The RSC Thread at Russell Sage

All colleges and universities offering bachelor’s degrees have a required general education or liberal education curriculum. It’s a collection of subjects that develops strong and creative thinkers with sharp problem-solving and communication skills and a wider perspective of the world.

But our 36-credit general education curriculum has students do more than pick from what feels like a random menu. Yes, students still take the standards: writing, research, arts, humanities, natural sciences, quantitative reasoning, and social sciences. Students also choose a course tied to our Thrive@Russell Sage wellness and well-being initiative.

What Is the RSC Thread?

The RSC Thread is a series of three courses – RSC 101, 201, and 301 – all students who begin at Russell Sage as first-year students take. Most transfer students have enough credits accumulated when they arrive at Russell Sage that they’re only required to take RSC 301.

RSC 101:

Thriving at Sage

This course introduces first-year students to college life and exposes you to the dimensions of wellness we focus on as part of the Thrive@Russell Sage initiative. You’ll develop greater self-awareness and improve your communication and teamwork skills in a supportive atmosphere.

 

It also includes a workshop called RSC 101W, which includes attending events and lectures with your class.

“I loved the gen ed program. I believe it’s a nice way to transition from being a high school student to a college student and then onto your specific major. It provided me with so much enrichment and knowledge and was an amazing introduction into the Sage community.”

December 2022 Student Survey

RSC 201:

Exploring Intercultural Perspectives

You’ll take this course in your second year at Russell Sage and explore diversity and the historical, cultural, global, and systemic forces that shape our experiences and world views. You’ll cover intercultural understanding, global and local lives, civic engagement, and social justice. You’ll also build on the critical writing, thinking, and reading skills you developed in your first-year courses.

“Learning about the refugee crisis in the world, seeing it and talking with people who work with refugees and are refugees has shaped me as a person. I think everyone should work with refugees! It changed my life!”

December 2022 Student Survey