Core Curriculum

  • M. David Eckel Assistant Dean and Director
  • Cirulli, Corsentino, Coverdill, Formichelli, Green, Hudon, Kalt, Lockwood, Sullivan, Tabatabai, Wood Lecturers

The Core Curriculum is an innovative program of eight historically based, integrated courses providing an in-depth study of classic works (Western and non-Western) in the humanities, important ideas in the natural sciences, and the contemporary concerns and theoretical bases of the social sciences. Core courses emphasize careful, analytic reading of great works in small faculty-led seminars, an understanding of the most important scientific ideas of our times, the development of critical and logical thinking, and clarity and precision in written and oral expression. The curriculum is organized around the historical developments and cultural traditions that have led to the contemporary world and to our current understanding of the physical universe. Core students pursue a coherent interdisciplinary approach to great works of literature; art and music; and social, religious, scientific, and philosophical thought—works with the power to transcend their own time and to teach things essential and beautiful to any interested human being of our time.

Each Core course consists of small seminar groups combined with a series of lectures. Science Core courses include both discussions and laboratories.

Note: Students who complete the entire Natural Sciences sequence of the Core Curriculum (CC 105/106) satisfy the College of Arts & Sciences laboratory requirement for general education in the natural sciences. Students who complete only CC 105 (or CC 106) may not use this course to satisfy the laboratory requirement.

Schedule of Core Courses

Freshman Year

Semester I
  • CAS CC 101 Core Humanities I: The Ancient World
  • CAS CC 105 Core Natural Sciences I: The Evolution of the Universe and the Earth (satisfies College laboratory requirement only if completed in addition to CAS CC 106)
Semester II
  • CAS CC 102 Core Humanities II: Antiquity and the Medieval World
  • CAS CC 106 Core Natural Sciences II: Biodiversity and the Evolution of Life (satisfies College laboratory requirement only if completed in addition to CAS CC 105)

Sophomore Year

Semester I
  • CAS CC 201 Core Humanities III: The Renaissance
  • CAS CC 203 Core Social Sciences I: Foundations of the Social Sciences
Semester II
  • CAS CC 202 Core Humanities IV: From the Enlightenment to Modernity
  • CAS CC 204 Core Social Sciences II: The Individual and Modernity

Core Curriculum Courses

  • CAS CC 101 Core Humanities I: The Ancient World
  • CAS CC 102 Core Humanities II: Antiquity and the Medieval World
  • CAS CC 105 Core Natural Science I: The Evolution of the Universe and the Earth
  • CAS CC 106 Core Natural Science II: Biodiversity and the Evolution of Life
  • CAS CC 201 Core Humanities III: The Renaissance
  • CAS CC 202 Core Humanities IV: From the Enlightenment to Modernity
  • CAS CC 203 Core Social Science I: Foundations of the Social Sciences
  • CAS CC 204 Core Social Science II: Inequality