Yes, Carleton does offer a 3-3 law program in conjunction with Columbia University. Students complete three years at Carleton and then can go on to three years of law school at Columbia. After 6 years, the student will have a BA from Carleton and a JD from Columbia -- provided that they have completed all graduation requirements from both institutions. Admission to this combined plan is limited to 2 students per year and the students must apply early in their junior year at Carleton if they would like to be considered.

While law is a popular field for many of our graduates, not many Carleton students choose to take advantage of this partnership with Columbia. Carleton students typically enjoy spending four years on undergraduate course work, which will make them more well rounded individuals and competitive law school applicant. Harvard, Yale, Northwestern, and New York University have all sent recruiters to our campus and are among the top 25 law schools that Carleton graduates have attended in the last 3 decades.

As you can see, the combined program is just one of the ways Carleton graduates choose to pursue a law degree at a top university. Whatever path you choose, our pre-law advisor will see you through the LSAT, the application process, and beyond.

Because we are a liberal arts school, rather than a pre-profesisonal school, we do not have courses specifically geared toward any one profession (veterinary or otherwise). Our hope is to provide students with a broad and meaningful education that serves them in whatever field they pursue beyond college.

This does not mean, however, that Carleton students do not go on to become veterinarians. Carleton has a strong science program and science majors end up with a solid foundation that makes them competitive applicants to graduate school in a variety of fields, including veterinary studies.

In addition to required courses, students also often use electives within a major to tailor their learning to current interests and future goals. So, for example, a biology major interested in vet school might include classes such as "Animal Behavior," "Environmental Animal Physiology," and "Animal Developmental Biology" in his/her course of study.

Simply put, a major is student's area of expertise (English, Biology, Economics, etc.) and is required. A concentration is more like a minor with a liberal arts spirit and is not required.

Like a minor, a concentration requires a smaller course load. Unlike a minor, it is designed to bring multiple disciplines together.

So, for example, a chemistry major with a biology minor will take mainly biology courses to fulfill her minor requirements. Meanwhile, a chemistry major with an environmental studies concentration might take a biology course on "Population Ecology," a geology course on "Geochemistry of Natural Waters," a religion course on "Buddhism and Ecology," and a history course on "Farm and Forest: African Environmental History" to fulfill his requirements.