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Christopher Newport’s innovative core curriculum and rigorous academic standards have once again earned the highest grade possible from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA). The organization based its grades for more than 1100 colleges and universities on whether students are required to study seven core subject areas:
- Composition
- Literature
- Foreign language
- U.S. government or history
- Economics
- Mathematics
- Natural science
This year, CNU, the only public university, and five private institutions, earned A+ grades for requiring courses in all seven subjects.
According to the ACTA analysis, most universities require students to take courses in composition and the natural sciences, but curricular gaps with the other subjects are common.
Christopher Newport’s Liberal Learning Core Curriculum comprises a minimum of 40 semester hours of coursework, and includes Liberal Learning Foundations and Areas of Inquiry. This comprehensive program of study develops students’ capacities of empowerment, knowledge and responsibility. All coursework at Christopher Newport – whether in the Liberal Learning Core, in the major fields, or in electives or courses taken for a minor - seeks to introduce, reinforce and advance student aptitude in these primary capacities.
The grades are detailed on ACTA’s “What Will They Learn?” website.
About ACTA
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni is an independent, nonprofit organization committed to promoting academic freedom, excellence, and accountability at America’s colleges and universities. Founded in 1995, ACTA works with alumni, trustees, and education leaders across the country to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives an intellectually rich, high-quality education at an affordable price.