Experiential Learning
At Carthage, we believe that doing is the best way to learn. And we believe that trying something new is the best way to uncover a new passion. Carthage offers countless opportunities to further your education with unforgettable experiences in and out of the classroom.
Beyond the Syllabus
NASA Research
12+ years conducting research for NASA.
Students led by physics professor Kevin Crosby regularly fly aboard NASA’s zero-gravity aircraft, perfecting a technology developed at Carthage that the space agency has named a top technology for the future. Graduates of the Space Sciences Program have gone on to, ahem, stellar careers in aerospace technology.
J-Term
J-Term sends students around the world.
J-Term is famous at Carthage. It’s one calendar page devoted entirely to whatever you’re wild about. Travel. Volunteer. Perform. Inspire. There are more than 60 courses you can take on campus or go on a study tour led by a faculty member to such destinations as Cuba, China, Ireland, Nicaragua, or the Caribbean.
Study Abroad
No. 6 in the country.
Carthage has been ranked No. 6 in the country for student participation in short-term study abroad. That’s mostly thanks to our J-Term, when professors lead month-long study tours in 15-25 different countries. But many students choose to study abroad for an entire semester or year. To truly become a global citizen, reading and talking about the world is not enough. You need to experience living, learning, and working in other countries.
Undergraduate Research Positions
Summer research opportunities.
You, your professor, and 10 weeks of one-on-one mentoring. That’s what makes up the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, or SURE. SURE pairs selected students with faculty members for paid summer research positions, including a research budget to help you get the job done right. It’s just one example of how Carthage emphasizes original research at the undergraduate level.
Internships
Build your skills — and your resume.
Internships are key to bridging the gap between “college kid” and full-time employed adult. The Aspire Center can help you find the perfect internship to jumpstart your career. Maybe you want to find an internship at nearby companies like SC Johnson, Jockey, or Abbott Laboratories. Maybe you want to seek out opportunities in the major metropolitan cities of Chicago and Milwaukee.
In the Classroom
Honors Program
The Carthage Honors Program is rigorous and demanding, but incredibly rewarding for the College’s highest academic achievers. Students who join the program take specially designed courses during their first six semesters, participate in active Student Learning Communities, and complete an Honors Portfolio their senior year. Students who complete the program will be recognized as Carthage Honors Scholars.
Intellectual Foundations
Students must complete one seminar course called Intellectual Foundations, typically taken during the fall and spring semesters of freshman year. Intellectual Foundations will expose you to literature from the greatest thinkers, authors, artists, and leaders of all time — not so you can “ooh” and “ahh” at their genius, but so you can build upon it. You will imagine what could be possible, learn to think independently, and discover what you’re capable of achieving through intense discussions and complex writing assignments.
Writing Across the Curriculum
Writing well is a powerful life skill, and Carthage is committed to teaching you to write well — no matter what your discipline. Carthage’s intensive Writing Across the Curriculum program requires all students to take four courses that are designated Writing Intensive (“WI” in the catalog). The first of these courses is Intellectual Foundations. Of the remaining three courses, one must be in your academic major; the other two can be any WI course in the curriculum. If you are completing more than one major, you need only one WI in one of the majors that you are completing.