Integrative Core Curriculum
MCLA’s Integrative Core Curriculum represents the core of our liberal arts mission: through our Core Curriculum, we prepare students for a diverse world; for decision-making that leads to academic, professional and personal success; and for an appreciation of civic responsibility. Students will be invited into an experiential and integrative curriculum that challenges them to develop themselves as critical thinkers, researchers, communicators and problem solvers.
Integrative Core Curriculum Learning Outcomes
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are effective communicators who utilize multiple forms of expression to participate in our global community.
- Students choose appropriate form(s) of expression to effectively communicate with audiences from different backgrounds and perspectives.
- Students defend their positions making reference to diverse perspectives.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates engage in analytical inquiry to address complex problems.
- Students synthesize contrasting/conflicting information and perspectives to accurately understand problems.
- Students apply contextually appropriate methods and approaches when analyzing and solving problems.
- Students make connections across disciplines and personal experience when solving problems.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are active, engaged, and ethical individuals.
- Students engage in meaningful self-reflection and evaluation of their own learning and contributions.
Integrative Core Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Integrative Foundational Level | ||
| Critical Reading, Thinking, Writing | 3 | |
| Health and Wellness | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Integrative Content Level | ||
| Creative Arts | 6 | |
| Language, Culture, and Communication | 3 | |
| Human Heritage | 6 | |
| Self & Society | 6 | |
| Science & Technology (Two courses — at least one must have laboratory) | 7-8 | |
| First Year Seminar (One Integrative Content course will also fulfill Freshman Seminar requirement.) | ||
| Integrative Capstone Seminar | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 40-41 | |
Integrative Foundational Level
Critical Reasoning, Thinking, Writing
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 150 | College Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 150E | College Writing-Enhanced | 4 |
Health and Wellness
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CCHW 110 | Topics in Health and Wellness | 3 |
| HLTH 115 | Science of Human Wellness | 3 |
| HLTH 201 | Exercise Science | 3 |
| PHED 215 | Lifetime Wellness | 3 |
Quantitative Reasoning
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 102 | Mathematics for Liberal Arts | 3 |
| MATH 150 | Precalculus | 3 |
| MATH 220 | Calculus I | 3 |
| MATH 232 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| MATH 232E | Introduction to Statistics - Enhanced | 4 |
| MATH 232H | Honors: Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| MATH 270 | Statistics and Data Analysis | 4 |
Critical Reasoning, Thinking and Writing Learning Outcomes
Courses designated as Critical Reasoning, Thinking and Writing will meet one or more of the overall Interactive Core Curriculum Student Learning Outcome Goals as noted below.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are effective communicators who utilize multiple forms of expression to participate in our global community.
- Write in multiple genres using appropriate structure, paragraphing, tone, style, and grammar to respond to a variety of audiences and rhetorical situations.
- Revise and edit written communication across multiple drafts.
Goal: MCLA’S graduates engage in analytical inquiry to address complex problems.
- Ethically integrate information from credible sources to answer a research question or construct a problem statement.
- Research, evaluate, synthesize, critique, and add their own ideas to published sources.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are active, engaged, and ethical individuals.
- Comprehend a diversity of texts written for different audiences and purposes
Health and Wellness Learning Outcomes
Courses designated as Health and Wellness will meet one or more of the overall Integrative Core Curriculum Student Learning Outcome Goals as noted below.
Goal: MCLA’S graduates engage in analytical inquiry to address complex problems.
- Explain how their behaviors and choices intersect with societal factors that contribute to wellness
- Engage in research and critical evaluation of wellness practices, contexts, and impacts
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are active, engaged, and ethical individuals.
- Engage in wellness activities incorporating physical activity and mental health
- Reflect on their own health behaviors and develop a strategy for applying healthy behaviors across their lifespan
- Place defined aspects of wellness in the context of global and societal issues and concerns
Quantitative Reasoning Learning Outcomes
Courses designated as Quantitative Reasoning will meet one or more of the overall Integrative Core Curriculum Student Learning Outcome Goals in all specified ways enumerated below.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are effective communicators who utilize multiple forms of expression to participate in our global community.
- Explain information presented in mathematical forms (equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, and words).
- Convert relevant information into various mathematical forms (equations, graphs, diagrams, tables, and words).
- Employ an effective format to present quantitative information and contextualized explanations.
Goal: MCLA’S graduates engage in analytical inquiry to address complex problems.
- Draw appropriate conclusions based on their calculations and analysis of quantitative data.
