Core Curriculum—Bachelor’s Degree
The Carroll College Core Curriculum (the Core) is the cornerstone of the Carroll experience. A liberal education integrates the department major, the Core, and a set of elective courses. While the major enables students to gain in-depth knowledge in their chosen field, the Core provides a foundation for liberal learning by introducing students to a broad array of disciplines and enabling them to develop critical intellectual skills. Thus, the Core reflects the academic objectives for all students that are articulated in the Carroll College Goals and the Carroll College Mission Statement: preparing students to understand the diversity of the contemporary world; helping them to acquire aesthetic, scientific, quantitative, ethical, and religious insights; aiding them in developing a full range of communication skills; and helping them to appreciate the interrelationships among branches of knowledge.
I. Foundations: 13 credits to be completed within the first three semesters at Carroll College
LAS 101: waived for first-year students in Fall 2018 and Fall 2019; during the 18-19 and 19-20 academic years, students will be registered for a First Year Cohort (FYC) course in lieu of Alpha Seminar.
Note: Foundations classes may not be used to meet other Core requirements.
II. Areas of Knowledge: 30–31 credits
| Fine Arts (ART, MUS, THT) |
3 credits |
| History |
3 credits |
| Mathematics |
3 credits |
| Literature |
3 credits |
| Natural Sciences (AS, BI, CH, EAS, ES, PHYS) - lab course is required |
3–4 credits |
| Philosophy |
6 credits |
| Social Science (AN, ANZ, EC, GNDR, PO, PSY, SO) |
6 credits |
| Theology - TH 101 may not be used to fulfill this requirement |
3 credits |
III. Writing-Intensive Requirement (WI):
Two (2) courses: the two WI courses must be selected from two different disciplines, one in the major and one outside the major.
IV. Diversity Requirement:
Two (2) courses/experiences (one from A and one from B):
- Global Diversity
- approved study abroad
- 3 credit class (GD) that meets criteria
- approved second language course
- National Diversity
- 3 credit class (ND) that meets criteria
- approved experiential learning opportunity
- approved second language course
Note: Members of the Honor Scholars Program (HSP) have unique course requirements and fulfill 15 of their Carroll College Core Curriculum (Core) credits by participating in HSP seminars. See the
Honors Scholars Program for HSP and more information on specific Core courses for HSP students.