University Core Curriculum [UCC]
Approved by Faculty Senate January 14, 2003

Undergraduate education seeks to develop productive, creative, and responsible citizens who both shape society and lay the foundation for tomorrow.  In addition to exploring areas of specialization, the university experience must provide a venue for investigating the origins and natures of cultures, ideas, and the physical universe and endow graduates with the ability to analyze critically, think sustainably, learn creatively, and express themselves clearly and cogently.  Diversity and breadth of experience are essential characteristics of both education and success in our global community. 

The UniversityCore Curriculum (UCC) provides the broad, well-defined curriculum that enables graduates to

 *think critically, analytically, and creatively, with a passion to learn and with the skills and ability to assemble, assess, incorporate, and synthesize new knowledge and information;
*organize and clearly express their knowledge and ideas; and
*determine the importance and relevance of new ideas through a synthesis of both broad and narrow contexts and the integration of seemingly disparate pieces into a meaningful whole. 

 The UCC rests upon the belief that a foundational curriculum, shared by students, fosters intellectual development and enhances personal, social, intellectual, and academic relations.  Together with concentration in major fields of study, the UCC builds the base that makes future academic and professional excellence possible. 

 First Year Experience (one one-credit course required):

 The transition to a university environment is a unique one for first-time university students, and FIU's orientation course is designed to facilitate this transition.  The First-Year Experience course provides a forum for integrating the FIU experience and for discussing issues promoting intellectual, personal, academic, and social growth and success as a member of the University community.  The course introduces students to University policies, procedures, and services; addresses academic and career choices; and enhances study and time-management skills.  All students entering the University with fewer than 30 semester hours are required to take this one-credit course. 

 SLS 1501 - First-Year Experience

 English Composition (two three-credit courses from either sequence required):

 A foundation in the critical analysis of issues and texts, both discursive and creative, and in argumentation and persuasion is essential in all university courses.  English Composition provides this foundation by encouraging the mastery of written and oral communication models, including the essay and research paper. 

 For students entering FIU with 30 or fewer credits and for all first-term-in-college students, ENC 1101, Freshman Composition and ENC 1102, Literary Analysis are required.  For students entering FIU with more than 30 credits (who are not first-term-in-college students), ENC 2301, Expository Writing, and one of the following: ENC 3317, Writing Across the Curriculum; or ENC 3311, Advanced Writing and Research; or ENC 3211, Report and Technical Writing are acceptable. 

  Humanities With Writing (two three-credit courses required, one of which must be a historically-oriented course):

In these courses students strengthen the critical reading and writing skills needed to succeed within the University and beyond.  Students interact analytically with, and respond critically to, primary and secondary texts in the humanities and learn to integrate the ideas and words of others into their own writing.  By writing informed essays, students develop the ability to present ideas logically and sequentially and to provide balanced exposition and critical examination of complex events, positions, arguments, or texts. 

 In these courses students learn to use writing as a form of inquiry in reflecting critically upon central topics in the humanities, such as individual, moral, and social values; historical perspectives and events; culture and the arts; philosophy; and religious beliefs and practices.  Students address themes centered on the traditions; shared values and myths; literary, artistic, historical, and philosophical traditions; and cultural standards and common values which underlie contemporary societies and their historical antecedents. 

 ENG 2012 Approaches to Literature
*ARC 2701 History of Architecture 1
REL 2011 Religion: Analysis and Interpretation
*POT 3103 Ancient and Medieval Political Theory
*HUM 3306 History of Ideas
*HUM 3214 Ancient Classical Culture and Civilization
*LAH 2020 Latin American Civilization
PHI 2600 Introduction to Ethics
PHI 2011 Philosophical Analysis
*WOH 2001 World Civilization
*EUH 2030 Western Civilization--Europe in the Modern Era
*EUH 2021 Western Civilization--Medieval to Modern Europe
*EUH 2011 Western Civilization--Early Europe
*AMH 2002 Modern American Civilization
*AMH 2000 Origins of American Civilization

(* indicates a course designated as being "historically oriented"). 
*PHH 2xxx Classics in Philosophy: Intro to the History of Philosophy

 Quantitative Reasoning (two three-credit courses required, at least one of which must be in mathematics):

 The requirement aims at preparing students to master concepts and ideas in logic, inductive and deductive reasoning, and abstract and quantitative thinking.  Students will become proficient in the art of reasoning critically, solving problems, and analyzing data. 
*MAC 2313 Multivariable Calculus
*MAC 2312 Calculus II
*MAC 2311 Calculus I
*MAC 2233 Calculus for Business
*MTG 1993 Geometry for Education
*MGF 1107 The Mathematics of Social Choice and Decision Making
*MGF 1106 Finite Mathematics
*MAC 2147 Pre-Calculus
*MAC 1114 Trigonometry (there is over-lap between MAC 2147 and MAC 1144, and both may not be taken to fulfill the UCC requirement). 
STA 3145 Statistics for the Health Professions
STA 3111 Statistics I
STA 2122 Introduction to Statistics I
STA 2023 Statistics for Business and Economics
COP 2250 Programming in Java
COP 2010 Introduction to Programming
PHI 2100 Introduction to Logic
CGS 2XXX Data Analysis

(* indicates a mathematics course). 

