AXLE

AXLE (Achieving eXcellence in Liberal Education) is the core program of study for students in the College of Arts and Science who enrolled before Fall 2025 (students who enrolled after Fall 2025 will take the A&S College Core). AXLE is anchored in intensive practice in writing and a diverse thirteen-course component of classes that allows maximum choice in course selection (based on student interests and achievement levels). At the same time, the distribution requirements of AXLE ensure that students will explore intellectually and academically the breadth of possibilities represented by the liberal arts.

The AXLE curriculum consists of two parts: the Writing Requirement and the Liberal Arts Requirement.

Writing Requirement

The Writing Requirement has four segments:

1. ENGL 1100: English Composition. Either one course or appropriate test score demonstrating basic skills in English composition.
2. First-Year Writing Seminar.
3. Writing course (indicated by a “W”). One course. Must be taken no later than the fourth semester in residence.
4. Second writing course (indicated by a “W”). Either one course or an approved course in oral communication (CMST 2100, 2110, or 2120).

Liberal Arts Requirement

The Liberal Arts Requirement is composed of a total of thirteen courses distributed across six categories. The First-Year Writing Seminar and all writing courses and approved oral communication courses are also counted in the thirteen-course Liberal Arts Requirement.

The six categories are:

1. HCA: Humanities and the Creative Arts (3 courses)
2. INT: International Cultures (3 courses)
3. US: History and Culture of the United States (1 course)
4. MNS: Mathematics and Natural Sciences (3 courses)
5. SBS: Social and Behavioral Sciences (2 courses)
6. P: Perspectives (1 course)