Integrative Content Level
Language, Culture, and Communication
All students must complete a foreign/modern language course at the 102-level (second semester elementary level) or demonstrate proficiency at or above the second semester elementary level (e.g., through an assessment process).
Entering students who have passed, with at least a C average, the equivalent of a fourth year level of a foreign/modern language are waived from MCLA's Language, Culture, and Communication Requirement.
Entering students who have not met the 4th year level of the same foreign/modern language, will take a Modern Language Placement Test and be placed accordingly. Alternatively, students could elect to begin study of a new language at the first-semester elementary level (101) and subsequently complete the second semester elementary level (102) course in the same language.
Courses designated as Language, Culture and Communication will meet one or more of the overall Integrative Core Curriculum Student Learning Outcome Goals as noted below.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are effective communicators who utilize multiple forms of expression to participate in our global community.
- Negotiate understandings across linguistic and cultural differences, using insight into how language shapes and is shaped by cultural production, perspectives, and practices.
- Communicate effectively by applying verbal and non-verbal linguistic processes appropriately according to situation and context.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates engage in analytical inquiry to address complex problems.
- Draw comparisons with one's own linguistic and cultural processes to examine the nature of the intersection between language (other than English) and culture.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are active, engaged, and ethical individuals.
- Analyze the diverse perspectives expressed through a language (other than English) and its culture(s) to enhance critical thinking and problem solving.
Language, Culture and Communication Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ITAL 102 | Elementary Italian II | 3 |
| MODL 102 | Special Topics in Modern Language | 3 |
| MODL 110 | The Idea of Latin America | 3 |
| SPAN 102 | Elementary Spanish II | 3 |
| SPAN 202 | Intermediate Spanish II | 3 |
| SPAN 203 | Spanish for Health Care Professionals | 3 |
| SPAN 204 | Spanish for Social Care and Public Work | 3 |
| SPAN 205 | Spanish for Business | 3 |
Creative Arts
Courses designated as Creative Arts will meet one or more of the overall Integrative Core Curriculum Student Learning Outcome Goals as noted below.
Goal: MCLA’S graduates engage in analytical inquiry to address complex problems.
- Articulate the significance of the creative arts, artistic expression and experience in today's world
- Describe techniques, processes and concepts that creative artists use in their work
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are active, engaged, and ethical individuals.
- Discuss personal encounters with the creative arts within broader historical and cultural contexts
Creative Arts Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AMGT 130 | Introduction to Arts Management | 3 |
| ANTH 210 | Visual Anthropology | 3 |
| ART 201 | Studio, Art and Society | 3 |
| ARTH 117 | Prehistoric to Early Modern Art History | 3 |
| ARTH 217 | Modern to Contemporary Art History | 3 |
| CCCA 110 | Topics in Creative Arts | 3 |
| CCCA 202 | The Good Earth: The Theme of Agrarianism | 3 |
| CCCA 207 | Children's Literature: A Lively Art | 3 |
| CCCA 210 | Writing Home | 3 |
| ENGL 151 | Fundamentals of Literary Studies I: Reading and Imagination | 3 |
| ENGL 151H | Honors: Fundamentals of Literary Studies I: Reading and Imagination | 3 |
| ENGL 153 | Introduction to Visual Culture | 3 |
| ENGL 153H | Honors: Introduction to Visual Culture | 3 |
| ENGL 202 | Writing Identities | 3 |
| ENGL 208 | Experiments in Creative Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 210 | Essentials of Film | 3 |
| ENGL 270 | Literary Genre | 3 |
| MUSI 100 | Introduction to Music | 3 |
| MUSI 175 | Home Studio Recording | 3 |
| MUSI 253 | World Music | 3 |
| PHIL 120 | Art and Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 120H | Honors: Art and Philosophy | 3 |
| THEA 120 | Acting, Culture, and the Creative Self | 3 |
| THEA 130 | Theatre, Society, and Transformational Justice | 3 |
Human Heritage
Courses designated as Human Heritage will meet one or more of the overall Integrative Core Curriculum Student Learning Outcome Goals as noted below.
Goal: MCLA’S graduates engage in analytical inquiry to address complex problems.
- Conduct research using both primary and secondary sources
- Apply critical approaches to source material
- Apply comparative approaches to source material
- Draw valid conclusions from documentary evidence from a specific historical frame and evaluate the significance of such conclusions.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are active, engaged, and ethical individuals.
