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To help students better understand the terminology used in their curricular program planning, the following definitions apply at Concord University:
CURRICULUM
All bachelor-level degree programs consist of a total of 120 semester credit hours. When we speak of a student's overall curriculum, we are referring to courses taken to satisfy the general education requirements, the requirements for the major field of study, any minor field of study (if desired), and elective courses.
GENERAL EDUCATION
Consisting of between 39-40 semester credit hours, the General Education Requirements Program is an essential element of a student's overall curriculum designed with specific student learning expectations focusing on the attainment of foundational knowledge and essential skills needed for a comprehensive undergraduate education. Through study in the basic disciplines of the liberal arts and sciences, students not only gain a solid foundation for specialized studies, they are also equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop a richer understanding of the various modes of inquiry, the differing ways of knowing needed for establishing a broad educational underpinning and a foundation for lifelong learning.
MAJOR
A major represents a degree-seeking student's primary field of study. A major is a structured plan of study ranging from between 33-80 semester credit hours. Within the major, courses may either be specifically required or chosen from distributed lists. Clusters of courses (typically 4 to 6) may constitute a specific emphasis area, track, or concentration within the major (see definitions below). The purpose of a major field of study is two-fold: first, to provide students the experience of studying a subject area in depth; and second, to provide specialized education or credentialing within a specific field of study.
EMPHASIS AREA, PATHWAY, TRACK, OR CONCENTRATION
Some major fields of study are structured in such a way as to allow for differing emphasis areas, pathways, tracks or concentrations within their list of requirements, often in addition to a core of courses common to all emphasis areas, pathways, tracks, or concentrations. These emphasis areas, pathways, tracks, or concentrations consist of a specified list of related courses (typically 4 to 6) that provide the student with specialized knowledge or specific credentials within the broader disciplinary field.
MINOR
A minor is an optional, secondary field of study for a degree-seeking student, requiring between 15-29 semester credit hours, exclusive of student teaching. No student may declare a major and a minor in the same discipline.
ELECTIVE COURSES
Elective courses refer to those courses a student may take that are not specifically required or on distributed lists within any program such as a major or a minor or as part of the general education program. Since all degree programs at the bachelor's level require 120-semester credit hours total, students often need to take elective courses beyond their major and general education courses in order to fulfill the 120-semester credit hour requirement.
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