The Wright State Core Requirements

The Wright State Core Requirements

The Wright State Core is the general education program required of all undergraduate degree students.  Bachelor’s degree students complete a minimum of 36 credit hours in the Core.  The number of Core hours required by Associate degree students varies by program. 

The Wright State Core is divided into five Elements and some additional requirements. The Elements are the foundational skills, the broad areas of knowledge and practice, and the global, historical, and cultural perspectives that together provide Wright State University students with the ability to negotiate their roles successfully and constructively in a changing world. Even more than in the past, graduates must be proficient in all methods of communication, must be able to use and interpret mathematical and statistical information, and must understand the methods of inquiry of the historian, the scientist, and the humanist.

Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must also successfully complete the following:

• One Global Inquiry (GI) course
• Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses
• One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses.  To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of three IW courses by choosing either (a) one in the Core and two in the major or (b) two in the Core and one in the major.  Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill this requirement.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will be required to take additional hours beyond the minimum of 36.

Key:

• GI - Global Inquiry course
• IE - Inclusive Excellence course
• IW - Integrated Writing course
• T - course approved as part of the Ohio Transfer Module known as OT36

First-Year Seminar: (1 or 3 credit hours)

All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year. Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy one or three additional credit hours in the Additional Core Courses category below.  College of Liberal Arts (COLA) majors and teacher education majors in the College of Health, Education, and Human Services (CHEH) will take a 3 credit hour FYS course and all other majors will take a 1 credit hour FYS course.

• HEH 1020 - First-Year Seminar: College of Health, Education, and Human Services   3
• LA 1020 - First-Year Seminar: College of Liberal Arts   3
• UVC 1010 - First Year Seminar   1

Element A: English Composition and Oral Communication (6 credit hours)

First-Year Writing Course
Three Credit Hours Minimum

• ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading   3 (T)

Second-Year Writing Course
Three Credit Hours Minimum

• EGR 3350 - Technical Communications for Engineers and Computer Scientists  3
• ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation   3
• ENG 2140 - Research, Technical Writing, and Presentation for Scientists and Engineers   3 (T)

Additional Communication Course
This course is optional and if taken will count towards the Additional Core Courses area 

• COM 1010 - Essentials of Public Address    

Element B: Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic (3 credit hours)
Three Credit Hours Minimum

• EC 1050 - Elementary Mathematical Economic and Business Models and Methods  4
• EGR 1010 - Introductory Mathematics for Engineering Applications  4 
• EGR 1010L - Introductory Mathematics for Engineering Applications Laboratory   0 
• EGR 1010R - Introductory Mathematics for Engineering Applications Recitation   0 
• MTH 1270 - Introduction to Functions and Modeling  4
• MTH 1450 - Mathematics and the Modern World  3
• MTH 2240 - Applied Calculus  4
• MTH 2280 - Business Calculus  4 (T)
• MTH 2300 - Calculus I  4 (T)
• MTH 2310 - Calculus II  4 (T)
• MTH 2415 - Elementary Mathematics Concepts for Educators 1  4
• STT 1600 - Statistical Concepts  4
• STT 2640 - Elementary Statistics  4

Element C: Arts and Humanities (6 credit hours)

Students will select two Arts & Humanities courses with different prefixes. One course must fulfill the History requirement.

