Click here to view the entire University Core Curriculum in the University of New Haven Academic Catalog.
The University of New Haven's Core Curriculum strives to develop six basic competencies among all UNH undergraduate students so that they may better understand and get along with other people, succeed in their chosen careers, and pursue lifelong learning after completing the requirements for the bachelor's degree. The core aims at graduating students who are:
- Good thinkers, speakers, and writers,
- Skilled at analysis and problem solving,
- Skilled at using computer technology,
- Effective citizens of their own country and the world,
- Aware of cultural similarities and differences, and
- Sensitive to artistic accomplishments.
In consultation with a faculty advisor, the student will select at least 40 credit hours of core courses from among the following six categories. Individual interests are to be encouraged as are also a breadth and depth of knowledge through traditional and contemporary areas of study.
Note well:
- Courses with prerequisites are followed by an asterisk.
- The advisor and student are cautioned to note the prerequisites for some courses and plan core choices accordingly.
- A student may not use a single core course to satisfy more than one category of the core.
- An academic worksheet may prescribe or proscribe certain choices within core categories but, in general, must allow the advisor and student the widest choice possible. Program worksheets may not limit core course choices without the approval of the University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.
- For students who place out of E 105, E 110 will be the beginning English requirement. One course must be selected from Competency 1.2 to replace E 105. That 1.2 course may not be used to also satisfy the 1.2 competency.
Bachelor’s Degree Core Requirements
Competency 1 - Communication (9 credits) - Ability to develop ideas from critical reading and general observation and to express ideas effectively through writing and speaking.
CC 1.1 Required:
E 105 Composition
E 110 Composition and Literature*CC 1.2 Select one of the following:
CO 100 Human Communication
CO 205 Intercultural Communication*
E 220 Writing for Business and Industry*
E 225 Technical Writing and Presentation*
E 230 Public Speaking
FOR 250 Criminal Investigation, Forensic Science & Society (Honors)
LS 220 Mediation
Foreign Language
Any Literature (E) course*
Competency 2 - Analysis and Problem Solving (10-11 credits) - Ability to dissect and explain concepts, data, actions, and events in order to understand their meaning, value, and relationship to the whole.
CC 2.1 Select one of the following:
BI 121 General & Human Biology with Lab I
BI 122 General & Human Biology with Lab II*
BI 125 Contemporary Issues in Biology
BI 253 Biology for Science Majors with Lab I
BI 254 Biology for Science Majors with Lab II*
BI 259 Anatomy & Physiology with Lab I*
BI 260 Anatomy & Physiology with Lab II*
CH 105 Introduction to General & Organic Chemistry with Lab
CH 115/117 General Chemistry & Lab I*
CH 116/118 General Chemistry & Lab II*
EAS 120 Chemistry with Applications to Biosystems*
EN 101/102 Introduction to Environmental Science & Lab
PH 100 Introduction to Physics with Lab*
PH 103 General Physics with Lab I*
PH 104 General Physics with Lab II*
PH 150 Mechanics, Heat & Waves with Lab*
PH 205 Electromagnetism and Optics with Lab*CC 2.2 Select one of the following:
M 109 Intermediate Algebra*
M 127 Finite Mathematics*
Any more advanced math or quantitative analysis course*CC 2.3 Select one of the following options:
Option A - one of the following courses:
CJ 250 Scientific Methods in Criminal Justice*
EAS 107 Introduction to Engineering*
EAS 300 Global Solutions for Sustainability
EC 134 Principles of Economics II
HS 108 History of Science
HU 300 Nature of Science*
PL 210 Logic
PL 240 Philosophy of Science and TechnologyOption B - three laboratory science courses (4 credits each) representing at least two of the following disciplinary groups:
Biology and Environmental Science (BI, EN, or MR prefixes)
Chemistry (CH prefixes)
Physics (PH prefixes)
Courses used to satisfy this option cannot be simultaneously used to satisfy Competencies 2.1, 4.2, or 5.3.
Competency 3 - Using Technology (3 credits minimum) - Ability to apply computer skills to academic endeavors.
CC 3 - Select one of the following options:
Option A - one of the following courses:
BI 520 Bioinformatics*
CS 107 Computers and their Applications
CS 110 Introduction to Programming/C*
DAD 101 Introduction to Multimedia
EAS 112 Methods of Engineering Analysis*
EN 540 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems
M 203 Calculus III*
M 204 Differential Equations*
M 311 Linear Algebra*
QA 380 Operations Management*Option B - one of the following two-course sequences:
Sequence I
M 228 or P 301 or CJ 251 Elementary Statistics* or Statistics for Behavioral Sciences* or Quantitative Applications in Criminal Justice*
SO 350 Survey Research*
Sequence II
P 301 or M 228 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences* or Elementary Statistics*
P 305 Experimental Methods in Psychology*
Competency 4 - A Sense of History and Effective Citizenship (3-6 credits) - Ability to understand local, national, and international issues affecting one's own nation and the world and to draw lessons from the experience of the past.
