During your four years at William & Mary, you’ll be required to take a variety of COLL classes. COLL classes are included in the curriculum to explore new concepts/ideas and also deepen your knowledge on topics specific to your major! Each COLL corresponds to a different academic discipline and mode of teaching.
COLL 100 and COL 150– The first set of COLL classes taken by first year students are intended for students to branch out and explore new broad topics they’re interested in learning about. COL 100 classes are focused around creative presentation of big ideas. COL 100 usually consists of projects that go beyond writing essays. COL 150 classes are focused around readings and expanding writing skills on more narrow topics.
EX. COLL 100 from Fall 2024 – Big Ideas in Applied Science: Renaissance in 3D
COLL 150 from Fall 2024 – Philosophy of Technology
COLL 200 – Taken in your second year, COL 200 are a bit different from other COLLs since you are required to take a COLL class in each of the three knowledge domains: Arts, Letter, and Values (ALV), Natural World and Quantitative Reasoning (NQR), and Culture, Society, and the Individual (CSI).
Ex. COLL 200 ALV from Fall 2024: History of Jazz
COLL 200 CSI from Fall 2024: German Fairy Tales
COLL NQR from Fall 2024: Intro to Integrative Conservation
COLL 300 – COLL 300 classes are taken in your third or fourth year. COLL 300 is designed to broaden your knowledge about the world outside of your direct experience and can be taken on campus, domestically, or internationally through study abroad.
Ex. COLL 300 from Fall 2024: Indian Ocean Soundings
COLL 350 – COLL 350 classes are taken in your third or fourth year. They explore themes of culture and social identity and are centered around meaningful discussions and critical analysis.
Ex. COLL 350 from Fall 2024: Black Playwrights, Then & Now
COLL 400 – COL 400 classes are taken in your final year. This capstone class helps collect your knowledge from other COLL classes and apply them to your major. COLL 400 classes can be completed through independent research, upper-level seminars, and honors projects usually within your declared major.
Ex. COLL 400 from Fall 2024: Advanced Seminar in Biology: Bird Song