Pathways: The Trinity Curriculum

Through critical thinking, curiosity, and interdisciplinary insight, students are challenged and supported in a community that encourages pathways to discovery.

Choose Your Own Path

Embarking on Pathways to discovery means you get to choose the direction you take with your curriculum. Below are some major milestones you’ll encounter on your journey, as well as recommendations for completing requirements and optional elements along the way.

Milestones  Requirements  Optional Elements 

Icon:icon-arrow-right Trinity icon set
Icon:icon-arrow-right Trinity icon set

What to Expect

Your First Year

During your first year, you’ll get your bearings in college academics and begin exploring subjects you’re passionate about. In your first semester, you’ll enroll in a First-Year Experience course, among others.

  • Required

    First-Year Experience
    Analyze sophisticated texts and ideas through extensive engagement in a significant topic. All students must complete one FYE during their first semester at Trinity.

  • Explore

    A-Z Course Index
    Begin finding courses and subjects you’re passionate about.

What to Expect

Your Sophomore Year

You will declare a major your sophomore year! In addition to understanding your focused area of study.

  • Required

    Declaring a Major
    A Trinity major allows you to gain in-depth study of a field of specialization, often incorporating multiple disciplines.

  • Explore

    A-Z Course Index
    Begin finding courses and subjects you’re passionate about.

What to Expect

Your Junior Year

While forging a path through your major, experiential learning opportunities such as internships or study abroad, and the possible addition of a minor or second major.

What to Expect

Your Senior Year

As you work towards graduating with your Trinity degree in hand, work with your academic adviser to ensure your Pathways journey is complete with all required components. Look for ways to apply what you’ve learned through experiential learning opportunities. 

  • Required

    All remaining required Pathways elements must be completed before you can graduate:

    • The Capacities
    • Approaches to Creation and Analysis
    • Fitness Education

Requirements and Optional Elements

Pathways has six curricular requirements and three optional elements that provide a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences for all bachelor's degrees awarded by Trinity University.

Requirements

First-Year Experience

Analyze sophisticated texts and ideas through extensive engagement in a significant topic.

Approaches to Creation and Analysis

Master the skills of analysis, research, and creation using multidisciplinary approaches.

The Capacities

Learn effective communication skills, digital literacy, historical perspectives, engaged and global citizenship, and make good decisions relating to lifelong health and wellness.

The Major

Gain in-depth study of a field of specialization, often incorporating multiple disciplines.

Optional Elements

Experiential Learning

Learn to apply the liberal arts in a real-world environment.

Minors

Explore other areas of interest and gain academic experiences across disciplines.

A Second Major

Double major in departmental or interdisciplinary majors, or create your own.

 

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Degree requirements, academic policies, and academic majors and minors at Trinity University.

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Trinity University offers more than 100 majors and minors plus several interdisciplinary and advising programs.

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