CC 4.1 Select one of the following:
HS 101 Foundations of the Western World
HS 102 The Western World in Modern Times
Note: History majors will instead choose one course from CC 2.3, 4.2, or 5.1CC 4.2 Select one of the following, or, as directed by your program worksheet, take an additional course from Competency 2:
CJ 536 Criminal Justice System Study Abroad
FOR 250 Criminal Investigation, Forensic Science & Society (Honors)
HS 110 American History since 1607
HS 120 History of Blacks in the United States
HS 312 United States in the Twentieth Century
LA 201 International Business Law
LS 340 Equality and Law
LS 440 Law and Policy
PS 121 American Government and Politics
PS 122 State and Local Government and Politics
PS 332 Constitutional Law*
UNIV 501 Oskar Schindler Humanities Course
Competency 5 - Social Interaction and Global Perspective (6-9 credits) - Ability to understand, appreciate, and work well with others.
CC 5.1 Select one of the following:
CS 316 Social and Professional Issues in Computing*
EC 133 Principles of Economics I
LS 220 Mediation
P 111 Introduction to Psychology
PL 215 Nature of the Self
PL 222 Ethics
PL 333 Professional Ethics*
PS 101 Introduction to Politics
SO 113 Sociology
SO 114 Contemporary Social Problems*
SO 221 Cultural Anthropology
SO 390 Organizations*
UNIV 501 Oskar Schindler Humanities CourseCC 5.2 Select one of the following:
Foreign Language (3-6 credits)
CJ 535 Global Perspectives on Crime and Justice
CJ 536 Criminal Justice System Study Abroad
DI 175 Food, Nutrition, and Culture*
E 201 World Literature I*
E 202 World Literature II*
E 217 African-American Literature I*
E 218 African-American Literature II*
E 406-409 International Literature*
EAS 300 Global Solutions for Sustainability
EC 200 Global Economy*
GLS 100 Introduction to Global Studies
HS 207 World History since 1945
HS 260 Modern Asia
HS 262 Modern Chinese History
HS 264 Modern Japanese History
HS 270 Europe from Renaissance through Enlightenment
HS 306 Modern Technology and Western Culture
HS 345 Europe in the Nineteenth Century
HS 351 Russia and the Soviet Union
HS 353 Modern Britain
HS 355 Modern Germany
HS 381-389 Selected Studies in History
HS 446 Europe in the Twentieth Century
HTM 307 Cultural Understanding of Food and Cuisine
LA 201 International Business Law
LS 350 Global Legal Systems
LS 370 Law and Culture: Study Abroad
MU 112 Introduction to World Music
PS 222 United States Foreign Policy
PS 241 International Relations
PS 281-285 Comparative Governments
UNIV 501 Oskar Schindler Humanities CourseCC 5.3 Select a second course from 5.1 or 5.2 or, as directed by your program worksheet, an additional course from Competency 2.
Competency 6 - Aesthetic Responsiveness (3 credits) - Ability to understand and appreciate artistic achievements.
CC 6 Select one of the following:
Any Literature (E) course
AT 101 Introduction to Studio Art I
AT 231 History of Art I
AT 232 History of Art II
AT 331 Contemporary Art
AT 333 Survey of African-American Art
AT 340 Contemporary Issues of Art and the Environment
MU 111 Introduction to Music
MU 112 Introduction to World Music
MU 120 Introduction to Music Theory (non-Music majors only)
MU 125 Elementary Music Theory (Music majors only)
MU 211 History of Rock
PL 356 Philosophy of Art
T 131 Introduction to theater
T 132 Theatrical Style
T 241 Early World Drama and theater
T 242 Modern World Drama and theater
Associate’s Degree Core Requirements
Students pursuing an associate’s degree must satisfy the following core curriculum competencies:
Communication (CC 1)................................................6 credits
Analysis and Problem Solving (CC 2)...........................3 credits
Using Technology (CC 3).............................................3 credits
Social Interaction and Global Perspective (CC 5).........3 credits
A Sense of History and Effective Citizenship (CC 4).....3 credits
Aesthetic Responsiveness (CC 6)................................3 credits
These competencies are explained in detail above. All core requirements satisfied by the student for the associate’s degree will be applied toward the larger bachelor’s degree core if the student continues study.
