The General Education Curriculum Requirements
Overview of the College of Arts & Sciences General Education Curriculum
The general education curriculum teaches students the value of broad intellectual inquiry and fosters the resilience and inventiveness essential to success. At the same time, it helps students build foundational skills in reading, writing, communication, math and critical reasoning that will be essential to college learning and success.
In addition to fulfilling major requirements, Trinity students must complete the courses listed in the General Education Curriculum.
I. Foundational Skills (20 credits)
Students must complete designated courses in the following areas:
- Critical Reading, Writing, and Communication (complete below four courses for a total of 13 credits)
- CRS 101 Critical Reading and Writing Seminar IThis course strengthens critical reading and academic writing skills through engagement with liberal arts texts with a focus on “Discovering your strength” as a Trinity woman. The ability to comprehend and write about arguments in academic texts is essential for success in all liberal arts courses and in lifelong learning. Students will develop the ability to identify a text’s main argument and the evidence used to support that argument. Students will also reflect comprehension by accurately and clearly paraphrasing and summarizing texts’ arguments. Students will also use annotation and argumentation strategies to respond to liberal arts texts with their own ideas.
All students will be expected to work toward the following learning goals:
Explore and develop values, especially those relating to social justice, race, and gender, through the study of and response to a variety of academic texts;
Develop confidence as readers and writers;
Actively read, summarize, and analyze texts;
Articulate and support an argument;
Write clearly, logically, and with attention to audience;
Formerly CRS 101 - Critical Reading Seminar.
4 credits
Prerequisite: None
Passing this course with a C or better is a pre-requisite for CRS 102 and ENGL 107.
- CRS 102 Critical Reading and Writing Seminar IIThis course further develops the critical reading and academic writing skills addressed in CRS 101 through engagement with texts in a particular academic discipline. Students will choose a CRS 102 course that addresses an interesting, meaningful or important disciplinary question, and build reading and writing skills through close readings and written responses to the assigned texts. CRS 102 courses are offered on a variety of academic topics, and students choose the one that is most compelling to them.
All students will be expected to work toward the following learning goals:
-Describe and apply comprehension strategies
-Summarize textual ideas accurately and in their own words
-Compare, contrast and organize textual ideas and arguments into writing
-Apply revision and editing strategies to writing
-Acknowledge sources according to disciplinary conventions
-Locate, differentiate between and evaluate the credibility of academic sources
Formerly CRS 102 - CRS: Prof & Career Success in the Health Professions.
3 credits
Prerequisite: CRS 101 with a grade of C or better
This course is usually taken simultaneously with English 107.
- ENGL 107 College CompositionEnglish 107 develops students’ effective writing of evidence-based, thesis- centered academic essays. The course emphasizes development of the research and documentation skills necessary for successful academic writing. Students will primarily write argumentative essays, building to a substantive research paper. Students in the School of Professional Studies may not take this course pass/fail. Formerly ENG 107 College Composition.
3 credits
Prerequisites for College of Arts and Sciences: Passing CRS 101 with a grade of "C" or better.
Prerequisites for School of Professional Studies: ENGL 105 with a grade of C or better OR score of 9 or higher on Writing portion of Accuplacer test.
General Education: Foundational Skills Area
FLC Area I Core Area I: Skills for Work and Life
- COM 110 Communication for Academic SuccessThis course is designed to help students develop the skills that are necessary for effective interpersonal and small group communication. Students will learn to participate in varied communication contexts that involve both formal and more interactive formats. The course provides them with the opportunity to communicate more effectively with an audience in small group and public contexts.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Foundational Skills
- Quantitative Reasoning (chose one course for a total of four credits)
- MATH 102 College AlgebraThis is a quantitative literacy course intended for mathematics, science (STEM), business, and economics majors. Topics covered include exponents, factoring, polynomials, quadratic equations, and rational and radical equations. Additional topics include functions, graphs, and systems of equations and inequalities. Unit conversions and dimensional analysis is also covered. Real-world applications will be emphasized throughout the course. Formerly MATH 102 Intermediate Algebra.
4 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education: Foundational Skills
- MATH 108 Finite MathematicsThis is a quantitative literacy and reasoning course designed for education majors and those students intending to study nursing and other allied health fields. Topics include: problem solving, set theory, logic, algebra, and measurement; including unit conversions and dimensional analysis. Additional topics include functions, graphs, systems of equations and inequalities, as well as probability and statistics. Real-world applications will be emphasized throughout the course. Formerly MATH 108 and MAT 108 Elementary Mathematical Modeling.
4 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area: Foundational Skills
- MATH 109 Foundations of MathematicsThis quantitative literacy course is intended for social science and humanities majors. The course is designed to teach quantitative reasoning by emphasizing topics, both useful and relevant to a liberal-arts program, that enable students to become quantitatively literate. Topics include financial literacy, unit conversions, an introduction to linear and exponential functions and mathematical modeling, probability and statistics as well as math in politics.Formerly MAT 109 Foundations of Mathematics. This course may not be taken pass/fail by School of Professional Studies students.
4 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area: Foundational Skills
- MATH 123 Pre-CalculusPrepares students for calculus. Subjects include the concept of a function, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometric functions and coordinate geometry. A student who already has a good grasp of these topics should elect MAT 125 instead of this course. Formerly MAT 123 Pre-calculus.
