<p>I don't know exactly how the core curriculum works, but if I want to major in Economics/International Relations + Chinese I'm guessing I'll have to take the minimum number of science components. What I want to know is, exactly how much do you need to take, and is a lot of it practical work? Do they design some science courses particularly for arts-orientated students, dealing more with the theoretical aspects etc. and maybe linking science with religion, philosophy etc.? Or do you just have to get down to the real thing, practicals and all?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/%7Ecore/%5B/url%5D">http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~core/</a></p>
<p>^ The Harvard core. And yes, you do have choice within the core requirements.</p>
<p>There are two Core Science areas: Science A and Science B. Science A takes more of the "physical" approach like chemistry while Science B is more "biological." These Core classes are actually very interesting and not competitive at all, considering the science classes for majors are filled with science geniuses and pre-med students such as myself. My English major suitemate had a fun time and got an A in his Science A core (Environmental Disasters, take that as you will) with very minimal work.</p>
<p>So I really never knew that much about the core...
and I want to know if I'm reading this correctly...</p>
<p>The only math class I need to take is a course from the "quantitative reasoning" grouping? so, taking one of those courses, let's say, "the magic of numbers" (tehe), would fulfill that...?</p>
<p>because that would be, um, really cool... as I generally dislike math...</p>
<p>Yes, that's correct. Although magic of numbers (basic number theory), from what I hear, is not as much of a joke as it sounds like from the name. The easiest QR class currently listed in the CUE is QR 38, The Strategy of International Politics.</p>
<p>My Science A core was, according to the CUE, the worst class offered at Harvard. (I took it the first year it was offered.) I don't dispute that conclusion. Science B I took outside the core, and it was much better.</p>
<p>I am just enthused by the title of that course...</p>
<p>The <em>Magic</em> of Numbers!</p>
<p>hehe.</p>
<p>I thought I was going to have to take multivariable calc or something...</p>
<p>Hm, The Strategy of International Politics actually sounds pretty cool...</p>