COMMUNICATING IDEAS IN CONTEXT (CIC)

College of Arts & Sciences | Curriculum and Teaching | Communicating Ideas in Context (CIC)

Curriculum and Teaching

In addition to developing the core competencies of UNCG’s Minerva’s Academic Curriculum (MAC) and the specialized knowledge within their field, College of Arts and Sciences majors will also complete the College of Arts and Sciences’ Communicating Ideas in Context (CIC) curriculum.

Answering the important questions of our time and solving the serious problems that we face will require the cooperation and the collaboration of a diverse group of committed, thoughtful, and knowledgeable people. Such cooperation and collaboration are built on excellent communication skills.

The College of Arts and Sciences’ Communicating Ideas in Context (CIC) curriculum is designed to strengthen your communication skills by developing:

your skill as a writer so that you can communicate effectively;
your understanding of how and why different types of academic disciplines make sense of our world and the people within it, so that you can work successfully with diverse teams who approach tasks with different assumptions, perspectives, and values;
and your ability to communicate multilingually, so that you can be an active, contributing partner in our global community.

CIC REQUIREMENTS:

Complete 2 courses with a College Writing (CW) attribute¹.
Complete 12 additional credits distributed across three categories²:
- CIC Humanities (6 credits)
- CIC Natural and Data Sciences (3 credits)
- CIC Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 credits)
Complete an additional language or culture requirement.

Notice to Students who are enrolled in the following programs:

Interior Architecture BFA

Integrated Professional Studies Online

BA in Liberal and Interdisciplinary Studies

CLICK HERE TO VIEW WAIVERS, ALTERNATIVES, AND MODIFICATIONS

Please also note that students who transfer 60 or more credits to UNCG are exempt from CIC requirements 1-2, with modified requirements for #3.

1. CIC COLLEGE WRITING REQUIREMENT

In addition to the MAC Written Communication competency, students in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 2 courses at the 200 level or above carrying the College Writing (CW) attribute. At least 1 of these courses must be in the student’s major.

Courses with a College Writing attribute can also be used to fulfill requirements for the student’s majors and/or minors and the CIC Breadth of Knowledge requirement.

¹Students who transfer 60 or more credits to UNCG are exempt from the CIC College Writing Requirement.

2. CIC BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENT

In addition to the MAC, students must complete 12 additional credits distributed across three categories:

CIC Humanities: 6 credits
CIC Natural and Data Sciences: 3 credits
CIC Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 credits

The categories of courses are defined by the following course prefixes:

CIC Humanities:
ADS, ASL, BLS, CCI, CHI, ENG, FRE, GER, HIS, IAR, JNS, LLC, MST, PHI, REL, RUS, SPA, WGS
CIC Natural and Data Sciences:
AST, BIO, CHE, CSC, GES, MAT, PHY, STA
CIC Social and Behavioral Sciences:
ATY, CST, IGS, PSC, PSY, SOC, SSC

The 12 credits can be at any undergraduate level (100-499). Transfer credits that are not equivalent to specific UNC Greensboro courses can also be used to fulfill the Breadth of Knowledge requirements, as long as they are at the undergraduate level and include these course prefixes:
ADS, AST, ATY, BIO, BLS, CCI, CHE, CSC, CST, ENG GES, HIS, IAR, IGS, LLC, MAT, MST, PHI, PHY, PSC, PSY, REL, SOC, SSC, STA, WGS.

Three of the 12 Breadth of Knowledge credits may also be used to fulfill requirements for the student’s primary major (i.e., the 3 credits can be used to fulfill both a major requirement and a Breadth of Knowledge requirement).

Credits used to fulfill the College Writing requirement may also be used to fulfill the Breadth of Knowledge requirement.

However, 101-204 language courses used to fulfill the Additional-Language Requirement cannot be used to fulfill the Breadth of Knowledge requirement.

²Students who transfer 60 or more credits to UNCG are exempt from the CIC Breadth of Knowledge Requirement.

