed.
Requirements to remain in the Honors Experience
To remain in honors, students must be in good standing and make satisfactory academic progress throughout their program of study, including their Honors academic requirements. If a student doesn’t pass, or withdraws from, a required course, they must consult with the Honors Faculty Director about options for continuance. The Faculty Director may involve the honors adviser and/or, the student’s faculty adviser in this decision. Progress in completing co-curricular activities is also obligatory. A plan must be approved by the end of the first year, and two of the required activities must be completed by the end of junior year. Appeals can be made to the Faculty Director. Academic integrity violations and other disciplinary findings will result in an eligibility review by the Faculty Director in conjunction with other campus advisers
Students who successfully complete the Honors Program will receive recognition on their transcript and diploma.
LEEP Project
LEEP Fellowship Award offers financial assistance, up to $3,000, to students pursuing unpaid, problem-based projects or research during the summer months. This can be with either an external organization or with a Clark faculty or staff member. This summer experience should provide an opportunity to engage with others outside of Clark, offer real-world applications of course material, allow authentic problem-solving experiences, and serve as a capstone, or culminating experience.
LEEP Fellows also enjoy the following benefits:
- LEEP Fellows receive 0.25 units of credit tuition-free during the summer of their project and have the fellowship appear on their Clark academic transcript.
- Award recipients build a supportive, collaborative community of LEEP Fellows during the summer months through the Summer Funding Seminar, which meets virtually several times throughout the summer.
Eligibility
- Current juniors and returning seniors (graduating in December) will be given priority for this program.
- First-years and sophomores may be considered if the project is developmentally appropriate and you can make a compelling case as to how this project relates to your future goals.
For questions, contact the Career Connections Center at opportunityfunding@clarku.edu. Click here to read about the 2020 Fellows and their projects.
Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Advising
Clark University encourages all students to seek out experiential learning opportunities beyond their coursework, including internships and research experiences that will advance their educational and career trajectories. The office advises students through the process of applying for both internal Clark Opportunity Funds and external competitive awards that provide financial support for summer and post-graduation opportunities. These awards can support a variety of experiences, including study abroad, undergraduate and graduate study, federal employment, teaching, research, and public service. Our office assists students with application materials, such as personal statements and research proposals, as well as interview preparation.
Preprofessional Programs
Clark University recognizes that preparation for a professional career is fully compatible with a liberal-arts education. The Prelaw program might interest those looking for a career or background in law. For more information, contact Edward Cohen, University Pre-Law Advisor.
There are many health-related careers and the path to any of these careers can be very different. Clark values the importance of educating future physicians and other members of the health care professions. More detailed information about medical careers and how to pursue them is available by visiting the Prehealth webpage or by contacting Denis Larochelle, Chair, Prehealth Advisory Committee.
Problems of Practice (PoP)Courses
A Problems of Practice (PoP) course provides students with the knowledge and skills that are found in the work world. These courses will often be project-based experiences in which students work as a team for an extended period of time, led by a faculty member. The project will investigate and respond to an engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge. Students in a PoP course will connect with an extended network of collaborators who might include older peers (as Peer Learning Assistants), graduate students, and experts from beyond the campus. The PoP experience necessitates reflection on self, the field, and the development of one’s identity within it. By modeling independent and collaborative work, PoP courses will prepare students to flourish in their culminating capstone and their career after graduation from Clark.
Study Abroad Office
The Study Abroad Office connects students with opportunities that align their academic and co-curricular interests with credit bearing experiences beyond the Worcester campus in the semester and summer. The staff works with students to identify, apply for, and participate in one of our 50+ programs approved around the globe.
It is important to begin learning about the study abroad process during the students first year at Clark, as early planning and research is key to maximizing the experience. Students studying abroad or away MUST fill out an “Interest Form to Study Abroad” form at least one year in advance, attend a Study Abroad 101 session and have declared a major in order to be eligible.
Requirements for application include that students be in good academic and social standing prior to departure, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (some programs require a higher GPA), and have been in residence at Clark for at least one year prior to studying abroad. Before students meet with a Study Abroad adviser they should have attended a Study Abroad 101.
Students are required to fill out two applications: one to their chosen program for acceptance and one to Clark study abroad for approval. All applications must be submitted by the Clark deadlines.
The Henry J. and Erna D. Leir Program at Clark University
Through funding provided by the Henry J. and Erna D. Leir Foundation, Clark University will host a European-based program which will be held in May or June. Recent changes at the Foundation have allowed Clark University to expand the geographic location of the program formally known as the Leir Luxembourg program to include study and research opportunities in other European countries. For further information, please contact the Luxembourg Office at Leir@clarku.edu or (508) 793-7634.
3/2 Engineering Program
Currently Clark offers the 3/2 engineering program with Columbia University. The program consists of three years of studies at Clark followed by two years at Columbia University. The program leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark and a Bachelor of Science in engineering degree from Columbia University. For more information, contact the program director Professor Charles Agosta in the Physics Department.
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