The Common Core—constructed of foundational courses from each of HMC’s academic departments—is designed to provide essential knowledge for upper division courses and expose students to the various disciplines at the college. It includes four semesters of mathematics, three semesters of physics and associated laboratories, two semesters of chemistry and associated laboratories, two semesters of humanities and social sciences, and one course each in biology, computer science and engineering.

Core courses address three objectives:

• Acquisition of disciplinary knowledge and experience with disciplinary-related techniques
• Skill development in the areas of oral and written communication, critical thinking, teamwork and collaboration, project management, and/or leadership
• Explorations of either the interrelationship of technical work and society or the understanding of one's own culture or other contemporary cultures