What schools require liberal arts education for math/physics major?

Applying to College
1

I intend to major in math/physics and one day I want to become a researcher. I’ve been looking at schools with top math/science programs. Some of the schools that I thought I was initially interested in turned out to involve a heavy “core curriculum” in the humanities, something I’m not particularly attracted to…

For example I wanted to apply to Columbia College, but I realized how extensive the core is, and my goal is to get as fast as possible into math/physics specialization. Interestingly, Columbia Engineering School does not have a core like this, but they don’t offer the best courses for math/physics major.

Apparently Cornell School of Arts and Sciences offers a “liberal arts education”, which I assume means lots of humanities. Now I am getting quite nervous because I am confused about which universities have “liberal arts educations” for math/physics majors, and which don’t. I know for a fact that MIT and Caltech don’t, but thats about it. I don’t want to waste any time applying to programs which I know I wont enjoy.

By the way, I know that I have to take general education requirements at any university, but I am not interested in a heavy core curriculum. And I’m still not sure what a liberal arts education is, so if someone could explain this I would appreciate it.

Please help me understand which of the following universities require math/physics majors to do a liberal arts education or have a heavy humanities core: Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, NYU, UC Bekeley, UCLA, Brown, UMichigan, Cornell, RPI, Duke, CMU, UPenn, UChicago, Yale,GeorgiaTech, UTornto.

Thanks very much for your help.

2

While I fundamentally think at least some humanities core classes would be good for you, I can tell you that UChicago’s core is somewhat infamous. You probably would not enjoy it.

You can, of course, review the website of each school on your list to determine this information.

3

Pretty much all besides Brown will have at least some general education or core curriculum requirements. Of course, a math or physics major will have to take substantial liberal arts courses even at Brown, since math and physics are liberal arts.

Some of the schools with the heaviest general education or core curriulum requirements besides Chicago and Columbia are MIT and Harvey Mudd. If you really want to know, you can go to each school’s web site and look up its degree requirements.

4

I tried looking at each college’s website but I still think I am missing something and that is quite time consuming. Plus I know other people have done this before know so it would be helpful if you could add confirmation.

I thought MIT and Caltech allowed for quick specialization in STEM subjects? And I know that Brown is great for me. But as for the other schools on my list, I am still unsure whether the humanities requirements are heavy (compared to, say, Columbia). Please offer information for the schools I listed specifically?

Thanks again. I really appreciate your help.

5

No substitute for doing your own research on this… Even if someone has info, it can change since their experience. Google the graduation requirements for each college, it will usually tell you some of what you want. Then look at the specific major requirements. I’d start a spreadsheet to track what you find out.

6

I am doing my own research but I’m asking other people what they know about it as well. If you know the information, tell it to me please. Don’t make it hard for me.

Can someone please answer my question?

7

Agree with @intparent In this case there is absolutely no substitute for some old fashioned research.

8

Jesus, you guys are making it hard on me. I am totally willing to do the research, but if you know outright that one of these school has minimal humanities reqs or one of them has extensive reqs, tell me so that I can save time and be steered in the right direction.

Just so you know, I’ve already taken a look at the general reqs for all of these schools except for 2 or 3, but I’m still lost because I’ve been bogged down by details.

At this point I just want a summary of which schools have serious huaminities cores and which don’t.

Come on now, be helpful. Honestly please make my life easier.

PLEASE

9

Do you expect someone with detailed knowledge from each school to flock to your thread? Do you think those who have looked at the the thread are holding out and just don’t want to help you?

Here is the thing… most students don’t care a ton about this. They figure there will be some gen ed type requirements everywhere. That is pretty much how US colleges are set up. It is one of the reasons a bachelors degree in the U.S. takes 4 years instead of 3, because of the general acceptance of the idea that a graduate should take some courses outside their major. So most students and parents don’t have this info on the tip of their tongue. Unless the requirement is really vital to the essence of the school (like UChicago), or doesn’t exist (Brown), it is probably middle of the road.

Why don’t you look at Canadian or UK colleges? More what you seem to be looking for.

10

Like I said, I have no problem with general education requirements, but I’m scared of heavy humanities cores like at Columbia and UChicago. I’m interested in knowing if there are any other colleges like these two on my list. That’s all I want to know.

UK/Canadian colleges are not financially viable for me.

Thanks for your help.

11

This is a common assumption, but an inaccurate one.

http://web.mit.edu/firstyear/2019/subjects/ indicates that MIT’s general institute requirements include 8 humanities, arts, and social studies courses (about a quarter of your course work), including breadth and depth requirements within those categories. That is in addition to math and science requirements that include chemistry and biology as well as math and physics.

Caltech students must complete at least 108 (22%) out of 486 credit units in humanities and social studies, according to https://www.hss.caltech.edu/content/core-courses . There are also breadth and depth sub requirements. Of course, there are also math and science requirements that include chemistry and biology. See page 222 (as labeled) of http://catalog.caltech.edu/pdf/catalog_15_16_part3.pdf .

12

After reading through the HASS requirements it seems that you can get out of the humanities stuff by taking history of science, philosophy of science, technology and society, etc type classes. In any case, MIT and Caltech do allow you to specialize in STEM more quickly than at other places.

But again, I am just asking people to help me identify which of the colleges I listed are SUPER heavy on the humanities. So far I know Columbia and UChicago. Any others?

13

Chicago’s core has 6 humanities and 3 social studies courses, for a total of 9 courses. But Chicago is on the quarter system, so this is probably equivalent to 6 courses at a semester system school. It also has a foreign language requirement (third quarter equivalent).

Columbia’s core has 7 humanities and social studies courses, and a foreign language requirement (second semester equivalent).

For comparison, MIT’s HASS requirement has 8 courses, but no foreign language requirement.

In other words, the volume of humanities and social studies required at these schools is not hugely different.

14

I honestly don’t think MIT’s HASS requirement is that much, and it shouldn’t discourage you from applying. In fact some of my more enjoyable classes were HASSes.

To be exact, MIT’s HASS requirement is:

  1. 8 HASS classes, with at least one each from humanities, arts, social sciences
  2. Two of them must be CI-H (or one CI-HW). Yes you have to be able to write.
  3. You have to declare a HASS concentration, which is usually satisfied by 3 or 4 HASS classes in that field

But you should be able to look this stuff up.

15

I looked up the HASS and as I said it seems relativley light. You can take mostly science related courses in HASS, it seems.