Experimental College

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What is the Experimental College?

The ExCollege is a department at Tufts University that offers innovative undergraduate elective courses. We hire Visiting Lecturers with a range of perspectives and professional experience to teach interdisciplinary and interactive courses.
Learn about ExCollege
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Undergraduate Students Get Involved

At the ExCollege, students can design and teach courses, serve on our governing board, evaluate course proposals, interview prospective visiting lecturers, select courses to be offered, and more. Learn how to get involved!
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Experimental College Announcements

Check out our Fall 2026 Explorations course offerings!

Check out our Fall 2026 Visiting Lecturer course offerings!

ExCollege Happenings

A smiling young man in a blue plaid blazer, light blue button-down shirt, and khakis sits on a park bench, with a stone footbridge and trees softly blurred behind him

Instructor Spotlight: Nate Hall, A25

Nate Hall (A25) is a Tufts alumnus, former ExCollege peer teacher, and freelance crossword constructor. His crossword has been published in The New York Times
A smiling young man in a brown button-up shirt holds a violin and bow against a bright red background

Instructor Spotlight: Matthew Seliger

Matthew Seliger, a senior majoring in Biopsychology and Music, Sound, and Culture, teaches an Explorations course on “close listening,” helping students, including non-musicians, identify musical techniques used by composers and performers
A smiling man wearing a backwards white cap and a gray hoodie takes a selfie in a barn stall beside a black-and-white pig resting on a bed of straw

Instructor Spotlight: Stephen Strout

Stephen Strout is an animal activist with experience in animal rescue and sanctuary work. He is a graduate student at Tufts studying education, with a focus on animal public policy and humane education
A young woman with long brown hair and a plaid blazer rests their chin on their hand and smiles at the camera while leaning on a green felt poker table beside stacks of red and teal chips

Instructor Spotlight: Madison Verner

Madison Verner is a senior majoring in Pure Mathematics, Political Science, and Psychology. Her course aims to answer the question: “How can probability help you find the optimal strategy to win at your favorite game?”
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Instructor Spotlight: Nathaniel Smith

Nathaniel Smith is a junior majoring in History, Music, Sound & Culture. His course explores the history, politics, and linguistics of the fictional world of The Lord of the Rings, as well as the real world of its author: J.R.R. Tolkien
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