Oct 11, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED PUBLICATION]

Core 39


Core 39 Purpose


www.usi.edu/core39

Core 39 provides the foundation for all baccalaureate degrees at the University of Southern Indiana. 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; 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 Academic Program 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, with the exception of any program-specific Core 39 requirements.

Foundations (14 hours)


Physical Activity & Wellness (PAW)


 Select one course

First Year Experience (FYE)


All first-time, degree seeking students must enroll in a course satisfying the First Year Experience during their first semester at USI. This applies to both full-time and part-time students. Students who earned college credit while in high school (dual credit, CAP, AP, etc) but have not attended a college or university after high school are still required to complete the FYE requirement.

Ways of Knowing (12 hours)


  • One course is required from four of the six Ways of Knowing (WOK) categories.
  • No two Ways of Knowing courses may have the same prefix.
  • With the exception of World Languages courses (ARAB, CHIN, FREN, GERM, JPN, LATN, SPAN), courses used to satisfy the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Skills requirements must have a different prefix than any course used to satisfy the Ways of Knowing requirements.
  • Students earning a B.A. degree must successfully complete a four-course sequence in the same language, through 204 or higher.
  • Students earning a bachelor’s degree which is not designated as a B.A. or B.S (e.g. Bachelor of Professional Studies) must choose either the B.A. or B.S. track for the purposes of Core 39.

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements (13 hours)


Bachelor of Arts (BA Skills)


Bachelor of Arts Skills requires 4 hours in Natural Science (with lab) and 9 hours in World Languages.

  • Natural Science must be a lab course (4 hours) 
  • If Natural Science 108 is selected, then two Natural Science 108 courses must be taken to satisfy the lab requirement.  These courses are typically taken by education majors.
  • Students can receive credit in either CHEM103 or CHEM107, but not both
  • Students can receive credit in only one of CHEM 141, CHEM 142, or CHEM 143
  • Students can receive credit in either GEOL151 or GEOL161, but not both
  • No more than 9 hours of courses with the same prefix can satisfy the BA requirement
  • With the exception of World Languages courses (ARAB, CHIN, FREN, GERM, JPN, LATN, SPAN), courses used to satisfy the Bachelor of Arts Skills requirements must have a different prefix than any course used to satisfy the Ways of Knowing requirements.

Students earning a BA degree must successfully complete a four-course sequence in the same language through Language 204 or higher.

Bachelor of Science (BS Skills)


  • Natural Science (7 hours), including 1 lab course
    • Select either two lab courses (NSL) or one lab course (NSL) and one non-lab course (NS)
    • If Natural Science 108 is selected, then two Natural Science 108 courses must be taken to satisfy the lab requirement.  These courses are typically taken by education majors.
    • Students can receive credit in either CHEM103 or CHEM107, but not both
    • Students can receive credit in only one of CHEM 141, CHEM 142, or CHEM 143
    • Students can receive credit in either GEOL151 or GEOL161, but not both
  • Social Science (3 hours)
  • World Languages and Culture (3 hours)
  • No more than 9 hours of courses with the same prefix can satisfy the BS requirement.
  • With the exception of World Languages courses (ARAB, CHIN, FREN, GERM, JPN, LATN, SPAN), courses used to satisfy the Bachelor of Sciece Skills requirements must have a different prefix than any course used to satisfy the Ways of Knowing requirements.

World Language and Culture (WLS)


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.

Diversity (EED)


 Select one course

Global (EEG)


 Select one course

Writing (EEW)


 Select two courses; one course must be 300-level or higher: