CORE CURRICULUM

Introduction | Freshman Seminar | Critical Thinking | English Composition | Speech | Health / Physical Education | Mathematics | Natural Science | History/Social Science | Humanities/Fine Arts | Restricted Electives | Computer Literacy

Introduction

The University College Core Curriculum provides the academic foundation for all the undergraduate degree programs at Fayetteville State University. The core curriculum enables students to develop the skills and general knowledge that are essential to success in their respective major programs and careers after graduation. In addition to providing the skills and knowledge that are essential to academic success, the University College Core Curriculum is designed to promote positive human values and encourage a love for learning in all students.

All students are required to complete courses in writing, mathematics, critical thinking, and speech. These courses are designed to help students develop the communication, quantitative, reading, and reasoning skills that are necessary for success in any major degree program. Courses in the natural sciences, the performing and fine arts, and the social sciences introduce students to the methods of inquiry and content knowledge of these various disciplines. In these areas, students select from a variety of courses as required by their respective majors. Students are also required to complete physical and/or health education.

Since most major degree programs specify courses to be taken as part of the University College Core Curriculum, students must review the curriculum of their intended majors, and consult with assigned advisors/mentors, in selecting core curriculum classes. All students should complete the requirements of the University College core curriculum before advancing to junior level standing.

University College Core Curriculum 45 Credits*

The minimum number of credits required for the University College Core Curriculum is 45. Depending on profile examination scores and program requirements, students in some programs may be required to complete more than 45 credits.

Click on a course for more information.

Freshman Seminar/University Studies, 2 credits

• UNIV 101-102 Freshman Seminar I and II For first-time freshmen only

• UNIV 110 University Studies

For transfer students who enter FSU with fewer than 30 credits. This course is not required of transfer students who enter the university with 30 or more transfer credits.

(For further information about the Freshman Seminar, click here)

Critical Thinking, 3 Credits

• PHIL 110 Critical Thinking

This course is not required of transfer students who enter the university with 60 or more transfer credits, unless it is recommended by an advisor or department chair.

English, 6 credits

• ENGL 110 English Composition I

• ENGL 120 English Composition II

• ENGL 108, Grammar and Usage, may be required depending on profile scores.

Speech, 3 credits

• SPEE 200 Introduction to Speech. ENGL 110 is a prerequisite to SPEE 200. ENGL 120 is pre- or corequisite to SPEE 200.

Physical Education/Health Education, 2 credits

• HEED 112 Health and Wellness (2 credits) OR Two of the following (1 credit each):

Depending upon profile examination scores, intended major, and courses selected, required hours may exceed six.

• MATH 123 College Algebra. MATH 123, or its equivalent, is required of all students.

In addition to MATH 123, select one of the courses below. Please note restrictions for mathematics courses required by specific degree programs.

• MATH 121 Introduction to College Algebra

• MATH 124 College Trigonometry

• MATH 131 Algebra and Trigonometry (MATH 129 and MATH 130 together are equivalent to MATH 131)

• MATH 140 Applied Calculus

• MATH 142 Calculus with Analytical Geometry I

• MATH 150 Discrete Mathematics I

• Accounting majors must complete MATH 123, or its equivalent, and MATH 140.
• Business Administration majors must complete MATH 123 and MATH 140.
• Biology majors (teaching and non-teaching) must complete MATH 129 and MATH 130.
• Chemistry majors (B.A. and B.S.) must complete MATH 129 and MATH 130. Additional mathematics courses are required in the upper division.
• Computer Science majors must complete MATH 131, or its equivalent, and MATH 150. MATH 129 and MATH 130, with a grade of C or better in each, are equivalent to MATH 131.
• Economics majors must complete MATH 123 and MATH 140. Mathematics majors (teaching and non-teaching) must complete MATH 131 and MATH 142. MATH 129 and MATH 130, with a grade of C or better in each, are equivalent to MATH 131.

A course in computer usage, selected from CSC 100, BEDU 110, ADMS 210, or another appropriate computer skills course, may be substituted for the second course in mathematics in accordance with degree program requirements and the advisor's recommendation. Students in the School of Education are not permitted to substitute a computer usage course for a second course in mathematics.

Additional resources, such as computer programs, videos, and graphing calculators, may be incorporated as tools to enhance the presentation of course content in mathematics.

Natural Sciences, 8 credits

Eight is the minimum number of required credits in natural sciences. Depending upon intended major, profile examination scores, and courses selected, required hours may exceed eight.

Eight credits selected from the following courses. Please note restrictions for science courses required by specific degree programs.

