I. Foundations

The faculty expects that students will attain a high level of engagement early in their studies and will develop as creative and critical thinkers, writers and speakers. To achieve these aims, the College requires students to complete the Writing and Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning programs.

The Writing Program: Students must pass at least three writing-intensive courses.

The Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning Program: Every student must pass at least one designated quantitative and symbolic reasoning course. This requirement should be completed by the end of the second year.

In addition, the College encourages students to participate in the First-Year Course and Proseminar programs.

The Social, Structural, and Institutional Hierarchies Requirement: Beginning with the Class of 2020 every student must complete a concentration requirement that will focus on an understanding of structural and institutional hierarchies based on one or more of the social categories of race, class, gender, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexuality, age, and abilities/disabilities.

The First-Year Course Program: First-year courses are a special set of small courses or sections of courses open only to first-year students. These courses are designed to address students’ academic transition to college and to provide an introduction to a liberal arts education. They also offer an opportunity for close interaction and the development of strong relationships among first-year students and instructors. Each first-year course will be a Writing Intensive (WI), Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning (QSR) or Speaking Intensive (SI) course.

The Proseminar Program: Proseminars emphasize active participation and engagement in learning. Proseminars offer intensive interaction among students, and between students and instructors, through emphasis on writing, speaking and discussion, and other approaches to inquiry and expression that demand such intensive interaction. Descriptions of Proseminars are available in the Catalogue.