- Evaluate the significance of historical events, ideas, or circumstances within their own and contemporary contexts
Human Heritage Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CCHH 110 | Topics in Human Heritage | 3 |
| CCHH 201 | The Bible as Literature | 3 |
| CCHH 223 | The Great Depression | 3 |
| CCHH 230 | Introduction to Latinx Studies | 3 |
| HIST 104 | Modern World Civilization | 3 |
| HIST 113 | United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| HIST 114 | United States History after 1877 | 3 |
| HIST 125 | World Regional Geography | 3 |
| HIST 125H | Honors: World Regional Geography | 3 |
| HIST 220 | Reformers, Rebels, Revolutionaries in East Asia | 3 |
| HIST 230 | War, Science, and Society | 3 |
| HIST 240 | Reacting to the Past | 3 |
| HIST 250 | Museums, Monuments & Memory | 3 |
| HIST 260 | Superheroes and American Society | 3 |
| HONR 100 | The Nature of Human Nature | 3 |
| IDST 150 | Introduction to Cross-Cultural & Social Justice Studies | 3 |
| IDST 150H | Honors: Introduction to Cross-Cultural and Social Justice | 3 |
| IDST 205 | Youth Social Movements | 3 |
| IDST 252 | Introduction to Critical Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| IDST 252H | Honors: Introduction to Critical Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| PHIL 100 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 200 | Logic and Critical Reasoning | 3 |
| PHIL 200H | Honors: Logic and Critical Reasoning | 3 |
| SOCI 210 | Families | 3 |
Self and Society
Courses designated as Self & Society will meet one or more of the overall Integrative Core Curriculum Student Learning Outcome Goals as noted below.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are effective communicators who utilize multiple forms of expression to participate in our global community.
- Communicate ideas using a format and language inclusive of multiple audiences and perspectives
Goal: MCLA’S graduates engage in analytical inquiry to address complex problems.
- Demonstrate understanding of the complexity of elements important to identity in relation to culture, history, values, politics, communication styles, economy, beliefs, or practices.
- Analyze significant social issues using multiple perspectives, theories, and methods.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are active, engaged, and ethical individuals.
- Critically reflect on and explain their own values, beliefs, and experiences as they relate to the topic of the course.
Self and Society Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 130 | Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 130H | Honors: Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 240 | Peoples of the World | 3 |
| BADM 100 | Explorations in Business | 3 |
| BADM 101 | Adulting 101: Managing Life and Money | 3 |
| CCSS 110 | Topics in Self and Society | 3 |
| CCSS 260 | Schools, the Law and Society | 3 |
| CCSS 269 | Education and Society | 3 |
| COMM 204 | Media Self-Identity & Society | 3 |
| ECON 100 | Introduction to Economics | 3 |
| ECON 241 | Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ENGL 216 | Coming of Age in Literature and Film | 3 |
| HLTH 150 | Introduction to Public and Community Health | 3 |
| HLTH 150H | Honors: Introduction to Public and Community Health | 3 |
| HLTH 200 | Health Promotion and Planning | 3 |
| HLTH 200H | Honors: Health Promotion and Planning | 3 |
| HLTH 210 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| HLTH 210H | Honors: Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| IDST 250 | Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies | 3 |
| IDST 251 | Introduction to Urban Studies | 3 |
| IDST 251H | Honors: Introduction to Urban Studies | 3 |
| PHCH 150 | Introduction to Public and Community Health | 3 |
| PHCH 150H | Honors: Introduction to Public and Community Health | 3 |
| PHCH 200 | Health Promotion and Planning | 3 |
| PHCH 200H | Honors: Health Promotion and Planning | 3 |
| POSC 201 | United States Government | 3 |
| POSC 202 | Comparative Government | 3 |
| PSYC 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 230 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| SOCI 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 201 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SOCI 201H | Honors: Social Problems | 3 |
| SOWK 100 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
| WGSS 201 | Introduction to Women Gender and Sexuality Studies | 3 |
Science and Technology
Courses designated as Science and Technology will meet one or more of the overall Integrative Core Curriculum Student Learning Outcome Goals as noted below.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are effective communicators who utilize multiple forms of expression to participate in our global community.
- Communicate scientific findings and their importance to a variety of audiences.
- Interpret and generate graphs from scientific data.
Goal: MCLA’S graduates engage in analytical inquiry to address complex problems.
- Apply scientific practices and technology to test a hypothesis, answer a question, or solve problems.
- Apply knowledge of natural science content to broader frameworks
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are active, engaged, and ethical individuals.
- Evaluate the reliability of the sources of scientific media in making informed decisions.
