The General Curriculum Requirements (GCRs) were established by the CCAS faculty to ensure that students are familiar with the breadth and diversity of the arts and sciences. Students typically complete the GCRs by taking appropriate classes during the regular school year.

Seven categories compose the GCR:

A course can count toward both a GCR and a major or minor, but one course cannot be counted toward more than one GCR. However, students may count WID classes toward the literacy requirement in addition to the GCR for which the subject matter of the course otherwise qualifies.

Courses identified by number in the list below are those generally taken by students to satisfy the GCRs. Students wanting to take upper-level courses for the GCRs should be certain that they have taken the pre-requisite courses.

Click for a complete, printable list of courses that complete the GCRs.

GCR 1: Literacy

The Literacy GCR encourages students to develop their ability to write effectively and to read analytically for the academic world and beyond.

Students must complete the University Writing Program requirements:

• Students take University Writing 20 (UW20, 4 hours) in their freshman year.
• The Literacy GCR also requires two courses (6 hours) designated as Writing in the Discipline (WID). WID courses are taken after UW 20 is completed, preferably in the sophomore and junior years. WID courses are identified by a W after the course number in the schedule of classes.
• Students must take the WID classes in two separate semesters. The Literacy requirement is NOT fulfilled by two WID classes taken in the same semester, or a WID taken concurrently with UW 20.

(International students placed in EFL15 take UW20 and two WID courses after completing EFL 15)

List of courses.

GCR 2: Quantitative and Logical Reasoning

Argumentation and quantitative evidence play important roles in social discourse. Through completion of the Quantitative and Logical Reasoning requirement, students enhance their capacity to think logically and critically and to reason symbolically or with numerical data.

Students must complete two courses (6 hours) from one or more of the fields of Logic, Mathematics, or Statistics.

List of courses.

GCR 3: Natural Sciences

The health, security, and economic well-being of our society are linked to a scientifically literate citizenry.  By completing the Natural Science requirement, students explore the fundamental principles of the natural world and see how the tools of science – careful observation and experimentation – not only help develop technology, but also lead to a deeper understanding of the universe.

Students must complete three courses with laboratories (9-12 hours), from at least two of the natural science fields.

List of courses.

GCR 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Structures and processes in society and personality shape public events and the behavior of individuals and groups.  Through completion of the Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement, students explore empirical results in the literature and the implications of these results for social and behavioral issues, thereby gaining an appreciation for theory and methods of analysis, evidence, and proof.

Students must complete two courses (6 hours) in one or more approved field(s).

List of courses.

GCR 5: Creative and Performing Arts

Imagination and its expression play an important part in the cultural life of a society.  Through courses that require participation in a creative or performing art, students gain insight into the interactions among materials, talent, and imagination, and they develop sensitivity to the diverse elements involved in the arts.

Students must complete three hours to fulfill the Creative and Performing Arts requirement.  The requirement can be fulfilled by one three hour course or a combination of one and two hour courses.  In music performance, all three hours must be in a single instrument or a single ensemble.

List of courses.

GCR 6: Humanities

The humanities express the ideas, aspirations, and values of individuals and the societies in which they live.  Through courses in the humanities, students experience the richness of ideas, traditions, and stories that have shaped the world.

Students must complete four courses (12 hours) from at least two approved fields.

List of courses.

GCR 7: Foreign Languages and Cultures

In our increasingly multicultural society, familiarity with a second language or another culture is important to understanding ourselves in relation to the world.  Students must study a second language or other cultures in order to help develop this understanding, to facilitate communication across cultural and national boundaries, and to gain an appreciation for cultural diversity.

Students must take either two semesters (6-8 hours) of the same foreign language OR two courses (6 hours) in aspects of foreign, non-English speaking cultures from one or more fields. 

• The Foreign Languages and Cultures requirement cannot be fulfilled by two courses in two different languages, or by one course in a foreign language and one course in a foreign culture.
• Students from non-English-speaking countries who have recorded a score on the TOEFL are granted a waiver of this GCR.
• The following majors require expertise in a foreign language up to at least second year proficiency: American Studies, Anthropology, Archaeology, Art History, Classical Humanities, Early Modern European Studies, English, Judaic Studies, Liberal Arts, and Music.
• Students who have previously studied a language must take a placement exam and enroll at the level at which they are placed. Students who enroll at a lower level will not receive credit for the course.  Information on placement exams is available on department Web sites.

List of courses.