Social Inquiry (six credits, three credits in each of the two sub-categories below):

 In these courses students investigate social, political, and economic configurations; cultural and psychological features of human life; gender, race/ethnicity, and social class; consciousness and identity; social interactions with the natural environment; and local, national, and global aspects of the human world. 

 Foundations of Social Inquiry (one three-credit course):

 Students learn theories and methodologies that underlie these areas of study and enhance their research and analytic skills. 

SOP 3015 Social and Personality Development
SOP 3004 Introductory Social Psychology
SYG 3002 Basic Ideas of Sociology
POS 2042 American Government
INP 2002 Introductory Industrial/Organization Psychology
DEP 2000 Human Growth and Development
PSY 2020 Introductory Psychology
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics
SYG 2010 Social Problems
SYG 2000 Introduction to Sociology
ANT 2000 Introduction to Anthropology
WST 3015 Introduction to Women's Studies
GEO 2000 Introduction to Geography
INR 2001 Introduction to International Relations
AMH 3560 The History of Women in the U.S.
INR 2002 Dynamics of World Politics
POT 3302 Political Ideologies
CPO 2002 Introduction to Comparative Politics

Societies & Identities (one three-credit course):

Students compare societies and cultures in local, national, or international contexts and in contemporary or historical perspective. 

 AFA 2000 African Worlds
EDG 3521 Education in History
ECS 3021 Women, Culture, and Economic Development
ECS 3003 Comparative Economic Systems 
SYP 3000 The Individual in Society
SYD 3810 Sociology of Gender
ANT 3641 Myth, Ritual and Mysticism
ANT 3451 Anthropology of Race and Ethnicity
ANT 3212 World Ethnographies
WST 3641 Gay and Lesbian in America
COM 3461 Intercultural/Interracial Communication
REL 3302 Studies in World Religions
EVR 1017 The Global Environment and Society
LBS 3001 Introduction to Labor Studies
GEA 2000 World Regional Geography
INR 3081 Contemporary International Problems
AFH 2XXX African Civilizations
CPO 3304 Politics of Latin America
CPO 3103 Politics of Western Europe
EGN 1XXX Technology, Humans and Society

Natural Science (two three-credit courses, one in the life sciences and one in the physical sciences, and two corresponding one-credit labs):

Our technologically dependent world requires an understanding of the processes that led us here.  Learning the basic concepts and ideas of scientific fields provides contact with not just those fields but with how science is done.  In these courses students study the scientific method through examination of the foundational theories of modern scientific thought.  Students apply scientific principles and theories to problem solving, evaluate scientific statements, and incorporate new information within the context of what is already known. 

Emphasizing the essential connection between theory and experiment, the hands-on laboratory experience provides the context for testing scientific theories. 

Life Sciences:
GLY 1101 History of Life
EVR 3013 Ecology of South Florida
OCB 2003 Introductory Marine Biology
PCB 2099 Foundations of Human Physiology
MCB 2000 Introductory Microbiology
BSC 1011 General Biology II
BSC 1010 General Biology I
BSC 2023 Human Biology
BOT 1010 Introductory Botany
HUN 2xxx Foundations of Nutrition Science

Physical Sciences:
PHY 1020 Understanding the Physical World
PHY 1XXX Quarks, Superstrings, and Black Holes
MET 2010 Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics
PHY 2054 Physics Without Calculus II
AST 2201 Stellar Astronomy
PHY 2053 Physics Without Calculus I
PHY 2049 Physics With Calculus II
AST 2100 Solar System Astronomy
PHY 2048 Physics With Calculus I
OCE 3014 Oceanography
GEO 3510 Earth Resources
EVR 3011 Environmental Resources and Pollution
EVR 1001 Introduction to Environmental Sciences 
GLY 1010 Introduction to the Earth Sciences
GLY 3039 Environmental Geology
CHM 1033 Survey of Chemistry
CHM 1045 General Chemistry I
CHM 1032 Chemistry and Society

 Arts Requirement (three credit hours):

 Art embodies human dreams, visions, and imagination and renders the human experience creatively in sound, movement, performance, design, language, color, shape, and space.  Art responds critically to current events, changes in society, and the drama of human life. 

