Foundations in Liberal Arts (FILA): General Education Curriculum

At BC, the focus isn’t just on selecting a major. The general education curriculum focuses on tangible skills that will prepare students for their future. The general education program is called “Foundations in Liberal Arts” or FILA. The Latin word fila means threads (or filaments), and it is with these foundational liberal arts courses that a student weaves the fabric of their education.

The initial courses address the fundamental skills of critical inquiry, effective writing, oral communication and quantitative literacy (i.e. the first-year FILA seminar, English, communication and math).

Students also develop the ability to engage in a global society through meeting a modern language requirement, taking a class focused on learning deeply about another culture, and taking a class examining issues related to globalization.

Students engage ideas across the liberal arts areas of study by taking:

• one course in the social sciences (such as economics, political science, psychology and sociology)
• four courses in the humanities (one in fine arts, one in literature, one in history and one in philosophy or religion)
• one natural or physical science with a lab (biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology or physics)

The experience culminates in the integration of community engagement. Students take at least one course designated as experiential, which could be a May Term travel course, a practicum, experiential service-learning or other courses that has the student interact with the community outside the classroom.

FILA is flexible, giving the student a variety of choices to fulfill the requirements. This leaves room for adding an additional major, adding a minor or a concentration, studying abroad or completing an internship. Choosing the elements of a liberal arts education is a creative process, and with the courses (or threads) of FILA, the student will weave the fabric of a personalized education.

FILA-150 or FILA-350EW: FILA Seminar or FILA Integration Seminar

FILA-150 or FILA-350EW is BC’s first-year/transfer student seminar. Students take this class at the very beginning of their time at BC—the fall semester of their first year.

Course topics for FILA-150 are extremely varied and diverse. Transfer students have a unique course topic as well, while Flory Fellows can choose from two honors sections.

Note: Transfer students sign up for FILA-350EW, and honors students in the Flory Fellows program have separate sections of FILA-150.

FILA-450: Personal Development Portfolio

During the senior year, students complete the senior e-portfolio. The final senior e-portfolio includes:

• A record of the student's academic achievements and community engagement experiences
• The student's current resume and cover letter
• A senior reflective essay, which shows the student's growth and development throughout the college experience

FILA Program Requirements