Key subjects that colleges focus on?

Can anyone fill me in on what subjects most colleges require their students to take? I'm trying to prepare for college and it would help to know what subjects are typically considered critical. Specifically, I'm interested in liberal arts colleges, if that makes a difference.

Liberal arts colleges usually emphasize a broad-based education, which is why their general education requirements could range from humanities to social sciences, natural sciences, and qualitative reasoning. Here's a general breakdown:

1. Humanities: This typically includes Literature, Philosophy, Film, Art, or Music courses. These subjects aim to develop students' interpretative, expressive, and analytical skills.

2. Social Sciences: Sociology, Political Science, Psychology, Economics, or Anthropology often fall within the social science category. These subjects involve examining human behavior and society's structures and institutions.

3. Natural Sciences: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology or other similar courses fall under this category. In these classes, you'll often study the natural world and the principles governing it.

4. Mathematics / Quantitative Reasoning: This category can incorporate Calculus, Statistics, Computer Science or Logic courses, designed to develop problem-solving and quantitative reasoning skills.

5. Foreign Language: Many liberal arts colleges value cultural diversity and global understanding, so taking at least a year or two of a foreign language is often required.

6. Writing: Most schools require a writing seminar or composition course in the first year to develop strong written communication skills.

Remember, specific requirements vary greatly between colleges, so be sure to research the particular colleges you're interested in to get a clearer picture of their requirements. In addition, many schools also have "distribution requirements" where you're encouraged to take classes outside of your major's department to promote interdisciplinary learning. Given the broad focus of a liberal arts education, you're likely to get a well-rounded educational experience with exposure to a variety of academic disciplines.