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The General Education requirements at Eckerd College are as follows:

  • Writing Intensive (WI) courses: Each student must complete two courses designated as WI with a minimum grade of C-. At least one WI course must be completed within the student’s first four semesters at the College. At least one WI course must be taken at Eckerd College.

  • World language competency (normally in the first year): completion through 102 of a world language at the college level or the equivalent as determined by the language faculty.

  • Oral competency in the major or concentration (satisfied through the major; no separate course required)

  • Quantitative competency (normally in the first year): one college-level mathematics, computer science, formal logic or statistics course, or one course that uses the computer as a major learning tool, designated by an M following the course number.

  • First-Year Sequence: All incoming first-year students must complete Human Experience and a First-Year Experience (FYE) seminar. Human Experience (HE) is offered in the fall, and the FYE seminars are offered in the spring. First time college students who enter with  advanced standing as a result of credit and/or advanced placement earned in high school are still required to complete BOTH Human Experience and an FYE.

  • Academic Area Requirement: One course in each of the four academic areas (Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences) plus one course designated as an Environmental Perspective (E) and one course designated as a Global Perspective (G). The Environmental and Global Perspective courses must be taken at Eckerd College and are normally completed by the end of the junior year.

  • Reflective Service Learning: Prior to senior year, students must take at least one designated Reflective Service Learning (RSL) Course. Students must complete at least 20 or more hours of service within one or more designated RSL courses. Service completed independently or through co-curricular programs will not count toward the minimum 20 hour requirement.

  • Senior Capstone: one capstone course currently titled Imagining Justice in the senior year.

  • College Program Series: Students must attend at least four events each semester of their first and sophomore years from a selection of at least twelve events identified each semester as part of the College Program Series. These events include presentation of  topics of current interest, artistic events, musical or dramatic productions, and events focusing on issues of meaning, purpose, and value.

Suggested Course Sequencing

All students should plan their course schedules in consultation with their mentors. The following suggested course sequencing should serve as a general guideline.

  • First-Years:

    • Autumn Term, Human Experience, First Year Experience (FYE) seminar (all required)

    • one Writing Intensive course

    • two of the academic area requirements (A, H, M, N, S)

    • Language 101 and 102

    • 8 CPS events

  • Sophomores:

    • remaining academic area requirements (A, H, M, N, S)

    • Reflective Service Learning (RSL) course (with 20 hours of service)

    • Global Perspective (G) course or Environmental Perspective (E) course

    • 8 CPS events

  • Juniors:

    • any outstanding academic area or G or E requirements

    • second Writing Intensive course

  • Seniors:

    • Imagining Justice (required)