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General Academic Requirements
General Information for Arts and Sciences
General Academic Requirements THE CURRICULUM The Arts and Sciences undergraduate program requires a minimum of 128 credit hours of study. These credits are earned through a combination of degree requirements and electives. The degree requirements are comprised of five components, which each contribute to students’ achieving the goals of the undergraduate program. Remaining credits are earned with elective courses. Often, students use electives to complete a minor program or benefit from the special academic opportunities offered.
INSTITUTIONAL LEARNING GOALS Emmanuel College Prepares Students to: 1. Engage complex ideas by broadening and deepening their knowledge and by sharpening their intellectual skills. Emmanuel students address complex realities across diverse areas of inquiry, drawing on deep connections formed through the study of the liberal arts and sciences and a chosen discipline. Through critical analysis, balanced reflection and active discourse, they confront vital issues equipped with the intellectual tools to imagine solutions. Students emerge with a deeper appreciation for the pursuit of knowledge as a pathway to a more meaningful, creative and enriching life. 2. Excel in their future careers—and make valuable contributions to their organizations and professions. Students of Emmanuel College are able to apply knowledge to real-world challenges by engaging in creative and ethical problem solving. As people who value and promote diversity, graduates work on multiple Emmanuel College
levels to advance their organizations and all whom they serve and employ. Students see themselves as part of a larger whole and add value through teamwork and leadership, recognizing the need to be agile and forward-leaning in their chosen professions. 3. Deepen and clarify their sense of personal, social, ethical and civic responsibility. Inspired by Catholic social teaching and by the values of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, students honor the dignity, worth and gifts of every human person. Through vibrant discussions, they reflect on their own moral reasoning and on diverse perspectives—including voices that have been historically silenced. As active participants in campus life, they develop the interpersonal and leadership skills to practice courageous advocacy. And throughout Boston and beyond, they experience the joy of serving others while finding purpose by addressing inequality. These transformative experiences empower students to discover their strengths and a deeper sense of personal identity; grow emotionally, morally and spiritually; and gain the confidence to embrace their convictions through social action.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS Students who entered in Fall 2021 will follow a new General Education (GE) program. The degree requirements for the new GE Program and the General Requirements for students who entered before Fall 2021 are detailed below. All degree programs, regardless of start date, are comprised of the following key requirements:
