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Core Curriculum

Mission and Goals 

The Core Curriculum is the foundation of the Catholic, liberal arts education students receive at Carroll College. The Core engages students in a broad spectrum of quantitative, scientific, aesthetic, and humanities disciplines. By drawing connections between these disciplines, it prepares students to analyze topics from multiple perspectives and make sound, critical, creative judgments. The Core progressively equips students with the skills, knowledge, experiences, and habits of mind needed to lead intellectually and spiritually fulfilling lives. The Core thus complements the major fields of study in ensuring that Carroll provides “for the expansion of the intellectual, imaginative, and social awareness of its students” that they may achieve the “dual goal of vocation and enlightenment.” (Carroll College Mission Statement). 

Drawing on its identity as a Catholic, liberal arts College and mindful of the needs of students in the 21st Century, Carroll College through its Core Curriculum seeks to educate students proficient in:

  • Critical and Integrative Thinking 
  • Quantitative and Scientific Analysis 
  • Oral and Written Communication 
  • Theological Literacy 
  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Intercultural and Global Understanding 

Student Learning Outcomes

To this end, students who complete the core curriculum at Carroll College will meet the following learning outcomes: 

I. Critical and Integrative Thinking 
(a) Practice critical thinking across disciplines by questioning assumptions, assessing sources of information, investigating historical context, and evaluating solutions to problems. 
(b) Demonstrate facility with argument and the use of supporting evidence.  
(c) Engage in creative production to further their imaginative capacities. 
(d) Plan, enact, and reflect on an experience that substantively integrates their academic formation with the concerns of the broader world. 

II. Quantitative and Scientific Analysis 
(a) Apply empirical research methods, including design, data analysis, and interpretation. 
(b) Understand standards of scientific verifiability and hypothesis testing. 
(c) Apply and communicate quantitative methods for representing information, modeling phenomena and solving problems. 

III. Oral and Written Communication 
(a) Demonstrate the ability to listen effectively and create messages appropriate to audience, purpose, and context in speech and writing. 
(b) Use appropriate language, syntax, grammar, and structure to explore ideas, develop arguments, and convey understanding in speech and writing. 
(c) Demonstrate facility in communication in interpersonal contexts. 

IV. Theological Literacy 
(a) Articulate the respective roles of faith and reason in the pursuit of truth, especially as practiced in the Catholic intellectual tradition. 
(b) Understand Catholic theological perspectives within their cultural and historical contexts. 

V. Ethical Reasoning 
(a) Critically evaluate moral positions and assumptions using appropriate standards (including, but not limited to: distinguishing empirical and normative claims, defining principles, and showing awareness of moral complexity). 
(b) Apply ethical concepts (including the principles of Catholic Social Teaching) to problems and understand the implications of their application. 

VI. Intercultural and Global Understanding 
(a) Understand the interactions of multiple forms of human diversity (including cultural, social, economic, political, ideological, and religious), so as to assess their actions in a global framework. 
(b) Thoughtfully and empathetically engage worldviews not their own. 

Core Curriculum 2020 Requirements, Amended 2022

I. Central Sequence

  1. Introductory Courses (semesters 1-3):
    1. CORE-110 First Year Writing Seminar (3 cr.)
    2. Oral Communication Course (3 cr.): CO-101 or foreign language course approved for Oral Communication credit, with level depending on initial placement
    3. Theological Foundations Course (3 cr.): TH-101
    4. Philosophical Reasoning Course (3 cr.): PHIL-1XX or 2XX, approved for introductory Philosophical Reasoning credit 
  2. Intermediate Courses (semesters 3-5):
    1. Cultural Diversity Course (3 cr.): one 3-credit course approved for Cultural Diversity credit 
      Prerequisite(s): CORE-110 or Oral Communication course must be taken prior or concurrently 
      Note: An approved foreign language course not applied toward Oral Communication may fulfill this requirement
    2. Intermediate Writing Course (3 cr.): one 3-credit course (or equivalent 1-credit or 2-credit lab experience), approved for Intermediate Writing credit 
      Prerequisite(s): CORE-110 and Oral Communication course must be taken prior; Theological Foundations course and Philosophical Reasoning course must be taken prior or concurrently
  3. Advanced Courses (semesters 5-8): 
    1. Ethical Reasoning Course (3 cr.): PHIL-2XX/3XX or TH-2XX/3XX, approved for Ethical Reasoning credit 
      Prerequisite(s): Philosophical Reasoning course and one Cultural Diversity course must be taken prior; Intermediate Writing course must be taken prior or concurrently
    2. Advanced Writing Course (3 cr.): one 3-credit course, or 1-credit or 2-credit lab experience, approved for Advanced Writing credit
      Prerequisite(s): Intermediate Writing course must be taken prior.
      Note: most students will fulfill this requirement through a required course in their major 
    3. CORE-PROJ Core Capstone Project
      Prerequisite(s): Ethical Reasoning and Advanced Writing courses must be taken prior or concurrently

Notes:

  • Courses may not fulfill more than one requirement within the sequence; however, courses taken with the central sequence may be applied to additional Core Distribution Requirements, and/or major or minor requirements.
  • All first-time, first-year students entering Carroll College, including those with dual enrollment, AP, IB, or other transferable credits, are required to complete CORE-110 First Year Writing Seminar even if they have college credit for a previous English composition course. Transfer students entering Carroll College with fewer than 19 semester credits attempted after graduating high school (not inclusive of dual-enrollment, AP, IB, or other transferable credits even if an AA or AS degree was earned) are also required to take CORE-110.

