Lewis & Clark's General Education requirements consist of the Core course (Exploration and Discovery) and courses in the areas of international studies, scientific and quantitative reasoning, creative arts, foreign languages, and physical education/activity. In addition, content-area courses require students to demonstrate skills involving writing/rhetoric, bibliographic knowledge, and information/electronic competency.

Credit earned for independent study, practica, or internships may not fulfill General Education requirements.

International Studies

(8 semester credits)

To become educated citizens of an interdependent world, all Lewis & Clark students are expected to engage in a significant manner with a region of the world other than the United States through study of historical experiences, cultural traditions, social and economic realities, and transnational issues. Students can meet this requirement in one of three ways:

• By completing IS 240 and IS 241 on a Lewis & Clark overseas study program (8 semester credits).

• By completing a total of 8 semester credits from a Lewis & Clark overseas study program in coursework dealing with the unique history and culture of the host country. If necessary, the registrar consults relevant departments to determine whether a particular course is applicable. Credits in language instruction do not apply.

• By completing two courses (8 semester credits) on campus from courses listed below.

Art

ART 152	History of East Asian Art: China
ART 153	History of East Asian Art: Japan and Korea
ART 207	Pre-Columbian Art
ART 254	History of Buddhist Art
ART 256	Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art
ART 355	Early Modern Art in Asia and Europe
ART 356	The Art of the Print in Early Modern East Asia

Chinese

CHIN 230	Introduction to Chinese Literature in Translation
CHIN 231	Introduction to Chinese Literature in Translation
CHIN 290	Topics in Chinese Literature in Translation
CHIN 291	Topics in Chinese Literature in Translation
CHIN 410	Advanced Readings in Chinese: Society and Culture

Classical Studies

CLAS 251	History of Byzantium
CLAS 252	Art and Archaeology of the Aegean
CLAS 253	Attic Tragedy
CLAS 254	Ancient Greek Myth and Religion

Economics

ECON 232	Economic Development
ECON 295	Political Economy of Korea
ECON 314	International Economics

English

ENG 319

Postcolonial Literature: Anglophone Africa, India, Caribbean

French

FREN 230	French Literature in Translation
FREN 330	Francophone Literature
FREN 340	French Literature and Society
FREN 350	Topics in French and Francophone Literature
FREN 410	Major Periods in French Literature
FREN 450	Special Topics

Gender Studies

GEND 231

Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective

German Studies

GERM 230	German Literature in Translation
GERM 350	Topics in German Literature and Culture
GERM 410	Major Periods in German Literature From the Beginning to Enlightenment
GERM 411	Major Periods of German Literature From the Enlightenment to the Present
GERM 450	Special Topics In German

History

HIST 110	Early East Asian History
HIST 111	Making Modern China
HIST 112	Making Modern Japan
HIST 120	Early European History
HIST 121	Modern European History
HIST 141	Colonial Latin American History
HIST 142	Modern Latin American History
HIST 209	Japan at War
HIST 210	China's Golden Age (Tang and Song)
HIST 211	Reform, Rebellion, and Revolution in Modern China
HIST 213	Chinese History Through Biography
HIST 217	The Emergence of Modern South Asia
HIST 218	Perspectives on the Vietnam War
HIST 221	Tudor and Stuart Britain, 1485 to 1688
HIST 222	Britain in the Age of Revolution, 1688 to 1815
HIST 224	The Making of Modern Britain, 1815 to Present
HIST 225	Europe in the Age of the French Revolution
HIST 226	20th-Century Germany
HIST 228	Middle East in Modern Times
HIST 229	The Holocaust in Comparative Perspective
HIST 242	Borderlands: U.S.-Mexico Border, 16th Century to Present
HIST 259	India in the Age of Empire
HIST 261	Global Environmental History
HIST 310	China Discovers the West: Silk, Jesuits, Tea, Opium, and Milk
HIST 311	History of Family, Gender, and Sexuality in China
HIST 313	Religion, Society, and the State in Japanese History
HIST 316	Popular Culture and Everyday Life in Japanese History
HIST 320	Humanism in Renaissance Europe
HIST 323	Modern European Intellectual History
HIST 325	History of Islam in Europe
HIST 326	History of Soviet Russia
HIST 328	The British Empire
HIST 345	Race and Nation in Latin America
HIST 347	Modern Mexico: Culture, Politics, and Economic Crisis
HIST 348	Modern Cuba

