Core Curriculum
The Manchester Core
A Program in the Liberal Arts
Manchester University seeks to develop in each student an appreciation for learning through an academic foundation grounded in the disciplines and in-depth study in specific majors.
This combination prepares students for graduate school, the professions, and positions of leadership in all areas of society. A broad-based, flexible General Education curriculum in the liberal arts provides the most appropriate formal preparation to:
- meet contemporary challenges,
- fulfill career goals,
- lead a purposeful, healthy and rewarding life, and
- serve society as a responsible citizen.
Core Curriculum
This innovative and interdisciplinary core curriculum is a cohesive program that informs, inspires, and transforms Manchester students into persons of ability and conviction. By securing academic foundations, requiring interdisciplinary knowledge and skills, and delivering high‐impact student experiences, the core curriculum prepares students to live, work, and thrive in a complex world.
The curricular framework embodies both the mission and the values of Manchester University. Courses will embody the mission and values through specific course content, though not every course offered in a specific category is required to include the same values or engage the same portion of the mission statement.
The new core curriculum is comprised of three main components, each made up of multiple categories. The total hours may vary from 32 to 41 credit hours.
|
Foundation (13-15 Credits) |
||
| LA-FWS | First‐Year Writing Seminar |
3 |
| LA-FCS | First‐Year Communication Seminar |
3 |
| LA-FSS | First Year Success Seminar |
1 |
| LA-FQR | Quantitative Reasoning (pick one) |
3‐4 |
| LA-FCG | Cultural and Global Understanding (pick one) |
3-4 |
|
Exploration (9-13) |
||
| LA-EAH | Arts and Humanities (pick one) | 3 |
| LA-ENS | Natural Sciences (pick one) |
3-6 |
| LA-ESS | Social Sciences (pick one) |
3=4 |
| Transformation (10-13) | ||
| LA-TFR | Faith, Reason, and Ethics (pick one) | 3 |
| LA-TBI | Big Issues ‐ 2 courses (pick one) |
6-7 |
| LA-TCE | Creative Expression (pick one) |
1‐3 |
| Total Credit Hours |
32‐41 |
Updated as of May 2024
Core Courses
Foundation Core Courses
| First Year Writing Seminar (3 Credits) | LA-FWS | |
| FYWS 111 | First Year Writing Seminar |
| First Year Communication Seminar (3 Credits) | LA-FCS |
|
| COMM 110 | Foundations of Human Communication |
| First Year Success Seminar (3 Credits) | LA-FSS | |
| INTD 101 | First Year Success Seminar |
| Quantitative Reasoning (3-4 Credits) | LA-FQR |
|
| DATA 210 | Statistical Analysis |
| MATH 115 | Elementary Probability & Statistics |
| MATH 121 | Calculus I |
| MATH 122 | Calculus II |
| MATH 125 | Mathematical Modeling |
| MATH 211 | Quantitative Skills for Business |
| PHIL 230 | Logic |
| PSYC 241 | Stats & Research Design I |
| SOC 325 | Quantitative Research Methods |
| Cultural and Global Understanding (3-4 Credits) | LA-FCG |
|
| BUS 202 | Exploring International Business |
| EDUC 230 | Educational Psychology |
| ENG 216 | Topics in Literature and Cultural Studies |
| ENG 227 | Twenty-First Century Literature |
| ENG 238 | World Literature |
| ENG 242 | African American Literature |
| ENG 246 | Comics, Graphic Novels, and Film |
| ENG 250 | Literary Passport |
| ENG 261 | Women in Literature |
| EXSC 313 | International Sports Medicine |
| GNST 125 | Intro to Gender Studies |
| GNST 201 | Introduction to Queer Studies |
| HIST 121 | World History to 1500 |
| HIST 123 | World History From 1500 |
| HIST 210 | Modern China & East Asia: 1750 to Present |
| HIST 226 | Imperialism and the Modern World |
| HIST 237 | Race & Ethnicity in US History |
| HIST 242 | South & Southeast Asia: Ancient-1500 |
| HIST 254 | Latin American History |
| HIST 256 | African American History |
| HIST 263 | Making of India & Pakistan |
| HIST 317 | British Empire & Making of the Modern World |
| HIST 353 | Women and Gender in India and China |
| IDIV 240 | Making of the Modern Mind |
| MUS 124 | Popular Music & Culture |
| MUS 230 | World Musics |
| NURS 300 | Maternal Newborn |
| NUTR 315 | International Foods and Nutrition |
| PEAC 110 | Introduction to Peace Studies |
| PEAC 250 | Peacemaking in Practice Abroad |
| PEAC 218 | Mediating Conflict |
| PEAC 320 | Global Conflict Resolution |
| PHIL 327 | Indigenous Thinking |
| POSC 235 | Development & Politics of Latin America |
| POSC 366 | Wealth & Poverty in the Global Economy |
| POSC 371 | The United Nations |
| REL 222 | Religions of East Asia |
