In academic year 1998-1999 the UWI instituted a minimum of nine credits of Foundation Courses. These Level I courses are designed to promote sensitivity to and awareness of distinctive features of Caribbean cosmologies, identities and culture.

The Foundation courses are:

1. FOUN1013: Critical Reading and Writing in the Social Sciences
2. FOUN1019*: Critical Reading and Writing in the Disciplines
3. FOUN1101: Caribbean Civilization
4. FOUN1201: Science, Medicine & Technology in Society

* FOUN1019 is a year-long course to be completed in lieu of FOUN1013 by students who did not meet the English Language requirement [ See handbook] AND failed to obtain a pass in the ELPT.

* A student may be allowed to substitute one of the non-language Foundation Courses with a foreign language course at the level of their competence.