Core Curriculum
The core curriculum imparts the skills needed to engage in advanced study in a chosen major, including competence in problem-solving, critical thinking and abstract reasoning. Students are exposed to diverse conceptual frameworks and academic perspectives and illuminate how inquiry is conducted in the various disciplines. The core will encourage creativity and natural curiosity, equipping students with the capacity for continual learning and the adaptive qualities essential for thriving in an ever-changing world.
The Salem State University general education core requirements consist of the following:
Level I - Competencies that must be completed within 30 credits of matriculation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Basic Mathematics
- Computer Literacy
Please view the Level I competency handout for additional information.
Level II - Core requirements that must be completed within 53 credits of matriculation
- English Composition I, II: 6 credits
- Public Speaking: 3 credits
- Health (Not required of Nursing or BS Biology Majors): 3 credits
- SMS Physical Education Activities: 1 credit
- HIS101, HIS102: 6 credits
- The First Year Seminar I, II: 3 credits - (Required of all undeclared freshmen. See IDS
- Distribution Laboratory Science sequence: 6 - 8 credits
Level III - Core requirements that must be completed by graduation
Distribution Requirements
- Distribution Literature sequence: 6 credits
- Distribution Electives: 15 credits
- Diversity Requirement: 3 credits
- Writing Requirement (College-Level): 3 credits
- Quantitative Requirement (College-Level): 3 credits
- Foreign Language: 12 credits - Required of all B.A. students, except for certain concentrations within the Art and History majors.
The student may be exempted from any of the above course requirements by demonstrating proficiency on a departmentally prescribed examination. Credit is given for any course passed by such an examination.
For more information on the quantitative, diversity and writing requirements please visit the Registrar's Office website.