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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)