Developed in part through funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Core Curriculum at Manhattan College was introduced in 1986 to provide a common learning experience for all students in the School of Arts. Many of the courses form a shared Core Curriculum with the students in the School of Science. The Objectives of the core are:
- to develop in our students the verbal, cognitive, and mathematical skills necessary for serious scholarly activity;
- to explore different civilizations and cultures from an interdisciplinary point of view and to learn to apply this understanding to contemporary problems;
- to enhance our students' understanding of the natural world, the scientific method, and the impact of science and technology on society;
- to extend our students' understanding of the self, the relationship between self and society, and the way societies interact.
We expect every graduate of the School of Arts to be able to read analytically, to write effectively, and to communicate intelligently. Towards these goals, the courses that comprise the core are writing-intensive, part of the School's commitment to the importance of writing. Class sizes are kept small to encourage active and regular class participation. Students are expected to be active participants in the learning experience.
The Core Foundation
Modern Foreign Languages
Our students engage in a year's study of French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, or Arabic at a level appropriate to the needs of the individual student. Russian, Advanced Japanese, Classical Greek, and Classical Latin are available through our cooperative agreement with Lehman College. These courses develop proficiency in the language and provide deeper insight into a particular foreign culture, thus broadening international understanding in general.
Mathematics and Computer Science
Our students usually take MATH 102--Modern Mathematics or Math 211--Elementary Statistics. However, courses such as Calculus may be substituted with the approval of the student's advisor. These courses are usually taken in freshman year.
Writing
Since the Core requires a great deal of writing, the students are prepared in a one-semester intensive study of and practice in writing college-level prose. This should be taken in the first or second semester of freshman year.
- ENGL 110 - College Writing (or)
- ENGL 210 - Exposition and Argumentation (by invitation)
Science
Through classroom lectures and laboratory experiences, students focus on the intersection of science and contemporary life. Three science courses are usually taken in freshman and sophomore years, from any of the following:
- SCI 230 - Physics in the Modern World
- SCI 231 - Chemistry in the Modern World
- SCI 232 - Biology in the Modern World II
- SCI 201 - Introductory Astronomy
- SCI 202 - Introductory Geology
- SCI 203 - Topics in Science I
- SCI 204 - Topics in Science II
- SCI 221 - Introductory Meteorology
Religious Studies
Three courses in Religious Studies form a shared educational experience across the five schools of Manhattan College. Freshmen take RELS 110, Nature and Experience of Religion, and then have two electives, one of which focuses on religious traditions and the other of which examines religion and contemporary thought.
The Core Courses
Origins
The "Origins" courses are multi-disciplinary courses that explore Greek and Roman contributions to western culture and the many-faceted experiences of the various groups and peoples that comprise U.S. society. These are usually taken in freshman year.
- LLRN 102 - Classical Origins
- LLRN 103 - Global Origins of U.S. Society
Roots of the Social Sciences
The Core Social Sciences courses provide critical examinations of contemporary social issues from the perspective of the particular social science discipline. Students elect three and usually take these in freshman and sophomore years.
- LLRN 120 - Roots of Social Science: Economics
- LLRN 121 - Roots of Social Science: Government
- LLRN 122 - Roots of Social Science: Sociology
- LLRN 123 - Roots of Social Science: Psychology
Roots of the Modern Age
The humanities component of the Core allows students to explore selected literary, historical, and philosophical texts and major artistic and musical works that contribute to an understanding of today's world. Students take History, Literature, and Philosophy, and may choose between Art and Music. These four courses are usually taken in sophomore and junior years.
- LLRN 203 - Roots of the Modern Age: History
- LLRN 204 - Roots of the Modern Age: Literature
- LLRN 205 - Roots of the Modern Age: Philosophy
- LLRN 207 - Roots of the Modern Age: Music (or)
- LLRN 209 - Roots of the Modern Age: Art
