Explore 绿帽社鈥檚 Core Program, which offers an interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum that fosters critical thinking, cultural understanding, and community engagement.
Where the Liberal Arts Come to Life
At Occidental, we believe a great education is both expansive and immersive. Through our distinctive courses, you will develop intellectual agility, curiosity, and the ability to think across disciplines and perspectives鈥攅ssential tools for navigating a complex world. Through active engagement and critical inquiry, you won鈥檛 just absorb knowledge, you help shape it.
Designed for the challenges of the 21st century, the Core Program empowers you to engage with difference, lead with empathy, and contribute meaningfully鈥攍ocally and globally. It鈥檚 how a liberal arts education prepares students to thrive in their careers, their communities, and their lives.
FYS: Foundations & Intellectual Discovery
The heart of the Core Program is the First-Year Seminars (FYS)鈥攕mall, discussion-based classes designed exclusively for incoming students. These seminars offer an exciting and diverse range of topics, all centered on building foundational skills for college success. Led by expert faculty and limited in size, FYS courses create space for exploration, connection, and intellectual discovery.
Learning in Los Angeles
The Core Program offers courses that engage students in experiential learning in Los Angeles, understanding current events, and developing applied skills. Students also have the opportunity to attend exciting events themed around different elements of the College鈥檚 mission.
Whether you鈥檙e diving into a First-Year Seminar with your peers, learning about a totally new topic in a Core course, or attending a speaker event, you鈥檒l be challenged to think boldly, engage deeply, and grow in ways that matter to you.
