Core 39

Core 39 Purpose

Core 39 provides the foundation for all Bachelor degrees at the University of Southern Indiana.  The Core 39 and each student’s major are designed to complement each other.  The major provides knowledge that distinguishes us from one another in our diverse walks of life; the USI Core 39 provides knowledge and abilities that all educated people share.  The two together help the University accomplish its primary mission of preparing our students to live wisely.

USI faculty have developed Core 39 to help students speak and write well, better understand the world and its cultures, think more clearly, and live according to consistent ideals.  The program is based on the premise that students must know themselves and their world before they can become responsible leaders.  Through Core 39, USI builds in all students the desire and ability to achieve personal growth and contribute meaningfully to society.

NOTES:

• Students completing a change of major or change of status will be required to satisfy the program requirements in effect at the time of the change, including Core 39.  Students who discontinue enrollment for more than one calendar year must re-enroll under the program requirements in effect at the time of the readmission, including Core 39. 
• Core 39 is satisfied for students entering USI with a bachelor’s degree.

Foundations

 Minimum of 14 credit hours

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

Civic and Cultural Awareness

• One course required from four of the six Ways of Knowing (WOK) categories.
• No two of the courses selected may have the same prefix.
• If a course is selected from the Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry Ways of Knowing category, the prefix must be different from the prefix of the course selected to satisfy the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science requirements.
• If a course is selected from the Ways of Knowing-Social Inquiry category, the prefix must be different from the prefix of the course selected to satisfy the Bachelor of Science requirements.
• Courses satisfying the World Languages and Culture in the Ways of Knowing category may have the same prefix as the World Language/World Language and Culture requirements for the B.A./B.S.
• Students earning a B.A. degree must successfully complete a four-course sequence in the same language through 204 or higher.
• The two natural science courses for the B.S. degree may have the same prefix.
• Students earning a bachelor’s degree which is not designated as a B.A. or B.S (e.g. Bachelor of General Studies) must choose either the  B.A. or B.S. track for the purposes of Core 39.

Embedded Experience

• Embedded experiences may be courses found in other areas of Core 39, a major specific course, or an elective course.
• Foundational courses are strongly encouraged to be completed before the embedded experiences.
• There are two writing intensive experiences.  One has to be a 200+ level and one has to be at 300+ level.
• ENG 201  is a prerequisite for all embedded writing intensive courses.
• Students may minimize the need for additional credit hours by selecting courses in the Ways of Knowing category or courses in their program of study that contain an embedded experience.