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General Education: A&S College Core

The A&S College Core is the foundation for undergraduate study for College of Arts and Science students who enrolled in Fall 2025 and later (students who enrolled before Fall 2025 will take AXLE).

The A&S College Core: A Student Walk-Through

The College Core curriculum is flexible and intuitive, offering common intellectual experiences, a firm grounding in the arts and the sciences, opportunities to explore, and meaningful pathways through your education.

How It Works

The Core is designed to teach you five Core Capacities—fundamental competencies that will benefit you for life as both a successful professional and an engaged citizen. You hone these fundamental competencies by completing 11 courses and earning a minimum of 16 capacity tags.

  • Core Capacities and Capacity Tags

    You will develop five Core Capacities through the College Core:

    1. Written & Creative Expression (A)
    2. Systemic & Structural Reasoning (B)
    3. Cultural & Interpretive Investigation (C)
    4. Data Literacy & Computational Thinking (D)
    5. Ethical & Social Engagement (E)

    Read more about the Core Capacities.

    To complete the College Core, you must earn at least 16 capacity tags, distributed as follows:

    • 4 tags in Capacity A
    • 3 tags in Capacity B
    • 3 tags in Capacity C
    • 3 tags in Capacity D
    • 3 tags in Capacity E

    You can select from hundreds of courses across the college that carry these tags; courses are indicated as such in YES and in the Undergraduate Catalog.

  • Courses

    The College Core consists of 11 courses:

    • The First-Year Core (2 seminars)
    • Exploratory Core (2 courses)
    • Capacity Courses (5 courses)
    • World Language course (1 course)
    • Inquiry Lab course (1 course)

    First-Year Core

    All first-year A&S students take two First-Year Core seminars:

    • CORE 1010: Being Human (Fall) – tagged A, C, E
    • CORE 1020: Science, Technology, and Values (Spring) – tagged A, B, D

    These small, discussion-based seminars are intended to broaden your thinking and understanding, expose you to new perspectives and ideas, and encourage thoughtful and engaged dialogue.

    Exploratory Core

    After the first year, you will enroll in two Exploratory Core electives (CORE 2500s), designed to probe complex, multi-faceted problems and expose you to new areas of study. Each Exploratory Core course carries two capacity tags; the particular tags for each course will vary depending on the subject matter. These courses are offered in a range of departments across the college.

    Capacity Courses

    You will also take five Capacity Courses, offered across the college, including at least one in each of the three major divisions: humanities and fine arts (tagged LE: HFA), social and behavioral sciences (tagged LE: SBS), and math and natural sciences (tagged LE: MNS). These courses aim for breadth and general competencies, complementing the depth and specialized skills that you gain through your major. Each Capacity Course carries up to two capacity tags.

    Additional Course Requirements

    To complete the College Core, you must also take:

    • 1 World Language course (tagged LA), offered at second-semester proficiency or above. (Note: to enroll in a second-semester proficiency course, you will need to take a first-semester proficiency course, complete an appropriate placement test, or gain approval from the director of undergraduate studies in a relevant language department.) Visit the Vanderbilt Center for Languages for more information about language study at Vanderbilt and the wide range of options available.
    • 1 Inquiry Lab (tagged LB), offered in many departments and designed to teach you how to design, conduct, and analyze research.

Use the College Core Checklist to plan your journey and track your progress. Contact your pre-major adviser with any questions about the Core.

See Checklist

FAQ

  • First-Year Core (CORE 1010 & CORE 1020)

    Q: Can students take CORE 1010 and 1020 after their freshman year?
    A: No. CORE 1010 and 1020 are open only to first-year students in the College of Arts & Science.

    Q: Do first-year students have to take CORE 1010 prior to taking CORE 1020?
    A: Yes. CORE 1010 is a prerequisite for CORE 1020. They are designed as a sequence; 1010 (taken in the fall) lays the foundation for what happens in 1020 (taken in the spring). This sequence gives students the opportunity to learn valuable skills, ideas, and perspectives in a scaffolded way across a full academic year.

    Q: Do all first-year students in the College of Arts & Science have to take CORE 1010 and 1020, even the ones who know they want to transfer to another undergraduate college (Peabody, Blair, Engineering)?
    A: Yes. All first-year A&S students are required to complete CORE 1010 and 1020, even those who plan to transfer.

    Q: Can a student “drop” or “withdraw” from CORE 1010 and 1020?
    A: No. A student cannot withdraw from CORE 1010 or 1020. All first-year students must complete and earn a grade in these courses to fulfill the First-Year Core requirement.

