The College

Credits required to graduate: 42

The "Core"

You’ll begin your undergraduate education at Chicago by taking courses from the Common Core curriculum (also referred to as your general education requirements). At its heart, the “Core” (as it is typically called) is designed to develop within each student a robust ability for intellectual inquiry. The Core emphasizes the study of original texts and the formulation of original questions based on those texts. The objective of these courses is to raise fundamental questions and to encourage the habits of mind and the critical, analytical, and writing skills that are urgently needed in a well-informed member of modern society.

Major Program of Study

Just as the Core provides the foundation for addressing key intellectual questions, the major program of study supplies you with a depth of knowledge and sophistication in a defined field – whether a traditional academic discipline, an interdisciplinary program, or, in special cases, a program of your own design undertaken in conjunction with a tutor. Majors afford students invaluable opportunities to develop and defend complex arguments by means of extended scholarly research. See our section on declaring a major for more information.

Electives

Beyond the Core and your major, electives can provide a breadth and a balance that is critical to a true liberal education. You can use your electives to:

• Pursue a minor (or minors)
• Take on an independent research project
• Travel for overseas study
• Acquire advanced training in a second language

Other Requirements

In addition to the above courses, you’ll need to satisfy the language and physical education requirements before you can graduate. Please see the following pages, and/or the sections of the College Catalog for details.

• Language competence
• Physical Education