Core curriculum
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Core curriculum, not to be confused with the common core, is a standardized curriculum used by colleges in attempts to impart a specific set of skills or knowledge to all of its students. When originally used by Columbia University, it referred to a particular group of courses that all students had to take in order to graduate. These classes emphasized discussion, critical thinking skills, and knowledge that the university believed all of its graduates should possess. Eventually, other schools began to imitate these standards, leading to thousands of different core curricula throughout the country. They are unified by the shared goal of promoting their university's mission to their students, so that each graduate will embody the ideals of his or her school.[1]
Background
The use of core curricula can be traced back to 1880, when Columbia University de-emphasized the learning of Greek and Latin in its language requirements in favor of creating standard classes from which all students could benefit. Over the years, more and more changes happened in Columbia and favorable results prompted other universities to follow suit. Different schools used Columbia's program as a guideline; their core may possess a liberal arts framework, but the school may not explicitly require every student to take the same class or the same subject. This allows any given school to create a core curriculum that is perfectly adapted to its own mission and values.[2]
Requirements
Columbia still employs its original system: a set of core courses that all students in a particular school must complete, regardless of major. For instance, if a student pursues a degree in English, she would have to complete a set of courses in the liberal arts field in addition to the classes of her major. Different cores exist for different departments, such as the natural sciences. Some religion-based schools employ similar methods, with the addition of theology courses that all students must complete. Such a requirement aids in solidifying a particular college as a religious institution.[3][4]
Other schools have chosen to make their curricula more elective. Their mission statements still emphasize educational (and moral/spiritual, where applicable) values, but do so with more lenient requirements: rather than mandate a list of classes that must be taken, schools identify specific subject areas such as humanities, natural sciences, and mathematics. Many classes offered by the school will fit under those subject areas, and students may choose which courses best fit their needs and preferences. Such an approach removes some of the uniformity that Columbia's original program employs, but is considered a more preferable option for many students.[5][6]
See also
External links
- Georgetown University School of Foreign Service core curriculum
- Southern Illinois University's course list with core labels
Footnotes
- ↑ Columbia University, "The core curriculum," accessed September 8, 2014
- ↑ Columbia University, "History of the core," accessed September 8, 2014
- ↑ Columbia University, "Core requirements," accessed September 8, 2014
- ↑ Franciscan University of Steubenville, "The core curriculum," accessed September 8, 2014
- ↑ Duquesne University, "Core curriculum," accessed September 8, 2014
- ↑ Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences, "Core curriculum," accessed September 8, 2014
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