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Academic Policies

AXLE (Achieving eXcellence in Liberal Education)

Outline Summary

The AXLE curriculum consists of four parts: the First Year Common Experience, the Writing Requirement, the Liberal Arts Requirement, and the Major.

The First Year Common Experience includes a First Year Writing Seminar.

The Writing Requirement has three segments: demonstration of basic skills in English Composition, completion of a 100-level W course no later than the fourth semester in residence, and completion of either a second 100-level W course or a 200-level W (discipline-specific) course or an approved course in Oral Communications at Vanderbilt University as a graduation requirement.

The Liberal Arts Requirement is composed of a total of thirteen courses taken at Vanderbilt, and distributed across six areas of inquiry. The First Year Writing Seminar and all 100-level and 200-level W courses and all Oral Communications courses are also counted in the thirteen-course Liberal Arts Requirement.

» More information about AXLE.

  1. The First Year Common Experience
    1. First Year Writing Seminar (one course)
  2. The Writing Requirement (2-3 courses)
    1. English Composition (appropriate test score or one course)
    2. 100-level W Requirement (one course)
    3. One 100-level or 200-level W or Oral Communications Course (one course)
  3. The Liberal Arts Requirement (13 courses)
    1. Humanities and the Creative Arts (three courses)
    2. International Cultures (three courses)
    3. History and Culture of the United States (one course)
    4. Mathematics and Natural Sciences (three courses)
    5. Social and Behavioral Sciences (two courses)
    6. Perspectives (one course)
  4. The Major (27- 48 credit hours)
  5. Total Credit Hours: 120