The Magis Core

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The Magis Core Curriculum

The Magis Core Curriculum supports and reflects Fairfield University’s mission of educating the whole person and offering ongoing opportunities for transformation.

Humanistic Education

Rooted in Jesuit ethos, guides Fairfield’s commitment to preparing young women and men for others through a distinctive academic experience. Crucial to student success in academia and as future professionals in the workplace, the Magis Core Curriculum engages students to establish their own values and understanding of the world while emphasizing excellence in writing, critical reasoning, synthesis of solutions, communication, and an understanding of the “why” and “how” of associated human behaviors.

Beginning with the class of 2023, all undergraduate students, regardless of School or major, will complete the Magis Core Curriculum requirements. The Magis Core was designed with specific consideration for the traditional undergraduate student, someone who seeks the transformative experience of higher education. Regardless of one’s intended major, the purpose of the Magis Core is to expose students to a broad array of disciplinary perspectives.

For the classes of 2022, 2021 and 2020, the core curriculum requirements can be found in the archived course catalogs.

Overview

The Magis Core Curriculum is a discipline-based, tiered experience. The curriculum provides a common experience for all undergraduate students, grounded in the humanistic tradition, and is a hallmark of a Fairfield University education.

The Magis Core has 22 curricular requirements, consisting of the following coursework.

Seven courses taken in the first two years of undergraduate study.
Discipline Requirement
English ENGL 1001
History HIST at the 1000 level; CLST 1115/1116
Philosophy PHIL 1101 (all sections)
Religious Studies RLST at the 1000 level
Modern/Classical Language Based on placement
(Not required when starting a new language)
Mathematics MATH < 3000, Based on placement (no MATH 1011)
Modern/Classical Language or Mathematics Must be the same language as #5
Eight courses taken throughout four years of undergraduate study.
  Discipline Requirement
Two (2) Courses History, Philosophy, Religious Studies Choose from two different disciplines (HIST at 2000 or 3000 level; PHIL, RLST at 2000 level)
One (1) Course Literature Choose from:
  • English (ENGL 1010-1799)
  • Modern Languages & Literatures
  • Classics
One (1) Course Visual & Performing Arts Choose from (VPA 1000 level):
  • Art History & Visual Culture
  • Music (MUSC 1000-2999)
  • Film/Television & Media (FTMA 1000-2999)
  • Studio Art
  • Theatre
Two (2) Courses Natural Sciences Choose from:
  • Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • ANTH 1200; ANTH 1210; PSYC 1610 (non-majors only)
Two (2) Courses Behavioral & Social Sciences Choose from:
  • Communication
  • Economics
  • Politics
  • Psychology
  • Sociology & Anthropology
Seven courses that may be covered through designated Tier 1 or Tier 2 courses, or through designated courses in one's major requirements.
Interdisciplinary
One (1) course
  • Either a team-taught course, or a cluster course, or an individually-taught course with at least one instructor in the College of Arts and Sciences.
  • All courses within the Orientation and Exploration areas.
Social Justice
Three (3) Courses
  • One course providing an introduction to social justice (SJ1), and two additional social justice courses (SJ2), at least one of which accomplishes the learning outcomes through a focus on race (broadly construed), studied intersectionally with gender and class.
  • SJ1 and one SJ2 course fulfilled within the Orientation and Exploration areas.
  • One SJ2 course fulfilled within either the Orientation and Exploration areas or within a major.
WAC/WID
Three (3) Courses
  • Two courses (within the Orientation and Exploration areas) plus one additional course fulfilled within either the Orientation and Exploration areas (Writing Across the Curriculum) or within a Major (Writing In the Discipline).

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