International Affairs

All courses, except IA 200, IA 244, IA 299, IA 444, IA 499

Japanese

JAPN 230	Introduction to Japanese Literature in Translation
JAPN 231	Introduction to Japanese Literature in Translation
JAPN 290	Topics in Japanese Literature in Translation
JAPN 291	Topics in Japanese Literature in Translation
JAPN 410	Advanced Readings in Japanese: Society and Culture

Latin American Studies

LAS 200

Latin American Cultural Studies

Music

MUS 105	Introduction to World Music
MUS 164	World Music Intensive: Theory and Practice
MUS 276	Opera, Mantua to Beijing
MUS 305	World Music: Asia
MUS 306	World Music: Latin America and the Caribbean

Philosophy

PHIL 201	Philosophy of Religion
PHIL 207	Indian Philosophy
PHIL 301	Ancient Western Philosophy

Political Science

POLS 102	Introduction to Comparative Politics
POLS 265	European Politics
POLS 354	Comparative Electoral Politics

Psychology

PSY 190	Culture, Film, and Psychology
PSY 345	Overseas Internship
PSY 390	Cross-Cultural Psychology

Religious Studies

RELS 241	Religion and Culture of Hindu India
RELS 242	Religions and Cultures of East Asia
RELS 243	Buddhism: Theory, Culture, and Practice
RELS 251	Medieval Christianity
RELS 273	Islamic Origins
RELS 274	Islam in the Modern World
RELS 354	The Invention of Buddhist Literature
RELS 450	Seminar: Social and Religious World of Early Judaism and Christianity
RELS 452	Seminar in Asian Religions

Rhetoric and Media Studies

RHMS 340

Media Across Cultures

Russian

RUSS 230	Introduction to Russian Literature in Translation
RUSS 290	Topics in Russian Literature and Culture in Translation

Sociology/Anthropology

SOAN 225	Race and Ethnicity in Global Perspective
SOAN 261	Gender and Sexuality in Latin America
SOAN 266	Social Change in Latin America
SOAN 270	Cultural Politics in East Asia
SOAN 273	Japanese Culture: Gender and Identity
SOAN 274	Chinese Culture Through Film
SOAN 275	Africa in Social and Cultural Perspective
SOAN 280	Gender in Asia
SOAN 281	India in Sociological Perspective
SOAN 285	Culture and Power in the Middle East
SOAN 349	Indigenous Peoples: Identities and Politics
SOAN 350	Global Inequality
SOAN 352	Women in Developing Countries
SOAN 353	Popular Culture/Public Protest: China
SOAN 355	African Migration and Diaspora
SOAN 360	Colonialism and Postcolonialism
SOAN 363	Imagining the Nation: Culture and Identity in Nation-State Formation
SOAN 385	International Migration

Spanish

SPAN 230	Hispanic Literature in Translation
SPAN 440	Topics in Hispanic Literatures
SPAN 450	Special Topics in Spanish

Theatre

TH 251	Theatre in London
TH 381	British Theatre and Drama: 19th Century to Present

Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning

(12 semester credits)

Just as liberally educated people have knowledge and appreciation of the humanities, creative arts, and social sciences, and have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, they also have knowledge and appreciation of science and know how to reason scientifically and quantitatively. Therefore a liberal education must include the study of mathematics and the natural sciences and an understanding of their methods of inquiry. Such understanding includes familiarity with the observational procedures employed by all the sciences: as in laboratory and field work; the theories and methods that constitute the tools and subject matter of scientific research; and the quantitative, qualitative, philosophical, social, and aesthetic dimensions of work in the natural and social sciences.

All graduates from Lewis & Clark are expected to have gained experience in quantitative reasoning, ranging from making rough quantitative estimates to solving word problems using algebra and logic, understanding graphically presented information, and using modern electronic devices such as calculators and computers. To foster this understanding and experience, Lewis & Clark students must complete at least two courses in natural science study and an additional course in quantitative reasoning.

A student can fulfill the scientific and quantitative reasoning requirement by taking at least one course that includes a laboratory component (selected from the Category A course list) and two courses that include a significant amount of mathematical and quantitative reasoning (at least one selected from Category B and the other selected from the Category B or C course lists).

Category A: Science Laboratory

All students must take one course.