4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 102 with C or better or proficiency test with permission of instructor
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area IV: Quantitative Analysis Cluster
MATH 102 College AlgebraThis is a quantitative literacy course intended for mathematics, science (STEM), business, and economics majors. Topics covered include exponents, factoring, polynomials, quadratic equations, and rational and radical equations. Additional topics include functions, graphs, and systems of equations and inequalities. Unit conversions and dimensional analysis is also covered. Real-world applications will be emphasized throughout the course. Formerly MATH 102 Intermediate Algebra.
4 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education: Foundational Skills is for science and mathematics majors; MATH 108 Finite MathematicsThis is a quantitative literacy and reasoning course designed for education majors and those students intending to study nursing and other allied health fields. Topics include: problem solving, set theory, logic, algebra, and measurement; including unit conversions and dimensional analysis. Additional topics include functions, graphs, systems of equations and inequalities, as well as probability and statistics. Real-world applications will be emphasized throughout the course. Formerly MATH 108 and MAT 108 Elementary Mathematical Modeling.
4 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area: Foundational Skills is for education and health professions majors; MATH 109 Foundations of MathematicsThis quantitative literacy course is intended for social science and humanities majors. The course is designed to teach quantitative reasoning by emphasizing topics, both useful and relevant to a liberal-arts program, that enable students to become quantitatively literate. Topics include financial literacy, unit conversions, an introduction to linear and exponential functions and mathematical modeling, probability and statistics as well as math in politics.Formerly MAT 109 Foundations of Mathematics. This course may not be taken pass/fail by School of Professional Studies students.
4 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area: Foundational Skills is for humanities and social science majors. If you are doing an individualized major please consult with your advisor to determine your math requirement.
- Critical Reasoning (chose one course for a total of three credits)
- BIOL 103 Critical Thinking about DiseaseThis course offers the opportunity to confront both old and new ideas and issues about disease and health in a variety of formats to analyze their meaning and impact on a student's life. The course will provide interdisciplinary introduction to college level critical thinking, discussion, analysis, and writing in a seminar format. Specifically, major epidemics and the way they have shaped history and public policy will be explored.
3 credits
- HIS 220 Historian DetectiveCourse Description: This course uses the content of medieval history to teach critical thinking skills. In- class and written exercises focus on sequencing and chronology; understanding context; recognizing rhetorical strategies and biases in texts; identifying unspoken assumptions (premises); evaluating evidence; critiquing arguments; and identifying logical fallacies. Topics include rural life and the growth of towns, the development of political and religious institutions, and the expansion of the intellectual and cultural life of medieval Europe.
General Education Requirements: Critical Reasoning
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
- PHIL 103 Reasoning and ArgumentationPresents examples of analysis and argumentation in order to examine what constitutes either a deductive and an inductive argument, the notions of validity and truth, the justificatory power of evidence as well as common informal fallacies. The course provides practice in various techniques of argumentation and critical analysis. Formerly PHI 103 Reasoning and Argumentation.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Foundational Skills Area
FLC Area III
Prerequisite CRS 101 - CAS Only
- SOCY 242 Social Criticism in FilmSocial Criticism through Film examines social problems through the lens of historical and current documentary and fictional films and scholarly readings. Students will learn to critically evaluate the topics through use of sociological concepts. Topics include migrant labor, global warming, post 9/11 fears, AIDS, and the selection of other issues.
3 credits
General Education Requirements: Critical Reasoning
II. Knowledge & Inquiry (25-27 credits)
Students must complete courses in the following areas:
- Social Sciences (choose two courses in different disciplines for a total of six credits)
- Economics
- ECON 100 Principles of EconomicsIntroduces the basic principles of economics to students with no prior economic training and provides foundational skills for Economics 101 and Economics 102.
3 credits
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry
Prerequisites: successful completion of MATH 102, MATH 108, or MATH 109 is highly recommended
- Psychology
- PSYC 101 Introductory PsychologyIntroduces the student to the scientific study of the mind and behavior. All major sub-areas of psychology (social, developmental, clinical, physiological, motivation and emotion, sensation and perception) are explored, as well as the major theoretical perspectives (behavioral, cognitive, psychoanalytic, and humanistic). Formerly PSY 121 Introductory Psychology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core: Area II
- Sociology
- SOCY 100 Introduction to SociologyIntroduces students to the science of sociology and prepares students for upper-level social science course work. Formerly SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core Area II: Understanding the Self and Society
- SOCY 105 Social ProblemsExamines the political and economic organization of society and its impact on social problems. The goal of this course is to enable students to understand the social nature of social problems. Students focus on how social problems result from cultural and social arrangements. Critical scrutiny of polity and economy provides clues for the bias of society. Explains how political and economic processes affect what is currently being done about social problems and thus why so many social policies fail. Formerly SOC 200 Social Crisis and Social Policy.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
- SOCY 131 Global Social IssuesSurveys the global problems of hunger, overpopulation, energy, pollution, war, and extremism (slavery, apartheid, relocation, genocide), and how they are built into society. Formerly SOC 254 Global Social Issues.
3 credits
FLC Area V
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry
- Political Science
- POLS 201 Civil Rights and LibertiesProvides an introduction to legal opinions that focus on the 1st and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The cases and the societal issues surrounding them are presented in their historical context. Some specific topics examined in the course are Supreme Court decisions that affect the civil rights movement, free speech, and privacy issues involving Internet communications. Formerly PSC 216 Civil Rights and Liberties.
