Classes in the Core Curriculum are designed to present a unified learning experience for all undergraduates, regardless of major, that teaches students to read, write, and think critically while acquiring a basic understanding of human society. Students will synthesize information to make connections across disparate fields of knowledge and disciplines. The Valdosta State University Core Curriculum complies with all University System of Georgia learning requirements for the Core IMPACTS curriculum.

Core IMPACTS Mnemonic

 Area Shorthand
Institutional Priority Institution
Mathematics & Quantitative Skills Mathematics
Political Science and U.S. History Citizenship
Arts, Humanities & Ethics Humanities
Communicating in Writing Writing
Technology, Mathematics, & Sciences STEM
Social Sciences Social Sciences

60 Semester Hours Required

Institutional Priority (4-5 semester hours)

For non-STEM/non-nursing majors - 5 hours. For STEM/nursing majors – 4 hours

Orienting Question: How does my institution help me to navigate the world?

Learning Outcome: Students will demonstrate the ability to think critically and solve problems related to academic priorities at their institution.

Career-Ready Competencies: Critical Thinking, Teamwork, Time Management

This area is satisfied by completing Academic Perspectives on Inquiry courses (INQR) offered in the following focus areas.

  1. Academic Perspectives on Inquiry: Business and Education
  2. Academic Perspectives on Inquiry: Exploratory
  3. Academic Perspectives on Inquiry: Humanities, Arts and Design, and Communication Studies
  4. Academic Perspectives on Inquiry: Social and Behavioral Services
  5. Academic Perspectives on Inquiry: STEM and Health Professions
  • INQR 1001 or INQR 1001H
  • INQR 2001
  • INQR 2002
  • INQR 2003

Mathematics and Quantitative Skills (3 semester hours)

Orienting Question: How do I measure the world?

Learning Outcome: Students will apply mathematical and computational knowledge to interpret, evaluate, and communicate quantitative information using verbal, numerical, graphical, or symbolic forms.

Career-Ready Competencies: Information Literacy, Inquiry and Analysis, Problem-Solving

In this area, students will select one 3 hour math course from the following:

  • MATH 1001
  • MATH 1101
  • MATH 1111
  • MATH 1112
  • MATH 1113/1113H
  • MATH 1401
  • MATH 2261/2261H
  • MATH 2262

MATH 1113/1113H (or higher) is required of all students majoring in (or intending to transfer within the University System of Georgia with a major in) architecture, astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, technology, geology, geography (B.S.), forestry, pharmacy, mathematics, physical therapy, physics, or secondary education (biology, chemistry, mathematics, or physics). Math 2261 (or higher) is required of all students intending to transfer within the University System with a major in engineering.

Political Science and History (Citizenship) (6 semester hours)

Orienting Question: How do I prepare for my responsibilities as an engaged citizen?

Learning Outcome: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the history of the United States, the history of Georgia, and the provisions and principles of the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Georgia.

Career-Ready Competencies: Critical Thinking, Intercultural Competence, Persuasion

Required: POLS 1101 or POLS 1101H

One required American history course from the following:

  • HIST 2111 or 2111H
  • HIST 2112 or 2112H

Arts, Humanities, and Ethics (6 semester hours)

Orienting Question: How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical works?

Learning Outcome: Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.

Career-Ready Competencies: Ethical Reasoning, Information Literacy, Intercultural Competence

This area is satisfied by completing one world literature course from the following:

  • ENGL 2111/2111H
  • ENGL 2112/2112H
  • ENGL 2113/2113H

One course from the following or any of the world literature courses not taken in the required column:

  • ARAB, FREN, GRMN, JAPN, LATN, RUSS, or SPAN 1001*
  • ARAB, FREN, GRMN, JAPN, LATN, RUSS, or SPAN 1002
  • ARAB, FREN, GRMN, JAPN, LATN, RUSS, or SPAN 2001
  • ARAB, FREN, GRMN, JAPN, LATN, RUSS, or SPAN 2002
  • ART 1100/1100H
  • COMM 1100
  • COMM 1110
  • DANC 1500
  • MDIA 2000
  • MUSC 1100
  • MUSC 1120
  • MUSC 1130
  • PHIL 2010/2010H
  • PHIL 2020/2020H
  • REL 2020
  • THEA 1100
  • WGST 2010

*Students who elect to continue the study of their high school foreign language in order to meet requirements for the major may not take the 1001 course in that same language for credit. They should begin their foreign language requirement with 1002.

Communicating in Writing (6 semester hours)

Orienting Question: How do I write effectively in different contexts?

Learning Outcomes: Students will communicate effectively in writing, demonstrating clear organization and structure, using appropriate grammar and writing conventions.
Students will appropriately acknowledge the use of materials from original sources.

