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PEAK is our name for the highly distinctive undergraduate curriculum at The College of Idaho that helps you graduate with an academic major and three minors in four years.

PEAK challenges you to achieve literacy in each of four academic areas, or "Peaks" — the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and professional foundations and enhancements. On top of your major and three minors, you may complete two specializations in addition to your degree requirements. Click here to view a list of specializations.

PEAK sets us apart

While we’re not the only college offering a broad liberal arts education, our PEAK program is uniquely structured to accomplish two sometimes-competing goals:

  • Expanding your horizons through diverse studies, and
  • Offering a practical education that prepares you to compete and lead in the real world.

What does PEAK stand for?

PEAK is an acronym that stands for professional, ethical, articulate, and knowledgeable — the qualities we seek to instill in students by creating a focused program of study in four broad academic areas.

What's different about PEAK?

PEAK combines a liberal arts education with a specialization in multiple fields. We believe students who concentrate studies in one area alone limit their adaptability beyond graduation. College students today need to explore, discover, and develop many areas of interest. PEAK expands academic opportunities for students and frees them from the curricular restrictions common at other colleges and universities.

How does PEAK work?

PEAK eliminates the "cafeteria" approach to a core curriculum in which students simply check off requirements. PEAK empowers you to make your own choices about which courses to take, but within a structure that encourages literacy in multiple fields. Students work closely with their advisors to declare an area of interest and then design a program of study that builds a specialized knowledge base in each of the four academic peaks.

Why is PEAK better?

PEAK allows you to design your own curriculum within a structure that gives both breadth and depth to your education. When you graduate with a major and three minors in four years, you'll have the knowledge and adaptability to compete in a constantly changing world.

We believe a liberal arts education is the best preparation for life. We also know our students must be prepared for any endeavor when they finish college, whether it's graduate school or immediate employment in the workforce. The PEAK curriculum at The College of Idaho prepares students regardless of the path they choose.