PART I. REQUIRED CORE — 4 courses/12 credits
The Required Core comprises four courses: two in English Composition, one in Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning, and one in Life and Physical Sciences.
A. English Composition
Required
ENG 101 is a prerequisite for all 200-level courses. ENG 201 is a prerequisite for all 300- and 400-level courses. Students must enroll in ENG 101 in their first semester at the College. All students must pass ENG 101 before registering for ENG 201.
B. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning
Choose one
Placement in a mathematics course is determined with an academic advisor based on the student’s score on the CUNY Assessment Test in Mathematics and the student's selected major and post-graduate plans. For information about the CUNY Assessment Tests, see Academic Skills Requirements.
C. Life and Physical Science
Choose one
| SCI 110 | Origins: From the Big Bang to Life on Earth | 3 |
| SCI 112 | Environmental Science: A Focus on Sustainability | 3 |
| SCI 114 | Scientific Principles of Forensic Science | 3 |
STEM Variant courses may also be used to satisfy the Life and Physical Science area of the Required Core.
PART II. FLEXIBLE CORE — 6 Courses/18 credits
Select at least one course from each category.
At least two Flexible Core courses must be at the 200 level.
Transfer students who enter John Jay College with two or more Flexible Core courses unfulfilled must complete at least two Flexible Core courses at the 200 level. Students transferring in five Flexible Core courses are only required to complete one 200-level course. Students who have earned AA or AS degrees are exempt from completing further Common Core requirements and are thus exempt from this rule.
Category A. World Cultures and Global Issues
See list of courses
Students who are not exempt from the Foreign Language requirement and who do not test into a higher level language course must complete two courses in the World Cultures and Global Issues category, one of which must be a foreign language 101 or 111 course.
Category B. U.S. Experience in its Diversity
See list of courses
Category C. Creative Expression
See list of courses
Category D. Individual and Society
See list of courses
Category E. Scientific World
See list of courses
STEM Variant courses may also be used to satisfy the Scientific World category of the Flexible Core.
PART III. JOHN JAY COLLEGE OPTION — 2-4 courses/6-12 credits
A. Justice Core I: Justice and the Individual
See list of courses
All entering freshmen and transfer students with fewer than 31 credits must complete a First Year Seminar (FYS) course in the first or second semester of study. First Year Seminars are offered in a variety of disciplines. They share learning outcomes to build a strong academic foundation and support a successful transition to college. In the fall semester, First Year Seminars are offered linked with conveniently scheduled sections of ENG 101. Unlinked First Year Seminar sections are available for students who have already completed the ENG 101 requirement.
B. Justice Core II: The Struggle for Justice and Equality in the U.S. -or- Justice in Global Perspective
See list of courses
C. Learning from the Past
See list of courses
D. Communications
See list of courses
Note: Students who are not exempt from the Foreign Language Requirement will take their Foreign language 102 course in the Communications category.