University Core Curriculum

University Core Curriculum Models

The University Core Curriculum includes courses designed to develop a common set of competencies for all students pursuing a baccalaureate or associate degree. Students are required to demonstrate competence in all of the core areas as a condition of fulfilling the requirements for the A.A. or A.S. and the B.A. or B.S. degrees. Students are not exempt from University Core requirements based on national standardized aptitude test scores (SAT, ACT) or placement exam scores, such as CPT, COMPASS, or ASSET.

Human Issues and Dilemmas Course Requirement

Human Issues and Dilemmas Courses are 300-level Humanities and Values; Social Sciences and History; or Biological and Physical Sciences courses intended to advance students’ abilities to understand and address the complexities of human life. The courses will actively engage students in discussion and treatment of the dilemmas that arise when issues are considered from multidisciplinary perspectives. The courses will empower students to create knowledge and meaning by identifying issues, synthesizing various perspectives, and determining solutions to dilemmas through both individual evaluation of problems and collaborative efforts with others. As such, these courses will enhance students’ critical thinking, information management, writing, speaking, and collaboration skills.

Capstone Experience Requirement

The Capstone Experience (XXXX 490, Capstone Experience) is a three-credit hour course intended to synthesize and integrate the knowledge and skills of the major course work and the University Core Curriculum course work. Students will be required to complete a major research project aimed at addressing a philosophic, social, political, economic, or historical problem connected to their major field of study. Activities in the course will include a major research paper and an oral presentation based on significant research and project results. These activities will be opportunities for students to display the content knowledge, research skills, critical thinking, affective learning, and presentation skills needed to be life-long learners.

University Core Course Lists

Reading, Writing, and Speaking Intensive Requirements

All B.A., B.S., A.A., and A.S. programs at Vincennes University include reading, writing, and speaking intensive courses. They are indicated within the course description by R, W, and S superscripts. The reading, writing, and speaking intensive requirements for graduation are met under the following conditions:

• the student must receive a C or better in ENGL 101 or ENGL 112 prior to taking a reading or writing intensive course;
• the student must receive a C or better in SPCH 143 or SPCH 148 prior to taking a speaking intensive course; and,
• the student must complete all intensive course assignments and receive a C or better in an intensive course

1. READING
   
   1. In order to demonstrate college level proficiency in reading, the student should:
      
      1. summarize material accurately and concisely;
      2. interpret subject matter literally and inferentially;
      3. seek and acquire vocabulary through reading; and
      4. seek and understand subject matter pertinent to his or her career.
   2. Criteria for Demonstrating Achievement in Reading for the A.A., A.S.:
      
      1. Each student who is a candidate for the A.A., A.S., or A.A.S. degree must demonstrate achievement in reading by satisfying the conditions of either Criterion No. 1, or Criterion No. 2.
      2. The conditions of Criterion No. 1 are:
         1. Placement scores require no developmental/remedial reading upon initial matriculation; and
         2. Earn a C or better in at least one Reading Intensive course.
      3. The conditions of Criterion No. 2 are:
         1. Placement scores require developmental/remedial reading upon initial placement; and
         2. Earn a C or better in READ 009 , READ 011 , READ 103 , OR READ 104  and demonstrate college level reading on a standardized reading test; and
         3. Complete and earn a C or better in at least one Reading Intensive course subsequent to completion of the requirements of 3b.
      4. If and only if, the student has attempted and failed to satisfy the conditions of Criterion No. 1 or No. 2, and student chooses not to repeat those steps, he or she may satisfy the Reading Intensive requirement by achieving a CPT Reading score of 93 or higher prior to graduation.
2. WRITING
   1.  In order to demonstrate college-level proficiency in writing, the student should:
      1. write a document showing a clear purpose, effective organization, adequate supporting details, and using a mechanically correct style;
      2. critically analyze and evaluate his or her own and others’ writing;
      3. appropriately incorporate ideas from outside sources into his or her own words with proper credit given;
      4. be able to write a personal resume.
   2. Criteria for Demonstrating Achievement in Writing for the A.A. and A.S. Transfer Core:
      