3. CIC ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT*

Students are encouraged to take a placement test to determine what level they should start with the additional language. For both BA and BS students, the demonstration of proficiency of an additional language above the 204-level (either via placement test or successful completion of a 300-level language class) will satisfy this requirement.

BA students (0-12 hours) – can be satisfied in one of two ways:
1. Successfully complete a 203 course in an additional language and complete a 204 course in the same language.
2. Successfully complete a 203 course in an additional language and complete a CIC Culture course.
BS students (0-6 hours) – can be satisfied in one of three ways:
1. 6 hours of additional language coursework related to a single language, between the 101-204 level, depending on their starting point in the language.
2. 3 hours of additional language coursework, between the 101-204 level, depending on their starting point in the language, and a course carrying the CIC Culture (CC) attribute.
3. 6 hours of courses that carry the CIC Culture (CC) attribute.

COLLEGE WRITING (CW) ATTRIBUTE

ADS 410 Seminar in African American Studies
AMS 313 Archaeology of the Aegean
AMS 314 Ancient Cities
AMS 329 Gates of Horn and Ivory: Dreaming in the Ancient World
AMS 332 Comparative Studies in World Epics
AMS 336 Language Change
AMS 405 Advanced Studies in Mythology
AMS 407 Roman Myth and Legend
AMS 412 The Archaeology of Roman Daily Life
AMS 467 Color in the Ancient World
AMS 475 Ritual, Death, and Religion
AMS 490 Seminar in Classical Studies
ATY 357 Monkeys, Apes, and Humans
ATY 362 Methods in Cultural Anthropology
ATY 426 Food and Culture in a Global Context
ATY 444 Archaeology of Power/ Politics
ATY 462 Archaeology of the Southeastern United States
BIO 315 Ecology and Evolution Laboratory
BIO 375 Cell Biology and Genetics Laboratory
BLS 301 Pathways: Reading and Writing in the Humanities
BLS 347 Shakespeare Off the Page
BLS 400 Senior Seminar in the Humanities
BPS 307 Writing in Professional Contexts
CCI 340 Ancient Cosmology
CCI 402 History of Latin Literature
CHI 203 Intermediate Chinese I
CHI 204 Intermediate Chinese II
CSC 340 Software Engineering
CST 315 Persuasion and Social Influence
CST 343 Crisis Communication
CST 344 Conflict Communication
CST 416 Communication and Ethnography: Writing Life
CST 417 Communication and Friendship
ENG 219 Journalism I: Fundamentals of Newswriting
ENG 223 Advocacy Writing
ENG 301 Topics in Theory and Method
ENG 303 Literary Theory
ENG 304 History and Theory of Rhetoric
ENG 305 Contemporary Rhetoric
ENG 306 Digital Rhetoric
ENG 322 The Teaching of Writing
ENG 324 Teaching Writing in Elementary and Middle Grades
ENG 327 Writing for Professionals and Entrepreneurs
ENG 343 Topics in Pre-1800 Literature
ENG 347 Topics in Post-1800 Literature
ENG 390 Studies in Writing Feedback and Writing Center Theory & Practice
ENG 391 Studies in Digital Studio Theory and Practice
FRE 222 Explorations in French Literature: English Versions
FRE 301 Bridges to French Literature and Culture
FRE 315 Advanced Grammar and Composition: From Morphology to Meaning
FRE 353 The French Imaginary: Fiction and Culture
FRE 415 Advanced French Composition
FRE 453 Topics in French Literature: Ancien Régime
GER 203 Intermediate German
GER 204 Intermediate German Topics
GER 217 German Texts That Changed the World I – Read in English
GER 218 German Texts That Changed the World II – Read in English
GER 221 Sagas, Legends, Fairy Tales: Readings in English
GER 301 German Conversation and Composition: Topics
GER 302 German Language and Society: Topics
GER 305 German Literature: Advanced Intermediate Topics
GER 306 German Culture: Advanced Intermediate Topics
GER 309 Topics in Central European Studies since 1918
GER 405 Advanced Topics in German Literature
GER 406 Advanced Topics in German Culture
GER 422 German Memory in Fiction and Film
