The curriculum at CIT is focused on equipping students with all the skills they will need in their future endeavors. This includes a program for General Education, encouraging students to follow their interests or further their careers by expanding the depth and breadth of their learning experience.

Many of these courses in Arts or Humanities can be “double counted” for General Education program requirements or in Computer Science or Physics, students can double count courses for the Free Electives requirement. This double-counting enables many students to earn double majors and minors within four years (in addition to their Engineering degrees) in a variety of subjects, including Philosophy, Music, Business and Art.

All engineering students must complete the General Education program, as outlined below.

Breadth Sequence (choose one from each category)

Humanistic Studies (Cultural Analysis)  9 units
This category is comprised of courses that explore cultures from a broad perspective, over a significant length of time or period in history. 79-104, Introduction to World History (Fall and Spring) or one course from the “Humanistic Studies” category of the H&SS general education program. (Click here to see a list of acceptable classes.

Cognitions and Institutions      9 units
This category explores various institutions and customs and their impact on the world (our behavior and choices), as well as society’s influence on these conventions and processes. Course that fulfill these requirements include 73-150, Microeconomics (Spring) OR 85-100, Introduction to Intelligence in Humans, Animals and Machines (Fall) OR 88-104, Decision Processes in American Political Institutions (Fall and Spring) OR One course from the “Cognitions and Institutions” category of the H&SS general education program. (Click here to see a list of acceptable classes.)

Writing/Expression 9 units
This category establishes the building blocks for a strong writing foundation, to develop proficiency in interpretation and synthesis of various text, as well as the ability to create strong individual arguments. Courses that fulfill the requirements include 76-101, Interpretation and Argument  OR 82-085, Reading and Writing in a Multicultural Setting*

(*82-085, Reading and Writing in a Mutlicultural Setting had previously been offered to students for whom English is a second language. The course is no longer offered but students who entered CMU before Fall 2006 and successfully completed 82-085 may use it to fulfill their Writing/Expression requirement.)

Depth Sequence

Humanities, Social Science or Fine Arts 27 units

A sequence of humanities, social science, or fine arts courses provides depth in a specific area outside of the engineering realm. Although 27 units from a single department meet this requirement, related courses from different departments may also satisfy this requirement. At least 9 of these units should be beyond the introductory level and CFA performance courses, if chosen, must also include theory or history of the subject. A depth sequence in language must include at least three courses in the same language. Tepper School of Business, Heinz School, and Statistics department courses may NOT be used.

Although this requirement is typically satisfied by completing 3 courses of at least 9 units each, some acceptable courses are greater or less than 9 units (e.g. 6-unit Art courses). While mini courses of fewer than 9 units may be combined to equal 9-unit courses, the excess units from courses greater 9 units may NOT be used to satisfy this requirement. For example, a 12-unit, 6-unit, 9-unit combination is not acceptable. A 6-unit, 3-unit, 9-unit, 9-unit combination is acceptable.

Non-Technical Electives 18 units

This category allows students the flexibility to choose two unrestricted humanities, social science or fine arts courses, or non-technical courses from Tepper School of Business, or the Heinz School. Accounting, finance, management, marketing, production, and statistics courses are regarded as technical courses and may NOT be used. Although this requirement is typically satisfied by completing 2 courses of at least 9 units each, some acceptable courses are greater or less than 9 units (e.g. 6-unit Art courses). While mini courses of fewer than 9 units may be combined to equal 9-unit courses, the excess units from courses greater 9 units may NOT be used to satisfy this requirement. For example, a 12-unit, 6-unit combination is not acceptable. A 6-unit, 3-unit, 9-unit combination is acceptable.

Acceptable Humanistic Studies Courses
NOTE: This is a comprehensive list of courses. Some courses may not be available every semester or may no be longer offered. Check the online Schedule of Classes for availability.