 In fulfilling this requirement, students will become acquainted with the fundamental aspects of the arts while developing a capacity to understand, appreciate, or experience particular forms.  Students address universal themes central to the cultural traditions of the past and present as expressed through the perspectives of the arts. 

DAN 2XXX Dance in Modern American Culture; 1895-the Present
DAN 2100 Introduction to Dance
DAA 1100 Modern Dance Techniques I
DAA 1200 Ballet Techniques I
ENL 3XXX(b) Texts and Contexts: British Literature Since 1660
ENL 3XXX(a) Texts and Contexts: British Literature to 1650
ARH 2051 Survey II
CRW 2001 Introduction to Creative Writing
MUH 1011 Music Appreciation
MUH 2116 Evolution of Jazz
MUN 1100 Golden Panther Band
MUN 1380 Master Chorale
MUN 1210 Orchestra
ART 2500 Painting I
ART 2752 Ceramics I
ARH 2050 Survey I
ART 2300 Drawing I
TPP 3XXX Introduction to Film Making
THE 2000 Theatre Appreciation
TPP 2100 Introduction to Acting

As an integral part of the UCC Proposal, the Committee recommends the following understandings, variations, and accommodations:

1. Given that Engineering majors must take a significant number of physical science courses and that their accrediting agency requires that they take a load for their major which leaves them with so little flexibility, students in engineering majors will be allowed to fulfill the Natural Science requirement of the UCC by taking two physical science courses (with labs). 

2. Transfer students who have successfully completed MAC 1105 (College Algebra) at another institution prior to admission to FIU will be deemed to have completed one math course for purposes of the UCC 

3. Transfer students who have successfully completed one or both science courses without labs at another institution prior to admission to FIU will be deemed to have completed the appropriate components of the science requirement. 

4. For students in the Honors College: (i) Honors College students who successfully complete IDH 1001 and IDH 1002 (The Origin of Ideas and The Idea of Origins) will be deemed to have satisfied the Arts requirement of the UCC; (ii) Honors College students who successfully complete IDH 1001-IDH 1002 (The Origin Of Ideas and Idea of Origins), IDH 2003-IDH 2004 (Inhabiting Other Lives) will be deemed to have successfully completed the Foundation of Social Inquiry requirement of the UCC; and Honors College students who successfully complete IDH 2003 and IDH 2004 will be deemed to have successfully completed the Societies and Identities requirement of the UCC.  The Committee recognizes that enrollment in the Honors College significantly decreases the number of electives available to its students (especially in the professional schools) and it believes that these four courses collectively provide experiences which fulfill these UCC requirements or relevant sub-portions for students enrolled in only part of this two-year integrated program. 

5. The Senate authorizes the ad hoc Committee to meet early in Spring of 2003 to consider any new courses submitted for inclusion in the UCC.  With the exception of the new courses which the Committee recommends to the Senate and which the Senate approves in the Spring of 2003, no further courses may be added to the UCC until the Fall of 2005 (two years after it is implemented in the Fall of 2003). 

6. To the greatest extent possible, all UCC courses should be taught by full-time faculty members.  For any 3 credit UCC course numbered 2000 or higher, at least 50% of all sections of that course offered in any given semester must be taught by full-time faculty. 

7. No course numbered 4000 or higher may satisfy a UCC requirement. 

8. None of the following categories of the UCC may list more than twenty courses (not counting science labs): Humanities with Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, Foundations of Social Inquiry, Societies and Identities, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Arts.  If any of these categories lists more than twenty courses when the Senate votes on the UCC proposal, and if the Senate votes to approve the UCC, then the ad hoc Core, General Education, and Breadth Requirements Committee will be charged with reducing to twenty the number of courses listed in that category when the Committee considers new course submissions next year. 

9. The Faculty Senate approves the establishment of a UCC Oversight Committee.  It will consist of full-time faculty members teaching UCC courses. 

10. Upon approval the UCC will be sent to the Association of American Colleges and Universities (or an expert the AAC&U recommends) for external review.  The Senate will be allowed to make improvements to the UCC based upon recommendations received. 

11. So as to ensure the academic integrity and meaningfulness of all courses proposed as fulfilling the UCC requirements of Florida International University, a peer review process shall be initiated wherein all courses are reviewed no less than once every three years by faculty members outside the department or school in which the course is offered.  Review criteria shall be established by the appropriate Senate committee which shall report its proposed review process to the Faculty Senate no later than the end of the Spring Semester 2003.