Core Curriculum Requirements

At the heart of Emory & Henry's curriculum is a series of courses deemed so important to a liberal arts education that the faculty have established them as curricular requirements for all students. This four-year program engages students intellectually, encourages the integration of knowledge and essential skills, expands curiosity, and promotes learning and service as lifelong commitments. Students encounter topics that arise from the arts, humanities, sciences, and religion; develop thoughtful responses to ethical questions; and seek to understand their political and social responsibilities as citizens in an interconnected world.

The goal of the Core Curriculum is to ensure that a liberally educated graduate of Emory & Henry College should:

1. “Know thyself ”: Critically examine one’s own beliefs; strive for consistency in personal ethics; be aware of the consequences of political and ethical positions.

2. Connect: Understand and appreciate diversity in cultures, politics, and belief systems; comprehend and analyze the meaning of the local, national, and global; develop proficiency in a foreign language; broaden one's perspective through regional, national, and international travel.

3. Serve: Appreciate the role of service in the community; be a responsible citizen of the state and nation; be cognizant of the impact of one’s actions on others.

4. Explore: Be able to engage in a variety of disciplines as well as understand their purposes, interrelationships, and contributions to human knowledge; analyze and interpret significant literary texts as they represent the variety of individual, social, and cultural contexts of human experience.

5. Experiment: Develop knowledge about natural science and the experimental process; learn and apply the scientific method.

6. Create: Value visual and performing arts as forms of human expression; understand and interpret art through creation or analysis.

7. Quantify: Interpret and use numbers and mathematics confidently, ethically, and appropriately; apply numbers to real-life experience; appreciate quantitative reasoning as a tool of intellectual inquiry and communication.

8. Communicate: Generate original ideas and apply the methods of analysis, synthesis, and reason; create clear and persuasive oral and written arguments; communicate effectively in individual and group settings.

9. Apply: Use applied learning experiences such as laboratories, internships, formal presentations, and critical thinking exercises to further knowledge; realize the continuity between past and present events; use information and technologies proficiently and appropriately.

10. Be strong: Value and pursue the benefits of lifelong physical fitness, balance in work and recreation, and psychological well-being.

Proficiency Requirements

Computer Proficiency. Upon entering Emory & Henry, all students will take an online computer technology proficiency exam. Students who do not receive at least 70% on this exam will be required to take a Computer Information Management course within their first two years.

Foreign Language. Students meet this requirement in any of several ways. They may (a) take two sequential courses at the 100 level (6 semester hours), or (b)demonstrate competency through the 102 level by appropriate performance on a foreign language proficiency exam, or (c) fulfill the requirement during a Study Abroad experience, or (d) substitute a native language other than English. Departments may require additional hours beyond the minimum.

Students with documented disabilities of a severe language-based nature may request pre-approved course substitutions to meet the Core Curriculum foreign language proficiency requirement. Students must initiate such a request in time to receive a decision prior to the end of their sophomore year, or in the case of a transfer student, within the first semester at the college. The request for substitution must be approved prior to any coursework that will count as substitution. Attempting a foreign language will not preclude a student from successfully requesting a foreign language substitution. Students must be registered with Academic Support Services in the Powell Resource Center before initiating a substitution request.

Procedures for registering with Academic Support Services and for requesting foreign language substitutions are available in the Powell Resource Center. Students interested in these procedures begin by making an appointment with the Director of Academic Support Services.

Mathematics. The mathematics requirement enables students to develop skills which will assist them in college courses and in vocational preparation. This requirement is met by completion of mathematics courses specified in each departmental headnote for a major. All students will take a mathematics placement exam to determine appropriate initial course placement.

Oral Communication. Students are introduced to oral communication in individual public speaking and small group settings in the first Core Curriculum course and continue to exercise the skill in subsequent Core Curriculum courses. In addition, students meet this requirement by completing at least one course that is oral-communication intensive, designated OC in the catalog.

Written Communication. Students meet this requirement by receiving a grade of C- or better in English 101 and completing the core courses. In addition, students meet this requirement by completing at least one course that is written-communication intensive, designated WC in the catalog. Faculty members evaluate the quality of style, organization, grammar, and usage when grading any assignment.