    Q: Can a student retake CORE 1010 or CORE 1020 after the first year to replace their grade?
    A: No. Unlike some other courses at Vanderbilt, the First-Year Core courses are not repeatable.

    Q: What happens if a student does not receive a passing grade in CORE 1010 or 1020?
    A: Students must complete and earn a grade in CORE 1010 and 1020 to satisfy the First-Year Core requirement. A student who earns a failing grade (F) in one or both courses will fulfill the First-Year Core graduation requirement but will not receive the associated credit (0.00 will be entered into the credit and GPA calculation). Nor will the student receive the capacity tags associated with these classes (A, C, E for CORE 1010; A, B, D for CORE 1020). The student will need to earn these capacity tags by taking other courses that carry the tags.

  • Exploratory Core (CORE 2500 courses)

    Q: When should a student take CORE 2500 courses?
    A: Students should plan to take both of their CORE 2500 courses during their sophomore year. This is the ideal time to expand their exploration of multiple subjects, perspectives, and questions prior to taking more specialized courses in their chosen major. It is even possible for a student to take two CORE 2500 courses in the same semester (e.g., fall semester sophomore year).

    Q: What capacity tags do students earn in their CORE 2500 courses?
    A: All CORE 2500 courses carry two Capacity tags, but the tags vary depending on the content of the specific course. Students can see which tags each course carries in the YES registration system.

    Q: Can first-year students take CORE 2500 courses?
    A: No. CORE 2500 courses are open only to students beyond the first year. Students must complete the First-Year Core before enrolling in the Exploratory Core.

    Q: Can students who take courses elsewhere (e.g., summer courses) use the credit they earn from those courses to satisfy their CORE 2500 requirement?
    A: No. Courses taken outside Vanderbilt cannot be used to satisfy the Exploratory Core requirement.

    Q: What happens if a student does not receive a passing grade in an Exploratory Core course?
    A: If a student receives a failing grade (F) in a CORE 2500 course, the student will receive neither credit nor the Capacity tags for the course. The student will need to retake the course and earn a passing grade or take another CORE 2500 course to meet the Core requirement and to earn the associated tags.

  • Capacity Courses (courses tagged with A, B, C, D, or E)

    Q: How many Capacity tags can a course carry?
    A: A Capacity course can carry up to two tags (with the exception of CORE 1010 and 1020, which carry three tags each).

    Q: What’s the difference between a “Capacity” and a “tag” in the A&S Core curriculum?
    A: Capacities are the ideas, skills, and perspectives that structure and define the A&S College Core. There are 5 Capacities, each marked by a different letter:

    • A: Written & Creative Expression
    • B: Systemic & Structural Reasoning
    • C: Cultural & Interpretive Investigation
    • D: Data Literacy & Computational Thinking
    • E: Ethical & Social Engagement

    Tags (also called “Capacity tags”) identify which courses teach which capacities. For instance, a course tagged with “C” and “E” will include instruction on “Cultural & Interpretive Investigation” and “Ethical & Social Engagement.”

    Q: After the First-Year Core and the Exploratory Core, how many Capacity courses do students need to graduate?
    A: After completing the First-Year Core and the Exploratory Core, students must complete at least 5 Capacity courses to meet their College Core requirement. To complete all of their Core requirements, students must earn at least 16 Capacity tags (4 “A” tags, 3 “B” tags, 3 “C” tags, 3 “D” tags, and 3 “E” tags) across the First-Year Core, Exploratory Core, and Capacity courses. But many students will end up with more tags than that.

    Q: When should students complete their Capacity courses and earn the necessary tags?
    A: Students should complete their Capacity requirement by the end of sophomore year. In fact, they should aim to complete all major components of the A&S College Core—First-Year Core, Exploratory Core, and Capacity courses—by the end of sophomore year.

    Q: Should first-year students take Capacity courses?
    A: Yes! First-year students should plan to take Capacity courses right away in the fall semester. Because most Capacity courses are offered at the 1000- and 2000-level, they are designed especially for first- and second-year students.

    Q: Can Vanderbilt students who take courses elsewhere (e.g., summer courses) use the credit they earn from those courses to fulfill Capacity tags?
    A: Yes and no. If the course taken elsewhere is a direct equivalent to a course at Vanderbilt that carries Capacity tags, a student will receive credit for the equivalent course and the tags it carries. However, if a course taken elsewhere does not have an equivalent at Vanderbilt (NO-EQ), a student cannot earn Capacity tags for it, even though the student receives credit for the course.

    Q: Are there classes in other Vanderbilt undergraduate schools (Blair, Peabody, Engineering) that carry Capacity tags?
    A: Currently, a small number of courses offered in the Blair School of Music carry Capacity tags that students can apply toward their Core requirements.

