Foundation and Distribution Offerings
- About Us
-
Catalogs
- 2025-26 University Catalog
- 2025-26 Law Catalog
- 2024-25 University Catalog
- 2024-25 Law Catalog
- 2023-24 University Catalog
- 2023-24 Law Catalog
- 2022-23 University Catalog
- 2022-23 Law Catalog
- 2021-22 University Catalog
- 2021-22 Law Catalog
- 2020-21 University Catalog
- 2020-21 Law Catalog
- Past Catalogs
- Course Descriptions
-
Forms
- Advisor Change Request Form
- Application for Immediate Reinstatement (Undergraduate)
- Reinstatement Application (Undergraduate)
- Application for a Junior or Senior to Take a Single Law Course
- Application for a 2L or 3L to Take a Single Undergraduate Course
- Auditing Course Request Form
- Credit Transfer for Approved Study Abroad
- Credit Transfer for US Off-Campus Study
- Degree Application (Undergraduate)
- Degree Application (Law)
- Drop-Add Form (Late Registration Changes)
- Employee/Spouse/Partner Tuition-Free Courses
- Exchange Applications (Undergraduate)
- FDR Checklists
- Authorization for School Officials to Release Academic Information About Former Student (FERPA Release)
- First-Year Students' Credit Transfer Form
- Honors Thesis Release to W&L Library
- Independent Work Major Proposal
- Incomplete Grade Request
- Incomplete Grade Request - Extension
- Leave of Absence: Initial Application (Undergraduate)
- Law School Leave of Absence Application
- Leave of Absence: Return to Campus Application (Undergraduate)
- Major Declaration Form
- Non-Degree Seeking Application
- Overload Request (Undergraduate)
- Pass/Fail Request (Undergraduate)
- Student Readiness to Return to W&L (Undergraduate)
- Permission for Human-Subject Research (IRB)
- Registration Override Form
- ROTC Cadet Form for PE Credit for PT
- RTEC 13th-Term Teaching Application
- Spring Option Declaration
- Study Abroad Application Process
- Transcript Order
- W-9S SSN Request Form
- Withdrawal (Undergraduate)
- Withdrawal (Law)
- World-Language Teaching Assistants Credit Confirmation
- Resources
- Services
-
Policies & Procedures
- Add/Drop Policies
- Auditing a Course
- Undergraduate Credit Definition
- Class Absence Policy and Procedure for Athletes
- Class Time Blocks
- Class Block Schedule for Spring Term
- Credit from Away Policies
- Curricular Advice for New Students
- Placement Results for W&L Placement Tests
- Exam Procedure and Classrooms
- FERPA
- Grading
- Incomplete Grade
- Independent Work Majors
- Internship Policies for Undergraduates
- Waiving FDR-FL
- Petitioning Faculty Committees
- Repeating a Course
- Student Handbook
-
Courses & Registration
- Course Offerings
- Current Catalog
- Foundation and Distribution Offerings
- Spring Term Domestic Courses
- Registration Help for Students
- Registration Help for Faculty and Staff
- Registration Help for Parents
- Registration and Policies for W&L Summer Work
- New Student Registration Information
- First-Year Fall Term Course Selection Guide
- Registration Override Form
- Late Drop-Add Form
- Calendars
The goals of a liberal education include both breadth of knowledge (foundation and distribution) and competency in a specialized discipline or field of knowledge (the major). The Foundation and Distribution Requirements seek to expose students to various modes of thought and to the variety of ideas and values in today’s world. Students need to demonstrate particular proficiencies to assure their education and have a reasonable degree of choice in making course selections to meet these requirements and to pursue their major course of study. Requirements can be satisfied by W&L course work, students’ placement examinations or by transfer credit approved by the faculty. No single course may satisfy more than one Foundation and Distribution Requirement.
Foundation Requirements
Distribution Requirements
Arts and Humanities
Sciences and Social Sciences
- Laboratory Science (SL)
- Additional Science, Mathematics, or Computer Science (SC)
- Social Science (SS)
Experiential-Learning Requirements (EXP)
In addition to satisfying the FDR requirements, students must present at least four credits of experiential work taken at W&L toward degree requirements or complete a minimum of 12 credits in an approved study abroad program and earn a Satisfactory grade in the associated assessment course overseen by the Center for International Education.
FDR Checklists
- About Us
- Catalogs
- Forms
- Resources
- Services
- Policies & Procedures
-
Courses & Registration
- Course Offerings
- Current Catalog
- Foundation and Distribution Offerings
- Spring Term Domestic Courses
- Registration Help for Students
- Registration Help for Faculty and Staff
- Registration Help for Parents
- Registration and Policies for W&L Summer Work
- New Student Registration Information
- First-Year Fall Term Course Selection Guide
- Registration Override Form
- Late Drop-Add Form
- Calendars
University Registrar
- P: 540-458-8455
- F: 540-458-8045
- E: registrar@wlu.edu
-
Mailing Address
University Registrar’s Office
204 West Washington Street
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia 24450-2116
Physical Address
University Registrar’s Office
Early-Fielding G06
3 Lee Avenue
Washington and Lee University