Science and Technology Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 100 | Concepts in Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 102 | Nutrition for Healthy Living with Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 103 | Nutrition for Healthy Living | 3 |
| BIOL 104 | Evolution of Sex | 3 |
| BIOL 105 | Human Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 150 | Introduction to Biology I: Cells | 4 |
| CCST 101 | Topics in Physical Science | 3 |
| CCST 102 | A Case Study Approach to Science | 3 |
| CCST 106 | The Physics of Superheroes | 3 |
| CCST 107 | Forensic Science | 4 |
| CCST 110 | Topics in Physical Science with Laboratory | 4 |
| CCST 111 | Topics in Life Science | 3 |
| CCST 112 | Topics in Life Science with Lab | 4 |
| CCST 230 | Energy and the Environment | 4 |
| CHEM 150 | Introduction to Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 152 | Introduction to Chemistry II | 4 |
| CSCI 120 | Programming in Python | 3 |
| ENVI 150 | Introduction to Environmental Systems | 4 |
| ENVI 150H | Honors: Introduction to Environmental Systems | 4 |
| ENVI 225 | Nature of New England | 4 |
| ENVI 226 | Nature of New England | 3 |
| ERTH 152 | Introduction to Physical Geology | 4 |
| PHYS 120 | Introduction to Engineering | 4 |
| PHYS 131 | General Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 132 | General Physics II | 4 |
| PHYS 140 | Astronomy | 3 |
| PHYS 151 | Introduction to Mechanics | 4 |
First Year Seminar
First Year Seminar (FSEM) courses will consist of Creative Arts, Human Heritage, Self & Society, Science and Technology, or Language, Culture, and Communication courses. Sections taught as FSEM will carry the special designation on the schedule.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are active, engaged, and ethical individuals.
- Reflect on the connections between their curricular, co-curricular, and event-based learning.
- Demonstrate proficiency in college-level academic skills.
- Develop knowledge of campus learning and support resources.
- Engage in extracurricular community-building activities with their peers and professor.
- Demonstrate proficiency in life-management skills.
- Reflect on the ways that their life experiences and identities shape their academic experiences.
NOTE: Students with a minimum of 12 credits of earned transfer coursework will not be required to complete the FSEM Core Curriculum Requirement. The 12 credits must be transfer college courses and cannot include: Advanced Placement, CLEP, International Baccalaureate, early enrollment, dual enrollment, or similar coursework. The 12 credit minimum aligns with Admissions definition of a transfer student.
Integrative Capstone Seminar
Courses designated as Capstone will meet all of the overall Integrative Core Curriculum Student Learning Outcome Goals as noted in all specified ways enumerated below.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are effective communicators who utilize multiple forms of expression to participate in our global community.
- Communicate effectively in different contexts, making clear the interdependence of language, thought, and expression.
- Locate and use high quality, credible, relevant sources from diverse perspectives to appropriately defend positions.
Goal: MCLA’S graduates engage in analytical inquiry to address complex problems.
- Synthesize information to construct a clear and insightful problem statement.
- Apply the most appropriate approach(es) to solve problems.
- Draw conclusions by combining examples, facts, or theories from more than one field of study or perspective.
Goal: MCLA’s graduates are active, engaged, and ethical individuals.
- Make explicit connections to previous learning and apply their knowledge and skills to demonstrate comprehension and performance in novel situations.
- Reflect on their contributions to their communities.
- Reflect on the complexity of their own and others' identities in relation to the course topic or problem.
Integrative Capstone Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CCAP 300 | Capstone Seminar: | 3 |
| CCAP 301 | The Creative Economy of the Berkshires | 3 |
| CCAP 302 | Communicating Across Cultures | 3 |
| CCAP 303 | Economics of Poverty and Discrimination | 3 |
| CCAP 304 | Changing North American Landscapes | 3 |
| CCAP 305 | Representations of Nature | 3 |
| CCAP 306 | Writing Lives | 3 |
| CCAP 307H | Sex & Violence | 3 |
| CCAP 308 | Cantatas and Coffee | 3 |
| CCAP 309 | Feminism and Theatre | 3 |
| CCAP 310 | Ethical Issues in Healthcare | 3 |
| CCAP 311 | Indian Cinema | 3 |
| CCAP 312 | Practicing Justice | 3 |
| COMM 302 | Communicating Across Cultures | 3 |
| HLTH 300 | Ethical Issues in Health Care | 3 |
| THEA 309 | Feminism and Theatre | 3 |
