Degree Requirements
The Core Curriculum
The best preparation for the demands of a diverse and global society is a comprehensive, wide-ranging background in the liberal arts and sciences, combined with in-depth knowledge of more than one field of study. To that end, the School of Arts & Sciences-Newark, with the cooperation of faculty from all of the campus' other schools, has redesigned the general education requirements for the campus to prepare students to successfully pursue a wide range of professional activities as well as to pursue graduate training. The Core Curriculum is organized around a set of concrete learning objectives that encompass the skills most needed for active citizenship and most valued by employers, such as the ability to think critically and creatively, to reason quantitatively, and to communicate effectively. Each Core Curriculum course is designed to ensure that students are conversant with the basic modes of inquiry specific to each of the core disciplinary foci of a liberal education. Through the Core Curriculum, students will emerge from their Rutgers-Newark education with the ability to apply their knowledge to the major questions of the 21st century.
The Core Curriculum is designed to ensure that all graduates acquire a broad range of knowledge, skills, and competencies across the arts and sciences. The seven Core Curriculum categories are:
| Basic Writing Skills | 6 credits |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3 credits |
| Natural Sciences | 8-10 credits* |
| Social Sciences | 6 credits |
| History & Literature | 9 credits** |
| Arts & Media | 3 credits |
| Other Liberal Arts | 3 credits |
| Total | 38 credits |
* For the Natural Sciences requirement, two (2) lectures with lab must be completed
** 3 credits must be History, 3 credits must be Literature, and 3 credits can be either History or Literature.
Courses in each of these areas must be chosen from a list of approved courses. Please see Degree Navigator for a complete listing of approved Core Curriculum courses.
Second Concentration
In today’s rapidly changing professional landscape, employers and many graduate schools seek employees with multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary expertise. To that end, all students must attain a major as well as a second concentration. This second concentration can be met through completion of any of the following:
- second major
- Minor
- Pre-Health Concentration
- Urban Teacher Education Program offered by the Department of Urban Education
- Honors College program
- Honors Living Learning Community
- bachelor’s–master’s dual degree program
- School of Health Professions joint program
Students enrolled in NCAS or UC may complete their second concentration in any of the colleges of Rutgers–Newark. Students enrolled in the School of Criminal Justice, or the School of Public Affairs and Administration must complete their second concentration in NCAS.
Writing Across the Curriculum (Writing Intensive Courses)
The College’s learning objectives call for effective written and oral communication. The basic writing skills requirement provides the foundation for written and oral communication. The Writing Across the Curriculum requirement allows students to apply and develop these skills to the written and spoken formats characteristic of specific areas of study, including their major discipline.
All students must successfully complete 6 credits of coursework in courses designated as “Writing Intensive” in the Schedule of Classes. At least one of these courses must be within the department of their major; the other may be offered by any department.
Writing Intensive courses can be found on the Schedule of Classes and are designated as a "Q" section.
Successful completion of the basic writing requirements (English Composition 102 or 104) is a prerequisite for all Writing Intensive Courses.
Declaring or Changing a Major/Second Concentration
Students must also declare and complete a major program in accordance with the requirements set forth by the major department.
Students must complete at least half the major and 2nd concentration at Rutgers University-Newark and must complete the last 30.0 credits at Rutgers University-Newark.
In order to declare a major/second concentration you must:
- Have earned 24.0 credits
- Have completed the Basic Writing Skills and Qualitative Reasoning Core requirements
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.0
- Complete a declaration form & obtain department signature