3 credits
FLC Area V
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry
- POLS 211 Women and the LawExamines Supreme Court rulings, as well as federal and state statutes and court decisions affecting women. Topics include women and employment, sexual harassment, and legal issues involving pregnancy and privacy rights. Formerly PSC 328 Women and the Law.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
- POLS 231 Introduction to Comparative PoliticsOffers an introduction to the major concepts and analytical frameworks of the sub-field. While it is designed as the appropriate first course in comparative politics, its theoretical focus makes it appropriate for more advanced students as well. Formerly PSC 200 Introduction to Comparative Politics.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
- POLS 241 Introduction to International RelationsOffers an introduction to the theories, actors, arenas, and techniques of international politics. The course examines case studies on issues of current international importance. Formerly PSC 312 Introduction to International Relations.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
- Science (choose one course for a total of four credits)
- BIOL 101 Introduction to BiologyExplores various aspects of biology from cell structure to metabolism, diversity and ecology. The course consists of two hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Recommended for non-science majors. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 101 Introduction to Biology.
4 credits
FLC Area I
Core Area II
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry
- BIOL 111 General Biology IPresents a comprehensive base in biology, intended for majors, and is the first of a two-course sequence. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 151 General Biology I.
4 credits
Prerequisite: MATH 102 (It is strongly suggested that MATH 123 is taken as a co-requisite if it has not already been taken)
FLC Area IV
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry
- BIOL 121 Human Anatomy and Physiology IA systematic approach to the study of the human body. The first part of this year -long course emphasizes the tissues, the integumentary system, the bones and skeletal tissue, muscles and muscle tissue, and the nervous system. Students have the opportunity to apply concepts discussed during the lecture portion of the class to clinical questions presented throughout the semester. Three hours of laboratory per week. Does not fulfill Biology major requirement. There is an additional laboratory fee.
4 credits
Pre-/Co-requisite: MATH 102, MATH 108 or MATH 109.
Pre-requisite: BIOL 101 (SPS); pass BIOL 101 wiht a C or better or placement test score (CAS).
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area.
- CHEM 101 Chemistry in a Changing WorldFocuses on chemistry in the news, including the energy crisis, global warming, acid rain, radioactivity, food, and drugs. These topics are used to introduce the concepts of chemistry and biochemistry to the non-science major. It is recommended that this course be taken after completion of the Area I math requirement. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly CHE 101 Chemistry in a Changing World.
4 credits
FLC Area IV
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry
- CHEM 111 Fundamentals of Chemistry IIntroduces some of the general principles of chemistry. Topics include stoichiometry and chemical reactions; the structure and properties of atoms and molecules; chemical bonding; thermochemistry; and acid base chemistry. This course emphasizes active student involvement; many concepts are introduced via direct experimentation. Computers are used extensively. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly CHE 105 Fundamentals of Chemistry I.
4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 123 (may be taken concurrently)
FLC Area IV
- CHEM 113 Chemistry for the Health SciencesIntroduces students to basic concepts in chemistry, including the nature of matter, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, solutions, principles of organic chemistry, and the chemistry of the most important biomolecules. The course also introduces students to the proper use of basic laboratory equipment as well as basic laboratory techniques. Lab experiments are designed to provide the student with the tools to understand connections between theory and results found in the lab.
4 credits
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry (Science and Mathematics)
Prerequisites: MATH 108
- ENVS 101 Discovering Planet EarthIntroduces non-science majors to evolution, earth science, and plate tectonics with an emphasis on the mid-Atlantic region. Labs include use of the scientific method, development of observational skills, computer-assisted learning, and several field trips. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly ENV 101 Discovering Planet Earth.
4 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area IV
Core Area II: Understanding Self, Society, and Nature
- PHYS 111 General Physics ICovers mechanics in a calculus-based course in fundamental physics. Topics include Newton's laws, work and energy, rotational dynamics, conservation of energy, and momentum. Intended primarily for students in math and science but open to all qualified students. The course consists of three hours of lecture, three of laboratory, and a one-hour problem session per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly PHY 115 General Physics I.
4 credits
Prerequisite: MATH 125
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area IV, Laboratory Science Cluster
- History, Arts, and Humanities (choose three courses in different disciplines for a total of nine credits)
- History
- HIS 128 Creation of the Atlantic WorldExamines the emergence of the Atlantic World as the point of contact linking the peoples of Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The course details the migrations, voluntary and involuntary, of Africans and Europeans to the Western Hemisphere and their contact with native nations. Topics include pre-colonial West Africa, pre-Columbian cultures, dynamics of culture contact, the Conquistadors and the African slave trade.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II, History Cluster
- HIS 130 Introduction to American CivilizationsExplores the major themes that have shaped the American experience from the Colonial period to 1890. Topics include the Age of Exploration and Discovery, the American Revolution, the causes of the Civil War, and industrialization and urbanization.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry
FLC Area II, History Cluster
- HIS 132 Twentieth Century United StatesIntroduces the critical issues of 20th-century United States, including the transition to a post-industrial society, the challenge of the Civil Rights and feminist movements, the development of the modern welfare state, and the consequences of the United States' role as a global superpower.
