General Core

Students must complete 6 courses (totaling at least 18 credits) in the General Core offered by the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences from the following two categories: 

Arts & Humanities (AH):

Three courses from Art, American Studies, American Sign Language, Chinese, English, French, Film and Screen Studies, History, Italian, Japanese, Literature, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Russian, or Spanish.

The primary aim of these courses is to enrich students' knowledge and understanding of world traditions and cultures and develop an informed understanding of humanistic, literary, and artistic creativity. Students will:

  • become familiar with historical, philosophical, artistic, linguistic, religious, political, or literary traditions and experiences that shape our world
  • read and discuss texts from a diversity of traditions and perspectives
  • study important works of the human imagination
  • explore the interaction of the artist, writer, or thinker and society

Natural Science or Social Sciences (NS or SS):

Three courses from Anthropology, Biology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Chemistry, Criminal Justice, Economics, Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, Forensic Science, Mathematics, Physics, Public Administration, Political Science, Psychology, Science, and Sociology. 

The primary aim of these courses is to examine human, organizational, and scientific experiences. Students will:

  • Analyze human, social, and natural phenomena
  • Understand concepts and issues that affect the human, social, and natural realms.

​Interdisciplinary Programs

Courses from the following interdisciplinary programs have designated their individual courses as either Arts & Humanities, Natural Science, or Social Science: Communication and Media Studies, Digital Media Studies, Global Asia Studies, Interdisciplinary, Latin American Studies, Latino/a Studies, Media and Communication Arts, Peace and Justice Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies. Please refer to the scheduler explorer for specific classifications.

Each course must be taken in a different disciplinary prefix and from outside the student’s major field of study.  However, certain majors prescribe up to three courses from the same or different prefixes within the General Core to be completed for their major. For students without prescribed courses in their major, they may choose to complete a concentrated study by selecting up to 3 courses from the same prefix as part of their General Core.