AP College of the Atlantic are about to change. S Your views on the world ... 4 " How do we help most? How do we best serve this broken world?... The holistic leap we need is within our grasp. And know that there is no better preparation for that grand project than your deeply interdisciplinary education in human ecology. You were made for this moment. -Naomi Klein, author and environmental activist, in her commencement address to the COA class of 2015 " M WELCOME TO COLLEGE WE'RE UNLIKE ANY COL EGE ATLANTIC We're a college built around a unique idea: human ecology. A human ecological perspective explores the relationships between humans and our environments, and stems from the premise that our world's most pressing problems require solutions that cross the boundaries of academic disciplines and seek fresh combinations of ideas. Students come to COA because they want to be part of creating a more sustainable and humane world. Here, you will be inspired and challenged by a close-knit community of faculty and peers. You will dig into complex questions in the classroom and the laboratory, and also the woods and waters of Acadia National Park, the conference halls of United Nations climate negotiations, the Gulf of Maine, or the corn fields of rural Mexico. We're so glad you've found us. U'VE EVER KNOWN WATER 15 LIFEA ON GRO FAI 1 THE WORLD ISN'T DIVID E D B Y M A R S Climate change. Poverty. Plastic pollution. Racial equity. The complex problems facing our world aren't biology problems or economics problems; they're messy and interconnected, and demanding of new ideas and solutions. That's why at COA you won't find academic departments, long lists of required courses, or majors and minors. What you will find are relevant, fascinating classes that will change your perspective on the world, professors who are passionate about teaching and diving into big questions, and students who support and challenge each other to take risks and to continuously grow, both intellectually and as human beings. We're a school for people who don't want to be boxed in, who are excited by the connections between subjects, and who want to make a difference. A COLLEGE FOR What does it mean to design your own course of study? Each term you'll choose your courses based on the subjects that intrigue you and the skills you need to achieve your goals. If you've already got a solid plan, you can hit the ground running in your very first term; or if you want to explore multiple subjects and interests, you'll have ample opportunity to cast a wide net. Your academic advisor will help you navigate your unique path, and our degree requirements (including writing, quantitative reasoning, an internship, and a capstone senior project) provide the scaffolding to ensure you'll develop the right skills to launch you into the world of work or advanced study. With so few required courses and so many possibilities to choose from, you'll find that your curiosity, passion, and sense of wonder will be guiding forces in your COA education. Start digging in at coa.edu/courses. C R OU S COA has 350 students and 35 faculty, and we come from more than 40 U.S. states and 45 countries around the world. We've chosen the college's size intentionally, to break down stereotypes and social barriers, and so our students and faculty will know each other as individuals and work closely and collaboratively both inside and outside of the classroom. By the end of your first term you'll recognize most everyone on campus, and you'll be on a first-name basis with peers and professors alike. With an average class size of 12 and a student-to- faculty ratio of 10:1, you won't be just another face in the crowd. SOMETIMES THE BEST AREN'T CLA SS CLASSROOMS At COA you'll spend a considerable amount of time learning in the field. Sometimes this means wading waist- deep into a quaking bog on a quest for glacial mud, others talking with lobstermen at a statewide fisheries forum. You might go to meet a legendary artist in her studio, pound the pavement on Capitol Hill, or spend a full term in the American West or in Mexico, Taiwan, France, or Cuba. Learning in the field will keep your education relevant and real. It will stretch your knowledge and skills, and push you to understand new perspectives. Sure, you'll also spend plenty of time in classrooms, but we're serious about wanting a big part of your COA education to take place outside them. ROOM S AT ALL SO MANY COURSES COSTA RICAN NATURAL HISTORY & CONSERVATION GEOLOGY OF MOUNT DESERT ISLAND ACTIVATING SPACES: INSTALLATION ART AUTOBIOGRAPHY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN WASTE CHILD DEVELOPMENT AGROECOLOGY GEOLOGY AND HUMANITY MUSIC FUNDAMENTALS INTRO TO CHAOS & FRACTALS ANIMAL BEHAVIOR ORNITHOLOGY CHANGING SCHOOLS, CHANGING SOCIETY A TINY HOME: FROM SKETCH TO HOUSEWARMING STUDIO PRINTMAKING ANTHROPOLOGY OF FOOD GENETICS ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY CREATIVE WRITING DOCUMENTARY VIDEO PHILOSOPHIES OF LOVE DRAWING 1 BEES & SOCIETY FROM NATIVE EMPIRES TO NATION STATES DRAWING MINERAL & BOTANICAL MATTER IN THE FORESTS OF MAINE CALLING BULLSHIT: CRITICAL DATA LITERACY OCEANS & FISHES POLITICS & THE SUPREME COURT IMPROV COMEDY INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ORGANIC CHEMISTRY NAPOLEON'S BUTTONS: HOW CHEMISTRY HAS SHAPED HISTORY SO MANY WAYS TO