Core Requirements

Core Requirements

The College's core curriculum has the following three components: Foundations, which develops essential building blocks of a high-quality liberal arts and sciences education; Perspectives, through which the student is immersed in a diverse world of learning and scholarship across the liberal arts and sciences; and Connections, whereby the student takes advantage of programs and resources that promote rigorous scholarship, healthy lifestyles, financial well-being and career preparation. Taken together with the entirety of the Wells experience, fulfillment of the proposed core curriculum ensures that every Wells student has the opportunity to explore breadth in the liberal arts and sciences while developing the skills for successful professional development, rewarding social engagement and effective lifelong learning.

Note: Students should carefully plan when they will complete all requirements for their degree. An up-to-date list of courses that fulfill the college requirements can be found on the Registrar's page on the Globe. Students who delay completion of college requirements until their senior year risk taking longer than the expected years in residence at Wells to complete their degree. The Registrar will evaluate transfer students' files on case by case basis in order to determine remaining college requirements. Students have access to track their progress on the Globe.

Core Curriculum

I. Foundations

(1) WLLS 100: Wellness, Engagement, and Lifelong Learning for Success
This course introduces students to learning and living at Wells College. (first year, fall semester)

(2) WLLS 105: College Writing
This course covers the fundamentals of college-level writing. (first year, either fall or spring semester)

II. Perspectives

A maximum of six (6) credits in any one discipline may be counted for the Perspectives component of the general education curriculum. A course can fulfill only one component of the general education curriculum.

(3) Creative Expression
Students will explore and develop various forms of creative expression. Could be met by one 3-credit semester hour course or a combination or courses, to total 3 semester hours.

(4) Enduring Questions of Human Nature
Students will explore what it means to be human, be it from ancient to contemporary times or through various types of representations of the human experience.

(5) Social Systems
Students will explore the interactions within and between individuals, groups, institutions and the environment.

(6) Inclusion and Justice
Students will explore equality, access and inclusiveness.

(7) Quantitative Reasoning
Students will explore mathematical concepts and skills.

(8) Natural Sciences
Students will explore one of the natural sciences via a course that includes a laboratory.

(9) Languages and Cultures
Students will develop a cultural appreciation and familiarity with a language other than English.

III. Connections

(10) Experiential Learning
Students will apply course-based learning to situations outside the classroom. Two experiential learning experiences are required, one of which must be off campus.

(11) Skills for Lifelong Learning
Students will develop skills for learning outside the classroom and beyond their Wells College experience. Two courses are required.

(12) Mind-Body Wellness
Students will develop bodily-kinesthetic intelligence. Students will choose four (4) courses, two of which must be activity-based, from the following: PE courses, certain dance courses, courses on nutrition, holisitic health, or healthy lifestyles (possibly including drug/alcohol abuse awareness).

(13) Financial Wellness
Students will build skills to develop the ability to make informed financial decisions. All students will take WLLS 110: Personal Financial Management.

Course Requirements and Semester Hour Limitations

1. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 120 semester hours of college level credit.
2. At least 60 semester hours must be taken on campus at Wells College or in Wells College approved programs. While students may take more than 20 semester hours in Wells off-campus programs, no more than 20 semester hours will be counted toward the 60 semester hour requirement.
3. At least 6 courses (3-4 semester hours each) in a major must be taken at Wells College or through an approved program. For students declaring a minor, at least 4 courses (3-4 semester hours each) in that minor must be taken at Wells College.
4. Students, whether first-year or transfer, are expected to satisfy College requirements, the requirements of the major, and the requirements of any minor as stated in the catalog in effect at the time of first matriculation at Wells College. Students who cease to attend the College for two years or more will be expected to meet the requirements as stated in the catalog in effect at the time of return. For the degree of Bachelor of Arts no more than 45 semester hours in any one discipline shall be included in the 120 semester hours required for the degree.
5. For the degree of Bachelor of Science no more than 55 semester hours in any one discipline shall be included in the 120 semester hours required for the degree.
6. Students shall maintain a minimum Grade Point Average of 2.0 for all Wells and Wells-approved courses.
7. Students may earn no more than 4 semester hours of credit during any given January Intersession and no more than 8 semester hours during the summer.
8. No more than six semester hours of courses graded “S/U” may be used toward the major.
9. A student may not elect a double concentration within a major.
10. There is a limit of eight semester hours of credit toward the minimum 120 semester hours of credit required for graduation for courses that bear fewer than three semester hours of credit in the following two categories: physical education courses, and arts and performance courses (except those taken to meet requirements toward the major or minor).
11. There is a maximum of 12 semester hours of credit for internships and 12 semester hours of credit for independent study counts toward the 120 required for graduation.
12. There is a maximum of 8 semester hours of credit for tutorials counts toward the 120 required for graduation.

***Semester hours in excess of the above stated limits will require the same number of semester hours in excess of 120 in order to graduate.