Champlain emphasizes practical, hands-on learning early and often. Our Upside-Down Curriculum gets you into major-specific classes early in your college career allowing you to practice your skills often through multiple internships and cooperative experiences.
Unlike traditional models that start with general education requirements and gradually introduce major-specific courses, we’ve turned it all around. At Champlain, you’ll have the opportunity to take as many as six classes in your major during your first year meaning you can intern as early as the first summer after you begin college. That’s two years earlier than you would at most other colleges! Why do we do this? Because it works.
If computer science is your thing, you’ll start coding and building software in your first year as a Computer Science & Innovation major. Or, if you are, say, studying Business Administration, you’ll take courses like business law, marketing, accounting, and entrepreneurship in your first semester. In your second semester, you’ll take courses in management, economics, and international business—and complete a business internship over the summer.
Regardless of what you choose to study, every major at Champlain College gets flipped Upside-Down. See for yourself as you browse our majors. You’ll notice the career-specific courses you’ll start in your first semester, and then how you will take increasingly more specialized courses as you get into the upper years—some of which you would only normally encounter in graduate-level programs.
Imagine having the skills, knowledge, and credentials to land paid internships that most other students wouldn’t qualify for until after their junior year. By the end of your first year at Champlain, you’ll be ready to take on a professional internship experience.
Many Champlain students complete multiple internships, and some have even finished as many as eight to ten before graduation. This means you’ll be actively building your résumé with real-world experience while gaining a deeper understanding of your chosen field.
Think of this as our version of love it or leave it. Don’t get us wrong—we hope you’ll love your major! But by going all-in from the start, you’ll know sooner that you definitely do. Undecided? You’ll have the opportunity to explore a variety of fields and interests before you commit to a major. The Upside-Down Curriculum allows you freedom and flexibility in your first two years, giving you the chance to find your passion and choose the right path for you.
Percent of students over the last six years who completed at least 1 internship during their time at Champlain College.
One third of students who study abroad also intern abroad, meaning more than 100 students completed an international internship in 2019.
Since 2013, the Freeman Foundation Grant has financially supported approximately 150 Champlain students interning in Asia.
Drive change at the intersection of information and impact.
Solve everyday problems to build a better future.
Bring ideas to life in unexpected ways.
The born educator, the team player, the change maker, the advocate.
Turn concepts into digital reality.
Learn what you love, and love what you learn.
Uphold a system of justice through meaningful public service.
Champlain emphasizes practical, hands-on learning early and often. Our Upside-Down Curriculum gets you into major-specific classes early in your college career allowing you to practice your skills often through multiple internships and cooperative experiences.
At Champlain, we embrace an unconventional academic model because we know that our job is to give students the skills needed for a career AND for life-long growth.
Success is about more than landing a great job. It's also about living your best life! Get ready to cultivate the skills and knowledge you need to grow and thrive for a lifetime.
We have a different approach to education—one that gets you ready for work by letting you get to work on real projects. Introducing the Studio Experience.
Taking classes in your major is one thing—doing it in the real world is another. Champlain’s Centers of Experience bridge that gap by inviting students to work on real projects, challenges, and research in agency-like settings.
Gain real-world experience, develop your professional skills, and build strong industry connections through field placements beginning in your very first year.