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.

60 Semester Hours Required

Area A1 - Communication

Learning Goals:

  • Students will communicate effectively in writing by using appropriate conventions of correctness, style, tone, and organization and by adapting writing to audience and context.

  • Students will find, evaluate, and make inferences from a variety of sources and incorporate this information accurately, correctly, and effectively into their written work.

In Area A1, students must take the six hour composition sequence below:

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

Area A2 - Quantitative

Learning Goal:        

  • Students will demonstrate mathematical proficiency by analyzing a variety of functions and solving various equations.

In Area A2, 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.

Area B - Perspectives (4 hours)

Learning Goal:

  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of global and regional perspectives in areas such as the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences.

Area B is satisfied by completing two different courses from the seven different areas in Perspectives.

1. Perspectives on Ethics/Values (2100s)
2. Perspectives on Tradition and Change (2200s)
3. Perspectives on Human Expression (2300s)
4. Perspectives on the Environment/Physical World (2400s)
5. Perspectives on Race/Gender (2500s)
6. Perspectives on Cross-Cultural Understanding/Expression (2600s)
7. Perspectives on the World of Work (2700s)

Area C - Humanities/Fine Arts (6 hours)

Learning Goal:

  • Students will analyze, evaluate, and interpret diverse forms of human communication.

Area C 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.

Area D - Natural Science, Math, and Technology

Learning Goal:

  • Students will demonstrate understanding of the physical universe and the nature of science, and they will use scientific methods and/or mathematical reasoning and concepts to solve problems.

D. 1. - 11 hours

Any two lab sciences courses from the following (8 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

Any one course from the following:

  • 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

D. 2. a. - 11 hours (Required of majors 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 pre-engineering program).

Two lab science courses from the following:

  • BIOL 1107K
  • BIOL 1108K
  • CHEM 1211/1211L
  • CHEM 1212/1212L
  • PHYS 1111K
  • PHYS 1112K
  • PHYS 2211K
  • PHYS 2212K

Three hours of mathematics above the level taken in Area A. 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 Area F of the major.

D. 2. b. 11 hours (Required of nursing majors)

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

Area E - Social Sciences (12 hours)

Learning Goal:

  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of diversity in individual and social behavior, the structure and processes of the United States government, and the importance of historical changes over time.

Required: POLS 1101 or POLS 1101H.

One required American history course from the following:

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

Any two courses from the following:

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

Area F - Courses appropriate to the major (18 hours)

* Requirements vary according to the major program. See the requirements for Area F in the departmental section of your major in the university catalog.