Unless exempted on the basis of high SAT or ACT verbal scores, or unless entering Emory & Henry with AP or transfer credit, all students are required to take English 100 and/or English 101 during the first year. Students enrolled in English 100 must earn at least a C– in English 100 in order to take English 101. Similarly, students who obtain lower than a C– in English 101 must retake it and obtain at least a C– to meet the college writing requirement. Students exempted from both English 100 and English 101 must complete an advanced writing course chosen from the following: English 320, 321, 322, or 323. Some departments may also require an advanced writing course as a graduation requirement.

Students who exhibit weaknesses in college-level writing skills in any course after the completion of English 101 may be required to complete English 199 in order to graduate. Any faculty member may make a formal referral to English 199. A student officially referred to English 199 must enroll in and pass the course in order to graduate.

Critical Thinking. Students are introduced to critical thinking in the first Core Curriculum course and continue to exercise the skill in subsequent Core Curriculum courses. In addition, students meet this requirement by completing at least one additional course that is critical-thinking intensive, designated CT in the catalog.

Ethical Reasoning,/I>. Students are introduced to ethical reasoning in the first Core Curriculum course and continue to exercise the skill in subsequent Core Curriculum courses. In addition, students meet this requirement by completing at least one additional course that is ethical-reasoning intensive, designated ER in the catalog.

Quantitative Literacy. Students meet this requirement by passing a quantitative proficiency exam. Students who do not pass this exam initially will be required to take Quantitative Literacy 101, 102, and/or 103 before retaking the exam. Students must pass the quantitative proficiency exam in order to graduate. After passing the proficiency exam, students further meet this requirement by completing a course that is quantitative-literacy intensive, designated QL in the catalog. The Modes of Inquiry: Understanding the Natural World courses may not be used to meet this requirement.

Core Course Requirements

Transitions I: Engaging the Liberal Arts. This seminar course is taken in the fall semester of the first year. It introduces students to the concepts and methods of a liberal arts education, teaches students to use different methodological proficiencies to explore and analyze complex ideas, encourages students to develop their curiosity and creativity, and urges students to take responsibility for their own learning. Each seminar focuses on one topic, idea, problem, or concept. Students choose from a list of available Transitions I courses as part of the first-year registration process.

Foundations I: Human Foundations. This common syllabus course is taken in the spring semester of the first year. It is an introduction to selected fundamental questions as raised by texts and other cultural sources, focusing on the examination of ideas and practices from prehistory into the sixteenth century C.E. Special attention is given to critical thinking skills.

Lifetime Wellness. The wellness requirement totals two semester hours. One hour is a Lifetime Wellness course designed to be taken during the student’s first year. The course is designed to promote an understanding of wellness and related behavior that contributes to a healthy lifestyle. Students also complete two half-hour activity courses.

Transitions II: Emory Across America. This one semester hour course is an examination of political, social, and economic issues related to place and culminating in a domestic travel experience. Students choose from a list of available Transitions II courses involving trips to different locations early in the spring semester of their first year. (Elective status until the program is fully implemented.)

Foundations II: Becoming Modern. This common syllabus course is taken in the fall of the sophomore year. It is an active study of major shifts in the ways of knowing, including the foundations of modern science and technology, the emergence of the social sciences, and their influences on culture, society, and the arts.

Great Works in Context. This seminar course is an in-depth multidisciplinary study of select great works, with an emphasis on how important literary and/or artistic ideas influence society.

Religion. Each student enrolls in a religion course (131 or 132 or 200), on the roots, teachings, and contemporary understandings of the Christian faith.

Emory Abroad. Students complete one of the following: study abroad for a semester or a summer, a course of three to four semester hours with a short-term travel component, or a course that meets the international exploration requirement. These disciplinary courses provide an international academic experience for students who cannot travel abroad, enhancing students’ awareness of a community or culture outside the United States. Courses that meet the travel requirement are designated EA in the catalog; those that meet the international exploration requirement are designated IE.

Connections. This is a seminar course involving an in-depth study of a broad public problem, with an emphasis on regional, national, and international institutions, policies, cultural practices, and ethical aspects that must be negotiated to address the problem. Senior status is required.