3 credits
Core Area II: Understanding Self and Society
General Education: Knowledge & Inquiry
- HIS 133 Travelers' TalesConsiders travelers' accounts of their journeys as a unique window into the cultural interactions of the past. The course focuses on travelers from a variety of cultures and historical periods, and explores what their stories can tell us not only about the people they encountered but also, and perhaps more importantly, about the travelers themselves. The course explores the relationship between reality and fiction in travelers' tales, the assumptions travelers brought to these interactions, and the ways in which their experiences modified (or did not modify) their perception of the "others" whom they encountered.
3 credits
FLC Area II, History Cluster
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
- HIS 135 Upheavals of War: War and Social ChangeExplores the ways in which societies ensnared in the throes of war are permanently transformed by the experience. Among the issues considered are the impacts of war on social dynamics, class roles, economic order, gender identity, religious faith, and intellectual consciousness. In semesters focused on the modern era, wars to be considered include the World Wars, the Arab-Israeli Wars, the Vietnam War, and wars of colonial liberation.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II, History Cluster
- HIS 361 Plagues, People and Epidemics: A History of DiseaseUsing both primary and secondary sources, this course explores the social, economic, and cultural impact of several historically significant epidemics. Students consider the origins and spread of these diseases; changing medical understanding and treatment; social reactions, including mass hysteria and violence; and the diseases’ short- and long-term impact on society. Topics include the Black Death in medieval Europe (1347-50); the London cholera epidemic of 1854; and the great influenza of 1918.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry
- Fine Arts
- FNAR 101 Survey: History of Art IExamines the development of painting, sculpture, and architecture from prehistoric times to the end of the Middle Ages. It is recommended that the two survey courses (101 and 102) be taken before advanced courses and, if possible, in chronological order. Formerly ART 101 Survey: History of Art I.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II
Core Area II: Understanding Self and Society
- FNAR 102 Survey: History of Art IISurveys the development of painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Renaissance to the present. Formerly ART 102 Survey: History of Art II.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II
Core Area II: Understanding Self and Society
- FNAR 145 Introduction to Music LiteratureExamines the styles and diversity of Western music from the Middle Ages into the 21st century. This course introduces the materials of music including melody, harmony, rhythm, form, and orchestration. Students explore the vast cultural resources of Washington, DC's concert halls, art galleries, churches, and cathedrals offering musical performances. Formerly MUS 151 Introduction to Music Literature.
3 credits
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II
- FNAR 241
- FNAR 243 Blues, Jazz, Gospel, and RagtimeTraces the origin and development of styles and major forces that shaped American music from the late 19th century to the present. Topics include work songs and field "hollas," revival and camp meeting hymns, bebop and "cool" jazz, along with new rhythms, harmonies, and "blue" notes. This course requires attendance at live performances, written listening assignments and extensive oral presentations. Formerly MUS 226 Blues, Jazz, Gospel and Ragtime.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area II
- FNAR 247
- FNAR 311
- FNAR 313
- FNAR 315
- Literature
- ENGL 150 Writing about LiteratureThis course introduces students to the study of literature. Students will engage in critical reading, analysis and discussion, founding argument on close textual reading, and the development and writing of thesis-centered essays about literature. Literary criticism and theory, research methods, and documentation techniques will also be covered.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry
- ENGL 220 African American LiteratureThis course introduces students to the study of African American literature, including the vernacular tradition, the New Negro Renaissance of the early twentieth century, periods of realism and modernism in the late 1940s and early 1960s, the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s, and newer voices at the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century. Students will practice literary analysis and study the literary techniques and genres belonging to this literature, as well as the ways in which the texts attempt to reinvent, disrupt, or challenge traditional European/North American literary traditions and criticisms. Many of the texts will engage the meaning of race, the forced migration of Africans to the Americas, racism and black resistance to it, institutionalized enslavement and strategies for survival, economic oppression, the celebration of blackness, and the literary achievements of black authors. Biographical, historical, and political contexts will be examined as ways to enrich the reading of the texts.
3 credits
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry
- ENGL 267 Multicultural United States LiteratureExamines largely contemporary writings by writers representing the diverse cultures in the US with a consideration of the ways in which difference or "the other" may be constructed. Formerly ENG 200 Multicultural US Literature.
3 credits
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry
Core Area II: Understanding the Self and Society
- ENGL 271 Literature of the African DiasporaIntroduces students to the study of literature written by authors of African descent in Europe and the Americas and explores the development of an international and multicultural consciousness with Africa and the Diaspora as its referents. Formerly ENG 204 Literature of the African Diaspora.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry
- ENGL 283 Stories and Their WritersIntroduces the study of prose fiction, both classic and contemporary, in its multicultural contexts, with attention to form, theme, major figures, and historical contexts and influences. Formerly ENG 205 Stories and Their Writers.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry
- ENGL 284 Modern Lives: Memoir as LiteratureFocuses on memoirs published in the last hundred years. As a genre, memoir touches on topics such as childhood experiences, coming-of-age moments, social issues, identity, addiction, illness and mental illness, triumphs and loss. Students will explore key features of this genre through close reading and literary analysis. The fallibility of memory, the nature of truth, and debates surrounding memoir will be discussed, along with the validity of personal narrative as a way of capturing history.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry
Prerequisites: ENGL 107
- ENGL 285 Plays and PlaywrightsIntroduces students to the study of drama as a genre with its origins in Greek tragedy; students will read and analyze plays from classical Greece, the medieval period, the 19th and 20th centuries, and today's theater in order to understand the development of drama; plays currently in production in Washington, DC, will be reviewed. Formerly ENG 206 Plays and Playwrights.
