Foundation Skills
All first-time, degree seeking students must enroll in a course satisfying the First Year Experience requirement during their first semester at USI. This applies to both full-time and part-time students. This does not include dual credit or AP credit.
Students must successfully complete the courses listed below
- ENG 101 - Rhetoric and Composition I: Literacy and the Self
- ENG 201 - Rhetoric and Composition II: Literacy and the World
Students must successfully complete one of the courses listed below
Students must successfully complete one of the courses listed below
Students must successfully complete one of the courses listed below
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science
Natural Science with Lab (4 hours)
World Languages and Cultures (9 hours)
Click here for a list of approved courses
- No more than 9 hours of courses with the same prefix can satisfy the BA requirements.
- Students earning a BA must successfully complete a four- course sequence in the same language through Language 204 or higher.
- Natural Science must be a lab course. If Natural Science 108 is selected, then two Natural Science 108 courses must be taken to satisfy the lab requirement.
- Students earning a bachelor’s degree which is not designated as a BA or BS must choose either the BA or BS track for the purposes of Core 39 requirements.
- With the exception of world languages courses (ARAB, CHIN, FREN, GERM, JPN, LATN, SPAN), courses used to satisfy the Ways of Knowing requirements must have a different prefix than any course used to satisfy the BA/BS Skills requirements.
For the following similar courses, students can receive Core 39 credit for only one of the two courses:
CHEM 103 or CHEM 107 • GEOL 151 or GEOL 161
Natural Science including 1 Lab (7 hours)
Social Science (3 hours)
World Languages and Culture (3 hours)
Click here for a list of approved courses
- No more than 9 hours of courses with the same prefix can satisfy the BA/BS core requirements.
- If Natural Science 108 is selected, then two Natural Science 108 courses must be taken to satisfy the lab requirement.
- With the exception of world languages courses (ARAB, CHIN, FREN, GERM, JPN, LATN, SPAN), courses used to satisfy the Ways of Knowing requirements must have a different prefix than any course used to satisfy the BA/BS Skills requirements.
For the following similar courses, students can receive Core 39 credit for only one of the two courses:
CHEM 103 or CHEM 107 • GEOL 151 or GEOL 161
Ways of Knowing
- Select one course from four out of the six categories. No two courses may have the same prefix.
- With the exception of world languages courses (ARAB, CHIN, FREN, GERM, JPN, LATN, SPAN), courses used to satisfy the Ways of Knowing requirements must have a different prefix than any course used to satisfy the BA/BS Skills requirements.
| ART 104: Design in Materials | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression |
| ART 201: Intro to Visual Arts | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression |
| ARTH 222: Art History II | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression, Embedded: Diversity |
| ARTP 221: Introduction to Digital Photo Imaging | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression |
| ENG 105: Intro to Literature | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression |
| ENG 185: Introduction to Film | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression, Embedded: Diversity |
| ENG 227: Literature and Popular Culture | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression, Embedded: Writing Intensive |
| ENG 302: Creative Writing | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression |
| ENG 344: Adolescent & Young Adult Literature | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression, Embedded: Writing Intensive |
| ENG 361: Playwriting | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression |
| FREN 275: The French Film | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression, Embedded: Global, Embedded: Writing Intensive |
| GERM 275: The German Film | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression, Embedded: Global |
| MUS 202: Intro to Music | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression |
| SPAN 275: The Hispanic Film | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression, Embedded: Global, Embedded: Writing Intensive |
| THTR 101: Intro to Theatre | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression |
| THTR 251: Fundamentals of Acting | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression, Embedded: Diversity |
| THTR 256: Fundamentals of Character Development | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression, Embedded: Diversity |
| THTR 361: Playwriting | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression |
| KIN 201: Sport, Exercise & Culture in Film | Ways of Knowing: Creative and Aesthetic Expression |
| ANTH 121: Intro to Archaeology | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Historical Inquiry |
| ARTH 221: Art History I | Ways of Knowing: Historical Inquiry |
| HIST 101: U.S. to 1865 | Ways of Knowing: Historical Inquiry |
| HIST 102: U.S. Since 1865 | Ways of Knowing: Historical Inquiry |
| HIST 108: What is History | Ways of Knowing: Historical Inquiry |
| HIST 111: World Civilizations I | Ways of Knowing: Historical Inquiry, Embedded: Global |
| HIST 112: World Civilizations II | Ways of Knowing: Historical Inquiry, Embedded: Global |
| HIST 130: Issues in American History | Ways of Knowing: Historical Inquiry |
| HIST 140: Issues in World History | Ways of Knowing: Historical Inquiry |
| PHIL 101: Introduction to Philosophy | Ways of Knowing: Historical Inquiry, Embedded: Diversity |
| SPTM 223: Principles of Recreation | Ways of Knowing: Historical Inquiry, Embedded: Writing Intensive |
| COMM 494: Mass Communication Law and Ethics | Ways of Knowing: Moral and Ethical Reasoning |
| ENG 222: Concepts of Good and Evil in Literature | Ways of Knowing: Moral and Ethical Reasoning |
| ENG 224: Social Change in America | Ways of Knowing: Moral and Ethical Reasoning |
| PHIL 201: Intro to Ethics | Ways of Knowing: Moral and Ethical Reasoning, Embedded: Diversity |
| PRFS 301: The Ethics of Global Engagement | Ways of Knowing: Moral and Ethical Reasoning, Embedded: Global, Embedded: Writing Intensive |
| IPH 356: Ethics and Healthcare in a Pluralistic Society | Ways of Knowing: Moral and Ethical Reasoning, Embedded: Diversity |
| PET 402: Controversial Issues in Health Education | Ways of Knowing: Moral and Ethical Reasoning, Embedded: Writing Intensive |
| SPTM 336: Governance & Ethics in Sport | Ways of Knowing: Moral and Ethical Reasoning |