GES 264 Introduction to Environment through Film
GES 305 Environmental Hazards Assessment
GES 306 World Economic Geography
GES 322 Research Methods in Geography, Environment, Sustainability
GES 330 Elements of Hydrology
GES 359 Earth from Space
GES 367 Research in Environment & Sustainability
GES 482 Topics in Ethics and Aesthetics
GES 484 Topics in Development and Economics
HIS 324 American Cults
HIS 331 Judaism, Gender, and Sexuality
HIS 352 Topics in Ancient Judaism
HIS 367 Modern Jewish Thought
HIS 372 Topics in Jewish History
HIS 391 Historical Skills and Methods
HIS 411A Seminar in Historical Research and Writing
HIS 411B Seminar in Historical Research and Writing
HIS 411C Seminar in Historical Research and Writing
HIS 430 Historical Methods for Social Studies Teachers
IAR 202 Basic Environmental Design IV
IGS 340 Sustainable Development: Connecting Local and Global Action
IGS 400 Capstone Seminar in International and Global Studies
JNS 204 Intermediate Japanese II
LLC 455 Advanced Topics: Rebels and Revolutionaries in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
MAT 313 Historical Development of Mathematics
MAT 490 Senior Seminar in Mathematics
MST 204 Media Writing
MST 325 Gender and Media Culture
MST 341 Broadcast Newswriting
MST 343 Creative Copywriting
MST 350 Writing for the Screen
MST 453 Topics in Media Writing
PHI 322 Philosophy of the Arts
PHI 341 History of Ancient Philosophy
PHI 342 History of Modern Philosophy
PHI 357 Metaphysics
PHI 494 Senior Capstone Course
PHY 311 Intro to Experimental Methods
PHY 419 Advanced Laboratory
PSC 270 Introduction to Political Theory
PSC 325 Community Development
PSC 355P Selected Topics in Comparative Politics: Politics of Latin America
PSY 311L Research Methods in Psychology: Lab
PSY 401 Academic Writing in Psychology
REL 226 Approaches to the Qur’an
REL 249 Religion and Public Health
REL 298 Thinking About Religion
REL 301 Early Christianity
REL 303 Christianity in Byzantium
REL 305 Religions of the Greco- Roman World
REL 310 Christianity and the Construction of Gender
REL 311 Topics in Biblical Studies
REL 314 Saint and Society in the Early Middle Ages
REL 317 Islam and the Construction of Gender
REL 323 Religious Movements and Communities: Selected Topics
REL 324 Philosophical Issues in Religion
REL 330 Major American Religious Thinkers
REL 332 Contemporary African American Religious Thought
REL 333 Religion and Psychology
REL 355 The Religious Discourse of Civil Rights
REL 368 Religion in South Asia: Selected Topics
REL 370 Religions of Iran: Selected Topics
REL 371 Topics in Islam: Islamic Thought, Culture, and History
REL 375 Religion and Popular Culture: Selected Topics
REL 382 Topics in Christian Thought
REL 410 Senior Seminar
REL 411 Thinking Through Religion
RUS 204 Intermediate Russian II
RUS 313 Major Authors in Russian Literature
RUS 314 Major Movements in Russian Literature and Culture
SOC 301 Introduction to Methods and Research
SOC 311 Reading Culture and Society
SOC 377 “Disaster, Self, and Society”
SOC 490 Social Theory II
SPA 315 Intermediate Spanish Composition
SPA 318 Intermediate Spanish Composition for Heritage Speakers
SPA 332 Foundations in Spanish Cultures, Literatures and Films
SPA 334 Foundations in Latin American Cultures, Literatures and Films
SPA 351 Introduction to Literary Studies
SPA 406 Topics in Latin American Literature
SPA 407 Topics in Spanish Literature
SPA 409 Topics in Literature from the Spanish Speaking World
SPA 415 Advanced Spanish Composition
SPA 462 Seminar in Film Genre
SSC 300 Research Methods in the Social Sciences
SSC 400 Senior Seminar in the Social Sciences
STA 301 Statistical Methods
VES 302 Writing for Games
VES 403 Advanced Game Studies: History and Theory
WGS 260 Writing in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies
WGS 333 Postcolonial and Transnational Feminisms
WGS 350 Introduction to Feminist Theories
WGS 490 Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Senior Capstone Course

