Distribution Requirements


NOTE: For students entering after Fall 2008, please reference the updated distribution requirements (PDF).


Students are required to take courses from the five categories listed below, unless an exception is granted through advanced placement. An exception is the distribution requirements required of transfer students with 16 or more transferable credits (refer to the section ‘Requirements for First-Year and Transfer Students' for more information).

The requirements are:

1. Community, Nation, and World Seminars (Students complete two courses.)

  1. One Community or Nation Seminar taken in the fall of the first year.
  2. One World Seminar taken in the spring of the first year.

2. Foreign Language Requirement (Students must complete one or two courses.)

  1. For students starting a new language or students placed on the 101 or 102 level, two semesters in the new or placement language or one semester of study abroad in a non-English-speaking country, including appropriate language instruction.
  2. For students placed on level 201 or above in French, German or Spanish, one semester of study or one semester of study abroad in a non-English-speaking country, including appropriate language instruction.
  3. Students who have achieved a score of at least 4 on the Advanced Placement test and those students whose native language is not English may be exempted from this requirement.
  4. Students who present appropriate documentation qualifying them for a foreign language accommodation may be allowed to substitute two ILC courses to satisfy this requirement.

3. Natural Science and Quantitative Requirement (Students must complete three courses—at least one of which must meet the Quantitative Requirement and at least one of which must meet the Natural Science Requirement.)

  1. Natural Science Requirement: Any course in biology, chemistry, or physics. Students choosing to fulfill the Natural Science and Quantitative Requirement by taking two courses in the Natural Science area may do so by completing either of the following:
    1. Students who: 1) plan to major in biology, chemistry, environmental studies, physics, or psychology or 2) plan to attend medical school must complete one of the following two-course sequences. Students who are seeking teacher certification or those who have a strong interest in the sciences may complete any one of the following two-course sequences:
      • BIO 111,112. General Biology
      • CHE 111, 112. General Chemistry
      • PHY 111, 112 General Physics
    2. Students who plan to major in a discipline other than those listed in "a" above may complete any combination of two science courses chosen from those listed above and/or the following courses:
      • BIO 100. Genes, Nature, and Society
      • BIO 104. Society, Ecology, and the Chesapeake Bay
      • CHE 100. Introduction to Contemporary Chemistry
      • CHE 110. Chemistry of the Environment
      • PHY 100. Introduction to Gravity and Space-Time
      • PHY 110. Astronomy
      • PHY 140. Exploring the Solid Earth
      • PHY 141. Atmosphere, Ocean, and Environment
  2. Quantitative Requirement: Any of the following courses:
    • MAT. Any course in Mathematics or
    • CSI. Any course in Computer Science
    • BUS 203. Quantitative Methods I
    • ECN 215. Data Analysis I
    • MUS 131. Elementary Music Theory I
    • MUS 231. Advanced Music Theory I
    • PHL 108. Logic
    • PSY 209. Statistics and Experimental Design

Students choosing to fulfill the Natural Science and Quantitative Requirement by taking two courses in the Quantitative area may take any of the following pairs:

Note: The other courses listed above (PHL 108 and PSY 209) as fulfilling the Quantitative Requirement may not be paired and are offered only to students choosing to fulfill the Quantitative Requirement by taking one course in this area.

4. Humanities and Fine Arts Requirement (Students must complete three courses—at least one of which must meet the Fine Arts Requirement and at least one of which must meet the other Humanities Requirement.)

  1. Humanities Requirement: Students choosing to fulfill the Humanities Requirement by taking one course in the humanities may do so by taking any course in the humanities listed below. Students choosing to fulfill the Humanities and Fine Arts Requirement by taking two courses in the Humanities may do so by taking any of the following pairs:
    • AMS 201, 202. Introduction to American Culture I, II
    • ENG 101, 102. Forms of Literature and Composition I, II
    • ENG 205, 206. Shakespeare I, II
    • ENG 207, 208. History of English Literature I, II
    • ENG 209, 210. Introduction to American Literature I, II
    • ENG 211, 212. Introduction to American Culture I, II
    • ENG 213, 214. Introduction to African American Literature I, II
    • ENG 215, 216. Foundations of Western Literature I, II

    Note: Cross combinations among ENG 209-214 are permitted.

    • ILC ___, ___. Any two courses in International Literature and Culture
    • PHL ___, ___. Any two courses in Philosophy (except PHL 108)
    • FRS/GRS/HPS Any two literature courses in the same language
  2. Fine Arts Requirement: Students choosing to fulfill the Fine Arts Requirement by taking one course in the fine arts may do so by taking any course selected from:
    1. Art (all courses)
    2. Drama (all courses except DRA 105 and DRA 200) or
    3. Music. Any four-credit history/literature course (i.e., MUS 100, 203, 204, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, or 311).

    Students choosing to fulfill the Humanities and Fine Arts Requirement by taking two courses in the fine arts may do so by taking any of the following pairs:

    1. Any combination of two courses in art.
    2. Any combination of two courses in drama, except DRA 105 and DRA 200.
    3. Any combination of two four-credit courses in music history/literature listed above.
    4. Any combination of one four-credit course in music listed above plus two two-credit courses in applied music (two semesters of voice or two semesters of the same instrument), or four courses in one music ensemble.

Note: Combining courses from two departments is not allowed unless the Chairs of the two departments involved grant permission and inform the Dean's Office in writing.

5. Social Science Requirement: (Students must complete three courses—selected from two departments as outlined below.)

To fulfill the requirement for two courses in the same department any of the following sequences may be taken:

Note: Sociology and anthropology courses are offered by the same department and may not be combined to fulfill the Social Science Requirement.