To register for many Category A courses, the student must meet one of the following criteria: a) passing a quantitative reasoning proficiency examination administered during New Student Orientation or during the school year; b) receiving a SAT I math score of 630 or higher; c) receiving an ACT math score of 30 or higher; d) completing a high school calculus course with a grade of B or better; e) receiving a score of 4 or 5 on an AP exam in Calculus AB or BC, Computer Science, or Statistics; f) receiving a score of 5, 6, or 7 on an International Baccalaureate higher level or standard level mathematics exam; g) successfully completing CS 102 or MATH 055. Some courses in all categories have additional prerequisites. (See course descriptions.)

Biology

BIO 100	Perspectives in Biology
BIO 107	Field Paleontology of Oregon
BIO 114	The Origins of Life in the Universe
BIO 115	Explorations in Regional Biology
BIO 141	Investigations in Ecology and Environmental Science
BIO 151	Investigations in Genetics and Evolutionary Biology

and all courses at the 200 level that include laboratory

Chemistry

CHEM 100	Perspectives in Environmental Chemistry
CHEM 105	Perspectives in Nutrition
CHEM 110	General Chemistry I
CHEM 114	The Origins of Life in the Universe
CHEM 120	General Chemistry II
CHEM 210	Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 220	Organic Chemistry II

Geology

GEOL 114	The Origins of Life in the Universe
GEOL 150	Environmental Geology

Physics

PHYS 114	The Origins of Life in the Universe
PHYS 141	Introductory General Physics I
PHYS 142	Introductory General Physics II
PHYS 151	Physics I: Motion
PHYS 152	Physics II: Waves and Matter
PHYS 201	Experimental Methods in the Physical Sciences

Category B: Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning: Sciences

All students must take one course, and may take two courses.

To register for Category B courses, the student must meet one of the following criteria: a) passing a quantitative reasoning proficiency examination administered during New Student Orientation or during the school year; b) receiving a SAT I math score of 630 or higher; c) receiving an ACT math score of 30 or higher; d) completing a high school calculus course with a grade of B or better; e) receiving a score of 4 or 5 on an AP exam in Calculus AB or BC, Computer Science, or Statistics; f) receiving a score of 5, 6, or 7 on an International Baccalaureate higher level or standard level mathematics exam; g) successfully completing CS 102 or MATH 055. Some courses in all categories have additional prerequisites. (See course descriptions.)

Biology

BIO 114

The Origins of Life in the Universe

Chemistry

CHEM 100	Perspectives in Environmental Chemistry
CHEM 110	General Chemistry I
CHEM 114	The Origins of Life in the Universe
CHEM 120	General Chemistry II

Environmental Studies

ENVS 220

Environmental Analysis

Geology

GEOL 114	The Origins of Life in the Universe
GEOL 280	The Fundamentals of Hydrology

Mathematical Sciences

All mathematics and computer science courses except  CS 102 Quantitative Reasoning, MATH 055 Review of Algebra, and MATH 115 Elementary Functions.

Physics

PHYS 105	Astronomy
PHYS 110	Great Ideas in Physics
PHYS 114	The Origins of Life in the Universe
PHYS 141	Introductory General Physics I
PHYS 142	Introductory General Physics II
PHYS 151	Physics I: Motion
PHYS 152	Physics II: Waves and Matter
PHYS 205	Deep Space Astronomy
PHYS 251	Physics III: Electromagnetism
PHYS 252	Physics IV: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

Category C: Quantitative Reasoning: Humanities and Social Sciences

Students may take one course.

To register for many Category C courses, the student must meet one of the following criteria: a) passing a quantitative reasoning proficiency examination administered during New Student Orientation or during the school year; b) receiving a SAT I math score of 630 or higher; c) receiving an ACT math score of 30 or higher; d) completing a high school calculus course with a grade of B or better; e) receiving a score of 4 or 5 on an AP exam in Calculus AB or BC, Computer Science, or Statistics; f) receiving a score of 5, 6, or 7 on an International Baccalaureate higher level or standard level mathematics exam; g) successfully completing CS 102 or MATH 055. Some courses in all categories have additional prerequisites. (See course descriptions.)

Economics

ECON 100	Principles of Economics
ECON 103	Statistics
ECON 212	Economics and Consumer Decisions
ECON 215	Game Theory

Philosophy

PHIL 101

Logic

Political Science

POLS 201	Research Methods in Political Science
POLS 252	Public Opinion and Survey Research

Psychology

PSY 200	Statistics I
PSY 300	Psychology Methodology
PSY 311	Statistics II

Rhetoric and Media Studies

RHMS 260

Empirical Research Methods

Sociology/Anthropology

SOAN 201

Quantitative Research Methods

So that mathematical and natural science students acquire a breadth of understanding of the sciences as a whole, they are expected to take the Category A and B requirements from disciplines outside their major department. Also, students are encouraged to take a third course in Category C to broaden their horizons.

