<p>I don't live in North America and I'm having a bit of trouble understanding what the different "elements" of a Bachelor degree at Columbia University- or in most universities - are. If I understand correctly, at Columbia University, you choose a major and you have to complete the Core Curriculum.</p>
<p>In the major, you have to take certain courses to complete your degree. But do you also choose courses that aren't part of your major? And how do minors work? In the Core Curriculum, you have to take certain courses like physical education and university writing for freshmen. But what are the other courses that you have to take? </p>
<p>So, just to be clear, at Columbia, you have your major, (your minor?) and the Core Curriculum... Anything else? </p>
<p>In American schools in general you study to get a Bachelors in a particular field of study, but it’s only a focus, rather than the entire set of all your classes. This is your “major”. It doesn’t mean you don’t take classes not related to your major; that can vary by school and individual.</p>
<p>Columbia for example has a core that requires you to take classes outside your major (the ‘core curriculum’). This is not necessarily a thing in all American universities, but in general many schools do require you to take something outside your major. </p>
<p>In terms of other classes, basically you have to complete certain requirements to graduate (this would include your major requirements and your core requirements at Columbia, on top of taking a certain number of classes in general, which is denoted by ‘credits’). Other than that, whatever free time you have left you can feel free to take classes in any other subject that interests you. For 90% of the classes as long as you meet prerequisites you can take them regardless of undergrad school/major. </p>
<p>Now the confusing part is where the other types of denotations such as minors and concentrations come in. They’re basically like mini majors, where you can say I ‘minored’ in something which says you took some classes focused on that subject, but not quite enough to get a major. Concentrations are similar, and in general these denotations as far as I know basically mean nothing. Most people minor or concentrate just to do something outside their major they’re also interested in. On top of all that, you can double, or triple major. </p>
<p>I would recommend that if you attend an American university just make sure you take enough (and the right type) of classes to graduate, and whatever beyond that just take for your own interests. The minor/concentration stuff is really not important to worry about. </p>