Three Credit Hours Minimum

• AFS 2000 - What is the African and African American Experience?   3 (IE, IW, T)
• ART 2140 - Themes in Visual Culture  3 (GI, T)
• ART 2430 - Non-Western Art   3 (GI, IE, IW, T)  
• CLS 1600 - Introduction to Classical Mythology  3 (GI, T)
• ENG 2040 - Great Books: Literature  3 (IW, T)
• FMS 1310 - Introduction to Film Studies  3 (T) 
• ML 2030 - Virtual Spain   3 (GI, IE)
• ML 2050 - Russian Culture   3 (GI)
• ML 2060 - Virtual Paris  3 (GI, IE)
• ML 2300 - World Narratives of Trauma & Forgiveness  3 (GI, IW)
• MP 1310 - The Moving Image  3 (T)
• MUS 1210 - Music Listening  3
• MUS 2140 - Music in Western Culture  3 (T)
• MUS 2420 - Comparative Nonwestern Cultures: Music   3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• MUS 2900 - African American Music: America and Beyond  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• PHL 2050 - Philosophy: The Big Questions  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• REL 1010 - Introduction to World Religions   3 (GI, IE)
• REL 2040 - Bible, Qur’an, and Western Culture  3 (IE, IW, T)
• RST 2620 - Regional Studies: China   3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• RST 2710 - Regional Studies: Africa   3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• RST 2910 - Regional Studies: Middle East   3 (GI, IE, T)
• TH 2140 - Theatre in Western Culture  3 (T)
• UH 2010 - Studies in the Humanities  3 (IW)

One History Course
Three Credit Hours Minimum

• CLS 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture  3 (GI)
• HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500  3 (GI, T)
• HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500  3 (GI, T)
• HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture   3 (GI)

​Element D: Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credit hours)

Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses with different prefixes.
Six Credit Hours Minimum

• ATH 2150 - Comparative Nonwestern Cultures  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• ATH 2200 - Introduction to Archaeology  3 (T)
• CS 1000 - Technology and Society  3 (GI, IW, T)
• EC 2040 - Principles of Microeconomics  3 (T)
• EC 2050 - Principles of Macroeconomics  3 (T)
• EC 2900 - Global Economic, Business and Social Issues  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• ED 2100 - Education in a Democracy  3 (GI, IE)
• ED 2600 - Introduction to Education  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• ED 2700 - Introduction to Educational Psychology  3 (IE, IW)
• FAS 1050 - Amish Society  3 (GI, IE)
• FAS 1070 - Rural Studies  3 (IE)
• FIN 2050 - Personal Financial Decision Making  3
• GEO 2210 - Nonwestern Human Environments  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• IT 1100 - Communicational Ethics of Technology in Society  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• MGT 1900 - Managerial Character and Competencies I  3
• PLS 2000 - Power and Politics  3 (IE, IW, T)
• PLS 2120 - American National Government  3 (IE)
• PLS 2510 - Comparative Nonwestern Social Systems  3 (GI, IW, T)
• PPH 2000 - Global Health  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• PPH 2100 - Climate Change and Health  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• PSY 1010 - Introduction to Psychology  4 (IE, IW, T)
• PSY 1010L - Introduction to Psychology Laboratory  0 (IE, IW, T)
• SOC 2000 - Introduction to Sociology  3 (IE, IW, T)
• UH 2020 - Studies in the Social Sciences  3 (IW)
• WGS 1000 - Introduction to Sexual Health and Diversity  3 (IE, IW)
• WGS 2000 - Introduction to Women and Gender Studies  3 (IE, IW, T)

Element E: Natural Science (7 credit hours)

Two Natural Sciences courses. At least one course must contain a lab.