See Guidelines for CW Courses document.

CIC Culture (CC) ATTRIBUTE

ADS 350 Contemporary Africa
ADS 356 The Making of the African Diaspora
AMS 312 The Art and Archaeology of Egypt
AMS 314 Ancient Cities
AMS 323 The World of Alexander the Great
AMS 328 Spin, Opinion, Lies and the Caesars
AMS 329 Gates of Horn and Ivory: Dreaming in the Ancient World
AMS 331 Cuts, Curses, and Cesareans: An Introduction to Ancient Medicine
AMS 332 Comparative Studies in World Epics
AMS 354 The Roman Republic 509 – 44 BCE
AMS 355 Roman Empire 44 BC – 337 AD
AMS 360 Archaeology of the Roman Provinces: Britain and Gaul
AMS 412 The Archaeology of Roman Daily Life
ATY 334 Latin American Art and Archaeology
ATY 354 Modern Asia through its Music
BLS 323 Short Reads
BLS 327 Contemporary Asian Literature
BLS 386 Women, War, and Terror
BPS 305 Global Awareness and Intercultural Competence
CCI 312 The Art and Archaeology of Egypt
CCI 314 Ancient Cities
CCI 323 The World of Alexander the Great
CCI 328 Spin, Opinion, Lies and the Caesars
CCI 329 Gates of Horn and Ivory: Dreaming in the Ancient World
CCI 331 Cuts, Curses, and Cesareans: An Introduction to Ancient Medicine
CCI 332 Comparative Studies in World Epics
CCI 354 Roman Republic 754 BC – 44 BC
CCI 354 The Roman Republic 509 – 44 BCE
CCI 355 Roman Empire 44 BC – 337 AD
CCI 360 Archaeology of the Roman Provinces: Britain and Gaul
CCI 412 The Archaeology of Roman Daily Life
CHI 313 Major Figures in Chinese Literature
CST 337 Intercultural Communication
ENG 315 Postcolonial Literatures
ENG 340 Shakespeare: Later Plays
GER 310 German Culture: Advanced Intermediate-Topics in German Film
GES 301 Cities of the World
GES 302 Urban Geography: Sustainable Land Use
GES 304 Sustainable Transport and Mobility
GES 304 Sustainable Transport, Mobility, Wellbeing
GES 306 World Economic Geography
GES 315 The Geography of World Affairs
GES 333 Geography of Europe
GES 338 Regions of Latin America
GES 340 Geography of East Asia
GES 344 Geography of the United States and Canada
GES 404 Political Geography
GES 432 Geography of Livable Cities
HIS 312 The Crusades
HIS 315 Witchcraft and Magic in European History
HIS 318 Revolution and Reform in Modern Latin America
HIS 348 The World at War, 1914-1918
HIS 349 The World at War, 1939-1945
HIS 354 Roman Republic 754 BC – 44 BC
HIS 369 History of Spain
HIS 372 Topics in Jewish History
HIS 372 Topics in Jewish Thought
HIS 377 Russian History to 1900
HIS 378 Russian History since 1900
HIS 380 Topics in the Near and Middle East
HIS 382 Viet Nam: History, Culture, and Resistance
HIS 384 The Modern Transformation of China: 1800 to Present Day
HIS 387 History of the Chinese Frontier
HIS 389 West Africa during the Atlantic Slave Trade
HIS 408 Latin America and Caribbean: Selected Topics
IPS 305 Global Awareness and Intercultural Competence
JNS 230 Women in Japanese Literature and Film
JNS 305 Topics in Japanese Culture
JNS 306 Current Issues in Japan
LLC 355 Topics in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
PSC 344 Politics of Globalization
PSC 355K Selected Topics in Comparative Politics: Russian Politics
PSY 346 The Psychology of Gender
PSY 370 Ethnicity, Development, and Psychopathology
PSY 390 Health Psychology and Culture
REL 301 Early Christianity
REL 341 Topics in Jewish Thought
REL 370 Religions of Iran: Selected Topics
REL 371 Topics in Islam: Islamic Thought, Culture, and History
REL 382 Topics in Christian Thought
RUS 313 Major Authors in Russian Literature
RUS 314 Major Movements in Russian Literature and Culture
SOC 342 Global Inequalities
SOC 344 Global Society
SOC 371 Race, Ethnicity, and Migration in a Global Context
WGS 333 Postcolonial and Transnational Feminisms

