Navigating the University’s Core Curriculum

Wondering why you’ve been signed up for some of your classes?

This presentation will provide you with an easy reference for understanding what the Core Curriculum is and how it will

impact your education here at the University.

University Core CurriculumThe University’s Core Curriculum is the foundational education that students must

fulfill as part of any undergraduate degree program at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Why do I need to take these classes?

What does (fill in the blank) have to do with what I’m going to study?

Whatever path you choose, you’ll need to be well-rounded:

• Writers and artists start businesses to sell their work

• Scientists write grants to fund their research

• Engineers actually need to talk to non-engineers

The Goals of theCore Curriculum

• To provide students with a valuable education which will enrich any major

• To broaden students’ horizons by exposing them to a variety of subjects and disciplines

What’s thatmean for me?

All undergraduate students will complete the eight areas of the University’s Core Curriculum.

As a freshman, your schedule will consist primarily of core courses.

• You should complete most of your Core Curriculum courses by the end of your sophomore year.

Eight Areas of the Core Curriculum

Writing

Math

Social Science

Fine Arts

Natural Science

Diversity

Core Humanities

Capstone

The specific Core Curriculum courses you take may be influenced by your major. For example, journalism majors have different core math requirements than engineering majors. Always consult your major’s requirements when selecting courses.

Academic Advising is Essential

Academic advisors are essential to your success. While planning your academic journey will be straightforward in many ways, there is no substitute for professional academic advice.

By consulting your advisor, you will:

• Make sure you don’t take unnecessary classes

• Avoid taking classes your major doesn’t require

• Ensure you are on track to graduate on time

• Potentially save thousands of dollars

For more information on the University’s Core Curriculum, please visit the Core Curriculum website or the University General Course Catalog.

Descriptions of all University courses can be found here.

ACT/SAT Scores

Your test scores determine your initial placement in your core writing and math classes.

• Alternative placement methods are available for writing and math.

See the following pages to learn how this affects you.

Core WritingCore Writing equips students to communicate effectively in a range of ways.

These skills will be essential for every student’s education.

Core Writing

All students must complete ENG 102 - Composition II

Your initial placement is based on your highest ACT/SAT English score. Depending upon your test scores, you may be required to take additional English classes

before taking ENG 102.

Initial Placement Qualifying Test Score

English 98* ACT - 17 or lowerSAT - 430 or lower

English 100 I ACT - 18-20 SAT - 440-500

English 100 I(Eng 105 + Eng 106)

ACT - 18-20 SAT - 440-500

English 101 ACT – 21-29SAT – 510-670

English 102 ACT – 30 or higherSAT – 680 or higher

Getting Started in EnglishE

ng

lish 1

02

English 101English 98ACT 17 or belowSAT 430 or below

English 101English 100 IACT 18-20

SAT 440-500

English 100 I ANDEnglish 105 +106

(in the same semester)

ACT 18-20 SAT 440-500

English 101ACT 21-29

SAT 510-670

Act 30+

SAT 680+

Core MathCore Math provides students with a basic understanding

of math skills and concepts.

Familiarity with math is essential for success in other core areas and is a foundational skill for most careers.

Core MathYou will be placed in your first math course based upon your ACT

or SAT scores. The chart below shows the minimum scores necessary for entry into each math class.

ACT 17

SAT 470

• *Math 096

ACT 22

SAT 500

• Math 120

• *Math 126 R

ACT 27

SAT 610

• Math 127 R

• Math 128

• Math 131

• Math 176

• APST 270

• STAT 152

ACT 28

SAT 630

• Math 181

Remember: By choosing core courses that also satisfy major requirements, you may be able to save money and avoid unnecessary classes.

*Does not satisfy core

MATH 096

Interm Algebra

MATH 120Fund Of College Math

MATH 126 R Pre-Calculus I

MATH 127 R Pre-Calculus II

MATH 181Calculus I

MATH 131Quant Reasoning

MATH 176Calculus for Business

STAT 152Intro to Statistics

APST 270Intro to Stats Methods

MATH 128Pre-Calculus & Trig

Math Prerequisites

A Note on Core Writing and Core Math

Because Core Writing and Core Math are so important for the rest of your education at the University, you will be required to take English and Math courses until you complete the core requirement.

• For example: if you placed (based on your ACT/SAT scores) into ENG 101, you must take ENG 101 your first semester and then ENG 102 the next semester. ENG 102 completes the core writing requirement.

If you have any questions at all, contact your college advisement officer, the Advising Center, or the Office of Admissions and Records.

Core Social ScienceCore Social Science provides students with an understanding of human

behavior from a scientific perspective. This enables students to appreciate the

relevance of social science to their own lives and to contemporary social issues.

Core Social SciencesYou must complete at least one course from the list below. Consult your major’s

requirements when choosing your social science course.

ANTH 101 - Intro to Cultural Anthropology ANTH 201 – World People & Cultures ANTH 202 - Archeology ECON 100 – Intro to Economics ECON 102 – Microeconomics ECON 103 – Macroeconomics GEOG 106 – Intro to Cultural Geography GEOG 200 - World Regional Geography HON 220 – Intro to Economic Behavior

Theory & Policy

PSC 101 - American Politics: Process & PSC 211 - Comparative Gov & Politics PSC 231 - World Politics PSY 101 - General Psychology RECO 100 - Society & the Economic Value

of Nature RECO 202 - Natural Resources Environ &

the Economy SOC 101 - Principles of Sociology WMST 101 - Intro to Women’s Studies

Remember: By choosing core courses that also satisfy major requirements, you may be able to save money and avoid unnecessary classes.