3 credits
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry
- ENGL 310 Tales of Terror: Gothic Fiction and FilmIntroduces students to major works in the Gothic genre from the 18th century to the present; emphasizes characteristics and evolution of horror as a topic for narrative. Formerly ENGL 287, Tales of Terror: Gothic Fiction.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ENGL 107
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry.
- SPAN 213 Latina VoicesFosters awareness and understanding among women of the Americas, their different cultures and traditions as told through their own stories. Students will also reach a better understanding of the ethnic and racial diversity that characterizes the whole American continent including the United States, thus becoming more able to participate in a multicultural environment, both in the labor force and in their personal lives. Readings and discussions will be in English. Native speakers of Spanish may choose to do written assignments in Spanish. Formerly SPA 210 Latina Voices.
3 credits
FLC II
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry
- Foreign Language (choose two courses for a total of 6-8 credits)
- Level I
- ARBC 101 Introductory Arabic IFocuses on developing proficiency in standard modern Arabic. The main goal is attaining early proficiency in the fundamentals of listening, speaking, reading, and writing the language. The course begins with learning of script and pronunciation, and develops into the use of situation-based texts and topics that build vocabulary, grammar and general communicative competence.
4 credits
- FREN 101 Elementary French IIntegrates the skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing at the elementary level. Emphasizes oral communication through paired and group activities. Integrates cultural information.
- SPAN 101 Elementary Spanish IIntroduces language skills that enable students to speak and write about certain, specific learned contexts, such as weather, food, names of family members, individual preferences, etc. and to express them in present and future tense. Students will comprehend and discuss simple texts related to vocabulary studied. Visual aids and special materials will be used in class to help students achieve basic competency. Students must complete the course with a grade of C or better in order to register for SPAN 102. Formerly SPA 101 Elementary Spanish I.
Prerequisites: None
Credits: 3
- Level II
- ARBC 102 Introductory Arabic IIIntroductory Arabic II serves as a continuation of Introductory Arabic I. Extends skills in spoken and written standard modern Arabic. Emphasis will be placed on building vocabulary, pronunciation, conversation, grammar, reading, and composition abilities within the context of real-life situations and contemporary Arab culture and civilization. 4 credits.
- FREN 102 Elementary French IIContinues to integrate the skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing acquired in FREN 101. Emphasizes oral communication through paired and group activities. Integrates cultural information.
- SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish IIServes as a continuation of Elementary Spanish I. Students learn to speak and write about past events, and further develop their capacity to interact in spontaneous situations. Can comprehend and discuss simple texts related to vocabulary studied. Visual aids and special materials will be used in class to help students achieve basic competency. Formerly SPA 102 Elementary Spanish II.
Students may receive GenEd credit for most foreign languages, including ASL, by taking Consortium courses or by CLEP Exam. Students may also receive language waivers by demonstrating proficiency on an assessment exam.
III. Values & Beliefs (6 credits)
Students must complete courses in the following areas:
- Religious Studies and Theology (choose one course for a total of three credits)
- PHIL 235 Philosophy of ReligionExamines some of the principal questions in the philosophy of religion, including arguments for the existence of God, the problem of evil, the relation of faith and reason, and the attributes of God. Formerly PHI 330 Philosophy of Religion.
3 credits
- Any Religious Studies (RST) course
- Any Theology (THE) course
- Philosophy (choose one course for a total of three credits)
- PHIL 211 Ancient PhilosophyIntroduces the students to the beginning of philosophical reflection through the writings of Plato and Aristotle, paying particular attention to the problems that have engaged philosophers from the start. The primary objective of the course is to generate in the student an appreciation of why the questions philosophers perennially raise are problematic for the human being. Formerly PHI 201 History of Philosophy: Ancient.
3 credits
FLC Area III - Philosophy Cluster
- PHIL 241 Introduction to Theoretical EthicsExamines Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics and Kant's Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals in order to see how these texts expose the influence and direction of our consciousness of obligation on our actions. The focus is on what kind of agency human beings must have in order to be in a moral domain and on what the influence of socialization and biology might be on our understanding of this domain. Formerly PHI 210 Introduction to Theoretical Ethics.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Values and Beliefs Area
FLC Area III - Philosophy Cluster
- PHIL 245 Ethics IIntroduces the student to social ethics and the concepts of person and community by examining the moral traditions that inform our understanding of the individual. The course traces the focus of ethics from a concern about what kind of person to be to the more modern and narrow concern in how to act in both the public and private domains, acknowledging the ways in which our cultural and historical practices help shape our vision. Formerly PHI 212 The Moral Dimension: Persons and Community.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Values and Beliefs Area
FLC Area III: Philosophy Cluster
Core Area III: Ethics and Moral Reasoning
- PHIL 251 BioethicsExamines the legal and moral issues in areas dealing with the biology of human health and development, for example, experimentation on human subjects, organ transplants, euthanasia, abortion, fetal tissue use, contraception, and other aspects of human reproduction, as well as questions regarding rights to health care. Formerly PHI 211 Applied Ethics: Bioethics.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Values and Beliefs
- PHIL 253 Business and Professional EthicsThis course engages the students in an analysis of cases in business and other professions that appear to present a conflict between the demands of institutional practices and the demands of morality. The course presents a Kantian theory of e thics and investigates the cases within the framework of this theory. Formerly PHI 213 Applied Ethics II: Business and Professional Ethics.
