Core Curriculum Photo

The Lourdes Core

The Lourdes Core information provided is from the Lourdes University 2022-23 Academic Catalog. Lourdes students should consult the academic catalog for the year they started their program. Current and past Academic Catalogs can be viewed at: https://www.lourdes.edu/academics/academic-calendar-schedules/

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The Lourdes Core, being central to the Lourdes University experience, provides knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for liberal learning and success in a chosen major. It includes Lourdes Connections courses, instruction for competencies in college-level writing and mathematics as well as systematic approaches to ethical reasoning. The Core also offers experiences to foster a commitment to service and an appreciation of cultural differences. The Core also guides and challenges students to make intellectual discoveries, to search for truth, to develop sound religious and moral perspectives, to become personally and socially responsible adults, to have a sense of commitment to community, and to become lifelong learners.

Through the Core, students acquire proficiency in skills and competencies essential for all college-educated adults. They develop the ability to express ideas clearly and cogently; the ability to think logically and critically; an awareness of the roles of the arts in human culture; the ability to make ethical decisions; an understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion; the ability to identify and address structural inequality to promote social equity; foundational knowledge of history and its significance; an understanding of scientific principles, technology, and methods; the ability to use and interpret quantitative data; knowledge of principles and methods necessary for living a healthy life; and empathetic recognition of the religious dimension of human existence.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Definitions:

The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. Diversity is the presence of differences including but not limited to diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexual orientation, gender identification, socioeconomic status, age, physical ability, or religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. Commitment to diversity means that the full human experience of each of our students, faculty, and staff is a respected and welcome presence on campus.

Equity is ensuring that access, resources, and opportunities are provided for all, including those who are underrepresented and have been historically disadvantaged. The process is ongoing, requiring identifying and overcoming intentional and unintentional barriers arising from bias or systemic structures. Equity is an outcome that is reached by promoting justice, impartiality and fairness within the procedures, processes, and distribution of resources by organizations, institutions, systems and societies and requires an understanding of the root causes of outcome disparities within those structures.

Inclusion is a university culture that is welcoming to all and promotes and sustains a sense of belonging; it values and practices respect for the talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of living of its members. Inclusion outcomes are met when diverse individuals are able to participate fully in the processes and opportunities within the identified structure.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Lourdes Core:

A framework of diversity, equity, and inclusion is an important part of the Lourdes Core curriculum. Inclusion and reverence for diverse voices and viewpoints reflects our Franciscan values and informs the design of curriculum and the experience in the classroom. The University Learning Outcomes and Lourdes Core demonstrate values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and students will engage with these ideas in theoretical and applied frameworks throughout the Core and in their major.

Enduring Questions Courses

As students achieve third- or fourth-year status, they are assisted in integrating their liberal learning through an Enduring Questions Course. A capstone in the student’s major completes the Core through integration of liberal learning and discipline-specific content.

All students graduating from Lourdes University with a bachelor’s degree will take as their core curriculum:

LUC Series: 101, 102, 201, 202 (or as Designated by Program) = 6 s.h.

ENG 101 College Composition = 3 s.h.

English (choose from list below) = 3 s.h.

ENG 313 Theoretical Approaches to the Teaching of Writing

ENG 351 Media Writing

ENG 352 Professional Writing

ENG 355 Writing for Science and Health Professions

Math (MTH 110 or Higher) = 3 s.h.

Ethics (choose from the list below) = 3 s.h.
Ethics for Educators series/five courses:

  • EDU 100 or 101
  • EDU 230
  • EDU 216
  • EDU 317 or 319
  • EDU 329

BUS/PHL 430 Business Ethics

PHL 103 Introduction to Ethics

PHL 202 Ethics for the Health Professional

PHL 310 Bio Ethics

CSJ 324 Ethics and Criminal Justice

THS 233 Suffering, Healing & Dying

THS 265 Christian Ethics

THS 435 Peace, Justice & Forgiveness

History = 3 s.h.
Any history course

Literature = 3 s.h.
One of the following:

  • ENG 200 Introduction to Literature
  • ENG 211 Postcolonial Literature
  • ENG 212 Gender and Literature
  • ENG 213 Multiethnic U.S. Literature
  • ENG 214 Ecology and Literature
  • ENG 215 Sports in Literature
  • ENG 216 Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature

Philosophy = 3 s.h.
Any PHL course

Theology 6 s.h.

