BC Curriculum

Hey Class of 2014, Amy Ye here again! This time I’m gonna talk about the curriculum structure of BC, especially the university core courses. As a student in the College of Arts and Science, I will mainly focus on the graduation requirements for A&S students. For students in other schools, what I heard is that they have to take additional school-required core courses for graduation.
OK, let’s return to the topic of curriculum structure. Student at BC are required to take 38 courses in total to graduate. Courses like Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or British A-Level, can only fulfills certain requirements for courses. (For example, if you get a 4 or higher score on AP Calculus AB, you don’t have to take a Calculus course at BC. And for more details, check out the following website: http://www.bc.edu/admission/undergrad/process/advstanding.html) Such policy actually implies that those AP or IB courses took in high school will not reduce a student’s workload. In a word, Students have to take 38 courses anyways, regardless of how many APs they have. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that AP or IB student do not have any advantages. Many APs or IBs means that it is easier for students to have a second major or concentration without overloading courses in a semester. In terms of the university core courses, regardless of which school a student is from, he or she has to fulfill all the requirements of university core courses. Overall, there are 15 university core courses to fulfill during student’s 4 year experience at BC. Specifically, there is one course in writing; one in literature; two in social science; two in natural science; two in philosophy; two in theology; two in history; one in mathematics; one in fine arts and one in cultural diversity. Besides the university cores, in the mean time, students also have to take all of the required course in his or her concentration in order to graduate.
I really recommend students to take advantage of the “degree audit” program in your agora portal account. Start early, have yourself organized and enjoy your life at BC! I really hope the above information can more or less help you out with your course plans in the following 4 years’ academic career. Also, if you still have any questions, feel free to email me. I would be really glad to answer all your questions!
Amy Ye