Key takeaways
Bowdoin College emphasizes a liberal arts education that prepares students for meaningful lives, not just careers. The academic structure allows for flexibility in course selection, enabling students to explore various disciplines while fulfilling major and minor requirements.
- Each major at Bowdoin typically requires 9 to 12 full-credit courses, with a minimum grade of C- in all major courses (Bowdoin College).
- Students can declare a minor consisting of five full-credit courses, with no more than two overlapping with their major.
- First-year students must complete a writing-intensive seminar, which is crucial for developing analytical writing skills (Bowdoin College).
- Coordinate majors are designed for interdisciplinary study and must be paired with a traditional major, allowing students to connect diverse fields of inquiry.
Contents
Bowdoin College is known for its small class sizes, intellectual rigor, and a core philosophy that liberal arts education should prepare students not just for careers, but for lives of purpose. Whether you’re pursuing a minor or coordinate major, Bowdoin’s academic model is built around depth and support.
What Are the Major Requirements at Bowdoin College?
“All in all, the major requires 10 classes, plus intro to CS. This means that out of the ~32 classes you’ll take at Bowdoin, only a third will have to be CS classes. You’re able to take more, of course, but it allows students to branch out or easily double major”
Each major typically includes 9 to 12 full-credit courses, depending on the department. Students must also complete a first-year writing seminar, fulfill distribution requirements across five divisions, and take at least one course in each of the college’s Modes of Inquiry categories.
Here’s a general breakdown of how major requirements are structured at Bowdoin:
| Requirement Type | Details |
| Major Coursework | 9-12 courses in the major, often including an intro course, methods class, and capstone or seminar |
| Grade Requirement | Minimum grade of C- in all major courses (some departments require C or higher) |
| Capstone/Senior Seminar | Required in most majors, typically in the final year |
| Honors Thesis (Optional) | Available to eligible students with faculty approval |
| Double Majors / Minors | Allowed; overlap between major/minor limited to 2 courses |
Understanding the Minor Options Available at Bowdoin
Each minor typically requires five full-credit courses in the chosen department or program. These courses must be distinct from the student’s major—only two overlapping courses are allowed between a major and a minor, and some departments are even stricter.
Here’s what the structure generally looks like:
| Requirement | Standard Policy at Bowdoin |
| Total Courses | 5 full-credit courses |
| Grade Requirement | Minimum of C- in all courses (some departments may require C or higher) |
| Overlap with Major | No more than 2 courses can count toward both major and minor |
| Approval or Declaration | Declared via the student portal; some minors may require faculty approval |
| Capstone or Thesis | Not required |
Offered Minors and Areas of Study
Before diving in, here’s a brief overview of some minors available at Bowdoin:
| Division | Example Minors |
| Humanities | English, Philosophy, Art History |
| Social Sciences | Government, Sociology, Economics |
| Natural Sciences | Chemistry, Physics, Earth and Oceanographic Science |
| Interdisciplinary | Africana Studies, Environmental Studies, Digital & Computational Studies |
How to Declare a Minor?
Here’s how to do it step by step:
- Start by checking Bowdoin’s online course catalog or the department’s website. Each minor has a different structure—some are flexible, others require a specific sequence.
- Talk to a faculty member. Not all minors require an advisor, but it’s smart to meet with someone in the department, especially if you have AP credit, study abroad plans, or want to use cross-listed courses.
- Log into Polaris.
- You’ll need to include the five courses that make up your minor—even if you haven’t taken all of them yet. Make sure that at least three of them don’t overlap with your major.
- Watch out for course availability.
- Get pre-approval for off-campus credit.
- Track your progress.
- You can change your minor at any time before graduation. Just submit a new declaration through Polaris—no penalty, no paperwork.
Declaring a minor isn’t just about checking a box—it’s about adding a second narrative to your academic story. Done right, it can show law schools, grad programs, or future employers that you’ve explored more than one perspective—and committed to it.
What Additional Information Should I Know About Bowdoin’s Curriculum?
Every first-year student is required to take a writing-intensive course in their first semester. These seminars cover everything from climate justice to moral philosophy, but all focus on close reading, analytical writing, and discussion. You can choose a topic that genuinely interests you—what matters is the writing.
To ensure students explore a variety of disciplines, Bowdoin requires at least one course in each of the following areas:
- Mathematical, Computational, or Statistical Reasoning (MCSR)
- Inquiry in the Natural Sciences (INS)
- Exploring Social Differences (ESD)
- International Perspectives (IP)
- Visual and Performing Arts (VPA)
- Humanities (H)
These courses can overlap with your major or minor, but they must be fulfilled with distinct credits. Many students meet these requirements organically while exploring interests or fulfilling major prerequisites.
You need to complete a course in each Mode of Inquiry. Modes of Inquiry are designed to teach students how to ask questions from different disciplinary perspectives. Every course at Bowdoin is tagged with one or more of these modes, and students must complete at least one in each.
Many students take advantage of Bowdoin’s flexible structure to work on honors projects, joint majors, or independent research—often with faculty mentorship. Programs like Environmental Studies are interdisciplinary by design, pulling from multiple departments.
Study abroad is common, and most programs allow students to apply credit toward major, minor, or distribution requirements—as long as the courses are pre-approved. The Off-Campus Study Office helps students plan without delaying graduation.
How Does the Coordinate Major Work at Bowdoin?
“I work in statistics so practically everything we do is interdisciplinary. In fact, all PhD students are required to work on a consulting job with another department. I’ve worked on sociology projects, finance projects, biology/biostatistics etc. I would say at least half of the statistics professors are either jointly appointed to another department or adjunct with another department”
A coordinate major is a unique academic structure that must be paired with a second, stand-alone major. You can’t pursue a coordinate major by itself—it’s designed to be interdisciplinary and rooted in another primary field of study. Currently, Bowdoin offers coordinate majors in the following areas:
- Education
- Environmental Studies
- Digital and Computational Studies
Each of these fields pulls coursework from other departments, requiring students to anchor their studies in a traditional discipline like Biology, History, Computer Science, or Government. For example, a student might major in Biology and add a coordinate major in Environmental Studies, combining lab science with policy and ethics.
Here’s what you need to know before declaring a coordinate major:
- You must complete another full major.
- Each program has its own course structure.
- Approval and advising are more structured.
- Course planning matters.
- Studying abroad may be possible—but check early.
Bowdoin’s coordinate majors are ideal for students who want to cross boundaries without sacrificing depth. They’re not just combinations—they’re designed programs that connect real questions across disciplines, from climate change to educational access to digital ethics.
What Resources Are Available for Academic Support at Bowdoin?
Bowdoin backs its academic model with strong student support. Resources include:
- The Baldwin Center for Learning and Teaching: tutoring, writing support, study strategies
- Faculty Office Hours: widely used and encouraged
- Library Subject Liaisons: librarians dedicated to each major for research support
- STEM Support Programs: peer-led workshops in physics, chemistry, and math
- Accessibility Services: learning accommodations and advocacy
Most students meet with academic advisors at least once per semester to stay on track. Polaris also lets you map your academic journey from day one.
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Top Tips from Our Expert
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Ana Lucía Torres, Senior Learning Advisor
Sources: Bowdoin College, Reddit
