The University
Core Curriculum in Liberal Arts
As a means to achieve the goals stated previously and other goals significant
to the University's mission, the Core has a distributive structure as
well as distinctive emphases. The Core thus allows selectivity while
also stipulating certain academic experiences which are important for
all students.
In the Core, all students must take:
- A first-year seminar, which is an academic experience in common
with other students that provides an interdisplinary introduction
to academic inquiry.
- Two courses in first-year composition that develop written expression.
- A writing-intensive course that extends the significance of excellent
expression beyond first-year composition.
- A course in speech communication that develops oral expression.
- A year of foreign language that provides the basic tools for understanding
another culture and its literature.
- A literature course that develops the abilities to read critically,
write clearly, and appreciate the working of the human imagination.
- A history course that deepens the awareness and appreciation of
other civilizations or the historical roots of a student's own society.
- A mathematics course that develops logical thinking, problem-solving
skills, and an alternative way of viewing the world.
- A laboratory science course that acquaints a student wiht the scientific
method and with a variety of laboratory techniques.
- A course that focuses on issues of diversity, which might include
gender and race.
- Two international course that expand a student's horizons.
- Three courses in philosophy: one that introduces the central problems
and methods of philosophy; and two additional courses, forming a logical
sequence.
- Two courses in religious studies: one examines the nature of religion
and religious language, faith as it relates to reason and experience,
the study of sacred scriptures, and the development of religious traditions;
and one additional course.
The distributive requirements are designed to combine with the specific
requirements to provide an equilibrium among disciplines as well as
to create a coherence that will enable students to integrate their Core
epxerience successfully. Please refer to the schematic presentation
of the Core below.
UNIVERSITY CORE
| DIVISION I
Basic Core
17 credits*
First Year Seminar (3 cr.)
English Composition (6 cr.)
Speech Communication (2 cr.)
Foreign Language (6 cr.) |
DIVISION II
Basic Core
9 credits**
Art History
Communications
Classical & Modern Languages Cultures
English
History |
|
DIVISION III
Social Sciences
6 credits***
Economics
Political Science
Sociology
|
DIVISION IV
Science and Mathematics
10 credits****
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Mathematics
Physics
Psychology
|
DIVISION V
Philosophy and Religious Studies
15 credits
Philosophy (9 cr.)
Religious (6 cr.)
|
|
Additional Requirements:
- one writing-intensive course beyond English Composition
- two international courses (one of which must study one or
more societies of Asia, Africa or Latin America)
- one course which focuses on issues of diversity
* English placement is determined on the basis
of individual needs indicated by test scores submitted at the time of
admission, and writing samples. The Speech Communication requirement
is normally satisfied by completion of CO
100. A competence examination is available through the Department
of Communication and Theatre Arts for those who have completed at least
one year of high school speech. The Foreign Language requirement
is satisfied by two courses in the same language at the level of placement.
** Three courses: one literature course, one course
in either History (HS) or Art
History (AH), and one additional
course.
*** Two courses from two disciplines.
**** Three courses: 10 credits minimum: one in Mathematics
(MT); one, with laboratory, in
Biology (BL), Chemistry (CH),
or Physics (PH); and one additional
course.