| ANTH 131: Intro to Physical Anthropology | BS: Natural Science., Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| ANTH 211: Intro to Forensic Anthropology | BS: Natural Science., Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| HP 302: Biostatistics | Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| ASTR 201: General Astronomy (L) | BA/BS: Natural Science with Lab, Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| BIOL 108: Biology for Educators (L) | BA/BS: Natural Science with Lab, Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| BIOL 141: Principles of Biology (L) | BA/BS: Natural Science with Lab, Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| CHEM 108: Chemistry for Educators (L) | BA/BS: Natural Science with Lab, Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| CHEM 141: Principles of Chemistry (L) | BA/BS: Natural Science with Lab, Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| CHEM 143: Survey of Organic and Biochemistry | BA/BS: Natural Science with Lab, Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| CHEM 262: General Chemistry II (L) | BA/BS: Natural Science with Lab, Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| ENGR 305: Engineering Statistics | Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| GEOG 112: Earth System Science | BS: Natural Science., Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| GEOG 123: Physical Geography & Landscape Analysis of U.S. | BS: Natural Science., Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| GEOL 108: Earth-Space Science for Educators (L) | BA/BS: Natural Science with Lab, Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| IME 331: Introduction to Statistical Quality Control | Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| MATH 203: Math for Elementary Teachers II | Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| MATH 253: Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning | Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| PHYS 101: Intro to Physical Sciences | BS: Natural Science., Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| PHYS 108: Physics for Educators (L) | BA/BS: Natural Science with Lab, Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| PHYS 361: Modern Physics | BS: Natural Science., Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| PHYS 371: Analytical Mechanics | BS: Natural Science, Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| STAT 241: Principles of Statistics | Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| STAT 265: Applied Regression Analysis | Ways of Knowing: Scientific and Mathematical Inquiry |
| CMST 201: Introduction to Communication Studies | Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry, Embedded: Writing Intensive |
| CRIM 101: Introduction to Criminal Justice | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry |
| GLST 101: Intro to International Studies | Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry, Embedded: Global |
| GNDR 111: Intro to Gender Studies | Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry, Embedded: Diversity |
| HIST 222: Roots of Communalism | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry |
| PHIL 377: Introduction to Cognitive Science | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry |
| POLS 102: Intro to American Politics | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry |
| POLS 271: International Politics | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry, Embedded: Global |
| POLS 281: Comparative Politics | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry, Embedded: Global |
| POLS 316 - Religion and Politics | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry, Embedded: Diversity |
| POLS 427 - Urban Politics and Governance | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry, Embedded: Writing Intensive |
| PSY 201: Introduction to Psychology | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry |
| SOC 121: Principles of Sociology | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry, Embedded: Diversity |
| SOC 231: Social Problems | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry |
| SOC 261: Marriage and Family | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry, Embedded: Diversity |
| EDUC 221: Diversity & Equity in Education | Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry, Embedded: Diversity, Embedded: Writing Intensive |
| SPTM 453: Diversity in Sport | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry, Embedded: Diversity |
| ECON 208: Principles of Microeconomics | BS: Social Science, Ways of Knowing: Social Inquiry |
| ANTH 111: Intro to Cultural Anthropology | BS: World Languages and Culture, Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Diversity |
| ARAB 204: Intermediate Arabic II | BA/BS: World Languages.,BS: World Languages and Culture, Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Global |
| CHIN 204: Intermediate Chinese II | BA/BS: World Languages.,BS: World Languages and Culture, Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Global |
| ENG 286: Classical Mythology | Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture |
| ENG 386: World Mythology | Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture |
| FREN 204: Intermediate French II | BA/BS: World Languages., BS: World Languages and Culture, Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Global |
| FREN 308: Francophone Cultures | Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Global |
| GERM 204: Intermediate German II | BA/BS: World Languages, BS: World Languages and Culture, Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Global |
| GERM 308: Germanic Cultures | Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Global |
| GNDR 222: The Body in Art and Culture | Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Writing Intensive |
| HUM 211: World Humanities I | BS: World Languages and Culture, Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture |
| HUM 212: World Humanities II | BS: World Languages and Culture, Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture |
| HUM 241: The Humanistic Tradition in Literature I | BS: World Languages and Culture, Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Writing Intensive |
| HUM 242: The Humanistic Tradition in Literature II | BS: World Languages and Culture, Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Writing Intensive |
| JPN 204: Intermediate Japanese II | BA/BS: World Languages., BS: World Languages and Culture, Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Global |
| JPN 306: Advanced Japanese I | Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Diversity |
| LATN 204: Intermediate Latin II | BA/BS: World Languages., BS: World Languages and Culture, Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Global |
| PHIL 251: Intro to the Study of Religions | Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture |
| SPAN 204: Intermediate Spanish II | BA/BS: World Languages, BS: World Languages and Culture, Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Global |
| SPAN 308: Hispanic Cultures | Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Global |
| GERO 215: Introduction to Global Aging and Health Care | Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Global |
| HP 236: Eastern Medicine & Alt./Complimentary Healthcare | Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture |
| GEOG 330: World Geography | BS: World Languages and Culture, Ways of Knowing: World Languages and Culture, Embedded: Global |
Embedded Experience
- Embedded experiences may be courses found in other areas of Core 39, a major-specific course or an elective course.
- Foundation courses should be completed before the embedded experiences.
- Students complete two writing intensive experiences.
One has to be at 200+ level and one has to be at 300+ level. - ENG 201 is a pre-requisite for all embedded writing intensive courses.