AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE

Historically, the ways in which knowledge has been organized reflect both differences in subject matter and methods of discovery. This delineation is dynamic, marked by increasing differentiation and an array of academic disciplines. Disciplines have traditionally been grouped into three divisions: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. At Duke, we have chosen to further to divide the Humanities into two areas of knowledge, Arts and Literatures and Civilizations, to assure that undergraduates engage the full range of substantive concerns and approaches in the Humanities. In addition, Duke has identified the Social Sciences and Natural Sciences and Mathematics as areas of knowledge. Each of these areas shares somewhat overlapping substantive concerns and/or approaches to knowledge. Curriculum 2000 adopts the following division of courses (and generally, departments) reflecting this Duke tradition in liberal arts education.

The four Areas of Knowledge are:

  • Arts and Literatures
  • Civilizations
  • Social Sciences
  • Natural Sciences and Mathematics

These four areas of knowledge are recognized as traditional divisions in the organization of knowledge and have a long curricular and administrative history at Duke. The committee felt that to provide the breadth of exposure necessary to assure its curricular goals, all students should be required to take three courses in each area. This obviously represents a significant departure from the current curriculum which allows students to avoid courses in one area of knowledge, permits them to take only two courses in a second, and requires them to take no more than three courses in any area outside that of their major. Recognizing the trend among Duke students to omit one of the areas of knowledge, the committee felt strongly that to be an informed and educated person in the 21st century, engagement with each is essential, not optional. The committee also sought, thereby, to achieve more commonality in the Duke undergraduate experience.

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