<p>In addition to these courses, are there any other required courses, such as a core curriculum, that ALL Rice students must take before they graduate?</p>
<p>While there is no core curriculum, rice seperates their courses into 3 categories: natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities (I think those are the 3). Students must take 4 distribution classes from each category. So while no specific classes are required, everyone must take a few classes from the 3 sufferer fields. Hope that helps</p>
<p>Thanks, that does help. So 4 classes per each category would equal 12 classes total, meaning around 36 credit hours from solely distribution courses? (Please correct me if I’m wrong.)</p>
<p>Would that mean it would be possible to fill in distribution requirements with some of the classes from your major? (Or are there only specific distribution classes)</p>
<p>go to registrar.rice.edu for further details on distribution requirements (the General Announcements link has all the info you need).</p>
<p>Certain classes are designated as D1, D2, or D3. If you take these classes, you will get credit towards the distribution requirement, regardless of whether you’re taking that class as part of your major/minor. Also, AP credit in certain classes may be applied to distribution credit. I came in with about 33 hours and my D3 credit was entirely completed before I even signed up for my first semester freshman year schedule. I’ve had absolutely no difficulty with the distribution system (you don’t really wind up taking a ton of classes you don’t want to). Most people are fine. Engineers sometimes have a harder time fulfilling D1 (humanities) credit but it’s doable and relatively painless.</p>
<p>Usually your major covers one of the distribution areas so you only have to worry about taking at most 24 distribution course credits. As a bioc major you wouldn’t have to worry about D3 because all your intro courses are also D3 courses.</p>