Areas of Knowledge
It is an important objective of the Curriculum to expose Trinity College students to a broad array of course work in a variety of academic disciplines even as they concentrate their focus on the area of their major. The Areas of Knowledge requirement insures this breadth of exposure to different ideas and approaches to learning.
Colleges and universities differ in how they categorize the various divisions of knowledge. They may have different numbers of divisions and different names for the divisions. Furthermore, even within a particular university the number and kinds of divisions can change over time. All such efforts by universities to categorize areas of knowledge have in common, however, a recognition that different academic fields set different goals for themselves, approach the investigation of knowledge using different methodologies, and define differently what undergraduates should be exposed to in the course of their studies. The Curriculum recognizes five Areas of Knowledge:
- Arts, Literatures, and Performance (ALP) 2 courses are required
- Civilizations (CZ) 2 courses are required
- Natural Sciences (NS) 2 courses are required
- Social Sciences (SS) 2 courses are required
- Quantitative Studies (QS)* 2 courses are required
*Note: Students who matriculated before May 2004 must either complete the two-course QID Mode of Inquiry requirement (including one M-coded course) or satisfy the QS Area of Knowledge requirement. However, if they choose to fulfill the QS requirement, they may only use QS-coded courses they take after May 2004.
There is no restriction on the level of the courses used in fulfillment of the Areas of Knowledge requirement. In other words, students may take courses below or above the 100-level.
Arts, Literatures, and Performance - Among the courses coded ALP are many (but not all) courses in the arts (music, drama, dance, art and art history), in the various literatures of the world (whether taught in English or in a foreign language), and in literary theory.
Civilizations - The CZ designation includes many (but not all) courses in art history, history, philosophy, and religion as well as various individual courses offered in other departments.
Natural Sciences - Among the courses designated NS are many (but not all) courses in the biological, physical, and environmental sciences and some courses in other disciplines such as psychology.
Quantitative Studies - Courses designated QS have as their main purpose instruction in a quantitative skill to achieve proficiency in mathematics, statistics, or computer science or the use of explicitly quantitative methodology.
Social Sciences - Among the courses designated SS are many (but not all) courses in cultural anthropology, economics, environmental sciences, linguistics, political science, psychology, public policy studies, and sociology as well as various individual courses offered in other departments.
