Core Curriculum Requirements

Introductory Level - 1 credit hour

Students should first encounter the UP Core through CORE 101: Anchor Seminar. The purpose of this introduction is to engage with the rationale of the UP Core and its foundation in the liberal arts, to overview the structure of the UP Core throughout a student’s four years of study, to explore academic values as related to the six UP Core Habits of Heart and Mind, and to introduce University life in order to facilitate a smooth transition to UP’s educational community.

At the Introductory Level, all first-year students will take CORE 101 on a pass/fail basis.

CORE 101

Anchor Seminar

Foundation Level - 33 credit hours

The Foundation Level introduces the UP Core Habits of Heart and Mind through introductory-level disciplinary lenses. By taking courses spanning a variety of liberal arts disciplines, students will develop the UP Core Habits through specific course learning activities and objectives and will receive an introduction to the knowledge base of a liberal arts discipline and to the ways of knowing associated with that discipline. Together, the Foundation-level courses provide students with a robust yet balanced exposure to the fine arts and humanities (with particular emphasis on philosophy and theology), the social sciences, and the natural sciences and mathematics.

At the Foundation Level, all students will take courses distributed across the following six habits.

Aesthetics & Creativity - 3 credit hours

Select one course from following:

FA 107	The Creative Process in Visual Art	3
FA 108	The Creative Process in Performative Art	3

Diversity & the Common Good - 3 credit hours

Select one course from the following:

CST 225	Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others	3
ETHS 205	Critical Ethnic Studies	3
HST 210	Who is America: The Early U.S.	3
HST 211	Who is America: The Modern U.S.	3
SOC 101	Introduction to Sociology	3
SW 101	Social Work and Social Justice	3

Faith & Ethics - 9 credit hours

PHL 220	Engaging Ethics	3
THE 105	Engaging Ultimate Questions: Religion, Faith, and Ethics	3
THE 205	Biblical Texts in Global Contexts	3

Global & Historical Consciousness - 3 credit hours

Select one course from the following:

HST 220	The Search for Justice in the Western Tradition	3
HST 221	The Social Question in Modern European History	3
HST 251	Modern East Asia	3
HST 254	Colonial Latin America	3
HST 256	Modern Latin America	3
POL 203	Introduction to Political Theory	3
POL 205	World Politics	3
CHN 103	Beginning Chinese Language and Culture III	3
FRN 202	Intermediate French Language and Culture	3
FRN 205	Accelerated Intermediate French Language and Culture	6
FRN 301	Advanced French Conversation, Composition and Culture	3
FRN 302	Advanced French Conversation, Composition and Culture	3
GRM 202	Intermediate German Language and Cultures	3
GRM 207	Accelerated Intermediate German Language and Culture	6
GRM 301	Advanced German Conversation, Composition, and Culture	3
GRM 302	Advanced German Conversation, Composition, and Culture	3
SPN 202	Intermediate Spanish Language and Cultures	3
SPN 205	Accelerated Intermediate Spanish Language and Culture	6
SPN 301	Advanced Spanish: Art and Society in Latin America and Spain I	3
SPN 302	Advanced Spanish: Art and Soc in Latin Am and Spain II	3
SPN 308	Advanced Spanish for Heritage Speakers	3

Other HST courses designated HTS 25x or HST 291 may fulfill the Global and Historical Consciousness requirement. Please confirm eligible course offerings with a program counselor.

Literacy & Dialogue - 6 credit hours

ENG 112	Thinking Through Literature	3
PHL 150	Engaging Philosophy	3

Science & Problem Solving - 9 credit hours

Select one course from the following - 3 credit hours

ECN 120	Principles of Macroeconomics	3
ECN 121	Principles of Microeconomics	3
POL 200	Introduction to United States Politics	3
PSY 101	Psychological Science	3

Select one course from the following - 3 credit hours

MTH

Any mathematics course above MTH 120

Select one course from the following - 3 credit hours

BIO	Any 100-level course or any 200-level course required of a major	3
CHM	Any 100-level course or any 200-level course required of a major	3
ENV	Any 100-level course	3
PHY	Any 100-level course or any 200-level course required of a major	3

Exploration Level - 6 credit hours

At the Exploration Level, all students will take 6 credit hours of courses designated as exploration courses for the UP Core. These courses will address at least two UP Core Habits and must be approved by the University Core Curriculum Committee or the Core Director.

The broad purpose of the Exploration Level is to help students integrate multiple ways of knowing from liberal arts disciplinary perspectives to better understand and engage with timely and timeless issues of human concern. The more specific purpose of the Exploration Level is to challenge students to further engage the nature and value of the UP Core Habits of Heart and Mind by identifying interconnections and employing multi-disciplinary lenses.

To ensure that students receive broad exposure to disciplines outside of their major in the spirit of our liberal arts UP Core, the following criteria apply to students earning Exploration Level credit:

To promote breadth, the two Exploration courses may not be from the student’s primary major and count for major credit. However, they may be applied to a secondary major or minor.
While one Exploration course outside of a primary major may be pre-programmed by program curricula, at least one course should be left to the discretion of students to promote exploration.
Students may enroll in a course in their primary major that is also designated for the Exploration Level, but they may only apply the course toward either their primary major requirements or a UP Core Exploration Level requirement.
To encourage breadth, at least one Exploration Level course should come from outside the student’s division (humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and mathematics) or school (including linked courses). Exceptions may be made to accommodate students in multi-disciplinary programs.
To take an Exploration course a student should have taken at least one Foundation level course associated with one of the Core Habits being covered by that course. This requirement should be achieved through advising and introductory coursework.

Integration Assignment

Prior to graduation, students will also complete an integration assignment reflecting on educational experiences with the UP Core and demonstrating an ability to understand the UP Core Habits.

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Core Curriculum