Foundation Courses

General Education Foundation Courses

Academic Year 2026 – 2027

All undergraduate students must take the following required General Education foundation  courses:

Subject Code

Course Number

Course Title

FND

100

AUA Essentials for Freshmen

FND

152

First Aid

FND

153

Civil Defense

FND

100

Physical Education

EC

101

Freshman Seminar 1 (Previously FND 101)

EC

102

Freshman Seminar 2 (Previously FND 102)

CHSS

103

Armenian Language & Literature 1 (Previously FND 103)

CHSS

104

Armenian Language & Literature 2 (Previously FND 104)

CHSS

223

Armenian History 1 (Previously FND 221)

CHSS

224

Armenian History 2 (Previously FND 222)


FND 100 AUA Essentials for Freshmen 

The course is designed to welcome incoming freshmen, and help them to navigate resources at AUA, learn about responsibilities as a student and become active and motivated members of a big AUA community. 

FND 152 First Aid 

The First Aid course provides students with evidence-based, theoretical, and practical skills to recognize and respond to medical emergencies according to the latest international guidelines.

FND 153 Civil Defense

The purpose of this course is to equip students with a basic understanding of reasonable preparedness strategies and techniques; promoting a self-reliant, pro-active approach to protecting themselves, their families and their communities, and minimize further injury or loss of life in the event of man-made or natural disasters, and to learn how the Armenian government is structured to manage an emergency.

This course consists of a self-paced online Moodle course with narrated slide shows, external resources and quizzes. Attempts must be submitted. Otherwise, they are counted as a zero.

Students have three (3) attempts to satisfactory answer each quiz.

All undergraduate students are required to complete FND 100 AUA Essentials for Freshmen, FND 152 First Aid and FND 153 Civil Defense in their freshman year.

Military Service Waiver 

Students who have successfully completed military service will be waived from completing

FND 152 First Aid, and

FND 153 Civil Defense

Once a student has returned from military service and submits a copy of their military book to the Office of the Registrar, the Office of the Registrar will indicate on the student`s record that the student is exempt from these two courses.

FND 110 Physical Education

Beginning with the Summer 2026 session, the requirement is now set at two (2) successfully completed PE courses. It is strongly recommended that you complete these courses by the end of year two to ensure enrollment. Seats will be allocated based on this schedule and are not guaranteed for later years.

A variety of Physical Education activities is offered, although not all are available every semester. These include: 

Subject Code

Course Number

Course Title

FND

110

Badminton

FND

110BB

Basketball

FND

110BBM

Basketball Men’s Team (by approval only)

FND

110BBW

Basketball Women’s Team (by approval only)

FND

110FTN

Fitness

FND

110FB

Football

FND

110 FBW

Football Women’s Team (by approval only)

FND

110 FBM

Football Men’s Team (by approval only)

FND

110

Futsal

FND

110

Futsal (Team)

FND

110K

Karate

FND

110TT

Table Tennis

FND

110VB

Volleyball

FND

110VBM

Volleyball Men’s Team (by approval only)

FND

110VBW

Volleyball Women’s Team (by approval only)

FND

110YO

Yoga

Medical Report: In compliance with Armenian law, all incoming freshman and sophomore students who will register for Physical Education must submit a medical document completed by a medical professional before the start of classes.  Medical documents must be submitted in hard copy or via email directly and only to the AUA Health Center ([email protected]) by August 15.

* Medical Form for Students age 18 and above

* Medical Form for Students under the age of 18

* International Medical Fitness Form

Citizens of Armenia may obtain a medical document from their local polyclinic following a physical examination. Male citizens of Armenia may submit the relevant page of their military book.

International students may ask a medical professional to provide them with a written statement confirming physical fitness for a Physical Education course. A sample International Medical Fitness Certificate can be obtained by contacting [email protected].

Students are advised to visit the polyclinic as soon as possible to avoid long waiting times and delays. 

Students who do not submit a Medical Report will not be allowed to participate in physical education (and may be unenrolled from the course) and a hold will be put on the students’ account.

Exemption from Physical Education

Students who have a medical condition that prevents them from participating in Physical Education may be exempt from Physical Education. The procedure to apply for medical exemption is as follows:

  1. Submit a medical doctor’s certification letter on the doctor or facility’s letterhead dated within the past 6 months directly and only to the AUA Nurse (room 601 M or [email protected]) by the end of the add/drop period. If submitting a hard copy, the medical documents should be submitted in a sealed envelope with the student’s full name and AUA ID Number written or typed on the outside. The letter must contain the following information:
    1. The medical condition
    2. An explanation of why the condition should medically exempt the student from participating in Physical Education courses
    3. The time period for this exemption; either
      1. Temporary due to acute illness or injury – the letter must state when the student can begin participation, or
      2. Permanent due to chronic or untreatable condition that would exempt participation in Physical  Education throughout undergraduate academic studies
    4. The doctor’s complete contact information
  2. After receiving the medical doctor’s certification letter, the AUA nurse will review the information contained in the letter and make one of the following determinations:
    1. Accept the medical exemption for the specified time period and notify the Registrar’s Office for the student’s academic records
    2. Contact the doctor for further information in order to make an informed decision
    3. Deny the request for medical exemption based on lack of sufficient rationale.

Grading

AUA Essentials for Freshmen, First Aid,  Civil Defense and  Physical Education are graded on a Pass (P) / No Pass (NP) basis and carry no credits.

In order to receive a “P” grade in Physical Education, students must actively participate in no less than 75% of class sessions.

 

CHSS 103 Armenian Language & Literature 1 (ALL1) 

The course is taken in the fall semester of the sophomore year. Students become eligible to enroll upon completion of 30 credits.

CHSS 104 Armenian Language & Literature 2 (ALL2)

Students take this course in the spring semester of the sophomore year after completing ALL1. 

CHSS 223 Armenian History 1 (AH1)

The course is for junior students to take in the fall semester. To reach junior status students must complete 60 credits. 

CHSS 224 Armenian History 2 (AH2)

AH2 should be taken in the following spring semester upon successful completion of AH1.

More information about these foundation courses is available in the AUA course catalog. https://catalog.aua.am/college-of-humanities-and-social-sciences-descriptions/

Note: Both the Armenian Language & Literature and Armenian History courses are taught in Armenian. Non-Republic of Armenia citizens who did not graduate from an Republic of Armenia high school whose language of instruction is Armenian will be eligible to enroll in an English-language section.

 

Click here for the previous Foundation course requirements