Seven Credit Hours Minimum

• ASM 1717 - Humans and Machines at Extremes  4 (IW)
• ATH 2100 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology  4 (T)
• ATH 2100L - Lab in Biological Anthropology  0
• BIO 1050 - Biology of Food  4 (T)
• BIO 1050L - Biology of Food Laboratory   0
• BIO 1070 - Health and Disease  4 (T)
• BIO 1070L - Health and Disease Laboratory  0
• BIO 1090L - Biology Laboratory  1
• BIO 1120 - Cells and Genes  4 (T)
• BIO 1120L - Cells & Genes Laboratory  0
• BIO 1150 - Organisms and Ecosystems  4 (T)
• BIO 1150L - Organisms & Ecosystems Laboratory  0
• BIO 3450 - Concepts in Life Science I for Educators  4
• CHM 1015 - Basic Chemistry in Forensic Science  3
• CHM 1020 - Elementary Organic Chemistry with Applications  4 (T)
• CHM 1020L - Elementary Organic Chemistry with Applications Laboratory  0
• CHM 1023 - Everyday Chemistry  3
• CHM 1060 - Chemistry of Our World: Materials  4 (T)
• CHM 1060L - Chemistry of Our World: Materials Laboratory  0 
• CHM 1210 - General Chemistry I  3
• CHM 1210L - General Chemistry Lab I  2
• CHM 1210R - General Chemistry Lab I Recitation  0
• CHM 1220 - General Chemistry II  3
• CHM 1220L - General Chemistry Lab II  2
• CHM 1220R - General Chemistry Lab II Recitation  0
• CHM 2450 - Concepts in Chemistry I for Educators  4
• EES 1030 - The Paleobiology of Dinosaurs  4
• EES 1030L - The Paleobiology of Dinosaurs Laboratory  0
• EES 1050 - Dynamic Earth  4 (T)
• EES 1050L - Dynamic Earth Laboratory  0
• EES 2510 - Earth Systems  4
• EES 2510L - Earth Systems Laboratory  0
• EES 2550 - Earth History  4
• EES 2550L - Earth History Laboratory  0
• EES 3450 - Concepts in Earth Science I for Educators  4
• FAS 1100 - Kitchen Science  3
• PHY 1060 - Astronomy  3 (T)
• PHY 1060L - Astronomy Laboratory  1 (T)
• PHY 1110 - Principles of Physics I  4
• PHY 1110L - Principles of Physics Lab I  1
• PHY 1110R - Principles of Physics I Recitation  0
• PHY 1120 - Principles of Physics II  4
• PHY 1120L - Principles of Physics Lab II  1
• PHY 1120R - Principles of Physics II Recitation  0
• PHY 1903 - Physics of Flight  3
• PHY 2400 - General Physics I  4
• PHY 2400L - General Physics I Laboratory  1
• PHY 2400R - General Physics I Recitation  0
• PHY 2410 - General Physics II  4
• PHY 2410L - General Physics II Laboratory  1
• PHY 2410R - General Physics II Recitation  0
• PHY 2460 - Concepts in Physics for Educators I  4

Additional Core Courses (5-7 credit hours)

Select up to 7 additional credit hours from Elements A-E to reach the 36 minimum hours required by the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these courses are selected by the student.  COLA majors and teacher education majors in CHEH will need 5 or fewer of these hours.  All other majors will need 7 or fewer of these hours.

Total Hours Required = 36

Global Inquiry, Inclusive Excellence, and Integrated Writing

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will be required to take additional hours beyond the minimum of 36.

Global Inquiry Courses (GI): (3 credit hours)  

• ART 2140 - Themes in Visual Culture  3 (GI T)
• ART 2430 - Non-Western Art  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• ATH 2150 - Comparative Nonwestern Cultures  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• CLS 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture  3 (GI, T)
• CLS 1600 - Introduction to Classical Mythology  3 (GI, T)
• CS 1000 - Technology and Society  3 (GI, IW, T)
• EC 2900 - Global Economic, Business and Social Issues  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• ED 2100 - Education in a Democracy  3 (GI, IE)
• GEO 2210 - Nonwestern Human Environments  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500  3 (GI, T)
• HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500  3 (GI, T)
• HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture  3 (GI)
• ML 2030 - Virtual Spain  3 (GI, IE)
• ML 2050 - Russian Culture  3 (GI)
• ML 2060 - Virtual Paris  3 (GI, IE)
• ML 2300 - World Narratives of Trauma & Forgiveness  3 (GI, IW)
• MUS 2420 - Comparative Nonwestern Cultures: Music  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• MUS 2900 - African American Music: America and Beyond  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• PHL 2050 - Philosophy: The Big Questions  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• PLS 2510 - Comparative Nonwestern Social Systems  3 (GI, IW, T)
• REL 1010 - Introduction to World Religions  3 (GI, IE)
• RST 2620 - Regional Studies: China  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• RST 2710 - Regional Studies: Africa  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• RST 2910 - Regional Studies: Middle East  3 (GI, IE, T)

Inclusive Excellence (IE): (6 credit hours)

