Core Curriculum
The Core Curriculum supports the University’s mission of ensuring student success by helping provide the breadth of knowledge that is essential for the college-educated person. The core provides the liberal arts foundation for all bachelor’s degrees. Courses in the core curriculum examine the disciplines that the University faculty deems important to a liberal arts education. These core courses include:
- economics
- English/writing
- English/literature
- fine arts
- global studies (foreign language or international studies)
- history
- humanities
- laboratory science
- mathematics
- philosophy
- social science
- technology
Courses in the core curriculum also are intended to help students develop their skills in writing, speaking, and critical thinking. Core requirements are extensive enough to provide a solid foundation, but they are also focused enough to allow students considerable flexibility in completing most degree programs. The University faculty encourages students, where possible, to pursue double majors, acquire minors, participate in internships and independent studies, education abroad, and carry out service learning projects.
Core seminar courses are included as an option to satisfy the core requirement in many disciplines. All core seminar courses are numbered 189. The disciplinary prefix determines which core requirement is satisfied. For example, HIST 189 satisfies the history core requirement. Core seminar courses are approved by the faculty in the disciplines in which the survey is offered. Each core seminar must meet the same core goals and core learning objectives as the other courses that satisfy the same core requirement. All seminars share the following course description:
Core Seminar (3-4)
The seminar is an intensive study of a topic from the perspective of a particular discipline. The course introduces students to basic research principles and methods appropriate to the discipline. All seminar courses include research assignments appropriate to the 100 level. Seminars also emphasize discipline-appropriate communication skills, including writing, oral presentation, and/or artistic expression. Seminars may be cross-listed to promote interdisciplinary studies. May be repeated for credit when topic is different.
If a seminar is cross-listed, students receive core credit for the discipline in which they register. Credit is not given for both disciplines. For example, if HIST 189 and PHIL 189 are cross-listed, a student can register for either course and receive core credit in that discipline, but cannot register for both courses or receive core credit in both history and philosophy.