The Core Course

The Core Course is the only course that is taken by every undergraduate at the University of Richmond. All new first-year students are required to take Core 101 and Core 102 in their first two semesters at the University of Richmond. Knowing that this is the only commonly required course, you can infer how fundamental and important it will be in your Richmond education.
 
This page has important information about a summer reading assignment in preparation for an August orientation event that you are required to attend, as well as general information about the Core Course.
 

Summer Reading Assignment

All new first-year students must purchase and read Naguib Mahfouz ’s Fountain and Tomb during the summer months, and then must bring the book with them when they move to campus in August. Mahfouz is an internationally famous novelist who was awarded the 1988 Nobel Prize in Literature. This book, originally published in 1975, is a novel about the experiences of a young boy in an “alley ”or neighborhood of Cairo between 1917 and 1927, a period in which the forces of decolonization, secularization, and modernization disrupted the traditional modes of Egyptian life. The English translation that you should purchase is produced by Lynne Rienner Publishers. This book is currently available through the University Bookstore online, in person, or by phone at (804) 289-8491. You may also search for the book at your local bookstore, or you can order one through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or directly from the publisher. To order from the publisher, go to their Web site, then search for “Mahfouz ”by typing and entering his name in the search box in the upper right hand corner of the page, then scroll down to Fountain and Tomb (the fourth book) and click on “More”at the end of the partial description of the book, and you will then be able to submit an online order. Ordering directly from the publisher will cost $12.95 plus a shipping charge of $4.50. (The book is currently available at the same cost through the University Bookstore.)
 
You are strongly encouraged to read the entire novel before coming to UR at the end of the summer, but you are required to read and be prepared to discuss at least pp. 11-34 (Tales 1-21) at a conversation session with your Core classmates and instructor from 10:00-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 23. (Your instructor may opt to discuss a portion rather than all of these pages, but you should be prepared to discuss all of them.) Be sure to bring your copy of this novel to this orientation event and to be prepared to participate actively in this discussion. This novel will also serve as the first text to be read and discussed in the Core Course, starting in the first week of classes. If you have read the entire book, you are likely to get off to a stronger start in the course.
 

Important Core Course Information

The general syllabus for both semesters of the course is now available for review on the Core Web site. You should read the full syllabus for a better understanding of the purposes and assignments of this course, which is formally titled “Exploring Human Experience.” As you will see, you will be reading a number of interesting and challenging texts. To assure that you have the appropriate edition of each text, it is recommended that you purchase these books through the University of Richmond Bookstore, but in any case, you are required to have the same editions as those available in the Bookstore. For convenience and planning purposes, the list of texts, publishers, and (where applicable) specific editions is available on the Core Web site. All Core texts are currently available through the University Bookstore online, in person, or by phone at (804) 289-8491. Remember, you must register yourself for a section of Core 101 when you register for your fall courses. Registration information is available on the New Student Checklist.