Core Requirements

WISDOM CORE CURRICULUM

Effective with the 2023-2024 academic year catalog, all Rockhurst undergraduate students will fulfill the new Wisdom Core requirements. The Wisdom Core consists of an initial Cornerstone course, Foundation level core courses, Keystone designations, and Threshold experiences. 

WISDOM CORE

The Wisdom Core requires all students to complete the Wisdom Core Cornerstone course (WCC). Cornerstone courses introduce students to the Jesuit tradition and to the University through study, discussion, and reflection. Topics will vary. Students are encouraged to take the Cornerstone course during their first year at Rockhurst.

This 2-credit hour course may be offered through the College of Arts and Sciences (WCCA), the College of Business Intelligence and Information Analysis (WCCB), or the Saint Luke's College of Nursing and Health Sciences (WCCN), with a variety of content to be covered in each individual course.

FOUNDATION COURSES

Foundation courses are lower-division courses representing the traditional liberal arts and sciences disciplines that are highly valued within the Jesuit tradition. Transfer courses may be accepted to fulfill Foundation core requirements.

NW - Natural World

Complete one science class with a lab from biology, chemistry, physics, or natural sciences (4 hours)

HC - History and Culture

Complete one class from art, music, or theater arts (3 hours), one class from history (3 hours), and one class from literature in English or Modern Languages (3 hours)

IS - Individuals and Society

Complete two classes from criminal justice, economics, psychology, sociology, or political science (6 hours). The two classes must be from different disciplines.

UQ - Universal Questions 

Complete one course from philosophy (3 hours), one course from theology (3 hours), and one swing course from either theology or philosophy (3 hours). This swing course may be an upper-level course.

EP - Eloquentia Perfecta

Complete one Oral Communication (OC) course (3 hours), and one to two Written Composition (WC) courses. A student with an English ACT score of 24 or higher, or permission from the Dean, may fulfill this requirement with EN 1140 (3 hours).

A student who does not have an English ACT score of 24 must complete EN 1110 and EN 1120 (6 hours).

QR - Quantitative Reasoning

Complete one math or statistics course (3 hours).

KEYSTONE DESIGNATIONS

The Keystone designations are specific learning outcomes which students fulfill through Rockhurst upper-division courses, found primarily in the students' major or minor program of study. No specific number of credits are required, but students are required to fulfill one of each of the seven Keystone designations. These courses emphasize skills listed in the "Core Rationale and Learning Goals," such as Inquiry, Analysis, Critical Thinking, and Global Citizenship. Keystones can only be fulfilled through Rockhurst courses. 

Note: if a Keystone designation contains sub-core designations, the Keystone requirement may be fulfilled through either one of its sub-core designations.

IAC - Inquiry, Analysis, and Critical Thinking

Complete one course with either CT (Critical Thinking) or IA (Inquiry & Analysis) designation. Either designation will satisfy IAC.

IQL - Information and Quantitative Literacy 

Complete one course with either IF (Information Fluency) or QL (Quantitative Literacy) designation. Either designation will satisfy IQL.

ACI - Artistic/Creative and Innovative Expression

Complete one course with either AE (Artistic Expression) or IV (Innovation) designation. Either designation will satisfy ACI.

CC - Communication and Collaboration Skills

Complete one course with either CM (Communication Skills) or CO (Collaboration Skills) designation. Either designation will satisfy CC.

IAS - Intercultural Awareness and Sensitivity

Complete one course with the IAS designation.

GC - Global Citizenship*

Complete one course with the GC designation.

ESE - Ethical Reasoning and Social Engagement

Complete one course with either ER (Ethical Reasoning & Action) or SK (Social Knowledge & Engagement) designation. Either designation will satisfy ESE.

THRESHOLD EXPERIENCES

Before graduation, students are required to engage in at least one course or experience certified as using a high impact practice.

WI - Writing-Intensive

ID - Interdisciplinary

UR - Undergraduate Research

IN - Internship

TSL - Threshold Service-Learning Experience

RP - Reflective Portfolios

SA - Study Abroad

 

LIBERAL CORE CURRICULUM

Because courses are being approved every semester to fulfill Core requirements, other courses may fulfill these requirements. Please check with your advisor and department chair. Nevertheless, each course listed below will fulfill the Core requirements for graduation. Please note that some Core courses may be counted towards a major or minor; see the Rockhurst University catalog. Students who entered Rockhurst prior to the Fall 2023 semester will use the Liberal Core curriculum. 

PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS

1. Written Communication (WCP) 

Satisfied with ONE of the following:

EN 1110 and EN 1120

EN 1140 (ACT 24+)

EN 1150 (Honors)

2. Oral Communication (OCP) 

Satisfied with ONE of the following:

CT 2000

CT 2150 (Honors)

3. Mathematics (MTP) 

Satisfied with ONE of the following:

MT 1030

MT 1090

MT 1170

MT 1190

MT 1510

MT 1800

MT 1810

MT 2800

MODAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Artistic Mode (ARI) 

Can be fulfilled by taking ONE of the following sequences. These also fulfill the Level I requirement for the Historical and Literary Modes. 

HU 2110 and HU 2120

HU 2210 and HU 2220 (Honors)

(note: these will not be offered after 2016-17)

May also be fulfilled by ONE of the following:

AR 1110

AR 1120

AR 1130

AR 1150

AR 1200

AR 1250

AR 1300

AR 1350

AR 1400

AR 1500

AR 3200

AR 3205

AR 3250

AR 3300

AR 3350

AR 3400

AR 4400

CT 3200

FR 3500

MS 1000

MS 1030

MS 3350

MS 3370

MS 3410

MS 3430

MS 3500

MS 3650

SP 4660

SP 4670

TA 1000

TA 1020

TA 1040

TA 1100

TA 1200

TA 1300

TA 2100

TA 3100

TA 3200

TA 3201

TA 3202

TA 3203

TA 3204

TA 3205

TA 3206

TA 3207

TA 3250

TA 3650

Or by a combination of the following adding up to at least 3 hours:

AR 1151

AR 3205

CT 3211

CT 3212

CT 3230

MS 1050

MS 1210/3210

MS 1250/3250

MS 1270/3270

MS 1290/3290

MS 1510-1519

MS 2510-2519

MS 3510-3519

MS 1610

MS 1710

MS 1810

MS 2610

MS 2710

MS 2810

MS 3610

MS 3710

MS 3810

TA 1050

TA 3210

TA 3500

TA 3520

TA 3540

TA 3560

2. Historical Mode - Level I (HSI) 

Can be fulfilled by taking ONE of the following sequences. These also fulfill the Level I requirement for the Artistic and Literary Modes. 

HU 2110 and HU 2120

HU 2210 and HU 2220 (Honors)

(note: these will not be offered after 2016-17)

May also be fulfilled by ONE of the following:

HS 1100

HS 1150 (Honors)

HS 1500

HS 1701

HS 1702

HS/PAI 1200

3. Literary Mode - Level I (LTI). 

Can be fulfilled by taking ONE of the following sequences. These also fulfill the Level I requirement for the Artistic and Historical Modes. 

HU 2110 and HU 2120

HU 2210 and HU 2220 (Honors)

(note: these will not be offered after 2016-17)

May also be fulfilled by ONE of the following:

EN 2740

EN 2760

EN 2920

EN 2940

EN 2960

FR 3700

FR 3851

FR 3870

GR 3700

SP 3700

SP 4300

SP 4350

SP 4375

SP 4667

4. Historical or Literary Mode - Level II (HSII or LTII) 

May be fulfilled by ONE of the following courses:

HS 2100

HS 2500

HS 3000

HS 3055

HS 3060

HS 3110

HS 3120

HS 3150

HS 3180

HS 3200

HS 3250

HS 3320

HS 3400

HS 3410

HS 3430

HS 3450

HS 3620

HS 3650

HS 3660

HS 3670

HS 3700

HS 3710

HS 3800

HS 3810

HS 3820

HS 3830

HS 3840

HS 3892

HS 3900

HS 3910

HS 3912

HS 3920

HS 3922

HS 3925

HS 3930

HS 4100

EN 3000

EN 3200

EN 3240

EN 3350

EN 3360

EN 3380

EN 3400

EN 3500

EN 3520

EN 3530

EN 3550

EN 3600

EN 3610

EN 3620

EN 3670

EN 3680

EN 3810

EN 3820

EN 3830

EN 3840

EN 3850

EN 3855

EN 3870

EN 3880

EN 3885

EN 3890

EN 3896

EN 4150

EN 4190

EN 4600

EN 4610

EN 4620

EN 4640

EN 4810

EN 4820

EN 4830

EN 4845

EN 4850

EN 4855

EN 4860

EN 4880

FR 3871

FR 3872

FR 3873

FR 3889

FR 3890

FR 4200

FR 4250

FR 4300

FR 4350

FR 4800

HU 3300

SP 4200

SP 4250

SP 4260

SP 4276

SP 4360

SP 4370

SP 4380

SP 4400

SP 4700

SP 4800

5. Philosophical Mode - Level I (PLI)

Fulfilled by ONE of the following courses:

PL 1100

PL 1150 (Honors)

Philosophical Mode - Level II (PLII) 

Fulfilled by ONE of the following courses:

PL 3100

PL 3150 (Honors)

6. Theological Mode - Level I (THI) 

Fulfilled by ONE of the following courses:

TH 1000

TH 1050 (Honors)

TH 1020

TH 2000+

Theological Mode - Level II (THII) 

Fulfilled by any TH 3000 or 4000 level course (see below)



Either the Level I or II course must be Christianity based.

