Core Requirements

Core requirements at Franklin provide a common academic experience for all Franklin students regardless of their major field of study. At Franklin, we emphasize critical and quantitative reasoning, strong communication skills in English, and cross-cultural competencies, including competency in modern languages. The Franklin Core Curriculum gives students the opportunity for a breadth of exposure to different fields of study in the spirit of the Liberal Arts while allowing sufficient flexibility for its students, who come from a wide range of backgrounds and interests, to complete an undergraduate education that compliments more specialized knowledge and skills acquired in majors.

Three distinctive features of the Franklin Core Curriculum are the 5-semester Modern Language requirement, the Global Responsibility component and Academic Travel. All Franklin graduates are expected to have achieved proficiency in a language other than English—typically one of the major Swiss languages, French, German or Italian; or Spanish—which students reach through completing five language courses or the equivalent. The Global Responsibility component is designed to provide an interdisciplinary perspective in three areas of knowledge, whereas Academic Travel offers on-site field study with the opportunity for developing both language skills and cultural competency. At Franklin, we believe that the world is your classroom and the classroom is your world.

Students select the courses for their core curriculum in close collaboration with their Academic Advisor. This gives students the opportunity to assemble a meaningful and relevant framework upon which to build their major interests. Part of this framework will include three foundation courses listed below. These courses are included to give students an introduction to university study and a foundation in academic writing and quantitative literacy which students then utilize and build upon in their further studies at Franklin and beyond.

First Year Seminar

A specific course in the disciplines designated with the 199 numbering. All students new to college are required to take the First Year Seminar in their first semester at Franklin. Students transferring to Franklin College with 30 or more college credits substitute elective credit for the First Year Seminar.

Quantitative Reasoning course (MAT 103, 107 or higher)

Courses are designed to help students distinguish situations in which quantitative or symbolic information is relevant, to understand how to produce, analyze and use numerical information to reach valid conclusions, and to be informed participants of data-based decision-making processes.

Writing in the Humanities (ENG 100)

Students will develop the skills necessary to convey ideas effectively in a variety of contexts. Likewise, students will focus on clear and effective writing. Students who have taken a similar first-year English course completed at another accredited institution of higher education may be awarded transfer credit to fulfill this requirement.

Students choose two courses from each Area of Knowledge (below). Students will be advised to complete courses from at least five different disciplines. Courses taken to meet major requirements may also fulfill core requirements; however, credits count only once in terms of meeting the 125 credit requirement for the BA degree. For an approved list of courses in each Area of Knowledge please see below:

• Intercultural Competencies
• International Engagement
• Social Responsibility

These learning outcomes articulate what students are expected to demonstrate in terms of knowledge, skills, and attitudes upon completion of the Global Responsibility components. The first component works to develop the intercultural knowledge, skills and attitudes that allow them to communicate effectively and appropriately in a wide-range of cultural settings:

• Cultivate an appreciation for a variety of world views
• Develop collaboration skills throughout and beyond the curriculum
• Understand the norms and expectations of local cultures
  
• Understand the impact of race, class, gender and sexual orientation in diverse settings

The second component focuses on civic and international engagement. Students will develop the competencies to:

• Understand the processes and consequences of globalization
• Participate intelligently in public affairs
• Assume participatory and leadership roles in diverse contexts
  
• Understand their position in the world

The third component exposes students to the complex interrelationships that govern global issues in order to develop a personal sense of social responsibility informed by multiple perspectives.  Students will:

• Develop an awareness of social justice
• Reflect on their personal convictions and develop an informed system of ethics and values
• Appreciate the relationship between individual behaviors and their social effects
  
• Develop an understanding of sustainability in the natural and social worlds

Intercultural Competencies

International Engagement

Social Responsibility

THE CLASSROOM AS YOUR WORLD: MODERN LANGUAGES (9 – 15 CREDITS)

Modern Language Requirement

Franklin expects all students to be strong, independent users of a language other than English, equivalent to B-2 or higher on the European Common Framework scale. This requirement will normally be met by successfully completing the 300 course in French, German, Italian or Spanish at Franklin. Students whose home, native or secondary school language is French, German or Italian can meet this requirement by successfully completing one course in one of these languages above the 302 level. Students other than native speakers of French, German or Italian whose competency in those languages is above the 300 level can meet the modern language requirement by successfully completing two courses in French, German or Italian above the 300 level. Students can petition the college for alternative means of demonstrating acceptable competency in a language other than English, including study at other institutions or examinations. These alternatives are strictly subject to prior approval. All students must complete through the 201-level in French, German, Italian or Spanish.

Note: A student who has failed to successfully complete the same modern language course after two attempts may in exceptional cases be exempted from completing the modern language requirement if so recommended by the Chair of Modern Languages and approved by the Dean. A student who has been exempted from modern language courses must choose from the approved list of culture-specific courses shown below to substitute for the modern language courses from which he or she is exempted. The student should successfully complete the same number of alternative courses as the number of exempted language courses (up to a maximum of three courses).

THE WORLD AS YOUR CLASSROOM:  ACADEMIC TRAVEL (5 CREDITS)

A topic-based course that includes on-campus preparation followed by on-site learning, Academic Travel is Franklin’s signature program and an essential part of the Franklin degree program. Five Academic Travels are required for students who complete four years of study at Franklin. A student entering the College with 19 credits or more is required to complete four Academic Travel courses.