The Carthage Plan

Students must complete 138 credits to graduate from Carthage. Most courses are 4 credits. Full-time students may register for 12-17 credits during the 14-week terms. Students in good academic standing may register for up to 18 credits.

About a third of a student's courses will be core courses that are common for all majors. Another third will be courses specific to that student's major. The remainder of a student's courses will be electives. These are courses a student takes to enhance his or her major, broaden his or her expertise, or explore an extra major or minor.

The general education requirements seek to provide a broad base of knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences that enable students to construct a coherent framework for ongoing intellectual, ethical and aesthetic growth. These requirements are designed to develop lifelong competencies, such as critical and creative thinking, written and oral communication, quantitative reasoning, problem-solving, and the capability to work independently and collaboratively.

Please note: Current students should follow the printed version of the College Catalog, and work with their advisors and the department chair to ensure all requirements are met.

Core

Western Heritage I & II (8 credits)

All Carthage students must successfully complete two core seminar courses called Western Heritage. These courses are typically taken during the fall and spring semesters of a student's freshman year. Western Heritage seminars strengthen a student's ability to read critically, think clearly, write persuasively, and argue effectively. These core courses also count as Writing Intensive courses.

Understandings of Religion (4 credits)

In the course Understandings of Religion (REL 1000), students explore the role of religion in the lives of individuals, communities and cultures. Students will explore topics such as God, scripture, ritual, values, ethical issues and cosmology as expressed within several specific religious traditions.

Common Experiences

Math (0-4 credits)

Students must successfully complete a mathematics course, unless a student fulfills the proficiency requirement established by the College.

Modern Language (0-8 credits)

Students must complete two modern language courses in the same language, unless a student fulfills the proficiency requirement established by the College. In addition to Chinese, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish, which are taught at Carthage, students may fulfill their language requirement by taking courses in Italian at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Religion (4 credits)

In addition to Understandings of Religion, students must take an additional approved religion course. This course cannot be used to satisfy any distribution requirement.

Exercise and Sports Science (2 credits)

Students must take Concepts of Physical Fitness (EXS 0010 — 1 credit) and complete one Lifetime/Fitness activity (1 credit). A student who participates on an athletic team for an entire season can fulfill the one Lifetime/Fitness activity requirement. Note: Only Concepts of Physical Fitness and one Lifetime/Fitness activity count toward the 138 credits required for graduation.

J-Term

All students must enroll in a J-Term course during their freshman year. Students must successfully complete at least two J-Term courses (freshman year and one other year) to graduate.

Carthage Symposium (4-8 credits)

One goal of the College is for our graduates to be able to make connections between disciplines. A Carthage Symposium course is team-taught by two instructors from different departments, most frequently from different academic divisions. It is an innovative academic program in interdisciplinary education that allows students to explore a single topic through the lenses of two completely different fields. All students will complete one Carthage Symposium, typically taken during the sophomore or junior year. The requirement can be satisfied by either one course (4 credits) or a set of two linked courses (usually 8 credits) that provide an interdisciplinary learning experience. All Symposia are completed within one academic term.

Writing Across the Curriculum (16 credits)

Writing well is a powerful life skill, and Carthage is committed to teaching its students to write well in all disciplines. All students are required to take four courses (4 credit hours each) that are designated Writing Intensive (WI). The first two of these courses are COR 1100 Western Heritage I and COR 1110 Western Heritage II. Of the remaining two courses, one must be in the academic major of the student's choice, while the other may be any WI course in the curriculum. If students are completing more than one major, they need only one WI in one of the majors that they are completing.

Global Heritage (4 credits)

Global Heritage courses explore cultures and civilizations with substantial non-European elements, providing students with alternative worldviews. The Global Heritage requirement can be completed by courses taken on campus or through off-campus study. Courses satisfying this requirement are approved by the Global Heritage Oversight Committee and are designated in the course catalog and course schedule.

Senior Thesis

As part of their major, all students will complete a Senior Thesis to demonstrate their mastery of their chosen area of study. This may take the form of a written thesis, laboratory research, music recital, art exhibit, or other significant and integrative experience appropriate to their major. Students graduating with more than one major must complete a Senior Thesis for each major, or one integrative Senior Thesis approved by each major department or program. Students must check with the department chair for specific details.

Distribution Requirements

Fine Arts (4 credits)

Four private applied lessons or one class lesson and three private applied lessons may count as a course for the fine arts distribution requirement.

Humanities (4 credits)

Social Science (4 credits)

Natural Science (8 credits)

Students must take two courses in the natural sciences, one of which must be a lab.

Students who major in a discipline in any of these divisions will be exempt from the requirement in that division.

Major

More than 40 academic areas of study (36-56 credits)

A maximum of 56 credits may be required in the major, with no more than 40 of these credits within any one department. A student may count a maximum of 56 credits in any one department toward graduation; however all students must have 82 credits outside of their major department for graduation. Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits in the major at Carthage.

Minor

Minors are optional unless specified as a requirement for the major. Minors may be pursued through electives and through general requirements such as the Carthage Symposium. The minor is a minimum of 20 credits and a maximum of 24 credits. Those planning to obtain teacher licensure must consult with the College certification officer. Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits in the minor at Carthage.

Electives

Electives allow students to explore their intellectual interests in a wide variety of disciplines and areas of knowledge.

For Prospective Students

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Study Abroad

Connect with other cultures. Master a foreign language. Read more ...

Carthage Symposium

Team-taught courses allow students to explore a single topic from two very different points of view. Read more ...

J-Term

A special month-long period of study in January to experiment, create and dream. Read more ...

Western Heritage

Freshman seminar series develops key reading, writing, cultural literacy and oral communication skills. Read more ...

Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

Students and faculty find answers together in summer research program. Read more ...

ScienceWorks

Entrepreneurial Studies in the Natural Sciences gives science majors a career advantage. Read more ...

Target Language Experts

Introductory modern language courses are taught by native speakers. Read more ...