    Q: What happens if a student does not receive a passing grade in a Capacity course?
    A: If a student receives a failing grade (F) in a course that carries Capacity tags, the student will receive neither credit nor the tags for the course. The student will need to retake the course and earn a passing grade or take another Capacity course and earn its associated tags.

  • World Language & Inquiry Lab (courses tagged with LA or LB)

    Q: Can students place out of taking a World Language (LA tag) course?
    A: No. All students are required to take a World Language course. Students can “place” into a World Language course appropriate to their level, but they cannot place out of the requirement to earn an LA tag.

    Q: Why do some lower-level language courses (e.g., Greek 1101, French 1101, Spanish 1100) not carry the World Language (LA) tag?
    A: The World Language requirement states that students take a language course “at second-semester proficiency or above.” Many students will “place” beyond first-semester proficiency and be able to enroll directly in a course that allows them to demonstrate second-semester proficiency (and earn the LA tag). Students who do not place beyond first-semester proficiency will have to complete a lower-level language course before they are able to enroll in an LA-tagged course.

    Q: What is the difference between a course that involves a lab component and an Inquiry Lab (LB tag) course?
    A: Some STEM majors (e.g., Biological Sciences) require that students take lab courses as part of their program of study. Such courses are identified with an “L” after the number. The A&S College Core requires that students take an Inquiry Lab course (tagged “LB”) that meets a series of specific learning objectives that teach the principles of how rigorous research is created, conducted, and analyzed.  A lab (L) course may or may not also be labeled as an Inquiry Lab (LB). Inquiry Labs are offered in a range of departments and programs across the college, not just in the natural sciences.

    Q: Can Vanderbilt students who take courses elsewhere (e.g., summer courses) use the credit they earn from those courses to satisfy the LA and LB requirements?
    A: No. Vanderbilt students cannot use credit from courses taken elsewhere to satisfy their World Language and Inquiry Lab requirements.

    Q: What happens if a student does not receive a passing grade in a World Language or Inquiry Lab course?
    A: If a student receives a failing grade (F) in an LA or LB tagged course, the student will receive neither credit nor the tag associated with the course. The student will need to retake the course and earn a passing grade or take another LA or LB tagged course to meet the requirements and to earn the tag.

Transfer Students

All students transferring into Vanderbilt after their first year of study:

  • Are exempt from the First-Year Core
  • Need only earn 10 capacity tags (2 each of tags A, B, C, D, E)
  • Take 2 Exploratory Core courses in A&S
  • Fulfill the Capacity Course, World Language, and Inquiry Lab requirements either at Vanderbilt or via approved transfer credit

Transfer Student FAQs

  • Can transfer students take CORE 2500 courses?

    Yes! Transfer students are required to take two CORE 2500 courses. What’s more, every CORE 2500 course reserves seats specifically for transfer students.

  • Can transfer students use credit from courses taken at a previous institution to satisfy the CORE 2500 requirement?

    No. Because of the distinctive, interdisciplinary nature of Exploratory Core courses, transfer students must take both of their CORE 2500 courses at Vanderbilt.

  • Can transfer students use credit from courses taken before entering Vanderbilt to earn Capacity tags?

    Yes. Credit for non-equivalent courses can earn 1 Capacity tag and count toward the 10 tags required of transfer students. Credit for equivalent courses can earn up to 2 Capacity tags, depending on the course.

  • Can transfer students use credit from courses taken before they enrolled at Vanderbilt to earn an LA tag?

    Yes. With appropriate approval, transfer students can fulfill their World Language requirement via credit from courses taken at previous institutions.

  • Can transfer students use credit from courses taken before they enrolled at Vanderbilt to earn an LB tag?

    No. Because of the research-design focus and expansive learning objectives of the LB tag, Inquiry Lab courses must be taken at Vanderbilt.

Core Capacities

Students navigate the A&S College Core by developing five Core Capacities that are woven through and practiced across the curriculum:

  • Written & Creative Expression
  • Systemic & Structural Reasoning
  • Cultural & Interpretive Investigation
  • Data Literacy & Computational Thinking
  • Ethical & Social Engagement

Each of these capacities is taught across all divisions of the college (humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences). Students are introduced to the capacities in the First-Year Core, pursue them further in the Exploratory Core, then build on these foundations as they move into more advanced, concentrated study. The overall goal is not only to clarify for students what they are learning, but also to demonstrate that they can and should carry that learning from one course into another and into their majors and minors.

