At the inception of our institution, Dexter Edgar Converse articulated a vision of an educational experience that would transform and empower graduates to “see clearly, decide wisely, and act justly.” The Converse Core celebrates this liberal arts ideal by equipping all students with a broad-based understanding of the natural and social dimensions of the world, the intellectual and practical skills to successfully navigate and change that world, and the capacity to take personal and social responsibility in their lives and communities.
This section outlines the general education requirements associated with "Deciding Wisely" and includes the categories listed below. Students pursuing a major that has adopted the Essential Core should consult with their advisor.
Category | Foundational Core (Hours) | Comprehensive Core (Hours) |
Writing | 6 | 6 |
Quantitative and Mathematical Reasoning | 3 | 3 |
Data Literacy | 3 | 3 |
Non-English Language | 6 | 8 |
Writing
Required Hours: 6 for Foundational and Comprehensive Core. Students pursuing the Essential Core should consult their program advisor.
The Converse Core helps empower students to find and articulate their individual voices by developing the capacity to produce clear and effective written work. Toward this end, students take one English Composition course (3 credit hours) and one separate course from any discipline focused on additional techniques of effective Written Expression (3 credit hours).
The English Composition requirement must be satisfied by either ENG 101 or ENG 290 (the latter only for those placed there via an AP of 3), or may be exempted if any of the following conditions are met:
- a score of 4 or higher on either AP English exam (credit awarded);
- a score of 4 or higher in a course completed within the International Baccalaureate Program (credit awarded);
- a SAT verbal score of 700 or above (no credit awarded);
- an ACT verbal score of 31 or above (no credit awarded).
The Written Expression component may be satisfied from a variety of courses specified in the Core matrix.
Quantitative and Mathematical Reasoning
Required Hours: 3 for the Foundational and Comprehensive Core; Students pursuing the Essential Core should consult their program advisor. Students pursuing the Essential Core should consult their program advisor.
Quantitative reasoning allows us to infer the conclusions that follow necessarily from premises. Deduction is at the center of many mathematical, digital, and logical methods, and its apparent universality helps connect us with others and insulate us from subjective biases.
Students should consult the Core matrix to determine courses that fulfill this category.
Data Literacy
Required Hours: 3 for the Foundational and Comprehensive Core. Students pursuing the Essential Core should consult their program advisor.
We live in a data-rich world in which numeric measurements are constantly being collected, displayed, and used in decision-making. The Converse Core empowers students to constructively and responsibly navigate this world by exposing them to some of the fundamentals of data science, computer-based technologies, statistical reasoning, or financial literacy.
Non-English Language
Required Hours: 6 for Foundational Core, 8 for Comprehensive Core. Students pursuing the Essential Core should consult their program advisor.
The language requirement forms part of Converse’s mission to prepare students to be tomorrow’s conscientious and informed citizens. Studying a new language enhances a student’s ability to communicate skillfully in multiple forms of expression and to act competently in a global and diverse world. Learning a language other than English offers students valuable insights into the practices and values of other cultures, thereby fostering new ways of understanding human diversity in our complex, multilingual world. Toward this end, as part of the Converse Core, students will demonstrate proficiency through the second or third semester of a non-English language.