Academic Affairs

Wright State Core Program Requirements for the 2024-2025 Academic Catalog

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Elements and Requirements

These requirements apply to students following the 2024-2025 Academic Catalog.  Students following earlier catalogs should consult their uAchieve Degree Audit for their Core requirements.

The course distribution and minimum hours required in the Core are summarized below. Some colleges, departments and pre-professional programs require specific Core courses.

Elements Required Core course distribution in each Element Minimum semester hours
1 - Communication One first-year writing course (3 credit hours)
One second-year writing course (3 credit hours)
6
2 - Mathematics One core math course 3
3 - Global Traditions One interdisciplinary global studies course (3 credit hours)
One history course (3 credit hours)
6
4 - Arts/Humanities One course 3
5 - Social Science Two courses from different social science categories 6
6 - Natural Science Two lecture/lab science courses 8
Additional Core Courses Two core courses from any of the elements 6
Total 12 courses 38

Multicultural Competence (MC) or Integrated Writing (IW)

The following competencies must be met by completing courses in any Element designated as multicultural competence (MC) or integrated writing (IW).

Core competences Courses satisfying the requirement
Multicultural competence (MC) Students must take any two courses designated as MC, SRV (Service-Learning) or SRVI (Service-Learning Intensive) or requiring an approved study abroad component
Integrated writing competence  (IW) Any two core courses designated as IW

Designations:
IW = Integrated Writing course
MC = Multicultural Competence course
T = Ohio Transfer Module course

Element Details

Element 1: Communication (6 hours required)

Foundational skills students need in academic discourse, research, and documentation in an electronic environment

First-Year Writing Course
Three Credit Hours Minimum

  • ENG 1100-3: Academic Writing and Reading (T)
  • ENG 1140-4: Intensive Academic Writing and Reading (T)

Second-Year Writing Course
Three Credit Hours Minimum

  • EGR 3350-3: Technical Communications for Engineers and Computer Scientists
  • ENG 2100-3: Research Writing and Argumentation
  • ENG 2120-3: Research Writing and Argumentation: Health Sciences (T)
  • ENG 2140-3: Research, Technical Writing and Presentation for Scientists and Engineers (T)

Additional Communication Courses

  • COM 1010-3: Essentials of Public Address (T)

Element 2: Mathematics (3 hours required)

Foundational skills required to use and interpret mathematics and statistics

One Course
Three Credit Hours Minimum

  • EC 1050-4: Elementary Mathematical Economic and Business Models and Methods
  • EGR 1010-4: Introductory Mathematics for Engineering Applications (IW)
    • EGR 1010L-0: Introductory Mathematics for Engineering Applications Laboratory (IW)
    • EGR 1010R-0: Introductory Mathematics for Engineering Applications Recitation (IW)
  • MTH 1270-4: Introduction to Functions and Modeling
  • MTH 1440-4: Mathematics and the Modern World with Algebra Review
  • MTH 1450-3: Mathematics and the Modern World
  • MTH 2240-4: Applied Calculus
  • MTH 2280-4: Business Calculus (T)
  • MTH 2300-4: Calculus I (T)
  • MTH 2310-4: Calculus II (T)
  • MTH 2415-4: Elementary Mathematics Concepts for Educators 1
  • STT 1600-4: Statistical Concepts
  • STT 2640-4: Elementary Statistics (T)

Element 3: Global Traditions (6 hours required)

Historical analysis and global perspectives necessary to understand our diverse world

