The University of Rochester’s unique undergraduate curriculum lets our students take control of their education from day one. With no general education requirements and no traditional “core” curriculum, you get to curate your own program of study. This flexibility provides students individual academic opportunities, whether singularly focused on a specific discipline or, like most, exploratory across programs of study.
While there are no required subjects at Rochester, we do have a required skill: mastery of written communication. Choose from dozens of writing courses on a range of topics. Some examples: Philosophy in science fiction, America’s national parks, Comics and culture.
Writing at Rochester
Majors fall into one of three broad areas of learning: Humanities, Social sciences, Natural sciences and engineering.
The coursework for each major is designed to prepare you for your future after Rochester.
How majors work
Clusters are sets of three thematically related courses. Choose from hundreds of clusters or create your own. Some examples: Politics and math, Sonic arts and technology, Power and inequality.
(Engineering majors, you’ll only need to complete one cluster.)
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Freedom + Intentionality
The Rochester Curriculum is about flexibility. This means our students have time to double-major, explore various minors / concentrations, study abroad, conduct research, take music lessons, lead teams or clubs, or give back to the community. At the University of Rochester, in whatever academic pursuit you ultimately choose, you will have an enriching opportunity to have both breadth and depth of study across disciplines.
Our combined degree programs give you two simultaneous offers of admission from one application. Programs include combined undergraduate and graduate degrees, or degrees from two different schools at Rochester.
Learn more
Rochester offers a variety of unique opportunities to expand your academic horizons, including a tuition-free fifth year of study, music lessons at one of the world’s best music conservatories, and internships for credit.
Discover opportunities
Choose from more than 250 student organizations, including club sports teams, fraternities and sororities, performing arts ensembles, academic and professional societies, and community engagement organizations.
Get involved