All TH courses are Christianity based except those marked with a +.

7. Philosophical or Theological Mode - Level II (PLII or THII) 

May be fulfilled by ONE of the following courses in addition to the courses selected for #5 and #6:

PL 3200

PL 3250

PL 3300

PL 3400

PL 3410

PL 3420

PL 3430

PL 3440

PL 3450

PL 3500-3590

PL 3640

PL 3650

PL 3670

PL 3700

PL 3750

PL 3770

PL 3775

PL 3800

PL 3820

PL 3840

PL 3850

PL 3900

PL 3940

PL 4100

PL 4120

PL 4140

PL 4170

PL 4300

PL 4320

PL 4340

PL 4400-4490

PL 4500

PL 4550

PL 4570

PL 4600

PL 4620

PL 4650

PL 4665

PL 4700

PL 4750

TH 3000

TH 3050

TH 3100

TH 3130

TH 3150

TH 3300

TH 3400+

TH 3450+

TH 3550

TH 3622+

TH 3666

TH 3700+

TH 3966

TH 4000

TH 4001+

TH 4010

TH 4015

TH 4020

TH 4030

TH 4040

TH 4050

TH 4080

TH 4100

TH 4110

TH 4180

TH 4181

TH 4190+

TH 4192

TH 4200

TH 4250

TH 4280

TH 4300

TH 4320

TH 4321

TH 4330

TH 4340

TH 4350

TH 4375

TH 4444

TH 4450+

TH 4480+

TH 4777

TH 4888

8. Scientific-Causal Mode - Level I (SCI) 

Fulfilled by a lecture course plus concurrent lab from the following list:

BL 1150/1151

BL 1210/1220

BL 1250/1251

BL 1260/1261

BL 1350/1351

CH 1050/1060

CH 1110/1120

CH 2610/2620

CH 2630/2640

CH 2650/2660

NS 1210/1220

NS 1500/1501

PH 1600/1610

PH 1700/1710

PH 1750/1760

PH 2300/2310

PH 2700/2710

PH 2800/2810

PH 2850/2860

PH 2900/2910

PH 2940/2920

9. Scientific-Relational Mode - Level I/II (SRI/SRII)

May be fulfilled by TWO of the following courses. Select two SRI OR one SRI and one SRII. Make sure that each course is in a different discipline.

SRI (at least one):

CJ 1000

CJ 2000

EC 1000

EC 1050

EC 1100

EC 1150

EC 3400

EC 3750

EC 4400

ED 4300

GS 1000

POL 1000

PS 1000

PS 1100

PS 1150

PS 3100

PS 3150

PS 3170

PS 3190

PS 3300

PS 3330

PS 3350

PS 3370

PS 3510

PS 3520

PS 3550

PS 3720

PS/CT 3860

PY 1000

PY 1100

PY 2400

PY 2550

PY 3400

PY 3550

PY 3600

SO 1000

WGS 1000

WGS 2000

10. Scientific-Causal Mode or Scientific-Relational Mode - Level II (SCII or SRII) 

May be fulfilled by ONE of the following courses in addition to the courses selected for #8 and #9:

BL 3200/3201

BL 4800

CH 2630/2640

CH 2650/2660

CH 2710/2720

PH 1750/1760

PH 2300/2310

PH 2750/2760

PH 2900/2910

PH 2940/2920

EC 3250

EC 3400

EC 3750

EC 4300

EC 4400

ED 4300

PS 3100

PS 3150

PS 3170

PS 3190

PS 3300

PS 3330

PS 3350

PS 3370

PS 3510

PS 3520

PS 3550

PS 3720

PS/CT 3860

PY 2400

PY 2550

PY 3400

PY 3550

PY 3600

PY 4400

SO 3540

SO 3650

SO 3670

SO 3700

SO 3760

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE REQUIREMENT

Two semesters of the same college-level language other than English or one of the following courses:

BL 3920

BL 4200

CA 3000

EC 3400

EC 4300

EN 3810

EN 3850

EN 3870

EN 4810

EN 4850

EN 4860

FR 3871

FR 3872

GE 3300

HP 3500

HP 3700

HP 4700

HU 3300

HS 3250

HS 3900

HS 3910

HS 3912

HS 3920

HS 3922

HS 3925

HS 3930

MG 3350

MG 4350

MS 3650

NU 3852

NU 3630/NU 3670

PS 3300

PS 3310

PS 3330

PS 3350

PS 3355

PS 3370

PS 3550

PY 4430

SP 3070

TH 3622

TH 4001+

TH 4181

TH 4450

TH 4480