3 credits
Core Area III: Ethics and Moral Reasoning
Gen Ed Values and Beliefs
IV. Applications (6 credits)
Students must complete courses in the following areas:
- Civic Knowledge (Choose one course for a total of three credits)
- ECON 102 Introduction to MacroeconomicsIntroduces principles of macroeconomics and their applications. Topics include national income, unemployment, inflation, and economic growth. The role of policy in affecting macroeconomic outcomes is examined in detail. Formerly ECO 121 Principles of Economics II.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ECON 100 and MATH 102, MATH 108, or MATH 109 or permission of the instructor
FLC Area V
Core Area II: Understanding Self, Society, and Nature
- HIS 345 Civil Rights Movement in the Twentieth CenturyThis course explores the origins, evolution, and consequences of the Civil Rights Movement from the beginning of the twentieth century through the Black Power Movement and the liberation movements of the 1970's.Topics include the origins of protest in the 1890's and the first decade of the twentieth century, the transition from protest to resistance in the social movements of the 1930's and 1940's, the emergence of the mass movements of the 1950's and 1960's, and the Black Power Movement.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
- INAF 201 Introduction to International AffairsIntroduces students to the interdisciplinary field of international affairs through a format that both imparts knowledge on compelling contemporary issues, and assists students to acquire and improve research, writing, and presentation skills that contribute to successful, upper-level coursework. Formerly INS 201 Introduction to International Affairs.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Civic Knowledge
- PHIL 231 Current Issues in Social and Political PhilosophyExamines the theories of justice that inform our political and civic institutions, particularly contractarianism, libertarianism, and communitarianism. The course provides opportunities for analysis of these theories in light of critical perspectives on the social significance of race, class, and gender. We will also examine contemporary social problems through the lens of political philosophy.
3 credits
FLC Area III - Philosophy Cluster
Gen Ed Applications
- POLS 101 Politics, Power, and You: Democracy at the CrossroadsIntroduces students to U.S. political and public policy issues and processes to advance their ability to analyze and understand current topics in the news. Newspaper analysis, videos and journalistic accounts of current events will be featured. Formerly PSC 120 Politics, Power, and You: Democracy at the Crossroads.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Applications Area
- POLS 272 The Politics of Generational ConflictThis course explores the tension that results from maintaining adequate social programs to support an increasingly aging population in the face of constrained federal budgets. Students will examine the history and effectiveness of Social Security and Medicare to better understand how effectively the programs support economic and health security for all Americans, especially socially marginalized populations.
The course will cover the methods and arguments advanced by supporters and opponents of the programs over the years so that students will be prepared to engage in political advocacy around Social Security and Medicare.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
- POLS 405 Seminar in Public Policy: Selected TopicsThis course examines the U.S. domestic policy-making process on the federal or local levels through a research seminar format. Legislation, executive branch implementation, regulation, the role of issue networks, and judicial intervention will be covered. The specific topical area examined will vary on a semester by semester basis. Formerly PSC 452 Seminar in Public Policy: children.
3 credits
General Education: Applications Area
- PSYC 201 Psychology in Current EventsThe media and press play an enormous role in providing information and stories to the public; many are related to the field of psychology. This course will explore the gap between psychological principles and theories and application in the real world. Discussion, dialogue, and debate will be used to stimulate critical thinking on controversial current issues.
Prerequisites: ENGL 107 and PHIL 103
Credits: 3
General Education Applications: Civil Knowledge
- SOCY 201 Sociology of EducationStudies the United States education system from sociological perspectives. This course identifies the major problems with the United States educational system and discusses solutions. Formerly SOC 201 Sociology of Education.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Applications Area
FLC Area V
- ECON 102 Introduction to MacroeconomicsIntroduces principles of macroeconomics and their applications. Topics include national income, unemployment, inflation, and economic growth. The role of policy in affecting macroeconomic outcomes is examined in detail. Formerly ECO 121 Principles of Economics II.
3 credits
Prerequisites: ECON 100 and MATH 102, MATH 108, or MATH 109 or permission of the instructor
FLC Area V
Core Area II: Understanding Self, Society, and Nature
- Leadership (Choose one course for a total of three credits)
- BADM 110 Foundations of ManagementFoundations of Management would provide an overview of key concepts and practices in the field of management and organization. Topics would include structure and design, decision making, goals and effectiveness, culture and performance measures. Th is course would introduce students to a broad range of the basics of management preparing them for more specialized courses in the business program.
3 credits
General Education Applications Area: Leadership
- COM 482 LeadershipExplores the dynamics of communication, leadership, power and authority in organizations. The course provides an overview of traditional and contemporary approaches to leadership. Topics include: cross-cultural communication and leadership, charismatic and transformational leadership, followership, power and organizational politics.