Classes outside of the First-Year Core can carry up to two capacities. This allows more flexibility in how students fulfill the requirement and tracks with how many faculty think about what transpires in their classes.

Not all courses offered in A&S are tagged with capacities. Capacity tags are only for broad introductory courses keyed to specific learning goals and accessible to majors and non-majors alike. Courses tagged with capacities aim for breadth and general competencies, complementing the depth and specialized skills that students will gain through coursework in their chosen disciplines and elective courses.

Below are detailed descriptions and learning outcomes for each of the Core Capacities.

  • A: Written & Creative Expression

    Cultivating expression that informs and inspires, whether on the page, stage, screen, or canvas

    Effective use of written language is essential for thinking precisely, for building bridges across existing divides, and for conceiving alternative futures. To communicate confidently and creatively, we must be able to present ideas clearly, and to adjust our modes and registers of expression for different audiences. Because skillful writing matters as never before in an age of computer-assisted text production, these courses center the written word but also invite students to experiment with media such as the diagram, the podcast, and the paintbrush—all powerful tools to communicate within and about our world.

    Learning Outcomes:

    1. Use of clear, organized, proficient language to express ideas in written or spoken form.
    2. Use appropriate evidence or materials to create an argument and persuade an audience.
    3. Use of imagination to provide insight in a unique work.
  • B: Systemic & Structural Reasoning

    Analyzing complex systems, whether molecules, formal theories, or societies

    The natural and social world is made up of interacting systems, where any individual component is influenced by multiple forces and, in turn, influences many others. To grasp problems and opportunities in this complex environment, we must be able to analyze intricate relationships, consider possible ramifications of change, and predict the outcome of specific interventions. Whether considering cellular events involved in carcinogenesis, traffic patterns that affect daily carbon release, or social systems that produce structural racism, these courses equip students to tackle highly challenging problems.

    Learning Outcomes:

    1. Form a hypothesis or thesis about important problems or solutions.
    2. Employ diverse approaches to address problems with critical reasoning.
    3. Integrate alternative, divergent, or contradictory perspectives.
    4. Predict potential effects of changes to a system.
  • C: Cultural & Interpretive Investigation

    Deepening our understanding of cultures familiar and unfamiliar, past and present

    A wealth of languages, values, histories, and traditions make up the human record—shaping the experiences of individuals and groups, the artifacts and archives they create, and the configuration of our global present. To navigate this variegated landscape, we must read, listen, and observe closely, locate our own assumptions, and attend to the settings in which knowledge is produced. Whether concerned with ancient architecture or modern languages, the transnational migrations of people or of ideas, these courses prepare students to approach cultural differences with empathy and imagination.

    Learning Outcomes:

    1. Recognize varying cultural traditions, histories, values, and beliefs.
    2. Understand the social and cultural frameworks in which knowledge is produced.
    3. Analyze and synthesize information to draw inferences or create new knowledge.
    4. Identify one’s own cultural assumptions to skillfully negotiate across differences.
  • D: Data Literacy & Computational Thinking

    Evaluating evidence and employing computational methods to improve understanding and solve problems

    To make informed and independent decisions, we must be able to evaluate a variety of information sources critically by interrogating their origins and analyzing their significance. Scientific methods and computation are key to such determinations, especially given that current scales of data collection, synthesis, analysis, modeling, and simulation are greater than ever before. Whether weighing competing scientific theories, gauging the validity of mathematical models for financial markets, or assessing the implications of disinformation for democratic processes, these courses help students appreciate how the careful use of data and computation can clarify the world around us.

    Learning Outcomes:

    1. Separate a problem into manageable parts that can be solved with analysis or computation.
    2. Acquire data and evaluate for sensitivity and bias, using sound scientific methods.
    3. Solve a problem by using appropriate tools to analyze data and/or implement effective algorithms.
    4. Convey empirical results as a persuasive, logical argument.
  • E: Ethical & Social Engagement

    Examining power, justice, and responsibility, in settings ranging from the classroom to the planet

    Challenging ethical questions confront us in every domain of life. What moral obligation do we have to ourselves, to each other, to our local, national, and global communities, and to the non- human world? Whether considering collective responsibility for global income disparities, the role of social values in the design of technological systems, or the relationship between historical and contemporary wrongs like sexism and racism, these courses ask students to interrogate their own beliefs and take on the perspectives of diverse others in order to reason carefully about matters of justice, equity, and power.

    Learning Outcomes:

    1. Identify ethical questions concerning individual and collective responsibility and their implications.
    2. Recognize historical realities and contemporary factors that contribute to power dynamics within and between societies.
    3. Examine and interpret experiences from multiple perspectives.