Core Curriculum

The “Core” is the center of our curriculum. It is a group of required courses that will assist the student to gain a foundation of knowledge, skills, and proficiencies that we believe every graduate of Massasoit should possess. This Core will assure employers and transfer colleges that our graduates have pursued a liberal arts education that is college level in the areas of communication, mathematics, science, social science and humanities.

A major benefit of the Core Curriculum is that it has been carefully designed to assist students to develop the prerequisite and corequisite skills needed to insure success in their degree program (the Core does not pertain to Certificate programs unless otherwise specified by the individual program). The Core is competency-based. If a student is able to demonstrate that he/she already possesses these skills, he/she will be allowed to select courses of a higher level and/or a greater diversity of subject matter. A series of assessment tests will be employed to determine each student’s level of ability. Test results will dictate whether a student will be exempt from certain courses or placed in courses to assist the student in gaining the skills he/she needs.

Preparing for College Reading I and II, Fundamentals of Math, Introductory Algebra, and Introductory Writing do not fulfill Core requirements and are not credited toward the completion of an Associate’s degree. They are required for students who demonstrate insufficient skill on the mathematics, reading, and writing assessment tests. If students believe the scores on the assessment tests are not an accurate indicator of their skills, they may request retesting twice during the initial semester. Placement test scores are valid for a period of one year. Students who take and who score over 500 on the SAT 1 – verbal exam are exempt from the reading tests. Students who take and who score over 600 on the SAT 1 – verbal exam are exempt from both the reading and writing test. All students must take the mathematics placement test. It is strongly recommended that students who place into Introductory Writing, Preparing for College Reading I or II, Introductory Algebra and/or Fundamentals of Mathematics take these courses immediately upon entrance to the College.

Finally, the Core Curriculum has been designed to assist students to gain knowledge and skills that enhance and complement those of their chosen field. It will broaden life interests and equip a student to make more effective use of our world throughout life. We believe that it will help each student to keep growing as a person. We are proud of our Core Curriculum and trust that students, too, will share our belief when they have engaged in it. Students should note carefully developmental prerequisites for individual courses.

There are, actually, three Cores; one for Associate in Arts (AA) degrees, one for Associate in Science (AS) degrees, and one for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees. The minimum Core components for each are listed below.

Minimum Core Requirements:

• Associate in Arts (AA) Degree:
  • 6 Communications Credits
  • 3 Oral Communication Credits
  • 3 Quantitative Credits
  • 7 Science Credits
  • 9 Social Science Credits
  • 6 Humanities Credits
• Associate in Science (AS) Degree:
  • 6 Communications Credits
  • 3 Quantitative Credits
  • 3 / 4 Science Credits
  • 3 Social Science/Humanities Credits
  • 6 Liberal Arts Credits
• Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree:
  • 6 Communications Credits
  • 3 Quantitative Credits
  • 3 / 4 Science Credits
  • 3 Social Science/Humanities Credits
  • 6 Liberal Arts Credits

Additional information concerning the Core Curriculum may be obtained by contacting the Office of Academic and Student Affairs.