General Education Requirements: Applications (Leadership Area)
3 credits
- POLS 213 Women and PoliticsThis course provides a survey of the role of American women in government and politics.: Where we come from and where we should be going. Students in this class will learn how to rise above the challenges that keep women from entering politics as well as the rewards of a government career from a former Member of Congress who has spent a lifetime in public service.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area IV: Leadership
- POLS 277 Personality and Political LeadershipExamines "political leadership" through a consideration of psychological studies and biographies of political leaders and by investigating theoretical frameworks that guide the study of political leadership. Formerly PSC 209 Personality and Political Leadership.
3 credits
General Education Requirements: Applications (Leadership)
- WST 368 Women and LeadershipExplores women's leadership issues at the intersection of race, class, and gender. Key themes include the relational aspects of leadership, authenticity, identity and power, and the voice of leadership.
General Education Applications Area: Leadership
3 credits
- WST 369 Women and Community ChangeExplores women's roles in U.S. history from the perspectives of women activists. Examines women's impact on social, political, and cultural change in the U.S. including movements for economic justice, race relations, sexual identity, peace, gender equality, public health, and social welfare. Formerly WST 369 Women and Community Change
3 credits
V. General Education Capstone Seminar (3 credits)
The General Education Capstone Seminar is taken in second semester of sophomore year, or after earning at least 40 credits.
- Capstone Seminar (Choose one course for a total of three credits)
- BIOL 219 Biology of WomenThe purpose of this course is to further develop the students' critical reading and thinking skills while simultaneously developing an understanding of the fundamental biology of women and gaining an understanding of the scientific approach to problem solving. This course analyzes the biological literature on topics related to the biology of women and includes some discussion of related social and political issues. The text will be used as a resource for understanding basic biological principles, but the focus of the course will be on the discussion of the current research being done to help us better understand our biology. Comparing myths about women's biology and health with scientific evidence should lead to very interesting discussions.
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
General Education Requirement: Capstone Seminar
- CHEM 310 Environment and SustainabilityEquips students with tools to evaluate cases of environmental pollution and health impacts, with an eye towards environmental justice. Promotes critical thinking to address the multi-dimensional and interdisciplinary aspects that influence pollutio n sources, human response, and environmental policy. Introduces basic chemistry and quantitative skills necessary for understanding and communicating the severity and impacts of environmental contamination. Topics include heavy metal poisoning, nuclear accidents, climate change, water, fracking, and air quality. Formerly CHEM 310 - Science in the Media.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
Gen Ed Area: Capstone
- COM 388 Gender and CommunicationExplores theory and methods for examining communication and gender roles. Topics include gendered communication, gender and media, family communication, gendered violence, gender and education, and gender and institutions.
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
Gen Ed Capstone Seminar
Prerequisite: Com 201 or permission of the instructor
- ENGL 389 Literary and Critical TheoryIntroduces traditional and contemporary models of literary criticism and theory through practical interpretation of literary texts. Formerly ENG 397 Literary and Critical Theory.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Two literature courses at the 200-level or higher
Gen Ed Area: Capstone Seminar
- FNAR 317 Contemporary ArtExplores the major developments in art since 1945 with an emphasis on painting and sculpture. The nature of art and prominent ethical questions which arose during this period are also discussed. Formerly ART 381 Contemporary Art.
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
General Education Requirements: Capstone Seminar
- FNAR 321 Women ArtistsExamines the history of women in the arts from the Middle Ages to the present day and the social conditions which influenced their art. Artists included are: A. Gentileschi, Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Georgia O'Keeffe, Judy Chicago and others.
3 credits
General Education Capstone Seminar
- FNAR 399 Art and Culture of the Roaring 20sExamines the art and culture of the 1920s in an interdisciplinary approach. Movements such as American Modernism, The Harlem Renaissance, and the beginnings of Surrealism will be examined.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Area: Capstone
- HIS 201 Trials of CenturiesExamines a fundamental historical problem - the relationship of the individual to his/her society - by focusing on a series of notorious trials. The trials studied in this course illustrate different areas of conflict between the behavior of individuals and the values of their societies.
Formerly HIS 101
3 credits
FLC Area II, History Cluster
General Education Requirements: Capstone
- HIS 396 Religion and Science: Crisis, Conflict, and the Transformation of CulturesFocuses on the debates surrounding the relationship between religion and science at three crucial periods in the transformation in Western culture: the high Middle Ages; the Scientific Revolution of the 17th century; and the Darwinian Revolution of the mid-to late 19th century.
3 credits
Prerequisite: Honors program or permission of instructor
General Education Requirements: Capstone Seminar
- HIS 399 Honors Seminar: Food, Feast and Famine
- HUM 381 Victorian StudiesDiscusses the art, literature, history, politics and society of Victorian England within the context of their own time as well as their effect on future generations.
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
General Education Requirements: Capstone Seminar
- INT 250 Writing for Social ChangeINT 250: In this Capstone Seminar course, students will use creative writing as a tool for raising awareness about issues of social significance. Each student will develop research questions, use traditional and creative research methods to explore an issue of her choosing, and present relevant findings in the form of a short story. In addition this course will apply critical reading, communication, analysis, and writing skills.
3 credits
General Education: Capstone Seminar
- MATH 299
- POLS 313 Religion, Law and Politics in the United StatesExamines the relationship among religion, law, and politics in the United States constitutional and political systems. The free exercise and establishment clauses of the First Amendment to the Constitution and key Supreme Court opinions involving separation of church and state are studied as well as democratic theory pertaining to this topic. Other topics to be discussed in the class include policy issues involving government aid to faith-based social welfare efforts and empirical studies of public attitudes concerning the interplay among religion, public policy, and political leadership. Formerly PSC 226 Religion, Law, and Politics, in the United States.