| REL 223 | Religions of India |
| REL 244 | The Religions of Abraham |
| REL 247 | Jesus in the Middle Eastern Perspective |
| SOC 210 | Urban-Rural Dynamics |
| SOC 228 | Racial, Ethnic, & Gender Inequality |
| SOC 311 | Cultural Anthropology |
| SOC 313 | Cultural Ecology |
| SOWK 228 | Racial, Ethnic, & Gender Inequality |
| SPAN 111 | Food Cultures |
| SPAN 112 | Memory and Culture |
| SPAN 201 | Communication and Culture |
| SPAN 202 | Cultures and Controversies |
| SPAN 301 | Oral Communication |
Exploration Core Courses
| Arts and Humanities (3 Credits) | LA-EAH | |
| ART 201 | Art and Life |
| ART 246 | History of Modern & Contemporary Art |
| ART 253 | Women in the Arts |
| ENG 115 | Intro to Literature |
| HUM 211 | Exploration in the Arts |
| REL 106 | Becoming Who You Are |
| Natural Sciences (3-6 Credits) | LA-ENS |
|
| BIOL 104 | Foundations of Human Communication |
| CHEM 101 | Chemical Science |
| CHEM 136 | Forensic Science |
| ENVS 130 | Introduction to Environmental Studies |
| NASC 103 | Physical Science |
| NASC 210 | Exploration of the Natural Sciences |
| NURS 405 | Research for Evidence-Based Practice |
| Alternatively, student may take two 100 or 200-level courses, each in a different discipline, from BIOL, CHEM, ENVS, NASC, or PHYS to fulfill the Natural Sciences requirement. | |
| Social Sciences (3-4 Credits) | LA-ESS | |
| CRIM 110 | Intro to Criminal Justice |
| EDUC 111 | Exploring Educational Systems |
| HIST 113 | North American History to 1865 |
| HIST 114 | United States History Since 1865 |
| HIST 207 | Epidemic Disease in US History |
| HIST 233 | Puerto Rico and the United States |
| PSYC 110 | Introduction to Psychology |
| POSC 123 | American Politics |
| POSC 150 | International Relations |
| POSC 234 | Democracy & Dictatorship |
| SOC 102 | Human Conflict |
| SOC 110 | Civic Engagement |
| SOWK 110 | Intro to Social Work |
Transformation Core Courses
| Faith, Reason, and Ethics (3 Credits) | LA-TFR | |
| PHIL 201 | Intro to Philosophy |
| PHIL 205 | A Meaningful Life |
| PHIL 206 | The Human Person |
| PHIL 215 | Ethical Decision Making |
| PHIL 219 | Business Ethics |
| PHIL 221 | Medical and Research Ethics |
| REL 101 | Intro to the Hebrew Bible |
| REL 102 | Intro to the New Testament |
| REL 111 | Christian Traditions |
| REL 113 | The Bible & Philosophical Thought |
| REL 120 | Intro to Religious Studies |
| REL 121 | Sacred Traditions |
| REL 247 | Jesus in the Middle Eastern Perspective |
| Big Issues (2 Courses) (6-7 Credits) | LA-TBI |
|
| COMM 336 | Video Games & Virtual Identity |
| INTD 321 | Trauma and Resilience |
| INTD 322 | Fashion and Cultural Identity |
| INTD 323 | Incarcerated Shakespeare |
| INTD 324 | Feminist Theory |
| INTD 335 | Emotion in the Workplace |
| INTD 340 | Pathways to Purpose |
| INTD 343 | Philosophy of Mind |
| INTD 350 | Migrants and Refugees |
| INTD 355 | Critical Issues in Education |
| INTD 405 | Life and Death |
| INTD 410 | Cinema for Social Change |
| INTD 425 | Environmental Philosophy |
| INTD 427 | International Women’s Rights |
| INTD 441 | Globalization |
| INTD 445 | Development of Modern Scientific Thought |
| **NURS 450 | Capstone: Leadership in Nursing Practice |
| POSC 332 | Power and Politics in America |
| POSC 366 | Wealth & Poverty in the Global Economy |
| SOC 351 | Community & Environmental Sociology |
| SOC 355 | Health, Medical Care, & Society |
| SOWK 355 | Health, Medical Care, & Society |
| Creative Expression (1-3 Credits) | LA-TCE | |
| ART 131 | Basic Design |
| ART 210 | Painting I |
| ART 212 | Torchworking Glass |
| ART 213 | Figure Drawing |
| ART 221 | Digital Photography |
| ART 241 | Ceramics |
| ART 261 | Graphic Design Concepts & Vectors |
| ART 271 | Three-Dimensional Construction |
| COMM 235 | Community Podcasting |
| COMM 364 | Producing for the Internet |
| ENG 201 | Journalism I: Reporting |
| ENG 317 | Journalism II: Editing |
| ENG 363 | Topics in Creative Writing |
| MUS 100 | Piano (Beginner) |
| MUS 101 | Applied Piano (Majors) |
| MUS 102 | Voice (Beginner) |
| MUS 105 | Organ (Beginner) |
| MUS 107 | Voice: Non-Majors (Beginner) |
| MUS 126 | Beat Making & Production |
| MUS 128 | Class Piano I: Non-Majors (Beginner) |
| MUS 130 | A Cappella Choir |
| MUS 140B | Symphany Orchestra Strings |
| MUS 146 | Symphonic Band |
| MUS 200 | Piano: Non-Major (Intermediate) |
| MUS 201 | Piano (Intermediate) |
| MUS 202 | Voice (Intermediate) |
| MUS 205 | Organ (Intermediate) |
| MUS 207 | Voice: Non-Majors (Intermediate) |
| POSC 370 | Model United Nations |