Core Curriculum (CC-GS comparison)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia School of General Studies
1

<p>Preface: I'm a current student so all of this knowledge is based on personal experience, conversations with professors, information readily available from academic advisors, and conversations with students from CC, SEAS, and GS.</p>

<p>Detailed core curriculum comparison:</p>

<p>WRITING</p>

<p>CC: University Writing (CC/SEAS only sections) Fall</a> 2011 English C1010 section 001
GS: University Writing (GS ONLY, and NOBODY ELSE, sections) Fall</a> 2011 English F1010 section 001</p>

<p>Both taught by professors drawn from the same faculty pool, using the same curriculum. Professors can attest to this.</p>

<p>LITERATURE</p>

<p>CC: Literature Humanities (EURPN LIT-PHILOS MASTERPIECS I and II) Fall</a> 2011 Humanities C1001 section 001
GS: Literature Humanities (EURPN LIT-PHILOS MASTERPIECS I and II) Fall</a> 2011 Humanities F1001 section 058 OR two 3000-level (upper division) literature classes.</p>

<p>Both taught by professors drawn from the same faculty pool, using the same curriculum. Professors can attest to this.</p>

<p>FOREIGN LANGUAGE</p>

<p>CC: 4th semester of a language OR exemption by university exam
GS: 4th semester of a language OR exemption by university exam</p>

<p>All language courses are organized by their specific departments, and have no separate GS or CC/SEAS sections. They are open to all students, including graduate students from any variety of Columbia graduate schools. I took Chinese with students from Columbia Law School, Columbia SIPA, GS, CC, SEAS, and a medical research graduate student from Columbia Medical School.</p>

<p>ART</p>

<p>CC: Art Humanities (MASTERPIECES OF WESTERN ART) Fall</a> 2011 Department: Art History and Archaeology Scroll down to it
GS: Art Humanities (MASTERPIECES OF WESTERN ART) Fall</a> 2011 Department: Art History and Archaeology Scroll down to it</p>

<p>There are ONLY W-sections for art humanities. All undergrads are in the same sections. </p>

<p>MUSIC</p>

<p>CC: Music Humanities (MASTERPIECES OF WESTERN MUSIC) Fall</a> 2011 Subject: Humanities Scroll down to it
GS: Music Humanities (MASTERPIECES OF WESTERN MUSIC) Fall</a> 2011 Subject: Humanities Scroll down to it</p>

<p>There are ONLY W-sections for art humanities. All undergrads are in the same sections. I took this class together with GS, SEAS, and CC students.</p>

<p>HUMANITIES/SOCIAL SCIENCE</p>

<p>CC: Contemporary Civilization (CONTEMP WESTERN CIVILIZATION I & II) Fall</a> 2011 Contemporary Civilization C1101 section 001
GS: Contemporary Civilization (CONTEMP WESTERN CIVILIZATION I & II) Fall</a> 2011 Contemporary Civilization F1101 section 061 OR 2 courses each in Humanities and Social Science</p>

<p>Both taught by professors drawn from the same faculty pool, using the same curriculum. Professors can attest to this. I chose the exemption through 2 courses each in Humanities and Social Science.</p>

<p>QUANTITATIVE REASONING</p>

<p>CC: Quantitative Reasoning covered by Frontiers of Science
GS: Quantitative Reasoning covered by Frontiers of Science OR 600 on SAT math section OR any mathematics, statistics, economics, or computer science course.</p>

<p>These courses are all departmental (Math department, Computer Science department, Economics department, etc.) and have no separate sections. All undergrad students are in the same courses and sections. </p>

<p>PHYSICAL EDUCATION</p>

<p>CC: Swim test (2 courses)
GS: No swim test. Can take a max of 2 P.E. classes for 1 credit each for fun, but not required.</p>

<p>SCIENCE</p>

<p>CC: Frontiers of Science and 2 additional science courses
GS: 3 science courses OR Frontiers of Science and 2 additional science courses </p>

<p>Fall</a> 2011 Science C1000 section 001 Frontiers of Science listed as C-section but open to ALL of CC, SEAS, GS, Barnard, AND SCE (as seen next to the "Open to" line near the bottom of the page, below "Division" and above "Campus".</p>

<p>No F sections exist for this course, as shown here Fall</a> 2011 Subject: Science </p>

<p>[Insert science] majors don't need to take this.</p>

<p>CULTURAL DIVERSITY</p>

<p>CC: 2 courses from the Major Cultures approved courses list.
GS: 1 course that focuses on culture, society, literature, or language of a nation or region that, as a general principle, is located outside the United States, Canada, or Europe.</p>