See Guidelines for CC course Syllabi document.

Students who transfer 60 or more credits to UNC Greensboro can satisfy this requirement by successfully completing a 102 level course. Students who transfer 90 or more credits to UNC Greensboro are exempt from this requirement.
Students with fewer than 60 transfer credit hours who have previously completed an additional language through the 102 level, with a subsequent learning gap of five years or more (from the completion of the 102 equivalent), may apply to the College Appeals Committee for permission to use courses from the list of approved MAC Global Engagement and Intercultural Learning Competency courses as substitutions for the intermediate-level 203 and 204 language classes. These courses must be taken in addition to the courses taken to meet the MAC Global and Intercultural Competency requirement.
Please verify the CIC information provided on this webpage (CAS), which is subject to change, by visiting the current catalog page regarding CIC requirements.

WAIVERS, ALTERNATIVES, AND MODIFICATIONS (WAM)

The CIC requirements are waived for students in:

the Interior Architecture, B.F.A. program.
the Integrated Professional Studies Online major.

The following modifications of the CIC requirements apply to students in the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal and Interdisciplinary Studies program:

Students who transfer in 60+ credit hours and do not have 101 and 102 of an additional language can complete 6 credit hours (or 3 credit hours if they have 101 credit) of MAC Global Engagement and Intercultural Learning courses to satisfy the additional language requirement.
The breadth of knowledge requirement and the additional language requirement are waived for reactivated students and students who change their major from outside of CAS with 90 or more credits.

Second Majors

A student may take a second major in conjunction with the first major. This program requires a minimum of 27 credits in each of two approved majors. All requirements of each major must be met; hours from the second major can be applied toward the General Education requirements.

A student with a first major outside the College who chooses a second major in one of the College departments is required to complete all of the departmental requirements for the second major but need not satisfy the Communicating Ideas in Context requirements (CIC). Similarly, students who are seeking either a dual degree or a second degree are exempt from the Communicating Ideas in Context requirements (CIC).

Departments/Programs can request a WAM to all or part of the College’s Communication in Context (CIC) curriculum. They can propose and justify a WAM on any grounds they deem appropriate, although the assumption is that the CIC will apply to all College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) majors in most programs. Among the reasons that a Department/Program might seek a WAM are for:

High Hour Majors: if the number of credit hours required in a CAS major meets or exceeds 70 credit hours, graduating within 120 credit hours would require expert “double or even triple-dipping” courses to meet Minerva’s Academic Curriculum, CIC, and major requirements.
Specific Student Type: If a Department/Program makes a compelling case that all (or part) of CIC poses a significant barrier for its majors based on student profile and/or the difficulty of sufficient course delivery.

WAM requests should be sent to Interim Associate Dean Amanda Gale. The requests will be considered by a subcommittee of the CAS C&T Committee, which will make a recommendation to the Dean, who will make a final decision on whether to approve the request.

This information was last updated on June 19, 2026.