Love it or hate it, the Core Curriculum makes up around one-third of your total coursework and is inarguably one of the defining features of the Columbia College academic experience. With so many requirements and unfamiliar course names, the Core can feel pretty confusing and even a little intimidating initially. So here’s what you need to know about the Core as a first year before arriving in the fall:

The Core Curriculum, also known as just the Core, is a series of classes that each Columbia College student is required to take to graduate. Some of these classes are specific courses that each person takes; others are more general categories you can fill with a class of your choosing. As a first year, you will automatically be assigned into a Literature Humanities section and either a Frontiers of Science or University Writing section. You can try to switch out of your assigned section if there is absolutely an irreconcilable conflict, but I’d recommend trying to build your schedule around your core classes, not vice versa. However, if you do want to switch out of a section, the most seamless way to do this is to find another student to swap with and petition the Core office at 202 Hamilton starting the first day of classes.

One of the first Core classes you’ll encounter is Literature Humanities, more commonly referred to as Lit Hum. Lit Hum is a year-long “great books”-style seminar where you read and discuss works ranging from the Epic of Gilgamesh to Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon. My advice for Lit Hum would be, firstly, do the reading! Whether you’re naturally inclined towards the humanities or not, actually doing the reading makes the class so much more enjoyable and offers you a chance to experience works of literature that you might not have ever picked up otherwise (I know I wouldn’t have). Secondly, make a plan for getting your books at the beginning of the semester. Book Culture, a bookstore near campus, carries discounted box sets of every text on the syllabus (though make sure to check that your section didn’t make any significant substitutions of the reading list). Other options are to try to check out a copy from the library, though know that these copies go by fast. Additionally, the Columbia FLI Partnership Library is a great resource for students who identify as first-generation or low-income to get semester-long access to the texts. Lastly, a common myth is that you have to read the first books of the Iliad before the fall semester to prepare for the first class. This used to be the case a couple of years ago, but they no longer require it!

The other Core classes you will for sure take your freshman year are Frontiers of Science and University Writing, known as FroSci and UW respectively. FroSci consists of one weekly lecture from an expert in a specific scientific field and one weekly seminar that reviews and expands upon the content covered in the lecture. With topics like neuroscience and quantum physics on the syllabus, this class can seem really overwhelming at first, especially for non-STEM majors. However, all of the information is presented in a fairly accessible manner, and if you pay attention during the lectures (where attendance is taken via an in-class poll) and seminars, you’ll find that the material is much more manageable than it might initially seem. Most of the actual class work revolves around teaching basic scientific methods, like the ability to read scientific studies and interpret graphs.

Whichever semester you’re not enrolled in FroSci, you’ll be in a University Writing section. UW has a variety of different themes, ranging from subjects like Medical Humanities to Performance Arts. The themes correspond to the topics of the readings you’ll do for the class. The class revolves around four essays you’ll write, most of which engage with the theme of the section and are interacting with the class readings. A nice aspect of UW is that since sections are fairly small, the smallest of any Core class with only around sixteen students in each class, your greatest resource will be getting personalized feedback from your instructor and your peers. Another awesome opportunity available is taking advantage of the Writing Center. For UW or any other class, you can book a one-on-one appointment with a writing consultant who can give great feedback on any aspect of your writing at any time during your process. Just make sure to book your appointment ahead of time because they fill up fast!

Beyond Lit Hum, FroSci, and UW, there are still many other classes that comprise the Core, though they are not limited to first-year students. With the possible exception of the Foreign Language requirement, I’d recommend spreading these requirements out over the rest of your time at Columbia. This gives you more flexibility to get into the courses and sections you actually want rather than stressfully rushing through them. 

Additional Core Requirements
Two additional science courses (check the list here for options)
Two global core courses (check the list here for options)
Two years of a Foreign Language (or the equivalent from testing out)
One year of Contemporary Civilizations (taken your sophomore year)
One semester of Music Humanities
One semester of Art Humanities
Two one-credit, pass/fail physical education courses and the completion of a swim test

At the end of the day, the Core Curriculum offers you an opportunity to grow as a student, engaging with subject matter you might never have otherwise encountered, learning from professors across a variety of departments, and getting to know classmates from a wide range of majors. One of the coolest things about the first-year Core is the sense of camaraderie it creates between you and your classmates since every first-year at Columbia College will be reading the same books and taking the same courses. My last piece of advice is to embrace the experience fully and take advantage of the chance to learn both from your professors and from the people sitting beside you.

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