The Hood College Core Curriculum

The Heart section of the core presents the fundamental skills necessary to pursue a liberal arts education. With that in mind, the First-Year Experience (FYE) offers students an opportunity to sharpen academic skills in small class settings. All first-year experiences are reading and writing intensive and will help students refine their abilities in these areas as well as in critical thinking, information literacy, and class discussion. Students also learn to connect their coursework through a relevant hands-on service-learning project in the spring semester.

The Heart core includes a fall seminar course, a spring course linked by theme, and English Composition.

First-Year Experience 101 (Fall, 3 credits)

The first-year experience begins with the seminar course. Seminars are taught on a variety of interdisciplinary topics and are based on a theme connected to Hood’s four columns—Hope, Opportunity, Obligation, and Democracy. First-Year Experience seminar courses are small in size, which will allow class members to work closely with their professor and peers.

Students who withdraw or receive an F in FYE 101 during the fall semester must re-take FYE 101 in the spring to satisfy the Core requirement. Students who fail or withdraw from the course in the spring will repeat the course again each spring until they pass the course.

First-Year Experience 102 (Spring, 3 credits)

Students remain in the same cohort as their fall FYE 101 to complete FYE 102, a theme-linked course in the spring semester. FYE 102 includes 12-15 hours of service-learning to help students connect what is learned in the classroom with a meaningful community project. Service-learning projects may happen on-site or on campus.

Students who withdraw from or fail FYE 102 will repeat the course the following spring. They will register for the specially designated FYE 102 section for repeating students. 

English Composition (3-4 credits)

English composition courses (ENGL 101 and ENGL 102) at Hood College give students a solid foundation in the writing skills they will need for future success. In these courses, students respond to a variety of reading and writing assignments, all designed to expand their critical reading skills and their ability to communicate ideas in clear, coherent, and persuasive writing. Composition courses emphasize frequent writing and rewriting; courses may include classroom discussions, writing laboratories, and small group and individual conferences between students and instructors. Students will explore various writing contexts, purposes, and audiences. Students will learn grammar, sentence structure and effective paragraph and essay development. Students will demonstrate fluency in language, style, and source conventions. A grade of C- or above is required to fulfill the composition requirement.

Incoming first-year students are required to take the First-Year Experience (FYE) courses during their first year at Hood as a Core requirement. Students admitted to Hood prior to Fall 2025 and students admitted as transfers are exempt from the First-Year Experience (FYE) courses unless they have not successfully completed their FYS course.

The Mind section of the Core presents the fundamental skills necessary to pursue a liberal arts education. There are nine areas within the Mind: Creative and Performing Arts; Developing Informed Viewpoints; Ethics; Global Languages; Holistic Wellness; Humanities; Natural Science; Quantitative Reasoning; and Social and Behavioral Sciences. 

Courses in the Global Languages portion of the Core allow students to see the world through someone else's eyes. Language courses address all phases of language learning to foster a deeper understanding of the cultural traditions represented by the languages offered. Proficiency in a language other than English increases awareness of one's own place in the world and enhances connections to the global citizenship. 

Students are required to complete an elementary (101 and 102) American Sign Language, Arabic, French, German or Spanish course sequence or earn exemption through a placement test. Students are exempt from the Global Languages requirement if placed by exam in a 201 or above language course. No credit is earned if no further language courses are taken, but additional credits may be earned if the student chooses to enroll in 201 or above. See Foreign Language Placement Examinations for more information. ASL 101 and 102 courses are offered at Hood College at 3 credits each and other language courses (101 and 102) completed at Hood College are offered at 4 credits each; however, we may accept these courses as transfer credit if completed at 3 credits each. Students may also transfer in languages other than those offered at Hood to satisfy this requirement.

International students for whom English is a foreign language may meet the requirement by completing ENGL 101 or 102. If, however, English is the official language of the home country, the language requirement is not waived.

The Hands component of the core curriculum comprises two parts: High Impact Practice (HIP) and “Life After Hood” (LIFE). Students must complete a minimum of 3 credits of HIP and 2 credits of LIFE. In many cases, students will complete these components through major requirements.

Students entering with an A.A., A.S., or AAT degree must complete the Hands components of the Core. 

High-impact learning facilitates the integration of learning and practical skill development, enriches classroom experiences, and assists students in their preparation for future career pursuits.

The HIP requirement can be fulfilled in a multitude of ways, including internship, undergraduate research, and study abroad. In most cases, students will participate in the high-impact practice requirement through major requirements.

The core curriculum is invested in students successfully managing the transition from college after graduation. Junior or senior students must complete a course that addresses the practical skills needed for a successful transition, aka “Life After Hood.” Example skills include personal well-being, financial literacy, and job preparation. Students must also demonstrate learning integration through an electronic portfolio requirement.

This requirement may be met through a course connected to the student’s major or HOOD 400: Life after Hood.