Biology Lab

The Traditional Curriculum (Class of 2025 and earlier)

The Traditional Curriculum is a general education pathway only available for students who entered the College of Arts & Sciences before Fall 2020 or for students transferring to the College of Arts and Sciences from external institutions.

This curriculum, also known as the area & competency requirements, is being phased out.

The new College Curriculum, adopted through the October 2019 faculty vote after a successful pilot phase, is in effect for all first-year students entering Fall 2020 or later. 

Competency Requirements

Architectural Detail of Old Cabell

Students in this general education curriculum must complete three competency requirements: the First Writing Requirement, the Second Writing Requirement, and the Foreign Language Requirement. 

Area Requirements

Alderman Stacks

Students in this general education curriculum fulfill Area Requirements by earning the proper number of credits from courses taken in each of five different academic subject areas. The list of subject areas and their related credit requirement is:

  • Social Sciences - 6 credits from two different departments
  • Humanities - 6 credits from two different categories
  • Historical Studies - one 3 or more credit course
  • Non-western Perspectives - one 3 or more credit course
  • Natural Science and Mathematics - 12 credits from two different departments