So...I'm confused about the Core.

JHS
Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:10:50 +0000

You are right about writing instruction being attached to HUM. You are also right that it makes sense for people to take it first year. Including if they plan to major in math or science. No one gets through the University of Chicago without doing a bunch of academic writing.

Informally, first years are all but required to take HUM. Strictly speaking, there’s no formal requirement, but the academic advisors don’t take “no” for an answer, at least not without a fight, and there are so many sections of the courses that no one has schedule conflict as an excuse. And, indeed, Chicago students are plenty smart enough to figure out that taking HUM first year makes sense, and is integral to the first-year experience. I doubt many incoming students seriously explore the possibility of not doing that.