{"id":28994,"date":"2026-04-03T09:37:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hmc.edu\/admission\/?page_id=28994"},"modified":"2026-04-03T09:59:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:59:11","slug":"curriculum-overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hmc.edu\/admission\/admitted\/asp\/curriculum-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Curriculum Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

Harvey Mudd College seeks to educate engineers, scientists and mathematicians well versed in all of these areas and in the humanities, social sciences and the arts so that they may assume leadership in their fields with a clear understanding of the impact of their work on society. <\/p>\n\u2013 HMC Mission Statement<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

Common Core<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Core Curriculum at Harvey Mudd College seeks to nurture students\u2019 intellectual curiosity and joy of learning, provide them with foundational knowledge and skills needed for further study in STEM disciplines, and begin a critical engagement with the humanities, social sciences, and the arts. In keeping with HMC\u2019s liberal arts approach to STEM education, the Core engages students in thinking critically about consequential problems and complex issues, making connections across disciplinary boundaries, communicating and collaborating effectively, and understanding how their personal and professional actions impact the world around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Math (2 semesters)
    • Calculus<\/li><\/ul>\n
        \n
      • Linear Algebra<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Physics (1\u00bd semesters, plus lab)
        • Half-semester course in Special Relativity Theory<\/li><\/ul>
          • Mechanics and Wave Motion<\/li><\/ul>\n
              \n
            • One semester Physics Lab<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Chemistry (1 semester, plus lab)
              • Chemistry in the Modern World<\/li><\/ul>\n
                  \n
                • One semester Chemistry Lab<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Biology (1 semester, plus lab)
                  • Introduction to Biology<\/li><\/ul>\n
                      \n
                    • One semester Biology Lab<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Computer Science (1 semester)\n
                        \n
                      • Introduction to Computer Science<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Engineering (1 semester)\n
                          \n
                        • Introduction to Engineering Systems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (1 semester)\n
                            \n
                          • Introduction to Critical Inquiry<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Half-semester writing-intensive course taught across the curriculum<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Impact course – This course on the intersection of STEM and society will seek to explore consequential problems and complex issues while making connections across disciplinary boundaries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                            Core Curriculum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                            Harvey Mudd’s Core Curriculum and first two years of studies is outlined in the chart below. Note that all required courses can be found in golden boxes. Also note that the first semester of every HMC student’s first year is Pass\/No Credit as students adjust to their first semester in college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            \n
                            \n

                            1st Year<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                            \n

                            Sem 1<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
                              \n
                            • Chemistry + Lab<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Calculus
                              (Single & Multivariable)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Computer Science<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Special Relativity <\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Writing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Pass | No Credit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
                              \n

                              Sem 2<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
                                \n
                              • Biology + Lab<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • Linear Algebra<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • Mechanics<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • HSA 10: Critical Inquiry<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • Optional Elective<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
                                \n

                                2nd Year<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                \n

                                Sem 1<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
                                  \n
                                • Physics Lab<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • Engineering Systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • Elective, Major, or HSA<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • Elective, Major or HSA<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • Optional Elective<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
                                  \n

                                  Sem 2<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
                                    \n
                                  • Impact<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • Elective, Major, or HSA<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • Elective, Major, or HSA<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • Elective, Major, or HSA<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • Optional Elective<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

                                    Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                    The program in Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (HSA) is structured to promote both breadth of understanding and the in-depth study of a particular disciplinary or interdisciplinary area of special interest. Students take 10 full courses in addition to the critical inquiry course included in the Common Core.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                      \n
                                    • Four courses must be taken in the student\u2019s chosen area of concentration<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • Five courses must be taken in a variety of fields so as to satisfy a distribution requirement<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • At least one of these 10 courses must involve significant writing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                      The Majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                                        \n
                                      • Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                      • Joint Majors: \n
                                          \n
                                        • Chemistry & Biology<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                        • Computer Science & Mathematics<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                        • Computer Science & Physics<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                        • Mathematical & Computational Biology<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                        • Mathematics & Physics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                        • New Climate Majors: \n
                                            \n
                                          • Biology & Climate<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                          • Chemistry & Climate<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                          • Computer Science & Climate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                          • Individual Program of Studies, Off-Campus Major<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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