Three Parts to Our Curriculum
To graduate from Arcadia University, undergraduates who enter as traditional first-year students must do three things:
- Complete a total of 120 credits.
- Complete the requirements of their chosen major.
- Complete the Undergraduate Curriculum Requirements as outlined below.
Note: Undergraduate Curriculum requirements are defined by courses rather than credits. Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of courses.
Integrative Learning Experiences
- First-Year Seminar/Field Trips Off- Campus – Usually taken during the first semester. In most cases if a student does not successfully complete the First-Year Seminar, a third Integrative Learning Experience will be required.
- Global Connections Experience and Reflection – Participate in this Global Connections Experience and a simultaneous Global Connections Reflection at any point during your Arcadia career. A Global Connections Experience is a sustained, semester-long, cross-cultural experience. Typical ways of fulfilling the Global Connections Experience include: study abroad; taking a Global Connections Experience-designated course in Glenside; study away at a pre-approved domestic exchange institution.
- Two additional Integrative Learning Experiences – These two Integrative Learning Experiences are in addition to the First-Year Seminar and Global Connections Experience. Typical ways of fulfilling this requirement include: taking University Seminars (All University Seminars carry the Integrative Learning designation); participating in additional Global Connections Experiences beyond the required one; completing 4-credit ID381 travel courses.
- Senior Capstone Project – Complete this project in the final year as a part of the chosen major.
Areas of Inquiry
Students take courses that allow them to explore these four theme-based Areas of Inquiry:
- Creative Expressions (1)
- Cultural Legacies (2)
- Natural and Physical World (2, at least 1 of which must have a laboratory component)
- Self and Society (2)
Intellectual Practices
Students sometimes develop Intellectual Practices in standalone courses dedicated solely to these practices. More often they are developed in courses throughout the University that concentrate on the given Intellectual Practice in the context of other subject matter.
- Crossing Boundaries (2) – Take two Crossing Boundaries-designated courses from those offered in various departments. Students may not fulfill both of their Crossing Boundaries requirements while off campus for a study abroad or study away semester.
- Modern Language – Complete the introductory (102) level of a modern language. Students who place into the 200 level (or above) of a language are waived from the Modern Language requirement.
- Quantitative Reasoning (2) – Take one Mathematics course beyond MA 100 and also take one additional Quantitative Reasoning-designated course from those offered in various departments or a second Mathematics course beyond MA100.
- Visual Literacy (1) – Take one Visual Literacy-designated course from those offered in various departments.
- Writing (4) – Complete English 101 (Thought and Expression) in the first year and complete a Research Writing-designated (RW) course by the end of the second year from those offered either in the major or the English Department. In addition, complete two additional Writing-designated (W) courses from those offered in various departments. Many capstone courses carry the W designation.
