Common Core

Students who are entering the College for the first time, and who are pursuing a Bachelor’s degree, must take a First Year Seminar and First Year Colloquium during their first semester. Transfer students who have completed fewer than 24 credits of course work at another college are also required to complete the First Year Seminar and First Year Colloquium.

FYS 100 First Year Seminar (3 credits)

The First Year Seminar is composed of several important components. First, it develops intellectual skills such as critical analysis and synthesis, and communications skills such as speaking and writing. Second, it broadens definitions of learning. Students are exposed to multiple ways of acquiring information and knowledge. Third, using the instructor’s major field of study as a foundation,the First Year Seminar establishes the integration of knowledge and promotes connections across disciplines. The First-Year Seminar is letter-graded.

FYC 100 First Year Colloquium (1 credit)

The First Year Colloquium includes various orientation functions and involvement in the Wednesday-at-11 speaker series, which includes attending seven lectures (or their equivalent, such as presentations, discussions, films, etc.) over the course of a semester. The First Year Colloquium is graded Pass/No Pass.

Areas of Understanding

The Elizabethtown College Core Program consists of eight thematic Areas of Understanding.

• Power of Language
• Mathematics
• Creative Expression
• Western Cultural Heritage
• Non-Western Culture Heritage
• Natural and Physical Sciences
• Social Sciences
• Hummanities