Seven-Course Breadth
in the College of Letters & ScienceThe breadth requirement in the College of Letters & Science is the expression of the conviction that no person is truly educated without an exposure to the universe of human knowledge. A liberal arts education at Berkeley provides an unparalleled opportunity to explore worlds of cultural and aesthetic, social and political, historical and ethical, scientific and technological knowledge. Before choosing a major, students often find that breadth courses help them refine their understanding of their own areas of interest and strength. In a college with such a rich and diverse curriculum, the wise undergraduate will take advantage of the chance to investigate unfamiliar intellectual territories.
Breadth courses also provide an invaluable context for the in-depth, focused and sustained intellectual work of the major. The constellation of courses that students choose will ideally enable them to perceive the similarities, differences, and connections among ways of knowing, which in turn will lead to a more comprehensive understanding of their major field, its particular contributions, its potential connectivity with other areas, and its boundaries.
Whether students choose breadth courses to diversify their academic experience or to complement their major field of study, the end result will be a firm foundation for lifelong learning and good citizenship. A student who has earned a liberal arts degree leaves the College of Letters and Science with the confidence borne of an education that is both broad and deep. The major coursework leads to mastery of a field, but equally important is the breadth coursework, which gives students the intellectual flexibility, perspective, and knowledge to engage constructively with the questions and challenges they will encounter in an increasingly complex world.
Arts and Literature
Courses meeting this requirement involve significant engagement with arts, literature or language, either through critical study of works of art or through the creation of art. Art enables us to see the familiar world with new, often questioning eyes, and makes distant times and places, characters and issues come alive in our imaginations, helping to expand our personal horizons. Engaging with art increases the power of the imagination, which is essential to almost all intellectual endeavor. The study of creative works in all media (visual, verbal, musical, etc.) also attunes us to nuances of expression in a variety of forms and quickens our appreciation of the persuasive (and at times seductive) power of representation. The Arts and Literature breadth requirement is intended to provide students with knowledge and appreciation of the creative arts so that, for the duration of their lives, engagement with art can be, variously, a wellspring of creativity, a lodestar for critical perspectives, and a touchstone of aesthetic quality—in sum, a continuing source of learning and serious pleasure.Biological Sciences
All courses offered by the biological science departments, as well as a selection of courses from related disciplines such as anthropology, nutritional sciences, and psychology, satisfy this requirement. To study the biological sciences is to study life itself, in all its rich diversity. Whether students choose to study life at its smallest scale—for instance, molecular genetics or structural biology—or its largest—for instance, ecosystems or evolution—they will encounter intriguing questions and learn rigorous scientific approaches to discovering the solutions. Many of the most important political and ethical issues that we face today, in areas ranging from the environment to health care reform, cannot be fully appreciated without a broad understanding of the fundamentals of the biological sciences.Historical Studies
Courses fulfilling this requirement deal primarily with the human events, institutions and activities of the past. Historical Studies are particularly important because, to paraphrase the philosopher George Santayana, those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat its mistakes. The study of history provides us with perspective on the human condition and with an appreciation of the origins and evolution of the numerous cultures and social orders that have populated the earth. Whether students study history to understand how our world evolved from the past or to focus on the distinctions between the present and previous eras, they will come away with a richer understanding of and appreciation for human experience.International Studies
Courses that involve the study of the contemporary politics, culture, arts or socio-economic structure of at least one country other than the United States may be used to satisfy this requirement. This requirement sensitizes students to the immense diversity of cultures and social orders in the world today. As connections and communication between nations become more frequent, it is important that students of the College have exposure to the essential difference and similarities between various peoples of the earth. The International Studies breadth requirement is designed to foster a spirit of open-mindedness that characterizes a well-educated citizen of the world, and to equip our graduates to thrive in an age of increasing globalization.Philosophy and Values
Courses fulfilling this requirement include all philosophy courses as well as courses with a major focus on religion, ethics, legal values, or leading philosophical figures. According to Aristotle, every exercise of our faculties has some good for its aim. Every discipline taught in the college has ethical implications, and to study a particular subject without considering these implications can be a sterile—and in extreme cases hazardous—exercise. The urge and ability to ponder such questions as the meaning of life distinguish human beings from the other animals. In an increasing complex world, in which traditional values are often called into question, students of the College are encouraged to reflect upon their own assumptions as well as the assumptions of other times and cultures. In Philosophy and Values courses students in the College will be encouraged to ponder the types of questions that will enhance their ability to understand their heritage, their contemporaries, and themselves.Physical Science
Courses meeting this requirement include all courses in the physical sciences, such as astronomy, chemistry, geology, geophysics, and physics, as well as a selection of courses from related disciplines. Physical scientists seek to understand the universe, from its microscopic substructure to its largest structures, from our own earth to the edge of the universe and the beginning of time. Students fulfilling Physical Science breadth may be motivated by the pure pleasure of penetrating the mysteries of the universe, or by more practical considerations such as a desire to take an intelligent stance on such topics as greenhouse gases and space exploration. Whether students opt for the practical or the theoretical or a combination of both, when fulfilling this breadth category they will learn to formulate problems clearly and think quantitatively, critically, and abstractly.Social and Behavioral Sciences
This requirement can be fulfilled by any course in Development Studies, Economics, History, Legal Studies, Political Science, Political Economy of Industrial Societies, Sociology, Social Welfare, and many courses in departments such as Anthropology, Linguistics and Psychology. Social and Behavioral Science courses provide students with the tools they need to analyze the determinants of human behavior and the dynamics of social interaction among human beings. While fulfilling this breadth requirement, students may find that they look upon the world with a fresh perspective: every encounter or gathering provides an opportunity to observe society in action. Students of the College will also find that the ability to analyze the complex political, economic, social, cultural, and psychological factors at play in contemporary life will equip them to evaluate the evidence mustered in support of key public policy decisions.