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Home > Academics > Undergraduate Studies > Core Curriculum

Core Curriculum

The Manchester Core

A Program in the Liberal Arts

鶹ԭ seeks to develop in each student an appreciation for learning through an academic foundation grounded in the disciplines and in-depth study in specific majors.

This combination prepares students for graduate school, the professions, and positions of leadership in all areas of society. A broad-based, flexible General Education curriculum in the liberal arts provides the most appropriate formal preparation to:

  • meet contemporary challenges,
  • fulfill career goals,
  • lead a purposeful, healthy and rewarding life, and
  • serve society as a responsible citizen.

Core Curriculum

This innovative and interdisciplinary core curriculum is a cohesive program that informs, inspires, and transforms Manchester students into persons of ability and conviction. By securing academic foundations, requiring interdisciplinary knowledge and skills, and delivering high‐impact student experiences, the core curriculum prepares students to live, work, and thrive in a complex world.

The curricular framework embodies both the mission and the values of 鶹ԭ. Courses will embody the mission and values through specific course content, though not every course offered in a specific category is required to include the same values or engage the same portion of the mission statement.

The new core curriculum is comprised of three main components, each made up of multiple categories. The total hours may vary from 32 to 41 credit hours.

Foundation (13-15 Credits)
LA-FWS First‐Year Writing Seminar

3
LA-FCS First‐Year Communication Seminar

3
LA-FSS First Year Success Seminar

1
LA-FQR Quantitative Reasoning (pick one)

3‐4
LA-FCG Cultural and Global Understanding (pick one)

3-4

 

Exploration (9-13)
LA-EAH Arts and Humanities (pick one) 3
LA-ENS Natural Sciences (pick one)

3-6
LA-ESS Social Sciences (pick one)

3=4

 

Transformation (10-13)
LA-TFR Faith, Reason, and Ethics (pick one) 3
LA-TBI Big Issues ‐ 2 courses (pick one)

6-7
LA-TCE Creative Expression (pick one)

1‐3

 

Total Credit Hours

32‐41

Updated as of May 2024

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Core Courses

Foundation Core Courses

First Year Writing Seminar (3 Credits) | LA-FWS
FYWS 111 First Year Writing Seminar
First Year Communication Seminar (3 Credits) | LA-FCS
COMM 110 Foundations of Human Communication
First Year Success Seminar (3 Credits) | LA-FSS
INTD 101 First Year Success Seminar
Quantitative Reasoning (3-4 Credits) | LA-FQR
DATA 210 Statistical Analysis
MATH 115 Elementary Probability & Statistics
MATH 121 Calculus I
MATH 122 Calculus II
MATH 125 Mathematical Modeling
MATH 211 Quantitative Skills for Business
PHIL 230 Logic
PSYC 241 Stats & Research Design I
SOC 325 Quantitative Research Methods
Cultural and Global Understanding (3-4 Credits) | LA-FCG
BUS 202 Exploring International Business
EDUC 230 Educational Psychology
ENG 216 Topics in Literature and Cultural Studies
ENG 227 Twenty-First Century Literature
ENG 238 World Literature
ENG 242 African American Literature
ENG 246 Comics, Graphic Novels, and Film
ENG 250 Literary Passport
ENG 261 Women in Literature
EXSC 313 International Sports Medicine
GNST 125 Intro to Gender Studies
GNST 201 Introduction to Queer Studies
HIST 121 World History to 1500
HIST 123 World History From 1500
HIST 210 Modern China & East Asia: 1750 to Present
HIST 226 Imperialism and the Modern World
HIST 237 Race & Ethnicity in US History
HIST 242 South & Southeast Asia: Ancient-1500
HIST 254 Latin American History
HIST 256 African American History
HIST 263 Making of India & Pakistan
HIST 317 British Empire & Making of the Modern World
HIST 353 Women and Gender in India and China
IDIV 240 Making of the Modern Mind
鶹ԭS 124 Popular Music & Culture
鶹ԭS 230 World Musics
NURS 300 Maternal Newborn
NUTR 315 International Foods and Nutrition
PEAC 110 Introduction to Peace Studies
PEAC 250 Peacemaking in Practice Abroad
PEAC 218 Mediating Conflict
PEAC 320 Global Conflict Resolution
PHIL 327 Indigenous Thinking
POSC 235 Development & Politics of Latin America
POSC 366 Wealth & Poverty in the Global Economy
POSC 371 The United Nations
REL 222 Religions of East Asia
REL 223 Religions of India
REL 244 The Religions of Abraham
REL 247 Jesus in the Middle Eastern Perspective
SOC 210 Urban-Rural Dynamics
SOC 228 Racial, Ethnic, & Gender Inequality
SOC 311 Cultural Anthropology
SOC 313 Cultural Ecology
SOWK 228 Racial, Ethnic, & Gender Inequality
SPAN 111 Food Cultures
SPAN 112 Memory and Culture
SPAN 201 Communication and Culture
SPAN 202 Cultures and Controversies
SPAN 301 Oral Communication

