Amsterdam University College
Published 8 September 2008

Your major

Image of Sciences
An overview of the courses in the Sciences theme: click on the magnifying glass to enlarge

AUC offers majors in sciences, social sciences and humanities. You choose one of three majors - humanities, social sciences, or sciences - at the end of your first year.

Together with your tutor, you put together a coherent package of at least 11 major courses that you follow during your second and third years, bearing your chosen theme in mind and focusing on the subjects that interest you most.

Your tutor will also help you to make sure your major fits with your future ambitions: if you want to go on to a particular Master programme, for example, you may need to include certain specific courses in your major.

Image of Cities and Cultures
An overview of the courses in the Cities and Cultures theme: click on the magnifying glass to enlarge.

The major courses are relevant to one or more of the AUC themes, and are designed not only to deepen your knowledge but also to build your understanding of the relationships between different fields of knowledge.

Note that a theme serves as the background to a major: AUC students major in sciences, social sciences or humanities.

N.B. You can choose a Big Question course freely--it is designed to broaden your outlook and stimulate your thinking. E.g. if you wish to major in the sciences, it is not strictly necessary to follow 'Big Questions in Science.'

Image of Information Communication and Cognition
An overview of the courses in the Information, Communication and Cognition theme: click on the magnifying glass to enlarge

On the right you can see overviews of all the major courses being developed

Your major includes: 

  • the introductory and advanced courses on your chosen theme
  • at least 11 major courses
  • the necessary Academic Core requirements
  • your capstone experience (Bachelor thesis)
Image of Social Systems
An overview of the courses in the Social Systems theme: click on the magnifying glass to enlarge

Concentration

Your package of major courses must include a ‘concentration': you select specific fields of knowledge and 'concentrate' your studies on them, taking a minimum number of courses up to an advanced level. This brings coherence to your programme, and ensures you achieve sufficient depth of knowledge. The requirements for your concentration depend on your choice of major. 

Your choice of major also influences the set of Academic Core courses that you have to complete, with different mathematics and foreign language requirements for the different majors.

Courses offered in each theme may be subject to change.

Source: AUC