      1. Each student who is a candidate for either the A.A. or A.S. degree must demonstrate achievement in writing by satisfying the conditions of Criterion No. 1. If the student fails to meet these conditions, he/she may then attempt to meet the conditions of Criterion No. 2.
      2. The conditions of Criterion No. 1 are:
         
         1. Earn a C or better in ENGL 101  and
         2. Earn a passing grade in one of the following: ENGL 102 , ENGL 107 , ENGL 108 , ENGL 109 , or ENGL 205  (See specific degree curriculum for required writing course.) and
         3. Earn a C or better in a course approved and designated as a Writing Intensive course.
            - or -
         4. Earn a C or better in ENGL 112  and
         5. Earn a C or better in a course approved and designated as a Writing Intensive course.
      3. The conditions of Criterion No. 2 may be met if and only if a student has attempted, but not completed Criterion No. 1 successfully. Criterion No. 2 is as follows: If the student has failed to earn a C or better in any of the approved Writing Intensive courses in his or her major or in the liberal education core and chooses not to repeat that approach, then, prior to graduation, the student must pass a writing test administered by the English Department.
   3. Criteria for Demonstrating Achievement in Writing for the A.S. Career/Tech Core:
      
      1. Each student who is a candidate for the A.A.S. degree must demonstrate achievement in writing by meeting the following criteria:
         
         1. Earn a C or better in ENGL 101  or ENGL 112 , and
         2. Earn a C or better in an approved Writing Intensive course either in his or her major or the liberal education core, or
         3. If the student fails to earn a C or better in an approved Writing Intensive course and chooses not to attempt that approach again, then the student must, prior to graduation, pass a writing test administered by the English Department.
3. ORAL COMMUNICATION
   
   1. In order to demonstrate college-level proficiency in oral communication, the student should:
      
      1. Express him- or herself clearly, using appropriate styles that suit the message, purpose, and context;
      2. Use non-verbal cues which are appropriate to the verbal language;
      3. Actively listen and critically evaluate oral communication;
      4. Seek and acquire vocabulary through speaking and listening.
   2. Criteria for Demonstrating Achievement in Oral communication for the A.A., A.S.:
      
      1. Each student who is a candidate for the A.A., A.S., or A.A.S. degree must demonstrate achievement in oral communication by satisfying the conditions of Criterion No. 1 and Criterion No. 2.
      2. The conditions of Criterion No. 1 are: Earn a C or better in COMM 143  or COMM 148 . 
      3. The conditions of Criterion No. 2 are: Earn a C or better in an approved Speaking Intensive course either in the student’s major or on the Liberal Education Core list.
      4. If, and only if, the student has attempted and failed to meet the conditions of Criterion 2 and chooses not to attempt that approach again, then prior to graduation, the student must pass at a seventy percent level, the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA) and Speech Comprehension tests administered by the Speech Department.
4. MATHEMATICS
   1. In order to demonstrate Mathematics proficiency, the student should be able to:
      
      1. apply a combination of fundamental arithmetic and algebra skills,
      2. apply fundamental geometric spatial skills, and
      3. solve problems using the appropriate skills identified above in both rote and novel situations.
   2. Criteria for Demonstrating Achievement in Mathematics for the A.A. or A.S. Transfer Degrees:
      Each student who is a candidate for either the A.A. or A.S. degree must demonstrate achievement in mathematics by earning a C or better in one 100-level or higher MATH course.
   3. Criteria for Demonstrating Achievement in Mathematics for the A.S. Career/Tech Degree:
      Each student who is a candidate for the A.A.S. degree must demonstrate achievement in mathematics by earning a C or better in one 100-level or higher MATH or MATT course, or earning a C or better in MATA 104, 105, and 106.