Exploration Core Courses

Arts and Humanities (3 Credits) | LA-EAH
ART 201 Art and Life
ART 246 History of Modern & Contemporary Art
ART 253 Women in the Arts
ENG 115 Intro to Literature
HUM 211 Exploration in the Arts
REL 106 Becoming Who You Are
Natural Sciences (3-6 Credits) | LA-ENS
BIOL 104 Foundations of Human Communication
CHEM 101 Chemical Science
CHEM 136 Forensic Science
ENVS 130 Introduction to Environmental Studies
NASC 103 Physical Science
NASC 210 Exploration of the Natural Sciences
NURS 405 Research for Evidence-Based Practice
Alternatively, student may take two 100 or 200-level courses, each in a different discipline, from BIOL, CHEM, ENVS, NASC, or PHYS to fulfill the Natural Sciences requirement.
Social Sciences (3-4 Credits) | LA-ESS
CRIM 110 Intro to Criminal Justice
EDUC 111 Exploring Educational Systems
HIST 113 North American History to 1865
HIST 114 United States History Since 1865
HIST 207 Epidemic Disease in US History
HIST 233 Puerto Rico and the United States
PSYC 110 Introduction to Psychology
POSC 123 American Politics
POSC 150 International Relations
POSC 234 Democracy & Dictatorship
SOC 102 Human Conflict
SOC 110 Civic Engagement
SOWK 110 Intro to Social Work

Transformation Core Courses

Faith, Reason, and Ethics (3 Credits) | LA-TFR
PHIL 201 Intro to Philosophy
PHIL 205 A Meaningful Life
PHIL 206 The Human Person
PHIL 215 Ethical Decision Making
PHIL 219 Business Ethics
PHIL 221 Medical and Research Ethics
REL 101 Intro to the Hebrew Bible
REL 102 Intro to the New Testament
REL 111 Christian Traditions
REL 113 The Bible & Philosophical Thought
REL 120 Intro to Religious Studies
REL 121 Sacred Traditions
REL 247 Jesus in the Middle Eastern Perspective
Big Issues (2 Courses) (6-7 Credits) | LA-TBI
COMM 336 Video Games & Virtual Identity
INTD 321 Trauma and Resilience
INTD 322 Fashion and Cultural Identity
INTD 323 Incarcerated Shakespeare
INTD 324 Feminist Theory
INTD 335 Emotion in the Workplace
INTD 340 Pathways to Purpose
INTD 343 Philosophy of Mind
INTD 350 Migrants and Refugees
INTD 355 Critical Issues in Education
INTD 405 Life and Death
INTD 410 Cinema for Social Change
INTD 425 Environmental Philosophy
INTD 427 International Women’s Rights
INTD 441 Globalization
INTD 445 Development of Modern Scientific Thought
**NURS 450 Capstone: Leadership in Nursing Practice
POSC 332 Power and Politics in America
POSC 366 Wealth & Poverty in the Global Economy
SOC 351 Community & Environmental Sociology
SOC 355 Health, Medical Care, & Society
SOWK 355 Health, Medical Care, & Society
Creative Expression (1-3 Credits) | LA-TCE
ART 131 Basic Design
ART 210 Painting I
ART 212 Torchworking Glass
ART 213 Figure Drawing
ART 221 Digital Photography
ART 241 Ceramics
ART 261 Graphic Design Concepts & Vectors
ART 271 Three-Dimensional Construction
COMM 235 Community Podcasting
COMM 364 Producing for the Internet
ENG 201 Journalism I: Reporting
ENG 317 Journalism II: Editing
ENG 363 Topics in Creative Writing
鶹ԭS 100 Piano (Beginner)
鶹ԭS 101 Applied Piano (Majors)
鶹ԭS 102 Voice (Beginner)
鶹ԭS 105 Organ (Beginner)
鶹ԭS 107 Voice: Non-Majors (Beginner)
鶹ԭS 126 Beat Making & Production
鶹ԭS 128 Class Piano I: Non-Majors (Beginner)
鶹ԭS 130 A Cappella Choir
鶹ԭS 140B Symphany Orchestra Strings
鶹ԭS 146 Symphonic Band
鶹ԭS 200 Piano: Non-Major (Intermediate)
鶹ԭS 201 Piano (Intermediate)
鶹ԭS 202 Voice (Intermediate)
鶹ԭS 205 Organ (Intermediate)
鶹ԭS 207 Voice: Non-Majors (Intermediate)
POSC 370 Model United Nations
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