General Education Architecture
The Alkimi Core Curriculum
An intentional 40-credit liberal education curriculum uniting inquiry, ethical reflection, quantitative literacy, and empirical problem solving across every undergraduate degree.
Curricular Philosophy
40 Credits of Foundational Inquiry
Regardless of school or major, all undergraduate candidates complete the 40-credit Alkimi Core. Designed to cultivate versatile analytical thinking and clear communication, the Core connects diverse disciplinary paradigms before culminating in a collaborative senior capstone.
The Alkimi Core (40 credits): First-Year Seminar (3), Writing I and II (6), Quantitative Reasoning (3), Natural Sciences with lab (8), Social Sciences (6), Humanities (6), Arts (3), Global Perspectives (3), and an Integrative Capstone (2).
Visual Credit Allocation
40 Total Semester CreditsUndergraduate Catalog
Chapter 3 Policy Citation
Full regulations governing course substitution, transfer thresholds, and Core outcomes.
Academic Advising
Review your interactive degree audit in AlkimiHub with your academic advisor before registration.
Academic Advising Center →Area Requirements
The Nine Curricular Areas
Explore specific competencies, credit counts, and sample course options across each Core area.
First-Year Seminar (FYS)
Introduces collegiate critical thinking, research methods, and intellectual community in cohorts of 20 students. First-time undergraduates take FYS 101 during their first semester; transfer students with 24+ transferable credits substitute general electives.
Approved Offerings
- FYS 101 Alkimi Foundations: Inquiries in Science & Society
College Writing I & II
Two-course foundational sequence developing communicative clarity, argumentative rigor, primary/secondary source synthesis, and ethical scholarly citation. Must be completed for a letter grade.
Quantitative Reasoning
Demonstrates proficiency in mathematical modeling, deductive logic, or empirical statistics. Placement is determined by high school preparation and the Alkimi Math Placement Exam.
Approved Offerings
- MATH 105 Quantitative Reasoning for Everyday Life
- MATH 110 Precalculus Functions and Models
- MATH 140 Calculus I
- STAT 205 Statistics for Behavioral & Life Sciences
Natural Sciences with Laboratory
Two 4-credit empirical laboratory sequences providing hands-on experimental inquiry into physical and biological phenomena. Each course includes a required weekly three-hour laboratory.
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Two 3-credit courses in distinct disciplines examining individual cognition, socioeconomic structures, governance institutions, and collective behavior.
Humanities & Cultural Inquiry
Two 3-credit courses from distinct departments engaging global literary texts, ethical frameworks, historical movements, and philosophical analysis.
The Arts & Creative Practice
One 3-credit course exploring aesthetic theory, visual culture, studio practice, musical expression, or dramatic interpretation.
Approved Offerings
- ART 101 Global Art History: Ancient to Modern
- ART 110 Studio Drawing and Visual Composition
- MUS 110 Music Appreciation and Aural Culture
- THTR 105 Introduction to Acting and Dramatic Arts
Global Perspectives & World Cultures
One 3-credit course analyzing non-Western civilizations, transnational dynamics, or global relations. May also be fulfilled via approved semester-long study abroad.
Approved Offerings
- HIST 102 Western and World Civilizations II
- ANTH 105 Cultural Anthropology: People and Culture
- POSC 220 Comparative Politics in a Global Era
- GLBL 201 Globalization and Cultural Change
Integrative Capstone
Senior-year interdisciplinary seminar (90+ earned credits) uniting students across varied majors to collaborate on multifaceted systemic challenges such as public health, AI ethics, and environmental resilience.
Approved Offerings
- CORE 400 Senior Interdisciplinary Capstone Seminar
Credit by Examination
Advanced Placement (AP) Credit Equivalencies
Alkimi University awards semester credits for qualifying examination scores achieved on College Board AP exams.
| AP Examination | Required Score | Alkimi Course Equivalent | Credits | Core / Major Applicability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Calculus AB | 3 | MATH 110 | 4 cr | Quantitative Reasoning Core |
| AP Calculus AB | 4 or 5 | MATH 140 Calculus I | 4 cr | Quantitative Reasoning & Major req. |
| AP Calculus BC | 3 | MATH 140 Calculus I | 4 cr | Quantitative Reasoning & Major req. |
| AP Calculus BC | 4 or 5 | MATH 140 & MATH 141 | 8 cr | Calculus I & II Major req. |
| AP Biology | 4 or 5 | BIO 101 Intro to Biology | 4 cr | Natural Sciences Core with Lab |
| AP Chemistry | 4 or 5 | CHEM 101 General Chemistry I | 4 cr | Natural Sciences Core with Lab |
| AP Computer Science A | 4 or 5 | CS 150 Intro to Python | 4 cr | CS / Data Science Major req. |
| AP English Language & Comp | 4 or 5 | ENGL 101 Academic Writing | 3 cr | Fulfills Core Writing I |
| AP English Literature & Comp | 4 or 5 | ENGL 102 Writing & Research | 3 cr | Fulfills Core Writing II |
| AP Microeconomics | 4 or 5 | ECON 201 Microeconomics | 3 cr | Social Sciences Core & Major req. |
| AP Macroeconomics | 4 or 5 | ECON 202 Macroeconomics | 3 cr | Social Sciences Core & Major req. |
| AP Psychology | 4 or 5 | PSYC 101 Intro to Psychology | 3 cr | Social Sciences Core & Major req. |
| AP United States History | 4 or 5 | HIST 101 Early US History | 3 cr | Humanities Core & Major req. |
| AP Statistics | 4 or 5 | STAT 205 Statistics | 3 cr | Quantitative Reasoning & Major req. |
Students who receive AP credit for a course may not subsequently enroll in that course for credit at Alkimi University; doing so forfeits the AP examination credits.
Undergraduate Catalog §3.11: Advanced Placement (AP) Credit EquivalenciesTransfer & Prior Learning
International Baccalaureate (IB) & College Transfer Credit
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Alkimi University awards 6 to 8 semester credit hours for each Higher Level (HL) IB examination completed with a score of 5, 6, or 7.
- Standard Level (SL) examinations are not eligible for collegiate credit.
- Official IB transcripts must be transmitted directly to the Office of the Registrar.
- Awarded credits fulfill corresponding Core or major requirements without impacting GPA.
College Transfer Credit Regulations
Coursework completed at regionally accredited colleges and universities may transfer to Alkimi University according to the following guidelines:
- Accreditation: Must be accredited by a CHEA-recognized regional accrediting commission.
- Minimum Grade: Must achieve a grade of "C" (2.000) or higher. Grades of "C-", "D", "P", or "F" do not transfer.
- Credit Ceilings: Maximum of 64 credits from 2-year community colleges; maximum 90 credits total external transfer.
- GPA Calculation: Transfer credits award earned hours only; transfer grades do not impact cumulative GPA.
- Timeline: Evaluations are posted in AlkimiHub within 10 business days of admission.