General Education Requirements

Through part-time evening studies at Carthage, adults can earn a career-enhancing bachelor's degree. The curriculum is identical to that followed by traditional students, and is taught by top Carthage professors.

The general education requirements provide a broad base of knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences that will 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.

To earn a bachelor of arts degree from Carthage, students must successfully complete a minimum of 138 credits (including transfer credits), including:

Heritage Studies

CORE 110 Western Heritage (4 credits)
CORE 111 Western Heritage (4 credits)

Writing Requirements

Writing Course in Major (4 credits)
Writing Course (4 credits)

Religion

Understandings of Religion 100 (4 credits)
One additional approved course (4 credits)

Modern Languages

Two modern language courses in the same language or demonstrated proficiency (8 credits)

Mathematics

Successful completion of a mathematics course or demonstrated proficiency (4 credits)

Exercise and Sport Science

Concepts of Physical Fitness 001 (1 credit)
One lifetime fitness activity (1 credit)

Carthage Symposium

1 team-taught or paired Carthage Symposium (4-8 credits)

Senior Project

As part of their majors, all students complete a senior project. Acceptable forms include a senior thesis, laboratory research project, music recital, art exhibit, or other significant and integrative experience appropriate to their major(s).

Major

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 their major department for graduation. A transfer student must complete a minimum of 12 credits in the major at Carthage.

Distribution Requirements

Fine Arts (FAR) — 4 credits
Humanities (HUM) — 4 credits
Natural Science (SCI) — 8 credits (one course must be a lab)
Social Science (SOC) — 4 credits

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

Minor

The minor is a minimum of 20 credits and a maximum of 24 credits and is required for some majors. Those planning to obtain teacher licensure must consult with their education advisor.