Pathways: The Trinity Curriculum

Through critical thinking, curiosity, and interdisciplinary insight, students are challenged and supported in a community that encourages pathways to discovery.

Choose Your Own Path

Embarking on Pathways to discovery means you get to choose the direction you take with your curriculum. Below are some major milestones you’ll encounter on your journey, as well as recommendations for completing requirements and optional elements along the way.

Milestones  Requirements  Optional Elements 

What to Expect

Your First Year

During your first year, you’ll get your bearings in college academics and begin exploring subjects you’re passionate about. In your first semester, you’ll enroll in a First-Year Experience course, among others.

  •  Required

    First-Year Experience
    Analyze sophisticated texts and ideas through extensive engagement in a significant topic. All students must complete one FYE during their first semester at Trinity.

  •  Explore

    A-Z Course Index
    Begin finding courses and subjects you’re passionate about.

    Topics for Discoveries
    (If you’re working under the 2021-2022 COSB or later)
    Gain depth in a scholarly area outside of your primary major.

    Topics for Interdisciplinary Clusters
    (If you’re working under the 2020-2021 COSB or earlier)
    Gain depth in a scholarly area outside of your primary major.

What to Expect

Your Sophomore Year

You will declare a major your sophomore year! In addition to understanding your focused area of study, you’ll also want to hone in on what you want to select for your Discovery or Interdisciplinary Cluster.

  •  Required

    Declaring a Major
    A Trinity major allows you to gain in-depth study of a field of specialization, often incorporating multiple disciplines.

  •  Explore

    A-Z Course Index
    Begin finding courses and subjects you’re passionate about.

    Topics for Discoveries
    (If you’re working under the 2021-2022 COSB or later)
    Gain depth in a scholarly area outside of your primary major.

    Topics for Interdisciplinary Clusters
    (If you’re working under the 2020-2021 COSB or earlier)
    Gain depth in a scholarly area outside of your primary major.

What to Expect

Your Junior Year

While forging a path through your major, you’ll also embark on other interdisciplinary journeys via your Discovery or Interdisciplinary Cluster, experiential learning opportunities such as internships or study abroad, and the possible addition of a minor or second major.

What to Expect

Your Senior Year

As you work towards graduating with your Trinity degree in hand, work with your academic adviser to ensure your Pathways journey is complete with all required components. Look for ways to apply what you’ve learned through experiential learning opportunities. 

  •  Required

    All remaining required Pathways elements must be completed before you can graduate:

    • Discoveries / Clusters
    • The Capacities
    • Approaches to Creation and Analysis
    • Fitness Education

Requirements and Optional Elements

Pathways has six curricular requirements and three optional elements that provide a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences for all bachelor's degrees awarded by Trinity University.

Requirements

First-Year Experience
Analyze sophisticated texts and ideas through extensive engagement in a significant topic.

Approaches to Creation and Analysis
Master the skills of analysis, research, and creation using multidisciplinary approaches.

The Capacities
Learn effective communication skills, digital literacy, historical perspectives, and engaged and global citizenship.

Discoveries
(If you’re working under the 2021-2022 COSB or later)
Gain depth in a scholarly area outside of your primary major.

Interdisciplinary Clusters
(If you’re working under the 2020-2021 COSB or earlier)
Explore a complex subject by employing multiple disciplinary methods.

The Major
Gain in-depth study of a field of specialization, often incorporating multiple disciplines.

Fitness Education
Make good decisions relating to lifelong health and wellness.

Optional Elements

Experiential Learning
Learn to apply the liberal arts in a real-world environment.

Minors
Explore other areas of interest and gain academic experiences across disciplines.

A Second Major
Double major in departmental or interdisciplinary majors, or create your own.

 

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