About the SEEDS Curriculum

SEEDS: Montclair's General Education Curriculum

Montclair's SEEDS Curriculum encourages students to uncover what excites and motivates them. Our world faces significant social, cultural, and environmental challenges and needs citizens with passion and purpose who think critically and creatively, communicate clearly, and act ethically. The SEEDS Curriculum strengthens and builds upon students' existing skills and teaches them new ways to embrace the world around them.

A Value Based Curriculum

SEEDS is rooted in five core values designed to give students insight into multiple viewpoints, preparing them to connect and work well in any community or profession.

Social Justice and Equity

Understanding how social, economic, environmental, racial, and gender inequalities develop and shape contemporary society.

student at pride in montclair tie-dye shirt

Educated Citizenry

Developing the ability to critically evaluate information, communicate effectively, and participate responsibly in civic life.

Student reading a book in class alongside peers.

Engagement, Agency, and Leadership

Building the confidence, skills, and knowledge needed to make meaningful contributions in communities, organizations, and professions.

students gather to play a boardgame

Diversity and Intercultural Competency

Learning to understand and engage effectively with people, cultures, and perspective different from one's own.

two students study in University Hall

Self-Discovery and Self-Care

Exploring questions of identity, purpose, well-being, and personal growth through multiple disciplinary perspectives.

students in a pilates class at the rec

How SEEDS Supports Student Success

The curriculum combines foundational learning experiences with opportunities for exploration across disciplines. Through interdisciplinary coursework, undergraduate students gain exposure to diverse ways of thinking and develop competencies that complement their major.

Foundations (15-18 cr)

Foundations courses introduce students to essential areas of learning, including written and oral communication, and analytic reasoning. Students must complete all of the following areas:

  • Effective Writing I (3 cr)
  • Effective Writing II (3 cr)
  • Interactive Communication (3 cr)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (3 cr)
  • Political and Civic Life (3 cr)
  • World Language and Cultural Competency (3-6 cr)
    • Students who can demonstrate intermediate proficiency in a foreign language can fill this requirement with only 3 credits. Those who choose to start the study of a new language are required to take 6 credits.

Explorations (12 cr)

Explorations courses build upon the Foundations curriculum by encouraging students to engage more deeply with areas of interest while strengthening critical thinking, problem-solving and advanced communication skills. Students can choose any four of the six focus areas listed below:

  • Literary and Artistic Analysis (3 cr)
  • Analyzing Cultures and Societies (3 cr)
  • Ethical Inquiry (3 cr)
  • Historical Thinking (3 cr)
  • Scientific Reasoning (3 cr)
  • Creative Expression (3 cr)

 

View SEEDS Curriculum requirements and approved courses in the University Catalog

Contact the SEEDS Co-Directors

The SEEDS Curriculum is led by two faculty co-directors elected to serve for 2026-2029.

Please direct any questions about the SEEDS Curriculum to either co-director.