<p>These courses are all organized by their specific departments, and have no separate GS or CC/SEAS sections. All undergrad students are in the same courses and sections.</p>

<p>Information drawn both from personal experience, friends, peers, and from:
School</a> of General Studies - WikiCU, the Columbia University wiki encyclopedia</p>

<p>I also took a screenshot and uploaded it here <a href="http://i.imgur.com/U7Cgq.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://i.imgur.com/U7Cgq.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Thanks! This is a great summary of the info that’s spread out in other places.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the great compilation! Am I right to say Art and Music Human is the only 2 core that can be transferred from my current college? And maybe Quantitative Reasoning since I have Cal I.</p>

4

<p>QR definitely transfers. I think QR is the easiest to satisfy, as they’ll even accept a score > 600 on the math section of the SAT in the last 8 years. Your Calc I credit, assuming it’s a good grade in the last 8 years, would count as both the QR requirement and a science requirement.</p>

<p>You can definitely transfer in credits for language, one literature (of two required), general humanities (which would be like, History or something), Social Science, Science and cultural diversity. </p>

<p>I’m less sure about Art Hum and Music Hum. In theory both could be exempted, but neither would be easy. The website to use is [GS</a> Core Requirements | General Studies](<a href=“http://www.gs.columbia.edu/core-requirements]GS”>The Core < School of General Studies | Columbia University), click on each subject on the right to see the specific requirements for it. If you’re very musical you can also get a test-based exemption from music hum, I believe.</p>

<p>Once you’ve been admitted they carefully go over your transcript to figure out what your credits apply to, and what core requirements you’ve satisfied. In general I wouldn’t worry too much about it at this point.</p>

5

<p>In regards to QR, I personally gained exemption from it by transferring in credits from a statistics course. Calculus would work too. You can also transfer credits for the Social Sciences, Humanities, Foreign Language, Science, Literature, and POSSIBLY Cultural Diversity requirements. The one thing you definitely can’t escape from is University Writing.</p>

<p>Exemption from the Art Humanities Requirement:</p>

<p>Although all Columbia students are expected to take Art Humanities, there are some students who may obtain an exemption by filing a course substitution request.</p>

<p>Students who have taken a similar art course passed with a grade of B or higher at another college or university may submit a course exemption request. Exemption is given only for courses substantially equivalent to Art Humanities (seminar-style classes, with emphasis on analytical viewing and historical-cultural context), not for lecture courses. While exemption from Art Humanities is rarely granted, in the past students petitioning on the basis of similar courses taken at Emory University, New York University, CUNY-Baruch College, Hampshire College, and Sarah Lawrence College have often been granted an exemption.</p>

<p>Students who wish to request exemption based on course substitution must obtain an Art Humanities Exemption Request form from the Core Curriculum Office (202 Hamilton) or the GS Dean of Students Office. Exemption must be requested during the student’s first semester at Columbia.</p>

<p>Exemption from the Music Humanities Requirement:</p>

<p>Although all Columbia students are expected to take Music Humanities, there are some students who enter with exceptional musical backgrounds that may qualify them for exemption. Exemption from Music Hum may be obtained by passing an Exemption Exam. In the case of transfer students, exemption may also be obtained by filing a course substitution request.</p>

6

<p>Thank you guys so much for the posts! I have applied as a Financial Economic major transfer applicant and have been accepted by Columbia University GS, however, I am both excited and nervous about it. </p>

<p>I am an international student and still waiting for the decision from USC.
As I am not a strong writer, I got a B in one of my English Lit/Composition classes at Santa Monica College and I am wondering if I could cope the classes (like Literature Humanities) in Columbia. Could any of the current students please share more about the difficulty of the core courses? Thanks in advanced!</p>

7

<p>Santa Monica College is known as a feeder for good universities so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. If they think you’re good enough to be accepted, then you’re likely good enough to handle the workload. Also, remember that a side effect of the application process is that the school screens and filters out students whose chances of success they aren’t confident about. That being said, expect to be pushed to your limits, possibly to the point of needing to reassess and redefine the actual extent of your previously conceived limits.</p>

8

<p>Thank you for your opinion! I guess I’ll be attending Columbia to challenge my limits! I was hesitating because I’m confident(I don’t know why) I can beat the average for most of my classes at USC. However, I felt that Columbia University projected a very competitive environment. And knowing that I may have to take some core courses beyond my comfort zone, I just felt the chance of beating the average wasn’t that high. Having said that, I have not even tried, and I can’t be really sure about it.</p>

9

<p>It’s not just the core. The majors here at Columbia are way more intense than at many other Ivies. A friend of mine from UPenn says that it’s the case, without a doubt.</p>