The Carthage Plan

Students must complete 138 credits to graduate from Carthage. Most courses are 4 credits. A full-time student takes four courses (16 credits) per term.

About a third of a student's courses will be core courses that are common for all majors. Another third will be courses specific to that student's major. The remainder of a student's courses will be electives. These are courses a student takes to enhance his or her major, broaden his or her expertise, or explore an extra major or minor.

The general education requirements seek to provide a broad base of knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences. They are designed to develop lifelong competencies in critical and creative thinking, written and oral communication, quantitative reasoning, problem-solving, and the capability to work independently and collaboratively.

Please note: Current students should work with their advisors and the department chair to ensure all requirements are met.

Core

Western Heritage I & II (8 credits)

All Carthage students must successfully complete two core seminar courses called Western Heritage. These courses are typically taken during the fall and spring semesters of a student’s freshman year. Western Heritage seminars strengthen a student’s ability to read critically, think clearly, write persuasively, and argue effectively. These core courses also count as Writing Intensive courses.

Understandings of Religion (4 credits)

In the course Understandings of Religion, students explore the role of religion in the lives of individuals, communities and cultures. Students will explore topics such as God, scripture, ritual, values, ethical issues and cosmology as expressed within several specific religious traditions.

Common Experiences

Math (4 credits)

Students must successfully complete a mathematics course, unless a student fulfills the proficiency requirement established by the College.

Modern Language (0-8 credits)

Students must complete two modern language courses in the same language, unless a student fulfills the proficiency requirement established by the College.

Religion (4 credits)

In addition to Understandings of Religion, students must take an additional approved religion course. This course cannot be used to satisfy any distribution requirement.

Exercise and Sports Science (2 credits)

Students must take Concepts of Physical Fitness (1 credit) and complete one Lifetime/Fitness activity. A student who participates on an athletic team for an entire season can fulfill the one Lifetime/Fitness activity requirement.

J-Term

All students must enroll in a J-Term course during their freshman year. Students must successfully complete at least two J-Term courses (freshman year and one other year) to graduate.

Carthage Symposium (4-8 credits)

A Carthage Symposium course is team-taught by two instructors from different departments, most frequently from different academic divisions. It is an innovative academic program in interdisciplinary education that allows students to explore a single topic through the lenses of two completely different fields.

Writing Intensive Courses (16 credits)

Writing well is a powerful life skill, and Carthage is committed to teaching its students to write well in all disciplines. All students are required to take four courses (4 credits each) that are designated Writing Intensive (WI). The first two courses are Western Heritage I and II. Of the remaining courses, one must be in the academic major of the student's choice, while the other may be any WI course in the curriculum.

Global Heritage (4 credits)

Global Heritage courses explore cultures and civilizations with substantial non-European elements, providing students with alternative worldviews. The Global Heritage requirement can be completed by courses taken on campus or through off-campus study. Courses satisfying this requirement are approved by the Global Heritage Oversight Committee and are designated in the course catalog and course schedule.

Senior Thesis

Students complete a senior thesis during their final year at Carthage to demonstrate their mastery of their chosen area of study. This thesis may take the form of a research project, music recital, or other appropriate product of original, creative work. Students must check with the department chair for specific details.

Distribution

Fine Arts (4 credits)

Humanities (4 credits)

Social Science (4 credits)

Natural Science (8 credits)

Students must take two courses in the natural sciences, one of which must be a lab.

Major

More than 30 academic areas of study (40 credits)

Students must complete 36-56 credits in their major, with no more than 40 of these credits within any one department. All students must have 82 credits outside of their major department for graduation.

Electives in the major (36 credits)

Electives allow students to explore their intellectual interests in a wide variety of disciplines and areas of knowledge.

For Prospective Students

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Study Abroad

Connect with other cultures. Master a foreign language. Read more ...

Carthage Symposium

Team-taught courses allow students to explore a single topic from two very different points of view. Read more ...

J-Term

A special month-long period of study in January to experiment, create and dream. Read more ...

Western Heritage

Freshman seminar series develops key reading, writing, cultural literacy and oral communication skills. Read more ...

Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

Students and faculty find answers together in summer research program. Read more ...

ScienceWorks

Entrepreneurial Studies in the Natural Sciences gives science majors a career advantage. Read more ...

Target Language Experts

Introductory modern language courses are taught by native speakers. Read more ...