[2] NSCI 110 and NSCI 120 must be taken as a sequence. NSCI 110 must be completed before NSCI 120. MATH 123 is a pre- or corequisite for NSCI 110.

• Biology majors (teaching and non-teaching) must complete BIOL 150 and ZOOL 110.
• Chemistry majors (B.A. and B.S.) must complete: CHEM 140 and CHEM 160.
• Mathematics majors (teaching and non-teaching) must complete PHYS 121, PHYS 122, and PHYS 123. MATH 142 is prerequisite for PHYS 121.
• Nursing majors must complete CHEM 101 and CHEM 102.
• Teacher Education majors in the following areas: Elementary Education, Health Education, Marketing Education, Middle Grades Education, Music Education, Physical Education, Vocational Business Education, and Secondary Education majors in English, Social Science Education (concentrations in History, Political Science, and Sociology), and Spanish must complete NSCI 110 and NSCI 120. Note: Teacher Education majors with a second academic concentration in Biology must complete BIOL 150 and ZOOL 110.

For students not majoring in one of the sciences or mathematics, ASTR 111 and ASTR 112, or NSCI 110 and NSCI 120, are recommended.

The actual number of courses will vary from three to nine credits, depending upon major degree program. Hours completed in excess of three will fulfill restricted elective requirements. Hours completed in excess of nine may fulfill requirements of the major.

A minimum of three credits selected from the courses below. Please note restrictions and additional requirements for History/Social Sciences courses required by specific programs.

• Accounting majors must complete ECON 211, ECON 212, and PSYC 210. ECON 200 may not be taken for this major.
• Business Administration majors (all tracks) must complete ECON 211, ECON 212, and PSYC 210.
• Criminal Justice majors must complete CRJC 200, PSYC 210, POLI 210, and SOCI 210.
• Economics majors must complete ECON 211 and ECON 212. ECON 200 may not be taken for this major.
• Elementary Education majors must complete HIST 110, POLI 210, and PSYC 210.
• Health Education majors must complete HIST 110, HIST 212, and PSYC 210.
• History majors must complete two of the following for University College: HIST 110, HIST 120, HIST 210, HIST 211, or HIST 212. The other three must be completed as major requirements.
• Marketing Education majors must complete ECON 211, ECON 212, and HIST 211. ECON 200 may not be taken for this major.
Middle Grades Education majors must complete three of the following for University College: HIST 110, HIST 211, HIST 212, POLI 210, and PSYC 210. The other two must be completed as part of second academic concentration.

• Physical Education majors must complete HIST 110, HIST 212, and PSYC 210.

• Vocational Business Education majors must complete ECON 211, ECON 212, and HIST 211. ECON 200 may not be taken for this major.

The actual number of courses will vary from three to nine credits depending upon major degree program. Hours completed in excess of three will serve restricted elective requirements. Hours completed in excess of nine may fulfill requirements of the major.

A minimum of three credits selected from the following courses. Please note restrictions and additional requirements for Humanities/Fine Arts courses required by specific programs.

• English majors (B.A. and B.S.) must complete ENGL 220 and ENGL 223.

• Speech majors (all concentrations) must complete THEA 203.

• Teacher Education majors in Elementary Education,Health Education, Marketing Education, Middle Grades Education, Physical Education, and Vocational Business Education must complete HUMN 211 and HUMN 212.

• Undecided majors, HUMN 211 and HUMN 212 are recommended.

The actual number of Restricted Electives required will vary from zero to nine credits depending upon degree program. Please note restrictions below for restricted electives required for specific majors.

1. A 100- or 200-level foreign language sequence (6 credits) (See degree programs below that require a foreign language sequence to fulfill University College Core Curriculum requirements.)

2. At least six credits from either the History/Social Sciences and Humanities/Fine Arts courses listed above. (Some degree programs specify the Restricted Electives to be completed under this category. See the History/Social Sciences and Humanities and Fine Arts sections above.)

2. Select three additional credits from any of the courses listed as part of the University College Core Curriculum. (Some degree programs specify the Restricted Electives to be completed under this category. See the History/Social Sciences and Humanities and Fine Arts sections above.)

Restricted electives required by specific majors as part of the University College Core Curriculum:

Spanish majors (teaching and non-teaching) must complete either SPAN 110 and SPAN 120 or SPAN 211 and SPAN 212.

Computer Literacy: In keeping with the increasing reliance upon computer technology in all fields, Fayetteville State University is committed to ensuring that students gain computer usage skills as appropriate to their respective major fields. Students will gain the competencies of basic computer word processing skills in University College core courses, as appropriate. All departments will be responsible for delineating the competencies in computer usage needed in their degree program(s) and for stating the means by which students gain these needed skills.