Liberal Arts Core Requirements

Graphic showing liberal arts coreTo fulfill Immaculata's objective as a Catholic university with its program of study based on the liberal arts and its core values, all degree-seeking students at Immaculata must complete the required core curriculum for their degree programs.

As stated in its philosophy and outcomes, undergraduate academic programs at Immaculata are rooted in the liberal arts tradition. The goals for the liberal arts core requirements at Immaculata reflect the essential academic outcomes developed by the National Leadership Council for Liberal Education and America's Promise [LEAP], a study initiated by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. They also respond to the mission and vision of Immaculata University.

Core Curriculum

The Immaculata University Core Curriculum (the Core) provides an integrated program of courses designed to assist students in their quest to understand themselves, their faith, and their relationships with others and the world around them.

The Core consists of three overarching categories: Inquiry, Community, and Vision. Under each category are subcategories encompassing an interdisciplinary approach to learning and diverse course offerings. The Core design ensures students can achieve the stated learning outcomes while allowing a measure of flexibility in course selection.

Core Curriculum Learning Outcomes

The seven core curriculum student learning outcomes are listed below:

  • Pursue truth through critical, independent, and creative thinking
  • Obtain, evaluate, and utilize the data which enables individuals to pursue knowledge and understanding
  • Communicate proficiently in written, oral, digital, and visual formats
  • Collaborate effectively in groups in an inclusive and respectful manner.
  • Understand the nature and requirements of moral judgment and ethical reasoning
  • Recognize how both the previous development of civilizations and contemporary forces have created a complex, diverse, and interdependent world in which they must live as engaged citizens
  • Recognize the transcendent dimensions of the human person as foundational to a moral vision of society

Baccalaureate Degrees

Students seeking attainment of a baccalaureate degree must meet the requirements below of the baccalaureate core curriculum in addition to any requirements established for their major/minor areas of study.

Baccalaureate Core by Category

CORE Category CORE Sub-Category

# of credits

Category Credit Totals

First Year Seminar*

3

3

Visions: Understanding Ourselves and Our Relationship with God Pursuit of Faith

6

12

Pursuit of Wisdom

6

Inquiry: Understanding Our Relationship with the World Around Us Composition

6

12

Natural & Physical World

3

Quantitative Reasoning

3

Community:  Understanding Our Relationship with Others Creativity

3

12

Social Consciousness

3

Historical Consciousness

3

Global Society

3

TOTAL

39

*First Year Seminar Requirement: Full time students entering Immaculata University as first-time freshman must complete a First Year Seminar course (FYS 100, 101, or 110, as advised). Part-time adult  or transfer students must take IMAC 101 to fulfill first year seminar requirement.

Additional Baccalaureate Graduation Requirements

  • Ethics Requirement: *All baccalaureate students must complete an ethics requirement. Courses approved to meet the ethics requirement include the following: BUS 338, CIS 335, COM 308, EDU 328, EDU 348, HCM 340, HCM 421, MTR 301, PHI 220, PHI 312, PHI 384, THE 218, THE 238, and THE 408.
  • Writing Intensive Requirement: All baccalaureate students must complete one, three-credit Writing Intensive course in the major before beginning the senior year. WI credits are part of the major course of study and are not in addition to the total core credits represented above.

Associate Degrees

Students seeking attainment of an associate degree meet the requirements outlined below for the associate degree core program in addition to any requirements of their major area of study.

Associate Core by Category

CORE Category CORE Sub-Category

# of credits

Category Totals

Inquiry Composition

6

9

Natural & Physical World

3

Quantitative Reasoning
Community Creativity

9

9

Historical Consciousness
Social Consciousness
Global Society
Visions Pursuit of Faith

6

9

Pursuit of Wisdom

3

TOTAL

27

Core - Approved Courses Per Sub-Category

CORE Category CORE Sub-Category Approved Courses*
First Year Seminar (see notes above) FYS 100, 101, or 110
Visions: Understanding Ourselves and Our Relationship with God Pursuit of Faith 100 level (taken 1st)

    • THE 109, 110

200 or above (taken 2nd)

    • Moral Theology: THE 217, 218, 238, 408
    • Scripture:  THE 210, 311
    • Spirituality: THE 206, 328
    • Systematic Theology: THE 209, 211, 212, 214, 221, 229, 230, 335
    • Theology and Culture: THE 200, 314

Pursuit of Wisdom Must take one:

    • PHI 100, 101, 103, 209, 312, 384 

2nd course may be any Philosophy course

Inquiry: Understanding Our Relationship with the World Around Us Composition

    • ENG 106/107 or ENG 117/301 (Honors)
    • ENG 241/242

Natural & Physical World

    • BIOL 103, 104, 111, 112, 113, 207, 208, 233, 234, 300
    • CHE 100, 101, 103, 105, 300
    • SCI 106, 122

Quantitative Reasoning

    • INFO 151
    • MATH 101, 102, 106, 109, 110, 111, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 216, 217, 219
    • PSY 208
    • ORBH 325

 

Community:  Understanding Our Relationship with Others Creativity

    • ART 102, 105, 202, 208, 209, 211, 215, 219, 220, 303, 306, 307
    • CIS 105
    • COM 207, 208, 209, 211, 234
    • ENG 122, 272, 349, 365, 368
    • FMD 126
    • IDM 110
    • MUSC 101, 141, Ensembles (180, 181, 184, 185, 188, 190, 192, 193, 194), 300
    • POL 216

 

Social Consciousness

    • COM228, 355 
    • ECO 202, 203
    • EXS 202
    • ORBH 307
    • POL 305, 312
    • PSY 101, 307, 324
    • SOC 202, 245, 247, 306

Historical Consciousness

    • FMD 324
    • HIST 115, 116, 117, 201, 218, 219, 224, 228, 232, 234, 235, 242, 246, 247, 300, 304, 320
    • POL 201, 232, 246, 247

Global Society

    • Traditional Language courses
    • Study Abroad courses
    • BUS 345
    • CCS 201, 341
    • COM 230, 231, 317
    • ENG 129
    • GEO 101
    • HIST 355
    • MUSC 102
    • POL 202, 206, 300
    • PSY 206
    • SOC 345
    • THE 314

*This list may be augmented when new core courses are approved.
Italicized courses meet core requirements for part-time, degree completion programs.