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Image: CAFÉ CON UN PROFESOR
CAFÉ CON UN PROFESOR
Image: Authentic Pastry-Making Experience At Home Takes Valpo French Students Abroad
Authentic Pastry-Making Experience At Home Takes Valpo French Students Abroad
Image: A Beacon’s Reflection | Savannah Gostlin ’25
A Beacon’s Reflection | Savannah Gostlin ’25
Red brick building with "College of Business" sign and green trees in the foreground, highlighting its renowned business accreditation.
Three Valparaiso University Students Win Microsoft Office State Championships
Image: Valparaiso University Launches Religious Studies Major
Valparaiso University Launches Religious Studies Major
Image: Valpo Social Work Students LEAD The Way Toward A Brighter Tomorrow
Valpo Social Work Students LEAD The Way Toward A Brighter Tomorrow
Image: Valparaiso University Engineers Put Their Skills to the Test with Race Car Design and Construction
Valparaiso University Engineers Put Their Skills to the Test with Race Car Design and Construction
Image: Valparaiso University Student Combines Economics and Fire Safety in Effectiveness and Response Study
Valparaiso University Student Combines Economics and Fire Safety in Effectiveness and Response Study
Image: Simeon Ehm’s ’24 Path from Environmental Passion to Purposeful Impact
Simeon Ehm’s ’24 Path from Environmental Passion to Purposeful Impact

General Education Requirements

Foundational Learning

General-education requirements, fulfilled primarily by courses offered by the College of Arts and Sciences, are designed to provide structure for each student’s course of study while affording the greatest possible freedom to design an individual academic program. While the details of these foundational courses vary slightly from one degree to another, this general overview applies broadly to all students.

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General Education Requirements
Exploratory Studies Program
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College of Arts and Sciences

Core Curriculum at a Glance

Foundational Courses: Freshman Studies

The Valpo Core course, titled The Human Experience, is a two-semester, 8 credit general education course required of all first-year students not enrolled in the Christ College Freshman Program. Focusing on the human experience as great thinkers, writers, and artists have represented it, this interdisciplinary foundation course draws on an intercultural, multinational reading list. It is designed to introduce students to college-level work by developing skills in close reading and critical thinking, in speaking, and especially in writing.

Foundational Courses: Academic Area Studies

These foundational courses provide broad exposure to the major branches of learning; build essential reading, writing, quantitative, and analytical skills; and encourage awareness of the development of human thought over time and of the diversity of human culture.

Subjects covered in the foundation courses at Valpo include:

  • Writing Intensive: one course
  • Religious Studies: two courses (one in the junior or senior year)
  • Cultural Diversity: three courses:
    • Foreign Language (two courses) and a
    • Cultural Diversity course
  • Humanities: two courses, one each from two areas:
    • Fine and Performing Arts
    • History
    • Literature
    • Philosophy
  • Social Science: two courses, one each from two different areas of study
  • Natural Science: two courses, one each from two different areas of study
  • Quantitative Analysis: one course
  • Kinesiology: one credit hour
Details of Each Degree