School of Arts and Sciences

The writing intensive requirement teaches writing as a mode of learning, not simply as a way to articulate what is learned.

Students become familiar with the conventions and intellectual traditions of the discipline of their major and use writing to acquire knowledge in that discipline. All students will satisfy the writing intensive requirement as defined in the requirements for the major.

Through writing assignments, opportunities for revision, focused writing instruction and review of exemplary writing in the discipline, writing intensive assignments further develop writing skills necessary for successful written communication in specific fields of specialization. Students will learn to evaluate and employ disciplinary writing conventions, styles and formats, and how to convey arguments and use evidence and rhetorical strategies for appropriate audiences. 

How to fulfill the writing intensive requirements

The oral communication requirement enhances students' ability to present, communicate and listen effectively in a range of contexts, critically evaluate orally presented information and arguments, and consider specific techniques for using oral language as a communication tool with confidence.

This foundational literacy requirement in the major recognizes that students need to be prepared with varied concrete skills for use in communicating effectively in various fields of study, including (but not limited to) oral presentations, interviews, active debate, discussion facilitation and critique. All students will satisfy the oral communication requirement as defined in the requirements for each major.

How to fulfill the oral communication requirements

The ability to engage in the digital world plays an increasingly important role in intellectual life. Every discipline has been affected by the digital revolution in its own way.

Students will master the critical digital resources and techniques relevant to the scholarly or creative endeavors of their discipline. All students will satisfy the digital literacy requirement as defined in the requirements for the major.

How to fulfill the digital literacy requirements

All students will take one course that is designated as meeting the quantitative reasoning requirement, which was established to develop student' ability to collect, summarize and analyze numerical data; to make abstract concepts operational; and to think critically about the accuracy and soundness of conclusions based on data or on mathematical models.

How to fulfill the quantitative reasoning requirements