• AFS 2000 - What is the African and African American Experience?  3 (IE, IW, T)
• ART 2430 - Non-Western Art  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• ATH 2150 - Comparative Nonwestern Cultures  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• EC 2900 - Global Economic, Business and Social Issues  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• ED 2100 - Education in a Democracy  3 (GI, IE)
• ED 2600 - Introduction to Education  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• ED 2700 - Introduction to Educational Psychology  3 (IE, IW)
• FAS 1050 - Amish Society  3 (GI, IE)
• FAS 1070 - Rural Studies  3 (IE)
• GEO 2210 - Nonwestern Human Environments  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• IT 1100 - Communicational Ethics of Technology in Society  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• ML 2030 - Virtual Spain  3 (GI, IE)
• ML 2060 - Virtual Paris  3 (GI, IE)
• MUS 2420 - Comparative Nonwestern Cultures: Music  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• MUS 2900 - African American Music: America and Beyond  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• PHL 2050 - Philosophy: The Big Questions  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• PLS 2000 - Power and Politics  3 (IE, IW, T)
• PLS 2120 - American National Government  3 (IE)
• PPH 2000 - Global Health  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• PPH 2100 - Climate Change and Health  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• PSY 1010 - Introduction to Psychology  4 (IE, IW, T)
• PSY 1010L - Introduction to Psychology Laboratory  0 (IE, IW, T)
• REL 1010 - Introduction to World Religions  3 (GI, IE)
• REL 2040 - Bible, Qur’an, and Western Culture  3 (IE, IW, T)
• RST 2620 - Regional Studies: China  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• RST 2710 - Regional Studies: Africa  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• RST 2910 - Regional Studies: Middle East  3 (GI, IE, T)
• SOC 2000 - Introduction to Sociology  3 (IE, IW, T)
• WGS 1000 - Introduction to Sexual Health and Diversity  3 (IE, IW)
• WGS 2000 - Introduction to Women and Gender Studies  3 (IE, IW, T)

Integrated Writing (IW): (9 credit hours)

To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of three IW courses by choosing either (a) one in the Core and two in the major or (b) two in the Core and one in the major.  The list of IW courses in the Core are below.  Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill this requirement within the major.

• AFS 2000 - What is the African and African American Experience?  3 (IE, IW, T)
• ART 2430 - Non-Western Art  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• ASM 1717 - Humans and Machines at Extremes  3 (IW)
• ATH 2150 - Comparative Nonwestern Cultures  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• CS 1000 - Technology and Society   3 (GI, IW, T)
• EC 2900 - Global Economic, Business and Social Issues  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• ED 2600 - Introduction to Education  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• ED 2700 - Introduction to Educational Psychology  3 (IE, IW)
• ENG 2040 - Great Books: Literature  3 (IW, T)
• GEO 2210 - Nonwestern Human Environments  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• IT 1100 - Communicational Ethics of Technology in Society  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• ML 2300 - World Narratives of Trauma & Forgiveness  3 (GI, IW)
• MUS 2420 - Comparative Nonwestern Cultures: Music  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• MUS 2900 - African American Music: America and Beyond  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• PHL 2050 - Philosophy: The Big Questions  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• PLS 2000 - Power and Politics  3 (IE, IW, T)
• PLS 2510 - Comparative Nonwestern Social Systems  3 (GI, IW, T)
• PPH 2000 - Global Health  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• PPH 2100 - Climate Change and Health  3 (GI, IE, IW)
• PSY 1010 - Introduction to Psychology  4 (IE, IW, T)
• PSY 1010L - Introduction to Psychology Laboratory  0 (IE, IW, T)
• REL 2040 - Bible, Qur’an, and Western Culture  3 (IE, IW, T) 
• RST 2620 - Regional Studies: China  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• RST 2710 - Regional Studies: Africa  3 (GI, IE, IW, T)
• SOC 2000 - Introduction to Sociology  3 (IE, IW, T)
• UH 2010 - Studies in the Humanities  3 (IW)
• UH 2020 - Studies in the Social Sciences  3 (IW)
• WGS 1000 - Introduction to Sexual Health and Diversity  3 (IE, IW)
• WGS 2000 - Introduction to Women and Gender Studies  3 (IE, IW, T)