The Hamline Plan: Undergraduate Curriculum

FYSEM: First-year Seminar

One course

All new first-year students (age 24 or younger upon enrollment at Hamline) are required to take a First-Year Seminar in their first semester. First-year students who transfer Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) work are not exempt from this requirement. Students may not drop or withdraw from First-Year Seminar nor complete it on a Pass/No Pass grading basis.

Transfer students are exempt from this requirement unless special circumstances are determined in the admissions process.

One course

This requirement is generally fulfilled by FYW 1120 - Composition and Research, which must be completed during the first year at Hamline. Students who receive Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) English composition credit must still register for FYW 1120. The AP or IB English credits count for credit toward the degree, but Hamline faculty members believe writing is an essential skill and thus require a first-year college-writing experience.

Students who receive credit for a PSEO or College in the Schools (CIS) English composition course are typically granted an equivalency for FYW 1120. 

Three courses

Writing-intensive courses must be taken at Hamline. Two of the required writing-intensive courses are provided within a student’s major, one at the 1000- or 3000-level and one at the 5000-level. The third course can be completed through writing-intensive offerings in any area of the student’s choosing.

Transfer students do not transfer writing-intensive courses to Hamline. The number of courses required will be reduced for transfer students needing fewer than three years at Hamline to complete their degree.

Two courses

The required speaking-intensive courses can be taken at any time and in any academic department.

Transfer students may transfer one speaking-intensive course to Hamline; one must be taken at Hamline. Students transferring as juniors (64 or more semester credits) are required to take only one speaking-intensive course, but it must be taken at Hamline.

One or two courses

Students must complete both categories of Reasoning. This can be accomplished through one formal reasoning course and one quantitative reasoning course, or through one course that carries both the R and M designations.

Total of eight courses

Students take courses in each of the following four areas. Please note that not all courses within an area of study will have an associated Hamline Plan designation. Look for the Hamline Plan course tag in Workday to verify the course meets a Hamline Plan requirement. 

• Fine Arts (F) – 2 courses (8 credits)*
  Fine arts courses may be found in areas such as: digital + studio art, art history, creative writing, music, and performance, production, and community (theater).

  *Music performance, ensemble, or lessons courses that are fewer than four credits must be taken enough times to equal eight credits in order to fulfill the fine arts requirement. Three-credit transfer courses may satisfy one fine arts course requirement.

• Humanities (H) – 2 courses
  Humanities courses may be found in areas such as English & communication studies, modern languages, philosophy, and religion.

• Natural Science (N) – 2 courses (at least one must have a lab)
  Natural science courses may be found in areas such as anthropology, biology, chemistry, criminal justice & forensic science, and physics.

• Social Science (S) – 2 courses
  Social Science courses may be found in areas such as anthropology, economics, history, legal studies, political science, psychology, and social justice & social change.

Two courses

Students are required to complete courses which engage them in intellectual discourse and reflection about and across differences. Diversity courses may be found across the curriculum.

One course

Courses that address global citizenship can be found in many departments, including Global and International Studies, Modern Languages, and Political Science.

One course

Students complete coursework that focuses on developing and strengthening collaborative skills. Collaboration courses may be found across the curriculum.

One course

This requirement follows a developmental arc that begins with experiences in the First Year Seminar, is built upon in mid-level courses in a student’s major, and culminates in an advanced-level course. The Q is documented at the final, culminating course.

One course or registered experience

One course or experience is required. Students are encouraged to participate in LEAP experiences in their majors and to engage in more than one LEAP experience during their Hamline career. LEAP experiences include LEAP (P) courses as well as faculty-advised internships, undergraduate research projects, apprentice teaching, and qualifying independent studies/projects.

Transfer students fulfill this requirement at Hamline under the direction of a Hamline faculty member.

View more about The Hamline Plan on the Bulletin