Modes of Inquiry
The objective of this requirement is to encourage students to acquire a foundation of knowledge in a variety of liberal arts disciplines. Students take Modes of Inquiry courses outside the prefix of their primary major; the requirement is met by a class or set of classes from each mode, taken in four different departments outside the student’s primary major prefix. Following are the courses which should be taken to meet the requirements in each of the four modes.

Understanding the Individual and Society. (One course, three semester hours) Courses to analyze and explain the individual in the context of society.

ECON 101 Contemporary Economic Issues
ECON 151 Principles of Economics I
GEOG 111 Human Geography
GEOG 211 Urban Geography
HIST 111 American History to 1861
HIST 112 American History Since 1861
HIST 121 Pre-Modern Europe
HIST 122 Modern Europe
MCOM 101 Mass Media and Society
MCOM 250 (WSTU 250X) Women and Media
PHIL 101 Introduction to Philosophy
PHIL 201 Ethics
POLS 103 Politics of the United States
POLS 205 (INST 205X) Introduction to International Relations
POLS 225 (MEIS 225X) Comparative Politics in the Middle East and North Africa
POLS 235 (EUST 235X) Comparative European Politics
POLS 245 (ASIA 245X) Comparative Politics of Asia
PPCS 100 Introduction to Public Policy and Community Service
PPCS 200 Community Organizing
PSYC 102 Introduction to Psychology as a Social Science
RELG 201 Religious Individuals Who Changed History
SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology
SOCI 226 Marriage and Family
WSTU 200 Introduction to Women’s Studies
WSTU 250X Women and Media

Understanding the Natural World. (One course with laboratory or field component, four semester hours) Courses to apply scientific methodology to natural phenomena.

BIOL 105 Introduction to College Biology
BIOL 117 General Biology
CHEM 111 General Chemistry I
ESCI 111 Physical Geology
ESCI 212 Environmental Geology
PHYS 100 Conceptual Physics
PHYS 101 Astronomy
PHYS 201 General Physics I
PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology as a Natural Science

Artistic Expression. (One course of three semester hours, or two courses in music ensemble or lesson participation) Courses to develop the creative process through aesthetic expression.

ART 111 Introduction to Art & Design
ART 112 Three-Dimensional Design
ART 151 Drawing
ART 205 Photography I
ART 210 Visual Arts Computing
ART 215 Web Design
ART 231 Ceramics
ART 241 Crafts I
ENGL 322 Writing Poetry
ENGL 323 Writing Prose Fiction
ENGL 328 Nature Writing
MCOM 204 Beginning Publication Design
MUSP 100, 109, 117 Beginning Voice, Piano, Guitar, respectively
MUSP 101 Brass Methods
MUSP 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218 Intermediate Piano, Organ, Guitar, Brass, Woodwinds, Voice, Strings, Percussion, respectively
MUSP 225 Festival Choir
MUSP 230 Concert Choir
MUSP 234, 237, 238, 239 Guitar, Brass, Trumpet, Woodwind Ensembles, respectively
MUSP 235 Pep Band/Wind Ensemble
MUSP 236 Brass Quintet
MUSP 240 Opera Workshop
MUSP 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416 Advanced Piano, Organ, Guitar, Brass, Woodwinds, Voice, respectively
THRE 105 Introduction to Acting
THRE 210 Fundamentals of Theatrical Design
THRE 220 Contemporary Dance I
THRE 245 Voice for the Stage
THRE 300 Stage Movement

Interpreting Texts. (One course, three semester hours) Courses to analyze and interpret texts.

ART 221 History of Western Art I
ART 222 History of Western Art II
ART 321 Twentieth-Century Art and Theory
ART 322 Italian Art
ENGL 203 World Literature
ENGL 231 Studies in Poetry
ENGL 232 Studies in Short Fiction
ENGL 233 Studies in Drama
ENGL 317 Literature for Children and Young Adults
HIST 210 Archaeology and Prehistory
HIST 232 Myth, Magic, and Ritual in the Ancient World
PHIL 211 Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
PHIL 212 History of Modern Philosophy
PHIL 305 Asian Philosophies
POLS 340 History of Political Philosophy
RELG 261 The Christian Faith in Literature
THRE 100 Introduction to Theatre