First Course: one of the following:

  • THS 125 Theological Foundations
  • THS 218 Celebrating the Sacraments
  • THS 220 Introduction to the Old Testament
  • THS 221 Introduction to the New Testament
  • THS 235 Survey of Catholic Belief
  • THS 265 Christian Ethics
  • THS 312 Jesus, the Christ
  • THS 316 Shape and Mission of the Church

Second Course:

Any other THS course (Note that if THS 101 was taken as a first course, THS 105 cannot be taken to fulfill the second course requirement.)

Fine Arts = 3 s.h.
Any Art or Music Course from the following list:

  • ART 101 Drawing
  • ART 102 2-D Design
  • ART 103 3-D Design
  • ART 113 Calligraphy
  • ART 117 Art for the Teachers of Young Children
  • ART 200 Fibers
  • ART 206 Digital Arts I
  • ART 214 Ceramics
  • ART 216 Digital Photography
  • ART 221 Oil Painting
  • ART 223 Watercolor painting
  • ART 233 Printmaking
  • ART 241 Ancient and Medieval Art History
  • ART 260 Workshops in Art
  • ART 341 Renaissance and Baroque Art History
  • ART 345 Non-Western Art History
  • ART 350 Art of Africa
  • ART 441 19th and 20th Century Art History
  • ART 442 American Art History
  • ART 447 History of Women Artists
  • ART 450 World Architecture
  • MUS 112 Music Appreciation
  • MUS 113 Integrating Music into the Early Childhood Classroom
  • MUS 201 Music in Culture
  • MUS 202 Music in Film
  • MUS 213 Music Theory and Composition I

Any Applied Music course:

  • MUS 104-404 Violin
  • MUS 105-405 Piano
  • MUS 106-406 Guitar
  • MUS 108-408 Voice
  • MUS 307/407 Organ
  • MUS 120 Instrumental Ensembles
  • MUS 299 Special Topics
  • MUS 312 Advanced Music Appreciation
  • MUS 313 Music Theory and Composition II
  • MUS 314 Music History I
  • MUS 334 Music in Therapy
  • MUS 414 Music History II
  • THR 101 Introduction to Theatre

Natural Science = 3 s.h.
Any natural science course from the following list:

  • BIO 204 Basic Human Anatomy & Physiology
  • BIO 207 Introduction to Public Health
  • BIO 212 Nutrition
  • BIO 215 Basic Ecology
  • BIO 216 Seasonal Field Ecology
  • BIO 319 Consumer Health
  • CHM 130 Introductory General Chemistry (2)
  • CHL 130 Introductory General Chemistry Laboratory (1)
  • CHM 140 General, Organic and Biological Chemistry (3)
  • CHL 140 General, Organic and Biological Chemistry Laboratory (1)
  • CHM 163 Societal Issues and Chemistry
  • CHM 165 The Science of Art
  • CHM 167 CSI Introduction to Forensic Chemistry
  • CHM 181 General College Chemistry I (3)
  • CHL 181 General College Chemistry I Lab (1)
  • CHM 182 General College Chemistry II (3)
  • CHL 182 General College Chemistry II Lab (1)
  • PHS 111 Introduction to Astronomy
  • PHS 112 Introduction to Earth Sciences
  • PHS 113 Principles of Physical Sciences
  • PHS 114 Introduction to Geology
  • PHS/PLA 201 College Physics I (5)
  • SCI 150 Lake Erie: Environmental Issues
  • SCI 170 Survey of Science (would fulfill general education for education majors only)

Social Science = 3 s.h.
Any social science course from the following list:

  • PSY 110 General Psychology
  • PSY 210 Developmental Psychology: Lifespan
  • BUS 200 Introduction to Economics
  • BUS 251 Economics and Social Issues
  • BUS 254 Macroeconomics
  • BUS 255 Microeconomics
  • EDU 250 Educational Psychology and Human Development
  • PLS 122 American National Government
  • PLS 201 Modern Political Thought
  • PLS 310 The Constitution and Supreme Court
  • PLS 330 International Relations
  • PLS 340 Politics and the Media
  • CSJ 101 Introduction to Sociology
  • CSJ 202 Social Problems
  • CSJ 301 Urban Life and Development
  • CSJ 304 Multicultural Diversity
  • CSJ 412 Human Sexuality
  • CSJ 420 Poverty and Justice Issues
  • CSJ 441 Violence in Intimate Relationships
  • SWK 111 Introduction to Social Work
  • SWK 209 Multicultural Perspectives
  • SWK 210 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
  • SWK 223 Substance Abuse Perspectives and Services
  • SWK 317 Families
  • SWK 318 Behavioral Health Perspectives and Services
  • SWK 413 Practice Oriented Research

Enduring Questions Seminar* = 2-3 s.h.

Capstone in the Major = 1-3 s.h.

Service-Learning totaling 20 clock hours**

*Enduring Questions Seminar: This provides a capstone experience for one’s general education studies at Lourdes University. Built around a selected enduring human question (e.g., What is love? What is justice and what does it require of us? Does the economy exist to serve human beings or do human beings exist to serve the economy?) the course draws upon as many disciplines as possible. The experience encourages students to think in interdisciplinary terms, finding the richness that comes from framing important questions in a variety of ways.

**Service Learning is achieved by participating in an approved service-learning activity that may or may not be associated with a course. The Lourdes University Office of Service Learning approves all service-learning activities. The student must participate in 20 hours of approved service learning as part of a baccalaureate degree requirement. If a student wishes to have an experience count as service-learning approval must be received from the Office of Service Learning prior to participating in the activity. (Note: Individual programs may have an additional Service-Learning requirement.) More information about the Service-Learning program at Lourdes can be found on page 56 of the 2022-23 Academic Catalog.

***Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The representation of the full range and depth of human experience and diverse voices and viewpoints are a cornerstone of the Lourdes curriculum. All students will engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at multiple points in the Core curriculum. Courses that include DEI as a significant part of the course design are approved by the University and designated as such.

Currently approved courses include the following:

BUS 320 International Business; CSJ 304 Multicultural Diversity; EDU 216 Multicultural & Social Issues in Education; ENG 200 Introduction to Literature; ENG 211 Postcolonial Literature; ENG 212 Gender and Literature; ENG 213 Multi-ethnic U.S. Literature; ENG 214 Ecology and Literature; ENG 216 Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature; ENG 313 Theoretical Approaches to the Teaching of Writing; ENG 315 Studies in Non-Western Literature; ENG 351 Media Writing; ENG 352 Professional Writing; ENG 355 Writing for Science and Health Professions; ENQ 305 Disability and Humanity; GEO 250 World Cultural Geography; GEO 260 World Regional Geography; MUS 201 Music in Culture; NUR 265 Integrated Clinical related to Community Focused Nursing; NUR 490/491 Nursing Capstone, NUR 475 Concepts in Population Focused Nursing/NUR 476 Applied Concepts in Population Focused Nursing; SWK 209 Multicultural Perspectives; THS 105 World Religions; THS 244 Great Religions of the East; and THS 246 Great Religions of the West.

Students in the College of Arts & Sciences seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree will take credits in addition to those listed above for the University as indicated below:

B.A. in Art, Art History, Biology, History, and Theological Studies:

Fine Arts = 3 s.h.
A second Fine Arts course must be from a department different from the first course taken. For example: if the first course was in Art, then the second course must be from Music or Theatre; if the first course was in Music, then the second course must be from Art or Theatre; if the first course was in Theatre, then the second course must be in Art or Music.

Any course listed above under Fine Arts qualifies.

History = 3 s.h.
Any history course.

Mathematics = 3 s.h.
MTH 110 or higher.

Science = 3 s.h.
A second course listed above in the natural or social sciences.

Total: 12 credits

B.A. in English or Digital and Media Studies:

Fine Arts = 3 s.h.
A second Fine Arts course must be from a department different from the first course taken. For example: if the first course was in Art, then the second course must be from Music or Theatre; if the first course was in Music, then the second course must be from Art or Theatre; if the first course was in Theatre, then the second course must be in Art or Music.

Any course listed above under Fine Arts qualifies.

History = 3 s.h.
Any history course.

Total: 6 credits

B.A. in Individualized Studies:
No additional Core courses are required.