World Civilizations
The World Civilizations course is about forces and ideas which have shaped the way people have experienced (and still do experience) the world. The perspective of this course is global; its focus is on the origins and development, geographical context and interactions of world culture. World Civilizations courses are designed and intended to serve a fundamental purpose of university education - to broaden one's view and extend one's comprehension of the variety of cultural experiences which surround us. These courses serve this purpose by "instilling a greatly expanded sense of time and space, of values, history and geography." This is accomplished by challenging the students to investigate, analyze, interpret and, ultimately, to integrate their unique cultural heritage with the diversity which surrounds us. -- Professor Thomas Barry, World Civilizations Instructor

American Pluralism
The American Pluralism course examines the multicultural, multi-ethnic nature of American society. It introduces students to five important areas of American experience and culture: race, gender, ethnicity, class and religious sectarianism. Writings by and about Americans of color, women, and people from diverse ethnic, class and religious groups provide background and context for discussions of contemporary issues. A diverse faculty selected from many of the University's departments teaches American Pluralism. Students learn from a variety of contemporary and historical sources, including literature, art, journalism, research articles, guest lecturers, films, and the experiences of their classmates.

Great Discoveries in Science
Students must complete UGC 302 or UGC 303, "Great Discoveries in Science", or a Cognate (an approved equivalent course). These courses focus on selected great discoveries of science, presenting a particular body of scientific facts and concepts and connecting them with the process of science, related history and philosophy, and the interdependence of science and technology. The courses emphasize the central ideas that set the framework for a discipline and its "great discoveries." The examples are selected from diverse fields to provide a breadth that complements the depth offered in the prerequisite introductory-level science course.