The Core Experience
The Flagler Core Experience
The Flagler Core Experience
Your Flagler story starts here. Explore your passions with our groundbreaking general education program. You'll train your mind to think critically. And you'll do it in much less time than in most Gen Ed programs, giving you more freedom to explore your field.
Not Your Typical Gen Ed
Not Your Typical Gen Ed
Our signature Core Experience is a game-changer.
The Core is at the heart of what it means to be Flagler-educated, no matter your major. You’ll choose nine of more than 100 specially designed classes that speak to your unique passions while sharing a unified vision. (See a sampling here). You can take these courses throughout your time at Flagler.
Here's a snapshot of your Core Experience:
- While other Gen Ed programs may require three or even four semesters, ours takes less time.
- Each course teaches you one of nine key literacies.
- The Core Experience begins with First Year Seminar, a three-credit course designed to introduce you to college-level academic expectations, acquaint you with the campus and St. Augustine, and set you up for success at Flagler.
- During your second year, you'll select your FlagSHIP course from among many carefully curated, exciting, and transformative learning experiences.
Your Core journey begins with this semester-long, discussion-based course. You and your classmates will tour the campus and the city. You'll take in local museums and plays. You'll learn how to register for classes, pick a major, and email a professor. Above all, you'll learn how to claim your college education and pursue it with thoughtful confidence and a plan.
The faculty has chosen nine skills as the heart of every Flagler Education. Every student gets to choose one class per skill from a long list, with titles such as “Speak for the Trees,” “Living in a Digital World,” or “Beyond Beautiful: Art as Critical Discourse.” These Core classes also impart Flagler’s core values. They show you the why and the how of success in life, work, and community.
During your second year, the FlagSHIP (Flagler College Sophomore High Impact Practice) program will enrich you with a wealth of new experiences. Your learning may include study abroad, community service, original research, and more. Discover why many students consider it the most life-changing part of their college experience.
From the moment you commit to Flagler, your Center for Advising & Core Experience (CACE) Guide will provide you with expert assistance. Think of them as a one-stop-shop for any questions you may have — about classes or college life in general.
What makes the Core Experience special?
Why Core is special
Hear Flagler students and alumni explain how the Flagler Core Experience helps you grow as a student and a person.
Core and FlagSHIP News
Core and FlagSHIP News
Our Core experience truly sets us apart and allows you to explore your interests, your way. Unlike standard, boring general education courses, these were designed just for you. To challenge you. To inspire your passions. To send you away changed for the better.
Here's just a taste of the kind of experiences awaiting you. Click each button to read news stories about our Core and FlagSHIP classes.
Across ancient city walls, emerald lakes, and Adriatic coastlines, students in the FlagSHIP Study Abroad Croatia program experienced a journey defined by exploration, cultural discovery, and connection. The trip blended academics with adventure while showcasing the beauty and history of Croatia.
On a laptop screen, Flagler College’s campus begins to take shape one digital block at a time. Historic buildings, walkways, and gathering spaces are carefully reconstructed inside Minecraft as students collaborate to transform a familiar physical environment into a detailed, to-scale virtual world. What may look like a game is, in practice, an immersive academic experience that blends design, technology, and critical thinking.
There’s a lot to learn when you become a Saint, and not all of it happens in the classroom. From historic buildings and beloved traditions to student organizations, campus landmarks, and everyday expressions, Flagler has a language of its own
Nateleigh Nachreiner was one of two Flagler College students who traveled more than 8,000 miles to Moshi, Tanzania to support the launch of Simba’s new digital literacy lab.
Our Core Philosophy
Our Core Philosophy
Why do we require all undergraduate students to complete the Core Experience, regardless of major?
Because we believe strongly in the values we've built into it.
We believe that learning career-specific skills is just one of many steps on the path to success.
We believe that a broad, diverse education that develops the 'whole person' is the best way to prepare 21st-century students for a 21st-century world.