Academic Affairs

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

On this page:

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
Communication One first-year writing course (3 credit hours)
One second-year writing course (3 credit hours)
6
Mathematics One core math course 3
Global Traditions One interdisciplinary global studies course (3 credit hours)
One history course (3 credit hours)
6
Arts/Humanities One course 3
Social Science Two courses from different social science categories 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

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 Scientists
  • ENG 2110-3: Research, Writing, and Argumentation: Education (T)
  • ENG 2120-3: Research, Writing, and Argumentation: Health Sciences (T)
  • ENG 2140-3: Research, Technical Writing, and Presentation for Scientists and Engineering (T)

Additional Communication Courses

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

Element 2: Mathematics

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)
  • 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)
  • STT 1600-4: Statistical Concepts
  • STT 2640-4: Elementary Statistics (T)

Element 3: Global Traditions

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: Nonwestern 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 Literature (IW, MC, T)
  • FAS 1050-3: Amish Society (MC)
  • GEO 2210-3: Non-Western Human Environments (IW, MC, T)
  • ML 2010-3: French Culture (MC)
  • ML 2030-3: Spanish Culture
  • ML 2040-3: The Hispanic World: Cultures in Motion (MC)
  • ML 2050-3: Russian Culture (MC)
  • MUS 2420-3: Comparative Nonwestern Cultures: Music (IW, MC, T)
  • PPH 2000-3: Global Health (IW,MC)
  • PPH 2100-3: Climate Change and Health (IW, MC)
  • PLS 2510-3: Comparative Nonwestern Social Systems (IW, MC, T)
  • REL 1010-3: Introduction to World Religions (MC)
  • REL 2320-3: Nonwestern Religions (IW, MC, T)
  • 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: Growth and Change in Urban Society (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

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 2310-3: Comparative Literature: Non-Western Literatures (IW, MC, T)
  • ENG 2040-3: Great Books: Literature (IW, T)
  • ENG 2050-3: African-American Literature (IW, MC)
  • FMS 1310-3: Introduction to Film Studies
  • 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 Humanities (IW)

Element 5: Social Science

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 2100-3: The Economics of State and Society
  • EC 2040-3: Principles of Microeconomics (T)
  • EC 2050-3: Principles of Macroeconomics (T)
  • 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)
  • FIN 2050-3: Personal Financial Decision Making
  • MGT 1900-3: Managerial Character and Competencies
  • MKT 1500-3: Personal Marketing for Career Services
  • 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 & Diversity  (MC)
  • WGS 2000-3: Approaches to Women's Studies (IW, MC, T)

Element 6: Natural Science

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)
  • BIO 1050-4: Biology of Food (T)
  • BIO 1060-4: Global Ecology and Diversity (T)
  • BIO 1070-4: Health and Disease (T)
  • BIO 1120-4: Cells and Genes(T)
  • BIO 1150-4: Organisms and Ecosystems (T)
  • BIO 3450-3.5: Concepts in Biology I for Early and Middle Childhood Education
  • CHM 1020-4: Elementary Organic Chemistry with Applications (T)
  • CHM 1050-4: Chemistry of Our World: Living Things (T)
  • CHM 1060-4: Chemistry of Our World: Materials (T)
  • CHM 1070-4: Chemistry of Our World: Energy and the Environment (IW, T)
  • CHM 1210-3: General Chemistry I
  • CHM 1210L-2: General Chemistry I Lab
  • CHM 1220-3: General Chemistry II
  • CHM 1220L-2: General Chemistry II Lab
  • CHM 2450-3.5: Concepts in Chemistry I for Early and Middle Childhood Education
  • CS 1150-4: Introduction to Computer Science
  • CS 1300-4: Data Science for Everyone
  • EES 1030-4: The Paleobiology of Dinosaurs
  • EES 1050-4: Dynamic Earth (T)
  • EES 1070-3: Sustainable Earth (T)
  • EES 2510-4: Earth Systems
  • EES 2550-4: Earth History
  • EES 3450-3.5: Concepts in Earth Science for Educators
  • ISE 1110-4: Introduction to Engineering Science Applications for All
  • KNH 2500-4: Basic Anatomy and Physiology for KNH Majors
  • PHY 1060-3: Astronomy (T)
  • PHY 1060L-1: Astronomy Lab (T)
  • PHY 2400-4: General Physics I
  • PHY 2400L-1: General Physics I Lab
  • PHY 2410-4: General Physics II
  • PHY 2410L-1: General Physics II Lab
  • PHY 2450-3.5: Concepts in Physics for Early Childhood Education
  • PHY 2460-3.5: Concepts in Physics for Middle Childhood Education
  • SM 1010-4: Scientific Literacy for the 21st Century (IW)

Additional Core Courses

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.