Core Fine Arts

Core Fine Arts equip students to recognize the crucial role the arts play in shaping

our experiences in and understandings of the world.

Core Fine ArtsYou must complete at least one course from the list below:

ART 100 – Visual Foundations ART 252 R - Cinema I/The Silent Era ART 253 - Cinema II/The Sound Era ART 260 R - Survey of Art History I ART 261 - Survey of Art History II DAN 265 - History of Dance I DAN 266 - History of Dance II DAN 467 - Dance Criticisms & Aesthetics MUS 121 - Music Appreciation MUS 122 - Survey of Jazz MUS 123 - History of American Popular Song

MUS 124 - History of Amer Musical Theater MUS 341 - Music History I MUS 342 - Music History II SOTA 101 – Intro to the Arts PHIL 202 - Intro to the Philosophy of the Arts THTR 100 - Intro to the Theatre THTR 105 - Intro to Acting THTR 210 - Theatre: A Cultural Context Or 3 – 1 credit performance classes: MUSE

101, 102, 105, 112, 114, 121, 191, MUSA 151-174

Core Natural SciencesCore Natural Sciences give students a

practical understanding of the scientific method and the manner in which modern

science is done.

Core Natural SciencesYou must complete two courses from the list below, at least one must be from Group A.

NOTE: Core Math must be completed prior to enrolling in most of the Core Natural Sciences.

Group A

ATMS 121- Climate Change: The Science Basis BIOL 100 - Biology: Principles and Applications BIOL 125 How Science Works: Biological Case Studies BIOL 191 - Intro to Organismal Biology I AND BIOL 192 – Principles of Biological Investigation CHEM 100 - Molecules & Life in the Modern World CHEM 121 - General Chemistry I CHEM 122 - General Chemistry II CHEM 201 - General Chem. for Scientists /Engineers I CHEM 202 - General Chem. for Scientists /Engineers II GEOG 121 – Climate Change and its Environ. Impacts GEOL 100 - Earthquakes, Volcanoes & Natural Disasters GEOL 101/103(L) - General Geology I w/ lab PHYS 100 - Introductory Physics PHYS 151 - General Physics I w/lab PHYS 152 - General Physics II w/lab PHYS 180/L - Physics for Scientists & Engineers I PHYS 181/L - Physics for Scien & Engr. II PHYS 182/L - Physics for Scien & Engr. III

Group B

ANTH 102 R - Introduction to Physical Anthropology AST 109 - Planetary Astronomy AST 110 - Stellar Astronomy ATMS 117 - Introduction to Meteorology ENV 100 - Humans and the Environment GEOG 103 - Geography of the World’s Environment NUTR 121 - Human Nutrition PSY 103 - Intro to Psychology as a Natural Science VM 200 - Companion and Service Animal Science:

Care & Management

Remember: By choosing core courses that also satisfy major requirements, you may be able to save money and avoid unnecessary classes.

Core DiversityCore Diversity seeks to increase

understanding and appreciation of diversity and pluralism in society.

Core DiversityYou must take one core diversity course. Examples of diversity courses include:

• PHIL 210 World Religions

• HIST 212 History of East Asia II

• WMST 101 Intro to Women’s Studies

There are MANY courses at the University that satisfy this requirement.

Remember: By choosing core courses that also satisfy major requirements, you may be able to save money and avoid unnecessary classes.

Core Humanities

Core Humanities provide students with an interdisciplinary experience in the world-influencing traditions and

cultures of ancient and modern times.

Core Humanities

ENG 102 must be completed before beginning the Core Humanities sequence

You must take ALL the classes listed below:

• CH 201 Foundations of Western Culture • CH 202 The Modern World• CH 203 The American Experience and Constitutional Change

(satisfies the U.S. and Nevada Constitution requirement)

Planning Your Class Schedule

Although a full-time class schedule is defined as 12 credits, all students are strongly encouraged to enroll in at least 15 credits per semester. This is absolutely necessary if you want to graduate in four years.

• 1 credit = About 1 hour of class per week

See the following page for a sample class schedule.

7:00

8:00

9:00

10:00

11:00

12:00

1:00

2:00

3:00

4:00

5:00

6:00

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Core Soc Sci Core Soc Sci Core Soc Sci

Core Fine Arts

Core Fine Arts

Core Eng Core Eng Core Eng

Core Sci Core Sci Core Sci

Core SciLab

Core Math Core Math

This 16-credit sample schedule provides a basic outline of what your

freshman schedule will look like.

So where does that leave you?The Core Curriculum is the foundation of your college education. With careful

planning, you can satisfy all the requirements of the core and make a seamless transition into your major.

For more information, contact:

The Advising Center

Edmund J. Cain Hall, Suite 102

University of Nevada, Reno 89557-0395

Phone: 775.784.4684

Fax: 775.327.2205

http://www.unr.edu/advising-center/