One Interdisciplinary global studies course
Three Credit Hours Minimum

  • AFS 2000-3: What is the African and African American Experience? (IW, MC, T)
  • ART 2430-3: Non-Western Art (IW, MC, T)
  • ATH 2150-3: Comparative Nonwestern Cultures (IW, MC, T)
  • ATH 2500-3: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology for Health Care Professionals (MC)
  • CS 1000-3: Technology and Society (IW, MC)
  • EC 2100-3: The Economics of State and Society
  • EC 2500-3: Economic Systems of the Global South (IW, MC)
  • EC 2900-3: Global Economic, Business and Social Issues (IW, MC)
  • ED 2100-3: Education in a Democracy (MC)
  • ED 2600-3: Introduction to Education (IW, MC)
  • ED 2800-3: Cultural Humility for Working with Youth (IW, MC)
  • EDS 2900-3: Individuals with Exceptionalities (IW, MC)
  • EES 2600-3: Environmental Science and Society: A Cross Cultural Perspective (MC)
  • ENG 2310-3: Comparative Literature: Non-Western Literatures (IW, MC, T)
  • FAS 1050-3: Amish Society (MC)
  • GEO 2210-3: Nonwestern Human Environments (IW, MC, T)
  • IT 1100-3: Communicational Ethics of Technology in Society (IW, MC)
  • ML 2010-3: French Culture (MC)
  • ML 2030-3: Virtual Spain
  • ML 2040-3: The Hispanic World: Cultures in Motion (MC)
  • ML 2050-3: Russian Culture (MC)
  • ML 2060-3: Virtual Paris 
  • MUS 2420-3: Comparative Nonwestern Cultures: Music (IW, MC, T)
  • PLS 2510-3: Comparative Nonwestern Social Systems (IW, MC, T)
  • PPH 2000-3: Global Health (IW,MC)
  • PPH 2100-3: Climate Change and Health (IW, MC)
  • REL 1010-3: Introduction to World Religions (MC)
  • REL 2320-3: Nonwestern Religions (IW, MC, T)
  • RST 2510-3: Regional Studies: Europe (IW)
  • RST 2610-3: Regional Studies: Japan (IW, MC, T)
  • RST 2620-3: Regional Studies: China (IW, MC, T)
  • RST 2710-3: Regional Studies: Africa (IW, MC, T)
  • RST 2810-3: Regional Studies: Latin America (IW, MC, T)
  • RST 2910-3: Regional Studies: Middle East (IW, MC, T)
  • RST 2920-3: Regional Studies: India (IW, MC, T)
  • URS 2000-3: Cities of the World (IW, MC, T)

One History Course
Three Credit Hours Minimum

  • CLS 1500-3: Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture (T)
  • HST 1100-3: Western Civilizations to 1500 (T)
  • HST 1200-3: The West and the World since 1500 (T)

Element 4: Arts/Humanities (3 hours required)

Tools for analysis and appreciation of the arts, philosophy, and religious thought

One Course
Three Credit Hours Minimum

  • ART 2140-3: Themes in Visual Culture (T)
  • CLS 1600-3: Introduction to Classical Mythology
  • CLS 2040-3: Great Books – Classics (IW, T)
  • ENG 2040-3: Great Books: Literature (IW, T)
  • ENG 2050-3: African-American Literature (IW, MC)
  • ENG 2310-3: Comparative Literature: Non-Western Literatures (IW, MC, T)
  • FMS 1310-3: Introduction to Film Studies
  • LA 1020-3: First-Year Seminar in Liberal Arts
  • ML 2040-3: The Hispanic World: Cultures in Motion (MC)
  • ML 2050-3: Russian Culture (MC)
  • MP 1310-3: The Moving Image (T)
  • MUS 1210-3: Music Listening
  • MUS 2140-3: Music in Western Culture (T)
  • MUS 2420-3: Comparative Nonwestern Cultures: Music (IW, MC, T)
  • MUS 2900-3: African American Music: America and Beyond (IW, MC, T)
  • PHL 2050-3: Philosophy: The Big Questions (IW)
  • PHL 2100-3: Philosophy of State and Society
  • REL 1010-3: Introduction to World Religions (MC)
  • REL 2040-3: Bible, Qur'an, and Western Culture (IW, MC, T)
  • TH 2140-3: Theatre in Western Culture (T)
  • UH 2010-3: Studies in the Humanities (IW)

Element 5: Social Science (6 hours required)

Perspectives on human behavior and culture informed by the disciplines of the social sciences

Two Courses from Different Disciplines
Six Credit Hours Minimum

  • ATH 2200-3: Introduction to Archaeology (T)
  • EC 2000-3: Economic Life (IW, T)
  • EC 2040-3: Principles of Microeconomics (T)
  • EC 2050-3: Principles of Macroeconomics (T)
  • EC 2100-3: The Economics of State and Society
  • EC 2500-3: Economic Systems of the Global South (IW, MC)
  • EC 2900-3: Global Economic, Business and Social Issues (IW, MC)
  • ED 2600-3: Introduction to Education (IW,MC)
  • ED 2700-3: Introduction to Educational Psychology (IW)
  • EDS 2900-3: Individuals with Exceptionalities (IW, MC)
  • FAS 1070-3: Rural Studies (MC)
  • FIN 2050-3: Personal Financial Decision Making
  • MGT 1900-3: Managerial Character and Competencies I
  • MKT 1500-3: Personal Marketing for Career Success
  • PLS 2000-3: Power and Politics (IW, T, MC)
  • PLS 2120-3: American National Government (MC)
  • PSY 1010-4: Introduction to Psychology (IW, MC, T)
  • SOC 2000-3: Introduction to Sociology (IW, MC, T)
  • UH 2020-3: Studies in Social Sciences (IW)
  • WGS 1000-3: Introduction to Sexual Health and Diversity  (MC)
  • WGS 2000-3: Introduction to Women and Gender Studies (IW, MC, T)