Career-Ready Competencies: Critical Thinking, Information Literacy, Persuasion

In this area, students must take the six hour composition sequence below:

  • ENGL 1101/1101H
  • ENGL 1102/1102H

Technology, Mathematics, and Sciences (10-11 semester hours)

Orienting Question: How do I ask scientific questions or use data, mathematics, or technology to understand the universe?

Learning Outcome: Students will use the scientific method and laboratory procedures or mathematical and computational methods to analyze data, solve problems, and explain natural phenomena.

Career-Ready Competencies: Inquiry and Analysis, Problem-Solving, Teamwork

In this area, students (depending on their majors) satisfy this requirement by completing the following:

For non-science/non-nursing majors - 10 hours

Any one lab science course from the following (4 hours):

  • ASTR 1010K
  • ASTR 1020K
  • BIOL 1010/1020L
  • BIOL 1030/1040L
  • BIOL 1951H
  • BIOL 1952H
  • CHEM 1010
  • CHEM 1151K
  • CHEM 1152K
  • CHEM 1211/1211L
  • CHEM 1212/1212L
  • GEOG 1112K
  • GEOG 1113K
  • GEOL 1121K
  • GEOL 1122K
  • PHYS 1111K
  • PHYS 1112K
  • PHYS 2211K
  • PHYS 2212K

Two courses from the following (6 hours):

  • ASTR 1000
  • BIOL 1050
  • BIOL 1080
  • DATA 1501
  • ENGR 1010
  • GEOG 1105
  • GEOG 1110
  • GEOG 1125
  • GEOL 1110
  • MATH 1112
  • MATH 1261
  • MATH 1401
  • MATH 2261
  • MATH 2262
  • PHSC 1100/1100H

For students majoring in astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental geosciences, mathematics, physics, secondary biology education, secondary chemistry education, secondary mathematics education, secondary physics education, and all students in the engineering programs)—11 hours

Two lab science courses from the following (8 hours):

  • BIOL 1107K
  • BIOL 1108K
  • CHEM 1211/1211L
  • CHEM 1212/1212L
  • PHYS 2211K
  • PHYS 2212K

Three hours of mathematics above the level taken in the Mathematics and Quantitative Skills area. For biology majors:

  • MATH 1401
  • MATH 2261
  • MATH 2262

For all other science or mathematics majors:

  • MATH 2261
  • MATH 2262

* The additional hour of calculus (MATH 2261 or 2262) counts in the Field of Study Courses area of the major.

For students majoring in nursing—11 hours

Two semester laboratory sequences:

  • BIOL 1010-1020L and BIOL 1030-1040L
  • CHEM 1151K and CHEM 1152K
  • CHEM 1211-1211L and CHEM 1212-1212L
  • PHYS 1111K and PHYS 1112K
  • PHYS 2211K and PHYS 2212K

One course from the following:

  • ASTR 1000
  • ASTR 1010K
  • ASTR 1020K
  • BIOL 1010/1020L
  • BIOL 1030/1040L
  • BIOL 1050
  • BIOL 1080
  • CHEM 1010
  • CHEM 1211/1211L
  • CHEM 1212/1212L
  • ENGR 1010
  • GEOG 1105
  • GEOG 1110
  • GEOG 1112K
  • GEOG 1113K
  • GEOG 1125
  • GEOL 1110
  • GEOL 1121K
  • GEOL 1122K
  • MATH 1112
  • MATH 1401
  • MATH 2261
  • MATH 2262
  • PHSC 1100/1100H
  • PHYS 1111K
  • PHYS 1112K
  • PHYS 2211K
  • PHYS 2212K

Social Sciences (6 semester hours)

Orienting Question: How do I understand human experiences and connections?

Learning Outcome: Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social, or geographic relationships develop, persist, or change.

Career-Ready Competencies: Intercultural Competence, Perspective-Taking, Persuasion

Students complete this area by successfully completing any two courses from the following:

  • AFAM 2020/WGST 2020
  • ANTH 1102 or 1102H
  • ECON 1500 or 1500H
  • ECON 2105
  • GEOG 1100
  • GEOG 1101
  • GEOG 1102
  • GEOG 1103
  • HIST 1011 or 1011H
  • HIST 1012 or 1012H
  • HIST 1013 or 1013H
  • MKTG 1500
  • POLS 2101
  • POLS 2401 or 2401H
  • POLS 2501
  • PSYC 1101 or 1101H
  • SOCI 1101 or 1101H
  • SOCI 1160

Field of Study Courses- Courses appropriate to the major (18 semester hours)

Requirements vary according to the major program. See the field of study requirements in the departmental section of your major in the university catalog.