Creative Arts

(4 semester credits)

The distinctive element of the creative arts lies in the creative process itself, the mobilization of often nonverbal, intuitive, and emotional resources in providing new understandings about and insights into human existence. The practice and study of the creative arts can increase students appreciation of the artistry of others, and stimulate and enhance learning of all kinds. Students at Lewis & Clark should therefore acquire, as part of their general education, an appreciation for and understanding of this unique way of knowing and experiencing the world.

Students can fulfill the creative arts requirement either by engaging in the creative process itself through courses in studio art such as ceramics, design, pottery, or drawing; or in artistic performance (music, dance, theatre, creative writing); or by the historical and theoretical study of artistic production, including, where possible, a studio component. In recognition of the importance of arts in our culture, students are encouraged to explore a broad range of courses in the arts. Students majoring in the creative arts must satisfy this requirement outside their majors. Courses that may be applied toward the creative arts requirement are listed below.

Students can meet the requirement by taking one beginning and one advanced technique course in the same area, as long as the student earns a total of 4 semester credits.

Art

All courses except ART 244, ART 299, ART 444, ART 499.

English

ENG 200	Introduction to the Short Story
ENG 201	Introduction to Poetry and Poetry Writing
ENG 208	Prose Writing: Creative Nonfiction
ENG 300	Fiction Writing
ENG 301	Poetry Writing

Gender Studies

GEND 300

Gender and Aesthetic Expression

Music

All courses except MUS 244, MUS 299, MUS 444, MUS 499.

Philosophy

PHIL 203

Philosophy of Art and Beauty

Theatre

TH 106	Fundamentals of Movement
TH 107	Ballet I
TH 108	Contemporary Dance Forms I
TH 113	Acting I: Fundamentals
TH 208	Contemporary Dance Forms II
TH 213	Acting II, Realism
TH 214	Dance in Context: History and Criticism
TH 216	Speech, Enunciation, and Presentation for Actors and Nonactors
TH 218	Fundamentals of Design
TH 220	Theatre Graphics
TH 234	Stage Lighting
TH 249	Oregon Shakespeare Festival
TH 250	Theatre in New York
TH 251	Theatre in London
TH 275	Introduction to Playwriting
TH 281	Theatre and Society I: Classical and Medieval Drama
TH 282	Theatre and Society II: Renaissance, Neoclassical, and Romantic Drama
TH 283	Theatre and Society III: Modern Continental Drama
TH 308	Dance Composition and Improvisation
TH 313	Acting III, Style
TH 350	Dance and Performance
TH 351	Rehearsal and Performance: Main Stage Production
TH 381	British Theatre and Drama: 19th Century to Present
TH 382	American Theatre and Drama: 19th Century to Present

 

Foreign Language

(proficiency requirement)

The acquisition of a language other than one's own has always been a hallmark of a liberal education. In today's increasingly interdependent world this is all the more true. Only by learning the language of another people is one able to adequately understand the subtleties and nuances of its culture, for language is the gateway to all cultures.

At Lewis & Clark in particular, studying a second language has a place of central importance—both because of Lewis & Clark's historical commitment to international studies and because providing all students with an encounter with another culture has become a defining feature of the undergraduate program of studies. Not only does language study open up our appreciation for and sensitivity to other parts of the world, it also better enables us to understand and appreciate our own native language. For these reasons, Lewis & Clark requires of its students the serious study of at least one language other than English.

Lewis & Clark has a foreign language proficiency requirement for all students. A student can satisfy this requirement in any of the following ways:

• By completing study of a foreign language through the 201 level.

• By completing an approved language-based overseas program. (The list of approved programs is available from the Office of Overseas and Off-Campus Programs.)

• By placing into 202 or above on the foreign language placement examination.

• By earning a score of 4 or 5 on an Advanced Placement Language or Literature Examination; or a score of 5, 6, or 7 on an International Baccalaureate Higher Level Language Examination.

International students whose first language is not English are exempt from the foreign language requirement.

Physical Education/Activity

(two semester courses)

Physical education is one facet of a total educational program that stresses the interrelationship and interdependence among the physical, mental, and social dimensions of human experience. Therefore, students are required to take a minimum of two semester courses during their degree program that engage them in physical exercise. In these courses, students are encouraged to recognize the importance of physical activity as a lifelong pursuit.

