Academic Advising Center: Liberal Arts and Science Program
Fitchburg State College has a long tradition of providing students
with a liberal education. The Liberal Arts and Science Program is
required of all undergraduate majors. Of the 120 semester hours
needed to graduate, candidates must complete a minimum of 60 hours
satisfying the requirements of the Liberal Arts and Science Program.
This curriculum consists of 20 courses, covering approximately
two years or 60 credits, in disciplines traditionally recognized in
the Liberal Arts and Sciences. These courses are organized into
clusters, which emphasize the knowledge, and skills an educated
person is expected to understand and appreciate, as well as to apply,
in the practical business of lifelong learning. In addition, and
equally important, these courses emphasize the development of essential,
cross-disciplinary skills and intellectual habits and attitudes
characteristic of liberally educated persons, including responsible,
independent decision-making.
A major purpose of these requirements is to assist in developing
confidence in the following intellectual skills: critical thinking,
writing, reading, listening, speaking, and quantifying. The student
is also expected to attain a general intellectual background in
the Liberal Arts and Sciences content areas, to integrate these
content areas and evaluate them intelligently, and to acquire global,
as well as temporal perspectives.
Certain majors specify which courses must be taken to satisfy Liberal
Arts and Sciences requirements. Students should meet with their
academic advisor before registering for classes.
Please see the following for information on the components of the
Liberal Arts and Science Program.
Liberal Arts and Sciences Program (60-63 Semester
Hours)
Readiness*
| Mathematics |
Level I: Placement Exam or Basic
Math I |
|
|
Level II: Placement Exam or
Basic Math II |
|
| English |
Placement Exam or Basic College
Writing |
|
Required
| Writing I |
3 |
| Writing II |
3 |
| Health and Fitness |
3 |
Content Clusters
| Quantitative/Scientific
(Q) |
|
| 4 Courses --
12-15 s.h. |
|
| Math
|
3 |
| Lab Science
|
3-4 |
|
3-4 |
|
3-4 |
| Ideas
and Events (I) |
|
| 3 Courses --
9 s.h. |
|
| Historical
Perspective |
3 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
| Human
Behavior (B) |
|
| 2 Courses
-- 6 s.h. |
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
| Literature,
Language and Arts (L) |
|
| 4 Courses --
12 s.h. |
|
| Literature
|
3 |
| Arts |
3 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
LA&S Electives
| 4 Courses -- 12 s.h. |
|
| |
3 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
Other LA&S Requirements
For the following requirements, put a check in the
box if the course credits are counted elsewhere.
| Jr./Sr. Writing** |
|
| Listening & Speaking**
|
|
| Computer Literacy**
|
|
| Interdisciplinary***
|
|
| (2 Courses - 1 in Freshman
Year) |
|
|
|
|
|
| Multicultural*** (2 Courses)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Intermediate and Advanced Courses
**** |
|
| 3 Courses in one non-major discipline
- 9 s.h. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*May not be required of some transfer students. Institutional
credit only: does not count toward graduation.
** The methods of fulfilling the Jr./Sr. Writing, Listening &
Speaking, and Computer Literacy requirements are determined by the
department of the students major.
*** Courses designated as Interdisciplinary or Multicultural can
simultaneously meet the Content Clusters distribution.
**** Three courses in the intermediate (2000) and/or advanced
(3000-4000) levels; in one discipline; and outside one's major.
(There may be an introductory prerequisite course)
|
