A curriculum includes a set of courses and content at a school or university. The college curriculum involves the entire scope of learning, including formative experiences in school and undirected learning outside of school. When a college is accredited, the curriculum standards are set by the Department of Education.
A college's core requirements can normally be found on the college's website or in a college academic office. Requirements include composition and research courses, mathematics courses, history, natural sciences and foreign language studies. Students are normally required to begin the core requirements during their freshman year and complete them promptly.
One of the reasons for college core requirements is to ensure that students study subjects outside of their majors. The number of required courses and subjects vary depending on the college and area of study. Advanced courses require students to take some of the core requirements as prerequisites prior to additional coursework.
In order to meet the requirements of the core curriculum, students need to meet the attendance requirements of the college in which they are enrolled, as well as complete the course with a passing grade. Students should be able to show that they understand the course material and can apply it in a given situation upon completing the course.
When students need assistance in keeping track of their progress in completing the core curriculum, students should meet their academic adviser. Meeting with an adviser and making a course plan can help students prepare for class registration.
According to Washington Post, colleges and universities have started a debate over the validity of college core requirements, complaining that students should be encouraged to learn how to solve problems and think critically, not just remember facts. Critics of the core curriculum may believe that it limits the freedom of a student, while supporters state that it helps students become familiar with a range of topics. Some colleges have chosen to eliminate core requirements for students, instead offering students an opportunity to focus more heavily on their degree coursework.