Core Curriculum Courses

The degree plan of every undergraduate student at the university includes three components: core curriculum requirements, major requirements, and electives. Together, these components produce self-reliant graduates who will become leaders in their chosen professions and communities. The core represents a university-wide commitment to general education, incorporating the perspectives of an array of academic disciplines and includes over 400 different courses offered by almost every college and school on campus. 

The 42-hour core curriculum is required for all students, regardless of major. The core curriculum begins with a common intellectual experience known as the first-year Signature Course and includes coursework in eight component areas: English composition, literature, government, history, social sciences, mathematics, natural sciences and technology, and visual and performing arts.

These requirements allow students to put their major coursework into a broader intellectual context and understand how other disciplines raise and answer important questions. The Core Curriculum also facilitates the exploration of prospective majors and can serve as a foundation for more advanced coursework within the major. It provides a breadth of knowledge that prepares students to adapt and cope with the rapid change that exists today and produces responsible citizens and future leaders.