3 credits
- PSYC 317 Psychology of Aggression and ViolenceExamines interpersonal, intergroup, and international violence and aggression. The topic is approached from the standpoints of physiological, motivational, learning, cognitive and interpersonal factors, and structural and ecological factors. Aspects of the psychology of nonviolence are covered. Formerly PSY 204 Psychology of Aggression and Violence.
3 credits
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and PSYC 211 or permission of instructor
- PSYC 343 Drugs and Human BehaviorFocuses on the use and abuse of psychoactive drugs, including medications (anti-depressants, neuroleptics) as well as alcohol and illegal substances (narcotics, hallucinogens, stimulants, etc.). Creative class formats utilize video, exercises, discussion, and readings to examine the biological, behavioral, cognitive, and psychosocial consequences of drug use and effective approaches to treatment. Formerly PSY 212 Drugs and Human Behavior.
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and BIOL 101 or BIOL 111 or BIOL 112
- PSYC 365 Seminar on Human SexualityExplores the biological, neuropsychological, social, and moral dimensions of human sexuality in order to examine the connection between our gendered embodiment and our person through the concept of human agency. Formerly WST 365 Seminar on Human Sexuality
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
General Education Requirements: Capstone Seminar
- SOCY 381 Understanding AIDS: Interdisciplinary SeminarProvides students with a multi-dimensional approach to understanding AIDS. The course examines AIDS as a social construct utilizing Writing Across the Curriculum and cooperative learning techniques to build an interdisciplinary knowledge of AIDS. Formerly INT 340 and SOC 340 Understanding AIDS: Interdisciplinary Seminar.
3 credits
Gen Ed V: Capstone Seminar
- SSC 207 Writing for the Social SciencesOffered in a seminar format, the course equips students with the skills necessary to write papers for social science courses. The course covers the process of writing for the social sciences and develops technical skills in researching and writing a variety of paper types. Specific topics include proposal writing, library research skills, internet research skills, critical thinking and writing, organization, outlines, drafts and documentation.
3 credits
General Education Requirements: Capstone Seminar
- WST 250 Women in Popular CultureExplores the cultural images and realities of contemporary women and their lives. Print, film, television, short fiction, and artifact will be used to document cultural rates.
3 credits
Gen Ed Area: Capstone
- WST 301 Women, Peacemaking, and NonviolenceConsiders the theoretical foundations of non-violence and explores the application of these principles with reference to the experiences and history of women.
Approved for General Education Capstone.
3 credits
- WST 321 Women ArtistsExamines the history of women in the arts from the Middle Ages to the present day and the social conditions which influenced their art. Artists included are: A. Gentileschi, Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Georgia O'Keeffe, Judy Chicago and others.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None
General Education Capstone Seminar
Critical Reading and General Education Capstone Seminar
As part of completing the Foundational Skills area, incoming first-year students must complete the Critical Reading Seminar at Trinity; transfer students matriculating with sophomore status or above are not required to complete the Critical Reading Seminar. Additionally, incoming first-year and sophomore students must complete the General Education Capstone Seminar at Trinity; transfer students matriculating with junior status or above are not required to complete the General Education Capstone Seminar.
Waivers and Advanced Standing for General Education Requirements
In certain instances, a waiver can be used to fulfill general education curricular requirements, although such waivers carry no credits. The following general education requirements may be waived by earning a satisfactory score on the appropriate placement examination(s):
- Written Communication (waived by placing above ENGL 107 College CompositionEnglish 107 develops students’ effective writing of evidence-based, thesis- centered academic essays. The course emphasizes development of the research and documentation skills necessary for successful academic writing. Students will primarily write argumentative essays, building to a substantive research paper. Students in the School of Professional Studies may not take this course pass/fail. Formerly ENG 107 College Composition.
3 credits
Prerequisites for College of Arts and Sciences: Passing CRS 101 with a grade of "C" or better.
Prerequisites for School of Professional Studies: ENGL 105 with a grade of C or better OR score of 9 or higher on Writing portion of Accuplacer test.
General Education: Foundational Skills Area
FLC Area I Core Area I: Skills for Work and Life College Composition level)
- Foreign Language (Placement into the third semester of Arabic, French, Spanish, or other approved language constitutes a waiver of the foreign language requirement. Students who place into the second semester of a college-level language course need only complete the second semester of that language to fulfill the general education requirement).
- Quantitative Reasoning (Placement into MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry IExamines the following topics: functions, limits, continuity, differentiation and applications, and basic integration. Formerly MAT 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I.
4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 123 or placement test proficiency
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area IV: Exploration Cluster or higher constitutes a waiver of the requirement).
Additionally, general education requirements may be fulfilled through credits earned through examination, such as Advanced Placement or CLEP Examinations. The appropriate Program Chair determines if credits earned through examination also fulfill general education requirements. Some general education requirements may be fulfilled through credits earned at other accredited institutions. The appropriate Program Chair determines if credits earned at other accredited institutions also fulfill Trinity general education requirements.
Courses Fulfilling General Education and Major Requirements
In general, a course may be counted to fulfill no more than one general education requirement, although a course may be counted to fulfill a general education requirement as well as a requirement in a student’s major.