Education for the Whole Person

The liberal arts and sciences permeate our curriculum, adding a valuable dimension to traditional and professional disciplines. The liberal arts core is the foundation of an Elms College education and is crucial to the fulfillment of the mission of the college: to assist in the development of men and women rooted in faith, educated in mind, compassionate in heart, responsive to civic and social obligations, capable of adjusting to change without compromising principle, and able to respond creatively to the demands of their chosen careers.

The core curriculum emphasizes the knowledge that educated persons need to enrich their lives with the lifelong pursuit of learning. It provides students with an education that is integrated and interdisciplinary and one that recognizes the value of spiritual and physical well-being, intellectual development, critical thinking, global awareness, and cultural understanding as essential to success in the 21st century.

Our core curriculum requirements varies for students entering full-time, students entering with associate's degrees in liberal arts, students entering with any other associate's degree, and students completing a second bachelor's degree.

Full-time Students

Spiritual and Physical Well-being

• Religious Studies (3 credits)
• Physical Education (2 credits or varsity sport)
• Community Service (30 hours; students may apply to have internships satisfy the service requirement)

Intellectual Development in the Liberal Arts

• Humanities (12 credits; one course in each of four disciplines: literature, history, fine or performing arts, and philosophy)
• Natural sciences, mathematics, and technology (6 credits; one course in mathematics, one course in biology, chemistry, or physics, and demonstrated proficiency in using technology)
• Social sciences (6 credits; one course in each of two disciplines, choosing from sociology, psychology, and economics)

Critical Thinking and Communication

• Rhetoric (3 credits)
• First Year Seminar (3 credits; first year students)
• Three communication intensive courses (200-level and above, including a capstone course approved for the major)
• Demonstrated proficiency in information literacy (library skills)

Global Awareness and Cultural Understanding

• Novice high proficiency in a foreign language, or level two proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL). ESL students fulfill this requirement by completing ESL 302 or above.
• One course designated for "cultural understanding"

Students with an Associate's Degree in Liberal Arts

Spiritual and Physical Well-being

• Religious Studies (3 credits)
• Community Service (15 hours; students may apply to have internships satisfy the service requirement)

Intellectual Development in the Liberal Arts

• Humanities (12 credits; one course in each of four disciplines: literature, history, fine or performing arts, and philosophy)
• Natural sciences, mathematics, and technology (6 credits; one course in mathematics, one course in biology, chemistry, or physics, and demonstrated proficiency in using technology)
• Social sciences (6 credits; one course in each of two disciplines, choosing from sociology, psychology, and economics)

Critical Thinking and Communication

• One semester of Rhetoric or English composition (3 credits)
• Two communication intensive courses (200-level and above, including a capstone course approved for the major)
• Demonstrated proficiency in information literacy (library skills)

Global Awareness and Cultural Understanding

• One course designated for "cultural understanding"

Students with an Associate's Degree

Spiritual and Physical Well-Being

• Religious Studies (3 credits)

Intellectual Development in the Liberal Arts

• Humanities (6 credits; course in American history and a course in philosophy)
• Natural sciences, mathematics, and technology (6 credits; one course in mathematics and one course in biology, chemistry, or physics)
• Social sciences (3 credits; general psychology or introduction to sociology)

Critical Thinking and Communication

• Rhetoric (3 credits)

Global Awareness and Cultural Understanding

• One course designated for "cultural understanding"

Students Completing a Second Bachelor's Degree

Communication Intensive Courses

BIO 226 Cell Biology
BIO 321 Genetics
BIO 404 Biology Seminar (capstone)
BUS 248 Global Environment of Business
BUS 342 Managerial Communications
BUS 480 Business Policies Seminar (capstone)
CIT 105 Cyber Culture
CIT 423 Professional Programming Project (capstone)
CIT 466 Professional Web Design Project (capstone)
CIT 489 Digital Showcase Project (capstone)
CSD 410 Seminar in Communication Sciences and Disorders (capstone)
EDU 311 Writing Workshop
EDU 360 Seminar in Professional Education (capstone)
ENG 377 Women Writers
ENG 384 Newswriting
ENG 385 Writing and Editing for Publication
ESL 322 ESL for Academic Purposes II
HIS 326 Modern Britain
HIS 334 Modern Ireland
IDS 410 Senior Seminar (capstone)
LEG 205 Legal Studies II
LEG 455 Advanced Paralegal Seminar (capstone)
LST 455 Advanced Paralegal Seminar (capstone)
NUR 260 Writing in Nursing
NUR 330 Introduction to Nursing Research
NUR 455 Critical Issues Affecting Professional Nursing (capstone)
PSY 210 Experimental Psychology
PSY 212 Children's Literature: Psychological Issues
PSY 401 Psychology Seminar (capstone)
SPA 412 Hispanic Cultures
SPA 430 Latina LiteratureSWK 218 Human Oppression
SWK 404 Survey of Social Work Issues (capstone)
*Students should check with advisors for regular changes to this list.

Global Awareness and Cultural Understanding Courses

BUS 248 Global Environment of Business
CIT 105 Cyber Culture
EDU 352 Issues in ESL/Bilingualism
HIS 240 Introduction to Modern Chinese History
HUM 200 Introduction to Japanese People and Culture
HUM 215 International Film
IDS 214 East/West: Contemporary Collisions and Collaborations
IDS 223 China and the Chinese People
IDS 302 International Study - London and Paris
LEG 295 Gender and Diversity in the Law
NUR 440 Professional Nursing Practice in the Community
REL 302 World Religions
SOC 200 Introduction to Japanese People and Culture
SOC 316 Racial and Ethnic Groups
SPA 412 Hispanic Cultures in the U.S.
SPA 415 Repression and Resistance
SPA 430 Latina Literature
SWK 204 Human Behavior in the Social Environment
SWK 218 Human Oppression
*Students should check with advisors for regular changes to this list.