II. Distribution Requirements

  1. Arts and Letters (9 cr.): 
    1. Three credits of fine arts (ART, MUS, THT) drawn from courses approved for Core credit (3 cr.) 
    2. One history (HI) course approved for Core credit (3 cr.) 
    3. One literature (ENLT or foreign language literature) course approved for Core credit (3 cr.) 
  2. Faith and Reason (6 cr.). Note: Ethical Reasoning course in Central Sequence will fulfill one of these two courses: 
    1. One philosophy (PHIL) course beyond Philosophical Reasoning course in Central Sequence (3 cr.) 
    2. One theology (TH) course beyond Theological Foundations course in Central Sequence (3 cr.)
  3. Natural Science with Lab (3-4 cr.): One astronomy (AS), biology (BI), chemistry (CH), earth science (EAS), environmental studies (ES), or physics (PHYS) course approved for Core credit 
  4. Quantitative Analysis (3 cr.): One data science (DS) or mathematics (MA) course approved for Core credit 
  5. Social Science (6 cr.): Two courses in two different disciplines, approved for Core credit, from anthropology (AN), anthrozoology (ANZ), communications (CO), economics (EC), gender studies (GNDR), political science (PO), psychology (PSY), and sociology (SO).
    Note: Communications course must be beyond CO-101 course in Central Sequence 
  6. Cultural Diversity (6 cr.): Two courses in two different disciplines, approved for Core credit. 
    Note: The first course will be fulfilled by the CD course in the central sequence; the second may be fulfilled by a second CD course drawn from the central sequence, or by another Distribution Requirement, as long as it is from a second distinct discipline
Courses may include those that also fulfill the Core Central Sequence and/or major or minor requirements.

III. Sed Vitae Experience

An experiential learning requirement where students plan, enact, and reflect on an experience that substantively integrates their academic formation with the concerns of the broader world. All options for fulfilling this requirement will include at least 42 contact hours and will be preceded by a formal application process which defines learning outcomes. 

The Sed Vitae requirement may be fulfilled in any one of the following ways:

  1. Study Abroad program, approved by Global Learning (CORE-ABROAD) 
  2. Internship, approved by Career Services (CORE-INTERN) 
  3. Practicum (including Nursing Clinical or Student Teaching) approved by designated departments in consultation with the Core Curriculum Director (CORE-PRAC) 
  4. Undergraduate Research Experience approved by designated departments in consultation with the Core Director (CORE-RSRCH) 
  5. Service Learning Experience, approved by the Hunthausen Center for Peace and Justice, coordinated by Campus Ministry (CORE-SRVLRN) 

Note: Experiences with academic credit attached will be recorded separately on the transcript 

Other Requirements

Core requirements cannot be fulfilled through elected pass/fail grading.

Core Curriculum Credits at a Glance

Average Core Credit Load: 42 credits
Number of Credits in Central Sequence: 29 credits
Number of Credits in Distribution Requirements: 33-34 credits
Average Number of Distribution Credits fulfilled through Central Sequence or Major Requirements: 21 credits*

*Assumes that (1) one Cultural Diversity and one Faith and Reason course are satisfied in the Central Sequence (a given for all students), (2) the second Cultural Diversity course counts towards other distribution or major credits, and (3) the Intermediate and Advanced Writing courses count towards other distribution or major credits.

Note: Members of the Honor Scholars Program (HSP) have unique course requirements and fulfill 15 of their Carroll College Core Curriculum credits by participating in HSP seminars. See the Honors Scholars Program for HSP and more information on specific Core courses for HSP students.

 

Core Curriculum 2020 Requirements for Postbac Students and Transfer Students with an Earned AA or AS Degree

Postbaccalaureate students who have earned a Bachelor's degree from an appropriately accredited institution prior to enrolling at Carroll College, as well as transfer* students who have earned an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from an appropriately accredited institution prior to enrolling at Carroll College, must complete the following courses to satisfy the Carroll College Core Curriculum for the bachelor’s degree:

  1. The Central Sequence Advanced Courses in Ethical Reasoning, Advanced Writing, and Core Capstone Project;
  2. The Faith and Reason Distribution Courses in Philosophy (3 credits) and Theology (3 credits); 
  3. The Sed Vitae Experience.
Notes:
  • The Ethical Reasoning course in the Central Sequence will fulfill one of the two Faith and Reason distribution courses; previously completed transfer credit in these subjects may also fulfill these distribution courses.

  • This special policy for transfer students with an earned AA or AS degree does not apply to students who matriculate to Carroll as first-year students (who earned their degree via dual-enrollment) or as re-admit students.