Core Requirements

Core requirements at Franklin provide a common academic experience for all Franklin students regardless of their major field of study. Franklin University Switzerland emphasizes critical and quantitative reasoning, strong written and oral communication skills in English, and cross-cultural competencies, including competency in modern languages. The Franklin core curriculum affords students of all backgrounds the opportunity to experience different academic disciplines in the spirit of the liberal arts as they pursue their desired specialized course of study.

Summary of Core Requirements

  • First Year Seminar (3 credits)
  • Quantitative Literary (6 credits)
  • Global Responsibility (18 credits)
    • Intercultural Competencies
    • International Engagement
    • Social Responsibility
  • Modern Language (15 credits)
  • Academic Writing (12 credits)
  • Academic Travel (12 credits)

Note: Some Core courses may also apply to specific majors

All Franklin graduates are expected to have achieved proficiency in a language other than English by completing five language courses or the equivalent—typically in one of the major Swiss languages, French, German or Italian. The Global Responsibility component of the Core is designed to provide an interdisciplinary perspective in three areas of knowledge, whereas Academic Travel offers on-site field study with the opportunity for developing both language skills and cultural competency. Students select the courses for their core curriculum in close collaboration with their academic advisor. This gives students the opportunity to assemble a meaningful and relevant framework upon which to build their major interests.