Required Courses

Your Fall 2024 course schedule

As part of Monmouth’s Core Curriculum, a standard set of courses is required for all students to earn a Monmouth degree.

Below is a list and descriptions for required courses, especially those you will take in your first year. Incoming transfer students may be exempt from or will have already satisfied some or all of these requirements.

In addition to reviewing required courses, you may be interested to read more about Core Curriculum and elective course options, as well as recommended first-semester courses by major.

Core Curriculum

The Core Curriculum at Monmouth College will equip you with foundational academic skills, invite you to explore human cultures and the natural world through modes of inquiry traditional to the liberal arts and challenges you to engage with diverse peoples and communities.  The Core Curriculum is at the heart of the transformational experience and provides the foundation for you to explore your passions and understand the world and your place in it. 

Foundations/First-year courses

FYII-101:  Inquiry & Identity

All first-time students at Monmouth (and transfer students who have transferred less than the equivalent of two full-time semesters of college) take Inquiry and Identity during the first semester. This course is listed as FYII 101-50 on your course schedule.

Section “50” is simply a placeholder. In early August, you will be assigned a specific section and instructor who will also serve as your primary academic advisor during your first semester.

Note: You will also receive a summer reading assignment to prepare for your first I&I class, which will be held during the first day of Fall Orientation when you arrive on campus.

COMM 101: Fundamentals of Communication

Fundamentals of Communication centers on developing, listening, speaking, and information literacy skills necessary for academic, professional, and civic contexts.

ENGL 110: Composition and Argument

Composition and Argument enables students to organize ideas using a thesis-based writing process designed to improve students’ argumentative abilities through critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. 

Note: If you are registered for COMM-101 in the fall, you will take ENGL-110 in the spring and vice versa. Students with dual credit in English and/or Speech may substitute other general education, elective or academic interest-related courses during the first semester.

Foundations in Quantitative Reasoning

First-Year Quantitative Reasoning develops students’ quantitative reasoning skills while using strategies, processes, and technologies for solving problems using quantitative reasoning. 

To ensure that students are adequately prepared in quantitative reasoning, students may be placed in either FYQR-110 (Quantitative Reasoning/Citizen) or FYQR-120 (Quantitative Reasoning/Math) during the first or second semester (and in some cases, first semester of sophomore year). Placement is determined based on a review of high school transcripts, courses, grades and, if available, ACT/SAT sub scores in math.

The FYQR-110/120 requirement may be waived if students meet one of the following:

1. ACT math sub score of 22 of higher
2. SAT math sub score of 540 or higher
3. 4 years of high school math with a B- or better grade average or 7 semesters of high school math with a B-or better grade average and currently enrolled in a high school math course in 8th semester.  (If we only have access to official transcripts for 6 semesters of high school course work at the time of registration, an average of B or better in 3 years of math and confirmation of enrollment in a fourth year of math is necessary to waive the requirement). 
4. Successful completion of high school Calculus with a C or better.
5. A score of 3 or better on Calculus A/B, Calculus B/C or Statistics AP exam. 
6. Completion of Accuplacer with score of 250 or higher. 

Other Core Curriculum Courses

Inquiry 

Inquiry courses provide students with opportunities to explore multiple ways of knowing through and about the arts, humanities, languages and cultures, natural sciences, quantitative reasoning and social sciences.  The following inquiry courses may be considered but are not necessarily required during the first year:

• Artistic Inquiry
• Inquiry in the Humanities
• Inquiry in the Social Sciences
• Scientific Inquiry
• Quantitative Reasoning in Practice

It is recommended to take one Inquiry course every year.  

Engagement

Engagement challenges students to engage with diverse communities, languages and cultures to address issues and problems in their relevant contexts.

• Languages and Cultures (proficiency at 102 level)
• Community Engagement
• Identity, Diversity, Equity
• Global Learning

It is recommended to take one Engagement course every year. 

Elective courses

You may know exactly what you want to major in, or you may be exploring your options at this time. Some majors might require an early start in major courses (many of the science majors) or specific courses that should be considered during the first year.

Otherwise, think of elective courses as opportunities to expand and support your major or minor. Electives allow you to explore a wide variety of subjects and help you find a major, or better yet, discover a passion. This is what the liberal arts education is all about.

Students are sometimes hesitant to take electives as they do not want to waiver from the list of prescribed courses for the degree, but electives are required are are central to the Monmouth College experience. 

The Bachelor of Arts degree requires 31 course credits. The Bachelor of Science degree requires up to 36 course credits, depending upon the major.

Log into Student Planning in Self-Service to view and search for courses available this fall.