Columbia Core Curriculum

At Columbia, we believe a solid foundational education is essential to any creative career. That’s where the Columbia Core Curriculum—our general education requirements for all undergraduate students, and courses that are generally outside of your major—comes in. 

The courses you take in the Columbia Core help you develop transferable skills that will set you up for long-term success. These courses blend the best of what Columbia has to offer: arts and media training; entrepreneurial, marketing, and business skills; technological literacy; and a broad foundation in critical and analytical thinking.

And for those students seeking additional challenge in their Core classes, there is the Honors Program.

The Columbia Core contains two distinct areas: Columbia Experience and the Essential Liberal Arts and Sciences. 

You’ll take a total of 42 credit hours in the Columbia Core. 

• The Columbia Experience (9 credits)

  The Columbia Experience section of the Columbia Core highlights the city of Chicago, and the creativity that drives the communities you’ll be a part of after graduation.

  You’ll take nine credits in this section: one "Big Chicago" course, one Creative Communities course, and one course in Innovation and Impact. 

  "Big Chicago" (First-semester Experience)

  Connect with the city of Chicago in fundamental ways while working with a cohort of student peers—led by some of Columbia's top scholars and professionals.

  All first-semester freshmen are required to take a "Big Chicago" course. 

  Creative Communities

  Explore the creative ecosystem of a community, with a spotlight on Chicago as a socially and artistically relevant location in a global world. Building upon the foundational experience of the Big Chicago classes, these courses also include an intentional focus on strategies and skills for working with interdisciplinary collaborators.
  
  All students with sophomore standing are required to take a Creative Communities course.*
  
  *Fall 2022 transfer students, please consult with your college advisor on this requirement.

  Innovation and Impact

  Learn how focused innovation can drive sustained social, economic, and cultural impact. These courses teach you how to work with an idea from concept to pitch, connecting business, technology, and communications.

  All students are required to take an Innovation and Impact course.

• Essential Liberal Arts and Sciences (33 credits)

  The Essential Liberal Arts and Sciences section of Columbia Core includes writing and rhetoric, history and social science, literature, math, and science. As you choose ELAS courses, you’ll have the option to select a Pathway that will guide you. Choosing a pathway for your ELAS courses is not required, but it is highly recommended so you can take advantage of the opportunity to connect concepts and issues you find intellectually engaging throughout your studies in the Core.

  Learn More About Pathways

  The ELAS courses you take will ensure you have a broad base of knowledge in many different areas, help you develop your critical thinking skills, and help you apply what you learn at Columbia to the world around you.

  In this section, you will take 33 credits. The specific breakdown includes:

  Writing and Rhetoric I and II	6 credit hours
  History and Social Sciences	9 credit hours
  Humanities and Literature	9 credit hours
  Mathematics	3 credit hours
  Science and Science with Lab	6 credit hours

  Additionally, you must complete:

  • Nine Columbia Core credit hours at level 200 or higher
  • Six credit hours with a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) designation

You can speak with your academic advisor for more specific information about fulfilling the Columbia Core requirements.