Physical Education and Athletics courses that may be counted toward this requirement are Activities (PE/A 101), Varsity Athletics (PE/A 102), Wilderness First Responder (PE/A 141), and Wilderness Leadership (PE/A 142). Theatre dance courses that may be counted toward this requirement are Fundamentals of Movement (TH 106), Ballet I (TH 107), Contemporary Dance Forms I (TH 108), Contemporary Dance Forms II (TH 208), Rehearsal and Performance: Dance Extravaganza (TH 252), Dance Composition and Improvisation (TH 308), and Dance and Performance (TH 350). Theatre courses counting toward this requirement may be taken credit-no credit. Ghanaian Music and Dance (MUP 150) may be counted toward this requirement.

Students may register for no more than one 101 course per semester. The maximum credit in Activities (PE/A 101), Varsity Athletics (PE/A 102), Wilderness First Responder (PE/A 141), and Wilderness Leadership (PE/A 142) courses that may be applied toward the 128 credits required for graduation is 4 semester credits.

Library Use, Bibliographic Instruction, and Information/Electronic Competency

Information literacy means having the ability to locate, acquire, analyze, synthesize, and structure information. This includes the ability to understand the variety of contents and formats of information; to understand systems for organizing information; to retrieve information; and to evaluate, organize, and manipulate information. As students complete content courses in all academic departments, they also learn to locate and apply information available in libraries, in electronic databases, and on the Internet. Students also work with a variety of computer software appropriate to their academic fields and interests.

Exploration and Discovery

(8 semester credits)

Exploration and Discovery, a two-semester requirement for all first-year students, provides a substantially common experience. This innovative yearlong course seeks to ground students in humanities enduring questions and to model the intellect's journey outward from these questions into today's diverse world of ideas. Primary and secondary sources, small-class discussion, and keynote lectures forge a shared intellectual culture between professors and students, who together analyze works and topics of lasting significance in the liberal arts tradition. Exploration and Discovery thereby provides students with a vital foundation for developing the informed and complex perspectives they will need in our changing modern world.

The course offers students numerous opportunities to develop and hone their skills in critical thinking, reading and writing, effective speaking and listening, and conducting independent research. Students advance their strength and confidence as writers of college-level work through regular practice, constructive feedback from faculty and peers, and opportunities to revise and polish their work. They also develop as speakers in command of rhetorical choices and strategies as they learn to converse persuasively and present ideas with some formality in front of a group as well as informally in class discussion. Class sessions are structured to foster thoughtful and articulate discussion of key texts and central ideas of the course.

For further details, see the course descriptions in Core.

Core Requirements

Students must complete the Core requirement in their first two semesters at Lewis & Clark College. Students normally may not withdraw from this course. Students who fail to successfully complete a Core course, are allowed to withdraw from a Core course, or are approved to take a leave of absence during a semester in which taking Core would be required, must take/retake the Core course the next semester it is offered and they are in attendance. If the student has junior or senior standing, he or she must instead complete a course chosen from the approved list of Core substitutes. This course must be taken during the same semester in which the student would have been required to take the Core course.

No student is allowed to participate in an overseas or off-campus program until the Core requirements have been completed.

Any course used to fulfill a Core requirement may not be applied toward the fulfillment of any other General Education or major or minor requirement.

Transfer Students Students transferring to Lewis & Clark in the fall with fewer than 16 semester credits* must take Exploration and Discovery— CORE 106 and CORE 107—in their first year. Those who enter in January must take CORE 107 in the spring semester and CORE 106 the following fall.

All transfer students with 16 to 28 semester credits*, of which 3 or more credits are from an approved writing-intensive course, must take either CORE 106 or CORE 107 in one of their first two semesters at Lewis & Clark. In those cases where a student has received no such transferable credit, both CORE 106 and CORE 107 are required in the first two semesters.

Students who transfer to Lewis & Clark with more than 28 credits* must satisfy the CORE 106- CORE 107 requirement either by transferring approved writing-intensive courses or by taking two courses from the approved writing-intensive course list by the end of their second semester at Lewis & Clark.

Transferred courses and Lewis & Clark's writing-intensive courses used to satisfy the CORE 106- CORE 107 requirement may not be used to satisfy any other General Education or major or minor requirement.

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* Advanced standing (e.g., AP and IB) credit excluded.