Element 6: Natural Science (8 hours required)

Introductions to the scientific understanding of physical and biological phenomena

Two Lecture/Lab Science Courses
Eight Credit Hours Minimum

  • ASM 1717-4: Humans and Machines at Extremes (IW)
  • ATH 2100-4: Introduction to Biological Anthropology (T)
    • ATH 2100L-0: Lab in Biological Anthropology (T)
  • BIO 1050-4: Biology of Food (T)
    • BIO 1050L-0: Biology of Food Laboratory (T)
  • BIO 1060-4: Global Ecology and Diversity (T)
    • BIO 1060L-0: Global Ecology and Diversity Laboratory (T)
  • BIO 1070-4: Health and Disease (T)
    • BIO 1070L-0: Health and Disease Laboratory (T)
  • BIO 1090L-1: Biology Laboratory
  • BIO 1120-4: Cells and Genes (T)
    • BIO 1120L-0: Cells & Genes Laboratory (T)
  • BIO 1150-4: Organisms and Ecosystems (T)
    • BIO 1150L-0: Organisms & Ecosystems Laboratory (T)
  • BIO 3450-4: Concepts in Life Science I for Educators
  • CHM 1020-4: Elementary Organic Chemistry with Applications (T)
    • CHM 1020L-0: Elementary Organic Chemistry with Applications Laboratory(T)
  • CHM 1050-4: Chemistry of Our World: Living Things (T)
    • CHM 1050L-0: Chemistry of Our World: Living Things Laboratory (T)
  • CHM 1060-4: Chemistry of Our World: Materials (T)
    • CHM 1060L-0: Chemistry of Our World: Materials Laboratory (T)
  • CHM 1070-4: Chemistry of Our World: Energy and the Environment (IW, T)
    • CHM 1070L-0: Chemistry of Our World: Energy and the Environment Laboratory (IW, T)
  • CHM 1210-3: General Chemistry I
    • CHM 1210L-2: General Chemistry I Laboratory
    • CHM 1210R-0: General Chemistry I Recitation
  • CHM 1220-3: General Chemistry II
    • CHM 1220L-2: General Chemistry II Laboratory
    • CHM 1220R-0: General Chemistry II Recitation
  • CHM 2450-4: Concepts in Chemistry I for Educators
  • CS 1150-4: Introduction to Computer Science
    • CS 1150L-0: Introduction to Computer Science Laboratory
  • CS 1300-4: Data Science for Everyone
    • CS 1300L-0: Data Science for Everyone Lab
  • EES 1030-4: The Paleobiology of Dinosaurs
    • EES 1030L-0: The Paleobiology of Dinosaurs Laboratory
  • EES 1050-4: Dynamic Earth (T)
    • EES 1050L-0: Dynamic Earth Laboratory (T)
  • EES 1070-3: Sustainable Earth (T)
  • EES 2510-4: Earth Systems
    • EES 2510L-0: Earth Systems Laboratory
  • EES 2550-4: Earth History
    • EES 2550L-0: Earth History Laboratory
  • EES 3450-4: Concepts in Earth Science I for Educators
  • ISE 1110-4: Introduction to Engineering Science Applications for All
    • ISE 1110L-0: Introduction to Engineering Science Applications for All Laboratory
  • KNH 2500-4: Basic Anatomy and Physiology for KNH Majors
  • PHY 1060-3: Astronomy (T)
    • PHY 1060L-1: Astronomy Laboratory (T)
  • PHY 1110-4: Principles of Physics I
    • PHY 1110L-1: Principles of Physics Lab I
    • PHY 1110R-0: Principles of Physics I Recitation
  • PHY 1120-4: Principles of Physics II
    • PHY 1120L-1: Principles of Physics Lab II
    • PHY 1120R-0: Principles of Physics II Recitation
  • PHY 1903-3: Physics of Flight
  • PHY 2400-4: General Physics I
    • PHY 2400L-1: General Physics I Laboratory
    • PHY 2400R-0: General Physics I Recitation
  • PHY 2410-4: General Physics II
    • PHY 2410L-1: General Physics II Laboratory
    • PHY 2410R-0: General Physics II Recitation
  • PHY 2450-3.5: Concepts in Physics for Early Childhood Education
  • PHY 2460-4: Concepts in Physics for Educators I
  • SM 1010-4: Scientific Thought and Reasoning (IW)

Additional Core Courses (6 hours required)

Six Credit Hours Minimum
Two additional approved Wright State Core courses from any of the Elements (some programs may designate these courses)

Multicultural Competence

Two multicultural competence courses from any of the Wright State Core MC designated courses, study abroad courses, or service-learning courses.

Total Hours Required = 38

Note: A course listed in two or more elements may be used to meet only one element requirement.