60-205, Modern Visual Culture: 1789-1945
66-301, Science and Christianity: A Multidisciplinary Approach
70-342, Managing Across Cultures
76-201, Literature and the Social
76-227, Comedy
76-334, 19th Century Literary and Cultural Studies
76-335, 20th Century Literary and Cultural Studies
76-336, Romantic Age Literary and Cultural Studies
76-386, Language & Culture
79-001, History Elective (transfer credit)
79-002, History Elective (transfer credit)
79-011, European History AP Credit
79-012, US History AP Credit
79-104, Introduction to World History
79-113, Culture and Identity in American Society
79-201, Introduction to Anthropology
79-204, 29th Century America
79-205, 20th Century Europe
79-206, Development of American Culture
79-207, Development of European Culture
79-225, Religions of China
79-226, History and Cultures of East Asia
79-227, History of World Architecture
79-233, The United States and the Middle East since 1945
79-237, City Histories: Delhi and London
79-241, African-American History I
79-242, African-American History II
79-243, A History of American Urban Life
79-249, American Culture from the Dime Novel to the Ebook
79-251, Flesh and Spirit: Early Modern Europe, 1400-1800
79-253, The Development of Caribbean Culture
79-256, Biology and Society: Evolution, Animal Experimentation and Eugenics
79-257, History of the American Working Class
79-259, Native American History
79-270, Chinese Culture and Society
79-271, Modern China
79-272, Modern Japan: 1868 to the present
79-280, Russian History from the First to the Last Tsar
79-281, Modern Soviet History: From Communism to Capitalism
79-294, The Making of the African Diaspora in the New World
79-320, America in the 1950’s
79-356, Introduction to African History: Earliest Times to the Origins of the Slave Trade
79-359, History of African-American Families
79-379, Women in American History
79-381, Public Spectacles and Summer Festivals in Europe, 1600-present
82-182, Language and Culture: Language in Its Social Context
82-193, The Faust Legend from Europe to Russia
82-226, Intensive German Language and Culture
82-246, Intensive Spanish Language and Culture
82-273, Introduction to Japanese Language and Culture
82-276, Intensive Japanese Language and Culture
82-303, French Culture
82-304, Francophone World (prereq: 82-202; taught in French)
82-324, Contemporary Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
82-325, Introduction to German Studies
82-333, Introduction to Chinese Language and Culture
82-336, Intensive Chinese Language and Culture
82-342, Spain: Language and Culture
82-343, Latin America: Language and Culture
82-384, Language and Culture: Language in its Social Context
82-407, The Arts in Society: Theater & Lyric Voices of the 20th Century
82-415, Topics in French and Francophone Studies (prereq: 82-303/304; taught in French)
82-416, Studies in French and Francophone Studies (prereq: 82-302; taught in French)
82-425, Topics in German Literature and Culture: The Road to Re-united Germany
82-426, Studies in German Lit.  and Culture (prereq: 82-323/324 or 325; taught in German)
82-427, Nazi and Resistance Culture
82-428, The History of German Film
82-433, Topics in Contemporary Culture of China: Culture of China
82-434, Studies in Chinese Traditions
82-436, Introduction to Classical Chinese
82-441, Studies in Peninsular Literature and Culture: Songs and Portraits of Spanish Exiles
82-451, Studies in Latin American Literature and Culture (prereq: 82-345; taught in Spanish)
82-455, Topics in Hispanic Studies: The Cuban Condition
82-456, Topics in Hispanic Studies (prereq: 82-345; taught in Spanish)
82-480, Social and Cognitive Aspects of Bilingualism
82-491, Literature, Politics, and Film in Russia and East Europe Today
82-492, The Historical Imagination in 19th-Century Russian Literature (taught in English)
82-493, Joseph Brodsky in Context (taught in English)
80-100, What Philosophy Is
80-181, Language and Thought
80-241, Ethical Judgments in Professional Life
80-250, Ancient Philosophy
80-251, Modern Philosophy
80-253, Continental Philosophy
80-255, Pragmatism

back to top

Acceptable Cognitions and Institution Courses

NOTE: This is a comprehensive list of courses. Some courses may not be available every semester or may no be longer offered. Check the online Schedule of Classes for availability.

36-303, Sampling, Surveys, and Society
73-001, Economics Elective Credit (transfer credit)
73-011, Macro Economics AP Credit
73-012, Micro Economics AP Credit
73-100, Principles of Economics
73-150, Microeconomics
80-135, Introduction to Political Philosophy
80-136, Social Structure, Public Policy, and Ethical Dilemmas
80-150, The Nature of Reason
80-180, The Nature of Language
80-181, Language and Thought
80-241, Ethical Judgments in Professional Life
80-242, Conflict, Dispute Resolution
82-480, Social and Cognitive Aspects of Bilingualism
85-100, Introduction to Intelligence in Humans, Animals and Machines
85-102, Introduction to Psychology
85-211, Cognitive Psychology
85-221, Principles of Child Development
85-241, Social Psychology
85-251, Personality
85-261, Abnormal Psychology
88-001, Social and Decision Science Elective Credit (transfer credit)
88-011, Gov & Politics: Comp AP Credit
88-012, Gov & Politics: US AP Credit
88-104, Decision Processes in American Political Institutions
88-110, Experiments in Economic Principles
88-120, Reason, Passion & Cognition
88-205, Comparative Politics

back to top