CORE – General Education Requirements

CORE Program requirements went into effect in May of 1990. CORE is the shortened name for the CORE Liberal Arts and Sciences Studies Program at the University of Maryland, College Park. CORE is the set of general education requirements that all undergraduates must complete in addition to their major, department, and college requirements in order to earn their bachelor's degrees. CORE courses will constitute approximately 43-46 credits toward your degree. For most students, many CORE courses may also fulfill other major, departmental, or college requirements.  The CORE program consists of four elements:

 

1.      Fundamental Studies

2.      Distributive Studies

3.      Human Cultural Diversity

4.      Advanced Studies

 

·        Courses used to fulfill CORE requirements must be taken with the regular (REG) grading method.

·        Courses can only be selected from the approved CORE course list published in the Schedule of Classes.

·        A grade of “D-” or better must be earned in courses used to satisfy CORE requirements.

·        A grade of “C” or better must be earned in CORE courses taken at another institution.  “D” grades are transferable from public institutions in the Maryland State System except when the student’s academic program requires a minimum grade of “C.”

·        Students who entered the University of Maryland system prior to May 1990 have a previous set of requirements for General Education, called the University Studies Program (USP).

o       For additional information on USP requirements, please contact the Records and Registrations Office.

 

Elements of CORE Requirements:

1.  Fundamental Studies: Fundamental Studies courses help you strengthen the mathematical and writing skills you will need to communicate effectively in your university courses and in the modern world. Building your career and future without the powerful tools of mathematics and writing can be as tough as driving nails with your bare hands.

·        Fundamental Studies English (FE): ENGL101

o       The FE requirement must be attempted by the time the student has reached the 30-credit level and must be successfully completed by the time the student has reached the 60-credit level

o       Exemptions to the FE requirement:

a.       SAT verbal score of 670 or above (no credit earned)

b.      AP English Language & Composition test score of 4 or 5 (credit earned)

c.       Transfer equivalent to FE (credit earned)

·        Fundamental Studies Math (FM): MATH110 or higher

o       The FM requirement must be attempted by the time the student has reached the 30-credit level and must be successfully completed by the time the student has reached the 60-credit level

o       Exemptions to the FM requirement:

a.       SAT math score of 600 or above (no credit earned)

b.      AP score of 4 or above in Calculus AB or BC (credit earned)

c.       AP score of 4 or above in Statistics (credit earned)

d.      Transfer equivalent to FM (credit earned)

·        Professional Writing (Junior English)

o       The Professional Writing requirement may be taken only when the student has reached the 60-credit level or higher

o       Course numbers begin with ENGL39X (refer to the Schedule of Classes for current course options)

o       Students who earned a grade of A in ENGL101, not including ENGL101A or ENGL101X, are exempt from the Professional Writing requirement

 

2.  Distributive Studies: Courses intended to lay the foundation of a sound liberal arts education. Distributive Studies courses cover 3 broad areas, including Humanities and the Arts, Sciences and Mathematics, and Social Sciences and History. 

·        There are eight Distributive Studies requirements which must be fulfilled by courses selected from the approved list of CORE courses.

·        These courses are primarily offered at the lower-level (100-200). 

·        Students are strongly urged to complete their Distributive Studies courses before they reach 60 credits.  Students are eligible to register for only one Distributive Studies course after reaching 60 credits. 

·        Distributive Studies requirements by area:

o       Humanities and the Arts (3 requirements)

1.      Literature (HL) – 1 course

2.      History or Theory of the Arts (HA) – 1 course

3.      HL, HA, HO (Humanities-Other), or IE (Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues) – 1 course

o       Sciences and Mathematics (3 requirements)

4.      Physical or Life Science with Lab (PL/LL) – 1 course

5.      Physical or Life Science Non-Lab (PS/LS) or Physical or Life Science with Lab (PL/LL) – 1 course

6.      Mathematics and Formal Reasoning (MS) or Physical or Life Science Non-Lab (PS/LS) or Physical or Life Science with Lab (PL/LL) – 1 course

a.       Courses used for requirements 4-6 must be selected from at least 2 different categories (e.g., all 3 courses cannot be Physical Sciences, regardless of Lab or Non-Lab designation)

b.      Only 1 MS course can be used towards CORE Distributive Studies

c.       Most BSOS majors have a math requirement beyond Fundamental Math (FM) that fulfills the MS requirement (e.g., MATH111, STAT100, MATH220, MATH140)

o       Social Sciences and History (3 requirements)

7.      Social or Political History (SH) – 1 course

8.      Social and Behavioral Sciences (SB) – 2 courses

 

3.  Human Cultural Diversity: The diversity requirement is intended to broaden your perspective beyond one narrow field of study by exposing you to gender, ethnic, racial and cultural differences. 

·        Diversity courses may also fulfill a Distributive Studies (see approved list of CORE courses) or Advanced Studies requirement.

4.  Advanced Studies: Taking courses at the 300-400 level outside your major encourages you to build upon the strengths and interests you discovered in your Distributive Studies courses. You may also use Advanced Studies to explore an area of academic interest you have not yet pursued.

·        Students must complete 2 advanced, upper-level (300-400) courses after earning 60 credits

·        Courses that can NOT be applied towards this requirement:

o       Courses within the student’s major department

o       Experiential learning courses, internships, or practicums

o       Courses taken as a pass/fail grading method

o       Professional Writing courses

o       Distributive Studies courses

o       Courses used to satisfy supporting sequences for majors

·        CORE-approved capstone courses (within the major taken after 86 credits) or a senior or honors thesis (within the major) may be substituted for 1 of the 2 required Advanced Studies courses.

·        Transfer coursework may be eligible to count toward the Advanced Studies requirement only if taken at a four-year institution.

·        Students completing double majors or double degrees are exempt from the Advanced Studies requirement in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.