There are no academic departments at College of the Atlantic. Avoiding the intellectual boundaries that result from the segregation of academic departments was a conscious choice of the faculty when the college was founded. As the college has grown, the faculty remains non-departmental to allow for interdisciplinary teaching and research and to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue.

For organizational purposes, however, COA loosely divides its curriculum into three resource areas:
» Arts and Design
» Environmental Sciences
» Human Studies

At College of the Atlantic, students have the freedom to design a program of study that will allow them to explore their interests, pursue their passions and discover new ones, and attain their overall academic and career goals. We loosely organize the curriculum into three resource areas: arts and design, environmental sciences, and human studies. Students may further specialize by selecting courses and projects from the following focus areas:
» Arts & Design
» Field Ecology and Conservation Biology
» Educational Studies
» Ecological Policy and Planning
» International Studies
» Literature and Writing
» Marine Studies
» Sustainable Business
» Sustainable Food Systems